Expedition to the South Seas and Easter Island: A Voyage of Discovery in Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ 175-Guest MS Hanseatic

Itineraries that go beyond classic cruise routes – follow in the footsteps of James Cook and Ferdinand Magellan

• Calls include the Tuamotu and Pitcairn Islands, plus Easter Island
• Cruise dates: November 25 to December 19, 2016

With a length of approximately 404 feet, a beam of 59 feet and a capacity for 175 passengers, MS Hanseatic is a small expedition ship, ideal for visiting more remote destinations and ports that are virtually unexplored by tourists. As part of the Expedition to the South Seas and Easter Island, guests on board the 5-star* Hanseatic will travel to destinations including the Tuamotu Islands in the heart of French Polynesia, go on Zodiac landings and discover the Moai statues on Easter Island.

Expedition to the South Seas and Easter Island is a 24-nightcruise that follows in the wake of famous seafarers such as James Cook. In the 18th century, Cook embarked on three South Sea voyages and discovered a number of different islands there. For many of the guests, this cruise will also be full of firsts – for example, when the Hanseatic heads for the Tuamotu Islands, the world’s largest archipelago. This group of islands was discovered in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan.

A further call will be made at Pitcairn, the only inhabited island in the archipelago of that name. Weather permitting, guests will land at Bounty Bay with the 14 Zodiacs – inflatable boats well suited to expeditions – and meet personally the descendants of the Bounty mutineers.

The highlight of the expedition will be the penultimate stop at Easter Island. The park where the Moai, the island’s famous stone sculptures, are situated is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A team of experts from different fields such as regional studies, cultural history, biology and geology will accompany the guests throughout the cruise. In lectures both on board and during the shore excursions and Zodiac excursions, these specialists will provide fascinating facts and insights about the different Polynesian peoples and the European expeditions of the 16th and 18th centuries.

MS Hanseatic – Expedition to the South Seas and Easter Island, from Tahiti to Puerto Montt, November 25 – December 19, 2016, 24 days, from €8,990 per person (£6,750, $10,790), cruise only. More information online at: http://www.hl-cruises.com/find-your-cruise/HAN1622

For further details or bookings please call Gay Scruton at The Cruise Peiople Ltd in London on +44 (0)20 7723 2450 or e-mail PassageEnquiry@aol.com.