Hapag Lloyd's Europa 2 mountain bike excursions

Hapag Lloyd's Europa 2 has created a new offering: mountain bike excursions with a dedicated bike guide. Guests can discover the surroundings of select ports in the company of a guide while using the ship’s own mountain bikes. Guests can opt for either an easy tour at a comfortable speed, or a more fast-paced off-road experience over rougher terrain.

“Easy-going”, “Active and high-energy”, and “Active lite” are the three offerings with the new mountain bike tours on the Europa 2. Beginners can enjoy the scenery and take in points of interest during a leisurely ride on a flat route. By contrast, experienced cyclists have the opportunity to take part in challenging rides over uneven terrain that frequently includes hills and inclines. The 14 hardtail mountain bikes are available in various sizes.

All tours are between 4-5 hours in length and cost €59 (approx £45). Tours will be offered in selected ports based on the local conditions. The bike guide will provide personal advice and be part of all bike excursions. Guests will be able to book a bike tour after a quick fitness check on-board.

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Hapag-Lloyd's Honeymoon & Wedding Anniversary Specials

Weddings, honeymoons and anniversaries take on a special quality at sea, and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises have acknowledged that by introducing a special new honeymoon and wedding anniversary programme. 

The 500-guest Europa 2 (above) is now offering something very special to newlyweds and couples celebrating their milestone anniversary on board - the exclusive “Honeymoon Special." At no extra cost, it is designed to spoil couples and features a welcome bottle of champagne, flowers, a romantic dinner for two and on-board credit to the value of €300 (per couple), which can be used to purchase beverages and Spa treatments.

The lovers’ dinner, accompanied by the appropriate wines, will be served in the French-inspired Restaurant Tarragon. With seating for a maximum of 44 guests - and tables for two - it is the perfect setting for a romantic evening.

The honeymoon special applies to Europa 2 cruises booked no later than six months after the wedding ceremony, as well as for milestone wedding anniversaries, e.g. the 10th, 20^th, 25^th or 40^th, provided the holiday begins up to one month before or after the anniversary date.

More info: visit www.hl-cruises.com or call +49 40 3001 4580 (English-speaking hotline).

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Europa 2 In Focus

Europa 2 was the signature luxury cruise feature in our new-look Jan/Feb issue (see more at www.worldofcruising.co.uk) and the new-in-2013 ship is already being hailed as THE most luxurious vessel on the high seas anywhere.

 

Contributing editor Gary Buchanan highlighted all the many amenities and services aboard as "improving upon perfection," and the German line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises clearly have a unique and impressive product on their hands.

 

Previously, Hapag-Lloyd have marketed primarily to the German-speaking market, with a handful of 'international' voyages aboard their deluxe fleet. But now they are looking to make Europa 2 (including its amazing Cooking School facility - above) a truly international vessel - and they have just announced a range of special offers to prove it.

 

Here is what they are offering: 

 

From Hamburg to Southampton – Taster Cruise

June 23; 2 nights, from £840 per person, cruise only (Guaranteed Veranda/Ocean Suite cat. 0).

 

From Southampton to Barcelona – Business Class flights with British Airways from Barcelona to London Gatwick are included.

June 25,;10 nights, via La Coruna, Lisbon, Cadiz, Malaga and Valencia, from £3,990 per person (Guaranteed Veranda/Ocean Suite cat. 0).

 

From Valletta to Valletta - Business Class return flights with British Airways from/to London Gatwick to/from Malta are included.

August 16; 14 nights, via Sarande (Butrint)/Albania, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Rovinj, Venice, Ravenna, Split, Korcula, Kotor and Otranto, from £5,790 per person (Guaranteed Veranda/Ocean Suite cat. 0).

 

More info: call +49 40 3001-4580 or visit www.hl-cruises.com.

 

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Get With The Cooking Vibe With Europa 2

By Editor Simon Veness

 

Cooking and culinary schools at sea are all the rage, and it is hard to find a ship these days that doesn't include some kind of specialised kitchen that provides a learning or hands-on activity or three.

 

But the latest version of the idea aboard Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' new Europa 2 is a real head-turner. And, on the recommendation of our Contributing Editor Gary Buchanan (who will also be featuring the ship in our new-look January edition), I decided to have a look at this phenomenon myself. Here's what I found...

