Dance visions 2026: international star choreographers on the stages of MS EUROPA and MS EUROPA 2

Big names, exclusive productions, thrilling premiere moments: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises offers a preview of selected dance highlights on board the EUROPA and EUROPA 2 for 2026. Top international choreographers Rafael Bonachela with the Sydney Dance Company, Diego Tortelli with Compagnia Aterballetto and Alexander Ekman as well as up-and-coming talents Antonin Rioche or dream ballet couple Lucía Lacarra and Matthew Golding will all transport tailor-made performances to the small luxury ships. Lovers of high-end dance can already mark a specially designed world premiere in their calendars. The sophisticated entertainment concept of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will take contemporary dance on board to a whole new level, uniting the art of movement, aesthetics and exclusivity into an impressive and emotionally stimulating travel experience. 

The internationally acclaimed world of dance will be at home on board the EUROPA and EUROPA 2 in 2026. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises presents a top-class programme for the two “best cruise ships in the world” (according to Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships 2025). They ships offer the highest standard of cruise experiences with excellent service, varied cuisine and exceptional routes around the world. Thanks to their exclusive size – with only 400 and a maximum of 500 guests, respectively – they allow for a unique intimacy between artists and audience. A first glimpse of an unrivalled combination of sophisticated art, exclusive travel and thrilling experiences unveils what is in store for the coming year: world-class choreographers, outstanding ensembles and performances ranging from avant-garde dance to classical modern ballet. The stages of the two small cruise ships will be the setting for exclusive performances showcasing progressive and cosmopolitan art forms on the high seas in an intimate atmosphere. Almost face to face with the artists themselves, dance lovers on board can enjoy highly personal cultural experiences that will inspire and move them in a unique way. The fleet's Arts & Entertainment program is also listed here https://www.hl-cruises.com/cruises/themed-cruises/arts-entertainment  

“Our partnerships are based on genuine appreciation, creative freedom and uncompromising quality standards,” says Foad Naddafi, Artistic Director at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. “With this first outlook on our 2026 programme, we are making an artistic statement at sea: high-end works and unique collaborations with leading choreographers and ensembles will make every performance on board a powerful, sensual and unmatched experience – and mark the onset of a new era of dance at sea.”

World premiere in 2026: Rafael Bonachela and the Sydney Dance Company on the EUROPA 2

A highlight of the 2026 dance season is an exclusive collaboration with the renowned Sydney Dance Company. Under the artistic direction of Rafael Bonachela, one of the most distinguished and innovative choreographers of our time, the dance company will present two impressive works on board the EUROPA 2 – including a world premiere created especially for the luxury ship. Bonachela, an Australian born in Spain, is known for his interdisciplinary works that perform emotionally and physically demanding contemporary dance in an extraordinary way. Bonachela made his international breakthrough in 2002 when he created the iconic choreography for Kylie Minogue at the Brit Awards and subsequently served as choreographer for her “Fever Tour”. Collaborations with artists such as Björk further prove his great versatility. The works that Bonachela develops with the Sydney Dance Company today are purely dedicated to contemporary dance. On the cruise through the Canary Islands in spring 2026, the ensemble will perform a current work and a world premiere created exclusively for the EUROPA 2. Accompanied by music with South American and Spanish influences, this evening promises to be an intense and highly aesthetic experience – a world premiere of international standing.

• Sample cruise, EUX2606 (11 Apr to 21 Apr 2026, 10 days): From Tenerife to the most beautiful Canary Islands – with stops on La Palma, El Hierro, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Gomera. Bookable in the SILVER fare from € 5,805 per person, double occupancy, including travel package to and from departure and arrival points. For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/EUX2606 

Body and ritual: Diego Tortelli and Aterballetto bring moving poetry to the EUROPA 2

With a work that is as visually striking as it is emotionally complex, Italian choreographer Diego Tortelli will be performing with Compagnia Aterballetto on the EUROPA 2 for the very first time in 2026. Compagnia Aterballetto is a highly esteemed Italian dance company that has been delighting international audiences for almost 50 years. Tortelli is developing a performance for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises that is dedicated to human connection in times of digital transformation – atmospheric, fragile and sensual. With his signature style combining classical technique and contemporary corporeal storytelling, Tortelli is one of the most exciting figures on the international dance scene. His work promises a poetic experience that will linger and resonate with guests, both at sea and ashore. On two cruises with the EUROPA 2 in 2026, Diego Tortelli will not only be performing a current work, but also one that has been adapted exclusively for the setting in collaboration with Compagnia Aterballetto and that will celebrate its premiere on the EUROPA 2. The stop in the port of Civitavecchia near Rome, in the home country of many of the dancers, will undoubtedly provide particularly stirring moments.

