MS Europa 2 is a cruise ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a German-based cruise line. She entered service in May 2013.
Europa 2 was built at the STX Europe shipyard at St-Nazaire, France. Her first steel was cut on 5 September 2011, the 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 Wolfgang Flägel, managing director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Laurent Castaing, general manager of STX France, signing the takeover protocol.[1] She was christened on 10 May 2013, during the 824th Hamburg Port anniversary.[2]
Europa 2 is intended to convey a more relaxing atmosphere than that of her more traditional fleet mate, the .[3] She has the greatest space per passenger of any cruise ship,[3] with contemporary decor.[4]
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.[3]
Europa 2 has 251 passenger cabins, seven restaurants and six bars, a 15adj=midNaNadj=mid pool, a gym, a spa and two golf simulators.[5] [6] [7] [8]
Europa 2's 14-night maiden voyage departed from Hamburg, Germany, and stopped at Amsterdam, Antwerp, Honfleur, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bilbao, Leixões and Lisbon.[9] 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,, which had held that distinction for more than a decade.[3]