Cruise overview
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About Lyttelton
Your initial impression of Christchurch will likely be one of a genteel, green city. Joggers loop through shady Hagley Park, and punters ply the narrow Avon River, which bubbles between banks lined with willows and oaks. With a population approaching 350,000, Christchurch is the largest South Island city, and the second-largest in the country. It is also the forward supply depot for the main U.S. Antarctic base at McMurdo Sound. The face of Christchurch is changing rapidly, fueled by both internal and international immigration. The Māori community, although still below the national average in size, is growing. Ngai Tahu, the main South Island Māori tribe, settled Treaty of Waitangi claims in 1997 and have been investing in tourism ventures. Old wooden bungalows are making way for town houses, the arts scene is flourishing, and the city's university attracts cutting-edge technology companies. In short, there's plenty of fresh energy percolating underneath the English veneer.
About Fiordland National Park
About Oban, Stewart Island
Stewart Island is home to New Zealand's newest national park, Rakiura National Park. The third and most southerly of New Zealand's main islands, Stewart Island is separated from the South Island by the 24-km (15-miles) Foveaux Strait. Its original Māori name, Te Punga O Te Waka a Maui, means "the anchor stone of Maui's canoe." Māori mythology says the island's landmass held the god Maui's canoe secure while he and his crew raised the great fish—the North Island. Today the island is more commonly referred to by its other Māori name, Rakiura, which means "the land of the glowing skies." This refers to the spectacular sunrises and sunsets and to the southern lights, or aurora australis. The European name of Stewart Island dates back to 1809. It memorializes an officer William W. Stewart on an early sealing vessel, the Pegasus, who was the first to chart the island. The island covers some 1,700 square km (650 square miles). It measures about 75 km (46 miles) from north to south and about the same distance across at its widest point. On the coastline, sharp cliffs rise from a succession of sheltered bays and beaches. In the interior, forested hills rise gradually toward the west side of the island. Seals and penguins frequent the coast, and the island's prolific birdlife includes a number of species rarely seen in any other part of the country. In fact, this is the surest place to see a kiwi. The Stewart Island brown kiwi, or tokoeka, is the largest species of this kind of bird. Unlike their mainland cousins, these kiwis can be seen during the day as well as at night. It's a rare and amusing experience to watch these pear-shape birds scampering on a remote beach as they feed on sand hoppers and grubs. Māori have visited Stewart Island for centuries. Archaeologists' studies of 13th-century Māori middens (refuse heaps) indicate that the island was once a rich, seasonal resource for hunting, fishing, and gathering seafood. A commonly eaten delicacy at that time, the titi, also known as the muttonbird, still occasionally appears on menus. In the early 19th century, explorers, sealers, missionaries, and miners settled the island. They were followed by fishermen and sawmillers who established settlements around the edges of Paterson Inlet and Halfmoon and Horseshoe bays. In the 1920s Norwegians set up a whaling enterprise, and many descendants of these seafaring people remain. Fishing, aquaculture, and tourism are now the mainstays of the island's economy. Even by New Zealand standards, Stewart Island is remote, raw, and untouched. The appeal is its seclusion, its relaxed way of life, and its untouched quality. Stewart Island is not for everyone: if you must have shopping malls, casinos, or umbrella drinks on the beach, don't come here. Visitors should be prepared for the fact that Stewart Island can be chilly, windy, and rainy, even in the middle of summer.
About Dunedin
Clinging to the walls of the natural amphitheater at the west end of Otago Harbour, the South Island's second-largest city is enriched with inspiring nearby seascapes and wildlife. Because Dunedin is a university town, floods of students give the city a vitality far greater than its population of 122,000 might suggest. Its manageable size makes it easy to explore on foot—with the possible exception of Baldwin Street, the world's steepest residential street and home to the annual "gutbuster" race, in which people run up it, and the "Jaffa" race, in which people roll the namesake spherical chocolate candy down it.Dunedin, the Gaelic name for Edinburgh, was founded in 1848 by settlers of the Free Church of Scotland, a breakaway group from the Presbyterian Church. The city's Scottish roots are still visible; you'll find New Zealand's first and only (legal) whisky distillery, a statue of Scottish poet Robert Burns, and more kilts, sporrans, and gillies than you can shake a stick at! The Scottish settlers and local Māori came together in relative peace, but this wasn't true of the European whalers who were here three decades before, as places with names such as Murdering Beach illustrate.Dunedin has always had a reputation for the eccentric. Wearing no shoes and a big beard here marks a man as bohemian rather than destitute, and the residents wouldn't have it any other way. The University of Otago was the country's first university and has been drawing writers ever since its founding in 1871, most notably Janet Frame and the poet James K. Baxter. Dunedin also has a musical heritage, which blossomed into the "Dunedin Sound" of the 1970s and '80s.
