Hapag-LLoyd Europa 2.

[English Voyager]

retiredand happy,

 

It is good to read that you thoroughly enjoyed your time on the Europa 2.

 

The only down side of having been on the Europa 2 is that it makes one very reluctant to cruise on any other ship.

 

There is a very good day by day report of the cruise from Istanbul to Kusadasi on

 

http://www.avidcruiser.com/livevoyagereports/luxury/Europa-2-greece-turkey/

[hypercafe]

I do have a question if I may! How do the speciality rest reservations work, are they hard to get? We usually eat early. Thanks

 

Tom

 

Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app

[English Voyager]

I do have a question if I may! How do the speciality rest reservations work, are they hard to get? We usually eat early. Thanks

 

Tom

 

Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app

 

With the exception of Sakura, the speciality restaurants are open for lunch, usually with a restricted menu, without a reservation, and I had no trouble finding a table.

 

I found this provided an excellent opportunity to sample the cuisine, and make a reservation for an evening.

 

My favourite was the Tarragon restaurant.

[hypercafe]

The Europa 2 came into NY today. We will go on board her on Saturday. So far so good, the pre cruise stuff is very high quality. Boarding starts at 4pm so the ship is ready in all respects.

 

Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app

[seersucker47]

Are you sailing on Europa 2 tomorrow?

[English Voyager]

hypercafe,

 

I hope you had a very enjoyable cruise, and I look forward to reading your thoughts on both the ship and the cruise.

[hypercafe]

Yes, I sailed on the 6th. Just got home today. Whole thing was great, ship is beyond awesome and space is unmatched on any ship I have been on. I will make a review soon.

 

Sent from my SM-T320 using Forums mobile app

[hypercafe]

I just posted a review of my impressions from my trip.

[retiredand happy]

Yes, I sailed on the 6th. Just got home today. Whole thing was great, ship is beyond awesome and space is unmatched on any ship I have been on. I will make a review soon.

 

Sent from my SM-T320 using Forums mobile app

 

Hypercafe. I'm gald you enjoyed your trip on the Europa2. I was so happy with the service that I have booked another cruise in June. I was anxious to read your review, but I can't find it. Probably I am not looking in the right place. Maybe you can point me to it. Glad you are back with good memories. I know that many of the crew members who were on the ship while I was sailing for the 3 weeks this summer we very anxious to visit New York while the ship was in port.

[hypercafe]

It is in the member review section under europa2. I do not think it has been released yet by CC. On the way down we sailed through the norteaster that hit the east coast. 60mph wind and 25 foot seas for 40 hours. Ship and my wife handled it well. Yes, it is a great ship and experience. I wish a north american company would build a similar one. At one point Sunday night a wave broke on our veranda on deck 6. My wife wanted to put on our life jackets and tie ourselves together like in the titanic movie. They had a great beach party and Christmas market during the trip. I have never seen such customer service on land or sea.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app

Edited December 23, 2014 by hypercafe

[English Voyager]

It is said that patience is a virtue, and it is certainly being tested waiting for the publication of your review.

 

I hope it will not be too long now.

 

The only problem with any review of the Europa 2 is that the written word can only give an impression of the amazing experience one has in cruising on this ship.

 

One has the choice of other luxury cruise lines, but for me there is something indefinable about a voyage on the Europa 2 that places it above those other lines.

 

I have booked another cruise on the Europa 2 for next September.

[hypercafe]

If you look on Facebook HL has posted pictures from the Christmas market from my trip.

 

 

Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app

[English Voyager]

I hope the review is published before Christmas.

[English Voyager]

hypercafe,

 

Thank you for your Review which has now been published.

 

I agree that on sea days the programme of events during the day is restricted.

This did not affect me unduly on my cruise as it was very port intensive.

 

However, on my cruise,I did find the Port Lectures in English by Gina Egenolf to be excellent.

 

You mention the 10.00pm show being held in the (Belvedere) Lounge.

Those in the Lounge tend to be given by either guest artists brought on board at individual Ports of Call, or individual artists travelling on the ship.

 

Were there no Shows by the resident Company held in the theatre?

 

These are very reminiscent of the Cirque Du Soleil.

[hypercafe]

The shows I spoke of were in the theater, two by the German group. A new show was introduced. The others were by a Broadway group brought onboard in NY just for the trip. All very good. This was not a port intensive trip, 5 sea days and port stops in mostly out of the way beach places. Lots of tendering and Zodiac use. We spent lots of time in that amazing pool, some by ourselves but never a crowd. Like a private yacht. For me the ship would be better on a port intensive trip.

