Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has announced its 2013 Europa international brochure, including seven tineraries operating in English and German.
The highest ranked cruise ship in the world, according to the 2012 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ MS Europa is offering cruises to the South Seas, New Zealand, Australia, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Peninsula, Norway, the Baltics and the Mediterranean in 2013. The Europa will be offering three new ports of call on their international itineraries in 2013: Palmerston Atoll/Cook Islands, Picton/New Zealand, and Algiers/Algeria.
Highlights on the Europa in 2013:
South Seas Winter 2013: The Europa will be in exploring the South Pacific islands in January 2013 for hiking, swimming, and snorkeling in untouched islands, hidden away in the lagoons of the Oceania. The South Seas itinerary is from January 19-February 6, 2013, from Papeete/Tahiti to Auckland/New Zealand, with stops in Bora Bora and Raiatea in French Polynesia, Rarotonga, Aitutaki Atoll, and Palmerston Atoll in the Cook Islands, Neiafu and Nuku’alofa in the Tonga, and the Fiji Islands. Rates for this itinerary start at $7,700 per person/based on double occupancy. A new maiden call for the Europa in this itinerary includes Palmerston Atoll/Cook Islands.
New Zealand Winter 2013: Breathtaking fjord landscapes and vast green fields offer magnificent sights to be discovered while hiking, kayaking or by a helicopter ride in the North and South Islands of New Zealand in Winter 2013. (Excursions subject to an additional fee.) The New Zealand itinerary is from February 6-February 22, 2013, from Auckland/New Zealand to Sydney Australia, with stops in Tauranga, White Island, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Picton, Lyttelton, Akaroa, Port Chalmers, and Stewart Island. Rates for this New Zealand itinerary start at $9,220 per person/based on double occupancy. A new maiden call for the Europa in this itinerary includes Picton/New Zealand.
Indian Ocean in Spring 2013: In the Indian Ocean, a time far removed from everyday life awaits guests on an Asia itinerary in March 2013. The Europa will take guests from Singapore‘s glittering skyline, to the snorkeling territory in Malaysia, and then on to enchanting Sri Lanka. This itinerary from March 30-April 13, 2013, is from Singapore to Dubai/United Arab Emirates, with stops in Port Kelang and Bass Harbour in Malaysia, Columbo/Sri Lanka, and Cochin and Mumbai in India. Rates for this Asia itinerary start at $5,450 per person/based on double occupancy. Highlights of this itinerary include visits to the historic Malacca, the holy city of Anuradhapura, the ruined city of Sigiriya and the Taj Mahal. (Excursions subject to an additional fee.)
Norway in Summer 2013: Europa guests will explore Norway in July 2013, experiencing overwhelming nature during hikes, fishing trips and kayak tours. The itinerary takes passengers as far as the idyllic Lofoten Islands, and standing at the North Cape, a once in a lifetime experience. This Norway cruise is from July 22 – August 3, 2013, from Kiel/Germany to Hamburg/Germany, with stops in the following Norwegian ports: Rosendale, Eidfjord, Alesund, Leknes, Skarsvag, Tromsoe, Geiranger, Hellesylt, and Bergen. This Norway experience starts at $5,980 per person/based on double occupancy.
Baltic in Summer 2013: A look back at the Great Russian Empire and the exploration of the treasures of the historical Baltics, awaits guests in summer from Kiel/Germany to Hamburg/Germany, with stops in Stockholm/Sweden, Helsinki/Finland, St Petersburg/Russia, Tallinn/Estonia, Riga/Latvia, Visby/Poland and Gdynia/Poland. This Baltic adventure starts at $5,990 per person/based on double occupancy.
Family conditions:
Also new to the Europa in 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. The first voyage to which the new rate applies is on the cruise from Dubai to Malta on April 12 – May 3, 2013.
Classical Music Itineraries for 2013:
The Europa, known for its exceptional music cruises, once again offers two special classical music itineraries in 2013.
After its very successful debut in 2009, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is presenting Stella Maris International Vocal Competition again for the fifth year in Spring 2013. 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. The jury will once again be headed by award-winning Canadian tenor Michael Schade. Stella Maris will occur during a 20-day itinerary in the Arabian Peninsula, from April 13 – May 3, 2013, from Dubai/U.A.E. to Valetta/Malta, with stops in Khasab, Muscat and Salalah in Oman, Aqaba/Jordan, Sharm el Sheik and Hurghada in Egypt, Paphos/Cyprus, and Rhodes and Crete in Greece. Rates for this itinerary start at $9,410 per person/based on double occupancy.
In November 2013 the Europa will be offering their very popular Ocean Sun Festival, the most prestigious classical music festival at sea. The 11-day music festival cruise from November 19 – 30, 2013, from Nice/France to Madeira/Portugal, with stops in Cannes and Marseille/ France, Barcelona, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca/ Spain, Algiers/Algeria and Casablanca/Morocco. Rates for this itinerary start at $4,600 per person/based on double occupancy.
Getting Fit Onboard the Europa:
With the aim of enhancing the classic sports and fitness program for Europa guests, the ship now offers an innovative whole-body workout system called Miha Bodytec. This new technology uses electric micro-impulses (Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) to stimulate all the muscle groups by letting electrical impulses pass through the body. After only a few training sessions phenomenal progress in muscle growth, weight and size reduction, and in skin and tissue tightening are visible. By stimulating about 300 different muscles in just 30 minutes, muscle metabolic activation is equal to several hours of strength training with training equipment.