Hapag-Lloyd Europa

[English Voyager]

With Berlitz having created a 5+ * category for the Europa,I was wondering if any one has sailed on her recently.

If so,what places the "experience" higher than that on other luxury lines such as ,for example,Seabourn?

Does the on board language of German impact adversely on interaction with fellow passengers,and staff?

Any advices would be appreciated.

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi, English Voyager. I'm just finishing up a review of Europa -- my husband and I sailed last summer and the review addresses your questions of the German issue. It's launching on Wednesday (December 28) so check the home page then (end of day)...and if there's anything I don't address that you are curious about, just let me me know at editor@cruisecritic.com.

 

Bottom line: German issue was challenging. But we loved the trip.

 

Best regards,

 

Carolyn Spencer Brown

Editor, Cruise Critic

[English Voyager]

Thanks for the reply.

I look forward to the review with great interest.

[SPECTATOR]

With Berlitz having created a 5+ * category for the Europa,I was wondering if any one has sailed on her recently.

If so,what places the "experience" higher than that on other luxury lines such as ,for example,Seabourn?

Does the on board language of German impact adversely on interaction with fellow passengers,and staff?

Any advices would be appreciated.

 

Dear English Voyager,

 

My experience with MS EUROPA:

 

Excellent itineraries. A wonderful ship.

BUT: A deluxe icebox. Germans: no smiles, pushy, occupy three sunchairs in differeent locations at same time (might not use any of them).

We did not like the food.

Receptionists, tour-people etc. very indifferent with a "could-not-care-less" attitide.

 

Neither service, "ambiance" or food can compare with SEABOURN.

AND: no free booze, wine or Champagne (except on formal nights when they do serve wine with your meal).

 

If you like all that, then Bon Voyage!

 

We have had it with this ship.

 

Happy New Year.

[JDRMYS]

Carolyn,

 

Thank you for your wonderful review of the Europa. For years I have wanted to take a cruise on the Europa but my DH would not hear of it. Besides the fact that neither of us speaks more than a few words of German, he felt that a German cruise would be too much like a vacation with his large, strong willed German-American family. Thus we have been limited to US based companies such as Radisson Seven Seas and Seabourn.

 

Your article finally convinced him to try the Euopa. I'm calling our TA in the morning.

[English Voyager]

Spectator,

it is a great pity that you had such a disappointing experience on the Europa.

You say that you did not like the food.Was this due to it being poor,or not to your personal taste?

Was any attempt made to offer alternative choices?

I am surprised about staff attitudes as,in my experience,the Germans expect,if not demand,very high levels of service.

I have been told by Germans I have met on other cruise lines that the Europa is very formal in ambience.

[Leejnd4]

I too am interested in learning more about this ship. I noticed the review on the CruiseCritic newsletter, and was rather startled to see the 5+ stars given this ship. I'm very curious what it is that earns it the extra half star! Is it really better than all the other luxury cruise ships?

 

My mother and I did an RSSC cruise in May (along with English Voyager -- Hi Terry!) and loved it, and we are now hunting around for our next luxury cruise experience. Could this be it?

 

I'm definitely interested in the food situation -- this is a very important factor to me. I've only been to Germany once, some years back, and I don't recall being particularly impressed with the food. I'm not much of a meat and potoatoes person, I like my food to be a little more exotic. Can anyone enlighten me what it really is like on this ship?

 

I don't mind being in a "foreign" environment, so I don't think that I would mind the language issue too much, as long as we didn't feel like we were looked upon as aliens or outcasts.

 

Anyway, I would love to learn more, and to really understand what earned the extra half-star.

 

LeeAnne

[English Voyager]

Hi LeeAnne,

I trust you are well.

According to Douglas Ward(the Berlitz Guide),the reason the Europa scores so highly is in the little details,the extras,and the meticulous attention to personal comfort and service.

As for the cuisine,he describes it as simply superb.Apparently,apart from the normal breakfast menu,there is an additional Gourmet Breakfast menu.

That is why I would like to read more information from Spectator.

On our Seabourn cruise in August,the Europa was moored in front of us.

Germans with whom I spoke said that the atmosphere onboard is very formal.

My experience with Germans has been that if they see one making an effort to speak their language,then generally any barriers come down.

Terry.

[Leejnd4]

Yes, I'm quite well, as is Betty (my mother). She says to say hello! We do hope we run into you on another cruise someday -- we had such fun. We're currently booked on the RSSC PG for November, but are seriously considering changing that (given another discussion elsewhere, in which you've participated as well) ;)

 

Unfortunately I speak not a word of German! I would do great on an Italian ship, as I speak passable Italian, but I can't even SAY German words. Can't get my tongue wrapped around them. But I would be open to giving it a try.

