MS Europa 2

MS Europa 2 is a luxury cruise ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the German-based cruise line known for premium and luxury voyages. The ship entered service in May 2013 and was developed as a more contemporary and relaxed counterpart to the company's established MS Europa. Rather than emphasizing the formal atmosphere traditionally associated with luxury cruising, Europa 2 was designed around a modern, informal onboard experience, with contemporary interiors, spacious public areas, multiple dining venues, and a broad range of leisure facilities. The vessel was constructed at the STX Europe shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Construction began with the cutting of the first steel on 5 September 2011. The keel was laid on 1 March 2012, and the ship was launched on 6 July 2012. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises formally received the vessel on 29 April 2013, when representatives of the cruise line and shipyard signed the handover documentation. Europa 2 was christened on 10 May 2013 as part of the celebrations marking the 824th anniversary of the Port of Hamburg. Europa 2's design centers on high space allocation and a less ceremonious style than its fleet mate, MS Europa. The ship has 251 passenger cabins, seven restaurants, six bars, a 15-metre swimming pool, a gym, a spa, and two golf simulators. Its accommodation and public-space planning contributed to its reputation for offering a high amount of space per passenger. The vessel also carries a substantial contemporary art collection consisting of 890 original works commissioned specifically for the ship. Artists represented in the collection include Ólafur Elíasson, David Hockney, Damien Hirst, Adam Fuss, and Hans Hartung. The ship's 14-night maiden voyage departed from Hamburg and called at Amsterdam, Antwerp, Honfleur, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bilbao, Leixões, and Lisbon. Since entering service, Europa 2 has operated international cruise itineraries under the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises brand. Its design and service concept have been recognized by cruise publications, and the Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships named it the world's leading cruise ship, succeeding MS Europa in that distinction. In 2020, the vessel received the capability to use shore-side electrical power while in port, allowing its main engines to be switched off when compatible infrastructure is available. This cold-ironing arrangement was intended to reduce local engine emissions and noise during port stays. Europa 2 therefore combines a luxury hospitality proposition with the operational characteristics of a large ocean-going passenger ship and selected measures aimed at improving port-side environmental performance.

MS Europa 2 was conceived for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as a new-generation luxury cruise ship with a more relaxed and contemporary identity than the company's existing MS Europa. The concept retained the high-end service expectations associated with the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet while moving away from a particularly formal style. Its design placed strong emphasis on generous passenger space, modern interiors, varied dining, wellness, and entertainment. The ship was built by STX Europe at Saint-Nazaire in France. The first steel was cut on 5 September 2011, establishing the beginning of physical construction. The keel was laid on 1 March 2012, and the vessel was launched on 6 July 2012. Following completion and outfitting, the ship was formally handed over to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on 29 April 2013. The handover was documented by Wolfgang Flägel, then managing director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, and Laurent Castaing, general manager of STX France. Europa 2 was christened on 10 May 2013 in Hamburg during events associated with the city's 824th port anniversary. The ship entered commercial service later that month. Its 14-night maiden voyage started in Hamburg and followed a western European and Atlantic itinerary calling at Amsterdam, Antwerp, Honfleur, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bilbao, Leixões, and Lisbon. The completed vessel was configured with 251 passenger cabins, seven restaurants, six bars, a 15-metre pool, a gym, a spa, and two golf simulators. Its public areas were designed to support a less rigid onboard atmosphere than that of MS Europa. The ship also incorporated an extensive contemporary art program: 890 original works were commissioned specifically for the vessel. The collection includes works associated with artists such as Ólafur Elíasson, David Hockney, Damien Hirst, Adam Fuss, and Hans Hartung, making art a visible component of the ship's identity rather than a minor decorative feature. Europa 2 subsequently operated international itineraries as part of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' luxury fleet. Cruise-industry recognition included the Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships naming it the world's leading cruise ship, following MS Europa's long period in that position. This recognition reinforced the vessel's intended market position in the premium and luxury cruise sector. In 2020, the ship gained the ability to use shore-side electrical power while docked at ports equipped to provide it. The system, commonly called cold ironing, allows the ship to turn off its engines during compatible port stays. This change connected Europa 2's luxury hospitality proposition with an operational measure designed to reduce local emissions and engine noise. The ship remains associated with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and continues to represent the company's contemporary luxury-cruise offering.

• 2020

  Shore-power capability added

  [1]MS Europa 2en.wikipedia.org

  The ship gained the ability to connect to shore-side electricity in compatible ports and shut down its engines during port stays.

• 2013

  Handover to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

  [1]MS Europa 2en.wikipedia.org

  The completed vessel was handed over to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on 29 April.

• 2013

  Christening and entry into service

  [1]MS Europa 2en.wikipedia.org

  Europa 2 was christened in Hamburg on 10 May and entered commercial service later that month.

• 2012

  Keel laid

  [1]MS Europa 2en.wikipedia.org

  The vessel's keel was laid on 1 March, marking a major stage in its construction.

• 2012

  Ship launched

  [1]MS Europa 2en.wikipedia.org

  Europa 2 was launched at Saint-Nazaire on 6 July.

• 2011

  First steel cut

  [1]MS Europa 2en.wikipedia.org

  Construction of Europa 2 began at the STX Europe shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, with the cutting of the first steel on 5 September.

A contemporary, informal luxury cruise experience emphasizing spacious accommodation, design, dining variety, leisure facilities, and modern onboard culture.

• Luxury cruise service · 2013

  MS Europa 2 cruise voyages

  The ship's core offering is international luxury cruising under Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Its itineraries use a variety of European and overseas ports, while the onboard proposition combines spacious accommodation, multiple restaurants and bars, wellness facilities, entertainment, and a contemporary design language. The ship was introduced for travelers seeking an informal alternative to more traditional luxury cruising.

• Cruise ship amenities · 2013

  Onboard hospitality and leisure facilities

  Europa 2 provides 251 passenger cabins, seven restaurants, six bars, a 15-metre pool, a gym, a spa, and two golf simulators. These facilities support the ship's positioning as a self-contained luxury resort at sea, with dining, wellness, recreation, and social spaces distributed across the vessel.

• Cultural offering · 2013

  Contemporary art collection

  A collection of 890 original works commissioned for the ship forms a distinctive part of the Europa 2 experience. The collection focuses on contemporary art and includes works by artists such as Ólafur Elíasson, David Hockney, Damien Hirst, Adam Fuss, and Hans Hartung.

• 2020

  Adoption of shore-side electrical powerStrategy

  Background

  Port-side emissions and noise can be reduced when a cruise ship does not need to run its main engines while docked. This requires both shipboard connection equipment and suitable shore infrastructure.

  Action taken

  Europa 2 was equipped to connect to shore-side electricity in compatible ports, allowing its engines to be switched off during port stays.

  Aftermath

  The modification gave the ship an operational means of reducing local emissions and noise when appropriate port connections are available.

  Source

• 2020

  MS Europa 2 receives shore-power capability[1]MS Europa 2en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The ship was equipped to connect to shore-side electrical power while in port, enabling its engines to be shut down where compatible port infrastructure is available.

• 2013

  MS Europa 2 enters service after maiden voyage[1]MS Europa 2en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Europa 2 began operating for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises in May 2013. Its 14-night inaugural itinerary departed Hamburg and visited ports in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Atlantic coast.

1. 1MS Europa 2en.wikipedia.org