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. The 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 the highest 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.

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.

Ship review (onboard facilities and amenities)

Guests can dine anytime and anywhere they prefer, as there are no fixed seatings or assigned tables. The main restaurant, Weltmeere, serves international cuisine. Other dining venues are also complimentary and include Elements (Asian and Chinese dishes), Tarragon (French specialties), Serenissima (Italian cuisine), the Yacht Club Restaurant (a mix of creative dishes), Sushi Restaurant Sakura, and Speisezimmer (private dining room for special occasions).

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.

The 115-meter swimming pool area is covered by a retractable glass roof.

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, boutique, fitness center, deck games (shuffleboard), whirlpools, and a culinary school.

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.

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.

Next are reviewed MS Europa ship's facilities and amenities by deck.

DECK 4 (Lobby-Shops-Lounges-Dining, Teens)

Restaurant Weltmeere is the main dining room, located at the stern. It serves as the ship’s primary “world-a-la-carte” restaurant, offering an international gourmet menu that changes daily. The cuisine spans a broad range — from refined international dishes to inventive vegetarian options — reflecting the creative style of the ship’s culinary team. The design and atmosphere of Weltmeere balance spaciousness with elegance. The dining hall is shaped to give a sense of openness while maintaining comfort, with aesthetic touches that distinguish it from a typical cruise-ship buffet hall. Because there is no fixed seating — tables are unassigned and guests can choose when and where to dine — it offers flexibility: you dine when you want, and for many tables there are two-person seats (ideal for couples), though larger tables are also available for groups. Weltmeere is open for major meals (typically breakfast and dinner), and is included in the cruise fare — there is no surcharge for dining there. This makes it the “default” dining venue for many passengers, especially for those who prefer a classic sit-down meal in a refined setting rather than buffet-style or casual dining options.

Restaurant Elements is the Asian-fusion / Asian-cuisine specialty restaurant designed with subtle Asian-inspired decor: decorative touches evoke the East, aiming for a stylish yet discreet ambience to match the cuisine. On the menu you can expect dishes drawing on Asian culinary traditions — the offerings are sometimes described as “Asian fusion,” combining influences from China, Vietnam, India or other regions, resulting in fresh, often lighter, exotic and artfully presented meals. Guests may find traditional soups, seafood or curry-style dishes, vegetarian options and other dishes. Elements Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, its meals are included in the cruise fare, but making dinner reservations is recommended.

Restaurant Serenissima is an Italian specialty dining room featuring marble floors, tables dressed in white, and is lit by green Murano-glass chandeliers — creating a tasteful, somewhat romantic atmosphere reminiscent of an upscale Ristorante Italiano. Most tables offer ocean views through large windows, enhancing the dining experience with sea-view scenery. The cuisine focuses on regional Italian and traditional Mediterranean dishes, from antipasti through pasta and seafood specialties. Serenissima is open for lunch or dinner, and dinner reservations are required, especially on nights at sea. Serenissima is one of the complimentary restaurants, though drinks and extras may be billed separately.

Teens' Club is aimed at children aged roughly 11 to 15 years, forming the oldest age‑group in the ship’s childcare/club hierarchy (younger guests go to the “Knopf Club” for toddlers or “Kids Club” for younger children). Because of a redesign completed in 2017, the Teens’ Club has been moved to Deck 4 to make the teens’ space more private and separate from younger kids' facilities. At their club, teens have access to a range of amenities and entertainment options, including gaming consoles (Wii, PlayStation), table football (foosball), and communal “chill‑out” spaces designed for hanging out, socializing or gaming. On some cruises, organised activities for teens may include workshops (photo workshops) dance/hip‑hop courses, “teens excursions” ashore (for older kids). These are planned separately and (when offered) may be optional, for a fee. The club offers structured supervision by qualified childcare staff during pre‑defined supervising hours (typically morning through afternoon, and again later — roughly 9 AM–5 PM, and 6:30-9 PM) so that parents can have peace of mind while teenagers are engaged in peer‑oriented activities. Even outside the formal supervised hours, the teen club's rooms remain partially accessible, offering flexible hangout options.

Boutique / Jeweller is a retail shop, which combines a fashion‑/gift boutique with a jewelry shop. The boutique side offers a selection of men’s and women’s fashions, toiletries and personal‑care items, gifts, souvenirs and travel essentials. The jewelry shop offers quality timepieces, jewelry (including items set with diamonds or other precious stones), and luxury watches.

The Foyer is the ship’s Lobby Hall and guest‑service center designed to feel open and welcoming, with generous ceilings, elegant decor, premium lounge furniture and a central piano‑bar style atmosphere.

