River cruising

River cruising is by far the most convenient way to experience magnificent cities and historical sites along the world's great waterways including the Rhine, Danube, Nile, Amazon, Yangtze, Mekong and Volga. Passengers on a river cruise are given an insider's view of otherwise challenging destinations and the opportunity to travel through a country or region without the ongoing hassles of finding accommodation, transport or parking.

River cruising provides an intimate connection with a destination that other modes of transportation do not, and is inextricably linked to political and environmental factors. For example, river cruising on the Danube has enjoyed enormous popularity since 2001, when the section between Croatia and the Black Sea reopened to river cruise vessels following the removal of debris from the Serbian conflict of the late 1990s.

Larger cabins, balconies and top quality cuisine define luxury on river cruises, and you'd be hard pressed to get seasick on a river cruise ship. River cruises generally attract passengers who are open to new experiences and value cultural diversity.

River Cruises

Every river has a tale to tell. So relax, float downstream and immerse yourself in the magic of the world's most beautiful waterways.

River cruising is a relaxed, one-stop, soft adventure holiday. Your hotel travels with you as the world drifts past your door. You moor in fabulous locations, often in the heart of the world's most historic towns.

The most popular itinerary is one in which history is played out against a scenic landscape. Think Europe and Egypt: the Danube, Rhine and the Nile. In France, along the Rhone, Saone or Seine, the focus falls as much on regional food and wines as on chateaux.

Splendid sights and intriguing tales also unfold along the Moselle and Elbe in Germany, the Volga in Russia and the Douro in Portugal. In recent years, low water has impacted river tourism on Poland's Vistula and the Po in Italy, although the Venice Lagoon is an Italian highlight for 2005.

You could even choose to board in Amsterdam and sail right across Europe via a network of connecting canals, to reach the Black Sea in Romania. The European season lasts from March until early October with occasional special Christmas cruises.

Elsewhere in the world, you can cruise the Ayeyarwady in Myanmar, the Yangtse in China or the mighty Mississippi in the USA. Wilder times can be had on expedition-style cruises in remote regions such as the Amazon and the Sepik. As river cruising grows in popularity and the passenger demographic broadens, so the global choices increase.

Like ocean cruises, your room and board, entertainment and travel costs are all rolled into one. Navigational restrictions limit ship size and therefore passenger numbers. A hotel barge might take only six passengers whereas a river ship might carry 150.

What really counts is what you'll see in daylight hours. So make a close study of the itinerary and maps. Stretches of river which are not very interesting are best done at night.

You can expect to pass through lots of locks and make stop-start progress. But hey, what's the hurry? The whole point of a river cruise is relaxation and enjoyment.

Itineraries: New this year are seven-night cruises on the Seine aboard Cezanne with itineraries to and from Paris. In June, there are 10 and 11-night Black Sea cruises on the Danube, from Passau to Constanta and return, aboard the 96-passenger Casanova.

Cruising style: Classic vintage European decor and ambience. Deck cabins have French windows, air conditioning, private shower and toilet, TV, mini bar and radio. Attracts a multinational clientele.

Meals: Full breakfast, five-course lunch, afternoon tea, candlelit six-course dinner, and midnight crepes. Alcohol not included.

Excursions: Not included in cruise cost. Seine highlights include Honfleur, Versailles and Giverny. Danube highlights are the Wachau (between Melk and Krems), Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.

Abercrombie & Kent offers luxury hotel barge canal cruises with Afloat in France. Alouette, Hirondelle, Fleur de Lys, Napoleon and Amaryllis carry between six and 12 passengers.

Itineraries: Canal de Bourgogne (Burgundy), Rhone Valley, Franch Comte, Canal du Centre (north France) Provence and Canal du Midi (southern France).

Cruising style: Staterooms decorated in grand European fashion with repro Louis XVI and XV furniture, canopied beds, ensuite bathroom with shower. Salon with grand piano and sun deck with heated pool.

Meals: Continental breakfasts available in cabin. Five-course candlelit dinners feature regional specialities and local wines.

Excursions: Guided excursions and entrance fees included in cruise cost. Towns on a Burgundy cruise (Fleur de Lys, Amaryllis or Hirondelle) include Beaune and Dijon. Alouette cruises between B%E9ziers and the medieval, fortified city of Carcassone. Passengers on Napoleon can visit the wine region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and see Avignon and Arles.

Avalon Waterways has three modern river ships in Europe: Artistry, Symphony and Poetry.

Itineraries: Various cruises from eight to 19 days between Amsterdam and the Black Sea. A 10-day Christmas cruise between Prague and Vienna.

Cruise style: Avalon says Artistry's junior suites and staterooms are the largest available. She carries 178 passengers. Lower deck cabins have picture windows, top deck ones have sliding French doors. Poetry takes 176 passengers, Symphony can carry 146 passengers. Primarily aimed at American clientele.

Meals: Full American breakfast and European buffet. Western-European food at lunch and dinner with a selection of local wines included.

Excursions: Some guided sightseeing included, while other tours offer extra. Towns visited include Amsterdam, Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Vienna and Budapest.

Mary Rossi Travel represents two Sea Cloud Cruises luxury river ships.

Itineraries: The 90-passenger River Cloud cruises the Dutch and Belgian waterways in spring, and the Rhine and Danube in summer. River Cloud II cruises the River Po in Northern Italy, departing from Venice or Cremona.

