Hapag-Lloyd Cruises vs Regent Seven Seas

The core difference

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Regent Seven Seas represent fundamentally different approaches to ultra-luxury cruising — and the choice between them reveals whether you value cultural immersion or logistical simplicity.

Hapag-Lloyd traces its heritage to 1847 and claims to have operated the first pleasure cruise in history aboard the Augusta Victoria in 1891. The line operates a deliberately constrained five-ship fleet split across two product lines: luxury ocean (EUROPA and EUROPA 2) and expedition (three HANSEATIC-class ships). Every ship holds the maximum five-star rating from the Berlitz cruise guide, with EUROPA and EUROPA 2 being the only vessels in the world to hold the coveted five-stars-plus distinction for over two decades. The philosophy is one of European refinement, cultural depth, and connoisseurship — EUROPA features the only three-Michelin-star chef’s restaurant at sea, EUROPA 2 displays 890 original artworks including pieces by Gerhard Richter and Damien Hirst, and the HANSEATIC expedition ships carry scientific teams in partnership with the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.

Regent has operated since 1992 and built its reputation on a single, powerful promise: the most inclusive luxury experience at sea. The philosophy is to remove every friction point — every decision about cost, every moment where a guest reaches for a wallet. One fare covers business-class flights, unlimited excursions, all dining and drinks, transfers, a pre-cruise hotel night, and valet laundry. The fleet includes three ships built since 2016, with Seven Seas Prestige arriving December 2026 at 77,000 gross tonnes. Under Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Regent emphasises breadth, accessibility, and proven consistency.

For Australian travellers, the practical dimension is decisive. Regent includes business-class flights from Australian gateways and has approximately 24 sailings in AU/NZ waters between 2026 and 2028. Hapag-Lloyd has three to four Australian sailings in the same period, no included flights, and — until January 2026 — a predominantly German-language onboard experience. The cultural rewards of Hapag-Lloyd are genuine, but they require more effort to access.

What is actually included

This is where the comparison is most consequential — and where Regent’s structural advantage is greatest.

Regent includes in every fare: all dining at every restaurant without surcharges, caps, or reservation fees; premium spirits, wines, and cocktails; complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi; all gratuities; valet laundry (wash, press, fold). From Concierge suites upward: roundtrip business-class air from international gateways including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide on Emirates, Qantas, or Singapore Airlines; a one-night pre-cruise luxury hotel stay; airport-to-ship transfers; and a private chauffeur credit of up to USD $500 via Blacklane. Unlimited shore excursions at every port — over 4,500 options across 550+ destinations. Butler service from Penthouse Suites upward.

Hapag-Lloyd includes: all dining at every restaurant without surcharges on both EUROPA and EUROPA 2 — including The Globe by Kevin Fehling (three Michelin stars) on EUROPA. Champagne on arrival. Daily-replenished minibar (non-alcoholic beverages in standard categories; alcoholic selections in higher tiers). From January 2026, complimentary soft drinks throughout the day. Gratuities included. 24-hour room service. On expedition ships, all Zodiac excursions, polar gear, and expert-guided landings are included, and some Antarctic fares include charter flights to Ushuaia.

Hapag-Lloyd does not include: alcoholic beverages at bars and restaurants (a beverage package is available for approximately EUR $200 per person per cruise — modest but an additional cost); Wi-Fi beyond 60 free minutes per day (packages from EUR $19 for 1 GB to EUR $225 for 25 GB; unlimited only for Grand Penthouse and Owner Suite guests); flights for ocean cruises; standard shore excursions on EUROPA and EUROPA 2; valet laundry; or pre-cruise hotel stays.

The cost gap for Australians is substantial. On a 14-night voyage, a couple enjoying two cocktails before dinner and a shared bottle of wine nightly would spend EUR $2,000–$3,000 on beverages that Regent includes. Add Wi-Fi packages (EUR $119–$225 per person) and shore excursions (AUD $2,000–$5,000), and Hapag-Lloyd’s effective per-diem climbs well above the headline fare. Then add business-class flights from Australia (AUD $10,000–$18,000 per couple) and transfers (AUD $500–$1,000). Regent’s all-inclusive model covers every one of these elements.

