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Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
ABOVE: The MV Europa is the flagship of Hapag-Lloyd's fleet. INSET BELOW: MV Hanseatic in Bordeaux; and a double cabin on the Hanseatic's Amundsen Deck.
In 2008, Hapag-Lloyd will offer bilingual cruises in various parts of Europe along with an extensive roster of German-only cruises. Cruise line's Web site:Top and bottom inset photo © Hapag-Lloyd. Used by permission.
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Hapag-Lloyd
is a German shipping company that goes back to 1856, when Norddeutsche Lloyd
inaugurated passenger and cargo service between Bremerhaven and New York. In
1970, NDL merged with Hamburg America Line (HAPAG), and today the names of two
Hapag-Lloyd passenger ships--the Europa and Bremen--honor the
great NDL liners that plied the North Atlantic route in the 1930s.
Hapag-Lloyd's
current MV Europa was built in 1999. The ship, which accommodates 408
passengers, is the only cruise vessel with a rating of 5+ stars in Douglas
Ward's Berlitz Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships guide. Like the other ships
in Hapag-Lloyd's fleet, it focuses on the luxury market. Most passengers are
German, but in recent years the company has put increased emphasis on cruises
that serve both its traditional audience and English-speaking travelers.