Expedition Madagascar: one of evolution’s most beautiful gifts - Mahe (Seychelles) to Mauritius

Itinerary

Day 1 Feb 11, 2028 Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles Departs 23:59 The Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean about 1,000 miles off the east coast of Africa, impresses visitors with its pristine natural beauty and indigenous plants and animals, such as the hawksbill turtle and the magpie robin. On the island of Mahé, Victoria—the nation’s main city and one of the smallest capitals in the world—bustles with activity and is home to nearly a third of the Seychelles’ population. Set against steep, velvet-green mountains that include 905-meter (3,000-foot) Morne Seychellois, the island's highest peak, the city is a colorful patchwork of tin-roofed buildings. It displays a vibrant Creole heritage that’s evident in the conversations of locals (English is the official language, but Seychellois Creole is the lingua franca) and the aroma of fragrant spices wafting from its open-air market. Beyond the market area, Victoria’s main sights are the circa 1903 Victorian clock tower Little Ben, modeled after its larger counterpart in London, and the Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar temple, the only Hindu temple on the islands. Just outside of town is the tranquil Seychelles National Botanical Gardens, but to truly appreciate Mahé Island, one must head to the beach—and luckily there are more than 60 from which to choose.

Seychelles photo — Day 2 Feb 12, 2028 Seychelles The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa. It's home to numerous beaches, coral reefs and nature reserves, as well as rare animals such as giant Aldabra tortoises. Mahé, a hub for visiting the other islands, is home to capital Victoria. It also has the mountain rainforests of Morne Seychellois National Park and beaches, including Beau Vallon and Anse Takamaka. Seychelles port guide Search cruises visiting Seychelles

Day 6 Feb 16, 2028 Nosy Be, Madagascar Madagascar is a world apart. And Nosy Be, which means “large island”, is apart from that. The islands have unique wildlife and cultural traditions long separated from the African mainland. Some 90 percent of the plants and animals in Madagascar are endemic. Nosy Be’s port, Andoany, was formerly called Hell-ville, but is not really that bad. The major attractions for many visitors are the clear waters and prolific coral reefs surrounding the island. There are shops in the town selling the many essential oils, of ylang-ylang, vanilla, black pepper and other plants, that originally attracted the attention of the wider world. Outside town, near the village of Mahatsinjo, there is an immense banyan tree planted by a Malagasy queen in 1836. It is still sacred, and the current queen makes a pilgrimage to sacrifice at the tree annually. The Lokobe Natural Reserve is the place to see the endemic forest and the endearing lemurs that are the iconic wildlife species of Madagascar, along with crater lakes, waterfalls and other types of wildlife. At Lemurlandia, lemurs are captive, and the park also offers up-close access to vanilla orchids, ylang-ylang, cacao trees and other specialty plants. The island also has a distillery that flavors local rum with essential oils of all flavors. Nosy Be, Madagascar port guide Search cruises visiting Nosy Be, Madagascar

Nosy Be, Madagascar photo — Day 6 Feb 16, 2028 Nosy Be, Madagascar Madagascar is a world apart. And Nosy Be, which means “large island”, is apart from that. The islands have unique wildlife and cultural traditions long separated from the African mainland. Some 90 percent of the plants and animals in Madagascar are endemic. Nosy Be’s port, Andoany, was formerly called Hell-ville, but is not really that bad. The major attractions for many visitors are the clear waters and prolific coral reefs surrounding the island. There are shops in the town selling the many essential oils, of ylang-ylang, vanilla, black pepper and other plants, that originally attracted the attention of the wider world. Outside town, near the village of Mahatsinjo, there is an immense banyan tree planted by a Malagasy queen in 1836. It is still sacred, and the current queen makes a pilgrimage to sacrifice at the tree annually. The Lokobe Natural Reserve is the place to see the endemic forest and the endearing lemurs that are the iconic wildlife species of Madagascar, along with crater lakes, waterfalls and other types of wildlife. At Lemurlandia, lemurs are captive, and the park also offers up-close access to vanilla orchids, ylang-ylang, cacao trees and other specialty plants. The island also has a distillery that flavors local rum with essential oils of all flavors. Nosy Be, Madagascar port guide Search cruises visiting Nosy Be, Madagascar

