What's Included with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises?
A Hapag-Lloyd cruise includes considerably more than simply your accommodation and meals. Gourmet dining, selected drinks, a replenished minibar, gratuities, onboard wellness facilities and a range of additional benefits are included across the five-ship fleet, while expedition voyages add Zodiacs, expert-led exploration and specialist equipment.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is not completely all-inclusive, however. Alcoholic drinks beyond the included selection, most conventional shore excursions, spa treatments and certain additional services are charged separately. Exactly what is included also differs slightly between the luxury ships MS EUROPA and MS EUROPA 2 and the three HANSEATIC expedition ships.
Here is what you can expect to be included when you sail with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Is Hapag-Lloyd Cruises All-Inclusive?
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises offers a generous inclusive experience, but it would be misleading to describe the standard cruise fare as fully all-inclusive.
Your fare includes full-board gourmet dining, selected soft drinks throughout the day, tea and coffee specialities, welcome Champagne, a daily replenished minibar, 24-hour cabin or suite service, gratuities and use of most onboard facilities. One hour of internet access per guest per day is also complimentary.
The main extras to budget for are alcoholic drinks outside the included selection, most organised shore excursions, spa treatments, personal training and optional pre- or post-cruise arrangements.
Hapag-Lloyd also offers an optional beverage package if you prefer to include a wider range of drinks in advance.
Gourmet Dining Included
Dining is one of the strongest elements of the Hapag-Lloyd experience, and the principal restaurants are included in your cruise fare.
Aboard MS EUROPA and MS EUROPA 2, full board includes breakfast, late breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and coffee with something sweet, and a late-night snack. The ships offer multiple gourmet restaurants, allowing you to experience very different styles of cuisine without paying speciality dining supplements.
MS EUROPA 2 takes a particularly flexible approach, with gourmet restaurants available without fixed seating plans or traditional dining sittings.
The HANSEATIC expedition ships also include international gourmet full board. Breakfast, early-bird and late-riser options, lunch, afternoon refreshments and dinner are provided, with three restaurants available in the evening and flexible opening times designed to work around the expedition programme.
There is therefore no need to budget for restaurant cover charges simply to experience the variety of dining available onboard.
Drinks & Minibar
A useful range of drinks is included across the Hapag-Lloyd fleet.
Selected soft drinks are available throughout the day at no additional charge. Tea and coffee specialities are also included, along with a bottle of Champagne to welcome you onboard and bottled water for shore excursions.
A complimentary minibar is provided in every cabin or suite and replenished daily.
On MS EUROPA and MS EUROPA 2, the minibar includes soft drinks and beer. Higher suite categories also receive a selection of spirits.
On HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit, the minibar includes soft drinks, with an additional selection of spirits provided in Junior and Grand Suites.
Most other alcoholic beverages are not included in the standard fare.
Hapag-Lloyd Beverage Package
If you prefer to know more of your onboard spending in advance, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises offers an optional beverage package.
The package currently costs €44 per person, per day and includes a wider selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. It can be booked before departure or once onboard.
The package is available across both the luxury and expedition fleets, although individual inclusions and exclusions should always be checked for your particular sailing.
For guests who enjoy wine with dinner, cocktails in the evening or regular drinks throughout the day, it can make the onboard experience feel considerably closer to all-inclusive.
Gratuities Included
There are no compulsory onboard gratuities to add to your Hapag-Lloyd cruise fare.
All onboard gratuities are already included in the price of the cruise. If a particular member of the crew provides exceptional service, you are welcome to recognise them separately, but doing so is entirely at your discretion.
Wi-Fi Included
Every guest receives one hour of complimentary internet access per day.
Each cabin or suite also has a personal onboard email account. Internet availability depends on satellite coverage and can naturally be more limited in remote areas, particularly when expedition ships are operating in polar regions.
If staying permanently connected is important, additional internet options may be available onboard at an extra charge.
For an expedition to Antarctica, the Arctic or another genuinely remote region, it is worth approaching connectivity differently from a conventional Mediterranean or Caribbean cruise. Even with modern satellite technology, location and conditions can affect the service.
24-Hour Cabin & Suite Service
Around-the-clock cabin or suite service is included across the Hapag-Lloyd fleet.
Guests aboard MS EUROPA and MS EUROPA 2 receive 24-hour suite service, while the HANSEATIC expedition ships provide 24-hour cabin service.
On EUROPA 2, guests staying in Penthouse, Grand Penthouse and Owner Suites also receive butler service as part of their suite benefits.
