CRUISE LOG

Photo tour: The luxury of the new Europa 2

Gene Sloan

USA TODAY

July 10, 2013Updated July 16, 2013, 8:12 a.m. ET

German luxury line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is targeting North Americans and other English-speaking travelers in a new way with Europa 2, its first fully bilingual ship. What's the vessel like on the inside? USA TODAY cruise editor Gene Sloan offers a photo tour.

Thinking about a splurge on a luxury cruise? Our latest cruise ship photo tour, which appears in the carousel above, offers a deck-by-deck look at what's billed as one of the most elegant and upscale vessels ever: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' new Europa 2.

Unveiled in May, the 40,000-ton vessel offers the highest staff-to-passenger ratio in the industry and, as can be seen in the tour, is chock-full of upscale amenities include a luscious spa, a high-end cooking classroom and a spacious pool deck that never feels crowded.

Designed as a research tool for vacationers considering a voyage, the Europa 2 photo tour is the 91st in our ongoing series of cruise ship galleries.

For previous photo tours, click on the links below:

Alaskan Dream Cruises:Admiralty Dream
American Cruise Lines:Queen of the Mississippi
American Safari Cruises:Safari Explorer; Safari Endeavor
Azamara Club Cruises:Azamara Journey
Avalon Waterways:Avalon Panorama; Avalon Expression; Avalon Angkor
Celebrity Cruises:Celebrity Eclipse; Celebrity Constellation; Celebrity Century; Celebrity Reflection; Celebrity Solstice; Celebrity Silhouette
Carnival Cruise Lines:Carnival Magic; Carnival Breeze; Carnival Breeze, Magic compared; Carnival Destiny; Carnival Ecstasy;Carnival Splendor; Carnival Inspiration; Carnival Liberty; Carnival Valor; Carnival Dream
Celebration Cruise Line:Bahamas Celebration
Compagnie du Ponant:Le Boreal
Costa Cruises:Costa Favolosa; Costa Deliziosa
Cruise & Maritime Voyages:Marco Polo
Crystal Cruises:Crystal Symphony
Cunard Line:Queen Mary 2; Queen Elizabeth; Queen Victoria; Queen Mary (retired)
Disney Cruise Line:Disney Wonder; Disney Fantasy and Dream compared; Disney Fantasy; Disney Dream
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines:Braemar
American Queen Steamboat Co.:American Queen
Hapag-Lloyd:Europa
Holland America Line:Nieuw Amsterdam; Westerdam; Eurodam; Oosterdam; Statendam
InnerSea Discoveries:Wilderness Discoverer
Lindblad Expeditions:National Geographic Sea Lion
Louis Cruises:Louis Majesty
MSC Cruises:MSC Fantasia; MSC Divina; MSC Preziosa
Norwegian Cruise Line:Norwegian Jade; Norwegian Breakaway; Norwegian Sky; Norwegian Epic; Norwegian Gem
Oceania Cruises:Riviera; Marina
Paul Gauguin Cruises:Paul Gauguin
Princess Cruises:Ruby Princess; Crown Princess; Grand Princess; Emerald Princess; last look at the 'Love Boat'; Royal Princess under construction; Royal Princess; Sapphire Princess;
Regent Seven Seas Cruises:Seven Seas Mariner
Royal Caribbean International:Oasis of the Seas; Voyager of the Seas; Jewel of the Seas; Allure of the Seas
Seabourn Cruise Line:Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Odyssey; Seabourn Quest
Silversea:Silver Spirit; Silver Shadow
Star Clippers:Star Flyer
Vantage Deluxe World Travel:River Discovery II; River Splendor
Viking River Cruises:Viking Odin; Viking Bragi
Voyages to Antiquity:Aegean Odyssey
Voyages of Discovery:Discovery
Windstar Cruises:Wind Surf; Wind Star; Wind Spirit

Yachts available by charter:Christina O
Retired ocean liners:United States
Theme galleries:The seven most spectacular suites at sea

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