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Europa to feature classical music voyage

3 min read

One of the world’s best cruise ships will be hosting exclusive onboard and ashore classical music events during a fall Mediterranean voyage.

Europa, the only cruise ship in the world to be awarded the coveted five-plus star ranking by Berlitz Cruise Guide for eight consecutive years, will host the Ocean Sun Festival, a two-week international event featuring some of the world’s finest classical music talent.

The sailing departs Hamburg on Sept. 14, arriving in Barcelona, Sept. 28.

Onboard, the festival will feature Grammy 2008 laureate Oleg Maisenberg, the leading Mozart tenor Michael Schade and the soprano Patricia Petibon, a rising star who will present her new album with arias by Mozart, Haydn and Gluck.

The festival includes four shore events at exclusive venues in Hamburg, Lisbon, Cadiz and Palma de Mallorca.

In Hamburg, the soloists of the Munich Philharmonic (quartet) will be accompanied by the celebrated cellist, Mischa Maisky. Lisbon’s Casino Estoril will give guests an exclusive presentation of their 50th anniversary show, creating the perfect ambience for a special gourmet dinner. An 18th century castle in Cadiz, the Castillo San Marco, is the location for a concert starring Michael Schade and Patricia Petibon while the festival’s grand finale, featuring all the principal artists, will be at the Teatre Principal in Palma de Mallorca.

The two-week voyage features some of west Europe’s most spectacular coastlines, through the Channel Islands, along the western coasts of France and Portugal and into southern Spain.

The itinerary includes stops at Guernsey’s St Peter Port, St. Malo and Bordeaux in France, Galicia in north-west Spain famous for the medieval pilgrimage ‘The Way of St James’, then Lisbon and east to Cadiz. On the final leg of the voyage, Europa will visit the Balearic Islands en route to Barcelona.

The 408-guest, Hapag-Lloyd-owned vessel features elegant suites, each with separate living and sleeping areas. They include a walk-in wardrobe and almost all have a private veranda – offering guests the best seats in the house as some of Europe’s finest backdrops slip into view.

The ship also features a masterful blend of world-class chefs, a rich and varied menu of haute cuisine, two specialty restaurants featuring Italian and Asian dishes; 24-hour room service, a golf simulator, hair and beauty salon, spa, sauna, wellness area and 65-foot saltwater, all-weather, swimming pool.

On the Web – www.hl-cruises.com

Cruise travel columnist Michael Coleman welcomes your feedback at cruiseguide@hotmail.com