Viking Cruises Announces Details Of Its 925-Berth Viking Star – P&O Cruises Lays Keel For Its New 3,600-Berth Flagship – And 210-Berth Canadian-Built Pearl Mist Is Finally Delivered

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com

by Kevin Griffin

The Cruise Examiner for 20th May 2013

Today sees news of three different ships with tonnages in the four-digit, five-digit and six digit ranges. Thursday saw the announcement by Viking Cruises of details of its new 47,800-ton 925-passenger ocean-going cruise ship Viking Star, which will be offically named in Oslo in May 2015. The new ship will be built by Fincantieri in Italy. The day before this, P&O Cruises laid the keel for its new 141,000-ton 3,600-passenger flagship (above), also at Fincantieri. No name has yet been announced but she is based on the design of Princess Cruises’  Royal Princess, due to be named by the Duchess of Cambridge in Southampton next month, and the Regal Princess. The new P&O flagship is due to enter service in March 2015. Meanwhile, in North America, Pearl Seas Cruises, a sister company of American Cruise Lines, finally took delivery of its 4,985-ton 210-berth Pearl Seas, a ship that was completed in 2009. The Canadian-built ship is intended to cruise the Great Lakes and East Coast of North America.

THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                  (See previous columns)

Viking Cruises Reveals Details Of Its New 925-Passenger Viking Star

This Thursday, Viking Cruises finally announced details of  its first ship, to be named Viking Star, which is due to enter service in May 2015. She will be the first of a pair of 925-passenger ocean-going cruise ships for Viking Cruises, the new cruise operation that has sprung from Viking River Cruises. The line also has options for a further four such ships, all with Fincantieri, which could eventually produce a fleet of six. Interestingly, this design is a development of the original Renaissance “R” ships design, but with many significant changes.

Together with Azamara Club Cruises, with two ships, and Oceania Cruises, with five, there will eventually be thirteen ships serving this segment of the market, which is above premium but not ultra-luxury.

Viking is a line that emphasizes geography, culture, history, good food, comfort and value for the money. Viking guests are 55 plus, well-educated, affluent, curious and active, a s well as interested in history, culture and music.

When Vking polled its guests, they found that many thought that:

- Ocean ships have become too big

- Too little time is spent at the destination

- They are not as good value as you think when you purchase

- The small ships are far too expensive

So the announcement of these new ships can only be good news to those who have grown tired of ships growing bigger and more impersonal as they are built to carry 3,000. 4,000 or even 5,000 passengers.

Some of the features of the new Viking Star include:-

- all cabins with a private balcony

- a two-deck high observation lounge at the forward end

- an outdoor pool at the stern as well as a midships pool with Magrodome

- a full walk-around promenade beneath the lifeboats and tenders

- the main dining room will have “the best food”

- it will also have floor-to-ceiling windows that slide open

- the spa has been vanquished from deck 9 on top to deck 1 below

Moving the spa area is particularly important as instead of being located in a prime area with forward views on top of the ship it has been relocated to a lower deck area. Why so many cruise lines chose to locate the spa area in prime real estate is a mystery but Viking is showing respect to its clients by locating the spa elsewhere and giving the views back to them. Another area that would have been the card room, internet center and Horizons Lounge has been dedicated instead to suites.

Viking Cruises will provide excellent value for the money, with fares starting at $420 per person per day, including airfare,  shore excursions in each port, concierge service,  free WiFi, complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner as well as specialty coffees, complimentary self-service laundry, free room service and all port taxes and transfers to and from the ship.

Interestingly, details of the new 47,800-ton 745-foot 925-passenger Viking Star (above left) were announced just six days after Hapag-Lloyd Cruises christened its new 42,839-ton 739-foot 516-passenger Europa 2 (above right) in Hamburg. But while cruise-only fares on Europa 2 start at €600 ($800) per person per night, fly/cruise fares on Viking Star will start at $420, with a passenger space ratio of 51 tons per passenger compared to 83 on Europa 2.

