Late Deals from AMA Waterways

Top European river-cruise operator AMAWaterways have just announced a series of tempting reduced fares for this year, featuring three different cruises on the Rhone, Mosel, Rhine and Danube.

Here are the highlights:

April 13, Black Sea Cruise: Sail from Budapest along the Danube through Romania, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria to the Bulgarian port of Rousse, including passing through the `Iron Gates’, the narrow divide between the Balkans and Carpathian mountains, to conclude the cruise with an excursion to Bucharest.

This week-long luxury cruise now costs from £1,187 per person (previously £1,654), with all meals, free wi-fi, free use of on board bicycles, daily tours and excursions and all port taxes. 

May 24, Rhone cruise: A late evening stay alongside the largely abandoned medieval town of Viviers, including an after-dinner 'ghost walk' through streets that once were home to 30,000 people, is part of this 7-night luxury river cruise from Lyons to Arles on board the luxury cruiser AmaDagio. With plenty of time in each port call, overnight stays during a week of castles, vineyards, wine tastings, fine wine and excellent cuisine include the cobbled medieval towns of Lyon and Touron, the rural riverside town of Vienne for an evening stroll past the waterside cafes, and Arles, home to Vincent van Gogh during his most productive last years, where some of his greatest works were painted. 

The week-long cruise now costs from £1,837pp, (previously £2,277), with all meals, free wi-fi, free use of on board bicycles, daily tours and excursions and all port taxes.

July 18; Cruise past Europe’s steepest vineyards in the Mosel Valley and along one of the most beautiful stretches of the Rhine through the Rhine Gorge, with its castles and medieval half-timbered villages, from Luxembourg to Nuremberg along the Mosel, Rhine, Main and Main-Danube Canal. The seven-night sailing departs from Remich (Luxembourg) and includes a late evening stay in Rudesheim, with its narrow streets lined with wine taverns, and in the lovely town of Koblenz and city of Frankfurt, allowing time to sample the relaxed evening ambience. 

This week-long voyage now costs from £1,487pp, (was £1,841), again with all meals, free wi-fi, free use of on board bicycles, daily tours and excursions and all port taxes.

For booking details, follow this link to the river cruise specialists of the Cruise Line Ltd.

Jewish Heritage Themed Cruise with AMA Waterways

Trace the Jewish heritage of the Danube from the comfort of a luxury river cruiser with AMA Waterways in 2012.

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, all led by knowledgeable guides, these cruises represent a really different aspect of European river-cruising.

The cruises pass through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary and highlights include a special visit to the tomb of Chatam Sofer, the famous rabbi, a visit to Oskar 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 `Jewish Heritage’ Blue Danube cruise between Budapest and Nuremberg, departing October 17, costs from £1,775 per person, including all meals, wine with dinner, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles, excluding flights.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury river-cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Garden Festivals and City Breaks

Keen gardeners should seize the opportunity to visit the World Horticultural Expo in the Netherlands between April 5 and October 7 on a choice of four AmaWaterways' luxury river cruise itineraries. The show, which takes place only every 10 years, covers 66 hectares of parkland and consists of five horticultural worlds and themed zones, connected by wooded areas, with 100 exhibitors from around the world.

Each day also features a cultural programme of music, dance, literature, theatre and visual art from all over the world.

AMA's seven-night Enchanting Rhine cruise, from Amsterdam to Basel, is a typical example, with departures starting on April 19 and costing from £1,459 per person, including all meals, wine with dinner, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles, but excluding flights.

River cruising means seeing more in less time, never having to unpack or re-pack, with three of Europe’s most spectacular and historic cities - Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest - on many itineraries.

For more booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury river cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Along the Mekong - AmaWaterways’ Land-Cruise

Interested in the grand way to visit Vietnam and Cambodia, with time to explore on land as well as along the magnificent waterways of this part of the world? Look no further. AmaWaterways' Riches of the Mekong 15-night land-cruise includes two nights in vibrant Hanoi followed by an overnight stay aboard a luxury junk in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay.

