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.

Great Springtime River Cruise Offers From Swan Hellenic

With the popularity of river cruises surging, Swan Hellenic is proud to offer a selection of diverse itineraries next spring from as little as £1,525 per person. The rich mix of culture and history can be easily enjoyed at a leisurely pace on one of the elegant vessels from the A-Rosa fleet.

Take your pick between the Rhone or Danube and discover the heart of Europe, visiting its famous abbeys, palaces and cultural hotspots. With plenty to see and do, find out for yourself why river cruising is fast becoming the preferred alternative holiday.

Cruising the Danube – Sail from £1,525 per person; price includes return flights to Munich, transfers and a 8-day cruise departing from Passau (Germany) and calling at Melk (Austria), Esztergom (Hungary), Budapest (Hungary), Bratislava (Slovakia), Vienna (Austria) and Durnstein (Austria) before returning to Passau. Price is based on April 29 departure.

Cruising the Rhone – Sail from £1,725 per person; price includes return flights or rail, transfers and a 8-day cruise departing from Lyon and calling at Chalon-sur-Saone, Tournus, Mâcon (overnight), Viviers, Arles, Avignon (overnight) and Vienne before returning to Lyon (overnight). Price is based on May 19 departure. 

Prices for all cruises include meals and entertainment on board, meals, entertainment, gratuities and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

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

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.

A Luxury Hotel Barge Cruise

A cruise through Provence with European Waterways aboard luxury 8-passenger hotel barge Enchanté is genuinely like no other. After some Spring cruises along the 300-year-old Canal du Midi, she embarks in June on a series of delightful cruises through Provence, known for its gorgeous climate and fine cuisine.

Passengers joining Enchanté for any of these 6-night cruises along the Canal du Rhône à Sete can be sure of a fascinating voyage of discovery, whichever itinerary they choose.

On the Beziers and Aigues Mortes cruise, they will visit Pezenas, home of the playwright Moliere and cruise through the Camargue National Park, with its wild horses and pink flamingoes. On the Agde to Avignon route, highlights will include a cruise across the Thau Basin, an inland seawater lagoon full of oyster beds, and a tour of the impressive Palais des Papes in Avignon itself.

And on the Avignonto Marseillan voyage, there will be an excursion to see the amazing three-tiered Pont du Gard aqueduct built by the Romans, and a private wine tasting in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. To really make it a special cruise, passengers will enjoy gourmet Provencale cuisine prepared by their onboard chef and fine local wines.

Prices for an all-inclusive 6-night cruise aboard Enchanté start from £3,300pp in an air-conditioned, en suite cabin, and from £23,500 for a full boat charter. The price includes gourmet meals, fine wines, an open bar, all excursions and local transfers.

For more info, visit http://www.gobarging.com/ or contact the luxury cruise specialists 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 Waterways Offers - Save Up To £867pp

AmaWaterways have cut the cost of a 7-night luxury river cruise through Holland's spectacular bulb-fields, departing on April 1, to £1,299pp, saving £624pp (was £1,923). The spring flowers are at their best from mid-March through to mid-May, and this is the perfect time to discover the beauty and history of the Dutch and Belgian waterways. Prices include all meals, champagne breakfasts and wine with dinner; free Wi-Fi and free use of onboard bicycles and daily excursions.

A 7-night cruise on May 1 and 7 along the Rhine and Moselle, from Amsterdam to Luxembourg visiting Cologne, enjoying wine-tasting in Rudesheim, passing half timbered towns and villages, castles andvineyards, can now be booked from £953pp, saving £867pp (again including all meals, wine with dinner, free Wi-Fi, use of on board bicycles and daily excursions).

Departing May 14, there are savings of £348 off a 7-night Rhone River cruise from Arles to Lyon, with prices from £1479 per person (was £1827). The sailing cruises to Avignon through beautiful wine-growing regions producing grapes for famous wines as Beaujolais, Côte du Rhône and Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Or try a June 3 river cruise along the Rhine and Moselle, again on the Luxembourg-Amsterdam route, from £956pp, saving £871pp (was £1827).

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

AMA Waterways River Cruise Offers

The following offers from AMA Waterways are now available.

3rd April, 1st & 7th May: Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle, saving up to £867pp

A 7-night luxury river cruise along the Rhine and Moselle, from Amsterdam to Luxembourg, visiting Cologne, with wine tasting in Rudesheim, passing half-timbered towns and villages, castles and vineyards, can now be booked from £824pp, saving £738pp (was £1562), departing on 3rd April, or on 1st May for £953pp, saving £867, and on 7th May for £925, saving £838. Prices include all meals, champagne breakfasts and wine with dinner; free Wi-Fi and free use of on board bicycles and daily excursions.

14th May: Lavender, Wine and the Rhone with £348pp saving

Departing 14th May, this 7-night Rhone River cruise from Aries to Lyon now costs from £1479 per person (was £1827pp), fully inclusive. The sailing departs from Aries and cruises to Avignon through beautiful wine-growing regions producing grapes for famous wines like Beaujolais, Côte du Rhône and Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

3rd June: Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle with £871 saving per person

This 7-night luxury cruise along the Rhine and Moselle, from Luxembourg to Amsterdam and visiting Cologne, with wine-tasting in Rudesheim, can now be booked from £956pp, saving £871pp (was £1827).