For further details on Viking Cruises and how to book new Viking Star or Europa 2, which is already in service, please contact Gay Scruton at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or Freephone 0800 526 313 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

Photos courtesy of Viking Cruises except Europa 2, courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

Europa 2: A Game Changer – Another Australian Cruise Record – Carnival Abandons Europe, Again – New Names For Portuguese Ships

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com

by Kevin Griffin

The Cruise Examiner for 13th May 2013

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ new Europa 2 features a pool area with retractable roof adjacent to the walkaround promenade

Last Monday, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ new 42,830-ton Europa 2 departed Southampton on a pre-inaugural cruise before sailing for Hamburg, where she was formally named on Friday. The Cruise Examiner was on board and files his report. Meanwhile, Down Under, the Australasian cruise market reached a grand total of 694,062 cruisers in 2012. And while Carnival Cruise Lines announced that it would send the Carnival Legend to Australia on a seasonal basis to join the Carnival Spirit, this means that the line will also be abandoning Europe, and not for the first time. Finally, new Portuguese operator Portuscale Cruises, has announced patriotic new names for its Madeira-registered fleet of classics.

THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                 (See previous columns)

Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2 Turns Out To Be A Real Game Changer

As we predicted in April 2012 after seeing the artist’s depictions of the public rooms and restaurants, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa 2 has indeed turned out to be a real stunner. Compared to her fleetmate Europa, now fourteen years in service, it is difficult to see how cruise rating aficionados will not be able to give her an even higher rating, which would make her the top-rated ship in the world. With her high ceilings, large windows and open decks and a passenger space ratio of about 80 tons per passenger (a world record), this is a ship where everywhere you go the sea is with you.

Along with the great and the good of the cruise and travel press, about sixty top UK cruise agents were invited on a one-night cruise from Southampton along the English Channel towards Cornwall last week. Also on board was Douglas Ward, editor of the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships.

Two of the themes on the new ship are “Relaxed Luxury” and a “Hideaway at Sea.” This is quite different from what is on offer in the rest of today’s cruise market, even from ultra-luxury operators. Europa 2 is aimed squarely at a different audience – the affluent executive and professional classes still in work, younger in age and with growing children. The new ship’s dress code is therefore smart casual, not formal.

To reach this audience, the new ship’s operation is quite different from others. Her summer cruises in the Mediterranean are based on 7-day itineraries that can be extended to 14 or 21 days, with no itinerary repeated before three cruises have elapsed. In addition, nannies will be engaged on a ratio of one for every four children. Because of this and the need to house entertainers, although the ship has been designed to accommodate 516 guests, it is unlikely that her passenger loads will ever exceed 480.

Her shorter routes are ideal for a new audience. With 7-day combinable Mediterranean cruises and 13-to-20 day combination cruises to far-away destinations by winter, Europa 2 meets the requirements of young high-earning professionals and families with limited holiday time. Calling at 123 ports on twenty-six different itineraries this year, her cruises will take guests to the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, Southeast Asia and China, and then in 2014/15 to the Americas.

All itineraries are based on ports that have plenty of air service and are easy to get in and out of – for example, Barcelona, Monte Carlo (Nice) and Venice, Dubai in the Middle East, and in the Far East, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The ship’s size is a major advantage – with a length of 739 feet and a draught of 20.7 feet, Europa 2 is capable of calling at small, rarely-visited ports such as Bonifacio and Portofino, where larger ships cannot go. Twelve Zodiacs are also carried to take passengers ashore to lagoons and beaches that other ships cannot reach. The Europa 2 also introduces some new concepts. She has a magrodome, but it is not the usual cover over a pool deck but is two decks high.

The new ship’s accommodations are all Veranda Suites, with balconies each measuring at least 75 square feet. All suites come equipped with a free mini bar, Wi-Fi Internet access (at a charge) and a tablet computer. The ship‘s 251 suites come in seven categories measuring from 301 to 1,066 square feet. The highest categories have whirlpools with ocean view.

