Tourexpi
The
testers evaluated over 340 ships and gave all five of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises'
luxury and expedition ships top marks. For the second year in a row, the brand
has secured five stars for all ships and bears the proud title of the
"best fleet in the world".
The
new Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships for 2025 has been
published. In the 40th edition of the renowned travel guide for cruise
ships and cruise experiences, the ships and shipping companies of the current
cruise world were again examined and evaluated in all facets by independent
testers. The Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet clearly led the field with five star
rankings for all their ships.
From
the fleet, the MS EUROPA 2 that has been named the “best ship in the
world” again with the highest score of all ratings in the category of small
ships (251-750 passengers), closely followed by its sister ship the MS
EUROPA. Since their respective commissioning, both ships have set the top
standard on the world's oceans in the luxury segment, defending their top
positions unchallenged. In the category of boutique ships (50-250 guests), the
three expedition ships shine with five stars each, led by the HANSEATIC
nature, and the HANSEATIC spirit tied with her sister ship
the HANSEATIC inspiration.
“These
awards bear the name of the ships, but they represent every single crew member
on board and on land, who deserve this recognition with their extraordinary
dedication and professionalism. I am therefore very proud to thank them for
their commitment. At the same time, this is an incentive for all of us at
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to continue to create an excellent travel experience for
our guests now and in the future,” said Isolde Susset, Managing Director of
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
“It
is a great pleasure for me to once again award the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet
top marks. Guests can expect a truly outstanding and unforgettable cruise
experience on board these luxury and expedition ships and a quality of service
that impresses with finesse and attention to detail.”, says Insight Guides
Cruising & Cruise Ships 2025 author and global expert on cruises and
cruise ships Douglas Ward. He has completed more than 1,130 cruises, 160
transatlantic crossings as well as countless shipyard visits, ship christenings
and maiden voyages.
Reservations: International
guests, as well as travel agencies, can make use of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’
free-of-charge phone numbers when requesting or booking a cruise. United
Kingdom: 08000 513 829, United States & Canada: 877 445
7447, Belgium: 0800 79 421, Netherlands: 08000 220 459; all
other countries, please call +49 40 30703070 (English-speaking hotline) – or
send an email to service@hl-cruises.com or visit
www.hl-cruises.com/contact/international-partners for local agents.
Image
Credit: © Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
The most interesting news


New TUI Study Reveals 75 percent of Brits Crave Home Comforts Abroad
Slippers, Tea, and Familiar Smiles Top the List.


Hyatt Opens Mumian Shaoxing Hotel, Blending Industrial Heritage and Cultural Luxury
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, in partnership with Shenzhen Yuen Kai Hotel Management Co., Ltd., has announced the grand opening of the Mumian Shaoxing Hotel, marking the debut of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt in Shaoxing, China.


Amazon Prime’s travel hit puts global spotlight on Turkish city of Mardin
Featuring historian Bettany Hughes and presenter Alex Outhwaite, the documentary series The Wanderer brings Mardin’s rich history and natural charm to viewers in 137 countries, supported by Türkiye’s tourism bodies.


Ryanair announces July offer for prime members
Over €450 in savings within just four months – all for €79.


Dominican Republic’s Tourism Sector Projected to Generate Over US$21 Billion
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts that the travel and tourism sector in the Dominican Republic will reach a historic milestone in 2025, contributing over US$21 billion to the national GDP.


Relax and Start the Summer Holidays with Lufthansa
As the summer school holidays begin in Hesse, Lufthansa is preparing for one of its busiest travel periods of the year.


Hilton Named India’s Numberr 1 Great Place to Work for Third Year in a Row
Hilton (NYSE: HLT), Asia’s fastest-growing hospitality company, has once again secured the top spot as India’s No. 1 Company to Work For, as recognized by Great Place to Work®.


Eurowings: Bus Transfers in Mallorca, SunExpress Codeshare and Triple Credit Card Win
Eurowings now also operating buses.


Lufthansa Group appoints Kevin Markette as senior director – regional sales South Asia
Lufthansa Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Markette as senior director – regional sales South Asia.


Radisson unveils secluded coastal gem: Radisson Resort Ruža Vjetrova in Montenegro
Radisson Hotel Group proudly announces the opening of Radisson Resort Ruža Vjetrova, a premium beachfront retreat nestled on an isolated peninsula along the Adriatic coast in Dobra Voda, Montenegro.


Tourism and culture take center stage at executive training programme in Mongolia
UN Tourism recently welcomed senior tourism officials from across the Asia-Pacific region to highlight the essential connection between tourism and culture in shaping resilient, inclusive destinations.


Windstar Cruises' new Star Explorer debuts in the Mediterranean for winter 2026/27
Fresh itineraries, local flavor, and yacht-style cruising—Windstar's newest yacht invites guests to see Europe in a whole new light.


IHG Hotels & Resorts expands in Türkiye with new Holiday Inn Resort signing in Bodrum
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, has signed an agreement for the development of Holiday Inn Resort Bodrum West Beach, in collaboration with Uslu Turizm Insaat Tasimacilik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.


Göbeklitepe draws millions as Türkiye’s ancient sanctuary gains global heritage acclaim
Göbeklitepe, the ancient sanctuary in southeastern Türkiye and a UNESCO World Heritage site, has emerged as a key pillar of regional tourism, attracting millions of visitors from around the world.


Delta focused on customer care and operational recovery after ATL storms
Delta operations stabilized on Sunday with fewer than 60 mainline cancellations. No further disruption from Friday’s severe weather is expected. We sincerely thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding.


China Eastern Airlines and Suzhou Launch ‘Suzhou Pass’ Co-Branded Card for International Visitors
China Eastern Airlines has joined forces with the city of Suzhou to introduce the “Suzhou Pass” Co-Branded Card, designed specifically for international travelers booking flights to China through the airline’s official website.


Condor Expands City Route Network for Summer 2026
Condor is continuing its successful expansion into European city destinations with the announcement of three new routes for summer 2026.


Ryanair calls on Ursula von der Leyen to resign if she fails to reform Europe’s air traffic control
Two-day French air traffic control strike (3–4 July) forces Ryanair to cancel 400 flights, disrupting over 70,000 passengers.


Fitur 2026 expands its technological dimension with the introduction of the Knowledge Hub
The International Tourism Trade Fair, taking place from 21 to 25 January at IFEMA MADRID, reinforces its leadership with Hall 12 as the epicentre of tourism innovation.


Dusit brings vibrant energy to the Maldives with a new all-inclusive resort near Malé
Soft opening this July, dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives promises ‘effortless stays’ just seven minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport.


From Lagos to the world: Delta elevates travel with new lounge and next-gen aircraft
Delta has unveiled a new premium lounge at Lagos Airport on July 1, ahead of deploying its newest aircraft, the A350-900 and A330-900neo, on U.S. routes this October, boosting capacity and comfort for Nigerian travelers.
