The Cruise Report With Cruise Specialists Cruise Reporter Ralph Grizzle

In the atrium of Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa is a star-studded wall lined with plaques such as this one, recognizing the much-celebrated vessel as the world’s highest-rated cruise ship.

The Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships thrusts upon Europa Five Stars — Plus. Lest anyone doubt that Europa claims high stakes in the guide books, other plaques nearby recognize the ship as being tops in the game, and one guide even goes so far as to run Six Plus Stars up the flagpole.  Read more... (619 words, 1 image, estimated 2:29 mins reading time)

Celebrity Cruise’s new ship, Celebrity Equinox, has completed its first and probably most difficult journey. With thousands of spectators lining the route, the 122,000-ton ship left the yard of shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, last Saturday and made the 26-mile trip down the River EMS.  Read more... (430 words, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

On tap for European river cruises: more choices of pre- and post-cruise tours, more special interest programs and more bicycles. Yes, more bicycles.  Read more... (174 words, 2 images, estimated 42 secs reading time)

You’ve heard stories of the high cost of travel in Europe, thanks to the decline of the dollar against the Euro. The stories certainly should concern anyone setting out to see Europe on their own. Yes, you may pay $8 for a cappuccino in Europe, and the cost of a hotel room can be stratospheric. But a cruise isolates travelers from Europe’s rising prices. Your hotel room, paid for in U.S. dollars, floats along with you from port to port. Your meals are paid for. And you can always get a cappuccino onboard, even on cruise lines that charge for specialty coffees, for just a few bucks.  Read more... (510 words, 2 images, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)