Jump to content

just back from refurbished ms Europa 2


vistaman
 Share

Recommended Posts

i am just back from a 5 days cruise after drydock on MS Europa 2.

The Teens Club is now located on deck 4 after the shop - and the Italian speciality restaurant Serenissima got new chairs. Of course there are new carpets , tapestry and floors in various locations.

I am afraid i am not so a "Spa " man , so i cannot give details however some guests told me it is very well done.

One of the bars on deck 4 - previously Jazz Club - became Club 2 and the sitting area are now of such a kind that everybody can watch the stage - the colour did remain red.

On the other side Herrenzimmer became Collins : dark colours with some dominant brown - on one wall a big allegory of Albert Ballinn pictured surrounded by animals smoking cigars; on another wall of course the cases with cigars and on the other side a fireplace( behind glass ) incorporated in a wall with books about bars, drinks and luxurious life style. Also a retro stereo installation style from the late seventies and a grammaphone.

The choice of gins is extended to 45 , price ranging from 4 to 14 €

Collins : aside the classic Tom Collins there are 9 varieties around the Collins drink : examples : Suzette Collins with Cognac and Cointreau , Sir Earl Grey Gin and of course the tea and Farmers made with the German brandy Asbach. The bar also got a brand new ice machine from Japan making "ice balls" so no crispy items anymore.

Very special is the office of the cruise consulting now located on deck 9. there is waiting room with 12 showcases with memorabilia from the time cruises were created : old glasses, beer cans , cutlery , plates and copies of winecard and menu's. Also a model of the ship and a globe in blue. On one wall a big screen with items about the Europa 2 in 2 languages - that there are 23 different cutlery on board , 150 different white and 180 red wines; And the fact during a 14 days cruise there is a consumption of 1300 bottles of Champagne ( the real French:D)

Other major change : the Belvedere where the library is now incorporated done is blue and dark green. There are also new lounge chairs in front of the bar so you have a more relaxed seating and a cosy feeling. Otherwide said the coffee bar feeling is gone.

On deck 9 - just before going to Belvedere there is giant screen - during daytime the bow camera is projected , during teatime the variety of pastries :rolleyes: available in Belvedere.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really don´t get it why they put in a big library area in the Belvedere (yes, there has been a separate library). Not sure how much the demand for books is but most other cruise lines reduce the amount of books. I don´t carry any books anymore but have my Kindle.

 

steamboats

Link to comment
Share on other sites

English voyager,

 

yes the quality of the food still was excellent and also the service was good, there were quite some new people on board - maybe a few small hesitations in the yacht club - also it were the first days after drydock for everybody.

 

steamboats,

 

in that particular area of the belvedere - prior to drydock - very rarely people were sitting overthere

i also do not read books during a cruise , however many people still do

Link to comment
Share on other sites

in that particular area of the belvedere - prior to drydock - very rarely people were sitting overthere

i also do not read books during a cruise , however many people still do

 

So is it more frequented now? I only remember more people up there during the coffee hour in the afternoon. Liked it up there with or without library.

 

 

steamboats

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We were on that cruise too. It was our first cruise with Hapag-Lloyd but our 20th cruise overall, so we are not newbies.

 

I have to say we were not to impressed with the quality of the service. I would not consider our experience 5 star +. I would rate them around 4.5

 

Don't get me wrong. The cruise was decent, the food superb and the ship in perfect condition.

 

But there were just to many flaws in regards to service.

 

Availability of skilled staff still seems to be an issue. And as this was considered a short cruise (6 days or shorter) they did not offer restaurant reservations which made you line up in front of the speciality restaurants every evening in order to get a table. And you had to be there early enough.:(

 

Restaurant services in Weltmeere (main dining) and Yacht Club (for buffet breakfast) were below standard.

Service in the other restaurants was good.

 

Housekeeping was an issue too, morning service was never done before lunch time. My experience with other cruise lines is that they do it while you are away for breakfast.

 

So to bring it to the point: For us just not enough value for the money.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I find it very annoying to come back to an unmade room. I would probably have said something.

 

Housekeeping was done during breakfast on our cruise on Europa2. Since we are early risers, ours was always the first suite. There is a switch in the cabin for a light that tells them that the room can be cleaned.

Some people went to breakfast after 10 am (served in the bar). If several late risers are on the same floor, the entire cleaning schedule gets thrown off.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would say our room gets cleaned promptly. Sometimes it is ourselves that are slow. Our room attendant is new on Europa 2. She worked several years on Asuka 2 ( Japanese cruise ship similar to Crystal Symphony ? ) before coming to Europa 2.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would say our room gets cleaned promptly. Sometimes it is ourselves that are slow. Our room attendant is new on Europa 2. She worked several years on Asuka 2 ( Japanese cruise ship similar to Crystal Symphony ? ) before coming to Europa 2.

 

Is there now just the one?

 

There used to be two, one of whom would be a native German speaker.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

for sure i could not complain about the service in Weltmeere , the hesitations were in Yacht Club and sometimes waiters and waitresses from the not so busy oriental rstaurant and from bars came up to assist during dinner.

the restaurant manager in Yacht Club did follow the service quite good.

 

there are still 2 stewardesses : one is fully bilingual and the other is usually from the Philippines - the "European " stewardess who did my suite was originally from Bosnia but was fluent both in German and in English.

My suite always was done promptly - one day rather late because i left late and then is was the drill for the crew.

I noticed around my cabin a lot of people were leaving rather late - so as 5 are leaving around the same time a waiting time can be expected .

 

i am afraid on short cruises - i do travel on Hapag Lloyd since 2007 - reservations for the speciality restaurants were never possible - probably exception made for the 2 owners suites.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have just one room attendant. After 10:00 pm there is another in case you need something. Service has been very good, all staff very friendly. Once or twice a bit slow in the main restaurant. The exception is that it seems the Indonesian tender staff never has a mind about time, and the tender always leaves before scheduled time. That is irony on a German ship.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i am about to disembark. Honestly now I agree with most of Tango17's opinion, with the exception of our room being cleaned promptly, and yes, later we have had two room attendants, a new one joined as told by the first.

Food is repetitive, but I am happy I have reduced weight a bit. I probably go back to Crystal, if the itinerary fits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

this video was made prior to the embarkation just after ms Europa came out of drydock

as she is docked in Hamburg at Uberseebrücke - for a press function

the actual embarkation took place at the Altona cruise terminal - at 4pm as usual :)

in any case many thanks for posting the link.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

to Keith,

if you are intending to cruise on ms Europa 2 , I strongly disadvise to take a short cruise - 3-4 days ex Hamburg -as probably those cruises are nearly 99 % Germans and usually with a lot of children. ( despite Hapag Lloyd does put a limit on the number of children )

To discover the product : her first cruise in the Medit does give you a good idea - sold out for 2018

also the coming home : from Spain to Hamburg

on a first cruise on her , i should avoid too many sea days - the approach is very different as Crystal - no trivia , no casino , not even bingo ( what is done very occasionnaly on her older sister ms Europa )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...