 

Anyway, I'm going to continue searching for more information about this ship, as there are a few itineraries of interest to us. I'm a little concerned about the "formality" of which you speak -- Terry you met us, we're a rather fun-loving couple of gals, do you think we'd be uncomfortable? I can only hold my pinkie out so long, after all. And get a couple glasses of wine into me and I can't stop laughing. This worked out quite well with the group we hung out with on our RSSC Med cruise, but I'm afraid we might get tossed overboard in too "formal" an environment. Heck, we almost got tossed out of the casino in Monte Carlo -- now THAT place takes formality to disgusting levels. Sheesh, win a couple hundred Euros and let out a happy shriek, and everyone looks at you like you're some kind of deranged whacko!

 

LeeAnne

[surfklutz]

I too am interested in learning more about this ship. I noticed the review on the CruiseCritic newsletter, and was rather startled to see the 5+ stars given this ship. I'm very curious what it is that earns it the extra half star! Is it really better than all the other luxury cruise ships?

 

My mother and I did an RSSC cruise in May (along with English Voyager -- Hi Terry!) and loved it, and we are now hunting around for our next luxury cruise experience. Could this be it?

 

I'm definitely interested in the food situation -- this is a very important factor to me. I've only been to Germany once, some years back, and I don't recall being particularly impressed with the food. I'm not much of a meat and potoatoes person, I like my food to be a little more exotic. Can anyone enlighten me what it really is like on this ship?

 

 

I don't mind being in a "foreign" environment, so I don't think that I would mind the language issue too much, as long as we didn't feel like we were looked upon as aliens or outcasts.

 

Anyway, I would love to learn more, and to really understand what earned the extra half-star.

 

LeeAnne[/quote

I always feel that I have to add my two cents about my favorite line. If you are looking for your next luxury voyage - check out http://www.seadreamyachtclub.com. They were rated right under the Europa by Bertliz as the 2nd and 3rd best ships in the world. The food is outstanding and is generally served topside under the stars. The service is impecable - 1 crew member for every guest. They have about 80% American clientele, but with a European crew - it does feel very international. I just booked my 6th cruise with them. If they keep coming up with itineraries, I will keep booking them!

[SPECTATOR]

Spectator,

it is a great pity that you had such a disappointing experience on the Europa.

You say that you did not like the food.Was this due to it being poor,or not to your personal taste?

Was any attempt made to offer alternative choices?

I am surprised about staff attitudes as,in my experience,the Germans expect,if not demand,very high levels of service.

I have been told by Germans I have met on other cruise lines that the Europa is very formal in ambience.

 

Hello, English Voyager-:

 

Judgement on food is a matter of personal taste. In my (and my wife's) opinion food was poor in such way that it was tasteless, undercooked, etc. Not each time, but often. Exception: the VENEZIA, which we then used almost all the time.

Service by the waiters was OK. Service by the travel-staff and receptionists was lousy. Great exception: the concierge! The service attitude is a far cry from SEABOURN.

Yes, they are formal and that is fine. On that ship "formal" means ice-coldness, "do-not-touch-me" and "don't-talk-to-me". Most of the people are unhappy and frustrated and it shows.

I am sure it is not the same on every single trip but I think it is true in general.

Again - if somebody does not care and rather wants to enjoy the very beautiful ship and its itineraries - then fine. And if someone does not mind the German "pushiness" and their attitude, among others, with reserving all the sun-chairs and not using them after all - fine.

There is not much I can add to that issue.

 

Good Luck to everybody and safe voyages, whereever you go.

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi, all, very interesting to read your comments. I hope the review answers some of your questions?

 

From my perspective the extra half-a-star that I awarded the experience really spoke to the consistency of food, service and facilities (public and staterooms). I think we had one mediocre waiter the whole two week trip (and after getting stuck at his table two mornings in a row we simply opted for another section!).

 

JDRMYS, I'm glad it helped push your husband over the edge! It's definitely a different experience and from all the formality as esposed by Douglas Ward, who's a very, very formal guy himself, the line is also, like everybody else in the world, trying to attract a more youthful passenger. We're in our 40s and we weren't by any stretch the youngest there (and some of the fashions -- particularly by the younger folk, i.e. wealthy 30-somethings -- were as outlandish as they were, undoubtedly, expensive).

