Berlitz Cruise Guide 2014: EUROPA and EUROPA 2 receive top distinction of 5-stars plus

Berlitz Cruise Guide 2014: EUROPA and EUROPA 2 receive top distinction of 5-stars plus

·         For the first time, two ships have been awarded the 5-stars-plus rating
·         The expedition ship HANSEATIC took first place in the "boutique ships" category

The latest edition of the popular "Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships" has awarded the two sister ships in the luxury sector, the EUROPA and the EUROPA 2 of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the highest distinction of 5-stars-plus. This makes both ships global leaders. The expedition ship HANSEATIC was ranked in first place in the top ten "boutique ships" with up to 250 passengers.

Attaining 1,860 points out of a possible 2,000, the EUROPA 2 achieved the highest score. Together with its sister ship, the EUROPA has once again been included in the 5-stars-plus category with 1,851 points. This allowed both luxury ships to claim first and second place amongst the top ten "small ships" with up to 750 passengers. The HANSEATIC improved its score with 1,765 points and, as the only expedition ship to be awarded five stars, is featured in the top ten list of "boutique ships" for the first time. The BREMEN also improved its score with a total of 1,555 points and was awarded the 4-stars-plus rating.

"In the 29-year history of Berlitz ratings, this is the first time two cruise ships are in the exclusive 5-stars-plus-club. No other ships currently achieve such a high standard, which are set by the EUROPA and EUROPA 2 and their crews," says Douglas Ward at the presentation of the Berlitz award to the management of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. "The EUROPA 2 has also achieved the highest score ever in the history of the book. She offers a great space per passenger ratio, much light through the high windows, an excellent and high-class culinary choice and attentive and unobtrusive service," explains Douglas Ward.

"We are especially proud to be global leaders in the luxury sector with both ships," said Karl J. Pojer, chief executive officer of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. "This score is a special distinction for the crews of the EUROPA and the EUROPA 2 who are setting the bar in the sector with their quality and service. It is also a huge 'thank you' to the team in Hamburg and a welcome affirmation of our strategy in the luxury and expedition sectors," explained Pojer.

Author Douglas Ward and his team tested a total of 285 cruise ships around the world and scored them based on criteria such as ship fittings, menus, restaurant quality, service, crew, entertainment and the cruise experience.

For more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' exciting destinations and itineraries, visit www.hl-cruises.com. All press releases and a picture gallery can be found at www.hl-cruises.com/press. For EUROPA 2 images, visit http://www.hl-cruises.com/press/photoarchive/cruises-fleet/ms-europa-2/.

Reservations: Please call +49 40 3001-4580 (English-speaking hotline), send an e-mail to salesteam@hlkf.de or visit www.hl-cruises.com/contact-services for local agents.

EUROPA 2 Formally Christened at the 2013 HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY in Hamburg

*       The ship was Christened on 10 May near Blankenese in Hamburg
*       The godmother of the ship is Dana Schweiger
*       Maiden voyage from Hamburg to Lisbon

In line with the motto "Great moments. Truly exclusive." the newly- built EUROPA 2 has been christened in celebratory and stylish fashion by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on 10 May 2013, during the 824th HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY. Godmother Dana Schweiger smashed the champagne bottle against the bow of the ship near Blankenese, Hamburg. The special invitees on board experienced the new ship while attending numerous events with celebrity guests.

At around 19.00 hrs EUROPA 2 embarked on a twilight voyage - with the city of Hamburg as its backdrop - sailing to its launch site near the riverside district of Blankenese. Godmother Dana Schweiger officially gave the new ship her name at 21.36 hrs. "I christen you the EUROPA 2 and wish you and your crew good voyages and safe returns, and may there always be enough water beneath your keel," said Dana Schweiger.

Dr Wolfgang Flägel, Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: "This is a special moment for our company and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their commitment. I am certain that the EUROPA 2 with raise the bar in the luxury sector with its modern interpretation. We wish the ship and her crew safe journeys and enthusiastic passengers."

Around 700 guests on board enjoyed a brilliant fireworks display to round off the ceremony in style. Afterwards, observing tradition, the godmother presented the neck of the bottle to EUROPA 2 Captain Friedrich Jan Akkermann. After the christening ceremony, the star act Dick Brave & the Backbeats created a party atmosphere with their rockabilly music.

