The luxury German cruise ship the MS Europa is often ranked as the number one cruise ship in the world. Americans and other English speakers can now see for themselves if this high rating is deserved. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has announced a wide variety of bilingual cruises on the MS Europa for 2007. Read more to see a listing of the bilingual cruises.
Europa Photo Courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Travel Aboard Europa In 2007
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises brings its flagship to the U.S. market with a greatly-expanded "guaranteed bilingual" cruise schedule
Hamburg, GERMANY, June 2006 - In 2007, Americans will have new opportunities to indulge in the unsurpassed and unmatched luxury aboard MS Europa, the world's only 5-star-plus rated cruise ship (Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2006).
The flagship of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Europa has earned its sterling reputation for service and accommodations with its long tradition of luxury cruising. "Sophisticated guests worldwide have long recognized Europa as offering the ultimate in luxury cruising in the most sophisticated European tradition," comments Sebastian Ahrens, Managing Director, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. "As cruising becomes a more popular pastime in the U.S., the same discerning Americans who are accustomed to the levels of excellence that they experience in the great European resorts are looking for a similar ultra-high-level cruise experience. Europa, uniquely, delivers it in the cruise format."
"Most passengers on Europa not only come back for one repeat voyage, but they come back many repeated times," says Ahrens. "This is because in Europe, Europa is a well known tradition, enjoyed by generations of families who demand 'the best.' It's a place where the crew not only knows your name, but they know you. And they cater to your particular tastes every moment of your cruise."
"As more Americans sail Europa, so they will repeat the experience; thus, we think it is now the appropriate time provide a more significant choice of bilingual cruise opportunities for them," he says.
Europa is the first "all-suites" cruise ship, with staterooms that are never less than 290 square feet, 80% of them having their own veranda, assuring privacy and relaxation. Every stateroom has a modern infotainment system with TV, video on-demand, music center, internet access and private complimentary email connections with personal email address. The Europa experience includes a masterful blend of world-class cuisine, with two specialty restaurants of fine Italian and Eurasian dishes, and frequent visiting world-class guest chefs. The chef recently instituted cuisine légère, a culinary innovation offering light lunch and evening fare for those who are fitness conscious. A gymnasium and spa are available to complete the fitness experience.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises consistently caters to the individual on Europa. Its new 2007 program enables shore excursions to be more personal than ever; guests can choose from excursions for late risers or groups of like-minded people with special interests. Bicycle tours are also offered with the ship's own bicycles. The ship also has a saltwater pool that can be partially covered by the hydraulic Magrodome - so swimming is possible in all weather. A PGA professional golf coach is always onboard and is available even on "non-golf" cruises to work and play on the ship's 21 course golf simulator.
The bilingual itineraries on Europa that are available in 2007 include:
Down Under - Great Moments on the fifth continent - Music cruise From Melbourne to Jakarta: March 4, 2007 - March 22, 2007, including Adelaide, Australia; Kingscote, Kangaroo Island; Albany, Fremantle, Geraldton, Monkey Mia, Bromme, Australia; Padang Bay, Bali; Semarang, Indonesia
1001 Nights - Around the Arabian Peninsula - Active Cruise from Muscat to Beirut: April 10, 2007 - April 23, 2007, including Salalah, Oman; Aden and Hodeidah, Yemen; Aqaba, Jordan; Sharm-el-Sheikh, Hurghada, Suez and Port Said, Egypt
Ancient World Of Europe - Cultural Cruise from Beirut to Genoa: April 23, 2007 - May 7, 2007, including Paphos, Cyprus; Antalya, Turkey; Volos, Delos, Mykonos and Crete, Greece; Catania, Sicily; Capri and Olbia, Sardinia
Western Europe - Gourmet Cruise along the Mediterranean and Atlantic Coast - from Lisbon to Monte Carlo: September 20 - September 30, 2007, including Portimao, Portugal; Tanger, Morocco; Barcelona, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Porto Vecchio; Corsica
Fall Feelings - Enjoy Southern Europe - Music Cruise from Monte Carlo to Istanbul: October 4 - October 18, 2007, including Catania, Sicily; Gallipoli and Venice, Italy; Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kerkyra, Pylos and Santorini, Greece
Heritage Of The Czars - Explore the cultural sites of the Black Sea - Cultural Cruise from and to Istanbul: October 18 - October 28, 2007, including Trabzon, Turkey; Sotchi, Russia; Jalta, Sevastopol and Odessa, Ukraine; Varna and Nesebur, Bulgaria
Adventure Amazon - Cultural cruise along the Brazilian Coast - From Rio de Janeiro to Manaus: December 4 - December 19, 2007, including Salvador, Maceio, Recife, Fortaleza, Belem, Rio do Cajari, Santarem and Boca da Valeria
For more information on MS Europa and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, visit www.hl-cruises.com.
For booking information, those interested should contact:
Ingrid Schacht, Euro Lloyd Travel Group; Tel: 800-782-3924: Website: www.eurolloyd.com; E-mail: Ingrid@Eurolloyd.com
Press Release Source: Lande Communications for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Dateline: July 2006