Aboard MS EUROPA 2

A Heritage Brand, Newly Global

For more than 130 years, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has quietly set benchmarks in the world of luxury and expedition cruising. Long regarded as the gold standard in German-speaking markets, the brand operates two luxury ships – EUROPA and EUROPA 2 – alongside a fleet of expedition vessels designed for polar regions and remote destinations. Together, they form the only cruise fleet in the world to have every ship awarded five stars by Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships, earning Hapag-Lloyd Cruises the distinction of Best Fleet Worldwide.

Now, as the fleet moves fully bilingual beginning in 2026, the brand is extending its reach to an international audience – without compromising the principles that have defined it for generations. Service remains personal rather than performative. Luxury is expressed through precision, elegance, and refinement rather than spectacle.

That philosophy finds its clearest expression aboard EUROPA 2.

EUROPA 2: Space as the Highest Luxury

With a maximum of just 500 guests, EUROPA 2 offers a sense of scale rarely experienced at sea. The vessel itself is comparable in size to ships designed to carry several thousand passengers, yet here that volume is preserved, resulting in expansive public spaces, a near one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio, and an atmosphere that feels calm, spacious, and distinctly elevated.

All accommodations aboard EUROPA 2 are suites, each with a private veranda. My Veranda Suite measured approximately 35 square metres, a notably generous footprint by cruising standards. Inside, the design language was contemporary and refined: clean architectural lines, warm woods, tailored furnishings, and a muted palette that echoed sea and sky. The bathroom featured a jacuzzi tub and separate glass-enclosed shower, while a long run of thoughtfully designed wardrobe and storage space made settling in effortless. Floor-to-ceiling glass blurred the boundary between the interior and the horizon, reinforcing the ship’s emphasis on openness and ease.

Throughout the ship, materials and proportions are carefully considered – leather, parquet flooring, curated contemporary art, and high ceilings combine to create a modern, quietly luxurious atmosphere that never feels overstated.

Dining, Defined by Choice and Craft

Dining aboard EUROPA 2 unfolds without formality or fixed schedules. With seven restaurants, flexible mealtimes, and no assigned seating, guests move according to appetite rather than obligation.

Mornings often began at the Yacht Club, the ship’s all-day dining venue. Breakfast here is generous yet elegantly assembled: fresh breads and pastries, seasonal fruit, yogurts and overnight oats, smoked salmon, specialty cheeses and cured meats, alongside eggs prepared to order, pancakes, and crêpes from the kitchen. 

Evenings introduced a succession of culinary highlights.

At Restaurant Tarragon, French cuisine is delivered with exacting precision and balance. I began with ragout de homard – steamed lobster accented with crustacean froth and carrot-saffron crème – followed by provençal ravioli pistou. The main course, aubergine et figue, paired effortlessly with Laroche Les Chanoines Chablis 2023, selected by sommelier Benno Würster, whose thoughtful wine pairings shaped our dining throughout the voyage.

Weltmeere, the ship’s flagship restaurant, offered a cross-cultural perspective: asparagus with fried risotto, shaved parmesan, and salsa verde to start, followed by Parisian pepper steak with green peppercorns, gratinated potatoes, and red wine jus, and a refined mille-feuille layered with berries and vanilla cream for dessert.

At Serenissima, Italy took centre stage with confident indulgence. Linguini al tartufo arrived rich with cream, truffle, celery, and pecorino, followed by saltimbocca alla romana – thin veal escalope layered with prosciutto and sage, served alongside creamy porcini mushroom pappardelle. The wines – Vietti Roero Arneis 2024 and Paolo e Carlo “Conte di Campiano” Primitivo di Manduria Riserva – added depth and warmth to an already memorable evening.

Asian flavours emerged at Elements, where Thai gaeng phed gai – red chicken curry with ginger, eggplant, and coconut milk – gave way to Hong Kong–style nasi goreng, featuring fried rice, spicy shrimp, pak choy, garlic, and crisp fried squid. At Sakura, Japanese cuisine is approached with the same care, offering refined sushi and modern interpretations that complete the ship’s thoughtfully curated Asian repertoire.

Culture at Sea

Cultural enrichment aboard EUROPA 2 is woven naturally into the rhythm of the day. Nearly 900 original works of art are displayed throughout the ship, featuring names such as Gerhard Richter, Damien Hirst, Ólafur Eliasson, and David Hockney – pieces that invite intellectual engagement rather than reverence.

A dinner and champagne tasting in the Grande Réserve offered a deeper look into one of the most extensive wine collections at sea – nearly 19,000 bottles representing more than 450 labels. Guided by the ship’s sommelier, the experience moved beyond tasting into storytelling, with selections from esteemed champagne houses such as Dom Pérignon, Taittinger, and Ruinart, poured in an intimate, conversational setting.

Culinary exploration continued in the ship’s Miele Culinary School, the only one of its kind at sea, during a hands-on cooking session where our group prepared American beef tartare alongside an American hamburger deluxe – an experience that balanced technique with enjoyment and reflected the ship’s approach to dining as both refined and approachable.

Lectures exploring culture, history, and global perspectives filled the afternoons, often followed by tea service in the Belvedere – EUROPA 2’s panoramic library lounge – where ocean views framed porcelain cups and quiet reflection.

Evenings unfolded with internationally acclaimed talent: a piano duet in the Belvedere, whose repertoire reflected classical depth and contemporary sensitivity, followed by two performances in the theatre by the Spanish ensemble ISPASION, known for its precision, rhythmic complexity, and theatrical command. Other options in the evening include cocktails at the Collins, where premium spirits and conversation take centre stage; music and movement at Club 2; or late evenings at Sansibar, the open-air bar where ocean views and DJ sets extend the night without excess.

Wellness, with Intention

The OCEAN SPA is conceived as a sanctuary rather than a spectacle, offering three saunas, a steam room, and a precisely curated menu of treatments designed for restoration rather than escape. I chose the Thalgo Îles Pacifique Spa Ritual, a warm sand-compress massage, later followed in the voyage by a traditional Lomi Lomi massage – each distinct, each deeply renewing.

The wellness experience extends beyond the spa. The fitness centre offers guided classes and professional instruction, while the ship’s sophisticated golf simulator allows guests to refine their swing at sea. Nearby, the pool deck, designed with a retractable roof, offers open-air swimming in fair weather and a sheltered retreat when conditions shift.

Tailored Exploration Ashore

Shore experiences reflect the same philosophy as the ship itself: intimate, curated, and never generic. In Baltimore, a privately guided cultural excursion led first to the Baltimore Museum of Art, home to the world’s largest public collection of works on paper by Henri Matisse, alongside exhibitions by Amy Sherald, Spencer Finch, and Roald de Neve – followed by a visit to the American Visionary Art Museum, where self-taught works challenge convention and celebrate creative independence.

Families, too, are thoughtfully accommodated. EUROPA 2 offers dedicated Kids’ and Teens’ Clubs, allowing younger guests their own tailored programmes while adults engage fully in the ship’s cultural, culinary, and wellness offerings.

A Standard Set Quietly

As Glittering Magic of New York drew to a close, what remained was a sense of having travelled differently – with space to think, time to savour, and the rare comfort of never being hurried. The impression lingered long after I disembarked, precisely as intended.

As Hapag-Lloyd Cruises opens itself to a more international clientele, EUROPA 2 stands as a compelling introduction – not a reinvention, but an invitation. One that rewards travellers who value discretion over display, and intention over impulse.

In today’s cruising world, that distinction remains rare – and unmistakable.