The Avid Cruiser’s Ralph Grizzle talks with the Kristin Karst, vice president of AMAWATERWAYS, about why river cruising is such a great way to see Europe.

A wine-lovers dream cruise! AMAWATERWAYS will cruise along the Wine, er, make that Rhine and Mosel rivers on a wine cruise this coming November. In Bernkastel, pictured, visit the castle ruin overlooking the city center of half-timbered buildings and cobblestone streets.

AMAWATERWAYS will offer a “Vineyards of the Rhine and Mosel” cruise this fall, departing November 12, 2010, on the luxurious MS AMALEGRO.

The special 7-night itinerary includes visits to world-famous wineries, off-site dinners hosted by renowned winemakers, onboard lectures and more.  Hosted by AMAWATERWAYS President Rudi Schreiner, the 7-night cruise will travel from Amsterdam to Trier, Germany, followed by three nights in Paris.

Accompanying the cruise will be winemaker Jim Clendenen, owner of the internationally-acclaimed Au Bon Climat winery in Santa Maria, California and Archie McLaren, founder and chairman of the Central Coast Wine Classic.  A portion of the cruise proceeds will be donated to charities supported by the Central Coast Wine Classic, one of the country’s preeminent wine auctions.

Moselle River cruises offer wine tastings in such wine villages as Cochem, settled by the Celts and later by Romans before being granted a town charter in 1332.

Cruise Highlights Include Dinners & Wine Tastings

Highlights of the “Vineyards of the Rhine and Mosel” itinerary include a dinner and wine tasting with a representative from the renown Georg Breuer winery at the Ruedesheimer Schloss in Rudesheim, Germany.  The scenic Rhine Gorge town of Rudesheim is famous for its quaint wine taverns and surrounding vineyards, including the family-owned Breuer estate.

In Koblenz, guests will discover a 2,000-year old wine town at the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine Rivers.

Mosying Along The Mosel

Continuing through the Mosel river valley, the world’s steepest vineyards and certainly one of the world’s most beautiful rivers, picturesque villages and charming wine towns appear at every turn. During the cruise from Koblenz to the riverside wine town of Winnigen, guests will enjoy an exceptional luncheon, with menu items paired with wines from the Heymann-Lowenstein winery.

In Cochem, guests will discover perfectly preserved timber-framed homes, medieval squares and the spectacular Reichsburg Castle perched above the Mosel.  A welcoming wine fest awaits in the Mosel town of Zell, famous for its “Zeller Schwarze Katz” (Black Cat) wine.

An evening wine tasting in a local underground wine cellar showcases the area’s famous varietals.  In Bernkastel, guests will enjoy a walking tour followed by a wine tasting at the Wine Museum hosted by Michael Stahlmann from the famous Dr. Loosen winery.   Strategically located in the heart of the Mosel wine-producing region, Bernkastel boasts more than 500 years of documented wine history, and is known as “the international town of vine and wine.”

Situated on the Moselle River is the Romanesque city of Trier, Germany’s oldest city and also one that claims to be 1,300 years older than Rome itself. Trier's Porta Nigra (Black Gate) dates from the 2nd century, when Trier was a Roman city.

Of course, throughout the cruise, guests will enjoy gourmet dining accompanied by complimentary local wines (plus beer and soft drinks) at dinner.  Additional AMAWATERWAYS amenities include French Balconies, complimentary 3G high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi; complimentary first-run Hollywood films; complimentary specialty coffees and bottled water, a fleet of bicycles on board plus much more.

After the 7-night cruise, guests will head to Luxembourg for a city tour of the Grand Duchy, followed by a high-speed TGV transfer to Paris.  The three-night stay in the City of Lights includes a guided city tour, plus an exclusive excursion to the Champagne region.

Both ships in 2011 will primarily be chartered by the Australian market but departures for the North American market will be available October through December, 2011.

Just like the newly-built Amabella, the Amaverde will feature staterooms averaging 214 square feet and balconies, multiple dining venues including a restaurant that seats just 24 and has its own private chef, a library, and a swimming pool. There will also be room service for select cabin categories.