Day 9 Feb 19, 2028 Antsiranana Antsiranana is located at the northernmost tip of Madagascar on the second largest natural bay in the world with 250 km² - only that in Rio de Janeiro is larger. The city is better known under its former name Diego Suarez, which was officially dropped in 1975. The city is considered a gem of the colonial architectural style and impresses with wide streets and colorful buildings, luxury hotels and gemstone shops. Enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the provincial capital on a cruise in the Indian Ocean, which sets it apart from other cities in Madagascar. The city is also recommended as a starting point for various day trips in the area. The bay in Antsiranana alone is one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

Day 10 Feb 20, 2028 Antsiranana Antsiranana is located at the northernmost tip of Madagascar on the second largest natural bay in the world with 250 km² - only that in Rio de Janeiro is larger. The city is better known under its former name Diego Suarez, which was officially dropped in 1975. The city is considered a gem of the colonial architectural style and impresses with wide streets and colorful buildings, luxury hotels and gemstone shops. Enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the provincial capital on a cruise in the Indian Ocean, which sets it apart from other cities in Madagascar. The city is also recommended as a starting point for various day trips in the area. The bay in Antsiranana alone is one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

Day 15 Feb 25, 2028 Reunion 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore East of Madagascar, the warmly inviting Réunion offers a little taste of French culture on a tropical island full of cultural Creole buildings and an expansive range of superb geographical diversity. From beaches to lush forests, Réunion’s rugged roads and plains lead to any number of inspiring scenes. Seek out the ‘Piton de la Fournaise’ or ‘Peak of the Furnace,’ to witness an active volcano. Reunion port guide Search cruises visiting Reunion

Reunion photo — Day 15 Feb 25, 2028 Reunion 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore East of Madagascar, the warmly inviting Réunion offers a little taste of French culture on a tropical island full of cultural Creole buildings and an expansive range of superb geographical diversity. From beaches to lush forests, Réunion’s rugged roads and plains lead to any number of inspiring scenes. Seek out the ‘Piton de la Fournaise’ or ‘Peak of the Furnace,’ to witness an active volcano. Reunion port guide Search cruises visiting Reunion

Day 16 Feb 26, 2028 Port Louis Arrives 08:00 A holiday in the Mauritius with an MSC cruise means disembarking at Port Louis. It is the capital of this island nation off the cost of Madagascar, which together with its twin Réunion, represents a must-see stop for an MSC cruise to Southern Africa. Port Louis has taken its role as the country’s first city seriously and has expanded over time with new streets, buildings and a beautiful promenade. After our cruise ship has docked, you will be able to take a stroll along the Caudan Waterfront, lined with some old cannons and numerous shops. Traces of Port Luis’s colonial past can be seen on Place D’Armes, where the statue of Bertrand François Mahé, the count of La Bourdonnais and a former governor of the island, observes passers-by surrounded by palm trees. A short distance away, stands the Government House. Dating from 1738, it is shaped like a horseshoe and protected by an iron fence guarded by the statue of a grave-looking Queen Victoria. In the same neighbourhood, there are also the central market and the city park, the Jardins de la Compagnie. However, it is a former property of the Count de La Bourdonnais to house an even more spectacular garden, the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden. An MSC excursion to this garden should not be missed for any reason on earth. This garden is almost three hundred years old. Over the centuries, it has been lovingly tended by expert gardeners, who have slowly enriched it with plant species from three different continents, Asia, Africa and Oceania. If you prefer the sea to vegetation, another highly recommended MSC excursion will allow you to pass a day on the other side of Mauritius, on the splendid beaches of Ile aux Cerfs (so called because of the deer imported here for hunting). Port Louis port guide Search cruises visiting Port Louis

