Europa 2

By Gary Walther Every morning there they are, standing straight, almost at attention, like pillars at the end of the cabin corridor on Deck 10 (the Penthouse Deck). And there again at 3 and at 9. Sarah Lehnhoff and Kolja Quintanar, the two butlers responsible for the 14-butler-serviced cabins on

By Gary Walther Is it the journey or the destination? The getting there or the being there that counts? This question has long been a litmus test of one’s travel psyche, and for years the judgment has been that the person who journeys is the real traveler. THD once counted

By Gary Walther DAY ONE: The Hotel Detective is sailing on a sea of superlatives, The Europa 2, a 500-passenger ship belonging to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. According to the 2016 Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships, considered the Bible of cruise guides. Europa 2 is the best ship in the world, “the

By Gary Walther On the Europa 2 this past September, bound from Thessaloniki to Istanbul, The Hotel Detective found himself in a sea of superlatives. The Europa 2 offers the highest passenger-space ratio of any cruise ship, a key index of luxury at sea. It has the highest cabin ceilings