MS Europa 2 cruise ship is a top luxury vessel. It entered service in May 2013, operated and owned by the German company Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. In the company's history, this is the 5th ship named "Europa".

History - construction & ownership

The 42,830-ton, 516-passenger cruise ms Europa 2 sails worldwide, specialized in family and golf themed cruises. Her best luxurious features, from all-balconied staterooms to onboard cooking school make passengers come back for their next vacation – obviously enjoying very much the Hapag Lloyd’s new ship top luxury cruise prices. The ratio crew-to-guest ensures the needed relaxation and comfort, guaranteed with 370 crew members. MS Europa 2 is Hapag-Lloyd's first cruise ship with both German and English being official languages onboard. This fact gives cruising experience real international flavour.

On May 10, 2013 the vessel was christened during the 824th Hamburg Port Anniversary. Europa 2 sailed on her 14-night maiden voyage from Hamburg on May 11, 2013.

Cruise itinerary program

MS Europa 2 itinerary program is based on around the world cruise deals to popular destinations, such as Transatlantic crossings, Caribbean, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean (French riviera and Italian ports), Asia, South Africa. The Europa 2 cruise ship offers all-inclusive deals, and is often ranked as the most expensive passenger ship in the world.

The 2017-2018 season will see ms Europa 2 call at 22 maiden ports and offer private land-based pre- and post-cruise programmes, as well as a new travel format IN2BALANCE, focusing on relaxation techniques of the Far East. For the first time, the 500-passenger Hapag-Lloyd Cruises luxury ship will call at Port Canaveral, Messina, Puerto Chacabuco and Stanley, Falkland Islands.

In 2017, 3-time German Olympic champion Maria Höfl-Riesch, will offer special fitness sessions and become ‘director of sports & fitness EUROPA 2’.

Cabins

All 244 suites have verandas and range in size from veranda suites up to owner’s suites at 1,066sq.ft. plus 161sq.ft. veranda. There are also seven family apartments, each consisting of two living areas of 215sq.ft. plus two 75sq.ft. verandas. Europa 2 suites feature flat screen TVs, tablet PCs, portable telephones. Upon arrival, all guests enjoy a bottle of champagne in their suites, and free mini bar with soft drinks and beer. Grand Suite and the above have mini bars that contain high-quality spirits. Their guests benefit from complimentary butler service.

Dining options - Food & Drinks

A large number of seats are provided in each Europa 2 restaurants, and there are no set seatings, so passengers can eat whenever and wherever they want to. Restaurant Weltmeere is the largest onboard dining venue, at the stern of ship, serving highest level food. Other venues are Restaurant Elements serving Asian cuisines plus traditional Chinese dishes, Restaurant Tarragon with its French cuisine, and Restaurant Serenissima offering authentic Italian dishes. Yacht Club Restaurant surprises with a mix of dishes specially prepared for all guests by the chefs. Try alternatively Sushi Restaurant Sakura or reserve Speisezimmer for additional charge to celebrate special occasions, or dine with family. No fixed dress code is required onboard Europa 2 ship. For the evenings, better consider smart casual style recommended. Summer suit or a jacket for gentlemen would be appropriate, ties are not compulsory.

• Passengers onboard MS Europa 2 can enjoy a huge selection of quality spirits and wines: around 19,000 bottles of wine with around 450 cuvees (specific wine blends).
• The cruise ship has the biggest gin collection at sea - 37 different gins. The bar menu has 50 different cocktails, including 10 non-alcoholic.
• Champagne types are 24, with 12 different champagne wine brands.
• The ship's sommelier (wine steward, knowledgeable professional) organizes in the evenings wine tastings in the Grande Reserve. During these special events, he combines various wines. Depending on cruise itineraries, often are added regional and local wines to the menu list.
• Wine tasting on MS Europa 2 costs EUR 80 per person.
• During gin tastingsonboard, passengers learn all about the drink – categories, origin, ingredients. Gin tastings usually offer sampling of 5 or 6 different gins.
• Cruise ticket prices are not inclusive of alcoholic drinks.
• Beverages on Europa 2 are reasonably priced. Quality wines prices start from EUR 17 per bottle. The most expensive wine is Romanée-Saint-Vivant (Burgundy France, 2008) priced EUR 1030 per bottle. Cocktails (like Mojito or Long Island Iced Tea) cost EUR 5,30. Draft beer prices start from EUR 1,60.
• Hapag-Lloyd's "onboard beverage credit" is the company's all-inclusive drink package (for both non-alcoholic and unlimited alcoholic drinks) priced at EUR 200 per person per cruise.