The 24‑hour Reception Desk and Concierge Desk assist passengers with everything from check‑in, land tour bookings, general onboard queries, luggage services, to practical matters like mail or newspaper requests and other guest services. 

Very close to the Reception is the Tour Office (aka Cruise Sales/Excursions Desk), where guests can arrange shore excursions, private tours, special outings (including custom tours), and get information about ports of call.

Because Deck 4 is also the Embarkation/Disembarkation deck, the Foyer and Reception area naturally serve as the central hub during boarding and disembarkation.

Restaurant Tarragon is a French‑style specialty restaurant (Cafe-Bistro) designed with an art‑deco brasserie ambiance: dark wood pillars, tile walls and seating upholstered in green leather or fabric. The food reflects French culinary traditions.

Grande Reserve is a dedicated wine‑bar/wine‑tasting & private‑dining venue where guests enjoy more exclusive, leisurely dining experiences. Wine tastings are guided by a professional sommelier, with wines drawn from the ship’s extensive cellar (MS Europa 2 is known for a large selection of international wines) and paired with dishes that complement the selected wines.

Piano Bar sits in the main Lobby/Foyer/Reception area. It is designed as a hotel‑style lounge: with comfortable upholstered seating, a cream‑coloured bar, and a grand piano that provides live music, typically gentle lounge‑ or cocktail‑style relaxing music. The Piano Bar is popular for pre‑dinner drinks or early evening cocktails. Its operating hours are somewhat limited: it opens around late morning/midday and closes at 10 PM.

Photo Shop is the photography centre. During the cruise, professional photographers roam the ship taking photos of passengers, for example, at embarkation, sail‑away, dinners, special events, formal nights, or at scenic moments. Later, at the Photo Shop guests can review, select, purchase printed photos or request digital copies of the photos.

Collins Bar (fka Herrenzimmer) was redesigned during a major refit. This is a sophisticated gin and cocktail lounge/club‑style venue rather than a casual poolside‑ or buffet‑bar. Collins offers the largest gin collection at sea, with around 45 different brands available. It also serves a wide variety of gin-based drinks and cocktails. The ambiance is elegant and relaxed, with warm colours, quality furnishings, and an aesthetic that evokes a refined but comfortable lounge. The bar's redesign introduced features like a record player with vinyl records (guests can choose music themselves) and an artwork by the artist pair Sutosuto. Collins also functions as a cigar bar/smoking‑friendly lounge (for cigars, pipes, etc.), which makes it one of the ship's few indoor smoking‑permitted venues.

Club 2 is a remodeled lounge/bar (occupying the space of the former Jazz Club) that was redesigned during the ship’s 2017 refit. As a lounge bar, Club 2 provides an intimate setting for evening socialising with a small stage, bar, and seating for around 60. Guests can enjoy drinks and light snacks while listening to live music or other entertainment. The venue’s lighting and mood are adaptable, with color and ambience changes often matched to the current cruise’s theme or itinerary. Because of its location (among the main lounges, bars and public zones), Club 2 is a convenient alternative to larger show‑theatre evenings or late‑night dance venues.

Theatre is the ship’s principal show lounge, functioning as the focal point for evening entertainment. It is a two‑level venue with a stage, modern lighting and sound systems, and a large LED backdrop that extends two stories. Throughout the voyage, the Theatre hosts a varied program of live performances: musicals, cabaret, dancing and acrobatics shows, concerts (from pop to classical), and sometimes vaudeville‑style performances or variety acts. On themed or “Unplugged” cruises, the venue also presents more intimate shows by guest artists. Despite being the main show lounge and capable of seating most of the passengers, the Theatre is designed to maintain a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere — the seating arrangement often uses banquettes and small tables rather than rigid theater rows, giving it the feeling of a lounge‑theatre hybrid.

The ship's tendering areas/stations are located on Deck 3 below.

DECK 5 (Cabins-Wellness)

The Ocean Spa occupies a generous area (covering roughly 1,000 m2), making it one of the most spacious wellness complexes on any cruise ship of its class. The fully equipped wellness facility consists of multiple saunas (including a Finnish sauna, a herbal/organic sauna, a “Deep Ocean” sauna, and a steam bath with high humidity), a steam room, a Kneipp pool, and a whirlpool. Beyond the thermal-water features, the complex has 8 treatment rooms for massages, Thalasso therapies, beauty and other wellness services. Its professional massage and therapy staff provides services ranging from classic full- or partial-body massages to speciality therapies (e.g., hot-stone, Ayurveda, Shiatsu). The “Personal Spa” is a private treatment area with its own sauna room, whirlpool, massage beds and a secluded ambience, bookable by the hour or by the day.

