I’m aboard Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ 42,830-grt, 500 guest ship Europa 2 as she sails from Lisbon to Bilboa. And I’m dazzled at every turn. Her high ceilings and the light that bathes her exterior through windows that border the ship, starboard and port, creates a radiance I’ve never before seen at sea. Her décor is a celebration of contemporary art and sculpture and her dining—complimentary at six exquisite venues—is extraordinary.
“Europa who??,” you may ask. And I wouldn’t be surprised, despite the fact that soon after her 2013 launch, Europa 2 was crowned “world’s best cruise ship” by Insight Guides (previously Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships). Even more surprising is that Europa, another Hapag-Lloyd ship, had previously held the lofty honor.
While Hapag-Lloyd Cruises can trace its origins back to the 19th century, until the debut of the bilingual German/English Europa 2, the line’s cruise experiences targeted German-speaking guests exclusively. This year, however, the entire Hapag-Lloyd fleet (Europa 2, the 400-guest Europa, and the 230-guest expedition vessels HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration, and HANSEATIC spirit) has adopted a dual-language format so English speakers can now expect a bi-lingual service staff and daily programs, menus, entertainment and enrichment in their own language.
Your Destinations
Hapag-Lloyd ships sail the world, from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Indian Ocean, North and Central America, the Caribbean and more! Expedition ships explore the polar regions and will soon offer sailings to warm-weather destinations as well. You’ll even find Hapag-Lloyd ships sailing from your own backyard with Caribbean jaunts from Miami or New York, Great Lakes sailings from Halifax and Alaska cruises from Vancouver.
Your Suite
Europa 2 boasts all suite/all balcony accommodations while Europa’s are all outside with most including balconies. Europa 2 also offers “Family Apartments,” two separate areas connected by a door with a whimsical kids’ space outfitted with stuffed toys and bunk beds! The majority of suites aboard the line’s expedition ships also include balconies, full ones or French and on all ships a generous assortment of amenities is included (Nespresso coffee maker, bathrobe, slipper, flip flops, bath products and more). USB ports are abundant though aboard Europa 2, an adaptor was required for bedside charging. On any Hapag-Lloyd ship, the suite is a visual work of art with sculpture-like partitions separating sleeping area from sitting area aboard Europa 2 and, on expedition ships, a color scheme that celebrates the glacial blues of polar regions.
Your Shipmates
German-speaking guests, young and old, continue to be in the majority aboard Hapag-Lloyd ships but that’s hardly a concern since their English tends to be flawless. And, based on my HANSEATIC inspiration sailing, word might already be getting out to English speakers since 60 of my sailing’s 155 shipmates were from North America. Despite the luxurious surroundings aboard Europa 2, the atmosphere is a casual one—even on Captain’s Welcome and Farewell evenings—and the same is true aboard the expedition ships. Europa 2, however, offers a more formal experience.
Your Dining
Main dining rooms aboard Hapag-Lloyd ships require no reservation and are open sitting. But in terms of specialty dining, get this: Not only are specialty restaurants complimentary–and spectacular—but your specialty restaurant reservation holds your table for the entire evening, allowing you to let hunger, not the clock, determine when you dine.
Europa 2 offers menus that change daily at Weltmeere, its main dining room, and specialty options include Italian, French, Asian and sushi while breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets may be found at the indoor/outdoor Yacht Club. Europa offers a stunning main dining room as well as German fusion and Italian specialty restaurants along with a Lido buffet. The smaller expedition ships offer a main dining room, an innovative Peruvian/Japanese restaurant and their own buffet offerings. Each ship offers dining suitable for all dietary restrictions. As a European-based line, eat-and-run North Americans might find evening dining a bit too leisurely with one of my Europa 2 dinners extending beyond three hours.
Hungry between meals? Afternoon tea is served and should you be partying late night at the dance club, servers circulate with trays of goodies—both savory and sweet.
Your Entertainment
Aboard Europa and Europa 2, think intimate entertainment as opposed to lavish production shows. On my sailing, the ship’s band performed Madonna’s hits, a quirky “Austro-Pop” night celebrated the performers of Austria and an “unplugged” performance by German singer/songwriter Chanin captivated the audience as he performed English-language covers and original songs at the ship’s theater. But both Europa and Europa 2 often offer specialty sailings that celebrate specific themes like classical music, choreography, dance, culinary, golf and more. As you would expect, Hapag-Lloyd’s expedition ships offer scientific and other lectures often at the ship’s Ocean Academy, a learning area stocked with microscopes, scientific specimens and exhibits.
And Some Eye-Opening Differences
There is no question that we have reason to celebrate the expansion of Hapag-Lloyd’s new bilingual format, but make no mistake, the European influence pervades throughout the fleet.
Currency aboard Hapag-Llloyd ships is charged in Euros and your daily program (printed and supplemented by an app) will reflect a 24-hour time clock. The Ocean Spa’s complimentary steam room and sauna are “textile free,” meaning nudity is the norm and both men and women share the space (of course, towels are available for the modest). And while smoking (cigarettes, cigars or pipes) is prohibited in all indoor areas with the exception of a designated cigar bar, ashtrays are available outdoors and smoking is even permitted on ship balconies.
These are near all-inclusive ships (no restaurant surcharge; gratuities are included in fares), yet drinks are charged separately with wine about $8.25 a glass and cocktails about $9.43. A drinks package priced at 44 Euros per person per day is available.
The small, luxury ships of Hapag-Lloyd just might be a bit different than the American-style ones you’re used to sailing. But their beauty, art, extraordinary dining and meticulous attention to detail, makes them perfection…in any language.
