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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MS EUROPA
For eight consecutive years, since she was launched, the MS Europa has been the only ship to be classified by the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising as "Five Stars Plus" - truly in a class of her own.
PRESS RELEASE
The world’s only 5-star plus cruise ship celebrates its ninth birthday with exclusive classical music events held onboard and ashore, whilst cruising the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
MS Europa – the flagship of the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ fleet and the only cruise ship in the world to be awarded the coveted ranking of five stars plus by the Berlitz Cruise Guide for eight consecutive years – will celebrate its ninth birthday in September of this year. To mark the occasion, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will host the Ocean Sun Festival on board the MS Europa whilst sailing between magnificent ports from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The Ocean Sun Festival is a unique two-week international music event featuring some of the world’s finest classical music talent; the festival will also include four exceptional shore events at exclusive venues in Hamburg, Lisbon, Cadiz and Palma de Mallorca.
The Ocean Sun Festival joins a distinguished group of festivals including the Napa Sun, the Tuscan Sun and the Singapore Sun festivals. This unique on board event will feature artists renowned throughout the world such as Grammy 2008 laureate Oleg Maisenberg, the leading Mozart tenor Michael Schade and the soprano Patricia Petibon, a rising star who will present her new album with arias by Mozart, Haydn and Gluck. As this is a birthday celebration, there will be complimentary invitations to join four fantastic events on shore. In Hamburg, the soloists of the Munich Philharmonic (quartet) will be accompanied by the celebrated cellist, Mischa Maisky. Lisbon’s Casino Estoril will give MS Europa’s privileged guests an exclusive presentation of their 50th anniversary show, creating the perfect ambience for a special gourmet dinner. An 18th century castle in Cadiz, the Castillo San Marco, is an exceptional location for a concert starring Michael Schade and Patricia Petibon while the festival’s grand finale, featuring all the principal artists, will be at the Teatre Principal in Palma de Mallorca.
The two-week voyage takes in some of west Europe’s most spectacular coastlines sailing from Hamburg, cutting through the Channel Islands, along the western coasts of France and Portugal and into southern Spain. The itinerary includes stops at Guernsey’s St Peter Port, St. Malo and Bordeaux in France, Galicia in north-west Spain famous for the medieval pilgrimage ‘The Way of St James’, then Lisbon and east to Cadiz. On the final leg of the voyage, the MS Europa will visit the Balearic Islands before setting sail for its final destination, Barcelona.
MS EUROPA – Hapag-Lloyd Cruises call her ‘the world’s most beautiful yacht’ and not without reason. The ship has set international standards; for the eighth time in succession, she was the only cruise ship in the world awarded the coveted ranking of five stars plus by the Berlitz Cruise Guide 2008. Never before has there been so much space on a ship for the maximum 408 guests. All guest accommodation is in elegant suites, each with separate living and sleeping areas. Every one of them has a walk-in wardrobe and almost all have a private veranda – offering guests the best seats in the house as some of Europe’s finest backdrops slip into view.
A voyage on the MS Europa is a journey to high gastronomic adventure and bold culinary exploits. The ship has created a masterful blend of world-class chefs, a rich and varied menu of haute cuisine, two specialty restaurants featuring fine Italian and Asian dishes and an expert serving staff to fulfil special requests; not to mention the 24-hour service in the privacy of the guest suites. A golf simulator, hair and beauty salon, top-class spa, sauna, wellness area and 65-foot saltwater all-weather swimming pool are available on board to ensure the guests’ well-being.
Dates The celebratory Ocean Sun Festival cruise on board the MS Europa departs from Hamburg on Sunday 14 September and sails into Barcelona on Sunday 28 September 2008.
Prices from Æ5405 (or around £4040) per person sharing a double suite. The fare includes the voyage with accommodation as booked, all classical music events on board and ashore, all meals on board, transfers to the ship in Hamburg and port taxes. Price excludes shore excursions and international flights. There are numerous airline choices to and from Hamburg and Barcelona.
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Notes to editors:
1)For enquiries and reservations, please contact Gay Scruton of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ UK agent - The Cruise People on 020 7723 2450 / cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.
2)The Cruise People specialise in niche cruise markets including ultra-luxury, small ship cruising, expedition voyages and freighter travel. For more information on their range of itineraries and vessels please contact Debra Taylor at toucanmoon or Kevin Griffin at The Cruise People.
3)Hapag-Lloyd Cruises website is www.hl-cruises.com.
4)For press enquiries and images please contact Debra Taylor at toucanmoon on 01491 613424/07956 852197 or debra@toucanmoon.com.
Enquiries & Reservations 020 7723
2450
Prepared by toucanmoon / 23 March 2008
Posted 1st April 2008