Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has been quietly perfecting the art of small-ship travel since 1891, and this collection brings that heritage to some of the most compelling corners of the world. From the pristine Arctic and the wild coastlines of Alaska to the sun-drenched Mediterranean, the storied British Isles and the layered cultures of Asia, the May to September 2027 collection is built for travellers who want more than a big ship and a busy itinerary.
For those who haven’t sailed with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises before, here’s the short version: it’s a German line with more than 130 years of history, a five-ship fleet that carries between roughly 230 and 500 guests, and a reputation for reaching places larger ships simply can’t. Every ship in the fleet runs bilingually in English and German, so the onboard experience is genuinely international. It’s a different kind of cruising, and this collection is a good place to discover why.
Book by 31 October 2026 and save up to EUR 1,500 on the PLATINUM fare across a collection of 2027 voyages through the Arctic, Alaska, the Mediterranean, British Isles or Asia.
This campaign brings together an extraordinary spread of destinations: the pristine Arctic, the natural wonders of Alaska, the timeless charm of the Mediterranean, the rugged beauty of the British Isles and the rich cultural heritage of Asia. Below is our pick of the itineraries we think will resonate most with Australian and New Zealand travellers, drawn from the 42 cruises included in the wider collection.
Norway and north-west Svalbard: in the magic of the midnight sun
Hamburg to Longyearbyen aboard HANSEATIC nature
7 to 22 June 2027 | 15 days
This is the full Arctic story in one voyage. The ship traces Norway’s Inside Passage through Bergen, Maloy and the Geirangerfjord, threads past the legendary North Cape, then pushes on to Svalbard’s unspoilt wilderness as far as the ice edge, in the company of experts watching for polar bears, whales and walruses. With the midnight sun keeping the light going around the clock, there’s time for tundra walks and Zodiac landings most ships never attempt.
Svalbard circumnavigation: our explorers’ classic
Longyearbyen to Tromso aboard HANSEATIC nature
2 to 12 July 2027 | 10 days
A shorter, more concentrated Arctic adventure that gives Svalbard’s fjords, glaciers and wildlife the spotlight, with a genuine shot at a full circumnavigation of the archipelago if the ice allows. It’s the kind of itinerary that rewards travellers who want the polar experience without committing to a longer voyage.
Indian summer in Lapland: Ruska, Nordic autumn in a sea of colour
Hamburg to Hamburg aboard HANSEATIC nature
17 September to 2 October 2027 | 15 days
An unusual and beautifully timed route into Swedish and Finnish Lapland during the region’s Indian summer, when the forests turn to colour. Highlights include the Stockholm archipelago, the UNESCO-listed High Coast, the Kvarken Archipelago and a stop in Lulea for insight into Sami culture and traditions, all wrapped in the kind of hygge that makes Nordic autumn so appealing.
The elegance of the Mediterranean
Civitavecchia (Rome) to Palma de Mallorca aboard MS EUROPA 2
3 to 15 August 2027 | 12 days
The Mediterranean, done properly. Elba, Portovenere and the Cinque Terre coastline lead into Portofino and the glamour of Monte Carlo and St-Tropez, before the ship threads through Menorca and Ibiza on the way to Mallorca. It’s a summer route built for late nights in port and long lunches on deck.
Alaska (Inside Passage): wild, wide world of wonders
Seward to Vancouver aboard HANSEATIC spirit
13 to 27 July 2027 | 14 days
Alaska, away from the cruise-ship crowds. This route favours the small, seldom-visited places over the well-trodden ports, cruising close to glaciers in Tracy Arm and Icy Bay, watching for brown bears in Katmai, and finishing with a slow, scenic passage through British Columbia’s Inside Passage.
Hokkaido, Aleutian Islands and Alaska: pristine appeal
Tomakomai to Seward aboard HANSEATIC spirit
26 June to 13 July 2027 | 18 days
A genuinely unusual route that links summery Hokkaido with the remote Aleutian Islands before arriving in Alaska, one of the more far-flung expedition itineraries on offer anywhere. SILVER fare pricing is available on this sailing, which makes it a strong value option for a longer voyage.
Expedition “South Seas of Japan”: the yin and yang of paradise islands
Hong Kong to Incheon (Seoul) aboard HANSEATIC spirit
31 May to 13 June 2027 | 13 days
A premiere voyage through Japan’s little-known Nansei Islands, sometimes called the South Seas of Japan for their white sand and turquoise water, alongside calls in Taiwan and Okinawa. SILVER fare pricing is available on this sailing too.
Unknown Japan and South Korea: a meeting of opposites
Incheon (Seoul) to Tomakomai aboard HANSEATIC spirit
13 to 26 June 2027 | 13 days
From Busan’s temples to Hiroshima’s history, the sacred island of Miyajima, the hot springs of Beppu and the old imperial connections of Kyoto, this route pairs Korea with Japan’s less-visited west coast for a cultural itinerary with real depth.
Every Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ship carries a PGA golf professional and can arrange access to some of the world’s best courses in port. Two itineraries in this collection are built with golfers in mind:
Expedition circumnavigation of Ireland and wild Scotland: mysterious Celtic realms, rugged, wild and beautiful
Porto to Hamburg aboard HANSEATIC inspiration, 28 May to 10 June 2027, 13 days, circumnavigating Ireland and Scotland’s wild west coast.
Very British: Beatles, Belfast and black tea
Kiel to Hamburg aboard MS EUROPA, 17 to 30 August 2027, 13 days, taking in Edinburgh (with an evening at the Military Tattoo), the Isle of Skye, Belfast and Liverpool.
THE GLOBE, the fine-dining restaurant on MS EUROPA, is a permanent fixture on every EUROPA sailing. On selected voyages, including four in this collection, three-Michelin-star chef Kevin Fehling brings his acclaimed cuisine on board in person.
A handful of sailings in this campaign carry no solo surcharge on the PLATINUM fare, and a further pair carry a reduced 30% surcharge. These offers are available until sold out, so solo travellers who want to lock in a cabin should act early.
No solo surcharge:
30% solo surcharge:
With 42 cruises in this campaign and itineraries this detailed, it’s worth talking it through with someone who knows the fleet. Get in touch with one of our recommended cruise experts to find the right sailing, cabin category and fare for your trip.
