135 years ago, Albert Ballin had a vision: to reinvent sea travel and allow people to discover the world in a truly special way. His vision ushered in a new era of travel. Today, 135 years of experience enable Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to anticipate trends and continually refine the onboard experience, and next year, this commitment will materialize in its two luxury ships, the EUROPA and EUROPA 2.
The EUROPA 2 will enter shipyard in Singapore in January, followed by the EUROPAin Bremerhaven in the autumn. At Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the future has always been part of tradition.
Both ships have been considered international benchmarks in the luxury cruise segment for years. Since entering service, they have consistently been recognized as the "World's Best Cruise Ships" by Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships, formerly known as Berlitz Cruise Guide. The most recent recognition came in 2025. Furthermore, the EUROPA 2 recently received a Kreuzfahrt Guide Award in the "Service and Comfort" category.
Building on their successes, both ships will undergo strategic upgrades in 2027. The improvements will focus on accommodation, dining, and social spaces – three areas that define the character of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
The interventions will range from design-focused improvements and technical updates to maintenance work and new conceptual improvements.
The EUROPA 2 will be the first to enter the shipyard in Singapore in January 2027. Some 250 suites will feature a new color scheme. The atrium and the Piano Bar, located within it, will also be modernized, while the Sakura and Elements specialty restaurants will undergo aesthetic enhancements. Furthermore, new conceptual changes are planned for the Elements restaurant.
"For us, progress means leveraging our experience to understand what makes our ships special and, at the same time, having the courage to change what needs to be changed," says Isolde Susset, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
"We change what can be improved. We invest in what opens up new possibilities. And we preserve what makes our ships unique.".
The evolution of both ships will be guided by passenger expectations, the transformation of the concept of luxury, and the possibilities offered by technology. The key lies in combining what already works with new ideas, while maintaining each ship's unique identity as the foundation for its evolution.
While the planned modifications for the EUROPA 2 are already finalized, plans for the EUROPA are still being developed. This smaller luxury yacht will arrive at the Bremerhaven shipyard next autumn.
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