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.

Ship review (onboard facilities and amenities)

All guests enjoy single-seating dining in the Europa Restaurant (Main Dining Room), where à la carte dishes are served by both a chef de rang and a waiter.

No additional fees apply to the specialty restaurants Dieter Muller (serving modern cuisine), Venezia (Italian cuisine), and Oriental (Euro-Asian cuisine).

The Lido Cafe 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.

The Pearls restaurant (aft on Deck 7) is a gourmet dining venue inspired by French seafood bars. It has an outdoor terrace offering unobstructed views of the ship's wake. The restaurant's menu includes 15 caviar dishes made with plant-based “caviar” created from ingredients like yuzu, saffron tapioca, or chili pepper. They are offered in three 7-course menus, and each can be prepared vegetarian or vegan.

When launched in 1999, MS Europa had a Casino (gaming lounge), but since it was rarely used, the space was converted a year later (2000) into a venue for cocktail parties and meetings. The Europa Lounge serves as a show lounge/live entertainment venue 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. There are a Kids’ Club and a 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.

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

EUROPA DECK (4th floor)

Tendering Areas (portside and starboard ship entrances)

Europa Restaurant (primary dining) offers a full seating capacity, with tables arranged for 2, 4, 6, and even larger groups (including an 8- and a 10-person table). The Main Dining Room offers breakfast and lunch (usually with a more casual or buffet-style or lighter-menu option) as well as served dinner. The dinner menu in particular reflects the ship’s commitment to high culinary standards: international gourmet cuisine with menus that change daily, often including multiple courses (starters, soups, mains, desserts) — and there is also a lighter “Cuisine Légère” option for those seeking healthier or vegetarian fare.

Restaurant Dieter Muller is a gourmet specialty dining venue, created by chef Dieter Müller. He became the first Michelin-starred chef to run his own "cruise ship" restaurant. The space is very intimate, seating only about 26–30 guests. The cuisine blends French, Asian, Mediterranean and even regional (“badische”) influences, combining classic gourmet techniques with creative, modern compositions. The multi-course dinner menu often features refined dishes such as a wild-prawn curry, delicate fish courses or elaborate dessert creations. Restaurant Dieter Müller is included in the cruise fare (complimentary) but reservations are recommended. For some days at sea, Dieter Muller also serves a gourmet breakfast.

Venezia is the Italian specialty restaurant offering traditional cuisine, including fresh pasta, seafood, and other Mediterranean dishes. It seats around 46 guests. Guests can dine there for lunch or evening meals, enjoying a menu that changes frequently and reflects Italian culinary traditions. The restaurant is included in the cruise fare.

Galerie (Art Gallery with a shopping/promenade-gallery area) is a venue where passengers can peruse artworks, jewellery or boutique items in a calm, indoor setting. The Galerie replaced the ship's original Casino (gaming venue).

Boutique / Juwelier (Jewelry Shop) offers a curated selection of high‑end ladies’ and men’s fashion, toiletries, gift items, souvenirs and other retail goods appropriate for travel and leisure, including clothes, travel‑essentials, gifts/souvenirs, fine watches, jewelry pieces, and high‑quality diamonds. Because the Boutiques and Juwelier lie along the ship’s Promenade/Atrium area, they are easily accessible and integrated naturally into a convenient retail stopping complex.

Promenade is a central indoor walkway and gathering area that links dining, shopping, social and lobby spaces.

Clipper Lounge is one of the ship’s main public spaces. It serves as a bar and band music lounge, offerig live music performances. Following a major refit, the former Clipper Lounge was completely redesigned and rebranded as Gatsby’s, a 1920s-style entertainment lounge and bar.

Havana Bar is a cigar club/cocktail lounge seating about 36 guests. The decor is “Cuban style,” catering to those who enjoy cigars, premium spirits (rum, cognac, etc.), and a mellow evening ambience. Havana Bar is one of the key venues for after-dinner drinks, relaxed evenings, and casual socializing.

Piano Bar is a comfortable lounge part of the Atrium and the central social area. Seating about 47 guests, it features a grand piano and a well-stocked bar, making it a popular spot for pre-dinner drinks, evening relaxation or a quiet drink with music.Because of its central location (near the lobby and close to other main venues on Deck 4), the Piano Bar works as a convenient “go-to” place for quick drinks, socialising, or a calm evening.

The Atrium houses the ship's Reception / Cruise Sales / Tour office.

Europa Lounge is the ship’s main show lounge and entertainment venue, seating 424 guests. The lounge is equipped with a grand Stage (Buhne), a band/piano setup and a dance floor, which enables it to host a varied live entertainment: musical performances, cabaret, theatre, concerts, and other shows.

PAZIFIK DECK (5th floor)

Here are both ship entrances (portside and starboard) and the Foto Shop, along with passenger staterooms (501 to 570).

ATLANTIK DECK (6th floor)

It houses passenger staterooms from 601 to 670.