Sixteen Spa Suites have whirlpool tubs and rain showers with steam saunas, providing guests with a private oasis of well-being. For families traveling together, there are seven family suites, where parents and children live in two separate areas, connected by a door and a shared balcony. What’s more, children up to the age of eleven are carried free of charge as long as they occupy a suite with their parents.

Important to Europa 2 is that every cruise caters to international passengers who speak English. This is unlike the present practice, which is to nominate international cruises for each ship in the fleet. By this means, it is aimed to increase the number of English-speaking passengers by four- or five-fold, from ten to twenty per internatuonal sailing now to fifty to eighty in three to five years’ time.

There are eight different restaurants to choose from and wines and spirits are sold at prices that are cheaper than onshore, unlike virtually every other cruise line other than the all-inclusive ones. Beer is about €1.40, a cocktail around €4.20 and bottles of wine run from about €14. The usual practice on cruise ships has moved away from such duty free prices to charging full shoreside hotel prices. Hapag-Lloyd’s goal is not to maximise on board revenue but to offer value and a good experience. Also, in the alternative restaurants, it will not be possible to book more than forty-eight hours in advance, giving an opportunity for all to experience them where on some lines old hands have been able to monopolise these spaces.

All in all, some interesting ideas are coming out of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and this ship is a real game changer. The most interesting thing about this ship was that at the end of the voyage many said they did not want to leave her.  She was christened in Hamburg on Friday, May 10, 2013.

For further details on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and how to book the Europa 2 please contact Gay Scruton at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or Freephone 0800 526 313 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

An Exceptional Gourmet Offering On Board Europa 2: Miele Culinary School On The High Seas, Private Dining And Great Choice Of Venues

Guests on board Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa 2 will experience top-class culinary variety from when she first sets sail for her maiden voyage from Hamburg to Lisbon on 11 May 2013.

The gastronomic concept of this new, modern, luxury cruise ship provides seven different restaurants for the passengers to choose from, including a sushi bar and three speciality restaurants. Additionally the Speisezimmer can be booked for private dining. For guests who feel like cooking themselves and getting to know dishes from their cruise destination, they may wish to book a cooking course in the Miele Culinary School while at sea.

Specialities ranging from Asian to Mediterranean

Guest on board the Europa 2 will experience a culinary journey of discovery, which is totally appropriate for a cruise experience. They can choose from eight different restaurants (including the “Speisezimmer”), ranging from classic Italian to modern Asian cuisine. With a total capacity of 266, the largest restaurant on board the Europa 2 is the Weltmeere, which stands out because of the generous amount of space. Chef de cuisine Wilke and his colleagues serve both international and refined vegetarian menus.

The Yacht Club is the second largest restaurant on board the Europa 2 and provides specialities fresh from the grill and variety from the buffet for up to 276 people. Special feature: guests can dine alfresco here if they wish (134 places). The chefs can also be seen working their magic in front of the passengers as they prepare to put the food onto the plates.

Fans of French cuisine will be at home in the Tarragon (44 covers,illustrated above). Passengers can experience Asian delicacies in Elements (48 covers) with its range of aromas from aniseed to lemon grass.

The Serenissima (56 covers) provides high quality Italian cuisine. Here guests can enjoy Mediterranean classics and also modern interpretations of Ligurian, or Neapolitan cooking. The culinary round the world journey on board is completed by the Sakura sushi restaurant (58 covers), which offers the celebrated miso soup and fish specialities plus green tea ice cream for dessert. Classic wines from all over the world with accompanying dishes are available for guests on the Europa 2 in the Grande Reserve wine bar. Individual wine tastings can also be arranged here with real vine rarities for a maximum of twelve people.

As well as a wide variety of restaurants, the Europa 2 offers the option of private dining for very special occasions. It is possible for guests to book the Speisezimmer exclusively at a cost of €1,500 for an evening, so they can relax and be indulged in a small group. The price includes an aperitif, amuse-bouche with caviar and a dinner with lobster. There is the opportunity to book before the cruise in order to ensure absolute perfection in the planning.

