- Itineraries, which go beyond classic cruise routes: follow in the footsteps of James Cook and Ferdinand Magellan
- Calls include the Tuamotu and Pitcairn Islands, plus Easter Island
- Cruise dates: 25 November to 19 December 2016
With a length of approximately 123 metres (404 feet), a width of 18 metres (59 feet) and a capacity of 175 passengers, MS HANSEATIC is a small expedition ship – ideal for visiting the more remote destinations and ports that are virtually unexplored by tourists. As part of the Expedition to the South Seas and Easter Island, guests on board the 5-star* HANSEATIC will travel to destinations including the Tuamotu Islands in the heart of French Polynesia, go on Zodiac landings and discover the Moai statues on Easter Island.
The Expedition to the South Seas and Easter Island is a 24-day cruise that follows in the wake of famous seafarers such as James Cook. In the 18th century, Cook embarked on three South Sea voyages and discovered a number of different islands there. For many of the guests, this cruise will also be full of firsts – for example, when the HANSEATIC heads for the Tuamotu Islands, the world’s largest archipelago. This group of islands was discovered in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan.
A further port of call will be Pitcairn, the only inhabited island in the archipelago of the same name. Weather permitting, guests will land at Bounty Bay with the 14 Zodiacs – inflatable boats well suited to expeditions – and meet personally the descendants of the Bounty mutineers. The highlight of the expedition will be the penultimate stop: the Easter Islands. The park where the Moai, the island’s famous stone sculptures, are situated is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A team of experts from different fields such as regional studies, cultural history, biology and geology will accompany the guests throughout the entire cruise. In lectures both on board and during the shore excursions and Zodiac excursions, these specialists will provide fascinating facts and insights, for example, about the different Polynesian people and the European expeditions of the 16th and 18th centuries.
Example cruise: MS HANSEATIC – Expedition to the South Seas and Easter Island, from Tahiti to Puerto Montt, November 25 – December 19, 2016, 24 days, from €8,990 per person (£6,750, $10,790), cruise only.
More information online at: http://www.hl-cruises.com/find-your-cruise/HAN1622
Reservations: International guests, as well as travel agencies, can now make use of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ new free-of-charge phone numbers when requesting or booking a cruise. United Kingdom: 0800 0513 829, United States & Canada: 877 445 7447 or 800 334-2724, Belgium: 0800 79 421, the Netherlands: 0800 0220 459; all other countries, please call +49 40 30703070 (English-speaking hotline) – or – send an e-mail to salesteam@hl-cruises.com or visit www.hl-cruises.com/contact-services for local agents.
For more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ exciting destinations and itineraries, visit www.hl-cruises.com.
SOURCE: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises