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

Carnival Cruise Lines to deploy Carnival Legend down under

Carnival Cruise Lines has just announced that its Carnival Legend will sail the summer season from Sydney effective from 24 Sep 2014.

Legend is a sister ship to the 2680-passenger Carnival Spirit which already operates year-round from Sydney, with the second vessel heading to Australia after a dry dock in 2014 when she will be upgraded "to ensure she's perfectly suited for the tastes of the Aussie market," according to Carnival Cruise Lines director Australia/NZ, Jennifer Vandekreeke.

"We will be using our valuable learnings from the first year of Carnival Spirit's deployment to decide on the best features and enhancements for Australians," she said.

Vandekreeke said Legend would operate a series of 8-12 day cruises, then spend the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere before returning again to Australia in the spring of 2015.

Bookings for the second ship will open next month.

More information in today's issues of Travel Daily and Cruise Weekly.This Cruise Weekly breaking news brought to you by Cruise Weekly.

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

Celebrity Local Solstice Sale

Hi Cruisers,

We are very pleased to announce Celebrity's Local Solstice sale which is offering up to US$300 onboard credit plus 50% reduced deposit. Hurry though, as the deal runs for one week only and finishes on 11 May 2013. Offer is available for Celebrity Solstice Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific itineraries of 5 nights or longer departing between October 2013 and April 2014. Please find below a summary of the upcoming Celebrity Local Solstice sale.



Sale features:

- On sale from Sunday 5 May until Saturday 11 May 2013
- Offer consists of an Onboard Credit & 50% reduced deposit
- Cruise around Australia, New Zealand or to South Pacific on Celebrity Solstice.

(Departing between October 2013 and April 2014)

- Strictly for new individual bookings only made within the sale period

BOOK NOW! Free Call 1300 369 848

Keep Cruising,

Jay & the ecruising team

Mothers Day Cruise a break for 'raw deal' mums

Mothers' Day - Sunday 12 May 2013

 An astonishing two thirds of Australian mums are still expected to do household chores and cook family meals on Mother’s Day, according to a new national survey released by P&O Cruises.

And just to confirm mums are getting a raw deal, when asked if they were treated to breakfast in bed, a romantic dinner or relief from household chores on Mother’s Day, nearly half the mums surveyed said ‘none of the above’.

However, the revealing P&O Cruises survey of more than 1000 mothers also showed that keeping the peace is the byword for mums when it comes to how they are treated on Mother’s Day.

Twenty-five per cent of mums who said they received a Mother’s Day gift they didn’t like said nothing but passed the unwanted gift on to someone else.

Sixty-four per cent put the gift somewhere they were never likely to see it again but five per cent said they would sell it on e-bay and use the proceeds to buy something they liked.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said she was stunned to discover from the survey that not all Aussie mums are being spoilt rotten on Mother’s Day.

nearly half of mums surveyed were still doing chores on Mothers Day

 “On Mother’s Day of all days mums should be getting pampered in every way and given a break from
the usual daily grind,” Ms Sherry said.

“It’s no surprise why women are so likely to choose a cruise holiday where someone else does all the
cooking and cleaning and helps explain why there has been such strong demand for P&O Cruises’
inaugural Mother’s Day cruise.”

Other key findings in the P&O Cruises’ national survey of just over 1000 Aussie mums included:

• 42% had holidayed with their mothers as an adult and based on that experience a resounding
• 82% would do it again
• 22% had holidayed with their mothers-in-law as adults but some – 2.4% -- preferred not to remember the experience
• 17% would definitely holiday with their mothers-in-law again but 22% wouldn’t back up for a second and for 15% it was ‘definitely no’
• 49% would prefer a Mother’s Day getaway with their husband or partner but 16% would prefer to travel solo and 14% preferred a getaway with girlfriends
• 87% thought a Mother’s Day break where they didn’t have to cook, make a bed or do any household chores would be appealing
• 47% who contemplated a Mother’s Day cruise would do it for its complete freedom from domestic chores and obligations

When asked which famous mum they would like to spend Mother’s Day with, Michelle Obama was
the standout choice (22%) followed by Maggie Beer (18%) and Nicole Kidman (15%). Posh Spice was
the least popular Mother’s Day choice (2%).

“Our special Mother’s Day survey is a wake-up call for Aussie families,” Ms Sherry said. “Aussie mums want a better deal and it sounds like a cruise is just the sort of Mother’s Day pampering they have in mind.”

The three-night Mother’s Day cruise on Pacific Jewel leaves Sydney on Friday May 10.

For more information on cruises and bookings contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13
24 94 or visit www.pocruises.com.au

Australia is world's fastest growing cruise market

The newly rebranded Cruise Lines International Association has just released its annual passenger statistics for the Australasian market, revealing that growth in the local cruise sector continues to lead the world.



A record high of 694,062 passengers cruised with CLIA member lines last year, with a growth rate of 11% equalled only by Germany - and significantly outstripping growth in the US at 2% and flat industry performance in the UK.



CLIA Australasia chairman Gavin Smith said it was the eighth consecutive year of double digit growth for Australasian cruise passenger numbers, which have more than doubled since 2008.



"Clearly Australians are responding to the growing number of cruise holidays on offer from Australian ports, as well as our strong dollar, which is encouraging more people to cruise overseas," he said.



For the first time this year the report breaks down passenger numbers by age, with almost half less than 50, 25% aged under 40 and a third over 61 years.



43% of cruise passengers came from NSW in 2012 - almost double that from Queensland which accounted for 22% and ahead of Victoria at 16% and WA 9%.



CLIA also analysed the passenger mix on board round trip cruises from Australia as well as trans-Tasman and trans-Pacific voyages, with 84% being Australians and international travellers accounting for 16% or close to 100,000 passengers.



River cruising numbers also continued to expand, up 12% to 39,275 for the year.

Royal Caribbeasn Royal Round-up April 2013