• Sample cruise, EUX2619 (16 Aug to 25 Aug 2026, 9 days): From the port in Civitavecchia (Rome) along the Italian coast all the way to Dubrovnik on the idyllic Adriatic Sea – a cruise featuring history, art and culture. Bookable in the GOLD fare from € 6,355 per person, double occupancy, including travel package to and from departure and arrival points and early booking discount, valid until 31 Oct 2025. For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/EUX2619
• Sample cruise, EUX2624 (10 Oct to 18 Oct 2026, 8 days): From Palma de Mallorca to Lisbon: city hopping in southern Europe – Mediterranean diversity meets modern on-board culture. Bookable in the GOLD fare from € 5,500 per person, double occupancy, including travel package to and from departure and arrival points and early booking discount, valid until 31 Oct 2025. For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/EUX2624 

Alexander Ekman – world star of the contemporary dance scene on the EUROPA 2

With the exceptional Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman, another internationally acclaimed artist will take centre stage in the dance programme on the EUROPA 2 in 2026. His productions are known for their powerful combination of humour, precision and emotion that thrill and inspire audiences. This makes Ekman a celebrated figure in the artistic portfolio of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. In June 2024, he staged TAKE FIVE – a contemporary dance performance of the highest calibre – for the first time at sea in a highly acclaimed premiere, repeating his success this year on board. In 2026, he will return exclusively to the EUROPA 2 with his masterpiece and the world’s best dancers, brought together to form a unique ensemble.

• Sample cruise, EUX2607 (21 Apr to 3 May 2026, 12 days): From Tenerife via the islands of the Atlantic to Bilbao in northern Spain, a stylish spring cruise through the Atlantic and the western Mediterranean awaits guests. Bookable in the SILVER fare from € 7,1850 per person, double occupancy, including travel package to and from departure and arrival points. For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/EUX2607 

Poetic corporeal architecture on the EUROPA: Lucía Lacarra and Matthew Golding

Guests on the EUROPA can look forward to great moments in the art of dance brought to life by the eminent dance couple Lucía Lacarra and Matthew Golding. The two former principal dancers of the Bavarian State Ballet and the Royal Ballet in London are renowned for their outstanding elegance and expressiveness. In 2026, they will present a curated selection from their repertoire on board the ship – a touching journey through different choreographic worlds translating classical dance into the present day.

• Sample cruise, EUR2611 (18 May to 28 May 2026, 10 days): From Nice via Corsica, the southern French coast and Menorca to Malaga – a route that combines Mediterranean lightness and the special Spanish way of life. Bookable in the SILVER fare from € 5,875 per person, double occupancy, including travel package to and from departure and arrival points. For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/EUR2611
• Sample cruise, EUR2622 (4 Oct to 14 Oct 2026, 10 days): From Fusina (Venice) across the Adriatic Sea to Piraeus – charming small towns, impressive nature and maritime lifestyle. Bookable in the GOLD fare from € 5,960 per person, double occupancy, including travel package to and from departure and arrival points and early booking discount, valid until 31 Oct 2025. For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/EUR2622  

“New gen” on the EUROPA: Antonin Rioche

With Antonin Rioche, the EUROPA presents one of the most exciting representatives of the new French dance generation. The dancer and choreographer directed visually striking works that explore intimacy, identity, and the complexities of modern life. He has been an associate artist at Korzo Theater in The Hague since 2018, where he develops his distinct choreographic and poetic language blending dance and theater. At EUROPA, he will perform a current work as well as a new creation. In keeping with the spirit of “New Gen,” Antonin Rioche will not only conquer the stage, but also the hearts of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises guests – his presence promises to leave a lasting impression offering audiences a touching and thought-provoking experience of contemporary dance.

• Sample cruise, EUR2613 (12 Jun to 26 Jun 2026, 14 days): From Hamburg to the luminous fjord landscapes, idyllic archipelagos and charming towns of Norway, the North Cape and back to Travemunde. Bookable in the SILVER fare from € 6,990 per person, double occupancy, including early booking discount, valid until 31 Oct 2025. For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/EUR2613
• Sample cruise, EUR2628 (5 Dec to 21 Dec 2026, 16 days): From New York through the Caribbean all the way to Miami – a multifaceted route with cultural depth, glamorous jet-set flair and impressive natural diversity. Bookable in the GOLD fare from € 9,250 per person, double occupancy, including travel package to and from departure and arrival points and early booking discount, valid until 31 Oct 2025. For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/EUR2628