According to the latest Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships the cruise ship with the highest ranking in the world is none other than Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa. If this sounds like your kind of ship, and you love music, you will no doubt be delighted to hear that Europa will offer guests at least two international quality music festivals this year.

The world’s only classical music festival on board a cruise liner, “Ocean Sun Festival,” will feature world renowned classical music stars performing during live concerts on board Europa. There will also be various live concerts at selected historical sites exclusively organised for passengers.

Add to that the international vocal competition called “Stella Maris,” which will have some of the world’s top young opera singers competing against each other on board a cruise to the Middle East and Africa, and you have a musical extravaganza unsurpassed in the world of cruising. In fact, Europa will embark on no less than nine music cruises during 2012.

The “Ocean Sun Festival” is currently in its sixth year. This remarkable event has been compared to the prestigious Tuscan Sun Festival in Italy and the Festival del Sole in Napa Valley, California. What is more, there will also be international critics on board offering a series of lectures along the route.

A few of the artists that will entertain guests during the cruise are the famous soprano vocalist Marlis Petersen, the renowned young pianist Igor Levit and the exceptional violinist Janine Jansen.