 

One area, for instance, that's not formal is the dinner service in the lido -- best lido ever -- and we loved going there. I'll remember -- and this speaks to you, LeeJND4, one group of about eight people were so convivial they were literally drinking and eating for hours and laughing and just having a ball.

 

I do think if you are socially inclined this cruise, and I should have included this in the review, might be more fun with a group of (English speaking) friends traveling together. It did seem as if a lot of people knew each other.

 

People were friendly -- don't get me wrong. It's just that not a lot of effort was made to chat us up (or for us to chat them up). Didn't bother us. The crew couldn't have been more outgoing and friendly...did you know that they haven't hired a waiter/waitress in three years? That's because everybody returns after their contracts. That's speaks well of Hapag Lloyd.

 

Surfklutz, I have to admit that while I thought the food was excellent -- and on our itinerary there wasn't a whole lot of dining offboard -- it did seem to get kinda' heavy (good but kind of substantial for such hot weather) toward the end but anything you wanted they'd make for you. I will agree with you about SeaDream -- it's the only other ship I've rated 5.5 stars (and I've reviewed ships from Silversea to RSSC to Crystal and beyond).

 

I think, bottom line, that what they have to do is make up their minds: do they want to go after the English speaking market or not? They seem ambivalent....

 

FYI, we're launching the Middle East virtual tomorrow (Tuesday, January 10) -- that's the Europa trip so there's plenty of additional ship info in there. And if you still have questions, please don't hesitate to let me know.

 

Best regards,

 

Carolyn

Editor, CruiseCritic

[editor@cruisecritic]

Forgot to include a link to the virtual. It's here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/virtual/virtual.cfm?ID=13.

 

CSB

[JDRMYS]

Carolyn,

 

Actually the Europa's formality is one of its main attractions for us. I'm 52 and my DH is 72 and we are not looking for a young crowd. We come from families of German and Eastern European ancestry and we like German food. At this time, our only real qualm about taking the Europa is that our German is very, very rusty!

 

In any case, the penthouse cabins that we wanted are fully booked for the 2006 cruise that we were interested in taking. Since we are already booked in 2006 for 46 days on Seabourn, Silversea, Regent (formerly Radisson) Seven Seas, and Cunard, we will try for a cruise on the Europa in 2007.

[Leejnd4]

While much of this ship and line sounds wonderful, and I'm definitely interested in a luxury cruising experience, I'm not sure it's the right choice for us. I'm in my mid-40's, and I often cruise with my mother, a widow in her 60's. While we love to travel together, one of the reasons we choose cruising as our method of travel is so that we aren't forced to spend every moment together. We adore each other, but honestly sometimes we need a little time apart! One of the things we found so appealing about our Radisson cruise is that everyone was SO friendly and outgoing, we met the greatest group of people, and we ended up doing many shore excursions with them and having dinner together almost every night. There were several times when Mom and I went off separately and did our own thing with some of our new friends. If we were on a ship where everyone pretty much keeps to themselves, or is convivial only within their own group of friends, I think we'd go nuts!

 

We've decided that for this year we're going to stick to Radisson, so we'll be on an 18-day Auckland-LA cruise on RSSC's Mariner later in the year. Terry, would you consider joining us? ;)

 

LeeAnne

[English Voyager]

Hi LeeAnne,

our major,and probably only,cruise this year is the back to back cruises on the Mariner for this April/May.

I am looking forward to the hand to hand combat to get into a speciality restaurant!

[Leejnd4]

Well Terry it won't be the same without you. I'm doing two other cruises this year as well, but they'll be completely different experiences -- in March my husband and I will be going on Windstar to Costa Rica, then in August we're taking our two teenagers on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the Caribbean (that one is more for them than for us -- I'll probably spend my time on that cruise in hand-to-hand combat with the chair hogs!).

 

LOL about the specialty restaurants. Isn't that just the most bizarre thing? I'm assuming that with 18 days on the Mariner I'll have ample time in all restaurants, which will be good because we never even got around to visiting Latittudes on Voyager last year. We were having too much fun with our regular crowd in Compass Rose.

 

Anyway, I'm a trifle disappointed that it appears this Europa ship is not for me -- I would love to experience that extra half-star of luxury! But not if it means I have to spend my cruise holding hands and gazing romantically into my mother's eyes. I'm a social animal, and I need an opportunity to socialize, y'know?

 

LeeAnne

[English Voyager]

LeeAnne,I think with your proposed cruising schedule for this year you may wish to consider joining Cruiseaholics Anonymous.

Meetings tend to be crowded!

Terry.