Dining and culinary experience

Both lines include all dining without surcharges — a shared structural advantage over most ultra-luxury competitors. The difference lies in pedigree versus breadth.

Hapag-Lloyd EUROPA offers five restaurants, all included. The headline is The Globe by Kevin Fehling — a three-Michelin-star chef who personally joins approximately eight cruises per year and prepares multi-course tasting menus for approximately 26–30 guests per seating. This is the only restaurant at sea where a three-Michelin-star chef regularly cooks onboard — not a licensing deal, not a brand extension, but the chef himself in the galley. The rebuilt Pearls restaurant serves 15 innovative caviar compositions using spherification alongside traditional caviar, with three seven-course menus including vegan options. EUROPA Restaurant serves daily-changing international gourmet menus, Venezia offers Italian classics, and Oriental serves Asian fusion from an open show kitchen.

Hapag-Lloyd EUROPA 2 offers seven restaurants plus casual venues, all included. Weltmeere is the main dining room with nearly half its tables set for two. Tarragon is a French brasserie with signature tableside beef tartare. Elements serves Asian fusion. Serenissima offers Italian regional specialities. Sakura serves high-grade sushi at dinner. Yacht Club is the casual grill.

Regent offers seven to eleven restaurants depending on the ship, all included. Compass Rose is the elegant main dining room with open seating and a rotating menu supplemented by an “Always Available” selection including Black Angus filet mignon and whole Dover sole. Prime 7 is a classic American steakhouse. Pacific Rim serves pan-Asian cuisine. Chartreuse delivers French fine dining. Sette Mari at La Veranda offers Italian trattoria. The refurbished Pool Grill introduces a wood-fired pizza concept. Seven Seas Prestige adds Azure (Mediterranean mezze-style shared plates), bringing the total to eleven venues — the most in the ultra-luxury segment.

The critical difference: Hapag-Lloyd’s The Globe represents the highest single-restaurant pedigree at sea — three Michelin stars with the chef physically present. The Pearls caviar programme is also unique. No Regent restaurant approaches this level of culinary distinction. However, Regent offers more venues, more cuisines, and broader consistency across a larger fleet. Every Regent restaurant, every night, every ship — no reservation limits, no caps. EUROPA 2’s seven restaurants rival Regent’s Explorer-class for range. The choice is between Hapag-Lloyd’s peak quality (Fehling, Pearls) and Regent’s breadth and accessibility (more restaurants, more options, larger fleet).

Suites and accommodation

Both lines deliver spacious all-suite accommodation, but Regent scales higher at the upper tiers.

Hapag-Lloyd EUROPA 2 features 251 suites, all with step-out verandas. The entry-level Veranda Suite is 301 square feet plus a 75-square-foot veranda (376 total). Spa Suites at 452 square feet include in-room whirlpool and direct spa access. The Grand Penthouse Suite spans 840 square feet plus veranda with separate living and sleeping areas, electric star ceiling, and steam shower sauna. The Owner Suite reaches 1,066 square feet plus 161-square-foot veranda with whirlpool bath and steam sauna. Butler service for Penthouse and above.

Hapag-Lloyd EUROPA features suites from approximately 291 square feet following the 2024 refurbishment across 130+ suites. Top suites are smaller than EUROPA 2’s equivalents.

Regent’s Explorer-class (Explorer, Splendor, Grandeur) offers the Deluxe Veranda Suite at 307–361 square feet plus 55–88-square-foot balcony (395–449 total). Penthouse Suites are 450–545 square feet plus balcony. The Master Suite is 1,403 square feet. The Regent Suite spans 4,443 square feet including a 1,417-square-foot balcony with private in-suite spa (sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi) and Steinway Grand piano. Butler service from Penthouse upward.

Regent’s Heritage-class (Mariner, Voyager, both refurbished 2025–2026) offers entry-level suites from approximately 301 square feet with balcony.

Seven Seas Prestige (arriving December 2026) introduces Grand Loft Suites at 856 square feet, Skyview Sola at 1,325 square feet, Skyview Luna at 1,728 square feet, and the Skyview Regent Suite at 8,794 square feet — the largest all-inclusive suite in cruise history with a private elevator and floating staircase.

