AmaWaterways Launches New Ship On Rhone

AmaWaterways will launch the debut of its luxury river cruiser AmaDagio on the Rhone next year along with a new season of its 'In Celebration of Wine Cruises' with a President’s Wine Cruise featuring its Provence and Spain itinerary.

The cruise takes place from March 29 - April 5 on the Rhone River from Arles to Lyon and costs from £1645pp (based on two sharing a stateroom,) including port taxes and all meals, but excluding flights.

The specially-crafted 'In Celebration of Wine' itineraries include complimentary wine-themed shore excursions and winery visits, onboard lectures, wine tastings and wine pairings at meals. Highlights of the President’s Wine Cruise also include the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Arles and Avignon, the beautiful villages of Viviers, Tournon, Vienne and Trévoux, and excursions to the Beaujolais wine region.

For more info, see www.amawaterways.co.uk or contact the UK's luxury river cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd, on 0800 008 6677.

Uniworld’s Rhine Christmas Market Cruises

Uniworld's 8-Day Classic Rhine Holiday Markets itinerary travels through Switzerland, France and Germany for a true taste of Christmas, beginning in Basel and ending at Cologne, or vice-versa. It is the perfect way to combine river-cruising's most beloved pastimes – shopping, decorations and food - on one festive voyage, with the three countries (Germany, France and Switzerland) providing the perfect backdrop for this true connoisseurs' cruise.

In Germany, the signature holiday traditions of medieval towns such as Heidelberg, Mainz, Rüdersheim and Koblenz are all revealed, as well as the majestic city of Cologne, with its vast Gothic cathedral. Stock up on hand-made Christmas decorations and soak up the atmosphere as the city is adorned with festive finery, then feast on gingerbread, traditional stöllen and a mug of steaming glühwein (hot mulled wine). 

The 8-day Rhine Holiday Christmas Market Cruises start on November 30, and include: return flights and private door-to-door transfers on arrival and departure days, a 7-night cruise in a stateroom on the spectacular SS Antoinette, 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners (and complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with dinner) including Captain’s Welcome Gala and Farewell Dinner, 6 shore excursions, fully hosted by English-speaking local guides, a signature lecture on the ‘Christmas Traditions in Germany’, an experienced Cruise Manager and attentive, all English-speaking staff. Prices start at £2,075 per person.

For more info, visit, www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk or the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Spend New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam FREE with AmaWaterways

For bookings made during National Cruise Week (all this week, September 18-25) AmaWaterways is offering a FREE additional two-night stay on board the luxury five-star river cruiser AmaLegro for all clients booking a week-long Christmas cruise from Nuremberg to Amsterdam, departing on December 23.

The seven-night cruise costs from £1,195 per person and includes two additional free nights on board, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, with complimentary house wine), free Wi-Fi, free use of onboard bicycles and daily tours hosted by knowledgeable guides, or £1,425 with return UK flights and overseas transfers.

Guests booking the festive cruise during National Cruise Week will be entitled to stay on for the two extra nights in Amsterdam, on December, 30 and 31 inclusive of all meals and wine with dinner.

In keeping with the Christmas spirit, clients leaving their shoes outside cabin doors on Christmas Eve will wake to find them filled with sweets, while the ship itself is lavishly and festively decorated. Guests can also join staff with Carol-singing and Santa himself due on board at some point.

For more information, visit www.amawaterways.co.uk or the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Spend New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam FREE with AmaWaterways

For bookings made during National Cruise Week (18-25 September), AmaWaterways is offering a free additional two-night stay on board the luxury five-star river cruiser AmaLegro for all clients booking a week-long Christmas cruise from Nuremberg to Amsterdam, departing on December 23.

The seven-night cruise costs from £1,195 per person and includes two additional free nights on board, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, with complimentary house wine), free wi-fi, free use of on board bicycles and daily tours, hosted by knowledgeable guides, or £1,425 with return UK flights and overseas transfers.

Guests booking the festive cruise during National Cruise Week next week will be entitled to stay on for two extra nights in Amsterdam, on December 30 and 31, inclusive of all meals.

For more information, visit www.amawaterways.co.uk or the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Viking Announce Two More 'Longships' For 2012

Viking River Cruises have announced two more new-ship builds in 2012 in response to the high demand for bookings in the next two years.

The new ships are in addition to the four already in service. The new builds will copy the design of Viking’s current 'green' Longship vessels, including the Viking Prestige and Legend. The Longships will be 443ft long, feature 95 staterooms per ship and will boast key innovations such as:

Two Explorer Suites — which will be the largest river-cruise suites each, featuring a separate living room, bedroom, bathroom and private wraparound veranda, offering 270-degree views.

