For a luxury cruise ship experience, a trip on the MS Europa by Hapag-Lloyd may be just the choice.

The Europa is possibly the cruise line industry’s most intriguing and upscale cruise ship. But it also may be one you have never heard of.

Hapag-Lloyd is a well known German shipping company giant. It operates four ships within its leisure-cruise division. The luxury Europa is their premier ship.

The Europa has the distinction of being the only cruise ship in the world that’s been rated five star-plus by the cruise industry gospel, the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships. The mighty Europa held that elite crown for the past eight years.

The Europa is a 28,437-ton, 408-passenger elegant ship, with vaulted ceilings in public areas that offer a formal, country house ambiance, plus one of the industry’s highest passenger-to-space ratios. Because of this, you never feel crowded on-board.

The ship was first launched in 1999. One primary difference is the Europa is surprisingly small compared to the mega-ships being built today. It offers a crew of 280 to cater to the needs of up to 400 passengers. This is the highest staff/passenger ratio of any cruise ship sailing today. These numbers make top-notch service possible.

“Smaller ships are especially good for seasoned travelers,” says cruise expert Douglas Ward, author of the Berlitz guide. “Big cruise ships don’t have the finesse of the smaller ships.”

Europa’s all-outside, almost all-balcony accommodations are plush and spacious. Each room on the ship is designated as a suite. About eighty percent have balconies. The room’s walk-in closets have plenty of storage space. Bathrooms come with a tub and separate shower that are very roomy. The sitting area consists of a mini-bar and desk, with a keyboard for accessing a free e-mail account.

The Europa’s itineraries offer a sophisticated sightseer’s dream. One will rarely do the exact same activity even though it travels all around the world each year.

The MS Europa is definitely a luxury cruise ship experience that is geared toward sea travel offering an international outlook, particularly for English-speaking travelers. The ship’s entire crew is fluent in English.

The primary reason you may never have heard of the the Europa is that Hapag-Lloyd hasn’t marketed its ships in the North American market.

The dining experience on the Europa is a dream for your taste buds. The serving menu consists of a wide range of cuisines. The ship offers about 8,000 food items, compared to around 3,000 on most cruises. Also included in its arsenal is approximately 17,000 bottles of wine that covers vintages from all the world’s top wine-producing areas.

A formal night on the Europa starts by enjoying a cocktail in the two-story atrium. Here you can relax and enjoy a classical pianist perform music on a Steinway piano. Then passengers sit down to a five-course gourmet dinner that is unforgettable.

The MS Europa promises unique cruises for travelers with high expectations.