The comparison: At entry level, EUROPA 2 (376 total) and Regent Explorer-class (395–449 total) are broadly comparable. But Regent pulls ahead decisively from Penthouse upward, and at the top end the gap is extraordinary — Regent Suite at 4,443 square feet versus EUROPA 2’s Owner Suite at 1,227 square feet. However, EUROPA 2’s space-per-guest ratio of 83 gross tonnes per guest is among the highest in the industry, meaning public spaces feel less crowded despite the fleet’s smaller suites.

Pricing and value

Headline fares look competitive, but the total cost for Australians overwhelmingly favours Regent.

Hapag-Lloyd per-diem (EUROPA 2, ocean voyages): approximately EUR $500–$800 per person per night. A 13-day Hamburg to Malaga voyage in July 2026 starts from EUR $7,790 per person (EUR $599 per night). Singapore to Perth (17 days, January 2027) starts from EUR $13,440 per person (EUR $791 per night). These headline fares do not include alcoholic beverages, extended Wi-Fi, flights, excursions, or transfers.

Hapag-Lloyd per-diem (HANSEATIC expedition, Antarctic voyages): approximately EUR $830–$1,185 per person per night. A 20-day Ushuaia roundtrip Antarctic expedition starts from EUR $18,990–$23,690 per person. Charter flights to Ushuaia are included in Antarctic fares.

Regent per-diem: approximately USD $650–$1,140 per person per night. A 14-night Mediterranean in a Deluxe Veranda Suite on Explorer-class costs roughly USD $860–$1,140 per night. Seven Seas Prestige introductory pricing starts from approximately USD $650 per night. Roundtrip Sydney (10 nights) from approximately AUD $11,169 per person. These fares include business-class air, unlimited excursions, all dining and drinks, Wi-Fi, transfers, pre-cruise hotel, and laundry.

Total cost for an Australian couple on a 14-night Mediterranean voyage:

Regent (Deluxe Veranda Suite, all-inclusive): approximately AUD $24,000–$36,000. This covers everything — cruise, flights, excursions, dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, transfers, hotel, and laundry.

Hapag-Lloyd (EUROPA 2, Veranda Suite): approximately AUD $22,000–$35,000 for the cruise fare. Add business-class flights from Sydney to Europe (AUD $10,000–$18,000), onboard beverages (AUD $3,000–$5,000), shore excursions (AUD $2,000–$5,000), Wi-Fi packages (AUD $300–$700), transfers (AUD $500–$1,000), and pre-cruise hotel (AUD $400–$800). Total: approximately AUD $38,000–$65,000.

The pattern is stark. Hapag-Lloyd’s headline fare looks competitive, but the total cost for Australians is AUD $14,000–$29,000 higher once you add flights, beverages, excursions, Wi-Fi, and transfers that Regent includes. The further you fly from the embarkation port, the more Regent’s model favours Australians. Hapag-Lloyd’s Emirates partnership (announced April 2025) may improve fly-cruise connectivity from 2027, but it will not match Regent’s included business-class flights.

Exception: If you hold significant frequent flyer points (approximately 256,000 Qantas points per couple return to Europe) and prefer independent exploration in port, Hapag-Lloyd’s lower cruise-only fare could deliver comparable value.

Spa and wellness

Both lines offer quality spa facilities, with different strengths across their respective fleets.

Hapag-Lloyd’s Ocean Spa on EUROPA 2 features treatment rooms with ocean views, a sauna and steam room complex, a relaxation room, and a dedicated fitness area. The unique Spa Suites on EUROPA 2 include in-room whirlpool baths and direct spa access — a level of integration Regent does not offer. EUROPA’s spa was updated in the 2024 refurbishment. HANSEATIC expedition ships have surprisingly well-equipped spas given their expedition focus — a restorative sauna after a day in Antarctic Zodiac conditions is one of cruising’s great pleasures.

Regent’s Serene Spa & Wellness on Explorer-class ships features a two-storey complex with a complimentary Hydrothermal Suite — aromatherapy steam room, infrared sauna, chill room, and experiential showers — available to all guests with no booking required and no time limit. Products by ELEMIS and Kérastase. Seven Seas Prestige will feature the most expansive Serene Spa at sea with an infinity pool, quartz crystal healing beds, and zero-gravity massage tables. Heritage-class ships (Mariner, Voyager) have smaller spa facilities without the Hydrothermal Suite.