If guests feel like cooking themselves, they may book a cooking course in the Miele Culinary School. Here the chef de cuisine of the Tarragon – the French style restaurant on board – will demonstrate to his students the cuisine of Europa 2‘s various cruise destinations. The cooking courses take place in the morning and they can be booked as an alternative to a shore excursion. Participation costs 80 Euros per person, which includes accompanying wines, cooking aprons and recipes.

Guests on Europa 2 enjoy pure, informal luxury as there are no fixed eating times, or fixed table allocations in the restaurants within the opening times. Another plus point: the meals are included in the cruise price (except drinks).

For further details on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises new Europa 2 please call Gay Scruton at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

For further details please call Gay Scruton at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Introduces Travel Concierge On Board Both ms Europa and ms Europa 2

For details of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Travel Concierge or any Europa or Europa 2 cruise please call Gay Scruton at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

AidaStella and MSC Preziosa Join World Cruise Fleet – European Markets – UK & Canadian Incoming Markets

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com

by Kevin Griffin

The Cruise Examiner for 18th March 2013

Stellar fireworks lit the night sky for the new AidaStella at Warnemünde on Saturday

This week sees two new ships join the world cruise fleet, with the AidaStella and MSC Preziosa both due at Genoa on Friday. With last week’s Cruise Shipping Miami convention, we also have a look at recently-released statistics that show a decline in the Italian and Spanish markets but increases in the German and French markets. At the same time, while the UK saw a 10% increase in incoming cruise visitors, a report on Canada indicates that that country receives almost triple the number of cruise visitors annually that the UK does. With $2.38 billion in annual benefits to the country, the Canadian Tourism Commission will once again be a headline sponsor for this year’s UK Cruise Convention in Southampton.

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THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                     (See previous columns)

Hapag-Lloyd’s Brand New ms Europa 2 – Your Exclusive Hideaway At Sea – Three Special Offers For November Through February 2014

Asian Impressions – or – the Arabian Peninsula

Dubai – Dubai, November 25 – December 3, 2013, 8 days, EUX1325
via Abu Dhabi, Doha, Mina Sulman, Bahrain; Khasab, Oman, and Muscat  from £3,644 per person in a Category 1 suite, double occupancy, cruise-only.

Singapore – Singapore, January 4–18, 2014, 14 days, EUX1402
via Phuket, Port Kelang, Malaysia, Ko Samui, Kampong Saom, Cambodia and Koh Kood, Thailand from £6,752 per person in a Category 1 suite, double occupancy, cruise-only.

Singapore – Hong Kong, February 1–13, 2014, 12 days, EUX1403
via Bintulu, Malaysia; Muara, Brunei; Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan; Puerto Princesa, Phillippines; Boracay, Philippines; Atuwayan, Philippines, and Hundred Islands, Malaysia from £5,496 per person in a Category 1 suite, double occupancy, cruise-only.

Special offer for all three cruises:-

o  Upgrade from Category 1 to Category 3
o  Connoisseur Package of £115 per person for beverages and Ocean Spa

Early Booking Reductions:-

Book by April 28, 2013 and receive 5% off! (EUX1325)
Book by June 21, 2013 and receive 5 % off! (EUX1402)
Book by July 5, 2013 and receive 5% off! (EUX1403)

For further details please call Gay Scruton at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

Countdown to Europa 2: Here’s One – Barcelona to Monte Carlo, 7 nights, June 22, from £3,070 per person for top luxury

This classified advertisement will appear in the lineage adverts of The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph on Saturdays for the next few weeks, leading up to Europa 2′s arrival in Southampton in early May. Meanwhile, from The Sunday Times of January 13:-

The Next Best Ship: Europa is a rather special vessel. She’s been voted the best in the world by cruising’s most revered critic, Douglas Ward, for 13 years running. From this May, though, she’ll have a sister ship to vie for the title. Europa 2 promises a “more casual and modern approach,” which translates as trendier interiors, glitzy entertainment, a cookery school and far fewer black-tie dinners. Will they maintain the same impeccable service and superb food? You be the judge on a seven-night voyage  from Barcelona to Monte Carlo, casting off on June 22. The Cruise People (020 7273 2450) has the trip from £3,070, full-board. Flights are extra; easyJet (0843 104 5000, easyjet.com) and British Airways (0844 493 0787, ba.com) fly to both Barcelona and Nice.

