vistaman Posted August 28, 2017 #1 Share Posted August 28, 2017 During a fancy event on board the ms Europa in Hamburg , it was already announced the ship will receive once again the five star plus rating in the Berlitz guide for 2018. The author Douglas Ward was on board . Every year this event Europa's Beste is organised however it was the first time in Hamburg - nest year in my hometown Antwerpen on 24 th June 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Voyager Posted August 28, 2017 #2 Share Posted August 28, 2017 vistaman, The presentation by Douglas Ward is featured in a video posted this morning by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The food looks absolutely glorious. Were you 'captured' on film? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vistaman Posted August 28, 2017 Author #3 Share Posted August 28, 2017 no - i am always avoiding the camera's :D yes the food was great - as usual you like some items more as others especially the Italian wine Sassicaia 2000 was great - very kind people willing to explain a lot on the other side Bollinger was not so generous offering rather small tasting glasses my opinion is if participating in such an event : be generous ! the same item can be said on another champagne house in 2015 and in 2016 only offering the basic product Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted August 28, 2017 #4 Share Posted August 28, 2017 Interesting information. While I do not agree with his ratings, I realize that it is subjective which may be even more so since his perspective is from someone that does not live in the U.S. I'm sure that U.S. based reviewers have their own perspectives which is likely not the same as reviewers in other countries. Does the 5 star rating have any particular criteria that is not subjective? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Voyager Posted August 28, 2017 #5 Share Posted August 28, 2017 Interesting information. While I do not agree with his ratings, I realize that it is subjective which may be even more so since his perspective is from someone that does not live in the U.S. I'm sure that U.S. based reviewers have their own perspectives which is likely not the same as reviewers in other countries. Does the 5 star rating have any particular criteria that is not subjective? Given that Douglas Ward has lived, and worked, in the USA why do you assume that he would not be au fait with a US perspective. Also, since his assessments are based on a set of 400 criteria, why would the reviews not be objective? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted August 29, 2017 #6 Share Posted August 29, 2017 My DH had the pleasure being invited to this event. More photos can be seen here. We´ve been on the cruise last year including this event in Palma de Mallorca. Hope I can join for Antwerpen. steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Voyager Posted August 29, 2017 #7 Share Posted August 29, 2017 steamboats, Thank you for posting the link to the photos, and the report, on the event. Quite hunger inducing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vistaman Posted August 29, 2017 Author #8 Share Posted August 29, 2017 steamboats, thanks you for the pictures but i do not like the number 23 ... i hope you had a great time as well i 'll be back on ms Europa during "cruisedays" in Hamburg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted August 29, 2017 #9 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Given that Douglas Ward has lived, and worked, in the USA why do you assume that he would not be au fait with a US perspective. Also, since his assessments are based on a set of 400 criteria, why would the reviews not be objective? While his reviews are based on 400 criteria, all of those criteria are subjective in nature. All cruise ship reviews, vacation reviews, etc. are subjective. I often disagree with his reviews especially concerning the luxury lines that I have been on (4 different ones) as we each have things that are more important to us. Food is a prime example, what one person enjoys another may dislike. The only three things that he has in his reviews and ratings that are objective are cabin size, ship size, and passenger space ratios all of whihc are mathematical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted August 29, 2017 #10 Share Posted August 29, 2017 zqvol: Agree completely. so many things are subjective. But, when it comes to suite size, number of passengers, number of dining venues, space to passenger ratio, etc., that would be something that I would pay attention to. English Voyager: My DH has lived in the U.S. for many, many years and still has a British perspective on things. While he is a dual-citizen, it does not change the fact that he simply views things based on his experiences, upbringing and schooling that took place outside of the U.S. So, Douglas Ward can live anywhere in the world and it would open his eyes to other cultures but is unlikely to change his core views/values. Douglas Ward has a great business and I'm sure that it is lucrative. He apparently has a lot of followers. Good for him. It is fairly easy to know if you agree with his critiques or not by simply reading what he has to say about a cruise line that you currently sail on. If you agree with him about his review of something you are familiar with, it is likely that you can trust his views of other cruise lines. To use CC for an example (not trying to bash them but am being honest from my perspective)........ since CC lumps luxury cruise lines, premium plus cruise lines, river cruises, etc. together and attempts to compare them, I don't put much credence in their reviews. This doesn't mean that I don't look at factual information and find it of interest, however, I would not book a cruise based on comments from CC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Voyager Posted August 29, 2017 #11 Share Posted August 29, 2017 The only three things that he has in his reviews and ratings that are objective are cabin size, ship size, and passenger space ratios all of whihc are mathematical. How about: Passenger/Crew Ratio Total Cabins Cabins for one person (Number) Cabins with private balcony (Number) Cabins (wheelchair accessible) (Number) Casino (Y/N) Swimming Pools (Number) Self Service Laundrette (Y/N) Library (Y/N) Onboard currency, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1439 Posted August 29, 2017 #12 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Everything about life is subjective. I don't believe this is the point. I don't want to get into 6 stars or ultra luxury cruises because they are subjective which I don't believe. This is the reason for some type of criteria for these cruise lines but another time for this major discussion. Would you book a cruise if most of the reviews where negative? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Voyager Posted August 29, 2017 #13 Share Posted August 29, 2017 It would depend on it's price. I have in the past booked heavily discounted cruises on the basis that if the negative reviews are correct I have not spent a great deal of money, and have ended up having very enjoyable holidays. I think some people expect a champagne lifestyle for beer money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted August 29, 2017 #14 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I am one of those who recommends the book updated annually by Douglas Ward and published by Berlitz. Actually it helped us book one of our first cruises (not luxury) when a TA was pushing us in one direction and on her desk was that book and I said what about this other line as the writeup was good. We ended up going with that line that he wrote about favorably and that was one of my best decisions. To me it is like an encyclopedia. It has a lot of factual information on so many ships and I find that helpful and I do find a lot of what he says be spot on. Is it perfect? No. Is it helpful? Yes IMHO. I would like to meet him someday but don't think that is in the cards. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridiana Posted August 29, 2017 #15 Share Posted August 29, 2017 steamboats, I would have loved to be there! I know some of the chefs from television, but I never had a chance to eat in their restaurants. You own a red jacket, don't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted August 30, 2017 #16 Share Posted August 30, 2017 but i do not like the number 23 ...i hope you had a great time as well You own a red jacket, don't you? :D:D:D I don´t but actually DH does (and unfortunately I was not able to join him last week for this event - we returned last Thursday from Seattle). My jackets are mainly pink, orange or black :D:D The phone cover matches the jacket ;), vistaman! Enjoy the Hamburg cruise days! Unfortunately I´m not able to go to Hamburg for that event. steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridiana Posted August 30, 2017 #17 Share Posted August 30, 2017 Steamboats, Of course, the picture shows a man! I should not have been distracted by the food and the phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacqueline Posted September 2, 2017 #18 Share Posted September 2, 2017 Thank you for the information ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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