Cruising style: Rossi calls these ships "the Rolls Royce of river cruising". Mahogany, rosewood and marble interiors. River Cloud's six junior suites and 39 outside cabins are air-conditioned with double bed, lounge suite, writing desk and television/video. Marble bathrooms with gold-plated taps. Steinway grand in salon. Sun deck with putting green and large chessboard. River Cloud II carries 88 passengers in a mix of junior suites, double and twin cabins.

Meals: Open-plan gourmet dining, wines included. Chilled champagne at your bedside, fresh fruit and soft drinks free.

Excursions: All excursions included. Cities visited may include Amsterdam, Antwerp, Cologne, Mannheim, Regensburg, Nuremberg, Passau, Vienna and Budapest.

Outdoor Travel acts for UK-based Go Barging European Waterways (13 hotel barges in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy) and Canal & Co (three hotel barges in France).

Itineraries: New for 2005 is a Venice Lagoon cruise aboard the six-passenger La Dolce Vita. In England, the 11-passenger hotel barge Actief and eight-passenger Magna Carta sail the River Thames. Themed cruises cover art and antiques, gardens and murder mysteries. Canal & Co's Anacoluthe sails the Champagne-Upper Loire region, L'Espirit d'Europe plies the Seine and Libellule sails the Saone.

Cruising style: Intimate hotel barges usually with double-bed suite in bow and twin bed cabins at stern.

Meals: Gourmet dining, wines are all included.

Excursions: Guided sightseeing included, optional activities extra. Italian highlights include Torcello, Burano and Murano. A Thames cruise visits Cliveden, Henley and Eton. Scottish itineraries include Cawdor Castle, Culloden Moor and Glencoe. French attractions include Giverny, old abbeys and the sampling of Beaujolais wines.

Australia

Captain Cook Cruises operates paddle wheeler Murray Princess on the Murray River in South Australia.

Itineraries: A two-night "Weekend Escape" departs every Friday evening. A five-night "Heritage Cruise" departs every Sunday. Coach transfers from Adelaide.

Cruising style: Carries 120 passengers in 60 air-conditioned cabins with private facilities. Lounge and dining saloon reflect charm of yesteryear. Two bars, library, lift, two saunas and spas.

Meals: Modern Australian tucker.

Excursions: Optional tours include Barossa Valley wineries, Banrock Station wetlands.

China

Viking River Cruises Yangtze River and Three Gorges cruises are offered from Russia &ampi; Beyond.

Itineraries: Three- to nine-night cruises along the Yangtze River.

Cruising Style: A fleet of new 5-star ships carry between 185-300 passengers. Amenities include observation lounge and bar, coffee bar, sundeck gym and sauna. Daily on board entertainment and activities included.

 

Meals: Offering international and regional cuisine.

Excursions: Highlights include the Shibaozhai Temple, Three Gorges, The Lesser Three Gorges, and Mt. Jui Hua.

Egypt

Abercrombie &ampi; Kent represents two Nile cruise ships.

Itineraries: Sun Boat 111 sails seven-night itineraries between Denderah and Aswan. Sun Boat IV makes three and four-night cruises between Luxor and Aswan.

Cruising style: An "elegant French" decor, air-conditioned cabins with picture windows and ensuite bathroom, satellite TV, CD, mini bar. Shaded terrace on sun deck with pool. Sun Boat 11 carries 36 passengers in four suites and 14 double cabins. Sun Boat IV accommodates 80 passengers in four suites and 36 double cabins.

Meals: Buffet breakfast. Western and Middle Eastern cuisine. All meals included, plus free beer, wine, tea, coffee, water and soft drinks.

Excursions: Tombs and temple tours with Egyptologist are included along with entrance fees.

India

Time aboard Oberoi's M/V Vrinda in southern India can form part of an Abercrombie & Kent India program.

Itineraries: Two-day cruises between October and April through the Kerala backwaters departing from Kochi (Cochin).

Cruising style: Eight cabins with king-sized beds, outside facing windows and private bathroom with shower.

Meals: Buffet breakfast. Dinners feature Kerala specialities and western dishes. Wines included.

Excursions: Exploration of small waterways by rice barge included. Kochi excursions form part of the A&K package.

Myanmar (Burma)

Orient Express ship The Road to Mandalay sails the Ayeyarwady River and is booked through Abercrombie &ampi; Kent.

Itineraries: Regular four-night cruises between Bagan and Mandalay.

Cruise style: An even 110 passengers in cabins featuring Burmese style with modern amenities. Four decks, lounge, piano, bar, restaurant, boutique, beauty salon, sun deck with bar and swimming pool.

Meals: Western and local breakfast. Lunches star regional dishes (Indian, Chinese, Thai and Burmese). Dinner usually western cuisine with Asian influences. House beer and soft drinks included. Spirits and wine extra.

USA

Travel the World represents the Delta Steamship Company of New Orleans, which has three paddle steamers offering a Mark Twain experience.

Itineraries: Along the Mississippi River: ports of call include Memphis, New Orleans, Chattanooga, Nashville, Hannibal and St Louis.

Cruising style: Delta Queen's Victorian ambience includes Tiffany lamps, stained glass windows, crystal chandeliers, with rocking chairs on deck. It carries 174 passengers in eight categories of stateroom. The larger Mississippi Queen and American Queen each carry 400 or more passengers.

Meals: Hearty Southern cooking, regional specialities. Drinks extra.

Excursions: Day tours available. Not included in fare.

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Written by Rob Woodburn, Issue 20 Winter 2005