Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ expedition vessel, HANSEATIC spirit, becomes the largest cruise ship ever to visit Ipswich, highlighting the growing appeal of regional UK cruise destination

Associated British Ports, the UK’s largest port operator, welcomed the largest-ever cruise visit to the Port of Ipswich on Saturday 3 October, as Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ expedition ship HANSEATIC spirit called at the port as part of a 13-night voyage from Reykjavik in Iceland to Hamburg, Germany.

Built in 2021, the luxury expedition ship, HANSEATIC spirit, can accommodate up to 230 guests and is one of three sister expedition ships, combining agile design and authentic exploration with exceptional comfort. Built to the highest passenger ice class (PC6), she sails from the polar regions to the Amazon, bringing guests closer to nature without compromising on premium service. An expert expedition team of up to 16 specialists, including biologists, glaciologists, historians and geologists, enriches the journey through onboard lectures and guided excursions ashore.

During her call at Ipswich, passengers had the opportunity to explore the town and the surrounding area, with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises offering a city walking tour to explore the town’s rich history. The itinerary also gave passengers the chance to cruise along the River Orwell and experience Ipswich’s historic waterfront and town centre.

ABP’s Neal Birkett, Commercial and Agency Manager had the opportunity to meet Captain Claas Fischer who presented ABP with a plaque.

The visit offered a different perspective on the Port of Ipswich, which is best known as the UK’s leading grain export port and handles more than two million tonnes of cargo each year. Sitting at the head of the River Orwell and less than a mile from the town centre, the port gives visiting passengers direct access to one of the UK’s oldest waterfront communities.

The call also carries a historic connection. Ipswich was one of England’s most important trading ports during the medieval period and maintained strong links with merchants from the Hanseatic League, the powerful network of trading cities that connected communities across Northern Europe.

The arrival of follows the recent visit of the paddle steamer Waverley, another less common vessel to call at Ipswich. The Waverley recently brought around 450 passengers to the port for a sailing along the River Orwell and onwards to London.

Paul Ager, Divisional Port Manager for the East Coast, said:

“The arrival of HANSEATIC spirit is a significant moment for the Port of Ipswich and demonstrates the growing appeal of regional destinations within the cruise market.

“Cruise calls bring more than visitors. They support local businesses, showcase places such as Ipswich to new audiences and help generate wider economic benefits for the communities they visit. This visit highlights the role regional ports can play in helping more destinations share in the benefits of the UK’s growing cruise sector.

“We were delighted to welcome passengers to the town and look forward to continuing to work with cruise operators and local partners to attract further opportunities in the future.”

The call forms part of ABP’s wider work to support cruise opportunities across its network. Alongside its established cruise operation at Southampton, ABP’s ports in Swansea, Plymouth and Barrow also welcome expedition and specialist cruise vessels, offering cruise lines access to destinations beyond the UK’s traditional cruise gateways.

Cruise tourism makes an important contribution to local and regional economies across the UK, supporting businesses in the hospitality, retail, transport highlighting the value cruise calls can bring to destinations and communities across the country.