This wonderful tour then continues, via a short flight, to Siem Reap (Cambodia), the gateway to the amazing Angkor Archeological Park to experience tours of world-renowned sites such as Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, the Bayon and the newly-reopened Baphuon Temple.

The journey continues with a 7-night voyage along the Mekong River from Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), calling into the bustling capital of Phnom Penh and numerous points of historical and scenic interest, including Kampong Chhnang, Oudong, Tan Chau, Sa Dec, Xeo Quyt and Cai Be.

Along the way, guests visit floating markets, rainforests and Buddhist monasteries; ride an oxcart and a trishaw and participate in the delicate craft of rice-paper making.

The full 15-night land-cruise costs from £2,422 per person and includes hotel accommodation, excursions and all meals, wine, beer, local spirits and soft drinks with meals on board, while the seven-night cruise-only option costs from £1,060 per person, including excursions and drinks.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Wine & Tulips With AMA Waterways

AmaWaterways’ 2012 season of wine-themed cruises gets off to an auspicious start with a President’s Wine Cruise from March 29, featuring the Company’s Provence and Spain itinerary and the debut of the luxury river cruiser MS AmaDagio on the Rhone. 

The itinerary takes guests through some of France’s most renowned wine regions and includes complimentary wine-themed shore excursions and winery visits, onboard lectures, wine tastings and wine pairings at meals. Highlights are 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. 

The cruise is hosted by AMA President Rudi Schreiner and Executive Vice President Kristin Karst, accompanied by Carissa Chappellet of Chappellet Winery in Napa Valley and Archie McLaren, founder of the Central Coast Wine Classic.   

The Wine Cruise takes place from March 29 to April 5 on the Rhone from Arles to Lyon, and costs from £1,645pp based on two sharing a cabin, including port taxes and all meals, excluding flights.

Or you can take in the Dutch bulb fields in bloom in spring time and include a trip to the amazing Keukenhof Gardens, where there are millions of tulips creating a dazzling carpet of colour.  

AMA's seven-night Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle cruise from Amsterdam to Remich (Luxembourg) costs from £1,595pp per person for a French balcony cabin, departing on April 1, based on two sharing a cabin, including port taxes and all meals, excluding flights.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury river cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Into Africa - New Safari-Cruise With AMA Waterways

Here's a wonderful and thrilling new opportunity to combine a river-cruise with an African safari - the MS Zambezi Queen from AMA Waterways.

The luxury river-cruise line is marking its 10th anniversary in 2012 with the addition of an exclusive new ‘Africa Safaris and Wildlife Cruise’ programme, which includes a four-night cruise aboard the beautiful Zambezi Queen, specially-designed for wildlife viewing on the Chobe River in Botswana and Zambia.

The ship travels along the banks of Botswana's Chobe National Park, home to one of the densest populations of wildlife in Africa. Here, guests will encounter elephants, leopards, lions and buffalo on excursions by boat or open-air vehicle, a visit to a local village, an authentic dining experience and delicious cuisine on board, all preceded by a choice of three extensive land tours into the heart of Africa, from the expanses of the Serengeti to the awe-inspiring Kruger National Park and the towering landscape of Kilimanjaro.

Each tour concludes with two nights in Victoria Falls, one of the most magnificent sights in the world.

AMA's three new Africa itineraries, ‘Stars of Africa’, 'African Sunsets’ and 'Golden Trails of Africa’, range from 16 to 19 days, commencing in June 2012 with prices from £5622pp, excluding flights and transfers.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Hello everyone and just a few lines to thank you for all your support during the year. Steve has to go in to “Dry dock for refurbishment” over the holiday period and will be back in service on January 2nd.

However, there are loads of goodies already lined up, among which are a stunning safari/wildlife river cruise in East Africa from AMA Waterways, “Strictly Dancing” with P&O and new cruises in Antarctica and The Galapagos.

