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For the 10th year in a row, Hapag-Lloyd’s
Europa was named the world’s top cruise ship, according to the 2010 “Berlitz
Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships.” Does Europa deserve the accolade?
In the atrium of Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa is a star-studded wall lined with plaques
recognizing the much-celebrated vessel as the world’s highest-rated cruise ship.
The Berlitz guide thrusts upon Europa Five Stars – Plus.
Lest anyone doubt that Europa deserves high stakes in the guide books, other
plaques nearby recognize the ship as being tops in the game, and one guide even
goes so far as to run Six Plus Stars up the flagpole.
No doubt that Europa ranks among the world’s best
passenger ships, but does Europa rank as the best passenger ship for me? Would
it for you? I’ll give my verdict in next week’s column. For the moment, however,
let me say that Europa does deliver an extremely fine – and refined – product.
There is much to appreciate: a well-trained, professional and polite staff, the
oh-so-delicious dishes in the attractive specialty restaurants and all of the
expected trappings of a luxury vessel.
Where Europa departs from the luxury vessels I’ve cruised is that it is a
German-speaking ship. That may be off-putting to some, but for me, the
experience of being an “Innocent Aboard,” to paraphrase Mark Twain, was
thoroughly enjoyable. I appreciated the German foods — Wienerschnitzel and
potatoes for lunch, home-cooked waffles for mid-afternoon snack, Currywurst and
sparking Sekt in the late evening, and, near the end of the cruise, the Bavarian
brunch, with beer, sausages and pretzels.
What strikes me most of all is that Europa offers something different for
tried-and-true North American cruisers. Not only do we get to cruise to
beautiful places, but we get to return to a German hotel each day. How much
better could it get for culture-lovers?
There is even a small piece of Germany implanted on Europa. The Sansibar shares
the same name as the popular restaurant/bar on the island of Sylt, an exclusive
enclave situated in the North Sea. “You really must try to go there,” Europa
Hotel Director Josef Gruber tells me. “But of course, you need to know someone.”
On Europa, you simply need to trundle up to deck nine and enjoy the evening with
everyone else. Sansibar is popular for sail-away's and late night. Hours are
from 5 until “Open End,” as the program of events describes it.
The 10-year-old Europa is, as you might expect, immaculate and with attractive
public spaces. Restaurants boasts fine tableware, such as the specially designed
Meissen porcelain in The Oriental, an Asian restaurant. Dining certainly is an
affair to remember in any of the four restaurants on board.
World’s best cruise ship? Certainly, in the minds of a few guide book writers
and many devoted Europa fans. For me? I’ll let you know next week. Until then,
Auf Wiedersehen! October 2009 . by
Ralph Grizzle - Visit Ralph’s web
site,
www.avidcruiser.com |
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