Combined with the complimentary minibar and coffee facilities provided in your accommodation, this adds another layer of convenience without needing to upgrade to an all-inclusive package.
Wellness, Fitness & Entertainment
Much of life onboard is also covered by your cruise fare. Both luxury ships provide access to their spa and fitness facilities, while EUROPA 2 has an expansive 1,000 m² OCEAN SPA and fitness area with four saunas, fitness equipment and a programme of indoor and outdoor classes.
The HANSEATIC ships include access to the OCEAN SPA, Finnish sauna with ocean views, steam sauna, indoor and outdoor relaxation spaces and fitness facilities. Group fitness and selected sporting activities are also included.
Spa treatments, hairdressing, personal training and other individually booked treatments cost extra.
Entertainment, talks and onboard enrichment are also included. On the luxury fleet this can encompass presentations, concerts, seminars, live shows and readings, depending on the individual voyage.
What's Included on a Hapag-Lloyd Expedition Cruise?
Aboard HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit, the expedition programme itself forms part of your cruise fare. That means you do not need to pay separately every time you board a Zodiac or join one of the ship's expedition landings.
Zodiac Landings & Rides
Zodiac rides and expedition landings are included as part of the programme, taking you beyond conventional ports to Antarctic ice, remote beaches, tropical waterways and secluded coastlines, subject to weather and local conditions.
Expedition Experts
Experienced specialists join each expedition, sharing their knowledge through presentations, lectures, Zodiac trips, landings and hikes. Their insight helps bring the wildlife, geology, history and cultures of each destination to life.
Ocean Academy
The interactive Ocean Academy lets you delve deeper into the places you visit, with digital and physical resources covering wildlife, geology, history and culture. It is the perfect place to continue exploring after returning onboard.
Expedition Equipment
Selected expedition equipment is available to borrow according to your itinerary, potentially including binoculars, Nordic walking poles, warm parkas, rubber boots and snorkelling equipment, helping you prepare for each adventure.
Are Shore Excursions Included?
Traditional organised shore excursions are generally not included in the Hapag-Lloyd cruise fare.
These can be booked before departure through Hapag-Lloyd's online booking portal and the cost is charged to your onboard account. Availability and when you can begin booking depend partly on whether you have chosen a PLATINUM or SILVER fare.
There is an important distinction on expedition voyages.
Zodiac rides, expedition landings and activities forming part of the core expedition programme are included, while separately advertised conventional shore excursions can carry an additional charge.
This means a Hapag-Lloyd expedition should not be compared directly with a conventional cruise simply by looking at the excursion policy. Much of what would normally constitute the day's exploration is already included as part of the expedition experience.
PLATINUM vs SILVER Fares
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises currently offers two principal fare types: PLATINUM and SILVER.
Importantly, choosing SILVER does not mean receiving an inferior onboard experience. Both fares include the core services associated with your ship. The key differences relate to choice, flexibility, booking conditions and additional benefits.
PLATINUM Fare
The PLATINUM Fare offers the greatest flexibility and control over your booking.
You can select your preferred cabin or suite and deck, book shore excursions as soon as they are published and benefit from a one-time complimentary change of your cruise date up to 90 days before departure, subject to the applicable conditions.
Advertised early booking and combination discounts are also available with PLATINUM, and members of the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Club receive 100% mileage credit. The required deposit starts from 20%, depending on when the booking is made.
Certain higher suite categories can only be booked using the PLATINUM Fare.
Best for: Guests who want a particular cabin or suite, first choice of shore excursions and greater flexibility.
SILVER Fare
The SILVER Fare is designed for guests who are more flexible about their accommodation and want access to the Hapag-Lloyd experience at the available SILVER price.
Your cabin or suite and deck are allocated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises rather than selected at booking. Shore excursions can be reserved from 14 days after they are initially published, and advertised early booking and combination discounts do not apply. Club members receive 50% mileage credit.
SILVER is offered subject to availability, so it may not appear on every sailing or in every accommodation category.
Best for: Guests who are flexible about cabin location and prioritise the available fare over maximum booking flexibility.
Find Your Hapag-Lloyd Cruise
Whether you choose the refined luxury of MS EUROPA or MS EUROPA 2 or an expedition aboard HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration or HANSEATIC spirit, a considerable part of the experience is already included in your cruise fare.
Explore our latest Hapag-Lloyd Cruises for 2026, 2027 and 2028, or speak to our cruise specialists and we can help you compare ships, itineraries and PLATINUM and SILVER fares so you know exactly what is included before you book.