The comparison: Regent’s complimentary Hydrothermal Suite on Explorer-class and Prestige-class ships is a meaningful advantage — free thermal spa access with no booking friction. Hapag-Lloyd’s Spa Suites on EUROPA 2 offer a unique integrated wellness experience for guests willing to pay for that category. Neither line leads the segment in spa scale (both are surpassed by Explora’s Helios Spa), but both deliver more than adequate wellness facilities.

Entertainment and enrichment

This is where the cultural philosophies diverge most sharply.

Hapag-Lloyd’s enrichment reflects European cultural depth. EUROPA hosts the annual Ocean Sun Classical Music Festival at sea — a multi-day programme of chamber music, orchestral performances, and artist conversations. The ART2SEA programme on EUROPA 2 features dedicated art voyages with gallery partnerships. Both ships host guest lecturers in history, science, and culture. EUROPA’s social programme includes formal captain’s dinners and gala evenings with live classical music. EUROPA 2 takes a contemporary approach — no formal nights, but curated jazz, piano bar sessions, and the Circa Contemporary Circus (Brisbane-based) performing on multiple 2026 voyages. HANSEATIC expedition ships offer daily lectures from scientists, naturalists, and historians, plus citizen science activities in partnership with the Alfred Wegener Institute.

Regent’s Constellation Theater on Explorer-class ships seats approximately 694 guests for narrative-driven production shows performed by a dedicated 12-person cast and seven-piece orchestra. Current productions include Broadway in Concert and Diamond Run. The Observation Lounge is the social heart of the evening. Guest lecturers include former ambassadors, diplomats, and scientists. The Culinary Arts Kitchen offers hands-on cooking classes (USD $89). The Epicurean Enrichment Studio (debuting on refurbished Mariner and Voyager) adds destination-focused culinary lectures.

Dress codes reflect the cultural divide. EUROPA is the most formal: gala evenings (two on a seven-night cruise), jacket and suit required for the main restaurant at dinner, tie optional except on gala evenings. EUROPA 2 is “21 knots without a tie” — smart casual throughout. HANSEATIC ships are casual. Regent is “Elegant Casual” since August 2025 — refined denim and dress trainers permitted after 6 PM. No mandatory formal nights on any Regent ship.

The comparison: Hapag-Lloyd offers deeper cultural enrichment — classical music festivals, three-Michelin-star chef presence, 890 original artworks, citizen science expeditions. Regent offers more polished mainstream entertainment — production shows, cooking classes, guest lecturers. EUROPA’s formality will feel either elegant or dated depending on your perspective. Regent’s atmosphere is immediately familiar and relaxed for most English-speaking travellers.

Fleet and destination coverage

Regent has the larger, newer fleet with aggressive growth. Hapag-Lloyd has the unique expedition advantage.

Hapag-Lloyd operates five ships with a total capacity of approximately 1,700 guests: EUROPA (1999, refurbished 2024, 408 guests, 28,890 GT), EUROPA 2 (2013, 500 guests, 42,830 GT), HANSEATIC nature (2019, 230 guests, 15,650 GT), HANSEATIC inspiration (2019, 230 guests, 15,650 GT), and HANSEATIC spirit (2021, 230 guests, 16,100 GT). No new builds on order. The ocean ships are ageing — EUROPA is 27 years old — though impeccably maintained to retain their five-star-plus ratings.

Regent operates six ships (becoming seven with Prestige in December 2026): Explorer (2016, 750 guests, 55,254 GT), Splendor (2020, 750 guests), Grandeur (2023, 746 guests), Mariner (2001, refurbished November 2025, 700 guests), Voyager (2003, refurbishing April–May 2026, 700 guests), and Navigator (1999, 490 guests, retiring October 2026). Seven Seas Prestige arrives December 2026 at 77,000 GT and 822 guests. Three additional Prestige-class ships ordered for 2030, 2033, and 2036. By the mid-2030s, Regent expects nine or ten ships.

