As well as the main dining room, there are six restaurants, none of which attracts an additional
charge. You are guaranteed a reservation
in all of them should you so desire.
With 370 crew, to paraphrase
the Europa 2 brochure, “mathematically speaking, you are only slightly more
likely to come across another guest than encounter one of the Europa 2 team”
And this to me is where Europa
2’s true luxury is best demonstrated. Service
on this ship goes far beyond a pillow menu and gluten free meal options.
Unobtrusive restaurant staff
come and go throughout your meal, serving courses and clearing plates in
unison. Whether you are a party of two
or ten, the service never falters. It is
seamless, and the food is exquisite. Menu
choices are extensive, and no expense has been spared on quality ingredients
nor on restaurant fittings. Just look at
the spectacular Murano chandeliers in Serenissima, the Italian restaurant, and
the hand painted tiles and checkerboard floor in the Parisian brasserie
inspired Tarragon.
If all that eating gets too
much for you, the sporting amenities on board Europa 2 will have something to help you
recover. There’s two golf simulators and
professional golf instructors if you want to improve your swing. There’s a fully equipped gym and a sports
& fitness program designed by a former German World Cup alpine racer and
Olympian. No half measures here! And the pool with its retractable roof is a
stunner. In addition to a fabulous spa offering all the requisite treatments
and services, there are four saunas each with a different temperature, a Kneipp
treading pool, a whirlpool and an ice fountain.
That’s for refreshing yourself, not your drink, by the way.
If there are kids in your
travelling party, children up to the age of 11travel free and fares are heavily
subsidised for those in the 12-15 year age bracket. As well as family friendly
accommodation and Kids’ and Teens’ clubs, there’s also a full program of specially
tailored shore excursions. The day
Europa 2 was in Melbourne the kids had their own visit to the Melbourne
Aquarium – no adults allowed.
All suites have their own
veranda, and can be configured to suit singles, couples, friends, and families
(there are a number of two bedroom family suites), all with ample room and
superb comfort. It’s perfect for
multi-generational groups.
There’s an entire list of
amenities and benefits I haven’t covered here – including world class jazz, classical
& theatrical onboard entertainment, a well-stocked library, zodiacs for
cruising to hidden beaches & bays, free bicycle use in port, cooking
classes in the Miele demonstration kitchen, and unbeatable environmental
credentials.
You can start to see your own
definition of luxury being realised already, can’t you?
Europa 2 itineraries follow the sun and include the Mediterranean, the Amazon, Asia, Australasia, Africa
and the Indian Ocean.
The ship is part of the Hapag-Lloyd
cruise fleet which also includes two quality expedition vessels which follow
the ice, including both the polar regions. Imagine returning from a zodiac
landing in Antarctica to a sublime lunch of steak tartar, turbot with leek,
duck with sour cherries and chocolate gateau.
Adventure travel has certainly
come a long way since the days of the early explorers.