 

The Miele Culinary School (above) combines cookery courses with entertainment so interested guests not only learn about the cuisine at individual destinations, they can also learn how to conjure up some of these wonderful dishes themselves. On special “Connoisseurs of Cuisine” cruises, renowned gourmet experts such as the Michelin-starred chef de cuisine at A-ROSA resorts, Sarah Henke, or also Wolfgang Otto of the Otto Gourmet mail order company will offer workshops in the Culinary School.

In the School itself, participants learn how to prepare a multi-course menu corresponding to the cuisine of the region through which they are travelling. Themed cookery courses are also held, focusing on foods such as sushi, truffles and foie gras. Designed for groups of up to eight, the courses are held during the morning on all cruises and can be booked as an alternative to shore excursions. Participation costs 80 euros per person and includes accompanying wines, a chef’s apron and recipes. 

Those on a family cruise can also explore Culinary School fun as, on one occasion during each voyage, children are invited to gather around the oven for the popular pizza-baking session. All of the children will help to prepare their own pizza - and then sit down together to enjoy it!

For the 7-night “Connoisseurs of Cuisine” cruise with Otto Gourmet, round-trip from Dubai to Khasab, Muscat, Mina Sulman, Doha and Abu Dhabi, sailing April 20, prices start from £3,641 per person, cruise only.

 

More info: call +49 40 3001 4580 (English-speaking hotline), e-mail salesteam@hlkf.de or visit www.hl-cruises.com/contact-services.

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Berlitz Crowns New Top Ship

In the new 2014 edition of Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships, author Douglas Ward crowns Europa 2 the top-rated ship – the first new ship to claim the title in 14 years – knocking her older sister off the pedestal. Other ships that have held this honour in the 29-year lifetime of the Guide - the seafaring equivalent of the Oscars - include Royal Viking Sea (now Albatros), Royal Viking Sun and Sagafjord. 

 

The app version of this much-anticipated ‘bible of cruising’, Berlitz Cruise Ships 2014, is already out, ahead of the UK’s National Cruise Week, September 21-29, and the full paperback and ebook formats will be published in the UK on October 1.
 

Available for all Apple devices, the App (below) is the perfect cruise planning tool. Its 285

hard-hitting reviews help every cruise-goer, whether solo, senior, family or first time cruiser, to choose the right ship. The internationally accepted Berlitz rating system takes into account a remarkable 400 items based on personal experience. Highlights include:

• A new No.1 ship for the first time in more than a decade.
• 285 ocean-going ships are rated and reviewed by the world’s foremost cruise authority, Douglas Ward.
• 5 completely new ships debuting in the 2014 edition.
• Lots of full-colour photography, including interior shots of many ships.
• Filter and search options help cruisegoers choose a vessel and voyage according to their needs, criteria include: cuisine, entertainment, accommodation, size of ship and many others.
• A detailed FAQ section with knowledgeable and reliable answers.
• A comparison of the cabin facilities, food and dining services.

TOP-RATED SHIPS – NUMBERS CRUNCHED

Only two ships have achieved the score required to be in the most exclusive 5-star+ category, Europa and the recently introduced Europa 2, both from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
It’s the first time since 1989 that two ships belonging to the same company (Hapag-Lloyd Cruises) have achieved a 5-star+ rating – previously Royal Viking Sea and Royal Viking Sky (Royal Viking Line).
 

Small is beautiful according to the ratings in the 2014 App, with 11 out of 12 top-rated 5-star+/5-star cruise ships being Small or Boutique-sized vessels. Of the top 10 Large Resort Ships, five belong to Celebrity Cruises, while The three top-rated Large Resort Ships are all Cunard Line ‘Queens’, Queen Mary 2 (Grill Class), Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.

 

Seabourn dominates success in the combined Small and Boutique Ships categories, with

six vessels out of the top 20, namely Seabourn Quest, Odyssey, Sojourn, Legend, Spirit and Pride. In the highly regarded Small Ships category, five of the top 10 are Silversea vessels, while SeaDream have two of the top three in the Boutique category.
 