Entertainment options - Fun & Sport

The swimming pool is situated in an area with comfortable sun-loungers, enough in number for all passengers. The retractable roof covers entire pool area in bad weather. Ocean Spa offers a rich menu of treatments and separate area for hairdresser. Let be pampered by professional physiotherapists, medical masseuses, beauticians, and pedicurists.

Daytime activities provide exciting shore excursions led by expert guides. Maritime lectures for better insight to the visited regions are often offered. The two golf simulators offer a selection of the world’s top golf courses. On all Europa 2 cruises there are PGA professionals. Golf packages are available to purchase for playing different courses in call ports.

Other MS Europa 2 facilities include a library, auditorium-3D cinema, boutique, fitness area, and Culinary School (for additional charge). Kids are well catered for onboard, with Knopf Club (for ages 2-3), Kids’ Club (for ages 4-10), Teens’ Club (for ages 11-15). Kids up to 11 years old travel free when they share with full-paying adult. Those aged 12-15 have to pay £39 per night only. The Theatre offers spectacular shows, famous guest artists, and performances from ship’s band. The Jazz Club and 3D cinema are other amenities to choose from. Bars’ selection includes the quiet Herrenzimmer, and Sansibar – open until late at night for dancing to the DJ music . You can also choose the piano and pool bars, or Belvedere.

• Cabin grades number: 12
• Total number of cabins: 251 (all of which Suites, with their own veranda)
• Dining Rooms: Weltmeere
• Restaurants and food bars: Tarragon (French cuisine), Elements (Asian), Serenissima (Italian), Yacht Club, Sushi Restaurant Sakura, Grande Reserve.
• Lounges & Bars: Herrenzimmer (smoking), Sansibar (disco), Jazz Club, Belvedere, Wine Bar, Pool Bar, Piano Bar, Gentlemen's Room.
• Ocean Spa, Fitness area, golf, shuffleboard, swimming pool (15-meter, glass roof covered), whirlpools, Theater (3D cinema screen), Cooking School, Teens' Club, Kids' Club, ‘Knopf Club’  (2-3yo), library, luxury boutique.
• Europa 2 cruise ship is namesake to ms Europa, and the 5th vessel in the Hapag-Lloyd's cruise fleet. She was launched on July 6, 2012. On April 29, 2013, the ship was handed over to the HP company. It was christened on May 10, 2013, during the 824th Anniversary of the port of Hamburg.
• Europa 2 ship has a biological sewage treatment plant and seawater desalination facilities. Fuels that are used have a 0,1% max sulphur content while berthing in ports. It means the emissions are reduced by 93%. The vessel's hull is specially designed to cut down fuel consumption by 18%. The ship is equipped with SCR (selective catalytic reduction) system resulting in up to 95% less nitrogen emissions, in comparison to other liners.
• The Eastern Mediterranean itinerary May 14-24, 2016 (Istanbul to Piraeus Athens) was scheduled as "Surprise Cruise". All passengers were allowed to vote on where the ship will go and what ports to call across Turkey and Greece will visit, as only the ports of departure and arrival were fixed on the itinerary. During this special voyage, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises hosted onboard Europa 2 the first ever international circus arts festival. Live performances were scheduled for the German musician Roger Cicero. The ship's Captain (Christian van Zwamen) presented all passengers with a list of potential itinerary routes and ports, while a lecturer talked about the destinations' highlights. There were a total of 20 destinations to choose from, Six professsional circus artists performed an acrobatics show in the theater lounge on Deck 4. Cruise fares started from £GBP 3600 pp (early booking rates).
• In 2016 (October 24-November 6) MS Europa 2 visited Cuba for the first time. The 12-day itinerary (La Guaria Venezuela to Havana) stopped at the Cuban ports Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos, Isla de la Juventud, in addition to BVI, St Lucia, St Marteen, Jamaica, Aruba and Curacao. Prices started from EUR 10130 pp (USD 8870 / GBP 5550).