Join the Most Prestigious Classical Musical Festival at Sea
NEW YORK-(Business Wire)-January 21, 2009 - The highest ranked cruise ship in the world, according to the 2009 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' MS EUROPA is offering guests a world-class 10-day music festival departing Kiel, Germany on August 12, cruising up the north into the Scandinavian coast, and ending in Kiel on August 22, 2009. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' "Ocean Sun Festival" – the only classical music festival on the High Seas - will feature internationally-acclaimed classical music stars performing on board, as well as exclusive concerts at impressive sites ashore. Now in its third year, the "Ocean Sun Festival" has been compared to the prestigious Festival del Sole in Napa Valley, California and the Tuscan Sun Festival in Italy. Cruise only rates start at $5,220 per person for an outside cabin.
Guests also have the option of booking a 13-day package, starting at $8,499 per person for an outside cabin which includes round-trip airfare from New York to Hamburg (other U.S. gateways available upon request), hotel in Hamburg, city tour of Hamburg and roundtrip transfers to/from the ship in Kiel. Guests will be onboard the EUROPA for 10-days.
The landscape of the Far North will spread out in front of guests, as the majestic Norwegian fjords extend deep into the picturesque nature. Breathtakingly beautiful, lonely mountains glide past by, setting the stunning scene for this very special event. While the concerts are the highlights of this itinerary, guests will also enjoy excursions and stops in the following ports along the musical route: Kiel/Germany Copenhagen/Denmark, Bergen/Norway, Vik/Norway, Flam/Norway, Molde/Norway, Geiranger/Norway, Hellesylt/Norway, Oslo/Norway, and Goteborg/Sweden.
The performers for this cruise include: The celebrated cellist Mischa Maisky; pianist Lily Maisky and violinist Sascha Maisky, daughter and son of Mischa Maisky; renowned Austrian mezzo-soprano Angelika Kirchschlager; Polish lyric tenor Piotr Beczala; accordionist Owen Murray; and the famous French pianist Hélène Grimaud.
In addition to these performances, the 2009 cruise will feature concerts ashore for guests in Bergen/Norway with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and a grand finale concert ashore in Oslo. The performers from the MS EUROPA, will also join these special events. For an added dimension to the musical experience, international music critics will offer lectures along the way.
EUROPA is the first "all-suites" cruise ship, with staterooms that are never less than 290 square feet, 80% of them having their own veranda, assuring privacy and relaxation. The EUROPA also offers guest the largest space per passenger in the industry, as well as the highest staff passenger ratio, with 280 staff members for 400 guests. The EUROPA experience includes a masterful blend of world-class cuisine with guest chefs, two specialty restaurants of fine Italian and Euro-Asian dishes, an open grill café, special light and healthy menu options, and themed dinners. The ship also has a 65 ft. saltwater pool that can be partially covered by the hydraulic Magrodome – so swimming inside and outside is possible, a newly renovated world-class OCEAN SPA, a fitness loft with ocean views, and a 38-course golf simulator with a PGA professional golf coach onboard.
The EUROPA offering bilingual cruises (German/English) ensures English-speaking passengers feel comfortable from the moment they step onboard. Travel Documents and information is provided to guests in English prior to their trip. Documentation in English onboard includes: daily programs, menus, announcements, lectures/video presentations, safety drill instructions. Selected in-room movies are offered in English as well. Shore excursions are offered in English on a group or individual basis whenever possible in the port of call. Lastly, the entire crew is fluent in English.
For cruise only bookings call Hapag-Lloyd Cruises at 877-445-7447.
For package bookings, call Far Horizons at 877-482-8747, farhorizons@cwtnj.com.
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