Published by Ozgur Tore
From cruising on the Danube to sight-seeing on the Yangtze River, river cruisers have a range of spectacular destinations to choose from.
With the launch of new ships, more itineraries and an even larger choice of worldwide destinations for 2011, now is time for travellers to kick back, relax, and enjoy life on the river.
Many travellers are seeking a cultural break that lets them take life more slowly and there is no better way than on a river cruise. The Passenger Shipping Association has welcomed four new river cruise members – Avalon River Cruises, AMA Waterways, APT and Shearings – demonstrating that the demand for river cruising is higher than ever.
Bill Gibbons, Director of the PSA, said: “Holidaymakers have long been attracted to the relaxed life that river cruising offers, but now our members are responding to increased demand by expanding their fleets and introducing new, exciting itineraries for winter 2010 and for next year.”
The demand for river cruising has seen the launch of new ships including AMA Waterways’162-passenger MS Amabella and new purpose-built ships from Australian Pacific Tours (APT), along with11 new itineraries from Page & Moy.
With Discover Cruises (www.discovercruises.co.uk), you can explore destinations surrounding the most popular European rivers including the Seine, Rhine, Danube and Douro. Further afield, the Nile is the perfect way to soak up the sights of Egypt whilst China’s Yangtze is top of the list for Far East cruisers.
Shearings says bookings have grown by 23% in the last year and, as a result, the company has launched its biggest ever programme for 2011. To cater for the increased demand, Shearings has increased its fleet of exclusively chartered ships to five, with the introduction of two new vessels, the 4-star MPS Da Vinci and the 4-star MS Seine Princess. The increased capacity and 12 new itineraries bring Shearings’ total number of 41 river cruises across 17 vessels. Why not try their new Da Vinci ship next year with a ten-day trip on one of the world’s most romantic and picturesque waterways – The Blue Danube. Prices are from £XX based on 24 or 25 May 2010 departures.
AMAwaterways has just launched its seventh and most innovative ship, the 162-passenger MS Amabella, as part of an ongoing multimillion pound investment in its 12-vessel fleet. Featuring spacious balcony staterooms, an intimate chef’s table restaurant, a library and a sizeable swimming pool, Amabella will be hosting itineraries on the Danube, Rhine, Main and Mosel in 2010 and 2011. Further expansion is planned with work on new-builds ongoing in Vietnam and a completely renovated vessel in Russia, MS Amakatarina, due to launch in the spring of 2011, debuting as the most luxurious vessel on the Volga-Baltic Waterway.
Page & Moy introduced 11 new itineraries for 2010 with departures for Germany, Switzerland and Austria, through to the eastern European countries of Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and Romania. Page & Moy offers a nine-day, three countries tour, departing on 4 September 2010. This nine-day journey takes in some of the most attractive towns and cities in Europe. Joining the MV Serenade I in Cologne, guests will visit Rudesheim and the pretty villages of the history-leaden Rhine Gorge. Prices start from £1,299 per person and include return flights from London Heathrow to Dusseldorf or Eurostar from London St Pancras, transfers and eight nights’ accommodation on a full board basis. All tours are inclusive of the services of a Page & Moy Tour Manager.
Alternatively, travel with Australian Pacific Touring (APT) and enjoy a 15-day tour around Europe, from Amsterdam to Budapest on board their brand new ships. APT offers exclusive experiences for their guests including a guided tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, Bamberg’s Beer Haus and medieval Rothenburg – all from £2,095 per person including meals and local wines over dinner, all shore-excursions, airport transfers and tipping based on December 2010 departures. Book now and save 30% meaning you trip will cost just off £1,465.
For destinations further afield, choose Elegant River Cruises, who have just launched a brand new brochure for 2011 complete with three new itineraries. Their 13 day ‘Imperial Waterways of Russia’ cruise costs from £3,099 per person (if booked before 30 September 2010) and departs May through to September 2011, travelling along Europe’s longest river, the Volga, from Moscow to join the Neva where the cruise finishes in St Petersburg. Highlights include 12-nights, full board, on the River Victoria and shore excursions to the Russian court. There will also be a cruise on Lake Onega to Kizhi Island where the famous UNESCO World Heritage site of the Church of the Transfiguration was constructed and a spectacular evening at the Ballet in St Petersburg.
For a taste of the exotic, Swan Hellenic has just announced that Minerva, one of their flagship vessels, will be taking trips to India and the Far East for the winter 2010/11 season after travelling around the Antarctic earlier this year. The selection of new itineraries includes visits to Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines and take advantage of Minerva’s small size, visiting ‘off the beaten track’ destinations and ports beyond the reach of larger ships. Highlights include sailing in the backwaters of Kerala, Cochin, cruising in Halong Bay, visiting the silk town of Hoi An in Vietnam and spending Christmas and New Year’s Eve cruising off the coast of India. Fares are from just £1,225 per person.
Cruising rivers offers a unique insight into countries and cultures. The river ships rarely carry more than 300 passengers – providing for an intimate and informal experience – and many of the river ships are specifically designed for viewing the passing landscapes with large, picture windows. Ships usually dock onto a jetty right in the centre of the towns and cities and on many river cruises you will be able visit several countries in one itinerary.
The Discover Cruises website, www.discovercruises.co.uk is a one stop shop for everything cruise, whether it’s for family travelling for the first time, a couple looking for adventure, or a solo traveller in need of a relaxing spa break. Offering ultra luxury, deluxe, river and specialist collections, Discover Cruises gives visitors access to the latest on destinations, what’s new on board and a wave of exciting and innovative excursions and activities. From cruising on the Danube to sight-seeing on the Yangtze River, river cruisers have a range of spectacular destinations to choose from.