30th July: Europe's Rivers and Castles with £839pp saving

Another 7-night Rhine cruise is now from £924 per person (was £1763pp). The cruise begins in scenic Nuremberg and meanders through Europe’s most beautiful scenery along the Mosel, Rhine, Main and Main-Danube Canal, concluding in Luxembourg. Again, the price includes all meals, champagne breakfasts and wine with dinner, free Wi-Fi, use of onboard bicycles and daily excursions.

For more details, visit the river-cruise agents of The Cruise Line or http://www.amawaterways.co.uk/

More Savings With AMA Waterways

AMA Waterways have some really good savings on offer for the spring and early summer. Departing on April 4, with a saving of £153pp off a 7-night cruise of the Dutch and Belgian waterways, now costs from £1,409pp (was £1,562pp), including all meals, champagne breakfasts and free-flowing wine with dinner, free wifi and free use of onboard bicycles and daily excursions. The 'Tulip Time' cruise passes carpets of colourful flowers and lush green countryside dotted with windmills, while the tours take in historic towns and cities, including the medieval cities of Antwerp and Ghent.

A 7-night luxury spring river cruise on one of Europe’s most beautiful rivers, the Rhine River, departs May 7 and can now be booked for £924pp (was £1,763), saving £839pp. The cruise departs from Amsterdam and meanders along the Rhine, through Cologne to Luxembourg, and includes all meals, excursions, etc.

Departing May 14, AMA has savings of £348pp off a 7-night Rhone River cruise from Aries to Lyon, with prices now from £1,479 per person (was £1827pp), again including all meals, wine with dinner, etc. The sailing departs from Aries and cruises to Avignon through beautiful wine-growing regions where such famous wines as Beaujolais, Côte du Rhône and Chateauneuf-du-Pape originate.

Departing on July 30, there are savings of £839 off a 7-night Rhine cruise, now £924 per person (was £1763pp). The cruise begins in scenic Luxembourg and meanders through some beautiful scenery along the Mosel, Rhine, Main and Main-Danube Canal, concluding in Nuremburg. The price again is all-inclusive of meals, champagne breakfasts, wine with dinner, wifi and use of on board bicycles and daily excursions.

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

More River-Cruise Choice

It seems river cruises are definitely the flavour of the month. No sooner do I detail the great advantages of this option compared to their big-ship, ocean-going brethren, than a new operation arrives dedicated to river cruising.

US-based Avalon Waterways is now available to a UK audience for the first time, bringing another array of high-quality riverboats to the attention (and availability) of an interested public. A new British office, website and countrywide marketing, highlight their drive to broaden their passenger base - and make river-cruising even more popular.

To start with, Avalon boast one of the youngest fleets in Europe, with eight boats dating back no longer than 2004 and two more due to come on line in 2010. They feature six main European rivers (Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Main, Rhone and Seine), as well as a range of themed cruises, and their newest six are powered by a state of the art, pod-propulsion, Silent Drive System. Two of their vessels, Avalon Poetry and Artistry, feature aft navigational bridges, which earned them an innovative design award as they allowed for more spacious public rooms and a Sky Deck.

Since their inauguration in 2004, Avalon have earned an enviable reputation for outstanding service, cuisine and onboard style, as well as featuring an attractive array of itineraries from 4-15 days (although most are in the 10-12 day range).

It's no wonder UK Managing Director Alan MacLean says: “Having become the most recognised and fastest growing river cruise brand in the world, we are delighted to launch our first class product on to the UK Market. River cruising is definitely bucking the trend in the recent economic downturn, being enjoyed by a largely recession-proof sector of the population who are prepared to pay for the highest level of quality and service.”

Their staterooms are currently the largest available on European rivers, from 172sq ft for standard rooms to a massive (by river-cruise standards) 258sq ft for suites. Virtually all have floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with French balconies, affording panoramic views of the areas they cruise through. They are also superbly appointed, with state-of-the-art amenities and décor, such as flatscreen satellite TVs, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens and individual climate control.

Their high-class cuisine is prepared by an impressive range of chefs, who include classic dishes and regional specialities, while the full board arrangement includes complimentary regional wine with dinner, taking advantage of the numerous classic varieties to be found close to Europe’s principal rivers.

Importantly, most excursions are also included, with personal headsets provided for all guided tours ashore. To add to the first class experience, Avalon offers complimentary round-trip door-to-home pick-up service in chauffeur-driven executive cars within 75 miles of the chosen international departure airport or Eurostar station.

If all that doesn't tempt you, then wait for the prices, which are all extremely value-conscious, especially for continental Europe (try getting four-star full-board accommodation in Germany, France or Austria for £160 a day!):

Prices for 2010 start from £915 for the five day ‘Taste of the Danube’ cruise on board Avalon Tapestry. Other itineraries include the ‘Legendary Danube’ (Prague-Budapest, 10 days from £1635), ‘Danube & Black Sea Coast’ (Prague-Bucharest, 13 days from £2949), ‘Romantic Rhine’ (Basel-Amsterdam, 8 days from £1369), ‘Burgundy & Provence’ (Cote d’Azur-Paris, 11 days from £1669), ‘European Splendour’ (Vienna-Amsterdam, 13 days from £1789) and the ‘Central European Experience’ (Paris-Prague, 12 days from £1955).

For music and wine connoisseurs there is also a range of themed cruises on specific departures such as the Burgundy & Provence Wine cruise or the Magnificent Europe Music Cruise with shore excursions to include a Strauss concert in Vienna, an organ recital in Melk and a visit to the Opera House in Bayreuth.

Interested yet? It certainly gets my attention, and the Danube & Black Sea Coast would definitely be my idea of a memorable trip. Now, where's their phone number...........!