Today, at the first light of dawn, the ultra-luxury ship MS Europa 2 entered the port of Catania, under the gaze of the mural created by Alexander Farto, the young Portuguese artist.
Catania Cruise Port is pleased to host this jewel of the Hapag-Lloyd fleet, the famous German shipowner, during this two-night stay in the Etna port that will give the almost 300 passengers on board, mostly from Germany, the opportunity to discover the Sicilian wonders and enjoy the summer warmth of the Mediterranean climate.
One of the most opulent cruise ships at sea, the MS Europa 2 was christened on 10 May 2013 during the 824th anniversary celebrations of the Port of Hamburg and is characterized by elegant furnishings, spacious cabins, and almost personalized passenger service. This award-winning ship offers spectacular itineraries between Africa, Asia, Oceania and Europe.
As always, the call is carried out following the strict safety, health and prevention protocols with which Catania Cruise Port obtained the "Safe Travels” stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council, confirming its commitment to counter the current epidemic.
Hapag Lloyd is the second company, besides Costa Cruises, to choose Catania Cruise Port after the closure due to the health emergency, as well as the first one belonging to the ultra-luxury category and the first one to make an overnight call. These numbers demonstrate not only the slow but progressive reopening of the cruise sector, one of the most afflicted by the pandemic, but also the constant growth of Catania Cruise Port, engaged in a continuous implementation of services offered to Cruise Lines and passengers and in an incessant promotion of the Etna destination.
Since the end of 2016, Catania Cruise Port has joined the network of Global Ports Holding (GPH), the largest independent cruise terminal operator in the world, with a consolidated presence in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asia-Pacific regions, including important commercial realities in Turkey and Montenegro. GPH operates 21 ports in 13 countries and continues to grow steadily, providing services for 14 million passengers and reaching a market share of 24% in the Mediterranean Sea every year.