ms Europa

The 1999-built MS Europa 1 cruise ship is owned by TUI Group (since July 2020) and operated by the German travel company Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. In the company’s history, she is the fourth vessel to bear the name “Europa.”

The vessel (IMO number 9183855) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 215767000) and registered in Valletta. Previously, she sailed under the Bahamas flag (MMSI 308007000) and was registered in Nassau.

History – construction and ownership

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (Kreuzfahrten) is a Hamburg-based passenger shipping company and premium travel 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, one of the world’s oldest), currently ranked as the fifth-largest container shipping line in the world by fleet capacity.

The shipowner TUI AG, headquartered in Hanover, Germany, is a British-German multinational company and the world’s largest leisure and travel group. Founded in 1923 (and known as “Preussag AG” until 2002), TUI Group operates globally across hospitality and tourism sectors, including passenger airlines, cruise lines, package holidays, hotels and resorts, travel agencies, and retail outlets.

The 408-passenger MS Europa has been awarded “Best Cruise Ship in the World” by Berlitz and Ward-Ranking for twelve consecutive years. She is exceptionally quiet, with virtually no vibration felt onboard. Her propellers and electric motors are mounted in pods beneath the hull, improving propulsion efficiency by pulling—rather than pushing—the vessel through the water. The 650-foot-long ship features a shallow draft, allowing her to dock in ports inaccessible to larger vessels. Designed as a streamlined luxury liner, MS Europa’s design is often compared to that of Silversea’s Silver Shadow. She was also among the first ships to feature an ABB Azipod propulsion system, which reduces vibrations towards the stern.

Service quality is a major factor behind MS Europa’s high rankings. The ship boasts one of the highest staff-to-passenger ratios in the industry—280 multilingual young crew members serve just 400 guests. The primary onboard language is German, followed by English. Most guests are German, with a smaller number of British, American, and Australian passengers.

Decks and Cabins

MS Europa staterooms (204 total, in 10 categories) include 152 cabins with private step-out balconies. The largest accommodations are the Penthouse Grand Suites (915 ft² / 85 m² including the terrace), while the smallest measure 290 ft² / 27 m² (balcony included).

All cabins are suite-grade and feature separate sleeping and living areas, walk-in closets, minibars fully stocked with bottled water, soft drinks, and beer (complimentary and replenished regularly), as well as fresh fruit and champagne. Additional amenities include smart HDTVs (with infotainment system, Internet access, on-demand movies and music). Bathrooms are marble-tiled, with full-size bathtubs, glass-enclosed showers, storage cabinets, premium toiletries, slippers, and thick cotton bathrobes.

The ship has 11 decks, of which 8 are passenger-accessible and 5 contain cabins.

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

All guests enjoy single-seating dining in the large panoramic Europa Restaurant, where à la carte dishes are served by both a chef de rang and a waiter. No additional fees apply to the specialty restaurants: Restaurant Dieter Müller (serving modern cuisine), Italian Venezia, and Euro-Asian Oriental. The Lido Café offers casual dining in a relaxed setting. Service is attentive, and beverages are served at the table. The buffet stations offer a wide selection of salads, cheeses, hot dishes, and desserts, with pasta and grill specials at lunch and dinner. Club Belvedere hosts afternoon tea with premium loose-leaf selections, served in individual pots with cakes and sandwiches, accompanied by classical music performances.

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

When launched in 1999, MS Europa featured a casino, but since it was rarely used, the space was converted a year later into a venue for cocktail parties and meetings. The Europa Lounge serves as the main entertainment and lecture hall. Other social venues include the Pool Bar, Piano Bar, Havana Bar, Sansibar, Clipper Lounge, Auditorium, Atrium, and a library with Internet access. The swimming pool (20x7.5 m / 66x24.6 ft) is partly covered with a glass dome and rarely crowded. A hot tub is located nearby.

Guests can also enjoy a fitness center, golf simulator, tennis court, shuffleboard, driving range, and even a designated sun deck area for nude sunbathing. The ship also features a Kids’ Club and Teens’ Club, though she primarily caters to adult travelers. The Ocean Spa, while compact, is fully equipped and offers a complete menu of wellness treatments, beauty services, hairstyling, solarium, and sauna. Additional facilities include an Art Workshop, Photo Gallery & Shop, Boutique, and Promenade Deck.

Itineraries

MS Europa’s itinerary program includes voyages in Asia and Europe to popular destinations such as Southeast Asia (departures from Singapore and Hong Kong), the Middle East (from Dubai), and the Baltic and Mediterranean seas (from Kiel and Hamburg), including Suez Canal repositioning transits. The ship operates under an all-inclusive concept and is often ranked among the most luxurious—and most expensive—cruise ships in the world.

MS Europa was one of the first passenger ships equipped with an ABB Azipod propulsion system, which significantly reduces vibration towards the stern. Her namesake and fleetmate is the newer MS Europa 2 (2013).

The vessel (STX FINLAND Helsinki yard / hull number A159177) is the sixth ship in Hapag-Lloyd’s history to carry the name “Europa.” Her powerplant is based on ABB turbochargers (7100 MP) and MAN B&W marine diesel engines (model 8L40/54) with a combined output of 13.3 MW.

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

MS Europa was delivered to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on September 9, 1999, and christened in Hamburg Hafen on September 15 by godmother Gabriele Frenzel (wife of Michael Frenzel, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ CEO at the time). Her maiden voyage—from Hamburg to Malaga—departed on September 17.

Hapag-Lloyd ships primarily cater to German-speaking guests but are also popular among international travelers, largely due to the recognition received from the Berlitz cruise guidebooks. Berlitz consistently ranks MS Europa as the “best luxury cruise liner in the world.” She remains the only ship to have held a five-plus-star rating for more than a decade.

MS Europa offers a variety of themed cruises, including those dedicated to culture (arts, literature, music cruises, and the annual “Ocean Sun Classical Music Festival” at sea), science, family travel, and food and wine. Golf cruises are another popular themed offering, where guests can train with top PGA golf instructors from Germany.

MS Europa drydock refurbishments review

The ship’s 2017 drydock refurbishment (September 27–October 13), conducted by Blohm+Voss in Hamburg, Germany, resulted in the following updates:

• The entire wellness area (spa and gym aft on Deck 7) was redesigned and renovated. Fitness equipment and spa amenities were upgraded.
• The 36 suites without balconies received new, modern bathrooms.
• One of the vessel’s propulsion units (Azipod motor computer) was replaced.

During the 2022 drydock (a two-week project by Blohm+Voss, supervised by Trimline), 56 passenger staterooms were fully renovated, including new flooring and carpets, fixed and soft furnishings, and upgraded lighting and fittings.

The previous drydocking took place in May 2020 for scheduled maintenance and classification work.

In May 2007, the ship underwent another drydock during which new Spa Suites were added, and the wellness area in the Ocean Spa was completely redesigned.

The most recent drydock was in 2024 (September 13–October 4) at Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven (Germany). The three-week project involved over 90 subcontractors, 120 shipyard workers, and 265 crew members. Works included general maintenance, safety and classification inspections, machinery overhauls, and hull cleaning and repainting. Interior renovations covered public areas and facilities (with 4000 m² / 43,060 ft² of new carpets), stateroom updates (130+ suites redecorated with a new color scheme, new armchairs, sofas, and carpets), new lounge furniture, and a refurbished swimming pool. The Messhall was enlarged and refitted, while the ship’s old furniture (sofas, armchairs, and chairs) was donated to charities.