Photo Courtesy of Hapag Lloyd

If you’ve been hoping to become acquainted with the ship that rates the highest honors and has been named #1 in the world for six years running by the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships, or you thought you’d never be able to find a new way to experience the Caribbean, now is your chance. EUROPA will sail from Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale for 8 days - beginning December 14, 2006 to December 22, 2006, on a fully bilingual trip (German/ English).

Frequently reviewed by travellers and critics alike as the "ultimate," the ship will be celebrating still another accolade at the beginning of this trip: the Six Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. EUROPA is the first ship ever to have received this award.

Itinerary for the December 14, 2006 trip includes Nassau/Bahamas, Cockburn Town/ Bahamas, Ocho Rios/Jamaica, Georgetown/Grand Cayman, and Key West/FL, and, of course, some delicious days at sea.

An extensive range of music for a variety of audiences is presented on this sailing; including swing music played by a Big Band, classical music performed by tenor Mr. Bernhard Gaertner with Hoera Crishan on the violin and panpipes, and soul and pop tunes sung by Irvin Doomes. A special guest performer from the label "Wave Music," specializing in soul, jazz and R&B, also entertains onboard.

"It is time for EUROPA, the best kept secret of the luxury cruise market, to become readily accessible for discerning American luxury travelers," says Sebastian Ahrens, Managing Director, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. "Since EUROPA has not been visiting U.S. ports every year, this is an especially opportune moment to experience the particular brand of hospitality and luxury that only EUROPA offers. The same discerning Americans who are accustomed to the level of excellence that they experience at the great European resorts are looking for a similar ultra-high-level cruise experience. EUROPA, uniquely, delivers it in the cruise format."