Hanseatic Spirit Marks Five Years in Service After First Drydock
The ship's maiden voyage departed Hamburg on August 26, 2021, followed by a naming ceremony off the German island of Helgoland with Nemi, a seal, as godmother.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Hanseatic Spirit has reached five years in service after beginning cruise operations in August 2021. The 230-passenger ship is spending the northern summer on Greenland itineraries.
The vessel is the third in a series of three expedition ships built for the line.
First scheduled drydock completed
Hanseatic Spirit spent 10 days at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany, earlier this year for technical work and maintenance. The project included new exterior paint and updates to public spaces, along with the replacement of some showers in cabins and suites. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises did not include an executive statement in its fifth-anniversary update.
Construction divided between Romania and Norway
Fincantieri subsidiary Vard built Hanseatic Spirit through a two-yard construction program. Major steel and technical work took place at Vard’s Tulcea facility in Romania, while final outfitting was completed at Langsten in Norway.
At 138.2 metres long and 15,651 GT, the ship has a 22-metre beam, 120 cabins and seven passenger decks. Its service speed is 14 knots, with a maximum of 17.1 knots.
Hanseatic Spirit followed sister ships Hanseatic Nature and Hanseatic Inspiration, both delivered in 2019. The series was designed for voyages to remote destinations including the Arctic, Antarctica and the Amazon.
Maiden voyage came after months laid up
The ship remained laid up for several months during the COVID-19 pandemic before departing on its maiden voyage on Aug. 26, 2021. The nine-night roundtrip sailing from Hamburg called in Sweden and Denmark.
A naming ceremony was held off the German island of Helgoland the following day. Nemi, a seal, served as the ship’s godmother. Veterinarian Ulrike Meinfelder represented the seal at the ceremony.
Where Hanseatic Spirit sails next
Following its current Arctic program, the ship is scheduled to sail fall cruises around the British Isles and Western Europe. It will then operate voyages in Africa and Cape Verde before repositioning to Ushuaia for Antarctic expeditions.
Hanseatic Spirit is scheduled to enter Indonesia and Australia’s Kimberley region in 2028. It will be the first Hapag-Lloyd Cruises vessel to operate in either destination.