In the meantime, there are FREE copies of World of Cruising magazine on offer through the The Cruise Line’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheCruiseLine. All you have to do is ‘like’ the Facebook page and then send your postal address to info@cruiseline.co.uk and they’ll send one out in the post to you. Hurry whilst stocks last!

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to you all.

AMA Go Christmas Market Cruising

During November and December, AmaWaterways is offering the opportunity to cruise Europe’s finest Christmas markets from the comfort of a festive luxury river cruiser. As well as being able to shop for traditional crafts, gifts and decorations, guests on board this winter’s Christmas market cruises will enjoy a festive atmosphere as the ships are decorated with trees, garlands, swags and lights, and festive fun includes carolling performances, hot spiced mulled wine and seasonal entertainment.

Here are two prime examples:

Danube Christmas Market Cruise: This seven-night voyage sails between Nuremberg and Budapest, allowing guests time to browse the markets at Nuremberg, Regensberg, the numerous different markets in Vienna and finally in Budapest, where the ship cruises past the city’s dazzling Christmas illuminations. AmaWaterways has nine departures for this itinerary, which operates in both directions, on November 27 and December 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19. It costs from £995 (saving £381) per person, including breakfast, lunch, dinner with wine, soft drinks and beer, free wi-fi and use of on board bicycles.

Rhine Christmas Market Cruise: These voyages from Basel and Amsterdam (and vice versa) include the many and varied markets in Freiburg, Strasbourg, Worms, Rudesheim and Cologne, from the medieval themes of French Strasbourg to the pretty market in Rudesheim and the impressive display in Cologne, with more than 160 wooden stalls in the shadow of the magnificent Cathedral. AMA has five Rhine departures, every Saturday from November 26 to December 17 with prices from £1,285 (saving £91).

For more booking details, be sure to contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on this link.

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.

Big Saving On AMA's Danube Wine Appreciation Cruise

Learn the art of food and wine pairing, how to taste and choose fine wines and discover the history of wine growing on a 7-night luxury cruise in the company of British wine critic, journalist and television personality Jilly Goolden (above), who will be on board for the duration of the cruise.

Luxury river cruise operator AmaWaterways is offering UK guests a saving of £400pp off a luxury river cruise on board the luxurious AmaDolce, embarking in Vilshofen on November 14 and cruising to Budapest.

Jilly Goolden, known for her eccentric descriptions of wine that have included pear drops, liquorice and even rubber, presented BBC’s Food & Drink show for 18 years. She will join the picturesque `Romantic Danube’ cruise past rolling hillsides, vineyards and medieval castles, through Austria’s captivating Wachau Valley with highlights that include visits to Vienna and Budapest.

While on board, she will present her knowledge of local wines, host wine tastings, accompany guests on a wine-themed shore excursion and mingle freely with passengers during meals and in the ship’s public areas.

All presentations, wine tastings and excursions are complimentary to guests and are included in the 7-night cruise price, starting from £1195 per person, which also includes return UK flights, transfers, all meals, wine with dinner, free wi-fi and use of on-board bicycles.

See more at www.amawaterways.co.uk or wine the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Cruise & Shop on a Christmas Market Voyage

Why visit one Christmas Market, when you can take in several? This November and December luxury river cruise operator AmaWaterways is offering the opportunity to cruise Europe’s finest Christmas markets from the comfort of a festive five-star river cruiser.

As well as being able to shop for traditional crafts, gifts and Christmas decorations guests on board this winter’s Christmas market cruises will enjoy a festive atmosphere as the ships are decorated with Christmas trees, garlands, swags and lights, and festive fun includes carolling performances, hot spiced mulled wine and seasonal entertainment.

DANUBE CHRISTMAS MARKET CRUISES: AmaWaterways’ seven-night 'Christmas Time Cruise' sails between Nuremberg and Budapest allowing guests time to browse the markets at Nuremberg, Regensberg, the numerous different Christmas markets in Vienna and finally in Budapest, where the ship cruises past the city’s dazzling Christmas illuminations.

