Rated 5-stars-plus by Berlitz Cruise Guide 2015, Europa 2 boasts exquisite comfort and a luxurious atmosphere. She is advertised with the strapline Freedom That Takes You Places, and owners Hapag-Lloyd says she has ‘all the promises of a yacht and the serenity of a small resort.’

Built in 2013 as the fleet’s second flagship, this sleek white vessel offers personal service, a high gastronomic standard, individual travel programmes and excellent interiors.

Her style is modern and informal, while exclusiveness and relaxation are guaranteed by her relatively small size. A maximum of 500 passengers with 370 crew means guests enjoy exceptional attention.

Billed as ‘your home on the high seas’, Europa 2’s interior decoration is contemporary, combining stylish ambience with state-of-the-art technology. Few ships offer more space per guest and all suites have a spacious veranda.

Passengers can enjoy eight restaurants, six bars and an expansive Ocean Spa. For golf fans Hapag-Lloyd Cruises claims to have brought realistic tuition onto a cruise ship for the first time: two sophisticated golf simulators provide virtual access to many of the world’s best championship courses.