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.
Europa 2 entering Southampton Water | |
History | |
---|---|
Name: | Europa 2 |
Operator: | Hapag-Lloyd |
Port of registry: |
Valletta, |
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: 9HA3283IMO 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 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
- Fleet online, GL-Reg-No : 116532
- "09.07.2012 en - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- "Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Receives Luxury Ship EUROPA 2". World Maritime News. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- "Cruise Ship EUROPA 2 Christened". World Maritime News. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- Shillinglaw, Greg (28 February 2015). "Top Ship in the World". TravelPulse. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- Stone, Deborah (8 April 2015). "The Europa2: Explore the cruise ship with it's [sic] own television station". Daily Express. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- "Bars - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
- "Golf - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
- "Fitness - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
- "OCEAN SPA - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
- "EUX1300 - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". Hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMO 9616230. |