Uniworld Launches New Douro Spirit

This week, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ new ship, the Douro Spirit (above), made its debut on the "Portugal, Spain and Douro Valley” itinerary.

The Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage region, is being increasingly recognised for its wine making and natural beauty, reflected in an impressive 80% growth in UK river cruisers in 2010 over 2009, according to recent figures from the Passenger Shipping Association.

Its port heritage dates back over 2,000 years, with the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. The Douro Valley is also a cultural landscape of exceptional beauty, with rambling vineyards and charming quintas clinging to the steep slopes of its valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions. And this is what you can expect to see and experience from the comfort of Douro Spirit.

Every riverview stateroom and suite onboard features a French balcony, so guests can get closer to the breathtaking scenery of the region’s unspoiled natural landscapes. The Spirit’s common areas provide added comfort with a main lounge featuring a full-service bar and dance floor, a restaurant, sun deck with jacuzzi and small swimming pool, a lovely onboard restaurant with open seating, fitness room, massage room, beauty salon and a boutique.

And all of this is presented on an intimate ship built to accommodate a maximum of 128 passengers and provide the small-ship boutique ambience that Uniworld has become known for.

The 11-day "Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley" cruise includes: three nights in Lisbon at a deluxe hotel; a 7-night cruise in a stateroom with a French balcony onboard Douro Spirit; all meals, with complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks served with dinner onboard; 10 fully-hosted shore excursions by English-speaking local guides; return flights and transfers. Prices start at just £2,499 per person.

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

Save up to £1,450 per person on a cruise to Prague

To celebrate the New Year, luxury boutique river-cruise line Uniworld is offering some fantastic discounts. Save up to £1,450 per person with the ‘Manager’s Discount’ on the Treasures of Prague cruise that goes along the Rhine and Main rivers, if booked by January 31. This is a wonderful opportunity to see some of the most beautiful parts of Central Europe, as well as the fabled city of Prague, the ‘City of Spires’.

There are also other remarkable discounts available, with cruises on the Imperial Waterways of Russia, the enchanting Danube, Portugal , Spain and the Douro river, Castles along the Rhine, Paris and Normandy and Burgundy and Provence. Book by January 31 and you can look to savef up to £900 with the Manager’s Special Discount and from £150 if made before March 31.

Remember that the Uniworld ships are some of the most luxurious sailing the rivers of Europe and have the only Zagat-rated restaurants on the waterways. Other points of distinction include private car door-to-door transfer service, flights from your choice of departure airport and luxuriously appointed riverview staterooms. An added attraction for single people is that many cruises are now available without having to pay a singles supplement.

Check out http://www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk/ or contact the river-cruise specialists at The Cruise Line Ltd.

River Cruising Through Spain and Portugal.

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is proud to announce its new luxury ship, the Douro Spirit, which will sail along Portugal and Spain’s UNESCO World Heritage Douro River. In 2011, the beautiful Spirit will be the most elegant ship to sail through the magnificent Douro River Valley.

The Douro Valley is a cultural landscape of exceptional beauty, with rambling vineyards and charming quintas clinging to the steep slopes of its valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions. And this is what guests can expect to see and experience from the comfort of Douro Spirit.

Every river-view stateroom and suite features a French balcony, so guests can get closer than ever to the breathtaking scenery of the region’s unspoiled natural landscapes. Staterooms and suites also feature fine linens, built-in closets, flat-screen televisions with satellite, and complimentary bottled water. Each bathroom is stocked with L’Occitane bath and body products and cosy waffle bathrobes.

Explore the seven hills of cosmopolitan Lisbon, uncovering a treasure trove of Old World architecture. Visit Coimbra, the “Birthplace of Kings”; Porto, the beautiful “City of Bridges” with its UNESCO World Heritage-designated Medieval city centre; Guimãres, which also has its own UNESCO-listed Medieval city centre; and Salamanca, Spain, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Taste a variety of wonderful local wines from village vineyards, including the famed Port. Feast on a traditional meal at the Alpendurada Monastery; enjoy an authentic Spanish-style lunch complete with a flamenco show and dine at the Vintage House Hotel, a magnificent18th-century wine quinta overlooking the Douro. And, all along the way, uncover a land of genuine beauty and breathtaking charm, and meet warm-hearted, friendly people with welcoming open arms.

Uniworld’s 11-day Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley Cruise includes: three nights in Lisbon at a deluxe hotel with breakfast; a seven-night cruise in a stateroom with a French balcony onboard the Douro Spirit; all meals with complimentary fine wine, beer, and soft drinks served with dinner onboard; ten fully hosted shore excursions by English-speaking local guides; and transfers on arrival and departure days.

For more information, visit http://www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk/ or call the river-cruise agents of the UK's top cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

The Best Read At Sea!

Calling all cruise fans! And yes, that means YOU!

The new (Autumn) edition of World of Cruising magazine is now out, and is also available for viewing online.

So be sure to check it out for a fabulous in-depth look at the Panama Canal, River Cruising on the Douro River in Portugal and Spain, a preview of the mighty Oasis of the Seas of Royal Caribbean, a farewell to Fred. Olsen's old faithful Black Prince and much, much more besides.