There are nine departures: November 27 and December 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19. The itinerary operates in both directions, Nuremberg-Budapest and Budapest-Nuremberg and costs from £995 (saving £381) per person, including breakfast, lunch, dinner with wine, soft drinks and beer, free wi-fi and free use of onboard bicycles.

RHINE CHRISTMAS MARKET CRUISES: AMA's 'Rhine Winter Voyages' from Basel and Amsterdam (and vice versa) include the many and varied Christmas markets in Freiburg, Strasbourg, Wurms, Rudesheim and Cologne, from the medieval themes of French Strasbourg to the pretty market in Rudesheim and the impressive display in Cologne, in the shadow of the magnificent cathedral with over 160 wooden stalls.

There are 5 departures weekly, every Saturday from November 26 until December 17, with prices from £1,145 (saving £231) including including breakfast, lunch, dinner with wine, soft drinks and beer, free wi-fi and free use of onboard bicycles.

See more at 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 (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.

AMA Launch Second Boat On The Mekong

Award-winning river cruise line AmaWaterways has launched its second new vessel on the Mekong River, the 124-passenger MS AmaLotus.

The 7-night maiden voyage set sail this week after a traditional Vietnamese praying ceremony at the shipyard. AmaLotus joins MS La Marguerite (2009) in providing distinctive river cruises from Siem Reap, Cambodia, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as part of the highly-popular “Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong” programme.

Featuring ultra-spacious 624sq ft Suites; 10 Junior Suites at 290sq ft and standard staterooms at 226sq ft, AmaLotus has outside balconies on 90 per cent of her staterooms.

The décor combines Colonial elegance with regional Khmer accents, with staterooms including comfortable sitting areas, individually controlled air-conditioning, a mini-bar, safety deposit box, kimonos and slippers and luxurious bathtub (in all Suites).

Guests enjoy fine dining consisting of both Asian and Western specialties; complimentary wine and beer at lunch and dinner with complimentary house-brand spirits and soft drinks throughout the cruise. Onboard highlights include folklore dances, musical performances and culture discussion forums. The ship also features two lounges, a fitness room, spa and gift shop.

Launched in 2009, the “Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong” river cruise and land programme includes two nights in vibrant Hanoi followed by an overnight aboard a luxury junk in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. A short flight then transports guests to Siem Reap, Cambodia, the gateway to the magnificent Angkor Archeological Park. A two-night stay there includes tours of world-renowned sites such as Angkor Wat, Terrace of the Elephants and newly-reopened Baphuon Temple.

From Siem Reap, guests embark on their 7-night odyssey along the Mekong River from Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City.

The 15-night land-cruise option costs from £2,422 per person and includes hotel accommodation, excursions and all meals, wine, beer and soft drinks with meals on board, and the seven night cruise-only option costs from £1,060, including excursions and drinks.

For more info, visit www.amawaterways.co.uk or the luxury 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.

AmaWaterways to Relocate AmaDagio to the Rhone

Award-winning river-cruise line AmaWaterways will relocate its beautiful 150-passenger MS AmaDagio to the Rhone River in Southern France at the start of the 2012 season. The ship will cruise a 7-night Lyon to Arles (and reverse) itinerary from late March through to the end of the year as part of the company’s popular “Provence” river cruise programme.

AmaWaterways President Rudi Schreiner said: “We are extremely happy our guests in France will be able to travel the Rhone on a ship that we custom-designed and built ourselves. The AmaDagio will enable us to deliver the premium onboard experience and provide the same high level of amenities and services our passengers have come to expect from a cruise on the Danube and Rhine.”

Highlights of the “Provence” cruise itinerary include excursions to the renowned Beaujolais wine region; visits to a winery, local market and olive farm; tours of Roman ruins; and overnights in the UNESCO Heritage sites of Avignon and Arles, where guests will experience the Provencal landscape that inspired poets, painters and writers for centuries.



