Travel
EUROPA 2 Pool
Many passengers love the luxury
ships that have a very formal
personality, reflected by Captain’s
receptions, fixed meal times and
assigned tables, formal cocktail
parties and similar events.
My wish list doesn’t include any of
these. Which is why a cruise on
Hapag-Lloyd’s EUROPA 2, offered me
days of relaxed luxury: the freedom
to enjoy the ship my way – but with
the services of an exceptionally
well-trained multi-lingual European
crew and a superior kitchen. In fact,
the only way the service could have
been better would have been if I’d
had my own private staff on my own
private yacht.
The ship’s older sister, the EUROPA,
is also top-rated, but it has a very
different vibe – a formal atmosphere
that appeals to an older European
(mainly German) crowd. When
Hapag-Lloyd built EUROPA 2, the
intent was to appeal to a younger,
English-speaking demographic,
including young families (the EUROPA
is not kid-friendly). The result was a
ship that The Berlitz Cruising & Cruise
Ships describes as “superb, elegant,
contemporary.” Eco-friendly EUROPA
2 has “green features” like the
optimized hull to reduce fuel
consumption; a service water
treatment plant with the highest
standards in the industry; a system
for ballast water treatment that
prevents spreading flora and fauna.
It’s the first cruise ship with SCEcatalytic converter to reduce nitric
oxide emissions. The so-called
“mermaid pods” reduce vibration to
the point where it’s hardly noticeable.
With a capacity of 516 passengers, the
ship provides the greatest space per
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