Destination coverage: Regent deploys across the Mediterranean, Alaska, Caribbean, Northern Europe, Asia, South Pacific, Australia/NZ, Africa, and South America. Hapag-Lloyd covers the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Asia, South Pacific (EUROPA 2), and — via the HANSEATIC fleet — Antarctica, the Arctic, Svalbard, Greenland, Papua New Guinea, and from 2028, Australia’s Kimberley coast. Regent’s advantage is scale (more ships, more sailings, more choice). Hapag-Lloyd’s advantage is expedition (three PC6 ice-class ships reaching destinations no Regent ship can access).

Where each line excels

Hapag-Lloyd excels in:

• Expedition cruising. Three PC6 ice-class HANSEATIC ships with 17 Zodiacs each, 16-person scientific teams, and citizen science programmes. Antarctica, the Arctic, and the Kimberley by 2028. Regent has no equivalent.
• Culinary pedigree. The Globe by Kevin Fehling (three Michelin stars, chef present on select voyages) is the highest-credential restaurant at sea. The Pearls caviar programme is unique in the segment.
• Space per guest. EUROPA 2’s ratio of 83 GT per guest is among the highest in the industry — public spaces feel exceptionally uncrowded.
• Cultural depth. Classical music festivals, 890 original artworks, ART2SEA voyages, citizen science partnerships. A distinctly European approach to enrichment.
• All-inclusive dining. Every restaurant on every ship without surcharges — matching Regent in this specific dimension.

Regent excels in:

• All-inclusive completeness. Business-class air, unlimited excursions, all dining and drinks, transfers, pre-cruise hotel, and valet laundry in a single fare. No other line matches this breadth of inclusion.
• Australian accessibility. Approximately 24 sailings in AU/NZ waters between 2026 and 2028, roundtrip Sydney options, included flights from Australian gateways, and a dedicated seven-day Australian reservations line.
• Suite scale at upper tiers. From Penthouse upward, Regent’s suites are substantially larger. The Skyview Regent Suite on Prestige (8,794 square feet) is in a category of its own.
• Fleet growth and modernity. Three ships since 2016, Prestige arriving December 2026, three more through 2036. Average fleet age dropping from 15 to approximately 11 years.
• Language and cultural familiarity. English-primary, predominantly American/British/Australian passenger base. An Australian will feel immediately at home.
• Loyalty programme. Free to join, seven tiers, cross-brand honouring with Norwegian and Oceania. Structurally more generous than Hapag-Lloyd’s paid-membership model.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Regent has the overwhelming accessibility advantage. Hapag-Lloyd’s emerging Australian presence offers unique expedition opportunities.

Hapag-Lloyd

EUROPA 2: Singapore to Perth (17 days, January–February 2027) — Hapag-Lloyd’s first visit to Australian waters. Via Semarang, Bali, Lombok, Komodo, Broome, Exmouth, Geraldton, and Fremantle. From approximately EUR $13,440 per person. The bilingual EUROPA 2 experience reaches Australia at last.

EUROPA 2: Perth to Auckland (19 days, February 2027) — Via Busselton, Albany, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland. Embark Fremantle if joining from Perth. A comprehensive Australian coast sailing.

EUROPA 2: New Zealand Circumnavigation (18 days from Auckland, March 2027) — Following the Australia legs, a dedicated NZ voyage.

HANSEATIC spirit: Kimberley Expedition (18 days, February 2028) — The maiden Kimberley expedition for Hapag-Lloyd. King George River, Montgomery Reef, Houtman Abrolhos Islands. PC6 ice-class ship with Zodiacs, scientific expedition team. Adults-only. A unique product combining German expedition expertise with Australian wilderness.

HANSEATIC: Antarctic Expeditions (20–22 days from Ushuaia, 2026–2027 season) — From EUR $18,190–$23,690 per person. Charter flights to Ushuaia included. PC6 ice class enables access to the Weddell Sea and South Georgia.

Regent

Sydney roundtrip (10 nights, December 2026 on Seven Seas Explorer) — No flight required. From approximately AUD $11,169 per person. The most convenient ultra-luxury option for Australians.

Bali to Sydney (16 nights on Seven Seas Explorer) — Via Komodo, Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, and Airlie Beach. Business-class flights included.

