Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is running its Young Explorers program on selected Arctic expedition voyages, giving children and teens aged 10 to 17 hands-on activities such as plankton study, Zodiac excursions and wildlife spotting in destinations including Iceland, Svalbard and Greenland.
The program runs on 19 voyages during school holidays through to the end of 2028, with itineraries also covering Norway, Newfoundland, the St Lawrence River and the Azores. It operates when at least five young guests are booked on a sailing.
Program built around expedition experts
Young guests are accompanied by expedition staff, including glaciologist Benjamin Schröter, who leads sessions on oceans, glaciers and polar ecosystems. Activities vary by voyage and conditions, and may include examining plankton in the ship’s Ocean Academy, shore excursions with expedition experts, or behind-the-scenes ship tours.
Isolde Susset, managing director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, said the program was designed to build early awareness of conservation. “The core of every expedition is curiosity: the willingness to ask questions and see the world through different eyes,” Susset said. “Anyone who experiences just how fascinating and worthy of protection our natural world is at an early age will carry this awareness with them.”
Sample voyage: Svalbard Circumnavigation
Expedition Svalbard Circumnavigation is a 10-day sailing from Tromsø to Longyearbyen, departing 12 to 22 July 2027. The itinerary includes glaciers, fjords, Zodiac excursions and opportunities to spot walruses and seals, with the exact route dependent on weather and ice conditions.
Fares start from €32,240 for two adults and one Young Explorer in the PLATINUM fare category, including charter flights. The early booking discount is valid for bookings made through 31 October 2026.
Fleet context
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises operates five ships and is part of TUI Cruises GmbH, a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group. The fleet sails bilingually in English and German.
