On Friday (22nd April) Cowes will be welcoming the first cruise ship visit of the season, with the arrival of Hanseatic Inspiration.
Anchoring in the outer harbour of Cowes between 7am and 3pm, passengers will be disembarking at Trinity Landing for tours of the town, a scenic drive around the Isle of Wight and a visit to Osborne House in East Cowes.
Background
Launched in October 2019, Hanseatic Inspiration is one of the newest vessels in the Hapag-Lloyd Cruise fleet. She is one of a three-ship expedition class, designed for luxury expedition cruising to smaller ports and destinations inaccessible to larger vessels. This is her first visit to Cowes.
At 138m in length, Hanseatic Inspiration can carry 230 passengers and 175 crew across seven decks. The ship has a marina for launching a fleet of inflatable boats for shore expeditions.
On a 10-day cruise from Madeira
Hanseatic Inspiration is on a 10-day cruise that started in Madeira on 14th April, calling at Porto Santo, Islas Cies, Isles of Scilly, Fowey, Portland, Cowes and finishing in her home port of Hamburg on 24th April.
All Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ships have run on low-pollutant marine gas oil since 2020, and the Hanseatic Inspiration features some of the latest environmental technology, including SCR catalytic converters to reduce emissions.
15 cruise ships expected
Hanseatic Inspiration is the first of fifteen cruise ships due to call in Cowes this year.
The next vessel due is the Sea Cloud Spirit, a 136m modern sailing windjammer, which arrives on 10th June.
News shared by Rachel Hibberd on behalf of Cowes Harbour Commission. Ed
Image: © Port of Hamburg
