Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa is celebrating her 25th anniversary in September. Ordered to replace the 1981-built Europa, the vessel was constructed by Kværner Masa Yards in Helsinki, Finland. As the sixth ship to carry the name in the company’s history, Europa was delivered to Hapag-Lloyd on 9 September 1999.
Following a journey to Germany, the 408-guest ship was officially christened at the Port of Hamburg on 15 September 1999, with Gabriele Frenzel, wife of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ then-CEO, Michael Frenzel, serving as the godmother during the ceremony.
Two days after its inaugural celebration, Europa welcomed guests for its maiden voyage, a repositioning cruise to the Mediterranean, concluding in Málaga, Spain.
Designed to offer a high-end product tailored for the German-speaking market, the vessel has since been operating worldwide. After completing itineraries in Europe and two trans-Atlantic crossings throughout the end of the year, the ship is set to embark on a global deployment in 2025.
This schedule will begin with sailings to the Canary Islands and the West Coast of Africa in January, followed by cruises to the Indian Ocean, featuring destinations such as Madagascar, Tanzania, the Seychelles, and South Africa.
In mid-March, Europa will set out on a repositioning voyage back to Europe, stopping in Namibia, St Helena, and the Cape Verde archipelago. The ship will then offer a spring program in the Mediterranean before relocating to Northern Europe for the summer season.
The 28,600gt Europa recently entered drydock at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven. According to Hapag-Lloyd, the vessel’s three-week shipyard stay includes essential class work, inspections, and comprehensive upgrades for 100 suites, along with refurbishments to various public areas.
Following the refit, Europa welcome guests back on 4 October for a 16-night cruise to Western Europe and the Mediterranean. Departing from Hamburg and concluding in Malta, the itinerary will visit destinations in France, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