The vessels will also feature AMAWATERWAYS’ newly-upgraded infotainment system, offering complimentary high-speed Internet access, complimentary first-run movies and classic films.

All AMAWATERWAYS vessels have complimentary Wi-Fi throughout, French balconies, complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner and a fleet of bicycles onboard.

The Amabella will be AMAWATERWAYS’ eighth company-owned ship in Europe. The company also charters ships in France, Portugal, Russia and on the Mekong River.

“European river cruising continues to be among the fastest-growing segments of our business, and we’re boosting capacity and expanding our offerings to better serve our guests and our agents,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar.

In 2011, Tauck will have 12 itineraries aboard a fleet of its four leased ships, including the Swiss Jewel (launched in 2009), Swiss Sapphire (launched in 2008), Swiss Emerald (launched in 2006) and a new ship set to launch in summer 2011. Tauck will be announcing additional details on the newbuild in the coming months, as well as enhancements to its other river cruise ships for next year, the company said.

Tauck’s two new Rhone River itineraries are the 10-day French Waterways & Vineyards (from $4,490 per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy); and the 14-day French Escapade: Monte-Carlo to Paris (from $5,990 per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy).

French Waterways & Vineyards begins with an included two-night stay in Paris. Guests then board the high-speed TGV train to Lyon to begin their seven-day cruise, which includes stops in Vienne, Tournon, Valence, Viviers, Avignon, Roussillon and Arles.

The French Escapade: Monte-Carlo to Paris itinerary begins with two days in Monte-Carlo and Nice. Guests then travel to Arles to begin their nine-day cruise on the Rhone and Saone rivers that explores Viviers, Tournon, Vienne, Lyon, Macon, Chalon-sur-Saone and Beaune. The trip concludes with two nights in Paris.

The art-themed cruise will set sail on the 140-passenger Avalon Creativity in November 2011.

The Art & Impressionist river cruise through Northern France, will include a visit to the  Musée d’Orsay in Paris, Claude Monet’s Giverny home, and the Musée des Beaux‐Arts André Malraux in Le Havre.

“Our cruise directors and special guest lectures offer a vast onboard education experience, giving cruisers the chance to soak in the history, culture and in this case, the art of a region as they drift from village to village,” said Patrick Clark, managing director of Avalon Waterways.

Avalon’s 8‐day Art & Impressionist cruise is priced from $2,349. For more information about Avalon Waterways’ 2011 themed vacations, please visit www.avalonwaterways.com.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is introducing a new ship in Portugal next year, the 128-passenger Duoro Spirit, which will replace the 126-passenger Duoro Queen on Uniworld’s Portugal, Spain and Duoro River Valley itinerary.

All the staterooms and suites onboard the Duoro Spirit will have French balconies, hotel beds with fine linens, built-in closets, flat-screen satellite televisions, and complimentary bottled water; each bathroom will be stocked with L’Occitane body products and waffle bathrobes.

The Douro Spirit’s common areas will include a main lounge with full-service bar and dance floor, sun deck with Jacuzzi and a small swimming pool, a restaurant with open seating, fitness room, massage room, beauty salon, and a boutique.

The itinerary includes three nights in Lisbon in a deluxe hotel, and a seven-night cruise from Porto, Portugal to Salamanca, Spain.

Prices start from $2,999 per person, not including airfare, and include all meals with complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks served with dinner onboard; ten shore excursions by English-speaking local guides; and transfers on arrival and departure days.

There will be 24 departures on the Duoro Spirit next year between April 28 and Oct. 27.

The 138-passenger newbuild will be christened in Volendam, a Netherlands fishing village, on March 27.

The Felicity is being built in the Den Breejen shipyard in Holland and its delivery will bring Avalon’s total fleet count in Europe to 10.

