Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2 offers 5-star service
There aren’t a lot of ships that I’d fly clear across North America to visit for a single afternoon. HapagLloyd Cruises magnificent flagship, the Europa 2, is an exception.
The 500-passenger ultra-luxury ship is one of the highest-rated in the world, catering to a discerning mix of German and English-speaking guests. Every one of Europa 2’s voyages is completely bilingual, and few ports of call are ever repeated from one year to the next.
I caught up with her in October in New York City; only her fourth visit to the Big Apple since entering service in 2013. If Europa 2 is a bit elusive, that only adds to her cachet. Berlitz awarded her its prestigious five-star-plus designation upon her launch, and the ship has handily won it year after year ever since.
Most cruise ships are drydocked every three to five years; Hapag- Lloyd Cruises sends Europa 2 in for a refit every other year. Its most recent refit, in September, was its most dramatic.
The former Herrenzimmer Lounge was transformed into Collins, a bright, colourful lounge adorned with artwork by Hamburg-based duo, Sutosuto. Here, under a new portrait of Albert Ballin (the man who arguably invented the concept of the pleasure cruise back in 1891), guests can enjoy the largest collection of gins at sea, with 45 different varieties from around the world. A record player and a stack of vinyl, which guests are welcomed to use, provides the soundtrack to the evening.
The Belvedere Observation Lounge has been given a radical makeover too. Under-utilized on my voyage through Greece and Turkey a few years back, it now sports a brand-new design that doubles as a library and specialty coffee bar. It still offers the same great views, with 180-degree wraparound windows.
The ship’s spa was extensively redesigned and now offers Finnish and Deep Ocean saunas, along with a mineral steam bath, and a cozy lounge corner with an electric fireplace. Improvements have also been made to the kids and teen’s facilities on board, which I particularly like: luxury shouldn’t mean leaving your family behind.
One thing that hasn’t changed is how warm and welcoming this ship feels. Five years on, Europa 2 deserves every one of the accolades and awards bestowed on her, and like a fine wine, only seems to get better with age.
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