A week’s `Best of Provence’ sailing on board AmaDagio in 2012 costs from £1,654 per person, based on two sharing, including all meals, wine with dinner, complimentary use of onboard bicycles, free Wi-Fi and infotainment centre and daily escorted tours.



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

Luxury Late River-Cruise Deal with AMA Waterways

How's this for a great late, late offer for a river-cruise? Admittedly, we do get a lot of them here at World of Cruising, but this is definitely worth passing on for the saving involved (more than 50 per cent), sailing with luxury operator AMA Waterways, and departing next Monday. Full details as follows:

8th August: £900pp saving off luxury Danube river cruise

Luxury river cruise operator AmaWaterways is offering a last-minute £900pp saving off a 7-night Danube River cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg sailing through Vienna, Durnstein, Melk, Passau and Regensburg, departing 8th August, with prices now from £863 per person (usually £1,763 per person), including all meals, champagne breakfasts, wine with dinner and complimentary shore excursions.

See more at www.amawaterways.co.uk or contact the river-cruise agents at The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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.

Introducing MS AmaCerto

As a continuation of its investment in custom-designed, state-of-the-art, luxury river cruisers, award-winning AmaWaterways has announced the newest addition to its fleet: MS AmaCerto. The twin-hulled ship will debut in Europe in April, 2012, with exciting features that are not only new to Ama's fleet, but to river cruising generally.

This deluxe, 164-passenger ves­sel incorporates the most advanced design, offering spa­cious staterooms featuring two balconies; a heated swimming pool; and multiple fine dining venues.

Most staterooms will have an innovative ‘twin balcony’ - Ama's hallmark of French balconies, as well as a step-out balcony where guests can sit and watch the river scenery drift slowly by. The most deluxe category, the 350sq ft Suite, features a separate sitting area, large bathroom with separate bathtub, as well as two balconies.

Every stateroom aboard AmaCerto will also feature Ama's exclusive Infotainment system, which includes complimentary Internet access and first-run Hollywood movies, plus complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the vessel.

Public areas include a spacious Main Lounge and Observation Lounge at the forward section of the vessel, as well as an elevator, 24-hour speciality coffee and tea, lounge, fitness centre and sauna, and a massage, hair and beauty salon. Like the other custom-built ‘Ama’ ships, the new vessel will carry a fleet of bicycles for guests to use in port.

One of the most innovative features is the amount of deck space. There are teak loungers on the Sun Deck, as well as a giant chess board, heated pool, whirlpools and a walking track. But this ship also has a Lower Sun Deck and a teak Front Deck, each offering a different vantage point for enjoying the glorious scenery along the Rhine and Danube.

AmaCerto will also offer more dining options than any other ship in Europe. As well as the main dining room, guests can try the Erlebnis Chef’s Table Restaurant, where a private chef will prepare a special tasting menu. Light lunches will be served in the lounge as an alternative to the dining room, while the Wine Room, another unique feature, will seat up to 12 guests for a private dinner. On fine days, lunch will be served on the Sun Deck.

AmaCerto will sail on the Mosel, Rhine, Main and Danube in 2012. A seven-night cruise on 1April 12 costs from £1,591, including full board, all excursions, internet access, wine with dinner, evening entertainment, use of the ship’s fleet of bicycles in port and port charges. Flights are extra.

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

Wine-Tasting On The Danube with AMA Waterways

For the first time, AMA Waterways is offering UK guests a wine-themed river cruise hosted by a British celebrity when renowned wine critic, journalist and television personality Jilly Goolden comes on board the cruise line’s luxurious AmaDolce for a Danube cruise from Vilshofen to Budapest on November 14.

Goolden, known for her eccentric descriptions of wine that have included pear drops, liquorice and even rubber, presented BBC’s `Food & Drink’ show for 18 years. She went on to write a series of books on wine and food, and to appear in a number of TV shows, including the fifth series of `I’m a Celebrity – Get me out of here.’