Seven 275sq ft Veranda Suites with a full-size veranda from the living room and a French balcony from the bedroom.

Thirty-nine Veranda Staterooms with full-size verandas.

A new all-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace that reinvents the lounge by bringing the outdoor river scenery indoors with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors.

Al Fresco dining areas on the Upper deck, adjacent to the lounge to present more dining choices to guests.

And Sustainability upgrades such as energy-efficient hybrid engines, solar panels, efficient, hybrid propulsion system and an onboard organic herb garden.

The six ships are scheduled to sail Viking’s most popular European itineraries, including the 15-day Grand European Tour, 8-day Romantic Danube, 8-day Danube Waltz, 10-day Tulips & Windmills and 8-day Rhine Getaway.

For further info, visit www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk or consult the river-cruise experts of specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Cruise Through Your Christmas List With eWaterways

Dating back to 15th century Germany and the Alsace region of France, Christmas markets are a fantastically traditional way to prepare for the festive season and, with eWaterways, the niche and river cruise specialists, stress-free Christmas shopping combined with a spectacular winter cruise holiday is guaranteed.



The Amadeus Brilliant and the Royal Crown, two of Europe’s finest river cruise ships, will both sail the German and French waterways this November and December to offer cruisers an authentic Christmas Market experience.



The brand new luxury river ship Amadeus Brilliant, which launched this April to much acclaim, will take in Cologne, Koblenz, Strasbourg, Basel and Speyer for the 6-day 'Magic of Advent' cruise on the Rhine. Starting and finishing in Cologne, guests will be able to enjoy the best of both worlds: luxurious surroundings of the cruise ship and the delights of arriving in cities bursting with festive colour, aromas and sounds.



Stopping in Strasbourg, there will also be time to enjoy France’s eastern-most city on the border of Germany, where the Christmas market takes place on Grande Ile, a UNESCO Heritage Site and the first city centre to be granted world heritage status. Guests will be able to make the most of the ambiance and excitement of the markets, each selling a plethora of hand-made and unusual gifts, whilst sipping on a steaming mug of mulled wine. This is how Christmas should be!



The 'Magic of Advent' 6-day cruise takes place on 27 November, 2 December, 7 December and 12 December. Prices start from £465 including taxes and charges per person (cruise only) and include 5 nights on the Amadeus Brilliant on a fullboard basis, the Captain’s Gala Dinner and daily onboard musical performances.



The five-star river yacht Royal Crown will embark this November on a series of round trips to Mainz for the 4-day 'Historic Christmas Markets' cruise. A major highlight of this voyage is the breathtaking city of Rüdesheim. The Christmas market here brings a distinctly festive feel to the romantic old quarter and its popular Drosselgasse – a cobblestone lane with more than 120 stalls, which, during the festive season, showcases Christmas traditions from across the globe.



Sailing along the Middle Rhine Valley - a photographer’s dream, with numerous castles, palaces, vineyards and picturesque villages - guests can opt for an optional walking tour that includes visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites Ehrenbreistein fortress and Stolzenfels Castle. The historical port city of Cologne, with its horse drawn carriages, sparkling lights and medieval churches, offers fabulous shopping opportunities at eight different Christmas markets all within walking distance of each other.



The 'Historic Christmas Markets' 4-day cruise takes place on 28 November, 5 December and 12 December. Prices start from £400, including taxes and charges per person (cruise only) and 3 nights on the Royal Crown on a full board basis, with welcome and farewell dinners.



For more info, visit www.ewaterways.co.uk or contact the river-cruise experts of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Avalon Launches Europe-Wide River-Cruise

Avalon Waterways has launched its longest ever European river cruise itinerary for 2012, the 21-night ‘North Sea to the Black Sea’ cruise from Amsterdam through to Bucharest or vice versa. Sailing through the Netherlands and Germany on the Rhine before joining the Danube through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, the cruise provides an incredible journey to see the many historical, cultural and scenic highlights across Europe.

A broad range of guided sightseeing is included in the cities, towns and famous places along the itinerary, including Cologne, Rudesheim, Miltenberg, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Grein, the Benedictine Abbey at Melk, Vienna and the Heillgenkreuz Monastery. Also included is Budapest, Vukovar, Belgrade and the Iron Gates Gorge. Visits to Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo and the Patriach’s Church, the Ethnographical Museum at Arbanassi, Constanta, and Bucharest’s Parliament Building and National Art Museum are also included.

Prices are from £3,745 per person based on a category E stateroom to include return flights, 21 nights full board cruise accommodation, regional wines and beers served with dinner, 1 night at the Athénée Hilton Palace in Bucharest, guided sightseeing, a private door-to-door home pick-up service, overseas transfers, and the services of a professional cruise director. Stateroom upgrades are available from £880 per person.