Call Gay Scruton at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

Berlitz Guide to Cruising 2013 Now Available – What Goes at Classic International? – Reader Offers, Cruise Agent – Mistral Cruises

          THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com

          by Kevin Griffin

     The Cruise Examiner for 24th September 2012

The 28^th edition of the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships has just appeared in Kindle format and hard copies will be available from next Monday. We look at some of the updates to this year’s issue, which now evaluates 284 cruise ships. Top-scoring ships include Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa, Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 in Grill class, the Celebrity Solstice class and of course the ships of Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal, Regent and Oceania – the latter an anomaly as its pay extra ships Riviera and Marina have somehow managed to outscore Regent’s all-inclusive Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager in all categories. And new designs to come next year? Europa 2, Norwegian Breakaway and Royal Princess (iii).

Meanwhile, three out of the five-ship fleet of Classic International Cruises have been arrested in Marseilles and Kotor, while a fourth, the Princess Daphne, continues to trade for Ambiente Kreuzfahrten of Germany.

We also look at how one major cruise agent has been able to stand up to the Carnival UK commission cut to 5% and even see a hefty increase in its profits while doing so.

And finally, Mistral Cruises will be the new kid on the block in Croatia in 2014 with its 34-berth Mistral, which has until now been operating as the Callisto for Travel Dynamics International.

THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                       (See previous columns)

A Preview of Europa 2: “Relaxed Luxury” and a “Hideaway at Sea”

Last Thursday, Julian Pfitzner, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ product manager for its newbuilding Europa 2, visited London to preview his new ship, which is now due to enter service in just over seven months.

Two of the first impressions he created were “Relaxed Luxury” and “Hideaway at Sea.” This is something that is a little different from what is on offer in today’s cruise market, even from ultra-luxury operators. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises seem to be basing their marketing on the proper definition of that word: identifying a need in the market and designing a product to fulfil that need at the best price available. Unlike her ultra-luxury fleetmate Europa, the world’s top-rated ship since she was introduced in 1999, Europa 2 will be aimed squarely at another audience – the affluent executive and professional classes still in work, younger in age and quite possibly with growing children. The new ship’s dress code will therefore tend to be be smart casual rather than strictly formal.

To reach this audience, the new ship’s operation will be quite different from others in the fleet. Her cruises, at least in the summer season in the Mediterranean, will be based on a 7-day cycle that can be extended to 14 or 21 days as no  itinerary will be repeated before three cruises have elapsed. In addition, to look after their children, nannies will be engaged on a  ratio of one for every four children, something that will mean the crew size might vary from cruise to cruise. And because of this and the need to house entertainers, although the ship has been designed to take up to 516 guests, it will be unlikely that her passenger load will ever top 480. There will also be seven “family” suites, adjoining paired verandah suites with doors between them.  What’s more, children up to the age of eleven will be carried free of charge as long as they occupy a suite with their parents.

The new ship’s itineraries will be based on ports that have plenty of air service and are easy to get in and out of – for example, in the Mediterrranean, Barcelona, Monte Carlo (Nice) and Venice,  in the Far East,  Singapore and Hong Kong for winter cruises, and Dubai in the Middle East.

The Europa 2 will also introduce some new concepts. While she will have a magrodome, it will not be the usual cover over a pool deck but it will be two decks high. And sixteen of her sutes will be designated “Spa” suites, meaning not that they will be next to a spa but that each individual suite will be equipped with its own spa equipment – whirlpool tubs, rain showers and their own steam saunas.

