MS Europa 2

MS Europa 2 is a cruise ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a German-based cruise line. She entered service in May 2013, and is the highest rated cruise ship in the world according to the Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships, replacing her fleetmate, MS Europa, which had held that distinction for more than a decade.

For other ships with the same name, see MS Europa.

Europa 2 entering Southampton Water
History
Name: Europa 2
Operator: Hapag-Lloyd
Port of registry: Valletta,  Malta
Builder: STX Europe, Saint-Nazaire, France
Laid down: 7 February 2012[1]
Launched: 6 July 2012[2]
Christened: 10 May 2013
Acquired: 26 April 2013[1]
Maiden voyage: 11 May 2013
Identification: Call sign: 9HA3283
IMO number: 9616230
MMSI number: 229378000
Status: In service
General characteristics
Tonnage: 42,830 GT[1]
Length: 225.62 m (740 ft)[1]
Beam: 26.70 m (88 ft)
Draught: 6.3 m (21 ft)
Decks: 7 passenger decks
Speed: 21 knots
Capacity: 516 passengers
Crew: More than 370

Concept and construction

Europa 2 was built at the STX Europe shipyard at St-Nazaire, France. Her first steel was cut on 5 September 2011, her keel was laid on 1 March 2012 and she was launched on 6 July 2012. On 29 April 2013, the vessel was handed over to Hapag Lloyd, with Dr Wolfgang Flägel, Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Laurent Castaing, General Manager of STX France, signing the takeover protocol.[3] She was christened on 10 May 2013, during the 824th Hamburg Port anniversary.[4]

Public areas

Europa 2 is intended to convey an atmosphere more relaxing than that of her more traditional fleet mate, the Europa.[5] She has the greatest space per passenger of any cruise ship,[5] and her décor is contemporary.[6]

The art collection aboard Europa 2 is one of the largest at sea, with 890 originals commissioned exclusively for the vessel. The collection's focus is on contemporary pieces; it includes works by Ólafur Elíasson, David Hockney, Damien Hirst, Adam Fuss and Hans Hartung.[5]

Facilities
Europa 2's pool deck

Europa 2 has 251 passenger cabins, seven restaurants and six bars, a 15 metre long pool, a gym, a spa and two golf simulators. [7][8][9][10]

Service history

Europa 2's 14-night maiden voyage departed from Hamburg, Germany, and stopped at Amsterdam, Antwerp, Honfleur, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bilbao, Leixões and Lisbon.[11] The vessel has since been named the number-one cruise ship in the world by the Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships, replacing her fleetmate, MS Europa, which had held that distinction for more than a decade.[5]

See also

References
  1. Fleet online, GL-Reg-No : 116532
  2. "09.07.2012 en - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  3. "Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Receives Luxury Ship EUROPA 2". World Maritime News. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  4. "Cruise Ship EUROPA 2 Christened". World Maritime News. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  5. Shillinglaw, Greg (28 February 2015). "Top Ship in the World". TravelPulse. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  6. Stone, Deborah (8 April 2015). "The Europa2: Explore the cruise ship with it's [sic] own television station". Daily Express. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  7. "Bars - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  8. "Golf - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  9. "Fitness - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  10. "OCEAN SPA - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  11. "EUX1300 - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
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