AT 225.3 metres in length and 42,830 tonnes, she is far from the longest and
a long way off the largest cruise ship operating in European waters, however it
is the inside of Hapag-Lloyd’s new MS Europa 2 that gets the tongues wagging.
Officially christened in a ceremony in the German port of Hamburg late
last week, Europa 2 launches another salvo in the never ending battle for
supremacy in the onboard luxury stakes.
In all, 251 suites are divided up by categories ranging from Owners Suites
down to Verandah Suites – that’s right, every single cabin has a private balcony
with expansive ocean views.
The vessel will be operating mostly 7-14 day cruises in the east and west
Mediterranean before heading for the Arabian Peninsula and into Asia towards
the end of this year and early next.
After its Hamburg christening last Friday, Europa 2 is currently operating its
maiden voyage, which departed from the German city on Saturday, bound for
Lisbon in Portugal, via Amsterdam, Belgium, France and Spain before heading
around the western
coast of Portugal and arriving in Lisbon on Saturday 25 May, with journeys between ports
clearly labelled as “Relaxation at Sea”, highlighting the serene nature observed onboard.
State of the art technology has been installed around a stylish interior, with the
company claiming that cruise rituals take a back seat to lifestyle and an informal onboard
standard, with maritime traditions such as the Captain’s Dinner done away with.
Individual wellness and fitness options & variations in entertainment to suit all tastes
are among the highlights of the new company flagship, which also boasts a wide variety
of culinary offerings across eight restaurants and six bars to keep fussy diners satisfied.
Crew numbers easily surpass one for every two passengers, ensuring high standards of
attentiveness and service are maintained throughout the voyage.
For more photos of the interior of the vessel, head to the Cruise Weekly Facebook page
at www.facebook.com/cruiseweekly and for more info – see www.hl-cruises.com.