Quirky fact: The seven top-rated 4-star cruise ships (not including 4-star+) all begin with the letter A: Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest, Artania, Adonia, AIDAblu, Aurora and Amsterdam.

The complete rankings of the top five ships in the four size categories (with a maximum of 2,000 points) are:

Top 5 Large Resort Ships (with more than 1,750 passengers)

Queen Mary 2 (Grill Class) 1673pts
Queen Elizabeth 1585
Queen Victoria 1579
Celebrity Reflection 1571
Celebrity Silhouette 1567

Top 5 Mid-size Ships (751 – 1750 passengers)

Crystal Serenity 1714pts
Crystal Symphony  1702
Riviera 1682
Marina 1680
Asuka II 1673

Top 5 Small Ships (251 – 750 passengers)

Europa 2 1860pts
Europa 1851
Silver Spirit 1762
Silver Whisper 1749
Silver Shadow 1747

Top 5 Boutique Ships (50 – 250 passengers)

Hanseatic 1765pts
SeaDream I 1761
SeaDream II 1754
Sea Cloud 1702
Sea Cloud II 1701

Commenting on the new champion, author Ward said: “Europa 2 is a stunningly spacious, top-notch informal ship for sophisticated cosmopolitan travellers and their families - the benchmark in contemporary cruising. The choice of dining venues and types of cuisine are excellent and the service is attentive and friendly but unobtrusive. It all adds up to the very best informal cruise ship available today – unless you own a private motor yacht.”

THE WORLD’S TOP AUTHORITY ON CRUISING AND CRUISE SHIPS

Douglas Ward is the world’s top authority on cruising and cruise ships, with more than 45

years of experience and over 5,900 days at sea. He continues to spend up to 200 days per year aboard cruise ships, inspecting and evaluating their facilities and service.

Fully updated and revised, the Berlitz Cruise Ships 2014 App (£6.99) is available for Apple devices at the iTunes store. In addition, 2014 Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships (752 pages) will be available in book and ebook formats from October 1, both priced £17.99. For further information, visit www.insightguides.com/berlitz/berlitz-cruising.

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Gourmet Offerings On New Europa 2

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

The gastronomic concept of this new luxury ship provides no less than seven different restaurants, including a sushi bar and three speciality venues. Additionally, the "Speisezimmer" can be booked for private dining. And, 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.
 

The Restaurants

 

With a total capacity of 266, the largest restaurant on board is the "Weltmeere". It stands out because of the generous amount of space while Chef de cuisine Wilke and his team serve both international and refined vegetarian menus. 

 

The "Yacht Club" is the second largest restaurant, providing 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. The chefs can also be seen working their magic in front of the passengers as they prepare and plate the dishes. 

 

Fans of French cuisine will be at home in the "Tarragon" (44 seats) while Asian delicacies will be featured in "Elements" (48 seats) with its plethora of aromas from aniseed to lemon grass. The "Serenissima" (56 seats) then provides high quality Italian cuisine. Here, guests can enjoy Mediterranean classics and also modern interpretations of Ligurian and Neapolitan cooking. 

 

The culinary world journey is completed by the "Sakura" sushi restaurant (58 seats), 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 in the "Grande Reserve" wine bar and individual tastings can also be arranged here, with real vine rarities for a maximum of 12 people.

Exclusive Private Dining

 

As well as her restaurants, Europa 2 also offers the option of private dining for special occasions, with guests able to book the “Speisezimmer” exclusively at a cost of 1,170GBP 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.

Cooking School

 

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 the culinary side of the ship's various cruise destinations. 

 

The cooking courses take place in the morning and can be booked as an alternative to a shore excursion. Participation costs 80 Euros (63GBP) per person, which includes accompanying wines, cooking aprons and recipes.

Finally, guests on Europa 2 can enjoy all this pure, informal luxury as there are no fixed dining times or fixed table allocations in the restaurants within the opening times. Another plus point: the meals are included in the cruise price - there are no additional costs for any venue (except the Speisezimmer).

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Best New Ship Of The Year?

The first of the year's five major new ship offerings has just been launched, amid much Italian fanfare, by MSC Cruises in Genoa.

