New Euro-Ship Offers a Cosmopolitan Experience

Here’s a good trivia question for cruise ship buffs: What new ship uses the euro as its official currency, prints its breakfast menu in six languages and is registered in the port of Matautu? (Award a bonus point if you know the location of Matautu.)

Give up? It’s the Mistral from New York-based First European Cruises, whose European parent company is Festival Cruises.

The handsome 47,276-ton vessel is the first new ship for the rapidly growing European-owned company, which also operates the Azur, the Bolero and the Flamenco.

The company is so pleased with its new vessel, one of the few ships from any company that has arrived on time this year, that it has ordered two more, slightly larger versions from the same French shipyard, Chantiers d’Atlantique in St.-Nazaire, to enter service in 2001 and 2002.

The Mistral made its debut in July from the port of Genoa, Italy, sailing under the French flag and registered in Matautu, capital of the Wallis and Futuna Islands, a French territory in the South Pacific between Fiji and Samoa.

While the use of the euro seems more of a gimmick than a practical matter, since that currency is not yet in active circulation, it’s a handy way for Americans to figure on-board prices; the euro is close to the U.S. dollar in value (recently about 1.04 euros to the dollar).

The six-language menu is not a gimmick. This sophisticated ship was carrying 1,482 passengers from 19 countries when we were aboard in August in the Mediterranean.

These Mediterranean cruises might also appeal to American families who want their children to learn some French and Italian while taking part in daily circus classes for kids, taught by a pair of professional clowns from Cirque du Soleil.

In the Caribbean this winter, the line expects slightly older passengers, with fewer children and more Americans, although English- speakers will still probably be in the minority.

The crew of 540 from 37 countries (two from the U.S.) includes veterans of now-defunct Royal Cruise Line and Paquet French Cruises. And Capt. Olivier Decouzon formerly served as master of Radisson Seven Seas’ Paul Gauguin.

The top accommodations on board are the 80 suites with private balconies. Each suite is 235 square feet with queen-size or twin beds, sofa, chairs, built-in desk/dresser, TV/VCR, mini-refrigerator, bath with tub and walk-in closet.

Occupants of these suites have their own restaurant, the Rialto Grill, with single-seating breakfast, lunch and dinner at their own private tables throughout the cruise. Special dinners here feature menus from Michelin-starred restaurants prepared by executive chef Thierry Cherronnet.

Others eat in the L’Etoile dining room, with open seating at breakfast and lunch and two assigned dinner seatings.

The 295 outside and 221 inside standard cabins measure 140 square feet, with twin beds that convert to queen size, bathrooms with shower, interactive TV, telephone, hair dryer and minibar.

Restaurants and the show lounge are completely nonsmoking, offering a respite from the numerous European smokers. While the casino is considerably smaller and the productions not as lavish as those aboard some of the mega-ships, passengers who like stylish surroundings, tops-optional sunbathing and leggy dancers from French nightclubs such as Lido de Paris will find much to enjoy.

The Mistral arrives in the Caribbean in December and sails from Guadeloupe Dec. 22 for a seven-night Christmas cruise that calls in St. Maarten, Tortola, St. Barts, St. Kitts and Dominica. Other seven-night sailings continue through Easter and follow a variety of itineraries, including Barbados, Antigua, Martinique or Grenada. The ship returns to the Mediterranean in late April.

Brochure prices for seven-night Caribbean cruises range from $1,495 to $3,395 per person, double occupancy, with children 2 to 17 who share a cabin with their parents paying $795 each. Air fare and port charges are extra.

A lot of sometimes-expensive extras are modestly priced aboard the Mistral, including shore excursions, which in the Caribbean can be booked in advance and range from $25 for a beach day in Tortola to $100 for a full-day land and sea extravaganza in St. Lucia. Dinner wines also are inexpensive, many priced about $10.

To get a free color brochure, call First European Cruises toll-free at (888) 983-8767, Internet https://www.first-european.com.