Auckland to Sydney (14–15 nights, January 2027 on Seven Seas Explorer) — Comprehensive NZ itinerary arriving Sydney. Business-class flights included.

32-night Australia Circumnavigation (roundtrip Sydney on Seven Seas Explorer) — The definitive Australian ultra-luxury cruise. Every major coastal destination. No international flight required.

Grand Continental Sojourn (82 nights, Barcelona to Sydney) — An extended voyage home from Europe. Business-class air to Barcelona included.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Hapag-Lloyd

EUROPA 2 (500 guests, 2013) — The recommended ship for English-speaking travellers. Bilingual since launch, dedicated International Hostess, contemporary atmosphere (“21 knots without a tie”), seven restaurants, 890 original artworks. The best introduction to Hapag-Lloyd for Australians.

EUROPA (408 guests, 1999, refurbished 2024) — The German flagship. Five-stars-plus. The Globe by Fehling. More formal and more culturally German. Choose only if you are comfortable in a predominantly German-speaking social environment and appreciate formal dining culture. Now bilingual from January 2026, but the cultural atmosphere remains distinctly German.

HANSEATIC inspiration (230 guests, 2019) — The best expedition choice for English-speaking first-timers. Bilingual from launch. The Nikkei restaurant (first Japanese-Peruvian fusion at sea). Family-friendly with the Young Explorers Program.

HANSEATIC spirit (230 guests, 2021) — The newest and only adults-only expedition ship. Confirmed for the 2028 Kimberley deployment. Choose for Antarctica or the Kimberley.

HANSEATIC nature (230 guests, 2019) — Now bilingual from 2026. Choose based on itinerary.

Regent

Seven Seas Grandeur (746 guests, 2023) — The newest Explorer-class ship. Excellent first Regent experience.

Seven Seas Explorer (750 guests, 2016) — Primary ship deployed to Australia and New Zealand. The Regent Suite (4,443 square feet) is a showpiece. Choose for Australian sailings.

Seven Seas Splendor (750 guests, 2020) — Near-identical to Explorer. Choose based on itinerary.

Seven Seas Prestige (822 guests, arriving December 2026) — The largest Regent ship. Eleven dining venues. Skyview Regent Suite at 8,794 square feet. Worth booking for the Mediterranean inaugural season.

Seven Seas Mariner (700 guests, 2001, refurbished November 2025) — Heritage-class, refreshed. Good value. Note: no complimentary Hydrothermal Suite.

Seven Seas Voyager (700 guests, 2003, refurbishing April–May 2026) — Book from June 2026 onward.

For Australian travellers specifically

The practical equation for Australians heavily favours Regent — but Hapag-Lloyd offers unique experiences Regent cannot provide.

Regent’s Australian proposition is the strongest in ultra-luxury cruising. Included business-class air on Emirates, Qantas, or Singapore Airlines from all major gateways. Approximately 24 sailings in AU/NZ waters between 2026 and 2028. Roundtrip Sydney departures. A seven-day Australian reservations line (1300 883 501). Active partnerships with Australian luxury travel agencies. For an Australian couple flying business class to a Mediterranean embarkation port, Regent’s included air is worth AUD $12,000–$24,000 — a saving that alone can exceed the price of many shorter cruises.

Hapag-Lloyd’s Australian proposition is emerging. EUROPA 2 visits Australian waters for the first time in January–March 2027 — the Singapore to Perth and Perth to Auckland segments are genuine Australian itineraries. HANSEATIC spirit’s Kimberley expedition in February 2028 brings German expedition expertise to Australia’s most spectacular wilderness coast. Hapag-Lloyd joined CLIA Australasia in April 2025 and has a Perth-based representative through Luxury Travel Marketing. The Emirates partnership (April 2025) will coordinate flight schedules from Australian gateways for fly-cruise packages from the 2026/27 season.

The language consideration is real. Hapag-Lloyd’s bilingual shift from January 2026 means English-speaking Australians can now practically sail any ship in the fleet. But German remains the primary onboard language, German passengers dominate, and social dynamics inevitably favour German speakers. EUROPA 2’s dedicated International Hostess mitigates this for English-speaking guests. On HANSEATIC expedition ships, the shared experience of Zodiac adventures and wildlife encounters transcends language barriers. On Regent, an Australian is never a linguistic outsider — English is the primary language, and Australian representation is strong on southern hemisphere sailings.

