EUROPA: Between spectacular gardens and landscapes
With the arrival of the gardening season, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises introduces the “Parks & Garden” format aboard EUROPA, inviting guests to discover some of the world’s most extraordinary gardens and botanical landscapes during the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Through the “Parks & Garden” concept, the small luxury ship EUROPA becomes a refined platform for exploration dedicated to landscape beauty and garden culture. Carefully selected itineraries travel through Great Britain, Western Europe, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic islands, and the west coast of North America, offering access to iconic gardens, historic parks, and private estates that are often difficult to visit independently.
EUROPA
Dr.-Carsten-Seick-garden-expert-on-the-Parks-Garden-itineraries-aboard-MS-EUROPA
Together with garden expert Dr. Carsten Seick, guests take part in curated small-group excursions that provide close insight into historic estates, hidden gardens, and locations of exceptional botanical value. His expertise, shaped through years of garden history studies and collaborations with institutions such as Kensington Palace and the Museum of London, enriches the voyages with a unique cultural perspective. On board, his lectures offer deeper insight into the art of garden design, regional traditions, and the diverse philosophies behind landscape architecture.
The destinations reveal remarkably different garden worlds: from the grand estates of England and Ireland to Mediterranean gardens and the botanical parks of California and western Canada. Each region reflects a distinct relationship between nature, culture, and design, ranging from formal Renaissance gardens to English landscape parks and exotic subtropical plant collections.
With a maximum of just 400 guests and exclusively spacious outside suites, EUROPA offers an intimate and highly personalized atmosphere. Thanks to its shallow draft, the small luxury ship can also access smaller ports and lesser-known coastal destinations often inaccessible to larger vessels, expanding the possibilities for discovery.
On board, the experience is defined by understated elegance and exceptional service. The culinary offering includes outstanding restaurants such as “THE GLOBE,” created by three-Michelin-starred chef Kevin Fehling, complemented by a modern wellbeing concept and generous spaces dedicated to relaxation. The result is a harmonious balance between luxury, tranquility, and cultural discovery.
During the “Parks & Garden” cruises, guests have the opportunity to visit some of the world’s most celebrated and iconic gardens, including the elegant Powerscourt Gardens in Ireland, the enchanting Tresco Abbey Garden in the Scilly Islands, and the romantic Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. These exceptional highlights are complemented by numerous historic parks, landscaped estates, and carefully selected private residences along the itineraries, many of which are normally closed to the public and open exclusively for these specially curated experiences.
The gardens of Cornwall
The 2026 and 2027 programs create a collection of journeys that seamlessly combine culture, landscapes, and lifestyle, crossing diverse yet harmoniously connected settings: from sunlit Mediterranean coastlines to the captivating Atlantic islands, from spectacular routes between California and Canada to the timeless atmospheres of the British Isles and Ireland.
Among the most representative itineraries is “Best of Great Britain,” a 15-day cruise from Kiel to Hamburg calling at Newhaven (Edinburgh), Invergordon, the Isle of Skye, Belfast, the Isle of Man, Liverpool, Dublin, the Scilly Islands, Falmouth, and Dartmouth, offering an authentic perspective on British traditions and Northern European landscapes. Alongside it is “Culture and Cuisine Along Sunny Coasts,” a voyage from Hamburg to Palma de Mallorca following the coasts of France and the Iberian Peninsula through destinations such as Honfleur, Saint-Malo, Gijón, Lisbon, Portimão, Cádiz, Marbella, and Málaga before reaching Menorca, combining Mediterranean elegance, culture, and regional gastronomy.
Another highlight is “Colorful Bazaars and Charming Atlantic Islands,” a voyage from Málaga to Lisbon that leads guests through the vibrant atmosphere of Morocco, the volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands, and the lush scenery of Madeira. The program also includes “Californian Lifestyle Meets Canadian Joie de Vivre,” a spectacular itinerary roundtrip from San Francisco exploring the Pacific coastline between the United States and Canada, featuring dynamic cities and breathtaking natural scenery. For travelers drawn to northern atmospheres, EUROPA also offers “A British Summer Fairytale,” a 16-day itinerary through England, Ireland, and Scotland, as well as “Very British: Beatles, Belfast and Black Tea,” a 13-day cruise along the Atlantic coasts of the United Kingdom that combines culture, music, and British traditions in a voyage filled with timeless charm.
These itineraries represent only a selection of the “Parks & Garden” cruises planned for 2026 and 2027, which together offer an even broader range of experiences dedicated to discovering the world’s most beautiful gardens and the cultures that created and preserved them over time.
In the footsteps of garden culture, at the Heligan Manor Gardens.
The “Parks & Garden” concept aboard EUROPA transforms the cruise into a profound cultural experience, where travel becomes a journey into landscape, history, and the art of gardening. It is not simply about visiting places, but about understanding their soul through encounters, knowledge, and direct observation.
In a perfect balance between navigation, culture, and exclusivity, EUROPA reaffirms its identity as a small luxury ship capable of delivering highly curated and personalized experiences. An invitation to travel slowly, with curiosity and attention, while being inspired by the beauty of some of the world’s most fascinating gardens.
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