A Volga Adventure with eWaterways

eWaterways the niche and river cruise experts have a new itinerary for 2012 on Europe’s largest and longest river - the Volga. The exceptional 11-day Russian Cruise-and-Stay package takes place on the Volga Dream, a well-appointed ship which journeys along this emblematic river and other important waterways to Russia’s ‘Golden Ring’ cities.



Starting in Peter the Great’s ‘Window on the West’ St Petersburg and ending in the medieval yet modern capital Moscow, this cruise promises a real exploration of this vast country’s vistas, history and culture.



The all-inclusive Volga Discovery Holiday is crammed with excursions, informative tours and the best of Russian cuisine. The impressive programme includes visits to the remarkable Palace Square and a tour of the Hermitage Museum at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg; a tour of the magnificent Church of the Transfiguration with its 22 ‘onion’ domes on Kizhi Island; a trip to the Cyrilo-Belozersky Monastery in Goritsy and the 16th-century Monastery of the Transfiguration and Church of Elijah the Prophet in Yaroslavl, as well as a city tour of the beautiful 10th century town Uglich - all before a visit to the renowned Kremlin, the Flea Market and the Dmitry Blood Church in Moscow.



The Volga Dream accommodates just 109 passengers in 56 well-appointed, spacious cabins, each of which feature a window, individually controlled air-conditioning, satellite flat-screen televisions, mini-bars and a welcome fruit basket. With a crew of 60, including an expert tour guide, the standard of service is impeccable.



One of the highlights is the onboard dining experience. With the à la carte evening dinner taking a different theme everyday, the Chef brings fine dining to each guest night after night. From the fresh steamed sturgeon to a rack of lamb or steak au poivre, tiger prawns and authentic Russian Borsch, every meal is a chance to marvel at the culinary excellence of the kitchen. The onboard facilities include a single sitting dining room where complimentary wine is served with meals, a chic lounge and bar, fitness centre, spa treatments and library with internet access.



The 11-day Volga Discovery Cruise will run from May-September 2012. Prices start at £2,059 per person (including taxes), which includes 5-star hotel stays in Moscow (2 nights) and St Petersburg (2 nights), a 6-night deluxe cruise aboard the Volga Dream (full board basis), all transfers, tours and excursions, house wine and soft drinks with meals onboard and lunches and dinners in local restaurants. Flights and visas are not included.



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

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.

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.

Two AMAWATERWAYS river cruise ships to debut in 2011

River cruise operator AmaWaterways, known for its innovative ships and itineraries, is launching two state-of-the-art river cruisers in 2011.

In September 2011, the brand-new MS AmaLotus will join AmaWaterways’ first Mekong vessel, MS La Marguerite, to sail the ‘Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong’ itinerary. 

The décor of AmaLotus will combine colonial elegance with local artefacts and regional Mekong touches. The ship features all-outside accommodations and deluxe 226 sq. ft. staterooms with all the amenities of a fine hotel. Some 90 percent of staterooms have a private outside balcony, while suites, at 624 sq. ft., provide the ultimate in onboard pampering.

AmaLotus features a restaurant serving Asian and Western specialties as well as an authentic Vietnamese ‘Lau’ (Hot Pot) dining facility. In addition, there is a beautiful lounge, gift shop, spa, fitness room and sauna. The expansive Sun Deck is a haven for relaxation, where passengers can mingle and observe the unforgettable Mekong scenery from comfortable lounge chairs; take a dip in the outdoor swimming pool or enjoy a cool drink from the Sun Deck bar. 

