The HANSEATIC inspiration has embarked on a season through the inland labyrinth of the Great Lakes, an environment seldom navigable by large vessels. Its 2025 season is sold out, reflecting intense demand, and few of its 120 cabins and suites remain for 2026. In response, the ship’s operator, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, has increased the programme to include five separate voyages in 2027. The vessel recently earned recognition in the “Routes” category of the Kreuzfahrt Guide Awards, serving as evidence of its reputation for distinctive and daring itineraries.
The Great Lakes region—a chain of five interconnected freshwater seas straddling the U.S. and Canada—offers a rare cruising venue. Its narrow channels, lock systems, and secluded coastal settlements permit only specially designed expedition vessels to navigate safely. The HANSEATIC inspiration is built to meet those challenges: her beam of about 22 m, shallow draught, and retractable bridge wings allow passage through tight locks and confined waterways with precision.
Expedition cruises aboard the HANSEATIC inspiration—ranging from 14 to 17 days—seek to engage all the senses, combining onshore exploration with marine operations. Zodiacs ferry guests to remote bays and hidden coves in Canadian waters, while experts deliver lectures and contextual commentary, deepening understanding of the region. One of those experts, Thilo Natke, a long-time captain with Hapag-Lloyd, leads hiking excursions ashore and offers insight into lock passages and local geography. Historian Dr. Wolfgang Grams also contributes knowledge, particularly on migration history in North America.
The itinerary includes visits to cities such as Windsor, with its riverfront and craft breweries; Toronto, famed for its Distillery District and skyline; Montreal, known for street art and bistros; and Quebec City, with its narrow lanes and French patisserie culture. Onboard, the ship supports these travel rhythms with three restaurants (one combining Japanese and Peruvian influences), lecture venues, and wellness spaces. Among its facilities is a 235 m² spa featuring sauna, steam bath and natural cosmetics, a fitness centre with instructor-led classes, and a pool with counter-current system.
Because 2026 bookings are nearly full, Hapag-Lloyd has already scheduled five Great Lakes voyages for 2027. During those cruises, HANSEATIC inspiration will transit the Welland Canal—a 45 km stretch connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. That passage climbs nearly 100 m (comparable to the height of Niagara Falls) via 8 locks, each only about 2.5 m wider than the ship itself. Captains and crew must perform every maneuver with accuracy. The vessel will also use the Soo Locks between Lake Huron and Lake Superior, ascending roughly 6 m in relief. Transits through Lake Superior—both deep and frigid—are seldom attempted by expedition ships today, making such legwork a highlight for seasoned cruisers.
One representative itinerary, INS2615, departs Milwaukee, traverses Lake Michigan and Huron, stops at Mackinac Island, continues via Parry Sound and Detroit River to Windsor, then negotiates the Welland Canal to Lake Ontario, and proceeds up the St. Lawrence River through Montreal, Quebec, and the Saguenay Fjord, before closing in Halifax.
Another sample cruise, INS2715, circumnavigates Lake Superior: after launch from Milwaukee, the ship moves via Mackinac Island to the Soo Locks, calls on Silver Islet, Red Rock, and Terrace Bay, then returns through Sault Ste. Marie and Lake Huron to finish in the embarkation port.