The new vessels will join Europa 2 in the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ fleet will receive two new ships.

With the move, TUI Group is hoping to continue its strategic transformation to a hotel and cruise group.

The group will further expand its own hotel and cruise portfolio.

The world’s number one tourism group will invest in two new-builds for its Hamburg-based subsidiary Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

The two new five-star expedition vessels are scheduled for launch in the spring and autumn of 2019, respectively, following 20 months of construction.

Including the two luxury cruise ships Europa and Europa 2 as well as the expedition vessel Bremen there will be five ships of the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet fully owned by TUI Group.

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Sebastian Ebel, member of the executive board of TUI Group in charge of cruises, said: “The cruise business is one of the key elements of TUI’s growth strategy.

“Our ambitions are underpinned by our investment in the two new ships for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ luxury and expedition cruise segments serve as world-class benchmarks.”

The two ships will be built at the Norwegian Vard shipyard of Vard Holdings, a shareholding of the Italian Fincantieri shipyard.

The vessels will be equipped with state-of-the-art technological features and environmental technology.

With PC6, the highest Polar Class designation for passenger ships, they will be able to cruise in polar regions in the Arctic and Antarctica, but also in warm water destinations such as the Amazon.

On-board Zodiacs will allow landings in otherwise inaccessible expedition areas.