Hanseatic Travel

What Hanseatic Travel does

Hanseat Reisen (operating as Hanseatic Travel) is a Bremen-based online travel agency founded in 1997 that specializes in cruise and vacation package bookings for German-speaking customers. The company runs a B2C e-commerce platform at hanseatreisen.de offering ocean cruises (Kreuzfahrten), river cruises (Flussreisen), flight packages, and bus/rail travel, with supplementary products including Aktivreisen (cycling and hiking tours via SE-Tours), Grüner Reisen (sustainable travel marking with CO2 compensation), Last Minute deals, Kreuzfahrt Plus (pre/post-cruise land programs), and group travel. The platform aggregates inventory from more than 15 cruise lines including AIDA, TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff), MSC, Phoenix Reisen, Plantours, nicko cruises, A-ROSA, Hapag-Lloyd, Cunard, Costa, Norwegian Cruise Line, Hurtigruten, Princess Cruises, Explora Journeys, and VIVA Cruises.

The underlying technology stack is a content-managed booking platform with search and filtering by cruise line, destination, and travel period, supplemented by phone (0421 160 56 8787) and email ([email protected]) consultation channels staffed Monday-Friday 08:00-18:00 and Saturday 09:00-14:00. Revenue is generated primarily through commissions on cruise and travel package sales, augmented by shore excursion upsells, beverage package add-ons, CO2 compensation services, and travel insurance referrals via the HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung partnership. Published pricing examples range from €879 per person (7-night Norway cruise on Mein Schiff Flow) to €3,799 per person (18-night Panama Canal on Norwegian Joy), with a 25% booking deposit and 30-day pre-departure balance.

The go-to-market combines a sales-led hybrid model (online self-service plus personalized consultation) with channel-partner distribution through long-standing cruise line relationships. The customer base comprises German-speaking cruise enthusiasts, active and adventure travelers, families, and group travelers, with an explicit emphasis on German-language service and ships with German onboard language. The company employs 80+ staff plus approximately 50 freelance travel companions and guides, and self-describes as "one of the strongest sales partners for cruises in the German market," supported by 28 years of operating history and editorial presence in regional German media.

Name

Hanseatic Travel

Legal name

Hanseat Reisen

Website

https://hanseatreisen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hanseat Reisen (Hanseatic Travel) is a Bremen-based online travel agency founded in 1997 that distributes cruise and vacation packages from 15+ major cruise lines to German-speaking consumers through an e-commerce platform with phone and email consultation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cruise Travel Services

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510), Tour Operators (56152), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Cruise Travel Agencies & Specialist Cruise Consultants (THAEAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocean Cruise Specialists (Mainstream/Contemporary) (THAKAKAG), River Cruise Booking & Distribution (Direct/Agents/OTAs) (THAEACAF), Cruise Planning & Booking (HSACAKAE), Cruise Shore Excursion Operators & Port Services (Agency-led) (THAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Cruise booking
• River cruises
• Ocean cruises
• Travel packages
• Group travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Cruise Package Sales: Commissions earned from selling cruise and river cruise packages from partner cruise lines including AIDA, TUI Cruises, MSC, Phoenix Reisen, Plantours, nicko cruises, A-ROSA, Hapag-Lloyd, and others. Revenue generated through package prices that include travel arrangements, transfers, and optional add-ons.
2. Travel Services and Add-ons: Revenue from additional services such as land excursions, beverage packages, travel insurance (partner: HanseMerkur), pre- and post-trip programs, and transfer arrangements.
3. CO2 Compensation Services: Offering CO2 compensation options for travelers as part of the Grüner Reisen sustainable travel program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hanseatic Travel (Hanseat Reisen) operates as a German-language travel agency headquartered in Bremen, Germany, specializing in the retail sale of cruise and river voyage packages. The company acts as an authorized booking partner for major cruise operators including AIDA, TUI Cruises, MSC, Phoenix Reisen, Plantours, nicko cruises, A-ROSA, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, and Cunard, providing online and phone-based booking services supported by an in-house consultation team and a network of freelance guides.

