ms Europa 2

The 2013-built MS Europa 2 is a top-luxury cruise ship that entered service for Hapag-Lloyd in May 2013. In the company’s history, she is the fifth vessel to bear the name “Europa.”

The ship (IMO number 9616230) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 229378000) and registered in Valletta.

History – construction and ownership

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (Kreuzfahrten) is a Hamburg-based premium cruise brand owned by TUI AG (shipowner) and managed by its subsidiary TUI Cruises. Between 2017 and 2020, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises was fully owned by Hapag-Lloyd AG—a German-Chilean shipping company and one of the world’s oldest—currently ranked among the top five largest container shipping lines by fleet capacity.

TUI AG, headquartered in Hanover, Germany, is a British-German multinational corporation and the world’s largest leisure and travel group. Founded in 1923 (originally named “Preussag AG” until 2002), TUI specializes in global hospitality and tourism services, operating airlines, cruise ships, hotels, resorts, travel agencies, and retail outlets.

Carrying 516 passengers, MS Europa 2 sails worldwide, specializing in family and golf-themed voyages. Her luxurious all-balcony suites, fine dining, and onboard cooking school attract many returning guests who appreciate the exceptional Hapag-Lloyd service. With 370 crew members, the crew-to-guest ratio ensures a high level of comfort and personalized attention. She is also Hapag-Lloyd’s first cruise ship to operate bilingually, with both German and English as official onboard languages, giving her a distinctly international appeal.

On May 10, 2013, the vessel was christened during the 824th Hamburg Port Anniversary, and she departed the following day, May 11, on her 14-night maiden voyage from Hamburg.

Decks and Cabins

MS Europa 2 staterooms (251 in total, across 12 categories) are all suites with step-out balconies. Cabin sizes range from 28 m² / 300 ft² (plus a 7 m² / 75 ft² balcony) in the Veranda Suite up to 99 m² / 1065 ft² (plus a 15 m² / 165 ft² terrace) in the Owner Suite.

The ship features seven Family Apartments (connecting suites), each consisting of two linked cabins (2x20 m² / 2x215 ft²) and two adjoining balconies (2x7 m² / 2x75 ft²).

All staterooms feature separate sleeping and living areas, walk-in closets, minibars stocked with complimentary bottled water, soft drinks, and beer (replenished daily), as well as fresh fruit and champagne. Suites are equipped with smart HDTVs (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand movies and music). Bathrooms are marble-tiled and include a full-size bathtub, glass-enclosed shower, ample storage, premium toiletries, slippers, and plush robes.

The ship has 11 decks, of which 8 are accessible to passengers and 5 have cabins.

Shipboard Dining – Food and Drinks

Guests can dine anytime and anywhere they prefer, as there are no fixed seatings or assigned tables. The main restaurant, Weltmeere, located at the stern, serves fine international cuisine. Other venues include Elements (Asian and Chinese dishes), Tarragon (French specialties), Serenissima (Italian cuisine), and the Yacht Club Restaurant, which offers a mix of creative dishes prepared by onboard chefs. The Sushi Restaurant Sakura and private Speisezimmer (available for special occasions) offer further variety. There is no formal dress code, though smart casual evening wear is recommended—summer suits or jackets for gentlemen, with ties optional.

• MS Europa 2 carries an impressive wine selection—around 19,000 bottles representing approximately 450 blends.
• She boasts the largest gin collection at sea, featuring 37 varieties, along with a cocktail menu of 50 drinks (10 non-alcoholic).
• Guests can choose from 24 types of champagne representing 12 brands.
• The ship’s sommelier hosts evening wine tastings in the Grande Reserve, pairing wines (often including regional selections) with special menus. Wine tastings cost EUR 80 per person.
• Gin tastings introduce guests to different gin styles, origins, and ingredients, typically sampling 5–6 varieties.
• Cruise fares do not include alcoholic beverages, though prices are reasonable: quality wines start at EUR 17 per bottle, with the most expensive—Romanee-Saint-Vivant (Burgundy, 2008)—priced at EUR 1030. Cocktails such as Mojito or Long Island Iced Tea cost around EUR 5.30, and draft beers start at EUR 1.60.

Hapag-Lloyd’s all-inclusive beverage package (“onboard beverage credit”) covers unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for EUR 200 per person per cruise.

Shipboard Entertainment – Fun and Sport

The 115-meter swimming pool area is equipped with plenty of sun loungers and a retractable glass roof for use in all weather conditions. The Ocean Spa offers a wide range of treatments, with a separate hair salon and services provided by professional therapists, masseuses, beauticians, and pedicurists.