With the launch of new ships, more itineraries and an even larger choice of worldwide destinations for 2011, now is time for travellers to kick back, relax, and enjoy life on the river.
Many travellers are seeking a cultural break that lets them take life more slowly and there is no better way than on a river cruise. The Passenger Shipping Association has welcomed four new river cruise members – Avalon River Cruises, AMA Waterways, APT and Shearings – demonstrating that the demand for river cruising is higher than ever.
Bill Gibbons, Director of the PSA, said: “Holidaymakers have long been attracted to the relaxed life that river cruising offers, but now our members are responding to increased demand by expanding their fleets and introducing new, exciting itineraries for winter 2010 and for next year.”
The demand for river cruising has seen the launch of new ships including AMA Waterways’162-passenger MS Amabella and new purpose-built ships from Australian Pacific Tours (APT), along with11 new itineraries from Page & Moy.
With Discover Cruises (www.discovercruises.co.uk), you can explore destinations surrounding the most popular European rivers including the Seine, Rhine, Danube and Douro. Further afield, the Nile is the perfect way to soak up the sights of Egypt whilst China’s Yangtze is top of the list for Far East cruisers.
Shearings says bookings have grown by 23% in the last year and, as a result, the company has launched its biggest ever programme for 2011. To cater for the increased demand, Shearings has increased its fleet of exclusively chartered ships to five, with the introduction of two new vessels, the 4-star MPS Da Vinci and the 4-star MS Seine Princess. The increased capacity and 12 new itineraries bring Shearings’ total number of 41 river cruises across 17 vessels. Why not try their new Da Vinci ship next year with a ten-day trip on one of the world’s most romantic and picturesque waterways – The Blue Danube. Prices are from £XX based on 24 or 25 May 2010 departures.
AMAwaterways has just launched its seventh and most innovative ship, the 162-passenger MS Amabella, as part of an ongoing multimillion pound investment in its 12-vessel fleet. Featuring spacious balcony staterooms, an intimate chef’s table restaurant, a library and a sizeable swimming pool, Amabella will be hosting itineraries on the Danube, Rhine, Main and Mosel in 2010 and 2011. Further expansion is planned with work on new-builds ongoing in Vietnam and a completely renovated vessel in Russia, MS Amakatarina, due to launch in the spring of 2011, debuting as the most luxurious vessel on the Volga-Baltic Waterway.
Page & Moy introduced 11 new itineraries for 2010 with departures for Germany, Switzerland and Austria, through to the eastern European countries of Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and Romania. Page & Moy offers a nine-day, three countries tour, departing on 4 September 2010. This nine-day journey takes in some of the most attractive towns and cities in Europe. Joining the MV Serenade I in Cologne, guests will visit Rudesheim and the pretty villages of the history-leaden Rhine Gorge. Prices start from £1,299 per person and include return flights from London Heathrow to Dusseldorf or Eurostar from London St Pancras, transfers and eight nights’ accommodation on a full board basis. All tours are inclusive of the services of a Page & Moy Tour Manager.
Alternatively, travel with Australian Pacific Touring (APT) and enjoy a 15-day tour around Europe, from Amsterdam to Budapest on board their brand new ships. APT offers exclusive experiences for their guests including a guided tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, Bamberg’s Beer Haus and medieval Rothenburg – all from £2,095 per person including meals and local wines over dinner, all shore-excursions, airport transfers and tipping based on December 2010 departures. Book now and save 30% meaning you trip will cost just off £1,465.
For destinations further afield, choose Elegant River Cruises, who have just launched a brand new brochure for 2011 complete with three new itineraries. Their 13 day ‘Imperial Waterways of Russia’ cruise costs from £3,099 per person (if booked before 30 September 2010) and departs May through to September 2011, travelling along Europe’s longest river, the Volga, from Moscow to join the Neva where the cruise finishes in St Petersburg. Highlights include 12-nights, full board, on the River Victoria and shore excursions to the Russian court. There will also be a cruise on Lake Onega to Kizhi Island where the famous UNESCO World Heritage site of the Church of the Transfiguration was constructed and a spectacular evening at the Ballet in St Petersburg.
For a taste of the exotic, Swan Hellenic has just announced that Minerva, one of their flagship vessels, will be taking trips to India and the Far East for the winter 2010/11 season after travelling around the Antarctic earlier this year. The selection of new itineraries includes visits to Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines and take advantage of Minerva’s small size, visiting ‘off the beaten track’ destinations and ports beyond the reach of larger ships. Highlights include sailing in the backwaters of Kerala, Cochin, cruising in Halong Bay, visiting the silk town of Hoi An in Vietnam and spending Christmas and New Year’s Eve cruising off the coast of India. Fares are from just £1,225 per person.
Cruising rivers offers a unique insight into countries and cultures. The river ships rarely carry more than 300 passengers – providing for an intimate and informal experience – and many of the river ships are specifically designed for viewing the passing landscapes with large, picture windows. Ships usually dock onto a jetty right in the centre of the towns and cities and on many river cruises you will be able visit several countries in one itinerary.
The Discover Cruises website, www.discovercruises.co.uk is a one stop shop for everything cruise, whether it’s for family travelling for the first time, a couple looking for adventure, or a solo traveller in need of a relaxing spa break. Offering ultra luxury, deluxe, river and specialist collections, Discover Cruises gives visitors access to the latest on destinations, what’s new on board and a wave of exciting and innovative excursions and activities.