Abu Dhabi, Apr 28th, 2008 (WAM)--Emirates Palace hotel lived up to its reputed world class luxury hospitably standard when it hosted last week a welcome gala organised by Ms EUROPA, the flagship of the German Hapag-Lloyd Cruise.
Ms Europa, is the world's eighth time winner of the coveted 5 star plus ranking (Berllitz). She called on the UAE ports as part of a regional tour. Ms EUROPA welcomes its passengers with a welcome gala in the grand auditorium. But this time, the cruise starting from Dubai welcomed its guests the other day in an extraordinary way: Hapag-Lloyd Cruise celebrated the welcome gala in the impressive Kempinski-managed Emirates Palace with the Ms EUROPA within eyespot. Organised on April 21, the gala took place on the stately terrace of the Palace. EUROPA's Captain Akkermann introduced his crew and the itinerary and the Entertainment Manager presented the artists who are on board to entertain the passengers. The current cruise ''Arabia - Of Incense and Black Gold'' sailed off from Dubai on 19 April 2008 and will fold down sail on 5 May 2008 in Limassol, Cyprus. The 16-day cruise is like leafing through a book of fairy tales from 1,001 Nights. An experience between yesterday and tomorrow - crowned by a passage through the Suez Canal. In the UAE, passengers had had a sightseeing tour of Dubai - the Boomtown in the Desert and an exciting trip in off-roads through the sand dunes. In the capital Abu Dhabi, it was a welcome to a modern fairy tale straight from 1,001 Nights. Thanks to black gold, a futuristic skyline reaches to the sky. Another edifice of superlatives: the Sheikh Zayed Mosque honouring the late leader of the state - certainly a very special sight during the city tour. The cruise will then pass through Muscat in Oman, Aden in Yemen, Sharm el Sheikh, Safaga and Suez in Egypt from where will it set sail to Limassol in Cyprus. The next time the Ms EUROPA will be in the region is from 10/21 to 11/7 cruising from Kusadasi (Turkey) to Dubai with a stop in Abu Dhabi on 11/5. The next cruise starts 11/7 in Dubai again and runs via Khasab, Muscat and Salalah to Mauritius. It's the start of the World Cruise 2008/2009 - ending in Dubai on 4/22 in 2009. One of four special character ships, the Ms EUROPA sets international standards: for the eighth time in succession, it was the only cruise ship in the world to be awarded the coveted ranking of 5 stars plus by the Berlitz Cruise Guide 2008. It promises unique cruises for travellers with high expectations and offers the perfect combination of individual service and exclusive programmes, excellent cuisine and elegant furnishings. The accommodation for the maximum of 408 guests on the EUROPA is comprised solely of suites, each with separate living and sleeping areas. Every one of them has a walk-in wardrobe, and almost all of them have a private veranda. One small detail: every passenger on board is given his/her own e-mail address. All of the guests are served at a single seating and order 'la carte in the Europa Restaurant' with the large panorama windows. The more intimate speciality restaurants, "Oriental" and "Venezia", serve the very best of Euro-Asian or Italian cuisine. International show stars appear on the stage of the Europa Lounge, our concert hall and ballroom. Various bars and lounges, the library with Internet access and an auditorium for talks and seminars guarantee relaxation in sophisticated surroundings. There are also golf simulator, the hair stylist and beauty salon, the fitness room, sauna, massages, the wellness area and swimming pool with Magrodom, as well as the exclusive boutique and Wempe, the jeweller's on the Promenade.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2008.
