With ten expedition cruises in winter 2027/28, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is positioning the Indian Ocean as an independent seasonal focus for the first time, consistently placing emphasis on knowledge transfer, expertise and in-depth encounters with nature. Between October 2027 and March 2028, the HANSEATIC nature will set out on ten cruises to the Seychelles and Madagascar – each with a clear emphasis on scientifically guided exploration of the region’s natural and cultural heritage (www.hl-cruises.com/indian-ocean).
Hapag-Llyod Cruises is setting new geographical accents by adding warm routes in the Indian Ocean to its 2027/28 expedition winter programme. The focus in on content: expeditions imply travel experiences with depth. The aim is to fully immerse guests in these tropical destinations, with their picturesque scenery synonymous of idyllic travel dreams – it’s about looking beyond this beauty and experiencing a region that is rich both in nature and culture. With small expedition ships, interdisciplinary teams of experts and a consistently science-based travel concept, the provider of luxury and expedition cruises defines expedition travel as a profound exploration of ecological, geological and cultural interconnections – regardless of temperature.
“For us, ‘deeper access – real insights’ is not just about seeing, but understanding,” says Isolde Susset, Managing Director Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Warm destinations, in particular, are often reduced to mere aesthetics. Our aim is to combine scientific depth with a direct experience of nature. We look behind the postcard idylls, explain how atolls are formed, why over 80 per cent of Madagascar’s wildlife is endemic, and what role mangrove ecosystems play in the global climate system. Expedition travel means making connections tangible.
Knowledge transfer as the core of the expedition concept
The ten expeditions of the HANSEATIC nature in warmer regions are designed as in-depth adventure cruises with a strong focus on Zodiac landings and rides, which expedition guests of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises are already familiar with from polar expeditions. “For us, expeditions are not a question of temperature, but an attitude,” affirms Susset. “Whether in polar or tropical climates, the decisive factor is a willingness to engage intensively with the destination at hand.”
An expedition team of up to 16 members accompanies each cruise, including marine biologists, ornithologists, geologists, ethnologists and botanists. Before each landing, briefings are held in the HanseAtrium to provide information about habitats, biodiversity and historical contexts. After returning on board, observations are evaluated together and enhanced by specialist presentations and discussion rounds. When exploring the strictly protected UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aldabra Atoll, for example, guests do not only encounter giant turtles, but learn about isolated evolutionary processes and the fragility of closed atoll systems. On the easterna and northern coasts of Madagascar, the focus is on the unique flora and fauna that have been isolated here for millions of years. These include various species of lemurs, chameleons and rare plants that were able to evolve over millions of years because the island was isolated from the rest of the world for a long time. The coral reefs and lagoon systems of the Seychelles are also visited and explained in the context of marine biodiversity and global climate dynamics.
The expedition ships HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit were specifically designed for challenging routes. The size of the ships is not an end in itself, but a prerequisite for navigating such expeditions. With no more than 230 guests, a shallow draught, their own marina at the stern of the ship and 17 on-board Zodiacs, flexible landings in small groups are possible, independent of port infrastructure and in line with local regulations in sensitive protected areas. In the Indian Ocean, this means that even hard-to-reach Madagascan coastal areas or remote atolls in the Seychelles – some of which are subject to severe access restriction – can be visited respectfully in compliance with all official permits. Daily programmes are adapted to wildlife sightings, weather conditions or scientific priorities depending on the situation.
Published cruises in winter 2027/28
This season, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is bundling a total of ten expeditions in the Indian Ocean with the HANSEATIC nature, complementing the Antarctic expeditions taking place at the same time with a tropical expedition axis. This creates an expanded range of opportunities for discovery, characterised by the standards and quality that Hapag-Lloyd Cruises stands for: real expeditions, marked by a pioneering spirit, comfort and a passion for discovery. For expedition guests, this means even more variety in the planning of their winter travel season and even more scope for unique experiences and moments to savour for a lifetime.
The new expeditions in warmer climates are part of the published 2027/28 season and are currently available for booking. Highlights include:
Sample cruise, NAT2725 (8 Dec to 20 Dec 2027):
Expedition Seychelles: premiere – a warm winter on tropical islands. Pre-Christmas cruise from Mahe (Seychelles) to Mauritius, with the Inner Islands, St. Francois Atoll and the Aldabra Islands and Farquhar Atoll. Bookable in the PLATINUM fare from € 9,480 per person, double occupancy, including early booking discount, valid until 31 Jan 2027, and travel package to and from departure and arrival points. For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/nat2725
Sample cruise, NAT2802 (15 Jan to 30 Jan 2028):
Expedition Madagascar: one of evolution’s most beautiful gifts. From Mahe (Seychelles) to Mauritius via Madagascar’s east and north coast, Mayotte and Reunion. Bookable in the PLATINUM fare from € 11,890 per person, double occupancy, including early booking discount, valid until 28 Feb 2027, and travel package to and from departure and arrival points. For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/nat2802
Further combined routes will sail between Cape Town, the Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius until March 2028 (NAT2723 – NAT2725 and NAT2800 – NAT2806).
