GERMAN cruise line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has scheduled its maiden Kimberley season, with Hanseatic Spirit to sail the region during the 2028 southern autumn and winter.
The 230-guest ship (pictured) will operate an 18-day expedition featuring Zodiac trips on the King George River and Montgomery Reef, plus a visit to the Houtman Abrolhos island archipelago off the WA coast near Geraldton.
The line’s latest frontier comes as part of an expanded presence in the Asia Pacific region in coming seasons, with the ship to also operate three itineraries in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat.
Spirit will head to the WA coast following her seasonal Antarctic season, which runs from Nov 2027 until Feb 2028.
She will be joined by fleetmate Hanseatic Inspiration, with the ships running 14-day expeditions in the South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula, including a semi-circumnavigation from Tierra del Fuego in South America to New Zealand.
The local line-up forms part of 127 comprehensive itineraries making up the line’s 2028 season, with bookings to open in Dec.
Hapag-Lloyd’s expansion in Australia comes as the cruise line’s Europa 2 prepares to visit in 2027.
The 516-passenger ship will sail a series of cruises along Western and Southern Australia. ML
