MS Europa 2

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MS Europa 2--3.jpg
Europa 2 entering Southampton Water
History
NameEuropa 2
Operator Hapag-Lloyd
Port of registry Valletta, Civil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta
Builder STX Europe, Saint-Nazaire, France
Laid down7 February 2012 [1]
Launched6 July 2012 [2]
Christened10 May 2013
Acquired26 April 2013 [1]
Maiden voyage11 May 2013
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Tonnage42,830  GT [1]
Length225.62 m (740 ft) [1]
Beam26.70 m (88 ft)
Draught6.3 m (21 ft)
Decks7 passenger decks
Propulsion Diesel-electric with four MaK 6M43C, 24 MW total
Speed21 knots
Capacity516 passengers
CrewMore than 370

MS Europa 2 is a cruise ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a German-based cruise line. She entered service in May 2013.

Contents

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, 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. [3] She was christened on 10 May 2013, during the 824th Hamburg Port anniversary. [4]

Public areas

Europa 2 is intended to convey a more relaxing atmosphere than that of her more traditional fleet mate, the Europa. [5] She has the greatest space per passenger of any cruise ship, [5] with contemporary decor. [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 MS Europa 2 Pool.jpg
Europa 2's pool deck

Europa 2 has 251 passenger cabins, seven restaurants and six bars, a 15-metre-long (49 ft) 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

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References

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  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. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  4. "Cruise Ship EUROPA 2 Christened". World Maritime News. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 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.