EUROPA 2’s 2023/2024 cruise season – 28 hand-picked voyages featured in the international catalogue: freedom awaits

• The international catalogue for the 2023/2024 season features cruises along the most beautiful coastlines, including, for the first time, the American west coast from Hawaii to South America
• Premiere ports of call in North America: Travel begins and ends in New York with stops in five US states and Halifax
• More highlights: Caribbean islands, Christmas & New Year's Eve along the east and west coasts of South America, South Pacific, Australia & New Zealand at the beginning of the year

For the 2023/2024 season, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the renowned and experienced provider of luxury and expedition travel, is welcoming bookings from the UK marketplace, with a programme of 28 itineraries from which to choose. These include numerous premiere ports of call and new routes along the US coasts and in southern Italy. All trips can now be booked through the cruise line’s partner travel agencies and on the website at www.hl-cruises.com

On EUROPA 2 voyages, guests experience casual luxury, individuality and style, combined with the familiar, highest-standards of comfort and service. The small, luxury ship - rated 5-stars plus in the 2020 Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships guide - is known for its modern and spacious interior design, culinary variety and entertainment with live acts, as well as a sports programme with a star cast.

In October 2023, the guests of the EUROPA 2 can experience the grandiose nature of the New England states during the 13-day voyage, which for the first time, begins and ends in New York. Nowhere else is the history of the USA so closely linked to idyllic landscapes as here. Boston, Baltimore, Portland, and also Canada's oldest city, Halifax, are just a few of the diverse calls on this special journey. From March to May 2024, the small, luxury ship will travel the Hawaiian Islands and the American west coast to South America. Majestic volcanic landscapes, the Napa Valley wine-growing region, San Francisco with the unmistakable Golden Gate Bridge and a day passage through the Panama Canal will remain in the memories of the guests on the EUROPA 2 for a long time.

Example cruise:

From 17 to 29 October 2023 (12 days) guests can experience the wonderful scenery of the New England states, from New York to New York. Ports of call include:  Newport, Rhode Island; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Portland, Maine; and Boston with its European influences, or trendy Baltimore.  From £6,688 per person, category 1, double occupancy, cruise only. https://www.hl-cruises.com/EUX2327

Island hopping in the Caribbean: Christmas & New Year's Eve in South America

Endless beaches, turquoise blue sea, exotic landscapes and Caribbean “joie de vivre” are among the focal points of the new main catalogue. EUROPA 2 guests can look forward to small island worlds, fascinating underwater landscapes and pure sun in the Caribbean. Three trips lead to the Caribbean paradise between the end of October and the beginning of December 2023.

The 21-day Christmas/New Year cruise 2023 with the EUROPA 2 starts in Rio de Janeiro and ends in Chile. Spending the holidays and the turn of the year along the east and west coasts of South America, past Cape Horn and the Garibaldi Glacier, is undoubtedly a unique Christmas present. On this passage, the holiday guests experience metropolises such as Rio de Janeiro, or Buenos Aires, lonely stretches of coast, sun and snow.

Example cruise:

From 21 December 2023 to 11 January 2024 (21 days) the EUROPA 2 sails from Rio de Janeiro to Valparaiso and visits vibrant cities, secluded coastlines, sunshine and snow, past Cape Horn and world-famous natural wonders such as the Garibaldi Glacier. From £14,250 per person, category 0, double occupancy, cruise only. https://www.hl-cruises.com/EUX2400

The south of Bella Italia, including Tropea, the pearl of Calabria

A must for all fans of Italian cuisine and carefree relaxation: In September 2024, the 5-star plus cruise ship will travel from Rome along the Amalfi Coast to Tropea for the first time - also known as the Pearl of Calabria and famous for the sweet red onions named after her. Sicily is not far from Calabria, so the EUROPA 2 will circumnavigate Italy's southernmost island, also for the first time. Guests have the opportunity to discover the most beautiful cities in Sicily and to enjoy the popular limoncello on Capri in the company of the international jet set.

Example cruise:

From 10 to 19 September 2024 (9 days) guests await unforgettable experiences and extend the summer in the sunny south. MS EUROPA 2 sets sail from and returns to Civitavecchia (Rome) calling at Tropea, the pearl of Calabria and Sicily’s most beautiful towns and the legendary Blue Grotto of Capri. From £4,674 per person, category 0, double occupancy, cruise only. https://www.hl-cruises.com/EUX2419

Themed trips for families and fans of atmospheric concerts

The well-known themed trips IN2BALANCE, Golf & Cruise, family trips, talk2christiansen and MS EUROPA 2 unplugged are also setting trends in the 2023/24 season. After its popularity in 2022 and 2023, ILLUMINATE2 is planned for the third time - guests can expect an audiovisual 360-degree experience. On the journey in August 2024 from the Elbe south to the Tagus culinary discoveries merge with a soundtrack for the senses: together with international artists, sound visionary Christopher von Deylen (SCHILLER) exclusively transforms the EUROPA 2 into a work of art comprising dance, atmospheric concerts and intoxicating worlds of images.

Example ILLUMINATE2 themed-cruise:

From 29 July to 10 August 2024 (12 days) the EUROPA 2 travels the sun-drenched Atlantic coast, from Hamburg to Lisbon, calling at the charming city of Antwerp, Guernsey on the Channel Islands, as well as Brittany's largest island, Belle-Ile. From £6,070 per person, category 0, double occupancy, cruise only.

https://www.hl-cruises.com/EUX2415  

Casual luxury – smart, yet relaxed travel meeting the highest demands of guests

On board, guests experience maximum personal freedom, space and individual service. The suites are modern and stylishly furnished retreats from at least 35 to 114 square meters in size with their own veranda. A variety of amenities are included in the cruise fare. From perfect service, to an extensive entertainment programme, to the exquisite creations of the chefs in all six restaurants on board.

The issues of sustainability and the environment remain very important to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The entire fleet has been running on low-emission marine gas oil since 2020 and does not use heavy fuel oil. The ship is also equipped for the use of shore power and with SCR catalytic converters, a seawater desalination plant for water treatment, a modern waste separation plant and a biological treatment plant for waste water.

The EUROPA 2 2023/24 catalogue, featuring these cruises, can be ordered on line at: https://www.hl-cruises.com/ships/ms-europa-2/catalogue-request

Reservations: International guests, as well as travel agencies, can make use of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ free-of-charge phone numbers when requesting or booking a cruise. United Kingdom: 0800 0513 829, United States & Canada: 877 445 7447 or 800 334-2724, Belgium: 0800 79 421, Netherlands: 0800 0220 459; all other countries, please call +49 40 30703070 (English-speaking hotline) – or send an e-mail to salesteam@hl-cruises.com or visit www.hl-cruises.com/contact-services for local agents.

Social Media: Connect with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on Facebook (Hapag-Lloyd Cruises), Twitter (@HLCruisesInt) and Instagram (#Hapaglloydcruises).

For more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ exciting destinations and itineraries, visit www.hl-cruises.com. All press releases and a picture gallery can be found at www.hl-cruises.com/press.

 Hamburg, June 2022