Daytime activities include guided shore excursions and maritime lectures providing insight into each destination. Two golf simulators allow guests to practice on virtual versions of the world’s best courses, and PGA professionals are available on every cruise. Specialized golf packages can be booked for play at ports of call.

Additional facilities include a library, auditorium/3D cinema, jazz club, boutique, fitness center, deck games (shuffleboard), whirlpools, and a culinary school (with supplementary fees).

Young travelers are well looked after with three dedicated clubs: Knopf Club (ages 2–3), Kids’ Club (ages 4–10), and Teens’ Club (ages 11–15). Children up to 11 years old travel free when sharing a cabin with a paying adult, while those aged 12–15 pay only GBP 39 per night.

The onboard theater hosts spectacular shows, guest artist performances, and concerts by the ship’s resident band. Bar options include the quiet Herrenzimmer smoking lounge, the lively Sansibar disco (open late with a DJ), piano and wine bars, pool bars, and the elegant Belvedere lounge.

Itineraries

MS Europa 2’s itinerary program features worldwide voyages, including transatlantic crossings, Caribbean, Baltic, Mediterranean (French Riviera and Italian ports), Asian, and South African cruises. Offering all-inclusive luxury experiences, she is often ranked among the most expensive cruise ships in the world.

During the 2017–2018 season, Europa 2 called at 22 maiden ports and introduced exclusive pre- and post-cruise land programs, along with the IN2BALANCE travel concept focusing on Far Eastern relaxation techniques. For the first time, the 500-passenger Hapag-Lloyd luxury ship visited Port Canaveral, Messina, Puerto Chacabuco, and Stanley (Falkland Islands).

MS Europa 2 is the namesake of her fleetmate MS Europa and the fifth vessel in the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet. She was launched (floated out of drydock) on July 6, 2012, delivered to Hapag-Lloyd on April 29, 2013, and christened on May 10, 2013, during the 824th Anniversary of the Port of Hamburg. Her 14-night maiden voyage departed from Hamburg on May 11, visiting ports in the Netherlands (Amsterdam), Belgium (Antwerp), France (Honfleur, La Rochelle, Bordeaux), Spain (Bilbao), and Portugal (Leixões–Oporto), and concluded in Lisbon.

The vessel (STX France Saint-Nazaire yard/hull number 156001) is powered by GE Converteam/Power Conversion marine engines (synchronous electric motors) with a combined output of 15.5 MW.

The current registered owner and management company is TUI Cruises GmbH.

MS Europa 2 is equipped with a biological sewage treatment plant and seawater desalination facilities. While berthed in ports, she operates using fuels with a maximum sulfur content of 0.1%, reducing emissions by 93%. Her hull design improves fuel efficiency by approximately 18%. The vessel is also fitted with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, which cuts nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 95% compared to conventional cruise liners.

The Eastern Mediterranean “Surprise Cruise” (May 14–24, 2016, from Istanbul to Piraeus–Athens) allowed passengers to vote on the itinerary, choosing which ports in Turkey and Greece to visit. Only the departure and arrival ports were predetermined. During this voyage, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises hosted the first-ever international circus arts festival at sea aboard Europa 2. The German musician Roger Cicero was scheduled for live performances, and Captain Christian van Zwamen presented guests with a list of potential routes and destinations. A lecturer provided insights into the ports’ highlights. Passengers chose from 20 destinations, and six professional circus artists performed an acrobatics show in the Deck 4 theater lounge. Cruise fares started at GBP 3,600 per person (early booking rates).

From October 24 to November 6, 2016, MS Europa 2 visited Cuba for the first time. The 12-day itinerary (La Guaira, Venezuela to Havana) included calls at Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos, Isla de la Juventud, as well as BVI, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Jamaica, Aruba, and Curaçao. Prices started at EUR 10,130 per person (USD 8,870 / GBP 5,550).

On two Mediterranean voyages in 2017 (June 30 – Venice to Monaco, and August 1 – Bilbao to Hamburg), the renowned German Circus Roncalli performed live onboard. Founded in 1976, the circus became the first ever to perform on a Hapag-Lloyd cruise ship, presenting two different shows per voyage. By April 2017, all themed cruises were sold out.

In 2017, three-time German Olympic champion Maria Höfl-Riesch joined Europa 2 as Director of Sports and Fitness, offering guests exclusive fitness sessions.

Like all modern newbuild cruise ships, MS Europa 2 is equipped with shore power technology, allowing her to connect to onshore electricity at compatible berths. When docked, the vessel requires 2.2 MW of electricity per hour. While berthed at Hamburg’s Cruise Center Altona, she is supplied with power by Hamburg Energie GmbH.