MS Europa 2
Europa 2 entering Southampton Water.
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Europa 2 |
| Operator: | Hapag-Lloyd |
| Port of registry: |
Valletta,  Malta
|
| Builder: | STX Europe, Saint-Nazaire, France |
| Laid down: | 7 February 2012 |
| Launched: | 6 July 2012 |
| Christened: | 10 May 2013 |
| Acquired: | 26 April 2013 |
| Maiden voyage: | 11 May 2013 |
| Identification: | Call sign: 9HA3283 IMO number: 9616230 MMSI number: 229378000 |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 42,830 GT |
| Length: | 225.62 m (740 ft) |
| 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 |
MS Europa 2 is a cruise ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a German-based cruise line. She entered service in May 2013, and 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.
Europa 2 has been described as "the ritziest ship in the industry." She 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. She was christened on 10 May 2013, during the 824th Hamburg Port Anniversary.
Europa 2 is intended to convey an atmosphere more relaxing than that of her more traditional fleet mate, the Europa. She has the greatest space per passenger of any cruise ship, and her décor is contemporary. During the day, her reception area is bathed in natural light, which floods in through floor-to-ceiling windows extending over several levels.
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.
Europa 2 has seven restaurants. All offer gourmet dining and a choice of 600 wines. According to one source, "On a normal night, 120 different dishes are served à la carte in the ship’s restaurants. Fifty-six cooks serve up to 500 passengers ..." The largest of the restaurants, Weltmeere, serves an international range of dishes; the other six include Tarragon, which is French-based, Elements, with an Asian theme, Serenissima, which serves Italian fare, and Sakura, a sushi restaurant. German cuisine is not a major feature.
The self-service Yacht Club restaurant on the ninth deck is open to the elements. It has wood and metal tables and chairs with a fleecy blanket on the back of each chair for northern waters.
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Wikipedia