Luxury for lottery winners

From the print edition of the Daily Mirror, 11 May, 2013
Brand new six-star cruise ship Europa 2 doesn’t have staterooms or cabins. Every room is a suite and each has a sea view and a spacious balcony.
The simplest have a bathroom with a window opening into the sleeping area; at the top of the range the bathrooms have floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides and come with a day bed for lazy lounging.
It must feel like toweling down in a very posh spa.
Pretty much the atmosphere achieved throughout the ship, which came to Britain briefly this week to take top travel agents on a 24-hour shakedown cruise along the south coast, before sailing to Hamburg where she was christened yesterday by model Dana Schweiger.
The 500-passenger vessel is operated by Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd and will attract wealthy German holidaymakers prepared to pay top Euro for relaxed luxury, lots of space inside and outside the ship, and a choice of eight restaurants.
For the first time, the company is making a determined effort to attract English-speaking guests from the UK, America and Australia, but does not expect to have more than 15-20 per cent on board at any time – no more than 100 a week.
Unusually for a ship in the ultra-luxury market, drinks are not included in the fare. Bar menus and wine lists on this week’s preview cruise were specially printed without prices.
A wise move, perhaps, given that the lowest fare for a seven-night cruise from Barcelona next month will be more than £3,775, while the cost of a grand suite is nearer £8,000. Per person.
I’ll be buying a ticket for the EuroMillions Lottery next week.