Extra nights are available in Amsterdam from £95 per person per night and from £85 per person per night in Bucharest based on a twin share.

For more info, see www.avaloncruises.co.uk or contact one of the river-cruise experts at specialist agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Specialist Cruises with AMA Waterways

AMA Waterways are offering two excellent specially-themed cruises this summer and autumn, which are well worth considering for that 'something different' factor in the busy European rivers scene.

The City Break Cruise: Three of Europe’s most spectacular and historic cities are included on Ama's Legendary Danube cruise. Visit Austria’s capital, Vienna, with its superb museums and galleries, the Slovak capital of Bratislava, with its historic castle and Medieval streets, and the Hungarian capital, Budapest, divided by the mighty Danube. The seven-night cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest departs August 7 and costs from £1,763 per person.

Jewish Heritage themed cruise: Trace the Jewish heritage of the Danube on a choice of three river cruises departing in August and November, each with a selected daily touring programme of Jewish Heritage excursions that include synagogue visits, Jewish districts, museums, monuments and other landmarks of significance to Jewish history, led by knowledgeable guides. Highlights include a special visit to the tomb of Chatam Sofer, the famous rabbi; a visit to Oscar Schindler’s house in Regensberg; and Room 600 at the Nuremberg Palace of Justice. Passengers will also visit the Jewish Museum, Judenplatz and Old Synagogue, Sigmund Freud House (outside), Jewish Cemetery and Jewish Quarter in Vienna. The 7-night cruise between Nuremberg and Budapest departs November 18 and costs from £1,376 per person.

For more info, visit www.amawaterways.co.uk or the river-cruise experts of specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

New From Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways has launched its full programme of 2012 river cruises with the announcement of two new ‘suite’ ships, Avalon Visionary and Avalon Vista, both due for delivery in 2012.

Following high demand for the industry’s first ‘suite ship’ Avalon Panorama (launched in May), the new ships will offer the same state-of-the-art sleek design, spacious suites and focus on service as their sister ship. Two full decks of suites; Panorama suites (200 sq ft), Royal Suites (300 sq ft) and deluxe staterooms (172 sq ft) will be available on both new ships.

Continuing to revolutionise river cruising, the suites will feature the same 11ft wall-to-wall panoramic windows that open to create unique ‘open air balconies’, as well as king-sized beds facing the windows, full sized bathrooms and upgrades and enhancements throughout. New for next year, Royal Suite guests will have access to in-room Apple iPads.

Avalon Vista will sail on the 11 day ‘Legendary Danube’ (from £2,199pp), the 13 day ‘Blue Danube Discovery’ (from £2,445pp) and the 15 day ‘Magnificent Europe’ cruise (from £2,749pp). The Visionary will be sailing the 8 day ‘Romantic Rhine’ (from £1,665pp) as well as the new Festive cruises.

New itineraries include the 10 day ‘Paris, Moselle & the Rhine’ (from £2,059pp), 12 day ‘Upper Rhine to the City of Music’ (from £2,519pp), 13 day ‘Rhine & Moselle’ (from £2,599pp) and Jewels of Central Europe (prices from £3,389).

The 2012 programme features 36 river cruise itineraries with prices starting from £999 for ‘A Taste of the Danube’ to the 19 day ‘Danube & Black Sea Coast’ cruise from £3,379pp. Festive cruises to see Europe’s spectacular and atmospheric Christmas markets have been added with four itineraries to choose from in December. Prices lead in at £1,099pp with the ‘Christmas in Alsace & Germany’ from Basel to Frankfurt.

As well as onboard gratuities, a privately chauffeured door-to-door home pick up service (within 75 miles radius of the airport/Eurostar station), port charges and all transfers are included. With a choice of flexible travel arrangements on offer, there is a choice of regional flights and Eurostar options to make the journey as easy as possible.

For more info, visit www.avaloncruises.co.uk or the specialist river-cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Noble Caledonia's Burgundy & Provence Special

Leave the crowded roads behind and relax onboard Noble Caledonia's first class river vessel through Provence and Burgundy on a seven-night river journey along the Rhone and Saone Rivers - at a special reduced rate this June.
This sailing has been chartered by the company's US associates, Travel Concepts. Due to some late availability, the remaining cabins can be offered at very special prices. The 78-passenger MS Rembrandt will sail all the way from the enchanting town of Arles to Chalon-sur-Saone near Beaune.

