STX Europe shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France officially handed over a 40,000 ton ocean cruiser EUROPA 2 to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on 26. April 2013. Dr. Wolfgang Flägel, Managing Director at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, and Laurent Castaing, General Manager of STX France, signed the documents.
The EUROPA 2 is a modern and lifestyle-oriented sister ship of the EUROPA, the only 5-star-plus ship in the world.
The newly built addition to the fleet features eleven decks, all-suites with their own outdoor verandas, and the largest space per passenger ratio in the cruise industry. With a length of 225 metres/739 feet and a draught of 6,3 metres/20.7 feet, EUROPA 2 is capable of calling at small, rarely visited ports which is not an option for most larger ships.
The vessel’s 14-day maiden voyage from Hamburg to Lisbon will take place from 11 until 25 May 2013.
[mappress] Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, April 29, 2013