I’ve been reporting lots about the new Europa 2 here on Avid Cruiser. Today, I received a press release announcing a few intriguing developments.
Europa 2 will visit New York December 4-6, 2014, which, of course, means that she will cross the Atlantic. From New York, Europa 2 will sail to the Caribbean, stopping in St. Barts, St. John, Antigua, Antilles, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Curacao, and the Bahamas.
Leaving the Bahamas, Europa 2 will call on Miami on December 20, 2014, then head back to the Caribbean for a Christmas cruise.
In all, Hapag-Lloyd’s newest vessel will offer three Caribbean cruises and five South America cruises. The South America cruises can be combined for a 76-day circumnavigation. Combining all five will earn you $6,000 in savings over the regular fares, plus an excursion voucher valued at €1,800 (prices on board are in euros). And an extra that many avid cruisers appreciate: Free full laundry service (laundry, dry-cleaning and pressing) for the entire cruise.
This article is sponsored by:
For the summer 2014 season, Europa 2 will offer new, four-day “sampler” cruises from Hamburg and Kiel to the Scandinavian capitals of Oslo and Copenhagen, or, alternatively, to Wismar, Bornholm and Usedom.
From April 2014 until April 2015, Europa 2 will sail 32 routes, calling on 167 ports in five regions, including the eastern and western Mediterranean; Western Europe with Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway; North America as well as the Caribbean and South America.
The Mediterranean routes are distinguished by their shorter seven-day cruises that can be combined into longer, several-week cruises. Themed cruises include family and golf cruises. Parent-free children and teens’ excursions are offered alongside family trips with the parents.
For children, Europa 2 features the Knopf Club (2-3 years), the Kids’ Club (4-10 years) and the Teens’ Club (11-15 years). A total of 12 family cruises in the 2014/2015 program will sail from Malta to Piraeus, from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Barcelona and from Miami to Miami.
The Golf & Cruise voyages are suited either to experienced golfers, or also golfers in the making. Four visits will be organized to golf courses in Bilbao, Malaga, Casablanca and many more. Each cruise will be accompanied by an experienced golf professional from the Professional Golfers Association of Germany (PGA) who, on request, can train sports enthusiasts both on land and on board.
Another PGA golf pro will be on the ship year-round and can also train guests between golf trips. Europa 2 features two golf simulators where guests can perfect their techniques using the integrated video analysis.
An avid traveler and an award-winning journalist, Ralph Grizzle produces articles, video and photos that are inspiring and informative, personal and passionate. A journalism graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ralph has specialized in travel writing for more than two decades. To read more cruise and port reviews by Ralph Grizzle, visit his website at www.avidcruiser.com