Goolden will join guests on AMA's picturesque `Romantic Danube’ voyage past rolling hillsides, vineyards and medieval castles, through Austria’s captivating Wachau Valley with highlights that include visits to Vienna and Budapest.

While on board, she will present her knowledge of local wines, host wine tastings, accompany guests on a wine-themed shore excursion and mingle with passengers during meals and in the ship’s public areas.

All presentations, wine tastings and excursions are complimentary to guests and are included in the 7-night cruise price, starting from £1,376, which also includes all meals, wine with dinner, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles.

The cruise is one of a series of wine-themed cruises offered by AMA in October and November, timed to coincide with the harvest. The cruises will showcase Europe’s wine regions on the Rhine, Mosel and Danube, and, in addition to Goolden, will feature hosts such as Anthony Dias Blue, one of America's most influential wine, food and lifestyle personalities, and representatives from the Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma, and winemakers from the St. Francis Winery and Vineyards in Santa Rosa and Trinchero Napa Valley.

Itineraries include complimentary onboard lectures, wine tastings and excursions to historic vineyards and cellars. Passengers will also enjoy special wine-themed excursions, such as a Medieval Wine Fest in the Mosel town of Zell; a traditional “Heuriger” tasting of new wine in the villages of Grinzing and Neustift on the outskirts of Vienna; a tour and tasting at the historic Bergweiler Winery in Bernkastel; an introduction to Alsatian wines at the “Wunsch et Mann” winery in Wettolsheim and an unforgettable candlelit evening and wine tasting at the Hofkeller, or cellar of the famous Residenz in Wurzburg.

Each of the distinctive wine-themed activities is complimentary and open to all passengers.

For more info, look up www.amawaterways.co.uk or contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

MS AmaKatarina's Russian Debut

The newest addition to AMA Waterways’ award-winning river cruise fleet, the 212-passenger MS AmaKatarina celebrated its inaugural “Russian Waterways” itinerary from Moscow to St. Petersburg on May 10 with an 11-night sailing through the heart of Russia. The ship provides the most luxurious and spacious accommodations on Russia’s famed Volga-Baltic Waterway.

Completely redesigned and rebuilt from the hull up, AmaKatarina features outside balconies in 76 of her 106 staterooms and suites ranging up to 432sq ft in size.

The ship's modern, upscale décor is evident in her staterooms, which feature a sitting area, bathroom with separate shower, a refrigerator, hairdryer, safe and telephone (onboard communications). Spacious public areas include a beautiful Panorama Lounge; Conference Hall for onboard entertainment/lectures; Solarium and Gift Shop. An American chef with extensive experience in Russia oversees onboard dining.

AmaKatarina also features two separate dining venues, including a beautiful Main Restaurant with panoramic views of riverside scenery. Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks are served with dinner, bottled water is replenished in staterooms daily and speciality coffees are available throughout the day. The ship also has Internet access; a fitness centre on the Sun Deck; a hair dresser and masseuse; an elevator reaching all four decks and an onboard physician.

Guests aboard the 11-night itinerary between Moscow and St Petersburg experience an unforgettable cruise into the heart of Russia, from bustling Moscow to the enchanting Golden Ring cities of Uglich and Yaroslavl to the splendours of St Petersburg.

Highlights include visits to the Kremlin, the Hermitage Museum, a day boat luncheon cruise on the Moscow River; an exclusive ballet performance at the Hermitage Theatre and a specially-arranged visit to the home of a local Russian family in Uglich. During the cruise, guests will enjoy onboard music performances and Russian language classes, as well as lectures from experts on topics such as Russia’s history, culture, art, politics and economy.

The Russian Waterways cruise costs from £2,249 per person, including 11 nights’ accommodation; all meals as detailed on the itinerary; wine with dinner; complimentary soft drinks, mineral water and speciality coffee; all shore excursions as featured on the itinerary; and port charges. Price excludes flights and transfers.

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