All suites will have private balconies, making her only the third ship in the world to offer this feature (the other two are Regent’s Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager). The minimum suite size will be 301 sq ft plus a 75 sq ft balcony, and the largest will be in excess of 1,000 sq ft.

An important thing about Europa 2 is that every cruise will cater to international passengers, i.e. both English- and German-speaking. This is unlike the present practice, which is to nominate several international cruises for each ship in the fleet. By this means, it is aimed to increase the number of English-speaking passengers by four or five fold, from ten to twenty per internatuonal sailing now to fifty to eighty in three to five years’ time.

As to meals and drinks, there will be eight different restaurants to choose from and wines and spirits will be sold at prices that are cheaper than on shore, unlike virtually all other lines other than the all-inclusive ones. The usual practice on cruise ships has over the years moved away from duty free prices to charging full shoreside hotel prices. Hapag-Lloyd’s goal in this area is not to maximise on board revenue but to offer value and a good experience. Also,  in the alternative restaurants, it will not be possible to book more than forty-eight hours in advance, giving all an opportunity to experience them whereas on some lines experienced old hands have tended to monopolise these spaces. All in all, some interesting ideas are coming out of Hamburg.

For further details on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises please contact Gay Scruton at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or Freephone 0800 526 313 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

Europa 2 Will Be A Truly International Ship; And Interestingly, She Will Also Follow the Chinoiserie of Empress of Britain of 1931

The Elements Asian Restaurant on board Europa 2

The Cathay Lounge on board Empress of Britain of 1931

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ new Europa 2 may well prove to be one of the most interestingly decorated ships since the Empress of Britain of 1931 and Normandie of 1935. But to keep things in a modern tone, Sebastian Ahrens, managing director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises said, “We are breaking new ground with Europa 2. She will represent a modern and casual interpretation of luxury cruises in terms of her architecture, her restaurants and her entertainment programme.  Europa 2 will offer an international atmosphere for sophisticated, cosmopolitan customers who still have very demanding professional lives and are looking for the greatest possible degree of individuality in their spare time. We have therefore consciously decided to do without cruise traditions such as the Captain’s Dinner.”

“The ship will be positioned internationally.  English-speaking guests will feel comfortable on every cruise on Europa 2. Most of the entertainment on board does not rely on language. The on-board announcements will be reduced to a minimum and made in German and English at all times,” added Ahrens.

Flexibility and individuality will be found in every detail from entertainment to gourmet cuisine on board Europa 2. The routes of Europa 2 will be geared towards working people and families, with one-week itineraries offered. Personalized service will be heightened, with more than 370 staff members for a maximum of 516 guests, as well as butler and travel concierge services offering unsurpassed quality when it comes to catering to guests’ needs. New standards will also be set with regards to environmental protection - Europa 2 will be the first cruise ship equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction, which reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides by almost 95 percent.

Shorter Routes, Ideal for Working People and Families

With 7-day combinable cruises to the Mediterranean in the summer and 13-20 day combination cruises to far-away destinations in the winter, Europa 2 will meet the requirements of working people and families with limited holiday time. The ship will call at 123 ports on 26 different itineraries in 2013. Cruises will take guests to the western and eastern Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula, as well as Southeast Asia. The size of the ship is a major advantage – with a length of 739 feet and a draught of 20.7 feet, Europa 2 is capable of calling at small, rarely-visited ports such as Bonifacio and Portofino, which is not an option for larger ships. Furthermore, a total of twelve Zodiacs will be carried to take passengers to lagoons and beaches  in remote parts of Southeast Asia where ships can’t dock.