Enjoy time in historic Avignon and Arles, forever associated with some of the greatest impressionist artists. From here, there will be the opportunity to visit some of the great Roman sites for which Provence is justly famous. Continue to the ancient town of Vienne with its dramatically sited medieval cathedral, then visit the gourmet capital of Lyon before cruising through the vine-covered hills of Burgundy, ending in the historic town of Beaune, the region's wine capital.

The 7-night voyage now costs from just £995 and departs on June 30. For more info, visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

AMA's Great River-Cruise Savings

AmaWaterways is offering savings of £175pp and complimentary flights and transfers up to £250 per person on selected luxury Rhine river cruises this summer, a total saving of £425 on a flight-inclusive river cruise package, with prices now from £1588 per person, based on a 7-night sailing from Remich (Luxembourg) to Nuremberg on May 6.

All of the sailings also include complimentary entry to Germany’s famous horticultural festival, The Bundesgartenschau (`BUGA’), which this year takes place in Koblenz, turning the half timbered town into a floral paradise.

Departing on June 24, AMA also has a saving of £425pp off a flight-inclusive seven-night luxury river cruise, taking in some of Europe’s most fascinating cities along the scenic Mosel and Rhine from Amsterdam through the Rhine Gorge to Mainz, before returning to Koblenz, and on to the Mosel River Valley to Cochem and Bernkastel. Now £1588 per person (was £2013), including return UK flights to the value of £250pp, and 7 nights cruising, including champagne breakfasts, lunch and gourmet dinners with wine, daily complimentary shore excursions and entry to the BUGA horticultural festival, free wi-fi and free use of bicycles.

Contact AMAWaterways at www.amawaterways.co.uk river-cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

AmaWaterways Latest Luxury River-Cruise Offers

Here are three more great offers this summer for river-cruises with AMAWaterways, taking in Russia and their Legendary Danube route.

1st June: Russian Waterways, saving up to £365pp

There are big savings of £365pp off a spectacular 11-night voyage from Moscow to Uglich, Yaroslav, Goritsy, Kizhi and Svirstroy, finishing in St. Petersburg along the Volga-Baltic waterways and through Europe’s two largest lakes, Onega and Ladoga. The cruise costs from £2,314 per person, including cruise and port taxes, all meals, champagne breakfasts and wine with dinner, daily excursions, and transfers and return flights (maximum value up to £360pp) from London.

June 27: Legendary Danube, saving up to £428pp

There are also savings off this 7-night Danube River cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest, with prices from £1,649 per person (was £2,077pp), fully inclusive of all taxes, meals, etc. The sailing cruises to Budapest through the charming towns and beautiful vistas of Hilpoltstein, Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg, Linz, Melk and Vienna.

July 8: Legendary Danube, saving up to £426pp

This 7-night Danube cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest now has prices from £1,709 per person (was £2,135pp), inclusive of taxes, all meals, excursions, transfers and flights from London or Manchester. Again, it cruises through Hilpoltstein, Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg, Linz, Melk and Vienna.

For more info, visit www.amawaterways.co.uk or contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Avalon's 2012 Preview

Avalon Waterways has launched its first ever preview brochure with five of its most popular European river cruise itineraries for 2012. The selection includes the ‘Magnificent Europe’ (15 days from £2,489), ‘Burgundy and Provence’ (11 days from £1,999), ‘Romantic Rhine’ (8 days from £1,445), ‘Black Sea Discovery’ (11 days from £2,115) and the ‘Legendary Danube’ (11 days from £1,685) river cruises.

A series of great value early booking offers will be available, including £400 off per couple and free travel insurance for all bookings made before 20 May 2011 as well as half-price upgrade supplements (excluding suites) for bookings made by 30 April. Included in the price for the first time are onboard gratuities for the Cruise Director and crew to provide even better value.

Avalon Waterways’ hassle-free river cruise holidays feature a range of benefits included in the price. As well as onboard gratuities, a privately chauffeured door-to-door home pick-up service, port charges and all transfers are included. With a choice of flexible travel arrangements on offer, there are regional flights and Eurostar options to make the journey as easy as possible. Based on a full-board basis, the fine dining onboard includes a range of international and regional dishes with local wines, beers and soft drinks served on complimentary basis with dinner. Sightseeing with local guides means visitors get the most of shore excursions.

Alan MacLean, Managing Director, commented: “As demand and awareness of luxury river cruising grows, we are receiving more requests for early bookings, some from repeat bookers. By putting on sale our five most popular cruises ahead of the main brochure launch in May, our customers can secure the category of stateroom they want and benefit from the value added early booking offers at the same time.”

For more info, see www.avaloncruises.co.uk or contact the UK's river-cruise experts of The Cruise Line Ltd.