Product overview

Hanseatic Travel (Hanseat Reisen) operates as a B2C online travel booking platform specializing in cruise and travel package bookings. Founded in 1997 in Bremen, Germany, the company offers a unified platform for booking ocean cruises, river cruises, flights, and bus/train travel through partnerships with major cruise lines (AIDA, TUI Cruises, MSC, Phoenix Reisen, Plantours, nicko cruises, Hapag-Lloyd, Cunard, Costa) and tour operators. The core product line includes cruise bookings (Kreuzfahrten) and river travel (Flussreisen), supplemented by add-on modules such as Kreuzfahrt Plus (pre/post cruise programs), Last Minute deals, Aktivreisen (cycling and hiking tours), Grüner Reisen (sustainable travel), and German-language cruise offerings. The company also provides ancillary services including travel insurance via HanseMerkur partnership, shore excursions, and exclusive Hanseat special pricing. The offering is a single integrated platform rather than a modular architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kreuzfahrten (Ocean Cruises)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 30 years of experience in cruise retail since 1997
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• HanseMerkur ReiseversicherungminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Insurance partner offering travel protection packages including the 'Reiseschutz Platin' package. Recommended insurance provider for customers booking through Hanseat Reisen.
• Hochschule BremenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Educational partnership through the 'Learners' Company' project where students developed concepts for sales process optimization related to sustainability. Won 3rd place Globus-Award in 2024.
• SE-ToursminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Partner for cycling and hiking tours combined with ship travel including Sail & Bike Wadden Sea and Holland UNESCO experiences.
• AIDA CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Long-standing distribution partnership for AIDA cruise packages including AIDAprima, AIDAcosma, and other ships in the AIDA fleet. Offers German-language cruise packages with special rates and promotions.
• TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Authorized partner for Mein Schiff fleet including Mein Schiff 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and Mein Schiff Relax. Features MEER Sale promotions and All-Inclusive packages.
• MSC CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Distribution partner for MSC cruise ships including MSC Euribia. Offers upgrade specials and special pricing for German-speaking customers.
• Phoenix ReisencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Long-standing partnership for Phoenix Seereisen and Phoenix Flusskreuzfahrten, offering family atmosphere with German-language service on ships like MS Hamburg.
• Plantours KreuzfahrtencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Distribution partner for Plantours' fleet including MS Amadea, offering diverse cruise itineraries worldwide.
• nicko cruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Authorized seller of nicko cruises ocean and river cruise products including nickoVISION.
• A-ROSAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Premium partner for A-ROSA river cruises including A-ROSA SENA with E-Motion Ship technology. Offers sustainable travel options as part of Grüner Reisen program.
• Hapag-Lloyd CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Authorized sales partner for Hapag-Lloyd luxury cruise products including MS Europa, MS Europa 2, and HANSEATIC expedition fleet (HANSEATIC nature, spirit, inspiration).
• CunardminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Distributor for Cunard Line cruises including Queen Mary 2, with Summer Sale promotions and Smart Pricing.
• Costa CruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Partner for Costa cruise packages including Fly & Cruise options with Costa Smeralda and up to €200 onboard credit.
• Norwegian Cruise LineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Distribution partner for Norwegian Cruise Line ships including Norwegian Joy with Panama Canal itineraries.
• HurtigrutenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Partner for Hurtigruten expedition cruises including North Cape winter voyages.
• Princess CruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Authorized seller of Princess Cruises packages including Alaska and worldwide itineraries.
• Explora JourneysminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Partner for EXPLORA ships with luxury ocean voyage itineraries.
• VIVA CruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Distribution partner for VIVA Cruises river cruise products including VIVA ONE.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kreuzfahrten.de: German online cruise travel agency selling ocean and river cruises from multiple major cruise lines. Most direct comparable — competes head-to-head with Hanseat Reisen for German-speaking cruise shoppers using a similar multi-line reseller model and online booking platform.
• Schöner Reisen (Schauinsland-Reisen): German tour operator with strong package holiday and cruise offering across multiple lines, including own-brand products. Comparable in scale and distribution model to Hanseat Reisen within the German market.
• Dreamlines: Germany-headquartered cruise-specialist online travel agency with broad multi-line cruise inventory and personalized advisor consultation. Directly competes with Hanseat Reisen in the German cruise retail market with comparable business model and target customer.
• 1-2-Fly (Schmetterling Reisen): German cruise and package tour specialist targeting German-speaking travelers with multi-line cruise offerings and advisor services. Comparable mid-sized agency peer competing in similar cruise retail segments.

Broad incumbents

• TUI Deutschland: Largest integrated German tour operator and travel agency with own cruise brand (TUI Cruises / Mein Schiff), hotel, and flight operations. Overlaps with Hanseat Reisen as a distribution channel but is also a partner; much larger scale across all travel categories.
• CHECK24 Reisen: Germany's largest price-comparison and booking portal, offering cruises, package holidays, flights, and hotels. Competes with Hanseat Reisen on price-driven cruise shoppers but operates as a broad travel marketplace rather than a cruise specialist.
• HolidayCheck: German-speaking travel review and booking platform with cruise, hotel, and package offerings. Adjacent competitor that captures cruise consideration via reviews and meta-search but does not provide dedicated cruise advisor service.
• FTI Touristik: Large German tour operator with cruise, package, and hotel offerings including own-brand cruise concepts. Comparable in product breadth but operates at materially larger scale than Hanseat Reisen.
• DER Touristik (DER Reisebüro): Major German tour operator and travel agency chain with extensive cruise distribution and own retail branches. Competes in German cruise retail at greater scale but with broader portfolio and physical agency network.

Others

• AIDA Cruises (direct booking): Germany's leading mainstream cruise line and one of Hanseat Reisen's core channel partners. Represents both a partner and indirect competitor as AIDA increasingly promotes direct booking through its own digital channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Hanseatreisen
• Instagraminstagram.com/hanseatreisen
• Pinterestpinterest.de/hanseatreisen
• Xx.com/hanseatreisen

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hanseatic Travel