About Akaroa
About Queen Charlotte Sound
About Picton
The maritime township of Picton (population 4,000) lies at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound and is the arrival point for ferries from the North Island, as well as a growing number of international cruise ships. It plays a major role in providing services and transport by water taxi to a multitude of remote communities in the vast area of islands, peninsulas, and waterways that make up the Marlborough Sounds Maritime Park. There's plenty to do in town, with crafts markets in summer, historical sights to see, and walking tracks to scenic lookouts over the sounds. The main foreshore is lined by London Quay, which looks up Queen Charlotte Sound to the bays beyond. High Street runs down to London Quay from the hills, and between them these two streets make up the center of town.
About Wellington
New Zealand's capital is, arguably, the country's most cosmopolitan metropolis. It's world-class Te Papa Tongarewa-Museum of New Zealand is a don't-miss attraction, and the burgeoning film industry led, of course, by the Lord of the Rings extravaganzas has injected new life into the local arts scene. Attractive and compact enough to be explored easily on foot, Wellington is a booming destination. Modern high-rise buildings gaze over Port Nicholson, surely one of the finest natural anchorages in the world. Known to local Māori as The Great Harbor of Tara, its two massive arms form the jaws of the fish of Maui from Māori legend. Sometimes referred to as the windy city, Wellington has been the seat of New Zealand's government since 1865.
About Tauranga
The population center of the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing cities. Along with its neighbor, Whakatane, this seaside city claims to be one of the country's sunniest towns. Unlike most local towns, Tauranga doesn't grind to a halt in the off-season, because it has one of the busiest ports in the country, and the excellent waves at the neighboring beach resort of Mount Maunganui—just across Tauranga's harbor bridge—always draw surfers and holiday folk.
About Auckland
Auckland is called the City of Sails, and visitors flying in will see why. On the East Coast is the Waitemata Harbour—a Māori word meaning sparkling waters—which is bordered by the Hauraki Gulf, an aquatic playground peppered with small islands where many Aucklanders can be found "mucking around in boats."Not surprisingly, Auckland has some 70,000 boats. About one in four households in Auckland has a seacraft of some kind, and there are 102 beaches within an hour's drive; during the week many are quite empty. Even the airport is by the water; it borders the Manukau Harbour, which also takes its name from the Māori language and means solitary bird.According to Māori tradition, the Auckland isthmus was originally peopled by a race of giants and fairy folk. When Europeans arrived in the early 19th century, however, the Ngāti-Whātua tribe was firmly in control of the region. The British began negotiations with the Ngāti-Whātua in 1840 to purchase the isthmus and establish the colony's first capital. In September of that year the British flag was hoisted to mark the township's foundation, and Auckland remained the capital until 1865, when the seat of government was moved to Wellington. Aucklanders expected to suffer from the shift; it hurt their pride but not their pockets. As the terminal for the South Sea shipping routes, Auckland was already an established commercial center. Since then the urban sprawl has made this city of approximately 1.3 million people one of the world's largest geographically.A couple of days in the city will reveal just how developed and sophisticated Auckland is—the Mercer City Survey 2012 saw it ranked as the third-highest city for quality of life—though those seeking a New York in the South Pacific will be disappointed. Auckland is more get-up and go-outside than get-dressed-up and go-out. That said, most shops are open daily, central bars and a few nightclubs buzz well into the wee hours, especially Thursday through Saturday, and a mix of Māori, Pacific people, Asians, and Europeans contributes to the cultural milieu. Auckland has the world's largest single population of Pacific Islanders living outside their home countries, though many of them live outside the central parts of the city and in Manukau to the south. The Samoan language is the second most spoken in New Zealand. Most Pacific people came to New Zealand seeking a better life. When the plentiful, low-skilled work that attracted them dried up, the dream soured, and the population has suffered with poor health and education. Luckily, policies are now addressing that, and change is slowly coming. The Pacifica Festival in March is the region's biggest cultural event, attracting thousands to Western Springs. The annual Pacific Island Secondary Schools’ Competition, also in March, sees young Pacific Islander and Asian students compete in traditional dance, drumming, and singing. This event is open to the public.At the geographical center of Auckland city is the 1,082-foot Sky Tower, a convenient landmark for those exploring on foot and