The HANSEATIC inspiration sets sail tomorrow with a sold out season on the Great Lakes. Rarely navigable, the waters between the USA and Canada attract visitors with their narrow waterways and secluded coastal towns. Demand is correspondingly high. Only a limited number of the 120 cabins and suites are still available for 2026, so Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is expanding its programme to five cruises in the 2027 season.
The HANSEATIC inspiration was recently awarded a distinction in the “Routes” category at the Kreuzfahrt Guide Awards. This Friday, the small expedition ship from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is launching its sold out season on the Great Lakes, impressively demonstrating why it sets standards in terms of routes that are not only diverse but also exceptional.
Made for the Great Lakes
The region – a network of five interconnected lakes between the USA and Canada – is one of the most exciting expedition territories. Narrow waterways, locks and hidden coastal towns allow only a few ships to navigate the area. Currently awarded five stars by Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships in the “Boutique Ships” category, the HANSEATIC inspiration is ideally equipped for these challenges. Its most striking feature are its retractable bridge wings, a rarity in shipbuilding. In combination with its shallow draught, this design enables the expedition ship, which can accommodate up to 230 guests, to navigate narrow waterways and thus explore the scenic landscape of the Great Lakes.
Discoveries with all the senses – on board and ashore
This year’s expedition cruises, which last between 14 and 17 days, focus on intensive experiences of nature on land and at sea. Thanks to the on-board Zodiacs, remote bays along the coasts of Canada can be explored. Thilo Natke will be accompanying guests as a hiking guide ashore. He has spent more than four decades at sea, many of them as a captain with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Today he shares his personal view of the region, shaped by experience, curiosity and a passion for discovery. Guests particularly appreciate the way in which he contextualises the expedition experiences. Natke, for example, also provides knowledgeable commentary on the lock passages. Further experts help prepare for the shore excursions with lectures, thus deepening the experiences. Among those on board is historian Dr Wolfgang Grams, who specialises in the history of emigration to the USA.
Various cities called at also invite guests to explore: Windsor with its riverfront and craft breweries, Toronto with its Distillery District and modern skyline, Montreal with its street art and cosy bistros, and Quebec City with its winding lanes and French patisseries. There are three restaurants on board, including a speciality restaurant that combines elements of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. The 235 m2 (2,529 ft2) OCEAN SPA with sauna, steam bath, relaxation area and certified natural cosmetics is perfect for enjoying some time out. A fitness room with a coach and range of fitness classes as well as a pool with a counter-current system complete the range of facilities for guests interested in sports.
Lock adventures with five cruises in 2027
Due to high demand from guests, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises already has five cruises on the Great Lakes in its programme for 2027. The HANSEATIC inspiration, which is 22 m (72 ft) wide, will navigate through the approx. 45 km (28 mi.) long Welland Canal connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The canal overcomes a difference in height of almost 100 m (328 ft), allowing the Niagara Falls to be bypassed. The expedition ship must navigate through eight locks, each of which is only 2.5 m (8 ft) wider than the ship itself. Every manoeuvre requires the utmost precision from the captain. For guests, this is a fascinating spectacle of technology and finesse. Between Lake Huron and Lake Superior, the HANSEATIC inspiration will also pass through the Soo Locks, the largest lock system in the world, overcoming a 6 m (20 ft) difference in height. A passage on Lake Superior, the deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes, is a rare experience in terms of expedition cruises, as not many ships currently navigate the world’s second-largest inland waterway.
Sample cruises
Lakes and rivers awash with the American dream (INS2615)
The cruise on the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence River starts in Milwaukee and heads via Lake Michigan to Lake Huron, with a first stop on Mackinac Island. It continues via Parry Sound, Killarney and Tobermory across the Detroit River to Windsor. The Welland Canal offers a special experience, with the ship passing through eight locks before reaching Toronto on the shores of Lake Ontario. Another seven locks await on the St Lawrence River before the HANSEATIC inspiration calls at Montreal. Via Quebec, the ship will continue its route through the Saguenay Fjord and on to Tadoussac. The cruise then continues via Gaspe to the Iles de la Madeleine. In Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, guests can explore the birthplace of Canada before the cruise ends in Halifax.
From Milwaukee to Halifax, from 7 to 26 Oct 2026 (19 days), bookable in the GOLD fare from € 13,390 per person, double occupancy (cruise only, including travel package to and from departure and arrival points as well as early booking discount valid until 7 Oct 2025). For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/INS2615
Great Lakes: pioneering spirit on scenic lakes (INS2715)
After an overnight stay on board, the HANSEATIC inspiration sets sail from Milwaukee across Lake Michigan to Lake Huron, calling at Mackinac Island. It will then pass through the Sault Sainte Marie Canal to Lake Superior, where expedition days are on the agenda. Stops include the historic peninsula of Silver Islet, once the epicentre of silver mining, the small township of Red Rock and idyllic Terrace Bay on the north shore of the lake. Hikes, whether independent or guided by experts, reveal nature in its unspoilt guise. With a little luck, black bears or moose can be spotted. Then it’s back via Sault Sainte Marie to Tobermory on Lake Huron, past Parry Sound and Killarney, until the small expedition ship reaches Milwaukee again.
From Milwaukee to Milwaukee, 20 Aug to 4 Sep 2027 (15 days), bookable in the GOLD fare from € 11,690 per person, double occupancy (cruise only, including travel package to and from departure and arrival points as well as early booking discount valid until 31 Oct 2026). For more information, visit www.hl-cruises.com/INS2715
