MS EUROPA 2: A Profile – The Concept & The Difference

[HostDave]

Of appeal to discerning, cosmopolitan guests – couples, families and solo travellers alike – EUROPA 2 has been built combining the very best of contemporary, modern design concepts, while providing every amenity expected of a truly luxurious cruise experience.

No detail has been spared in the creation of a modern and informal interpretation of luxury cruising – choice and individuality of lifestyle being paramount.


Accommodation On-board, All-Suites
The EUROPA 2 will exclusively offer Veranda Suites with balconies each measuring at least seven square metres/ 75 square feet facing the sea. In addition, all suites will have a free of charge mini bar, Internet access via Wi-Fi (at an extra charge) and a tablet PC. The 251 suites in seven different categories, measure in size from 28 – 99 square metres/ 301-1,066 square feet, and will offer their own whirlpools with ocean view in the highest categories. In addition, 16 Spa Suites will have whirlpool tubs and rain showers with steam saunas, providing guests with a private oasis of wellbeing on board. For families travelling together, there will be seven family style suites, where parents and children can live in two separate areas, connected by a door and the shared balcony.

Culinary Diversity with Flexible Times and Open Seating
The restaurant concept on board the EUROPA 2 will be synonymous with diversity and flexibility – flexible mealtimes, no assigned seating, and plenty of tables for two. There will be eight restaurants to choose from among them, three speciality restaurants with Italian, French and Asian cuisine, as well as a Sushi Bar. There will also be an on-board cooking school, equipped by Miele. In addition to the eight restaurants, six bars are to be found on-board.

Entertainment with Exclusive Productions & Performances
The entertainment programme will reflect the modern concept of the EUROPA 2. The theatre will have modern stage technology and a large LED wall extending across two stories – a novelty on a relatively small ship. For the first time for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the entertainment programme will feature spectacular productions, performances and light shows. The shows will have no adaptation of shore programmes, however, instead will be exclusively performed aboard the EUROPA 2. Two different shows per week will be offered, ensuring plenty of variety. Passengers who spend 14 days on board will see four different shows. International guest artists will further enhance the entertainment programme. The shows do not rely on language.

Wellness and Fitness: 1,000 Square Metres/ 10,764 Square Foot Spa
Guests will also find diversity and plenty of space in the wellness area, which will boast 1,000 square metres/ 10,764 square feet. Treatments ranging from massages, to facials, to Thalasso therapy will be offered in the eight treatment rooms at the OCEAN SPA. The extensive sauna landscape grants every guest more space to relax than any other ship of this class. In addition, passengers can book a Personal SPA experience and enjoy the private sauna and whirlpool facilities, as well as massage beds and comfortable relaxation furnishings, by the hour, or the day, in an intimate atmosphere. The on-board facilities also include a large fitness area with fitness and cardio equipment, as well as a room where Pilates and Spinning will take place. Upon request, a Personal Trainer is available to counsel guests on their workout and sports hosts are available to organise shore excursions, for example, bicycle tours or Nordic Walking.

Child Care Available For Toddlers Two And Older
Young cruise passengers are sure to enjoy themselves in the Kids and Teens Club, compiled by qualified child care specialists. Childcare will be available for toddlers two and older on the EUROPA 2 (subject to charge). There will be a special area for the infants called the “Knopf Club”, equipped with cots, changing tables and a lounge furnished with cuddly toys, by the renowned manufacturer Steiff. Steiff is a German-based plush toy company known for its high quality for over 100 years. Children aged 4-10 years old play in the adjacent Kids Club, and children 11-15 years old get together in the Teens Club, where table football, video game consoles, or the disco will await them. Children eleven and under travel free of charge on board the EUROPA 2, when accompanied by two full-price cruise guests. Shore excursions for children, teenagers, or the entire family are offered on all family cruises.

Shorter Routes, Ideal for Working People and Families
With 7-day combinable cruises to the Mediterranean in the summer months and 13-20 day combination cruises to faraway destinations in the winter, the EUROPA 2 will meet the requirements of working people and families with limited vacation time. The ship will call at a total of 123 ports, with 26 different itineraries in 2013. The cruises will take guests to the Western and Eastern Mediterranean and to the Arabian Peninsula, as well as Southeast Asia. The size of the ship is a major advantage – with a length of 225 metres/ 739 feet and a draught of 6,3 metres/ 20.7 feet, the EUROPA 2 is capable of calling at small, rarely visited ports such as Bonifacio and Portofino, which is not an option for most larger ships. Furthermore, a total of twelve Zodiacs will be on-board, to take passengers to lagoons and beaches, for example, in remote parts of Southeast Asia where ships can't dock.

AND THE DIFFERENCE:
As sister-ship to EUROPA - the world’s only 5-star plus ship * - there are distinct points of difference with the new concept of EUROPA 2:
EUROPA represents classic luxury; EUROPA 2 casual, modern luxury
EUROPA offers a number of bilingual cruises each year; while on EUROPA 2 all cruises will be international and conducted in both, German and English, to meet the requirements of an international and cosmopolitan target group
Cruise traditions can be expected aboard EUROPA; while on EUROPA 2, for example, there will be no Captain’s Dinner
EUROPA has fixed meal times; on EUROPA 2 there is flexibility – guests can choose to dine when they wish within the opening times of the respective restaurant
EUROPA offers world tours; EUROPA 2 offers shorter routes, ideal for working people and families

* according to Berlitz Cruise Guide 2013

For Reservations: 0049 (0) 40 3001 4580 or www.hl-cruises.com/contact-services for local agents

For more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ exciting destinations and itineraries visit www.hl-cruises.com. All press releases and a picture gallery can be found on www.hl-cruises.com/press.
For EUROPA 2 images: www.hl-cruises.com/press/photoarchive/