From Hamburg to Palma de Mallorca · Mediterranean · 15 nights
Part of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ award-winning fleet, MS Europa will operate bilingually in German and English beginning in January 2026, opening a whole host of exciting voyages for the English-speaking market and offering a laid-back small ship cruising experience.
MS Europa, like the rest of the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet, is
awarded five stars year after year by Insight Guides Cruising &
Cruise Ships, formally the Berlitz Cruise Guide, and offers a
relaxed and stylish ambience on board. From January 2026, MS Europa
will operate bilingually, in German and English, opening up plenty
of exciting itineraries for our discerning guests.
Known locally as 'the gateway to the world', the port of Hamburg has a rich maritime history. Of course the city has its seedy side, as characterised by the old red light district around the Reeperbahn, but it's also a vibrant, progressive city with some excellent museums, galleries and theatres.
Antwerp is a city bound up with the arts, once home to the likes of Rubens and Van Dyck, and more recently carving out a reputation as the fashion capital of Belgium. It’s also a magnet for shopaholics, with designer boutiques and jewellers galore.
Saint-Malo grew rich off the back of maritime trade and its plundering corsairs, a seafaring heritage that is still proudly on display today. It’s great fun getting lost in the streets of the walled old town, and the famous medieval abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is an easy day-trip.
The naval port of Brest is situated on a fine natural harbour, a bustling city that was rebuilt after extensive damage from Allied air attacks during World War II. Enjoy excellent seafood and local Breton dishes, learn about the city’s maritime history at the Musée de la Marine, or visit Océanopolis, one of France’s largest aquariums.
La Coruña is the largest city in Galicia, a beautiful region of lush green countryside and wild, windswept beaches. Historical sights of note include the Tower of Hercules, a UNESCO-listed Roman lighthouse, and the city is also home to some great seafood restaurants.
Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tejo, Lisbon’s colourful cityscape includes Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums. But for many the best times will be had wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbon’s lovely backstreets, with their great local food, wine and music.
Portimão is a bustling fishing port and gateway to the Algarve, with a pleasant riverside promenade where the smell of sizzling sardines fills the air. The most popular attraction is Praia da Rocha just to the south, one of the Algarve’s loveliest beaches.
The crumbling, sun-baked seafront city of Cádiz is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the western world, founded by the Phoenicians around 1100 BC. Although the city lacks any obvious landmarks, it’s rich in atmosphere, and plays host to one of Spain’s most colourful carnivals.
Málaga boasts plenty of chic restaurants and bars where you can ease into the rhythms of life in southern Spain, before exploring sights including the intriguing, unfinished Gothic cathedral, and a museum devoted to the city's most famous son, Pablo Picasso.
Although Ibiza is best known as a hedonistic party island, it’s easy to give the clubbers a swerve and discover the White Isle’s mellower side. The island boasts some spectacularly beautiful coastline, and the fortified Old Town (Dalt Vila) is UNESCO listed.
Mallorca is renowned for its beaches, ranging from big, bustling resorts to small, secluded coves. The island interior offers ruggedly beautiful scenery and quaint little towns, while the charming capital, Palma, boasts an attractive old quarter dominated by the imposing Gothic cathedral.