some say a visible sign of the city's naked aspiration. It has earned nicknames like the Needle and the Big Penis—a counterpoint to a poem by acclaimed New Zealand poet James K. Baxter, which refers to Rangitoto Island as a clitoris in the harbor.The Waitemata Harbour has become better known since New Zealand staged its first defense of the America's Cup in 2000 and the successful Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in early 2009. The first regatta saw major redevelopment of the waterfront. The area, where many of the city's most popular bars, cafés, and restaurants are located, is now known as Viaduct Basin or, more commonly, the Viaduct. A recent expansion has created another area, Wynyard Quarter, which is slowly adding restaurants.These days, Auckland is still considered too bold and brash for its own good by many Kiwis who live "south of the Bombay Hills," the geographical divide between Auckland and the rest of New Zealand (barring Northland). "Jafa," an acronym for "just another f—ing Aucklander," has entered the local lexicon; there's even a book out called Way of the Jafa: A Guide to Surviving Auckland and Aucklanders. A common complaint is that Auckland absorbs the wealth from the hard work of the rest of the country. Most Aucklanders, on the other hand, still try to shrug and see it as the parochial envy of those who live in small towns. But these internal identity squabbles aren't your problem. You can enjoy a well-made coffee in almost any café, or take a walk on a beach—knowing that within 30 minutes' driving time you could be cruising the spectacular harbor, playing a round at a public golf course, or even walking in subtropical forest while listening to the song of a native tûî bird.
About Bay of Islands
The Tasman Sea on the west and the Pacific Ocean on the east meet at thetop of North Island at Cape Reinga. No matter what route you take, you'll passfarms and forests, marvellous beaches, and great open spaces. The East Coast,up to the Bay of Islands, is Northland's most densely populated, often withrefugees from bigger cities—looking for a more relaxed life—clustered aroundbreathtaking beaches. The first decision on the drive north comes at the footof the Brynderwyn Hills. Turning left will take you up the West Coast throughareas once covered with forests and now used for either agricultural orhorticulture. Driving over "the Brynderwyns," as they are known,takes you to Whangarei, the only city in Northland. If you're in the mood for adiversion, you can slip to the beautiful coastline and take in Waipu Cove, anarea settled by Scots, and Laings Beach, where million-dollar homes sit next tosmall Kiwi beach houses.An hour's drive farther north is the Bay of Islands, known all over theworld for its beauty. There you will find lush forests, splendid beaches, andshimmering harbors. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed here in 1840 betweenMāoriand the British Crown, establishing the basis for the modern New Zealandstate. Every year on February 6, the extremely beautiful Waitangi Treaty Ground(the name means weeping waters) is the sight of a celebration of the treaty andprotests by Māori unhappy with it. Continuing north on the East Coast, theagricultural backbone of the region is even more evident and a series ofwinding loop roads off the main highway will take you to beaches that are bothbeautiful and isolated where you can swim, dive, picnic, or just laze. .The West Coast is even less populated, and the coastline is rugged andwindswept. In the Waipoua Forest, you will find some of New Zealand's oldestand largest kauri trees; the winding road will also take you past mangroveswamps. Crowning the region is the spiritually significant Cape Reinga, theheadland at the top of the vast stretch of 90 Mile Beach, where it's believedMāori souls depart after death. Today Māori make up roughly a quarter of thearea's population (compared with the national average of about 15%). The legendaryMāori navigator Kupe was said to have landed on the shores of Hokianga Harbour,where the first arrivals made their home. Many different wi (tribes) livedthroughout Northland, including Ngapuhi (the largest), Te Roroa, Ngati Wai,Ngati Kuri, Te Aupouri, Ngaitakoto, Ngati Kahu, and Te Rarawa. Many Māoriherecan trace their ancestry to the earliest inhabitants
About Cascade, Norfolk Island
About Lifou Island
Lifou is a commune of France in the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia. Lifou is made up of two main islands - Lifou Island and Tiga Island- in additional to a number of uninhabited islets. Lifou Isand is the largest atoll in the world. The island is actually made of fossilized coral - known as a makatea. Lifou island does not have any surface water and it relies on a freshwater reservoir accessed by caves. Lifou Island is best known for its vast atoll (the largest in the world). This ring-shaped coral reef affords some of the best snorkelling in the world. Popular activities on this island include scenic walks, relaxing days on the beach, swimming and snorkelling. There are no organized tours being offered during this call to Lifou Island, guests may explore on their own.
