Top ten river cruises for 2012
River cruising offers the perfect way to enjoy some of the world’s most iconic sights and events, without having to check into and out of hotels; guests only unpack once and the luxurious accommodation moves through Europe’s waterways from city to town, half-timbered village through gorges, valleys and vineyards, whilst dining to gourmet standards.
Award-winning cruise operator, AwaWaterways’ selects their top ten river cruises for 2012, chosen for their cultural enrichment, specialist interest and access to spectacular sightseeing.
1. In celebration of wine river cruises, 29th March 2012
AmaWaterways’ 2012 season of wine themed cruises gets off to an auspicious start with a President’s Wine Cruise from 29th March 2012, 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 AmaWaterways’ 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 President’s Wine Cruise takes place from 29th March 5th April, 2012 on the Rhone River from Arles to Lyon, France and costs from £1645pp based on two sharing a cabin, including port taxes and all meals, excluding flights.
2. Last chance to book a blooming good river cruise April 2012
See the Dutch bulb fields in bloom in spring time and include a trip to the Keukenhof Gardens where there are millions of tulips creating a dazzling carpet of colour.
AmaWaterways’ seven-night Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle cruise from Amsterdam to Remich (Luxembourg) costs from £1595pp per person for a French balcony cabin, departing on 1st April 2012, based on two sharing a cabin, including port taxes and all meals, excluding flights.
3. Garden lovers cruise, April - October
Keen gardeners should seize the opportunity to visit the Floriade World Horticultural Expo in the Netherlands between 5th April and 7th October 2012 on a choice of four AmaWaterways’ luxury river cruise itineraries. The show, which only takes place every ten years, covers 66 hectares of parkland and comprises 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. AmaWaterways’ seven-night Enchanting Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basel departs on 19th April and costs from £1,459 per person including all meals, free-flowing wine with dinner, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles, excluding flights.
4. Romantic city break cruise, 31st May
River cruising means seeing more in less time, never having to unpack or re-pack. Three of Europe’s most spectacular and historic cities are included on AmaWaterways’ Legendary Danube cruise. Visit Austria’’s capital, Vienna, during 2012 when the city is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gustav Klimt, the Slovak capital of Bratislava, with its historic castle and medieval streets, and the Hungarian capital, Budapest, divided into the old and the new by the mighty Danube.
AmaWaterways’ seven-night Romantic Danube cruises from Vilshofen to Budapest, cruise through Germany and Austria and visit Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. The cruise departs on 31st May and costs from £1895 (was £2323) per person including return flights, transfers, all meals, free-flowing wine with dinner, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles.
5. Jewish Heritage themed cruise
Trace the Jewish heritage of the Danube from the comfort of a luxury river cruiser, 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. 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 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 `Jewish Heritage’ Blue Danube cruise between Budapest and Nuremberg, departing 17th October 2012,, costs from £1775 per person including all meals, free-flowing wine with dinner, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles, excluding flights.
6. Into Africa for a new, safari-cruise in June 2012
AmaWaterways marks its tenth 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 MS Zambezi Queen, specially-designed for wildlife viewing on the Chobe River. The ship travels along the banks of 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 vehicles, a visit to a local village, an authentic ‘boma’ dining experience and delicious cuisine on board. The cruise is preceded by a choice of three extensive land tours take into the heart of Africa, from the expanses of the Serengeti to the awe-inspiring Chobe National Park and the towering landscape of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Each tour concludes with two nights in Victoria Falls, one of the world’s most magnificent sights.
AmaWaterways’ three new Africa itineraries, ‘Stars of Africa’, `African Sunsets’ and `Golden Trails of Africa’, range from 16 to 19 days, commence in June 2012 with prices from £5622pp, excluding flights and transfers.
7. Cultural cruise Francophiles and wine lovers will enjoy a leisurely cruise along the Rhone from Lyon to Arles, visiting wine growing regions such as Beaujolais, Côte du Rhône and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Arles and Avignon and the beautiful villages of Viviers, Tournon, Vienne and Trévoux. Take a stroll to the Place du Palais, in the shadow of the awe-inspiring Palais des Papes, in the early evening, before cruising on to Mediterranean Arles, the city which Vincent Van Gogh captures in many of his works.
AmaWaterways’ seven-night Rhone cruise from Arles to Lyon on the luxury river cruiser AmaDagio departs on 24th May 2012 and costs from £2099pp based on two sharing a cabin, including flights, port taxes and all meals.
8. `Land-cruise’ to experience the riches of the Mekong
AmaWaterways’ Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong 15 night land-cruise 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 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 (Saigon), 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.
AmaWaterways’ 15 night land-cruise costs from £2422 per person and includes hotel accommodation, excursions and all meals, wine, beer, local sprits and soft drinks with meals on board, and the seven night cruise-only option costs from £1060 per person, including excursions and drinks.
9. Discover Russia from the river
Cruise Russia’s waterways and discover this vast and fascinating country on a spectacular 11 night voyage from Moscow, Uglich, Yaroslav, Goritsy, Kizhi and Svirstroy to St. Petersburg (and vice versa) along the Volga-Baltic waterways and through Europe’s two largest lakes, Onega and Ladoga. The cruise is on board the newest river cruiser on Russia’’s waterways, the AmaKatarina, and the price of £2395 per person includes all meals, champagne breakfasts and free-flowing wine with dinner, daily excursions and transfers.
10. Christmas market cruise
Lap up the Christmas atmosphere ashore and on board an AmaWaterways luxury river cruiser. The festively decorated ships cruise through the heart of Europe, allowing guests time to visit Christmas markets where stall after stall is piled high with gifts and decorations, enjoying the festive scent of gingerbread, sizzling sausages and spicy mulled wine, then return laden with goodies to a luxury river cruiser teeming with atmosphere and festively adorned with Christmas trees, garlands, colourful lights and swags.
AmaWaterways’ 7 night Christmas Time cruise costs from £1335pp, including all meals, free-flowing wine with dinner, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles, (excluding flights), based on travel on 13th December 2012, sailing between Nuremberg and Budapest with time to explore the markets at Nuremberg, Regensberg, the numerous different Christmas markets in Vienna and in Budapest where the ship cruises past the city’s dazzling Christmas illuminations.
To book, visit amawaterways.co.uk.