 

 

Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app

Edited December 26, 2014 by hypercafe

[mpfund]

Can you tell me how many (if any) English speakers were on your cruise? We are booked on E2 in October, 2015.

 

We've sailed on H-L's Hanseatic twice, and found that although most Germans speak at least some English, they were not overly friendly. Sadly, we do not speak German. We were on one of their supposedly bi-lingual cruises, and we were it! Staff seemed to stay up at night translating menus for us and Captain made announcements in both languages until we told him not to bother!

 

Appreciate any info.

[hypercafe]

The lectures were given in German and English. They had two speakers, one giving talks about ports ect, the other was some sort of talk show host that brought her show on the ship. She had no interest to me, the main shows had lots of English in them and two were 100% English. I guess each trip is different. This ship is really german, english. Everything is there in both along with the daily Captains talk.

 

Sent from my SM-T320 using Forums mobile app

[mpfund]

Actually, I meant other passengers. Did you find it easy to socialize? Or perhaps that was not of interest to you. Were you able to strike up conversations in the bar? Were you ever seated at a group table by request?

 

Thanks!

[English Voyager]

It is difficult to generalise about the ease, or otherwise, of socialising with other passengers be they German or English/American.

 

For example, on my cruise last June there were in excess of a dozen English who, after the compulsory Life Boat Drill, never appeared for anything, even the English language Port Lectures.

As a result, any proposed English language guided tour was cancelled.

 

In terms of dining, of an evening, all restaurants, with the exception of the self service Yacht Club ( 6.30pm to 9pm)are open between 7pm and 9.30pm.

 

In the main restaurant, the Weltmeere, there are no allocated tables, and, given the wealth of alternate dining venues, may or may not be sparsely occupied of an evening.

 

I found that the German passengers I met on my cruise were extremely friendly, and it was particularly easy to get chatting with them in the self service Yacht Club.

 

I cannot comment on the ease of socialising in the bars as my cruise took place during the World Cup, and with matches being broadcast in the Theatre, and the Jazz Club, the bars tended to be empty.

 

The Europa 2 is especially geared towards accommodating English speaking people even down to producing daily a full edition of an English language newspaper, and if possible of one's choice.

[hypercafe]

Actually, I meant other passengers. Did you find it easy to socialize? Or perhaps that was not of interest to you. Were you able to strike up conversations in the bar? Were you ever seated at a group table by request?

 

Thanks!

 

Sorry, yes it was pretty easy to socialize. As you passed in the hall or rode the elevator most people said hi. When we ate we always talked to people on both sides and in bars too. Only problem the pass were 95% German and some could not speak English and we speak no German. I did not see any indication of shared tables at dinner nor did I ask. Overall the ship seemed as friendly as any I have been on.

[retiredand happy]

If you look on Facebook HL has posted pictures from the Christmas market from my trip.

 

 

Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app

 

Hypercafe, I read your review with interest and it brought back good memories of my 21 days on the Europa2 in September. I noticed that there were questions about the number of English speakers on your cruise, so I thought I would chime in since I had 2 completely different experiences on my 2 cruises in September. On the 14 day Black Sea cruise, there were only 6 English guests on board (2 Australia, 2 England and 2 US). There were only about 225 total guests on the ship. Even with only 6 people, the employees made us feel like we were the only ones on the ship. This trip had shore stops almost every day. In many cases only 4 of the English speakers went on the English speaking tours. In every case we had our own personal English speaking guide and an employee from the Europa2 travel department on the tour. It was very personal and very much like having hired our own private guide. In many cases, we would be on the same bus with the German guests going to and from the site, but once we got to our location, we split off into our own small group.

On the 2nd cruise which was 7 days in the Aegean Sea, the ship had the largest number of English speaking passengers that they had ever hosted (135 out of about 450 total passengers). This changed the dynamics of the trip. We went from being catered to, to being 2 out of 135. The service was still excellent, but it was a shock to get on a bus where everyone was speaking English after experiencing the prior 14 days. I guess being 2 out of 135 is still better than being 2 out of 3000 (as you can see, I am addicted to small ships). This brings up the topic of traveling with a group of Germans. They are so organized. They show up on time, they do as they are requested and they are polite and respectful. Everything seemed to run effortlessly during the first 2 weeks. On the second trip, I missed being surrounded by all Germans This may make sense to some of the readers :).