[Leejnd4]

I'm a charter member. I'm on step 9 -- purge your closet of every formal dress you'll never wear again. :p

[RMS Olympic]

I chose to experience a German product and sailed on the Deutchsland of Peter Deilmann cruise line. I loved it. I do not speak German, but the crew spoke English so there was no problem. Service was absolutely wonderful. The passengers seemed cold, stiff and as formal as could be. The crew explained to me that Germans on a 5star ship think behavior should match...formal formal formal. Well I went out of my way to try to communicate only to find that they would warm up and speak english or try. Mid cruise it seemed that the more I drank the more I understood their language and the more they drank the more they understood me. Seems that if you break the ice.....they follow right along.

Will I sail the EUROPA....you bet. Hopefully in 2007 I will try her, This year I am experimenting with Oceania and Crystal....gee a year without Radisson....not a good thing.

Tom

[Leejnd4]

Tom, love your description of breaking down the language barriers. Funny how well lubricants work. :)

 

While I am still intrigued by this ship, I continue to be troubled by the formality. I do know how to behave myself in formal environments, but I just think that after a few days of that, I'd go berserk. I'm open to trying to break the ice with people, but not if it requires such effort! I may be a social person, but the initial ice-breaking is not my strongest suit. I get a bit shy and uncomfortable around people who appear closed-off and disinterested in socialization.

 

If I could get my husband to go with me I might try it, but he's not much into the whole formal thing either. His idea of the perfect cruise is the Windjammer barefoot thing. He's compromising for me and going on Windstar, but only because he won't have to bring a jacket or tie.

 

But I'll spend some time on the virtual cruise and see if it's just so compelling I can't keep myself away. :)

 

LeeAnne

[surfklutz]

Tom, love your description of breaking down the language barriers. Funny how well lubricants work. :)

 

While I am still intrigued by this ship, I continue to be troubled by the formality. I do know how to behave myself in formal environments, but I just think that after a few days of that, I'd go berserk. I'm open to trying to break the ice with people, but not if it requires such effort! I may be a social person, but the initial ice-breaking is not my strongest suit. I get a bit shy and uncomfortable around people who appear closed-off and disinterested in socialization.

 

If I could get my husband to go with me I might try it, but he's not much into the whole formal thing either. His idea of the perfect cruise is the Windjammer barefoot thing. He's compromising for me and going on Windstar, but only because he won't have to bring a jacket or tie.

 

But I'll spend some time on the virtual cruise and see if it's just so compelling I can't keep myself away. :)

 

LeeAnne

 

It is obvious that I am a big fan of SeaDream Yacht Club....sounds like it might be right up your husband's alley - and yours too. It is rated just under the Europa by Berlitz. It is a luxury product - but it is casual - no jackets required. Check them out at http://www.seadreamyachtclub.com and see what you think. They were my solution to a husband who wanted strictly casual - when I wanted something nicer.

[Leejnd4]

Thanks Surfklutz. Are you sure you don't work for them? ;)

 

I actually did include them in my searches for cruises this year, both for the one I'm taking with hubby, and the one I'm taking with Mom. They didn't have any itineraries that appealed to me, for this year at least. And while they may be a good line for hubby and me, I've more or less ruled them out for the cruises with Mom -- not enough activities and/or entertainment. When we travel together, we need a little more diversion than when I travel with hubby. So far, Radisson seems to fit the bill best for our Mom-and-me cruises.

 

As for hubby, I'm not sure I could get him on one either. The primary reason he's willing to do Windstar is because of its sails! He would much rather do Windjammer, but that's going just a tad too far on the casual scale for me. So Windstar appears to be the only suitable compromise for us.

 

But I'm always searching for the next adventure, so you never know where I may end up. :)

 

LeeAnne

[editor@cruisecritic]

Leeann, I have to say having sailed both Europa and SeaDream I'd agree with Surfklutz...the latter may be more up your alley. I loved it -- so much so that next time I cruise "on vacation" it'd be the one I'd pick. I rate it right up with Europa (unlike Doug Ward) but then again I'm more into flexibility and easy going....

 

Also loved the poster who shared his strategy for warming up to folks -- definitely on a German ship that's the way to work it, LOL.

 

Carolyn

[Leejnd4]

Caroyln,

 

Thanks for the input. I'm going to see how hubby handles this Windstar cruise, which seems to have a similar attitude of friendly, casual elegance. If he's happy on that, it shouldn't be too hard to get him to give up the idea of the sails. ;) SeaDream would be the next place to look, because they have far more interesting itineraries than Windstar.

 

Wish me luck on my upcoming Windstar cruise in hooking hubby on cruising!

 

LeeAnne