About Nouméa
With its elegant urban infrastructure in a stunning natural setting, Noumea is a truly unique island and part of the New Caledonia archipelago. Noumea started as a penal colony, but has since evolved to a lovely metropolis and today has almost two thirds of New Caledonia’s population. While much of the archipelago of New Caledonia has a large percentage of Kanak people – the indigenous inhabitants who live in tribal areas across the country – Noumea is predominantly European with a strong French influence. The city’s center and Place de Cocotiers, the main park, are located close to the harbor and several churches date back to the late 19th century. Other attractions include a world-class aquarium at Anse Vata, several long beaches to the south, and a noteworthy collection of Kanak and South Pacific objects at the Museum of New Caledonia. The architectural gem of the city is the Tjibaou Cultural Center, the structure of which resembles sails, or the roofs of Kanak houses hidden behind mangroves.
About Nouméa
With its elegant urban infrastructure in a stunning natural setting, Noumea is a truly unique island and part of the New Caledonia archipelago. Noumea started as a penal colony, but has since evolved to a lovely metropolis and today has almost two thirds of New Caledonia’s population. While much of the archipelago of New Caledonia has a large percentage of Kanak people – the indigenous inhabitants who live in tribal areas across the country – Noumea is predominantly European with a strong French influence. The city’s center and Place de Cocotiers, the main park, are located close to the harbor and several churches date back to the late 19th century. Other attractions include a world-class aquarium at Anse Vata, several long beaches to the south, and a noteworthy collection of Kanak and South Pacific objects at the Museum of New Caledonia. The architectural gem of the city is the Tjibaou Cultural Center, the structure of which resembles sails, or the roofs of Kanak houses hidden behind mangroves.
- Separate living/sleeping area
- Separate dining area
- Sleeping area with panoramic view
- Separable beds
- TV in living and sleeping areas
- Veranda with space heaters
- Daylight bathroom with two sinks, free-standing bath, rain shower and veranda access
- Steam sauna in shower area
- Heated wall in bathroom (e.g. for towels and wet parkas)
- Separate toilet
- Free mini bar
- Coffee machine
- Extensive infotainment with live broadcast and recordings of expert presentations, forward-view camera, navigation chart, films and much more
- Binoculars from SWAROVSKI OPTIK in the cabin
- Nordic walking poles
- 24-hour cabin service
- Butler service
- Table reservation in main restaurant
- Free choice of Zodiac group
- Separate living/sleeping area
- Separate dining area
- Sleeping area with panoramic view
- Separable beds
- TV in living and sleeping areas
- Bathroom with two sinks and rain shower
- Separate toilet
- Steam sauna in shower area
- Heated wall in bathroom (e.g. for towels and wet parkas)
- Free mini bar
- Coffee machine
- Extensive infotainment with live broadcast and recordings of expert presentations, forward-view camera, navigation chart, films and much more
- Binoculars from SWAROVSKI OPTIK in the cabin
- Nordic walking poles
- 24-hour cabin service
- Butler service
- Table reservation in main restaurant
- Heated wall in the bathroom (e. g. for towels and wet parkas)
- Rain shower
- Free mini bar (soft drinks)
- Coffee machine
- Separable beds
- Extensive infotainment with live broadcast and recordings of expert presentations, forward-view camera, navigation chart, films and much more
- Binoculars from SWAROVSKI OPTIK in the cabin
- Nordic Walking poles
- 24-hour cabin service
- Heated wall in the bathroom (e. g. for towels and wet parkas)
- Rain shower
- Free mini bar (soft drinks)
- Coffee machine
- Separable beds
- Extensive infotainment with live broadcast and recordings of expert presentations, forward-view camera, navigation chart, films and much more
- Binoculars from SWAROVSKI OPTIK in the cabin
- Nordic Walking poles
- 24-hour cabin service
The French Balcony Cabins in Category 3 on Deck 6 are approximately 23 m² (248 ft²) in size, and those in Category 5 on Deck 7 approximately 21 m² (226 ft²). The Balcony Cabins at the stern have a slightly different floor plan.