In addition to the wellness and therapy facilities, the Ocean Spa complex includes a modern Gym/Fitness-Studio with high-end exercise machines. The layout also includes an outdoor relaxation area (adjacent to the spa) with loungers and chairs where one can rest after sauna or spa treatments. After a refit (during a scheduled routine overhaul), the spa facilities were modernized. The various saunas were redesigned (temperature and humidity zones, new decor) and the relaxation and lounge areas and equipment were updated.

Golf is a well-integrated sports offering via simulators plus optional land-based golfing, where the cruise itinerary allows — backed by PGA-professional guidance and full service arrangements when playing ashore.

DECK 8 (Kids)

Sansibar is the ship’s signature bar lounge with both indoor and outdoor/terrace seating. It is styled as a maritime-beach-bar successor to the famous Sansibar on Sylt Island. It offers a relaxed, informal vibe during the day and transitions into a lively social venue in the evening. Sansibar serves a late breakfast (including croissants and espresso-style drinks), light meals, snacks, and drinks throughout the day. In the evenings, Sansibar becomes a nightclub. It sometimes hosts a DJ and offers music and dancing. The decor features premium wood paneling, seating built into wine-crate-style room dividers, and a chandelier made of 1,000 wine bottles.

Knopf Club / Kids' Club is the venue dedicated to childcare and supervised children’s activities. Families travelling on one of the “family cruises” can enrol children in this club — the program caters to very young children through to pre-teens and early teens.

• For the youngest travellers (ages 2 to 3) there is the Knopf Club: a supervised area designed for toddlers. It features baby- and toddler-appropriate facilities (like a “ball paradise,” sensory walls, a cuddle-/lounging area, changing tables, play mats etc.), giving the smallest children a safe, playful environment. 
• For children roughly 4 to 10 years old, there is the Kids’ Club. This offers a richer variety of activities: creative and craft-oriented sessions, games, possibly theatre or “discovery” activities (like small experiments or ship-related exploration), a children’s library, reading and play areas, and a kind of cinema or movie/film-showing option. 
• For older children / early teens (11 to 15 years old), there is a Teens’ Club with appropriate facilities and social/entertainment programming tailored to that age group. The programme on board spans supervised times during the day — typically clubs are open from morning into the evening (with sessions like 9 AM-5 PM, and later 6:30-10 PM, depending on age group). In addition to indoor playground, crafts and entertainment, there are also special “family-cruise” shore excursions for children and teens (sometimes organized without parents), giving kids a chance to explore, have adventures and meet peers under adult supervision.

DECK 9 (Lido-Pool-Sundeck-Dining)

Yacht Club Restaurant (aft) is the ship’s main buffet-style dining venue with both indoor seating and an outdoor deck area for alfresco meals. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with flexible mealtimes and no fixed seating. Yacht Club's food is varied: ample cold and hot dishes, freshly prepared salads and starters, smoked and marinated fish as a staple at all meals, and a grill and pasta station on open deck for freshly cooked dishes. Guests frequently praise the freshness of salads and produce, and the overall quality matches the high-end standard of the ship’s other restaurants. The indoor space is relaxed and informal, clothes are casual, and the outdoor deck under heat lamps (if needed) provides a pleasant open-air setting for meals. Dining at Yacht Club is included in the cruise fare, and reservations are not required.

Sushi Restaurant Sakura is a Japanese specialty restaurant, part of the aft dining complex near the buffet/“Yacht Club” area. It provides an opportunity for guests to enjoy high-quality, freshly prepared sushi, sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls, as well as various fish and seafood specialties made by the ship’s sushi chefs. Among top offerings are tuna, salmon, eel, and inventive rolls (for example a roll with prawn, salmon, leeks and a spicy mayonnaise) and dishes like tuna teriyaki with spicy sour cream. For guests with dietary preferences, the restaurant also includes vegetarian or vegan-friendly alternatives (e.g. pumpkin tempura). Sakura's interior design features a warm violet-toned colour scheme, wooden lighting elements and room dividers with integrated LED candles. Dinner at Sakura is included in the cruise fare, but drinks are separately billed.

Sun Deck with a Pool and Pool Bar is the main pool deck with a resort-style swimming pool and a retractable roof (magrodome) to make the pool usable even in inclement weather. Surrounding the pool are plenty of sun loungers and deckchairs arranged on wooden decking, offering comfortable space for swimming, sunbathing or relaxing with a view of the sea. The Pool Bar serves a full range of drinks — from cocktails to non-alcoholic, tropical-style beverages. The bar seating includes wooden stools, tables, and service can be carried out to loungers. Connected to this pool area is a Sundeck that extends the relaxation zones beyond the pool itself. Because of the retractable roof over the swimming pool, the sundeck functions as a flexible leisure zone: whether the weather is sunny or rainy, guests can swim or lounge in comfort. 

