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| Sebastian Ahrens// (c) 2011 Hapag-Lloyd Cruises |
The first steel cut was made on Labor Day -- marking the start of shipyard construction of Europa 2, a new ship for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The luxury cruise ship is slated to launch in spring 2013.
Reflecting maritime tradition, Sebastian Ahrens, managing director for Hapag-Lloyd, officially gave the start signal at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. “After an intense planning stage, we are very pleased to be taking this decisive step towards the extension of our fleet with the first steel cut,“ said Ahrens.
The individual parts of the ship will be manufactured in different shipyard halls over the coming months. Keel laying is scheduled for the spring of 2012.
At least 835 shipyard workers are involved in the project; they'll spend an estimated 2.5 million hours of labor completing the vessel.
The 11-deck Europa 2 will have 258 suites. It's designed to enhance the luxury offerings of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The line describes it as a modern and informal interpretation of the Europa.
Maximum guest capacity will be 516 passengers and Europa 2 will boast more space per passenger than any other cruise ship in the industry. Verandah, Spa, Penthouse and Family suites are among the accommodation categories.
Europa 2 will have seven restaurants including a sushi bar, two lounges and four bars. It will also have onboard entertainment, a large wellness and spa area, and sports and health-oriented offerings.
For information on upcoming Hapag-Lloyd Cruises itineraries, travel agents in the U.S. and Canada may visit www.hlcruises.com or call one of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ sales agencies: Air Travel Marketing Services, Inc.at 800-888-0200, Euro Lloyd Travel Group, Inc. at 800-782-3924, or Kartagener Associates, Inc. 877-445-7447