On both trips I was able to socialize as much as I desired. When there were only 6 of us, we tended to stick together during many events and even the meals. When there were 135 of us, we picked the people that we wanted to socialize with. We were never placed at a table in the dining room with non-English speaking passengers. Many of the German passengers spoke English and were very polite. It was just hard to tell who spoke English and who didn't. There were several situations when someone would surprise me by starting a conversation in very good English.

I like both of my trips on the Europa2 so much that I am going back for a June Cruise and traveling with other family members.

One last comment about the ship. On one occasion one of the passengers asked the Captain how the ship received the 5 1/2 star rating. The Captain said it is easier to show you during the cruise than it is to try to explain it to you. At the end of my 21 days, I understood how they received the 5 1/2 stars and I hated to get of that beautiful ship.

If a traveler likes luxury and is looking for something a little different, I would recommend the Europa2.

My last comment will not apply to very many people, but the Europa2 offers kidney dialysis for patients who have kidney failure. The person I was traveling with has kidney failure and this ship offers luxury travel to a person who otherwise may not be able to travel. On the first cruise, there were 4 dialysis patients, 2 nephrologists and a kidney tech. The medical service was more than first class.

[hypercafe]

I must say I agree about the German pass. Things run very well. There were no announcements at all, even when the ship cleared or tenders started ect. I asked and was told the time and place was in the daily so just go. Very different than the mass hysteria you see on some lines.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app

[English Voyager]

retiredand happy,

 

With regard to your Black Sea cruise, did the Europa 2 actually call at the Ukrainian Ports of Call?

 

If so, were there any problems with shore excursions?

 

I have booked this cruise for September 2015, and the itinerary still lists these Ports.

[wripro]

If I were you I'd make a backup plan.

[retiredand happy]

retiredand happy,

 

With regard to your Black Sea cruise, did the Europa 2 actually call at the Ukrainian Ports of Call?

 

If so, were there any problems with shore excursions?

 

I have booked this cruise for September 2015, and the itinerary still lists these Ports.

 

English Voyager,

They cancelled Sevastopol and Yalta about 6-8 weeks prior to sailing. We still went to Odessa. I know that many people cancelled the trip because they really wanted to visit Sevastopol and Yalta. Although I would like to have seen these cities, it was not a deal breaker for me. They substituted Constanta and Sinop as alternate stops. Neither city is a hot spot for visitors, but it beat cruising the ocean for 2 additional days like some of the other cruise lines did. The fact that there were only 225 passengers on the ship, made the journey seem like we were on a private luxury yacht. It made up in a small way for not visiting the 2 scheduled ports.

We were in Odessa for 1 1/2 days. The ship only offered a 1/2 day tour in English so I planned ahead of time to hire a driver and guide for an entire day. After doing some searching I found Odessa Walks, run by Olga. (www.odessawalks.com). Our tour guide was Julia. They were such a pleasure to work with and very attentive and professional. The city was beautiful and the people were super friendly. We saw no hint of the troubles that we have all read about. The cost of the tour was incredibly cheap for the service that we got. Originally I booked the tour for myself and the person traveling with me. I met 2 British ladies on the ship and they joined us for the tour. It was a good way to spend 9 hours in Odessa. The following 1/2 day, I ventured out on my own and looked around the city near the port.

I can't say that I disagree with Wripro. You need to decide whether visiting Sevastopol and Yalta are a deal breaker for you. A lot can happen in 9 months in that region (good and bad). If I had to look into my crystal ball, I would guess that your cruise may look more like mine did than the one that they are showing in their brochure.

As a side note, when we were in Odessa, Julia told us that we were only the 4th ship to visit the city that year. Our ship drew quite a crowd in the port; partly because of her beauty and partly because the locals were excited to see a cruise ship in port. The Europa2 held a party for about 50 of the top officials in Odessa. It was fun to watch them touring the ship with their mouths open in amazement. When we were in the city with Julia, a group of about 30 junior high school age students ran up to us and presented us with large cut out smiley faces that they had made. They asked it we would pose with them for pictures. They crowded around us while their teacher took several pictures. All in all, Odessa was one of my favorite stops.

I hope your trip pans out for you because traveling on the Europa2 is a great experience.