AmaLotus makes its debut on September 5, 2011 and will sail seven-night Mekong river cruises from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Prices start from £1,224 per person, including all meals on the ship, port charges, all shore excursions as detailed in the itinerary, free-flowing wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner, bottled water in every stateroom and a rich programme of entertainment, from local dancing and music performances to themed dinner and cultural lectures. Flights are extra and a 15 night land-cruise itinerary can also be booked with AmaWaterways from £2442 per person, including two nights in Hanoi, an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay, 3 nights in Siem Reap, the seven night Mekong cruise and a two night stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

Contact AmaWaterways on 0808 223 5009, www.amawaterways.co.uk

The completely redesigned MS AmaKatarina will be inaugurated on May 10, 2011, debuting as the most luxurious vessel on the Volga-Baltic Waterway travelling from St. Petersburg to Moscow.  The AmaKatarina is being rebuilt starting from the hull and designed to meet AmaWaterways’ demanding specifications. The ship is unequalled in terms of spaciousness, accommodations and enticing public areas. The only luxury vessel in Russia featuring outside balconies in over 70 percent of its staterooms, AmaKatarina’s four suite categories range in size from 280 to 432 sq. ft.  All 76 staterooms feature a sitting area, a refrigerator, hair dryer, safe, TV and phone (onboard communications only) and bottled water is replenished daily.   

Stunning public areas aboard AmaKatarina include two dining rooms offering complimentary wine and soft drinks at dinner; a beautiful Panorama Lounge; bar/nightclub; conference hall and solarium. The ship also features an elevator, gift shop, infirmary and Internet access. 

Prices start from £2,249 per person for 11 nights, including full board on the voyage; free-flowing wine and fruit juice during dinner; bottled water in every cabin; detailed excursion programme; a ballet performance at the Hermitage Theatre in St Petersburg; cultural entertainment and musical performances on board; lectures; Russian language classes; and port charges. Flights are extra.

AmaWaterways produces a dedicated brochure for the UK, with sterling pricing. Visit  www.amawaterways.co.uk, or The Cruise Line

River Cruising at its finest

Experienced travellers agree that a European river cruise is one of the most enjoyable and hassle-free ways to explore Europe's castles, cathedrals and picturesque villages. And, with AMAWaterways, your opportunities to discover the very best these destinations have to offer are almost endless.

Travel along the famous rivers of Europe with a Rhine and Danube river cruise and discover fascinating history and authentic experiences with comprehensive sightseeing, plus your own exploration. It's a simple way to travel and you're in the middle of the action, not seeing it from afar. Plus there's plenty of time to unwind. Think of this as your own personal journey of discovery through Europe.

The company has 16 cruises in Europe alone, and that's before you start looking into their St Petersburg to Moscow and their Cambodia and Vietnam Mekong river cruises.

For more information, visit http://www.amawaterways.com/ or contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Uniworld Back to Russia

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection will be re-entering the Russian market in 2011 with the launch of the completely refurbished River Victoria (above) projected to be one of the most beautiful and comfortable ships to sail the Volga River.

Uniworld has a long history of operating in Russia but company exited the market in 2010 because the quality of the ship and onboard services did not meet their high standards. Now, the totally refurbished Victoria will incorporate the planning and design themes from Uniworld’s sister company, the award-winning Red Carnation Hotel Collection.

The river-view staterooms and suites offer individual climate-control thermostats, telephones, flat-screen satellite TVs and bathrooms stocked with high-quality bath and body products. Staterooms and suites on the Neva and Volga decks have full private balconies to view Russia’s many gems along the Volga River.

The River Victoria’s common areas are being designed for their guests’ total comfort and enjoyment. The Chagall Lounge offers a full-service bar and dance floor; the Katarina Bar features an outdoor patio; and the Pushkin Restaurant has stunning panoramic views.

The ship also offers a sun deck patio with lounge chairs, a fitness room and massage room, a boutique, a library/reading room, a complimentary 24-hour speciality coffee and tea bar and Wi-Fi access in public areas.

Guests can experience all of the comfort and elegance of the River Victoria on Uniworld’s exciting Imperial Waterways of Russia itinerary. This 13-day journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg uncovers some of the world’s finest art and architecture, as well as tucked-away villages with Old World charm and warm, friendly people.

From Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Hermitage Museum to the white stone churches of Uglich and Yaroslavl, this cruise brings guests up close to the rich traditions and royal history of Russia.

Prices start from £3,075 per person, including return scheduled flights and UK door-to-door private car airport transfers, and, by booking and paying in full by October 31, guests can enjoy savings of £800 per couple off their cruise.

Find out more at http://www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk/ or check with the river-cruise specialists at The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.