The
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ship Europa sets sail in June and July for the far north of
Scandinavia - and a real Nordic dream of a summer cruise.
The Arctic will provide the backdrop for the fifth “Stella Maris”
singing competition, in which eight talented young singers from famous opera
houses will vie for glory on the ship in the Lieder, opera and oratorio
categories. Along the way, musical and scenic highlights galore await guests as
the ship sails from Hamburg to Iceland through the fjords of Norway and
on to Spitsbergen. There will also be opportunities to take off in a manoeuvrable
Zodiac to discover the region north of the Arctic Circle during the hours
between the performances.
The
various concerts accompanying the “Stella Maris” competition will showcase the
classical singing skills of a host of talented young artists. For the fifth time, Europa will be transformed into a festival stage, under the artistic leadership of chamber singer
and tenor Michael Schade. The audience will play an active part in the musical
event, choosing the winner, who can look forward to a 15,000 euro prize courtesy
of Hapag-Lloyd cruises.
A
Nordic Summer Dream
After
setting sail from Hamburg on June 30, the ship will head past Iceland up
towards Spitsbergen and then spend three days along Norway’s “Cold
Coast”. Guests will also be able to marvel at the cliffs of the
Faroe Islands, the geysers of Iceland and the idyllic Lofoten Islands dotted
with ancient fishing villages. And there’s more for families too: for example,
the itinerary also includes a number of outings such as the communal bathing in
the Blue Lagoon under the skies of Reykjavik.
The 18-day voyage costs from £5,460 per person, cruise only, including 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; and share of ship fuel
costs.