Conference Room is a small venue designed for business or private meetings, accommodating up to 12 people. It is equipped with modern presentation technology — including a large 65-inch multitouch display, a conference phone, WiFi and printer — making it suitable for small group discussions, business briefings or private planning sessions at sea.

Cruise Sales Lounge serves as the ship’s area for sales, information and possibly pre- or post-booking consultations. The waiting/lounge area for the Cruise Sales Lounge houses a museum-like display, giving passengers the chance to browse informational materials or visual displays about future cruises.

Gallery is a flexible public space with no fixed seating, but with capacity to accommodate around 40 people if needed. It may be used for small exhibitions, informal gatherings, or overflow seating depending on the event.

Culinary School is a fully equipped cooking studio open to passengers who wish to try their hand at preparing gourmet dishes themselves rather than simply dining out. Its kitchen is outfitted with high-end appliances from the brand Miele, giving guests the chance to learn and cook in a setting comparable to a top-class restaurant kitchen, under the guidance of the ship’s professional chefs. The cooking classes are offered in small groups (up to 8 people). During a class, participants prepare a full multi-course meal — often reflecting the regional cuisine related to the cruise itinerary’s destination — and then enjoy the result together, typically with wine pairing included. Beyond the standard classes, the Culinary School also hosts special workshops during food-themed cruises (aka “Connoisseurs of Cuisine” cruises), where acknowledged experts or guest chefs come aboard and share advanced techniques and specialty cuisine knowledge with interested guests. The topics of these workshops vary widely — from fine meat preparation (e.g. a “Perfect Meat Academy”) to regional specialties, fish, sushi, desserts or local ingredients and cooking traditions tied to the itinerary route. Cooking classes cost extra, with the fee including apron, recipes and wines. Classes are usually scheduled in the morning and can be booked in place of a shore excursion.

Studio (Auditorium / 3D Cinema) is a multifunctional entertainment and event venue used for film screenings (including 3D cinema), lectures and talks, informal workshops, and other group events. On some cruises, yoga classes and similar wellness or group-activity sessions may also take place here. Rather than being a large theatre, the Studio is more modest in size, making it a good place for quieter entertainment/educational/documentary-type cinema showings. 

Belvedere with Library and Coffee Lounge is a forward-facing panoramic venue through large windows. After the major refurbishment in 2017, the Belvedere lounge is now a combined coffee bar/patisserie/library with comfortable seating. Inside, guests can enjoy specialty teas or coffee along with pastries or light snacks, particularly popular in the afternoon for a relaxed break. The presence of a dedicated library area (with seating, books and reading materials) makes it a go-to spot for reading, quiet conversation or simply enjoying the sea views. In the evening, Belvedere may also host live music or classical music concerts, transforming from daytime coffee lounge into an elegant social lounge.

DECK 10 (Bridge-Sundeck-Zodiacs)

The fore-located Wheelhouse/Navigation Bridge (Brucke) and the adjacent Captain’s Suite and officers' quarters are inaccessible to passengers.

Deck 10 includes a “Sun Deck” zone together with shuffleboard courts, offering passengers a comfortable, elevated outdoor space for relaxation and casual recreation. The Sun Deck there is furnished with daybeds and lounge chairs, often with teak-style decking and expansive ocean views, making it a pleasant place to unwind, enjoy the sea breeze, or lounge in the sun away from the bustle of pool and entertainment decks. The shuffleboard on Deck 10 adds a low-key, social-game option for guests — with two shuffleboard courts available for casual play.

The aft-stored Zodiacs are large-capacity inflatable boats used for passenger transportation and landings.

DECK 11 (Sundeck-Whirlpool)

Magrodome is a retractable glass roof covering the swimming pool area (on Deck 9), effectively enabling the pool deck to be used in all weather conditions. This roof-deck arrangement spans two decks of height (decks 9 and 10). Around the pool, there are sun loungers, daybeds and a pool bar, creating a flexible environment for relaxation or socializing indoors or semi-outdoors, depending on the weather. The pool deck under the magrodome is a focal point of the ship’s lifestyle offering - not just for swimming, but also as a central social and leisure space. It combines the comfort of indoor ambience with the openness and light of outdoor design, making it one of the most striking features of MS Europa 2’s design.

Sun Deck is the uppermost outdoor leisure area that serves as a dedicated sundeck/ relaxation zone. It complements the pool deck (on the 9th floor). The sundeck has plenty of loungers, deckchairs and sunbeds, often with teak (or similar) decking. One of the Sun Deck's features is the large Jacuzzi (whirlpool) tucked away on this upper level rather than directly on the pool deck.

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. The 14-night maiden voyage departed from Hamburg on May 11th, 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.