Open: Ward commended the spaciousness of Europa 2
Space, light and attention to detail are the reasons why Douglas Ward likes Europa 2, he told a press conference on board Hapag-Lloyd’s ultra-luxury new ship.
‘The ship has, like Europa, double-height public rooms and hallways,’ said the author of the Berlitz Guide to Cruising. ‘When I go on big ships and see how low the ceilings are in some areas, I feel slightly claustrophobic.
‘I see the sense of space and light and connection with the sea everywhere I go on this ship.’
Ward pointed out that Europa 2 has no casino or laundrettes, which he found ‘refreshing’.
‘I think passengers come away to relax on a ship and don’t need to be bothered to do the laundry,’ he said.
There were differences even with the more traditional Europa, said Ward, citing the ‘incredible choice of food’ on the new ship as one example.
The things that distinguished Hapag-Lloyd from other cruise lines were the unobtrusive service and attention to detail, he added, giving one example of a waiter asking how many ice cubes his wife would like in her drink. Passengers who had been on 105 cruises had written to Ward saying about Hapag-Lloyd: ‘It’s not what I expected – it’s much better.’
He commended the all-balcony Europa 2 for having bath tubs in almost every cabin and a walkaround deck, adding: ‘Quality costs money and so does space. The spaciousness of this ship is something people will appreciate and pay for.’
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See also:
Europa 2 – the new standard in cruising
First pictures on board Europa 2
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