Jun 26th, 2009
by Michelle Baran.
What was supposed to be a lavish christening ceremony in Cologne, Germany on July 2 for Viking River Cruises’ newest river ship the Viking Legend, has been postponed until this fall.
The transfer of the ship from the shipyard to Cologne, Germany, was delayed by low water levels on the Elbe River and unfavorable weather conditions in the North Sea, Viking said.
The brand new ship is still expected to be delivered in time for her maiden voyage, which starts in Amsterdam on July 5. Viking said that cruise departures for the summer months are heavily booked and that the christening will be rescheduled for the fall.
Continue reading →
Posted in: Viking Legend, Viking River Cruises.
Jun 26th, 2009
by Michelle Baran.
For those who may not have an entire week or two to devote to cruising the rivers of Europe, Avalon Waterways has introduced a shorter river cruise experience, a “taste” if you will.
The new A Taste of the Danube river cruises are abbreviated jaunts along the Danube. One is a four-day cruise from Vienna to Budapest, and the other is a five-day cruise back the other way, from Budapest to Vienna.
The cruises include stops in Vienna, Austria’s “city of music;” Melk in Austria, known for its impressive Benedictine Abbey; Bratislava, Slovakia at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains; and Budapest, the colorful capital of Hungary. “Our Taste of the Danube vacation is phenomenally priced and well-balanced, offering travelers the perfect introduction to river cruising,” says Patrick Clark, managing director of Avalon.
The condensed Danube cruises will run twice monthly from April to September next year. They are priced between $949 and $1,429 per person, not including roundtrip airfare.
The Taste cruises will take place on board the Avalon Tapestry, a 160-passenger river cruise ship, built in 2006. Staterooms are 172 square feet, and the two junior suites are 258 square feet each. There are French balconies on all staterooms but those on the lower deck, flatscreen TVs, full bathrooms and showers and hotel-style beds with European duvets and Egyptian cotton linens. Avalon ships feature contemporary interior design, with a dining room, lounge and sun deck on all Avalon ships. There is also a fitness center and hair salon on board the Tapestry.
Posted in: Avalon Tapestry, Avalon Waterways.
Jun 16th, 2009
by Michelle Baran.
To stand out from the packet, more and more river cruise companies are offering themed sailings, ranging from family-friendly itineraries to food and wine cruises.
Referred to by river cruise companies as “passion travel” or “travel with a purpose,” many say the desire to make deeper connections with one another or with the local culture while river cruising is a trend that started after Sept. 11 and one that has resurfaced during these trying economic times.
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Posted in: Avalon Waterways, Tauck, Uniworld.
Tagged: Tauck · Uniworld
Jun 9th, 2009
by Michelle Baran.
River cruise ships are often described as floating hotels. Uniworld River Cruises has gone a step further in making its newest ship, the River Beatrice, just that.
Uniworld has a unique resource in the river cruising world in that parent company TravCorp also owns the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, a collection of 13 luxury boutique hotels (including six in London, such as The Montague in the photo above), the designers from which were employed to make the ship’s interior look less like that of a ship and more like that of, well, a boutique hotel. Continue reading →
Posted in: Uniworld.
Tagged: Red Carnation Hotel Collection · Uniworld River Cruises
Jun 8th, 2009
by Michelle Baran.
AMA Waterways christened the Amadolce, a new river cruise ship that will predominantly service the Australian market this year, in Durnstein, Austria on May 20.
Australia Pacific Touring (APT) has chartered the vessel for the Australian market for most of 2009.
With the launch of the Amadolce, AMA has reached its goal of building six new ships over the last three years. The 148-passenger Amadolce was christened six weeks after its sister vessel the Amalyra.
Like all AMA ships, the Amadolce offers complimentary Wi-Fi; 170-square foot cabins (82% of which have French balconies); down duvets; flat-screen TVs; and marble-appointed bathrooms, among other amenities. Wine is free with meals, served in the ship’s restaurant.
AMA vessels also feature a fitness center, beauty salon, whirlpool, walking track on the top deck and bicycles for passengers.
Posted in: AMA Waterways, APT River Cruises, Amadolce.
Tagged: AMA Waterways · Amadolce · Australia Pacific Touring
Jun 8th, 2009
by Michelle Baran.
Starting this fall, passengers will be able to get the AMA Waterways river cruise experience on the Mekong.
On Sept. 1, the 92-passenger La Marguerite will launch, offering sailings along the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia. Continue reading →
Posted in: Asia, Cambodia, La Marguerite, Mekong, Uncategorized, Vietnam.
Tagged: AMA Waterways · Cambodia · La Marguerite · Vietnam
Jun 8th, 2009
by Ralph Grizzle.
Go Barging is a subsidiary of European Waterways, Europe’s largest luxury hotel barging company, offering 6-night/7-day barge trips in seven countries and carrying approximately 2,000 passengers a year.
Founded more than 35 years ago, Go Barging designs, builds, owns and operates a private fleet of luxury barges with exclusive cruises in France, Scotland, England, Ireland, Holland, Belgium and Italy.
Continue reading →
Posted in: European Waterways, Go Barging.
Tagged: Barge · European Waterways · Go Barging
Jun 8th, 2009
by Ralph Grizzle.
Converted from a Dutch grain carrier to a new luxury hotel barge, the recent introduction of European Waterways’ Enchanté gives us an opportunity to talk about the unique pleasures of river barging.
First, some information on Enchanté, which was completely rebuilt in Amsterdam and is currently winding her way south to her eventual home in the south of France. Enchanté is the latest addition to join European Waterways’ 17-barge fleet of luxury hotels, and she will begin cruising on the Canal du Midi at the end of August.
Continue reading →
Posted in: Barge, Enchanté, European Waterways.
Tagged: European Waterways
Jun 8th, 2009
by Ralph Grizzle.
Perhaps one of the least publicized and appreciated forms of leisure travel, river cruising may also be one of the best choices for people looking to truly understand and enjoy the places they are visiting. This is particularly true in Europe, where a network of rivers have long served as the arteries of commerce, transport and social movement.
A convenient way to move around several large sections of the continent, river cruising connects the major cities while avoiding the busy highways. The small river cruisers also provide access to the pastoral beauty and the stunning antiquities of Europe. The cruises provide up-close access to Europe, and the pace of the itineraries is relaxed and casual.
The market leader for European river cruising from Australia, APT offers extended river cruises that traverse the center of Europe. River itineraries are also available from APT through Russia and the Baltic, France, and Spain and Portugal. Continue reading →
Posted in: APT River Cruises, Danube.
May 30th, 2009
by Ralph Grizzle.
Avalon Waterways christened its seventh river cruise ship, the Avalon Affinity, this spring.
Avalon’s clean and contemporary design ethos is again echoed in the the 361-foot-long Affinity, which includes 65 staterooms at 172 square feet each, and four junior suites at 258 square feet.
Each stateroom has a flat-screen television, flexible bed design (beds may be configured as two twins or one queen), mini-bar and safe. Laundry and ironing services are available.
The ship features a restaurant, fitness room, library, hair salon and gift shop as well as a club lounge and Jacuzzi on the sky deck.
In 2009, the 138-passenger Affinity will sail eight itineraries throughout Europe.
Posted in: Avalon Affinity, Avalon Waterways.
Tagged: Avalon Waterways
