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Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' Europa 2 under way, her white hull and single funnel in open water

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Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Small shiparound 500 guestsEntered service 2013

Europa 2

All-suite, bilingual and relaxed: the small luxury ship that still runs a children's club.

Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · CC0

Overview

Europa 2 carries around 500 guests in veranda suites with eight restaurants, a wide pool deck and supervised children's rooms in school vacations. Announcements are in German and English; most guests are German-speaking.

Europa 2 is Hapag-Lloyd's modern flagship, built in 2013 as a deliberate break from the formal Europa: casual dress, no fixed dinner seating, a contemporary design and more space per guest than almost any ship her size. Every cabin is a suite with a veranda, and the ratio of crew to guests is close to one to one.

She is the ship we propose to confident families and couples who want food and space before entertainment, and who do not mind that the deck chatter is mostly German. The cruise director's team runs the program in both languages, and the crew switch to English without being asked.

At a glance

Size
Small ship, around 500 guests
Entered service
2013 (approximate)
Our pick
A Grand Ocean Suite for a family of four, a Veranda Suite for a couple.

Thinking about Europa 2?

We will say whether Europa 2 is right for your party, which suite we would book and which sailing, or name the ship we would choose instead.

Best for

  • Families who want a children's club on a small luxury ship
  • Couples who want a veranda suite and quiet
  • Food-led travelers who like several restaurants

Not for

  • Travelers who want an English-first atmosphere
  • Anyone who wants an all-inclusive drinks and excursions fare
  • Guests who want a big production show

Price

What Europa 2 costs

Planning figure around $1,000 to $1,600 per person per night in a Veranda Suite, drinks and excursions extra; family apartments are priced for four. Not a quote.

Have a budget in mind?

Tell us what you are looking for and the figure you have in mind. We will say what it buys on each line, and where the same money goes further.

On board

Suites, cabins, dining and evenings on Europa 2

In our words, from the questions we are asked most. Suite names are the line's; which one we would book is ours.

Suites
From Veranda Suites of around 28 square meters through Ocean and Grand Ocean Suites to the Owner and Grand Penthouse Suites with butler service. Family apartments pair a suite with a connecting children's room.
Cabins we would book
For a family of four we would book a Grand Ocean Suite or a family apartment midships on deck 7 or 8; for a couple a Veranda Suite is enough, with a tub and a walk-in closet.
Dining
Around eight venues: the Weltmeere main restaurant, Tarragon (French), Serenissima (Italian), Elements (Asian), Sakura (sushi), Yacht Club casual and a grill. All without surcharge; wine and spirits are priced separately.
Entertainment
A theater with classical and jazz programs, a jazz club, lectures in German and English, a golf simulator and a quiet library. Evenings are low-key by design.

Want the right suite on Europa 2?

Tell us who is traveling and we will name the deck and the suite numbers we would hold, and the ones we would avoid.

Children, grandparents, mobility

Europa 2 for the whole family

Three honest notes: what the ship does for children, what it does for grandparents, and what it asks of anyone with limited mobility.

Children
Knopf Club for the youngest, Kids Club for school age and a separate teen lounge, all supervised in German and Austrian school vacations. Outside those weeks the rooms are open but unstaffed, which we check against your dates.
Grandparents
Elevators serve every deck, the ship moves little in summer seas, and the pace is unhurried. Grandparents who do not speak German should expect to be in the minority socially, which some enjoy and some do not.
Accessibility
A small number of wheelchair-accessible suites and step-free public decks; tender ports remain difficult. We confirm the specific suite with the line before proposing it.

Planning for the whole family?

Connecting suites, different activity levels, dining that works for everyone, and transfers that suit grandparents and toddlers alike. The best family suites go first, so start early.

Where it sails

Where Europa 2 goes

The regions this ship sails as far as we know; the itinerary confirms the ports and the season.

Positano stacked above the sea on the Amalfi coast
Late May to June and September to early October. July and August for school vacations, booked well ahead.

Mediterranean

The easiest great cruise there is: short flights, famous ports, and a ship for every kind of family.

Sunset over the whitewashed houses of Oia, Santorini
June and September are ideal; July and August are hot and busy; October still swims.

Greek Islands

Small ships, island overnights, and a late season that runs into October.

The walled old town of Dubrovnik and its harbour from above
May to June and September; July and August are warm and busy.

Adriatic & Croatia

Venice, Dubrovnik and Kotor in a week, on ships small enough for the old harbors.

Friendship Beach on Bequia in the Grenadines, palms over a quiet bay
December to April. Christmas and New Year sailings book 12 months ahead.

Caribbean

Winter sun for the whole family, on ships that make Christmas and half-term easy.

Sample itineraries

Sailings on Europa 2

We have not written up a sample sailing on Europa 2 yet. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises publishes the current itineraries; tell us the season you have in mind and we will send the two or three we would consider, with planning figures.

Not sure where to go?

Give us the month, who is traveling and how far you will fly. A specialist will name the two or three regions and ships we would choose.

Deck plans and photographs

Deck plans and pictures of Europa 2

Deck plans and suite dimensions are on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' official site; we link rather than copy them because the line updates them.

Our promise

We will say no.

We do not recommend a cruise because it is expensive, and we do not put people on the wrong ship. If Europa 2 is not right for your party, we will tell you and suggest the one that is, even if it costs less or is sold by someone else. We are an advisor, not a booking engine.

Speak to a specialist

Good to know

Europa 2 FAQs

Will we be the only English speakers on Europa 2?

Rarely the only ones, but likely a minority. The ship markets to English speakers and runs the program bilingually, so you will be looked after; the social mix is the thing to weigh.

Is Europa 2 good for children?

Yes in school vacation weeks, when the clubs are staffed and family apartments fill. Outside those weeks there are few children on board, which suits some parties and not others.

Plan your Europa 2 cruise with Blackbury Travel.

Our pick: A Grand Ocean Suite for a family of four, a Veranda Suite for a couple.. Tell us who is traveling and when, and we will say which sailing and which suite, or whether another ship would suit you better.

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