SPORT DECK (7th floor)

Ocean SPA is the ship’s central wellness complex, combining spa, a solarium, a sauna room, a steam-bath / vapour bath, beauty services (hair styling, manicures/pedicures) and massage treatments. Use of the sauna and steam baths in the Ocean SPA is complimentary, and treatments (massages, beauty- or spa-services) can be booked on board, typically on the first day of the cruise at the spa reception.

Kinderclub is the Kids Club with 2 separate rooms, serving children ages 10 years old and above, and kids under 10 years old. The facility provides supervised children’s care and activities for young passengers, and is part of the ship’s family‑friendly offering when the cruise is designated as a “family cruise.” The club accepts children from around age four (for MS Europa; younger children are generally not eligible unless otherwise specified) when the family cruise is offered. Once enrolled, children have access to a playroom / kids‑area on board, where they can engage in games, crafts, and child‑appropriate entertainment under supervision. On family‑themed cruises, the program sometimes includes child‑specific shore excursions and age‑appropriate content.

Kunst-werkstatt (Art Workshop) is a creative space, part of the ship’s broader offering of cultural and recreational amenities.

Restaurant Pearls is a new gourmet dining venue inspired by French seafood bars. It has an aft-facing outdoor terrace offering unobstructed views of the ship's wake. The menu includes 15 caviar dishes with plant-based “caviar” created from ingredients like yuzu, saffron tapioca, or chili pepper. They are offered in three 7-course menus, and each can be prepared vegetarian or vegan.

Deck 7 also houses 4 tenders (passenger tendering boats), 2 lifeboats, and passenger staterooms (701 to 738).

LIDO DECK (8th floor)

Lido Cafe is a complimentary buffet-style restaurant with indoor and outdoor terrace seating. It serves breakfast, lunch and casual dinner. Guests can choose from a varied buffet and an outdoor grill, making it a convenient alternative to the ship’s more formal dining venues.

Shuffleboard are deck games areas (portside and starboard).

On Deck 8 are the Indoor and Outdoor Lido Pool complex with a swimming pool, whirlpool and a poolside bar. The Pool Bar is located right beside the ship’s main seawater swimming pool — a 20-meter pool that can be partially covered by the retractable glass dome (magrodome). The Pool Bar thus serves as a casual and central social spot for sun lounging — whether by the pool, on deck chairs, or enjoying the sea-view. During the day the bar offers a selection of refreshing drinks (cocktails, soft drinks, coffee etc.), and in the afternoon it also serves snacks or treats (hot waffles with toppings are served poolside).

Auditorium is a lecture room/cinema seating about 46 guests. Throughout the cruise, the venue is used for educational and port talks, destination/itinerary-themed lectures, and film screenings.

Bibliothek (Library) is a quiet reading lounge seating 13 guests and providing a wide selection of books and magazines.

Club Belvedere is a disco nightclub/salon-style bar lounge featuring bow-facing large panoramic windows. In the evenings or during certain events, the lounge may host live music or cultural entertainment, including classical concerts or artist readings. Seating 177 guests, Club Belvedere it represents a serene, elegant lounge perfect for Afternoon Tea or a pre- or post-dinner drinks.

BELLEVUE DECK (9th floor)

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

Sansibar is an outdoor nightclub/bar lounge positioned at the stern. The iconic venue offers unobstructed sea views (the ship's wake), a relaxed-elegant ambience, and is a social place for guests to unwind, drink cocktails, watch the sunset or simply enjoy the travel vibe.

Golf is an indoor golf facility rather than a traditional outdoor course. This includes a golf simulator with a driving range and putting green. On cruises where a “Golf & Cruise” package is offered, the facility is part of a broader program: guests may receive instruction/coaching from PGA-affiliated golf professionals, and benefit from video-analysis training sessions, use of the simulator and possibly other golf-related services (when available) as part of that package.

Fitness-Studio (lower level 1 of 2) is a modern Gym Room with high-quality equipment and unobstructed sea views. For those who want more guided or structured activity, personal training is offered on request: passengers can request individual training sessions, including tailored workout programmes, fitness checks, and even nutritional advice. In addition to standard gym equipment for cardio and strength training, guests may also take advantage of yoga or Pilates – combining more gentle, holistic fitness with the cruise-ship wellness mindset.

Magrodome is a sliding glass roof over the swimming pool area on Deck 8 below.

Deck 9 also houses passenger staterooms from 901 to 914.

PENTHOUSE DECK (10th floor)

On Deck 10 is the Fitness Studio's upper level (2 of 2), and passenger staterooms from 1001 to 1012, all of which are Penthouses.

Aft are stored the Zodiacs (large-capacity inflatable boats used for passenger transportation and landings).

PEIL DECK (11th floor)

On Deck 11 is the FKK Bereich (nudist deck area), an adults-only sundeck with sunloungers and deckchairs.

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.