Extend your stay with the previous cruise SPI2408 and save € 900 per person. (Applies to Categories 1 – 10)
Scheduled flight from Germany to Tokyo
Overnight stay with breakfast
Scheduled flight to Sapporo
Otaru (Sapporo)/Japan, departure 18.00 hrs
Rishiri/Japan
Sakhalin/Russia (Korsakov, Tyuleny )
The course will take you to the Sea of Okhotsk, where Anton Chekhov brought literary notoriety to the island of Sakhalin when he wrote about the erstwhile penal colony of Korsakov in his travelogue. Still impressed by the historical details, you will then take a Zodiac to the east coast of the island of Tyuleny. Its beaches are home to huge colonies of fur seals and its jagged cliffs are populated by flocks of common murres. Like in so many other places on this route, whales can often be spotted here.
Kuril Islands (Chirpoy, Lovushka Islands)
Hardly any other region in the world offers such a mesmerising reflection of the natural forces of the Pacific Ring of Fire as the Kuril Islands. Overgrown mountain peaks shimmer through the mist and the spray thunders against steep cliffs: here, numerous Zodiac rides and landings will allow you to experience the vastness of nature. Wildlife sightings are a truly special part of the adventure. Chirpoy, part of an archipelago with still-active volcanoes, is home to sea lion colonies, for example. With a bit of luck, the Zodiacs will let you see marine mammals and seabirds up-close around the Lovushka Islands. The basalt coast provides birds with shelter and you with the most stunning subjects for your photos.
Kamchatka (Tikhirka Bay , two days in Petropavlovsk, Morzovaya Bay , Bering Island )
The many facets of Kamchatka could fill several books: active and extinct volcanoes, sputtering geysers and deep fjords, verdant forests and crystal-clear rivers. The HANSEATIC spirit’s route is adjusted according to daily weather conditions and expected sightings. Experience the true feeling of expedition late into the light evenings – for example, on a hike with your experts in Tikhirka Bay and with the possibility of spotting sea otters. The renowned scientists on board will happily expand your knowledge of different eras of Russian history, whether you’re interested in the indigenous peoples – the Itelmen and Koryaks – or the Cossack conquerors. You will then see the inhabitants of Petropavlovsk, the scientific and cultural centre of Kamchatka, in a new light. To marvel at the spectacle of fuming sulphur springs and columns of water from the perspective of the sea eagle, take a helicopter flight to the Valley of the Geysers*. The flight to Nalychevo Nature Park* also promises breathtaking panoramas and the opportunity to bathe in the wilderness. Alternatively, a hike up the Avacha volcano* will reward you with fantastic views. You’ll also find these on your Zodiac landing in Morzovaya Bay: keep a lookout for Steller’s sea eagles and relics of times gone by. Salmon return from the Pacific to spawn at this time of year – easy prey for the Kamchatka brown bears, who you might see with a little luck. From this natural kingdom, the HANSEATIC spirit will set off for Bering Island, where the great pioneering acts of the famous explorer will be brought to life. Vitus Bering ran aground here in 1741 on the way home from his second Kamchatka expedition.
Relaxation at sea
Kuril Islands (Ptichiy Islands, Atlasova, Yankicho (Ushishir))
What is life like for the people in the village of Nikolskoje? On a Zodiac ride off the Ptichiy Islands, see the islands – and the home of common and spotted seals – for yourself. Your experts will also explain how volcanoes work at Atlasova’s black lava beach and at the Alaid, the tallest volcano in the Kuril Islands at more than 2,000 m (6,562 ft). On Yankicho (Ushishir), you can explore inside the steep caldera in the Zodiacs if the weather is good.
Relaxation at sea
Korsakov/Sakhalin (official stop)
Otaru (Sapporo)/Japan, arrival 7.00 hrs
Journey to Sapporo
Scheduled flight to Tokyo
Overnight stay with breakfast
Scheduled flight from Tokyo to Germany
* The shore activities are not included in the cruise price and are in the planning stage. Subject to change.
The itinerary depends on official approval and the weather conditions. The natural experiences and wildlife sightings described are possibilities on this expedition and are not guaranteed.
The following programmes can be booked.
Please note that our pre- and post-cruise programmes are conducted in German and are charged additionally to the travel package. The prices and conditions for these programmes can be found on the German travel details page and are charged additionally to the travel package. For individual programmes kindly consult your travel agent.
The following programmes are offered in German:
Our popular pre- and post-cruise programmes include a broad spectrum of excursions and are usually accompanied by experienced Hapag-Lloyd Cruises tour guides. Recommended for guests who like to share their experiences with a group of like-minded travellers. Explore specially selected highlights of your holiday destination and enjoy the convenience of group travel – we will take care of the transfers, excursions and overnight stays.
Extend your stay with the previous cruise SPI2408 and save € 900 per person. (Applies to Categories 1 – 10)