Europa 2’s informal interpretation of luxury cruising

HostDave
Site Admin
Posts: 4757
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:23 pm
Location: San Diego, CA
Contact:

Europa 2’s informal interpretation of luxury cruising

Postby HostDave » Tue May 07, 2013 8:06 pm

Europa 2 is ‘your exclusive hideaway at sea’, is how Dr Wolfgang Flagel, md of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises described the latest addition to the fleet during a media briefing onboard yesterday in Southampton.

‘21 knots without a tie’ is how Julian Pfitzner, Europa 2’s director product management summed up the new 516-passenger vessel ‘combining the very best of contemporary, modern design concepts in an informal style of luxury cruising.’ Dress code is casual in the day and smart casual (no tie) in the evenings.

From top(Sun and Pool decks 10 and 11) to hull this vessel oozes style and exclusivity offering all veranda suites with balconies measuring at least 7sq mtr, ‘enabling you to stretch full out on a sun-lounger directly facing the sea’ according to Pfitzner.

All suites have a free of charge mini bar, internet access via WiFi and tablet PC. The 251 suites in seven categories measure in size from 28 to 99sqmtr with whirlpools offering an ocean view in the highest categories. 16 Spa Suites have whirlpool tubs and rain showers with steam saunas. Seven family suites enable parents and children separate living areas connected by door and shared balcony.

The décor throughout is subtle and contemporary with furnishings and fabrics in beige, creams, browns and plenty of light and dark woods with interiors courtesy of Germany’s Partner Ship Design, better known for its association with AIDA Cruises.

The corridors are exceptionally wide and high for a vessel this size and there is a feeling of space throughout the entire ship. The passenger/space ratio is 76.5% compared with 70.4 on Europa and higher than competitors Seabourn Legend(46.9%), Seabourn Odyssey(71.1), Silver Spirit(66.6) and Silver Whisper(72.8), said Flagel.

Contemporary artwork, valued at around €2m, features on walls and in corridors, public spaces, lounges and suites. Limited edition Damien Hurst-signed butterfly prints hang in the two Owners Suites, costing an average €20,000 per person a week. ‘But this ship is not about showing off so you will not find plaques alongside saying this is an expensive piece of artwork,’ remarked Pfitzner.

He picked out the ship’s culinary diversity and wellness as key features. There are seven restaurants plus a private dining area and culinary school offering daily classes for up to 16 people a time. Meal times are flexible, with opening seating and gourmet food(see separate article).

The spa covers more than 1,000sq mtr with four different saunas and variety of treatments, fitness studio and personal trainers. Onboard golf simulators and classes run by PGA professionals plus golfing excursions, are an important part of the offering, says Pfitzner.

On the technical front, Dr Henning Brauer, head of project management said ‘significant labour’ has been spent on the optimised hull to reduce fuel consumption with ‘quite pleasing results so far’, he added. Brauer claimed Europa 2 is the first cruise ship with a SCR-catalytic converter to reduce NOx emissions, a product that has been fitted already on ferries. Two Mermaid pods offers low-vibration, he added.

Dr Flagel expects the majority of people cruising on Europa 2 to be new to the brand rather than repeaters, although the maiden voyage from Hamburg to Lisbon starting after the naming ceremony in Germany this coming Friday will be predominately loyal to brand customers, he said.

In addition to its traditional German-speaking markets, the company is targeting UK, US, Benelux and Australian passengers first and foremost with analysis being conducted in Scandinavia, ‘where shareholder TUI AG has a lot of experience’ said Flagel. Two main languages onboard are German and English. Entertainment will not rely on language, mainly imagery and music.

Hapag-Lloyd is aiming for Europa 2 to carry between 15-20% English-speaking guests in the next three years. It has dedicated sales teams in UK and the US. 60 UK trade partners are currently enjoying a shakedown cruise along the English Channel today.

Return to “Hapag-Lloyd Cruises”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests