ms Europa 2

The 2013-built MS Europa 2 cruise ship is a top luxury vessel that entered service for Hapag-Lloyd in May 2013. In the company's history, this was the 5th ship named "Europa".

The vessel (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 passenger shipping company and premium travel brand owned by TUI AG (shipowner) and managed by its subsidiary TUI Cruises. Between 2017-2020, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises was fully owned by Hapag-Lloyd AG (German-Chilean shipping company, one of the world's oldest), currently ranked the world's 5th largest container shipping line in terms of fleet capacity.

The shipowner TUI AG (Hanover Germany-based) is a British-German multinational currently ranked the world's largest leisure and travel company. It was founded in 1923 and until 2002 was named "Preussag AG". TUI Group's companies specialize in hospitality and tourism services worldwide, with a portfolio including passenger airlines, cruise shipping, package vacations, hotels and resorts, travel agencies, retail shops.

The 516-passenger ship MS Europa 2 is sailing worldwide, specializing 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 flavor.

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.

Decks and Cabins

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

The ship has 7x Family Apartments (connecting suites) each consisting of two connecting cabins (2x215 ft2 / 2x20 m2) and two connecting balconies (2x75 ft2 / 2x7 m2).

All passenger staterooms are in suite categories and have separate sleeping and living areas, walk-in closets, mini-bars fully stocked with bottled water, soft drinks, beers (all complimentary and replenished regularly), fresh fruits and champagne, smart HDTVs (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand movies and music). All cabin bathrooms are marble-tiled, with full-size bathtubs, glass-fronted showers, cabinets for personal items, top-brand toiletries, slippers, thick cotton robes.

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

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

A large number of seats are provided in each of the 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 the ship, serving the highest-quality 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 an 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 suits or jackets 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 ~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 evening 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 tastings onboard, passengers learn all about the drink - categories, origin, ingredients. Gin tastings usually offer a sampling of 5 or 6 different kinds of gin.
• 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 Romanee-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.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The 115-meter swimming pool is situated in an area with comfortable sun-loungers, enough in number for all passengers. The retractable roof covers the entire pool area in bad weather. Ocean Spa offers a rich menu of treatments and a separate area for a 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 ports of call.

Other MS Europa 2 facilities include a Library, Auditorium-3D Cinema, Jazz Club, Boutique, Fitness/gym area, deck games area/shuffleboard, whirlpools, Culinary School (for an 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 a full-paying adult. Those aged 12-15 have to pay GBP 39 per night only.

The Theatre offers spectacular shows, famous guest artists, and performances from the ship's band. Bars' selection includes the quiet Herrenzimmer smoking lounge, and Sansibar Disco - open until late at night for dancing to the DJ music. You can also choose the piano, wine and pool bars, or Belvedere.

Itineraries

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 the ms Europa 2 call at 22 maiden ports and offer private land-based pre- and post-cruise programs, 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).

MS Europa 2 is the namesake of the fleetmate MS Europa and the 5th vessel in the Hapag-Lloyd's cruise fleet. The vessel was launched (floated out from drydock) on July 6, 2012. On April 29, 2013, it was delivered to Hapag-Lloyd and on May 10th was christened - during the 824th Anniversary of Port Hamburg. The 14-night Maiden Voyage departed from Hamburg on May 11th. The inaugural itinerary visited ports in Holland (Amsterdam), Belgium (Antwerp), France (Honfleur, La Rochelle, Bordeaux), Spain (Bilbao) and Portugal (Leixoes-Oporto) ending in Lisbon.

The vessel (STX FRANCE SAINT-NAZAIRE yard/hull number 156001) is powered by GE CONVERTEAM/Power Conversion marine engines (synchronous electrical motors) with combined output 15,5 MW.

The current registered shipowner and management company is TUI CRUISES GMBH.

Europa 2 ship has a biological sewage treatment plant and seawater desalination facilities. Fuels that are used have a 0,1% max sulfur 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% fewer 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 professional 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 Guardia 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).

On two Mediterranean cruises in 2017 (departures June 30 - Venice to Monaco, and August 1 - Bilbao to Hamburg), on the cruise liner performed live Circus Roncalli. The 1976-founded German circus became the first performing on Hapag-Lloyd cruise ship. The circus performed 2 different shows per voyage.  By April 2017, themed cruises were sold out.

In 2017, 3-time German Olympic champion Maria Hofl-Riesch offered special fitness sessions as ship's Director of sports and fitness program.

Like all the newbuild cruise liners, MS Europa 2 is fitted with shorepower technology allowing the boat to be plugged-in at berths with shorepower/cold ironing capabilities. When docked, the cruise ship requires 2,2 MW of electricity per hour. While berthed at homeport Hamburg's Cruise Center Altona, the vessel is provided with electricity by the company Hamburg Energie GmbH.