Europa 2 Set for Maiden Voyage to New Orleans
More than 500 cruise passengers aboard Europa 2 will spend a few days in New Orleans next week, as the luxury cruise ship makes her maiden voyage to the Port of New Orleans Julia Street Cruise Terminal Monday, where port officials will host an onboard ceremonial plaque exchange with the vessel’s captain.
“New Orleans consistently ranks atop the world’s top destinations for visitors and cruise lines see the Port of New Orleans as an attractive call on their itineraries,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. “Port-call vessels typically have a wide ranging impact on the local economy, as passengers, who are often international, have the opportunity to spend a few days exploring everything the City and the surrounding region has to offer.”
The 516-passenger cruise ship, owned and operated by German-based Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, is one of 10 cruise ships scheduled to make a port call in New Orleans prior to the end of 2016.
The cruise ship, launched in May of 2013, features 251 cabins, two owner suites and seven family apartments with the greatest space per passenger of any cruise ship in the industry. Europa 2 has an art collection of 890 original commissioned works, gourmet dining in seven restaurants, a choice of 600 wines and its six bars offer more than 200 varieties of gin – the largest gin collection at sea. Europa 2 also offers a 50-foot long pool, a gym, two golf simulators and a 10,000 square-foot spa.
The ship will depart New Orleans October 12 and travel to Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean before heading to the South Pacific to spend the winter months in Australia and New Zealand.
In 2015, the port’s cruise terminals handled 1,023,700 cruise passengers, ranking New Orleans the sixth-largest cruise port in the United States with direct industry expenditures totaling $406 million, supporting 8,129 jobs and accounting for $323 million in total income. 2016 passenger totals are on pace to break the 2015 mark with the addition of newer and larger homeported cruise ships.
Port cruise terminals currently host three home-ported cruise ships. Carnival Cruise Lines offers a wide variety of itineraries aboard the 2,754-passenger Carnival Triumph sailing year-round four- and five-day itineraries from New Orleans and aboard the 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream sailing year-round seven-day itineraries to both eastern and western Caribbean destinations. Norwegian Cruise Lines 2,340-passenger Norwegian Dawn will return next month to sail seven-day itineraries through May.
In addition to the Europa 2, Azamara Club Cruises will call on the Port October 25-26 with the Azamara Quest, AIDA Cruises will return the AIDAvita to New Orleans for four overnight calls beginning Nov. 5. P&O Cruises will call New Orleans with the Oriana November 8-9 and the Azura December 22-24. Crystal Cruises will also bring the Crystal Serenity to New Orleans December 6-7.