Following the christening, the ship will sail Avalon’s 9-day Romantic Rhine itinerary through the end of 2010. The itinerary runs in two directions — from Amsterdam to Basel, or from Zurich to Amsterdam.

The Avalon Felicity will feature 65 staterooms (at 172 square feet each) and four junior suites (at 258 square feet each), all of which will have flat screen televisions, flexible bed designs (beds may be configured as two twins or one queen), Egyptian cotton linens, a mini-bar and safe.

Laundry and ironing services will be available for passengers. The ship will also have a fitness room, library, hair salon, gift shop, club lounge and whirlpool on the sky deck. Open-air lunches will also be available at the sky deck grill.

AMAWATERWAYS wants you to enjoy one of Europe’s most celebrated traditions this fall — Oktoberfest in Munich — FOR FREE. The “Be Our Guest at Oktoberfest” promotion includes a complimentary two-night stay in Munich on bookings made from February 2 to February 9, 2010 of the line’s new “Oktoberfest Escape” program.

The new itinerary takes place from September 21, 2010 to October 1, 2010, and begins with the complimentary two-night stay in Munich at the Le Meridien Hotel or another luxury hotel.

AMAWATERWAYS guests will enjoy a complimentary city tour, daily breakfast, plus the chance to enjoy Oktoberfest with the locals as they mark the 200th anniversary of this famous, fun-filled tradition.

After the stay in Munich, guests will enjoy a luxurious seven-night cruise on the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers from Nuremberg to Amsterdam aboard the ms Amalegro. The “Be Our Guest at Oktoberfest” promotional price starts at $2,699 per person.

A stunning day-after-Christmas sailing as AMAWATERWAYS’ Amalyra makes its way along Germany’s Rhine River.

Posted from my Blackberry.

Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent is enhancing its European canal cruising program for 2010 with a new barge as well as several new food and wine-themed sailings.

Barging or canal cruising is the more intimate alternative to river cruising. Depending on the barge, they can accommodate anywhere between four and 18 passengers, and the number of crew vary according to the size of the barge. The barges, charming sailing vessels with cabins and cozy common spaces, are intended to travel along the calmer canals of Europe, namely in France, Belgium, Holland, Ireland and the U.K.

With a newly added eight-passenger barge, Enchanté, A&K has 23 barge ships on offer for 2010. The Enchante was refurbished in 2009 and will sail the Canal du Midi in the South of France next year. It has Internet connection and a guest computer on board, as well as air conditioning. An on-board chef will prepare gourmet meals in a demonstration kitchen, and meals can be served al fresco on the deck. For larger groups of up to 16, Enchanté can be chartered in tandem with the eight-passenger barge Anjodi. Six-night canal cruises start at $5,890, per person, cruise only. Private charters start at $45,000 for up to eight guests.

Additionally, A&K has introduced several new themed canal cruises for 2010.

A new culinary cruise is being introduced on the four-passenger Alouette (pictured below), which also sales on the Canal de Midi. The itinerary includes cooking lessons as well as accompanying the chef to local markets. Six-night charters start at $25,000.

A Wines of Burgundy (Grand Cru) cruise is being offered on the eight-passenger Amaryllis barge, part of the Orient-Express collection of cruises. The wine cruise includes tastings of 33 Grand Crus of Burgundy, including Bonne Mares, Montrachet and Romanée Conti during France’s “Semaine des Grands Crus.” The cruise takes place July 18 to 24, and starts at $9,800 per person.

Additionally, a chocolate and wine cruise is being offered on the six-passenger Elisabeth, which sails the Canal du Nivernais in Burgundy. Included in the cruise are wine tastings and dessert-making demonstrations. Six nights start at $4,300 per person.

Lastly, a bike and barge charter is being offered on the 18-passenger Le Phenicien. The summertime itinerary along the Canal du Nivernais includes a different bike ride each day, ranging from 19-mile to 32-mile rides, with the assistance of a cycling specialist. The Bike & Barge itinerary is only available by charter. Six-night charters start at $54,460.

For additional information visit Abercrombie & Kent.