- Heated wall in the bathroom (e. g. for towels and wet parkas)
- Rain shower
- Free mini bar (soft drinks)
- Coffee machine
- Separable beds
- Extensive infotainment with live broadcast and recordings of expert presentations, forward-view camera, navigation chart, films and much more
- Binoculars from SWAROVSKI OPTIK in the cabin
- Nordic Walking poles
- 24-hour cabin service
- Heated wall in the bathroom (e. g. for towels and wet parkas)
- Rain shower
- Free mini bar (soft drinks)
- Coffee machine
- Separable beds
- Extensive infotainment with live broadcast and recordings of expert presentations, forward-view camera, navigation chart, films and much more
- Binoculars from SWAROVSKI OPTIK in the cabin
- Nordic Walking poles
- 24-hour cabin service
Hanseatic Inspiration
Searching for the unknown and finding your inner self in the process. Respectfully encountering nature and perceiving yourself as part of it. Appreciating foreign cultures and gaining profound insights. For more than 30 years, we have been offering expedition cruises that touch your soul.
Whether you’re heading to the Hebrides or the Azores, to Antarctica or the South Seas, intensive adventures on spectacular routes both near and far await you with the HANSEATIC inspiration – and you’ll share your personal expedition with a small group of no more than 230 passionate explorers. Welcome on board!
Please note: The HANSEATIC inspiration is an international ship, with all cruises conducted in both English and German.
Ship Facts
Speed | 16 | ||||||
Width | 22 | ||||||
Length | 138 | ||||||
Capacity | 230 | ||||||
Currency | EUR | ||||||
Language | de+en | ||||||
Crew Count | 175 | ||||||
Deck Count | 7 | ||||||
Refit Year | |||||||
Cabin Count | N/A | ||||||
Launch Year | 2021 | ||||||
Gross Tonnage | 15650 | ||||||
Electrical Plugs |
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Large Cabin Count | N/A | ||||||
Wheelchair Cabin Count | N/A |
Deck 9
- Zodiacs
- Flexible canopy
- Sun Deck
Deck 8
- Sun Deck
- Ocean Academy
- OCEAN SPA
- Course room
- Sports Club
- Hairdresser
- Pool
- Whirlpool
- Glass Balcony
- Pool bar
- Observation Lounge
Deck 7
- Bridge
- Balcony Cabins
- Grand Suites with veranda
- Junior Suites with balcony
- French Balcony Cabins
Deck 6
- Tender
- Deck tour
- Balcony Cabins
- Grand Suites with veranda
- Junior Suites with balcony
- French Balcony Cabins
- Outside Cabins
Deck 5
- Lido Restaurant
- Balcony Cabins
- Panoramic Cabins
- Outside Cabins
Deck 4
- HANSEATIC Restaurant
- Specialty restaurant
- Invisible Lounge
- HanseAtrium
- Reception
- Boutique
- Bar
- Cruise sales
- Panoramic Cabin
- Outside Cabins
Deck 3
- Changing room
- Hospital
- Marina
A new kind of freedom between adventure and pleasure.
Come with us on a culinary voyage of discovery around the globe: on board, three spacious first-class restaurants create a unique and indulgent combination of expedition spirit with international gourmet cuisine. Spend your days and evenings however you wish thanks to flexible mealtimes, a free choice of seating and attentive 24-hour cabin service.