Accommodations On-board, All-Suites

Europa 2 will exclusively offer Veranda Suites with balconies each measuring at least 75 square feet facing the sea, a novelty in the cruise market. In addition, all suites will have a free of charge mini bar, Wi-Fi Internet access (at a charge) and a tablet PC. The 251 suites in seven different categories will measure in size from 301 to 1,066 square feet and will offer their own whirlpools with ocean view in the highest categories. In addition, 16 Spa Suites will have whirlpool tubs and rain showers with steam saunas, providing guests with a private oasis of well-being onboard. For families traveling together, there will be seven family-style suites where parents and children can live in two separate areas, connected by a door and the shared balcony.

Culinary Diversity with Flexible Times and Open Seating

The restaurant concept on board Europa 2will be synonymous with diversity and flexibility – flexible mealtimes, no assigned seating, and plenty of tables for two. There will be eight restaurants to choose from among them, three speciality restaurants with Mediterranean, French and Asian cuisine, as well as a Sushi Bar. The Asian restaurant Elements provides an interesting comparison with Canadian Pacific’s Empress of Britain of 1931, which as the time was advertised in Germany as “das Luxusschiff der Welt” (“The Most Luxurious Ship in the World”). One of the Empress of Britain‘s chief attractions was the Chinoiserie used in her decorations, particularly in her Cathay Lounge, something that stemmed from Canadian Pacific’s Transpacific ocean liner service between Vancouver and the Orient.

The Serenissima Restaurant on board Europa 2

 

All restaurants will be included in the cruise price (excluding beverages). On special occasions, guests can book the private dining room, allowing them to dine in a very personal atmosphere. There will also be an on-board cooking school, equipped by Miele, where professional chefs will provide guests with unique insights. In addition to the eight restaurants, six bars are to be found on-board.

Entertainment with Exclusive Productions & Performances

The entertainment programme will reflect the modern concept Europa 2. The theatre will have modern stage technology and a large LED wall extending across two stories – a novelty on a relatively small ship. For the first time for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the entertainment programme will feature spectacular productions, performances and light shows. The shows will have no adaptation of shore programs, but instead will be exclusively performed aboard Europa 2. Two different shows per week will be offered, ensuring plenty of variety. Passengers who spend 14 days onboard will see four different shows. International guest artists will further enhance the entertainment program. Many shows do not start simultaneously, allowing guests to enjoy more than one show nightly.

Wellness and Fitness: 1,000 Square Metres/ 10,000 Square Foot Spa

Guests will also find diversity and plenty of space in the wellness area of Europa 2, which will boast 1,000 square metres/ 10,000 square feet. Treatments ranging from massages, to facials, to Thalasso therapy will be offered in the eight treatment rooms at the Ocean Spa. The extensive sauna landscape grants every guest more space to relax than any other ship of this class. In addition, passengers can book a Personal Spa experience and enjoy the private sauna and whirlpool facilities, as well as massage beds and comfortable relaxation furnishings, by the hour or the day, in an intimate atmosphere. The on-board facilities also include a large fitness area with fitness and cardio equipment, as well as a room where Pilates and Spinning will take place. Upon request, a Personal Trainer is available to counsel guests on their workout, and sports hosts are available to organise shore excursions, for example, bicycle tours or Nordic Walking.

Child Care Available For Toddlers Two And Older

Young cruise passengers are sure to enjoy themselves in the Kids and Teens Club, compiled by qualified child care specialists. For the first time in the German market, child care will now be available for toddlers two and older on board Europa 2 (subject to charge). There will be a special area for the infants called the “Knopf Club,” equipped with cots, changing tables and a lounge furnished with cuddly toys, by the renowned manufacturer Steiff. Steiff is a German-based plush toy company known for its high quality for over 100 years. Children aged 4-10 years old play in the adjacent Kids Club, and children 11-15 years old meet in the Teens Club, where table football, video game consoles, or the disco will await them. Children eleven and under will travel free of charge on board Europa 2, when accompanied by two full-price cruise guests. Shore excursions for children, teenagers, or the entire family are offered on all family cruises.

For more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ exciting destinations and itineraries visit www.hl-cruises.com. For bookings or brochure requests please call Gay Scruton at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.