Holidays by rail and river
Great Rail Journeys, the UK’s market leader for escorted holidays by rail, has launched its 2011 River Cruising by Rail programme featuring 16 different cruises.
“By partnering with specialist cruise lines and even individual vessels, we’re able to offer real choice not only in terms of itineraries and ships – from three- to five-star – but also a choice of cruise styles”, says marketing manager Richard Adams.
“The programme features everything from a French hotel-barge for a leisurely cruise on the Seine to a luxurious five-star vessel on the Danube, which is fully-inclusive not only of gourmet meals with wine but all the shore excursions.”
The operator also believes that their expertise adds an extra dimension to a River Cruise. “The ‘no fly’ travel option is gaining in popularity,” says Adams, “but our carefully-timed journeys are not just about ‘getting there’ – they are an integral part of the holiday.”
The operator chooses departures from London St Pancras for daylight journeys, with overnight hotel stops arranged if necessary. “Rail travel allows for a civilised, relaxing start to the holiday, including time to meet your fellow travellers and in some cases discover another destination en route,” says Adams.
For example, a new ‘Premium Danube Cruise’ on the five-star Amadolce (or other sister ships of the AMA Waterways line) between Nuremburg and Budapest is an experience in itself, with luxurious facilities, gourmet meals with wine and daily shore excursions all included. Add Great Rail Journeys’ arrangements for First Class rail travel from London, a five-star hotel stay before the cruise, additional meals and the services of a Tour Manager throughout and the exclusive nature of this 10-day holiday is evident. Departures available between May and September 2011, with prices from £2,325 per person based on two sharing.
Closer to home, a seven-day ‘Romance of the Seine Cruise’ on the intimate hotel-barge Anacoluthe includes excursions to Giverny, historic Mantes, Chateau Vaux le Vicomte, the Conflans St Honorine and the Sèvres porcelain museum and plant. Full board, featuring regional specialities and wines, is also included in the price, which starts at £1,198 per person, twin share. There are 12 departure dates between April and October 2011.
And in the UK, a new ‘Highlands & Islands Cruise’ starts by discovering Inverness and Loch Ness before taking one of Europe’s most scenic railway journeys on the Kyle Line through the Scottish Highlands to Kyle of Lochalsh, to board the MV Lord of the Glens for a five-day cruise of the Western Isles, and at last returning to Inverness by rail. With departures in June and September 2011, the cost of the eight-day holiday is £1,225 per person, twin share.
Great Rail Journeys has just become an Associate Member of the Passenger Shipping Association, underlining the operator’s commitment to developing its cruise programme with selected partners.
For more information, visit GreatRail.com/Cruises.