MSC Preziosa is the 12th new vessel to join the MSC fleet and another example of the amazing range and appeal of modern ship design. Interestingly, she also makes the Italian company the third-largest in the world after Carnival and Royal Caribbean, edging Norwegian Cruise Line into fourth place (for now!).

With that in mind, we at World of Cruising thought it would be an interesting idea to run a poll of our readers, asking what they think is the most keenly anticipated new ship of the year. The five contenders are as follows:

MSC Preziosa: the latest and greatest from MSC Cruises, overseen by godmother Sophia Loren to add star power and boasting a capacity of 3,502 passengers. She includes seven restaurants and the latest enhancements of the line's exclusive MSC Yacht Club, the ship-within-a-ship area that effectively recreates a first class style of travel.

Norwegian Breakaway: a large-scale refinement of Norwegian's largest vessel, Norwegian Epic, Breakaway will be notable for her dedication to providing a sea-view aspect with many of her public areas. Due out at the end of April, she will feature The Waterfront, a quarter-mile of outward-facing dining, bars and lounges that give her 4,000 passengers a true connection with the sea (a rarity these days). While still monolithic in appearance, she should be spectacular inside.

Royal Princess: the largest ship ever ordered for the Princess brand, this should also be the most spectacular, with a whole raft of extra amenities, facilities and design features when she debuts in June. At 140,000 tons, she is 20% larger than the biggest vessels currently in the fleet, but she will add a great range of new dining and entertainment choice, including an expanded Atrium area that serves as the focal point and a unique top-deck pool arrangement featuring a water and light show.

Europa 2: going for a smaller and more exclusive style in May, Hapag-Lloyd's first new-build project in several years features a sumptuous arrange of distinctive, six-star amenities that should make this one of the most distinctive ships in the world, from a service point of view. With cutting-edge interior design and an array of six specialist restaurants that promises to be truly deluxe, Europa 2 will also be one of the most spacious ships ever built, with some of the largest staterooms and the highest Space Ratio of any ship at sea.

Le Soleal: the smallest of our Fab Five for 2013, the latest offering (launching in July and just 10,600 tons) from French line Le Compagnie du Ponant, this sleek cruiser should be a known quantity as she is the third in this novel series. Carrying barely 250 passengers, Le Soleal should be the latest word in exclusive small-ship sophistication and chic, within the company's style of Yacht Cruising that is wonderfully elegant and individual. 

So, those are the contenders for our Ship of the Year feature - now go and vote in our poll (you will find it at the top of our home page, on the right, with the heading What Is The Most Anticipated New Ship Of The Year For You?) and let us know what YOU think will be No 1.

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Hapag-Lloyd's Big Cabin Upgrade Lure

Guests can save more than £700 with some tempting cabin upgrades on two international Europa 2 voyages in the Mediterranean next summer, with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises announcing UK details of some special offers for her inaugural season.

The Offer: all bookings for a category 1 suite will be upgraded to category 3 accommodation in either a Veranda or Ocean Suite and receive an onboard Connoisseur package of £115 per person towards beverages and Spa treatments. All category 3 suites are located on deck 7. Europa 2 will exclusively offer suites with balconies each measuring at least seven square metres facing the sea. All Veranda/Ocean Suites measure 28sq m and provide the highest standards of suite accommodation from category 1 upwards.

The Voyages:

• Departing Barcelona on June 22 for 7 nights to Monte Carlo, cruise-only fares from £3,481pp in a category 1 suite with an upgrade to category 3 (subject to availability).
• Departing Malta on July 27 for 7 nights to Barcelona, cruise-only fares from £3,791pp in a category 1 suite with an upgrade to category 3 (subject to availability).

Cruise-only fares include accommodation in the category booked; full board on the ship; mini-bar in the suite; a different entertainment programme each day; port fees; travel cancellation insurance; bankruptcy insurance; and share of ship fuel costs.

The 516-passenger Europa 2 will offer an international atmosphere on board, with all the cruises being conducted in German and English. The lecturers also speak English and in addition, English-language excursions will be offered on 10-12 selected cruises each year, including the two Mediterranean voyages listed above. As a matter of course, anyone interested can also enquire about individual excursion arrangements for all the other cruises.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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