When to choose Hapag-Lloyd from Australia: for the Kimberley expedition (HANSEATIC spirit, 2028); for Antarctica with a scientific expedition team; for a unique cultural immersion into European cruising traditions; or for the three-Michelin-star Globe restaurant on EUROPA if you are a serious gastronome willing to navigate the German-language environment.

When to choose Regent from Australia: for everything else. Australian departures without international flights. Included business-class air when you do fly internationally. Unlimited excursions, all dining and drinks, and complete logistical simplicity. Familiar language and social environment. The strongest loyalty programme in the segment.

The onboard atmosphere

The cultural contrast between these lines is the starkest in any ultra-luxury pairing.

Hapag-Lloyd EUROPA is the most traditional ship in either fleet. German cultural traditions are prominent: formal captain’s dinners, gala evenings (two on a seven-night cruise), jacket and suit required at dinner. Passengers are predominantly from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Classical music concerts and chamber ensembles set the tone. No casino. The atmosphere is refined, culturally specific, and unmistakably German — this is a world apart from any American-heritage cruise line.

Hapag-Lloyd EUROPA 2 is deliberately different — “21 knots without a tie.” No formal nights. Contemporary European atmosphere with expensive European labels (Bogner, Escada) but no tuxedos. The 890 original artworks create a gallery-like quality. Piano bar, jazz club, late-night Sansibar lounge. Brisbane-based Circa Contemporary Circus performs on multiple 2026 voyages — a notable Australian connection. The passenger base remains predominantly German-speaking, but the bilingual environment and International Hostess create space for English-speaking guests.

Regent’s atmosphere is polished, relaxed, and quietly confident. The passenger base averages 58–65, predominantly American and British with strong Australian representation on southern hemisphere sailings. The all-inclusive model creates a distinctive relaxation — no calculation about extras, no supplementary charges. Dress code is “Elegant Casual” since August 2025. The Constellation Theater delivers production shows with a 12-person cast and seven-piece orchestra. The Observation Lounge at the bow is the social heart of the evening.

The contrast: EUROPA offers immersion in European formal dining culture and classical music — rewarding if you embrace it, alienating if you do not. EUROPA 2 bridges the gap with contemporary European style. Regent offers immediate comfort and familiarity for English-speaking travellers. Most Australians will feel more naturally at home on Regent; those who seek cultural challenge and European refinement will find Hapag-Lloyd uniquely rewarding.

The bottom line

Hapag-Lloyd and Regent are both outstanding ultra-luxury lines, but they serve fundamentally different traveller profiles — and for most Australians, the practical choice is clear.

Choose Hapag-Lloyd if you want the only three-Michelin-star chef’s restaurant at sea, the highest space-per-guest ratio in the industry, expedition ships reaching Antarctica and the Kimberley with scientific expedition teams, or immersion in European cultural traditions. Accept that you will pay separately for beverages, Wi-Fi, flights, excursions, and transfers — adding AUD $14,000–$29,000 to the total cost compared to Regent on a typical European voyage. Accept that the onboard language and culture will be predominantly German, even with bilingual services. Hapag-Lloyd rewards travellers who seek cultural depth, expedition adventure, and the kind of esoteric quality that a three-Michelin-star chef working in a 26-seat restaurant at sea represents.

Choose Regent if you want everything handled in a single fare — flights, excursions, dining, drinks, transfers, laundry — with no supplements and no logistics to manage. Choose it for Australian departures without international flights. Choose it for the largest suites in the segment, a fleet of newer ships, and a familiar English-language atmosphere. For most Australians, Regent delivers more practical value at lower total cost, with dramatically more Australian sailings and none of the language or cultural barriers that Hapag-Lloyd’s German heritage creates.

The exception that proves the rule: if Antarctica from Ushuaia or the Kimberley by Zodiac is what you want, Hapag-Lloyd’s HANSEATIC fleet delivers an expedition experience that Regent simply cannot offer. In that specific scenario, Hapag-Lloyd is not just competitive — it is the only choice.