New Zealand-born Dutch sailor, Laura Dekker, has been revealed as the godmother of HANSEATIC inspiration, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises‘ second of the three new expedition ships. The 24-year-old is a passionate sailor who rose to fame by sailing solo around the world between 2010 and 2012.

“Laura Dekker is the perfect godmother for our new, international, expedition ship. With her enthusiasm for nature, her spirit of adventure and her love of the sea, she represents the very essence of expedition cruises,” said Karl J. Pojer, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. “We wholeheartedly support the Laura Dekker World Sailing Foundation.”

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has organised a special ceremony for the naming of the HANSEATIC inspiration, to be held on 11 October in Hamburg. The event will take place on the water, as well as on and around the new ship. The invited guests will embark on a real and virtual expedition cruise and will follow the naming ceremony live on the water from Zodiacs. Launches will be available for those who find the expedition rubber boats a little on the adventurous side. The ceremony will see the ship itself become a stage.

The HANSEATIC inspiration offers five-star service with around 175 crew members looking after a maximum of 230 guests – or just 199 guests on Antarctic cruises and circumnavigations of Spitsbergen. The ship has the highest ice class for passenger ships (PC6) and is fitted with cutting-edge equipment and environmental technology such as cold ironing and an SCR catalytic converter. From July 2020, the entire Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ expedition fleet will use low-pollutant marine gas oil fuel worldwide on all routes.Want to be in the luxury travel know? Subscribe to our free eNewsletter here to keep up to date with everything in the luxury travel industry.