Cruise News - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises 2014 EUROPA
March 25 - 2013 : Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Launches 2014 EUROPA International Brochure
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is pleased to announce the arrival of its 2014 EUROPA international brochure, including four exciting itineraries operating in English and German. The highest ranked cruise ship in the world, according to the 2013 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ 408-passenger EUROPA is offering itineraries to over a dozen countries in Europe and Northern Africa in its 2014 bilingual brochure.
The EUROPA enhances the luxury experience with its travel concierge program, which assists guests in book individual shore excursions in advance of their cruise. This advance booking opportunity applies to excursions during the cruise, as well as pre and post cruise travel programs, enhancing the concept of the EUROPA’s tailor-made travel experience with private programs with or without guides, and excursions off the beaten path. There is also an international hostess onboard all cruises, whether bilingual or not, to ensure English-speaking passengers feel as comfortable as possible.
New for the EUROPA in summer 2013, children 11 years of age or younger, sharing a suite with one or two full-price adult passengers, travel free of charge. Children ages 12-15 sharing a suite with two full-price passengers pay $60 per night, which includes all meals and soft drinks for lunch and dinner.
2014 Classical Music Itineraries on the EUROPA
The EUROPA, known for its exceptional music cruises, once again offers two bilingual classical music itineraries in 2014:
After its very successful debut in 2009, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is presenting the Stella Maris International Vocal Competition again for the sixth year in Spring 2014. The Stella Maris concept brings together the world’s most talented up-and-coming young singers from the best opera houses in the world, being judged by the EUROPA audience and a renowned jury in a vocal competition on board. This takes place during a 12-day itinerary between the Aegean and the Adriatic from April 29–May 11, 2014 from Limassol/Cyprus to Venice/Italy, calling at ports in Turkey, Greece and Croatia. Itinerary highlights include: calls in the cities of Rhodes, Kerkyra, Dubrovnik, Trogir and Venice. Rates for this itinerary start at $6,220 per person/based on double occupancy, cruise-only.
In Fall 2014 the EUROPA will be offering its very popular Ocean Sun Festival. The Ocean Sun Festival – the only classical music festival on the High Seas - will feature internationally-acclaimed classical music stars performing onboard, as well as exclusive concerts at historical sites ashore. The Ocean Sun Festival has been compared to the prestigious Festival del Sole in Napa Valley, California and the Tuscan Sun Festival in Italy. The 13-day music festival cruise from August 31– September 13, 2014 from Travemuende/Germany to Hamburg/Germany makes calls in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Great Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Rates for this itinerary start at $5,990, per person/based on double occupancy, cruise-only.
2014 Food Festival At Sea – EUROPA’s Best
The EUROPA will be offering its annual food festival, EUROPA’s Best, on a bilingual itinerary through Western Europe in Summer 2014. Guests will be able to sample the fine wines of the Bordeaux region at local vineyards and enjoy freshly caught fish on the coast, while they are pampered onboard by famous chefs, winegrowers, cheese makers and pastry chefs. The 14-day cruise June 10-24, 2014 from Lisbon/Portugal to Hamburg/Germany makes stops in Spain, France, Great Britain, and Belgium. EUROPA’s Best will take place onboard during the call in Antwerp/Belgium. Other highlights of this itinerary include: visits to various UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the historic centres of Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion, and Canterbury Cathedral and visits to St. Peter Port and St. Helier in the Channel Islands. Rates for this itinerary start at $6,820, per person/based on double occupancy, cruise-only.
The Moors in Spain and the Distant Idyll of the Azores
In early Summer 2014 guests will be able to experience the Azores, Canary Islands and Spain onboard the EUROPA. This 16-day itinerary from May 25 – June 10, 2014 from Barcelona/Spain to Lisbon/Portugal will make calls in: Morocco, two Canary Islands and four calls in the Azores. A new maiden call for the EUROPA includes a stop in Madalena on Pico Island in the Azores. Pico was once a whaling center and its wine was exported to the Tsar’s village in St. Petersburg. Its historical vineyards have even been designed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rates for this itinerary start at $8,860, per person/based on double occupancy, cruise-only.
Cruise-only fares include: accommodation in the category booked; full board on the ship; mini-bar in the suite; a different entertainment program each day; port fees; travel cancellation insurance; and share of ship fuel costs.
For more information about Hapag Lloyd Cruises visit:
http://www.hl-cruises.com
•