On 21 August, the Pool Deck on the EUROPA, the small luxury ship from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, will transform into a promenade of culinary spectacles. What began for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as the concept of “Setting Course for 20 Stars” to mark the 20th anniversary quickly took on a new dimension: 23 Michelin stars will now converge on board for one unique evening. Stroll, feast and be amazed by Michelin-starred cuisine, exquisite wines from the vintners and selected experts in haute cuisine. A few suites are still available on the short cruise “Enjoyment in its Highest Form” from 21 to 25 August 2026. Anyone who does not have time for the entire cruise will have the rare opportunity tomorrow to experience these moments of culinary magic at the evening event on the EUROPA thanks to the limited number of promenade tickets.
Indulge all your senses with renowned chefs, vintners, patissiers and fromagers: Michelin-starred chefs and culinary experts converge on the EUROPA once a year. This unique event pairs well with the personal hosting culture of the small luxury ship. EUROPA’s Best is a particularly impressive demonstration of how Hapag-Lloyd Cruises strives to provide guests with special experiences and extraordinary moments. The evening will be overseen again by last year’s host Angelina Kirsch. Leslie Clio, one of the most remarkable artists of her generation, will add the perfect musical highlight to the evening with her unmistakeable voice. Likewise, the live band Heavens Club and DJ Pete will set the ideal mood for guests to dance and celebrate.
EUROPA’s Best 2026: the gourmet line-up confirmed
To mark the 20th anniversary, Ben Schütz, chef de cuisine on the EUROPA, is welcoming ten Michelin-starred chefs from five European countries on board. Ten top European vintners and ten experts in haute cuisine will also be waiting to greet guests at their degustation counters. Van Nahmen will be showcasing fruity seccos and alcohol-free accompaniments, whereas Lucki Maurer’s STOI is known for unique culinary experiences that strike a harmonious balance between tradition and modernity. As of the promenade tickets becoming available to book, all the personalities set to attend this exceptional gourmet festival are confirmed, including Marco Müller, a chef with three Michelin stars from the restaurant Rutz in Berlin. He is known for reduced yet immensely detailed cuisine that is full of depth. The two-starred chef Tanja Grandits and Marcel Skibba from Switzerland will be on board too. Skibba is the chef de cuisine and co-owner of the three-starred restaurant Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau alongside Andreas Caminada. Special regional produce and fantastic sauces are what matter most to Thorsten Bender, the two-starred chef from the restaurant SEIN in Karlsruhe. The two-starred chef Jurgen van der Zalm from Amsterdam strives to make his cuisine as indulgent as possible. Thomas Dorfer, an Austrian chef with two Michelin stars, delivers moments of unparalleled culinary indulgence. Likewise, patissier Marco D’Andrea will enthral guests with his exquisite dessert creations and the variety of modern patisserie. Promenade tickets to this exceptional gourmet festival are available again this year. The limited number of tickets will be available to purchase online for € 399 per person from 30 June 2026.
The evening event EUROPA’s Best is the prelude to a short cruise. The route heads from Hamburg to the Nordic coastal settlements of Aeroskobing and Copenhagen, and then back to Kiel. The picturesque Aero island will transport guests into a world of Nordic serenity before they continue on towards the culinary highlights of the Danish capital. A blend of modern cuisine, design and urban elegance awaits guests in Copenhagen.
Sample cruise
The short cruise “EUROPA’s Best: Enjoyment in its Highest Form” from 21 to 25 August 2026 sets course from Hamburg to Kiel after an evening of unforgettable haute cuisine. Bookable in the PLATINUM fare (suite without a veranda) from € 3,190 per person, double occupancy, excluding travel package to and from departure and arrival points. For more information, visit www.hl-cruises.com/EUR2618
List of personalities at EUROPA’s Best 2026
Participating chefs:
- Ben Schütz, Head Chef MS EUROPA
- Kevin Fehling, THE GLOBE & THE TABLE, Germany (3 Michelin stars)
- Marco Müller, Rutz, Germany (3 Michelin stars)
- Marcel Skibba, Schloss Schauenstein, Switzerland (3 Michelin stars)
- Thorsten Bender, SEIN, Germany (2 Michelin stars)
- Dirk Luther, MEIEREI, Germany (2 Michelin stars)
- Martin Stopp, ATAMA by Martin Stopp, Germany (2 Michelin stars)
- Jurgen van der Zalm, Restaurant Vinkeles, Netherlands (2 Michelin stars)
- Thomas Dorfer, Landhaus Bacher, Austria (2 Michelin stars)
- Dieter Koschina, VILA JOYA, Portugal (2 Michelin stars)
- Tanja Grandits, STUCKI, Switzerland (2 Michelin stars)
Participating winemakers:
- Karthäuserhof Winery/Germany
- Markus Schneider Winery/Germany
- von Othegraven Winery/Germany
- Wassmer Winery/Germany
- Moët Hennessy Champagne/France
- Lageder Winery/Italy
- Prager Winery/Austria
- Domaine de Chevalier/France
- Château Lascombes/France
- Tenuta del Nicchio Winery/Italy
Participating culinary experts:
- Altonaer Kaviar Import Haus, Hamburg/Germany
- BOS FOOD, Meerbusch/Germany
- Becking Kaffee, Hamburg/Germany
- Giovanni L., Kiel/Germany
- Kevin Kugel Chocolatier, Sindelfingen/Germany
- Ory Bar Mandarin Oriental, Munich/Germany
- STOI, Rattenberg/Germany
- Van Nahmen, Hamminkeln/Germany
- Fromagerie Antony, Vieux-Ferrette/France
- Marco D’Andrea, Patissier, Hamburg/Germany