Port Louis photo — Day 16 Feb 26, 2028 Port Louis Arrives 08:00 A holiday in the Mauritius with an MSC cruise means disembarking at Port Louis. It is the capital of this island nation off the cost of Madagascar, which together with its twin Réunion, represents a must-see stop for an MSC cruise to Southern Africa. Port Louis has taken its role as the country’s first city seriously and has expanded over time with new streets, buildings and a beautiful promenade. After our cruise ship has docked, you will be able to take a stroll along the Caudan Waterfront, lined with some old cannons and numerous shops. Traces of Port Luis’s colonial past can be seen on Place D’Armes, where the statue of Bertrand François Mahé, the count of La Bourdonnais and a former governor of the island, observes passers-by surrounded by palm trees. A short distance away, stands the Government House. Dating from 1738, it is shaped like a horseshoe and protected by an iron fence guarded by the statue of a grave-looking Queen Victoria. In the same neighbourhood, there are also the central market and the city park, the Jardins de la Compagnie. However, it is a former property of the Count de La Bourdonnais to house an even more spectacular garden, the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden. An MSC excursion to this garden should not be missed for any reason on earth. This garden is almost three hundred years old. Over the centuries, it has been lovingly tended by expert gardeners, who have slowly enriched it with plant species from three different continents, Asia, Africa and Oceania. If you prefer the sea to vegetation, another highly recommended MSC excursion will allow you to pass a day on the other side of Mauritius, on the splendid beaches of Ile aux Cerfs (so called because of the deer imported here for hunting). Port Louis port guide Search cruises visiting Port Louis

Pricing

Lowest fare we've tracked over the observed 91-day span: $11,374 · range $11,374–$11,374

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Inside

Not available

Oceanview

from $11,374

$758 / night

Fare rows

Outside Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $11,374

$758 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Panoramic Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $12,006

$800 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony

from $13,306

$887 / night

Fare rows

French Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $13,306

$887 / night

per person · incl. taxes

French Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $13,616

$907 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $14,421

$961 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $14,916

$994 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $15,399

$1,026 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $16,836

$1,122 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Suite

from $20,033

$1,335 / night

Fare rows

Junior Suite with Balcony

Cabin grade

Available

from $20,033

$1,335 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Grand Suite with Veranda

Cabin grade

Available

from $27,278

$1,818 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Prices verified Jun 23, 2026

Prices come from third-party data feeds via Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works

Show all 23 cabin grades

Name	Supplier code	Type
French Balcony Cabin	03	Balcony
Balcony Cabin	04	Balcony
French Balcony Cabin	05	Balcony
Balcony Cabin	06	Balcony
Balcony Cabin	07	Balcony
Balcony Cabin	08	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S02	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S03	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S04	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S05	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S06	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S07	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S08	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	SB	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	SF	Balcony
Outside Cabin	01	Oceanview
Panoramic Cabin	02	Oceanview
Guarantee Outside Cabin	S01	Oceanview
Guarantee Outside Cabin	SAP	Oceanview
Guarantee Outside Cabin	SKAB	Oceanview
Junior Suite with Balcony	09	Suite
Grand Suite with Veranda	10	Suite
Guarantee Suite	SJS	Suite

Ship

Your ship HANSEATIC Nature 5★ **15,650** GT **230** guests Built **2019** Each of our expeditions is a work of art. Passionately conceived, masterfully realised. A portrait of the world in which there is always something new to discover. And our small, state-of-the-art expedition ships HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit (max. 230 guests) are the very best studio where such artistic masterpieces are created. Worlds both faraway and nearby. Ice and tropics. Wildlife paradise or cultural treasure. For every explorer, we offer the right journey of discovery. More than 30 years of experience as the market leader in German-speaking countries. HANSEATIC Nature ship guide Search cruises on HANSEATIC Nature

Expedition Madagascar: one of evolution’s most beautiful gifts - Mahe (Seychelles) to Mauritius

Itinerary

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