HANSEATIC Restaurant
The spacious HANSEATIC Restaurant of the new expedition class redefines on-board cuisine. From breakfast to dinner, experience our endless variety of creative cuisine at any time of day. Where your ship drops anchor, our top chefs will look to local specialities and conjure up for your plate the aromas of South Africa, the far north, or Europe. Daily changing menus will send your taste buds on a global tour of discovery – accompanied by a selection of wines to suit every palate.
Specialty restaurants
Our speciality restaurants will take you on a culinary voyage of discovery: explore exquisite Japanese creations and Peru’s modern and fashionable cooking at the Nikkei on the HANSEATIC inspiration. The Hamptons offers new culinary highlights of the North American east coast on the HANSEATIC nature. Enjoy french cuisine in the specialty restaurant l'esprit on the HANSEATIC spirit. Exploring the world has never tasted so good!
Lido restaurant
Expeditions bring you particularly close to the elements. The same applies to our Lido Restaurant. Have breakfast under an open sky, or enjoy a juicy steak cooked to perfection on the large outdoor barbecue – garnished with breathtaking panoramic views. Watch our gourmet chefs at work in the open show kitchen or head straight to the ice cream station for dessert. And why not? After all, the daily grind is far away.
That special touch
Land on a secluded island in a Zodiac and enjoy barbecued fish and chilled drinks with your feet in the sand. Or celebrate with a glass of champagne against a stunning icy backdrop. Our service and ingenuity continue ashore – with a barbecue on the beach, a reception in the ice or exotic delicacies in the depths of the rainforest. This is the feeling of true expedition. This is the taste of true delight.
Open to new discoveries, the magic of our natural surroundings and the unique experience of a true expedition: the new expedition class. No other expedition ship has so much open deck space. What does this mean? Freedom, wind, broad horizons – and getting up-close to nature.
Glass Balconies
The glass balcony beneath your feet allows you to hover above the water and reveals the endless expanse and beauty of the ocean. Watch whales and large porpoises as they follow the ship, thrilling you as they leap and swim. Being so close to creation is an indescribable feeling.
Inspiration Walk
The deck tour at the bow offers extraordinarily intensive experiences: when whales jump for joy and polar bears take an icy bath, you will be the first to see these fascinating natural spectacles.
Observation Lounge & Library
Stroll the spacious decks and feel the stars almost within reach – the terraced Observation Deck with a panoramic view is but one place to fulfil your dream. You can also quench your thirst for adventure in the comfortable surroundings of the Observation Lounge. The large full-glass windows provide a 180-degree view of the moon and sea while you reflect on your unforgettable travel days over a glass of wine.
Library
You are welcome to borrow a book on board at any time. Our library is located in the Observation Lounge (Deck 8) and is stocked with a selection of the latest fiction books, travel literature and information about the cruising area.
Hanse Atrium
Draw on our experts’ wealth of knowledge during their daily presentations in the HanseAtrium, the new multifunctional lounge with state-of-the-art technology. Visit the lounge to prepare for upcoming excursions and shed more light on impressions gained (so-called precaps and recaps). Discuss your latest discoveries, enjoy fascinating, relaxed film evenings or listen to our experts’ enthralling travel reports. In the evening, the HanseAtrium is transformed into an atmospheric bar where you can see out the day and reflect on your experiences.
Invisible Lounge
Located on Deck 4.
Reception
Post
The Reception staff will post your postcards and letters from all ports where this facility is available. Your onboard account will be debited with the appropriate charges.
Announcements
To create the full expedition experience, commentaries are provided for interesting passages during the cruise and special animal sightings are reported. The ship’s position is reported in the morning on days at sea. We will also announce via the loudspeakers when the local authorities have cleared the ship and we can go ashore. The volume can be controlled individually in each cabin/suite.
Means of payment
The on-board currency is the euro. An account will be set up for you so that you can make cashless payments during the cruise. You can find out your current account balance at any time using the infotainment system in your cabin/suite. You can then settle the entire account at Reception at the end of your cruise. We accept German EC/Maestro cards and the following credit cards: Mastercard, American Express and Visa. You can also pay in cash. Please note that, in general, foreign currencies cannot be changed on board.
reception@hanseatic-nature.com