We chose the Europa 2 to celebrate a special occasion. For comparison, we have taken 3 Windstar cruises in the past, and one transatlantic cruise on the Queen Mary 2, in Princess Grill.

The experience was wonderful. The ship is beautiful, designed with clean modern lines and a feeling of spaciousness everywhere. The central elevator space is especially impressive; it has a 4-storey wall of glass on either side so the area is filled with daylight and the sight of the ocean. Restaurants are appointed with elegant and beautiful touches typical of their cuisines. And except for one oddly-shaped chair in the lobby area, all of the seating in bars and restaurants was extremely comfortable. Amazingly, the ship never seemed crowded. It was about 80% full, and there are so many places to go and sit that we rarely felt surrounded by other people.

We had a standard ocean suite with a fancy bathroom and a large window between the bathroom and the rest of the cabin. It turned out that I loved seeing the ocean from the shower; and it was also nice having a bit of natural light in the bathroom. The alternative standard configuration has a smaller bathroom but a larger living space and a walk-in closet; having seen both I can highly recommend the ocean suite. The bed was furnished with individual down comforters, which were luxurious but in truth a bit too warm for the climate. The living area was comfortable and the veranda was spacious. Nespresso machines and a selection of coffee pods are hidden in one of the cabinets, and the mini bar is stocked with juices, waters, sodas, and beer (all complimentary and restocked promptly). The cabin was serviced several times a day and was immaculately clean. Read more