Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has unveiled its new 2027/28 cruise programme, with an expanded African focus that includes departures from Cape Town and explorations of the Indian Ocean’s most biodiverse shores.
Among the highlights is a new 16-day itinerary aboard HANSEATIC nature, departing Cape Town on 22 November 2027 and sailing to Mahe in the Seychelles. The route includes calls at Hermanus, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), Durban and Richards Bay, before continuing to Mozambique, Mayotte and the Seychelles. Guests can expect Zodiac excursions and landings in ecologically rich areas rarely accessed by larger ships.
This is part of a broader African expedition series that reflects growing demand for warm-water exploration in lesser-travelled regions. The cruises promise in-depth encounters with the continent’s wildlife, coastlines and culture – from mangrove forests in Mozambique to cocoa farms in Ghana and coral reefs in the Seychelles.
MS EUROPA will also return to African waters, linking West Africa and the Indian Ocean on a six-cruise series. One itinerary traces a course from Hamburg to South Africa and on to Mauritius, while a festive cruise will journey from Mauritius to Sri Lanka, calling at Reunion, the Seychelles and the Maldives.
The itineraries mark a major investment in Africa’s appeal as a luxury cruise destination, with both HANSEATIC nature and MS EUROPA offering small-ship experiences focused on sustainability, education and immersive travel.
