The internationally renowned choreographer Rafael Bonachela celebrated the world premiere of a very special work on board the EUROPA 2, which also marked the start of a further collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. This year, Bonachela will once again set sail with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and take guests on a physical and emotional journey with his art. With "Pulso", he created a work that can be seen again on the EUROPA 2 after its successful premiere on board. This video shows moving impressions of these artistic journeys.
Rafael Bonachela is considered one of the most original choreographers of our time. Born in Spain, he works internationally and is known for his powerful, emotional language of movement, in which classical precision meets contemporary dynamism. Since 2009 he has been Artistic Director of the Sydney Dance Company, which he has significantly shaped and repositioned with numerous internationally acclaimed productions. Under his direction, the ensemble developed into one of the leading contemporary dance companies in the world.
"Having a world premiere on board and being commissioned by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to create a new work for the EUROPA 2 was a gift for me. I immediately sensed that this was going to be an adventure that I was very open to. It felt very special to experience a cruise ship that integrates contemporary dance with this standard into its programme and gives the guests on board space to experience this impressive diversity of art and culture," says Bonachela, describing the collaboration and his experience on the EUROPA 2.
Artistic personalities such as Rafael Bonachela exemplify the high artistic standards that characterise the cultural concept on board the EUROPA 2. The ship embodies a travel experience of the highest quality, with an excellent service culture, diverse cuisine and extraordinary routes around the globe. Thanks to the deliberately limited number of guests (maximum 500 passengers), an exclusive setting is created that enables a special closeness between artists and audience. In this combination of sophisticated art, exquisite travel and emotional moments, the EUROPA 2 becomes a stage for cosmopolitan, progressive art forms on the high seas. Dance enthusiasts experience cultural highlights almost at eye level - from avant-garde dance theatre to classical modern ballet, intense, inspiring and deeply moving.
Rafael Bonachela sets the pace on board the EUROPA 2
In his choreographic works, Bonachela focusses on the human body as a central means of expression. With a precise interplay of space, structure and rhythm, he develops movement images of great intensity and clarity that have an immediate emotional impact.Â
With his piece "Somos", Rafael Bonachela brings his contemporary dance art on board the EUROPA 2, which has previously only been seen in Australia. He describes the piece as a "love letter to his Spanish heritage". The international premiere of the work took place on 15 April in the port of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve El Hierro on the Canary Islands. Pulso" is another completely new piece created especially for the stage of the EUROPA 2, also a homage to his Spanish roots. The premiere was staged on 19 April in the harbour of Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura) on Fuerteventura to great enthusiasm from the guests on board. In terms of content, the work picks up on emotional encounters, cultural roots and interpersonal dynamics and translates these into an expressive language of movement that consistently continues Bonachela's choreographic style. The opportunity to create "Pulso", Spanish for "pulse", was a gift, says Bonachela: "For me and for the dancers, it's almost as if "Pulso" was the continuation of "Somos"."
Bonachela continues the success on the EUROPA 2 in 2026
The co-operation with the EUROPA 2 will also be continued, even this year. Bonachela and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises are thus emphasising their special connection and success with guests. The extraordinary performance experiences on board the EUROPA 2 have made the current voyage an exceptional experience. The guests are delighted - as are the artists. So the next trip together has now been finalised: Bonachela's artistic signature will also be on board the EUROPA 2 this winter, enriching the carefully curated programme of internationally renowned artists who shape the cultural repertoire of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Sample cruise EUX2627 (18.11.26 to 04.12.26, 16 days):Â
"In the realm of the wild animals"
On voyage EUX2627 from Cape Town to Mauritius, guests on board the EUROPA 2 have the opportunity to spend November on spectacular safaris and in breathtaking rainforests. On its route, the EUROPA 2 will call at destinations such as East London and Maputo in South Africa as well as Port d'Ehoala in Madagascar before finally reaching the port of Port Louis in Mauritius. On board, guests can once again look forward to an impressive programme by Rafael Bonachela. The internationally acclaimed choreographer returns with his works "Somos" and "Pulso" and once again opens up fascinating insights into the world of contemporary dance with his art.
Bookable in the PLATIN tariff from EUR 19,440 per person based on double occupancy (incl. early booking discount until 31 May 2026, excl. arrival and departure package). Further information at:Â www.hl-cruises.com/eux2627