The fully-booked 14-day maiden voyage departs on 11 May from Hamburg and will sail to Lisbon via Amsterdam, Antwerp, Honfleur, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bilbao and Leixoes (Porto). At the start of the voyage, the EUROPA 2 will cruise in the port with special on-board celebrations. Guests can enjoy the cruise through the lively Port of Hamburg, box seats at the famous Tugboat Ballet and other exclusive surprises. After the big fireworks display at the 824th HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY at around 22.30hrs., the EUROPA 2 will set off on its maiden voyage and leave Hamburg.

The EUROPA 2 is a modern and casual luxury ship, which does away with cruise traditions such as the captain's dinner. With up to 516 guests,EUROPA 2 provides the greatest space per passenger on a cruise ship anywhere in the world. The ship features exclusively suites with verandas and a minimum area of 28 square metres. Eight restaurants and six bars are dedicated to serving up culinary diversity and a large spa and fitness area accommodates the well-being trend on cruises. Its flexible route concept will appeal to professionals and families in the luxury sector in particular.


For more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises visit www.hl-cruises.com

First pictures of EUROPA 2

With thanks to Gerd from Landmark Travel.

She will be christened on 10th May at 21.00 Hamburg time.

You can watch this life on your computer 

http://www.mseuropa2.de/index.php?intf=taufe

Luxury Ocean Cruising: Blame the Germans

Written by Roderick Eime



When we think of the great liners of the world, there is a tendency to think British. QE2, Queen Mary, Titanic and Great Eastern have all taken centre stage in some great historic maritime event. Britannia rules the waves, indeed.

But while researching another story, I was reminded that the Germans have a lot more nautical heritage than just the Bismarck and U-Boats. The voluminous Hamburg Passenger Lists read like a Doomsday Book, containing the names and final destinations of over five million migrants who dispersed to the USA and Australia -including this writer’s descendents – on a vast fleet of vessels.

Beside their preoccupation with fastidious records (which miraculously survived WWII) the Germans were a major force in the rapid development of luxury ocean-going passenger vessels. The Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien- Gesellschaft (Hapag) began in the mid-19 th century and drew criticism from rivals for luring business with lavish facilities aboard their fleet of passenger-focussed ‘packet’ vessels.

By the beginning of the 20th century, the proud and competitive Germans were producing class-leading ocean liners such as the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, SS Kronprinz Wilhelm (pic above) and SS Deutschland which regularly competed for the grand prize of ocean liners, The Blue Riband. Awarded for the fastest westbound crossing of the Atlantic, the Germans dominated with crossings of just five and a half days.



The fine-living Germans are widely credited with producing the first vessel dedicated to the hedonistic pleasure of cruising, the exquisite Prinzessin Victoria Luise (above). Styled more like a private yacht, she was fitted out in a style befitting royalty and included a library, gymnasium and photographic darkroom. In fact the Kaiser himself was mildly displeased after inspecting the vessel as it rivaled his own yacht for luxurious appointments. The Princess’s career was sadly short and she ran on rocks near Kingston in late 1906. The devastated captain shot himself.

By the 1920s, these great ships were either lost or scrapped, making way for a new wave of German liners. In 1928, the Norddeutscher Lloyd line (NDL) launched two state-of-the-art vessels, Bremen and Europa, both capturing the Blue Riband on their respective maiden voyages.

Cruising and zeppelin flights to South America were very popular for the Germans prior to World War II and in the mid- and late 1920s, the Hamburg Sud commissioned the Monte class vessels, noteworthy because they were ‘classless’ in their passenger configuration. Cost of the cabin depended on its size and location. One, the Monte Cervantes, was used for adventure cruising. It struck an iceberg near Spitsbergen, was repaired, then struck rocks near Ushuaia and ultimately sunk in January 1930. The single life lost was again that of the captain.

The great German ships of the 1930s were tainted with Nazi propaganda, but still retained impressive style and proportions. Ships were launched as pleasure vessels for German workers. One, the 25,000 ton Wilhelm Gustloff would feature in the single greatest loss of life ever in a maritime disaster when she was torpedoed carrying 10,000 refugees in January 1945.



Today, the pride of German cruising is on display with the consistently top-rated vessels of the Hapag-Lloyd line; Europa, Bremen, Hanseatic and Columbus, names which are anything but co-incidental.

For information on the current HL ships, see www.hl-cruises.com for bookings, visit www.discountcruising.com.au