Hapag Lloyd's Europa 2 mountain bike excursions

Hapag Lloyd's Europa 2 has created a new offering: mountain bike excursions with a dedicated bike guide. Guests can discover the surroundings of select ports in the company of a guide while using the ship’s own mountain bikes. Guests can opt for either an easy tour at a comfortable speed, or a more fast-paced off-road experience over rougher terrain.

“Easy-going”, “Active and high-energy”, and “Active lite” are the three offerings with the new mountain bike tours on the Europa 2. Beginners can enjoy the scenery and take in points of interest during a leisurely ride on a flat route. By contrast, experienced cyclists have the opportunity to take part in challenging rides over uneven terrain that frequently includes hills and inclines. The 14 hardtail mountain bikes are available in various sizes.

All tours are between 4-5 hours in length and cost €59 (approx £45). Tours will be offered in selected ports based on the local conditions. The bike guide will provide personal advice and be part of all bike excursions. Guests will be able to book a bike tour after a quick fitness check on-board.

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Hapag-Lloyd's 2012/13 Expedition Season

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises announces the arrival of their March 2012-May 2013 expedition brochure. Their small and beautifully appointed expedition ships, MS Hanseatic and MS Bremen, will be offering 12 international (English/German) itineraries next season.

They include travel in Antarctica, the Northwest Passage, Greenland, Spitsbergen, Norway, the Amazon, the South Seas and New Zealand. In addition, the expedition itineraries feature new ports of call in Madagascar and Mozambique and a maiden voyage through theSea of Okhotsk in Russia’s Far East.

The two ships were created to provide intensive exploration in the most elegant surroundings for a maximum of 184 guests on Hanseatic and 164 on Bremen.

Expedition Highlights:

Sea of Okhotz

For the first time, Hanseatic sets out to circumnavigate the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia’s Far East, taking guests to volcanoes, geysers and glaciers. Zodiac stops will include Iony, a tiny island populated by sea lions, and Shantar Islands and Malminskie Islands, natural sanctuaries for songbirds, birds of prey, seals and sea otters.

Indian Ocean

Guests will experience lemurs in pristine nature, animals in the wild, and wonderful beaches on romantic coasts through Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa. This tropical 16-day adventure will include ports in Madagascar and a first time stop in Mozambique.

The Northwest Passage

In 2012, the popular exploration route will be offered on board Hanseatic. It starts in Nome/Alaska amidst impressive testimonies of the Inuit culture before sailing through the Canadian Arctic, the heart of the Northwest Passage and ending in Reykjavik/Iceland.

Antarctica

Glaciers, icebergs, deep fjords and bays offer the setting for an unforgettable Antarctic expedition. In addition to observing bird colonies, guests will also have the opportunity to explore the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, bath in the hot springs on Deception Island and observe whales in the Antarctic Sound.

For more info, visit www.hl-cruises.com or contact the UK's expedition cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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