EUROPA 2 to Offer Three Curated Art Cruises in 2027 - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will offer three specially curated ART 2 SEA voyages aboard the EUROPA 2 in 2027, combining luxury cruising with exclusive access to the international art world.

The themed cruises will feature exhibitions, vernissages, artist talks and specially designed shore excursions to studios, museums, private collections and cultural institutions. The programme is being developed in cooperation with well-known gallerists, collectors, curators and art experts, each contributing a distinct curatorial perspective.

Among those involved are Hamburg gallerist Carola Persiehl, ART KARLSRUHE chief curator Kristian Jarmuschek, art historian and dealer Thole Rotermund, and collectors Lea and Christian Schwarm.

Art as part of the onboard experience

Contemporary art is an important element of the EUROPA 2 concept. Around 890 original works by internationally renowned artists are displayed throughout the ship, making art an integral part of the onboard atmosphere rather than simply a decorative feature.

The small luxury vessel accommodates a maximum of 500 guests and offers spacious outside suites with private verandas, seven restaurants and an informal luxury concept.

Lisa Wilken, Head of Luxury Cruises at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, said ART 2 SEA was designed to develop the ship further as a platform for cultural encounters. Each cruise will have its own curatorial identity, shaped by the expertise, networks and personal interests of its artistic hosts.

Indo-Pacific voyage explores regional identities

The first ART 2 SEA cruise of 2027 will travel through the Indo-Pacific and focus on the relationship between art, cultural identity and regional history.

The programme will be accompanied by Dr Lisa Zeitz, editor-in-chief of WELTKUNST, Kristian Jarmuschek and Thole Rotermund. Berlin gallery Jarmuschek + Partner will curate an exhibition of contemporary international art in the onboard gallery on Deck 9.

Planned shore experiences include visits to the Semarang Contemporary Art Gallery on Java and the ARMA Museum & Resort in Bali, as well as a private studio visit with Indonesian artist Faisal Habibi. The programme will also examine Indigenous art in Western Australia.

According to Rotermund, the cruise will give guests the opportunity to encounter art in the places where it is created and within its original cultural context.

Art dialogue between Japan and China

The second voyage will travel from Tokyo to Hong Kong and examine cultural and artistic connections between Japan and China.

Collectors Lea and Christian Schwarm will host the cruise together with entrepreneur and China analyst Ailin Huang and Bangkok-based collector and exhibition organiser Désiré Feuerle.

The onboard gallery will feature black-and-white photography by Nina Papiorek, whose work explores urban spaces in Japan, China, Hong Kong and Vietnam and highlights the contrasts between tradition and modernity.

The shore programme is still being finalised, but possible highlights include the Kirishima Open Air Museum in Japan, Beijing’s 798 Art Zone and a private studio visit with artist Guan Xiao in Shanghai.

The hosts aim to use contemporary art to explore social change, cultural identity and the connections that extend beyond national borders.

A sample ART 2 SEA itinerary, “Japanese Culture and Chinese Cities,” will sail from Tokyo to Hong Kong from 15 May to 2 June 2027. The 18-day cruise is priced from €13,820 per person in double occupancy in the PLATINUM fare, including an early-booking discount valid until 31 October 2026.

Contemporary art in the Mediterranean

The third ART 2 SEA cruise will take place in the western Mediterranean and will once again be hosted by Hamburg gallerist Carola Persiehl, owner of Galerie Commeter.

The programme will combine contemporary art with the Mediterranean lifestyle and include a specially curated exhibition in the EUROPA 2 gallery, accompanied by vernissages, talks and guided tours.

Planned excursions include visits to Fondation Maeght on the Côte d’Azur, the sculpture park at Commanderie de Peyrassol and the Hauser & Wirth art centre on Menorca.

Another highlight is expected to be a private visit to the Provençal studio of internationally acclaimed artist Minjung Kim, giving guests insight into her creative process.

The sample itinerary “The Elegance of the Mediterranean” will operate from Civitavecchia near Rome to Palma de Mallorca from 3 to 15 August 2027. The 12-day cruise is available from €9,240 per person in double occupancy in the PLATINUM fare, including an early-booking discount valid until 31 October 2026.

Image Credit: © Hapag-Lloyd Cruises