'Godmother' Twiggy For Emerald

Stylish new river-cruise line Emerald Waterways have announced that super-model, actress and British icon Twiggy will be godmother to their first two ships.

The first of the revolutionary Star-class vessels will be officially named in Amsterdam on April 9 by the trend-setting star of runway, stage, screen and music, who will join the Emerald Star for its maiden voyage to Basel.

Twiggy will then perform the naming ceremony for sister ship Emerald Sky in June.

Emerald Waterways are a brand new name on the European river-cruise scene this year and aim to be different from the start, with an all-new ship design and a fresh approach that also hopes to appeal to a younger audience.

The two ships will both feature state-of-the-art features like the on-board swimming pool that converts into an evening cinema, as well as optional alfresco dining when permissible. And the christening and maiden voyage will be featured in depth in the May issue of World of Cruising.

An Emerald spokesman explained: "We’re extremely excited to announce our first ‘Star-Ships’ will be christened by none other than a British style icon. Think ‘Twiggy’ and words

like iconic, trendsetter, chic and stylish spring to mind – the exact words we had in mind when we carefully sculpted our ships. 

"So there really was no one better to appoint as Godmother of our revolutionary vessels than the world’s first supermodel, who set the benchmark for those who followed.

"Ahead of the christening in Amsterdam, we visited our ships in their final stage of production and were extremely impressed by their incredibly sleek, stylish and innovative interior. 

"Perfectly accessorised with cutting-edge features and contemporary décor, like Twiggy, our ships will set the standard for future generations. And we’re delighted Twiggy will be on the front row as their striking designs are unveiled."

More info: call 0808 102 0109 or visit www.emeraldwaterways.co.uk.

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out on March 17, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.  

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More News From World of Cruising

It's been in the works for several weeks now, but World of Cruising is officially a sister company with River Cruises Europe, Britain's top website for everything to do with European river cruising.

Our owners, Real Response Media, have acquired the website to add to their growing cruise portfolio, and we will be sharing content, links and brand recognition with each other in the weeks and months ahead.

River Cruises Europe is a great one-stop-shop for all things to do with cruising along the likes of the Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Seine, Elbe and other smaller rivers, detailing all the cruise lines and the areas they cover, with great photos, video and the latest news and special offers.

And, as things develop, there will be a great opportunity to enjoy even more cruise events and insights into this fascinating business.

Real Response Media Director Chris Pitchford says: “We’re delighted to be the new owners of River Cruises Europe, which is already an

excellent resource for all things to do with river-cruising and which we intend to build even further in future. 

"With the expertise behind our cruise magazine - which already includes a section on river-cruising - and our other marketing and database contacts, we aim to provide a fully independent, fully up-to-date website that gives people everything they need to make a sound and informed holiday choice.”

Fellow RRM Director Matthew Underhill adds: “We know how much river-cruising is expanding and increasing in popularity and we want to ride that wave of interest and contribute to even more growth in future. And we also now have great synergies between the range of publications to allow for cross-marketing and great brand recognition.”

We will be sure to pass on more news as it happens, but be sure to add www.rivercruiseseurope.co.uk to your favourite websites, and add @RiverCruisesEU to the Twitter accounts you follow (as well as @WorldofCruising!).

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a very special, limited-time offer to save 50% off a full year's subscription, which includes six issues PLUS our new year-end Cruise Directory. That means a year's worth of Europe's leading cruise publication will be only £15. Check out the special rate on this link!

 

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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Big River-Cruise Savings With Titan

Titan Travel, who offer a choice of deluxe river cruise itineraries in the UK in exclusive partnership with Uniworld, has launched the second edition of its 2014 river-cruise brochure with details of six new Christmas cruises for 2014 and savings of up to £800 per person on cruises booked before December 31.

The brochure showcases some of the grandest and most scenic waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Vietnam and Cambodia, aboard Uniworld’s fleet of exquisitely appointed floating boutique-style hotels. The majority have been designed by Red Carnation Hotels and include original works of art, antiques and elegant furnishings. With an average capacity of 130 and the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river-cruise industry, as well as guaranteed river-view staterooms, exceptional fine dining and multi award-winning service, each cruise is now rated as a Six-Star experience.

Every European itinerary in 2014, excluding Russia, is also now all-inclusive, with holiday prices covering all gratuities (on-board and ashore), unlimited wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks throughout (excluding premium wines and spirits) and on-board internet/Wi-Fi. This enhancement invites guests to relax in the knowledge there are no hidden extras once on board. These extras are offered in addition to an already unparalleled list of ‘standard’ inclusions from Zagat-recommended river-view staterooms, full board fine dining, a choice of expert-guided shore excursions to unique door-to-door transfers as part of Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service.

New for 2014 is the expansion of Uniworld’s award-winning fleet with the addition of SS Catherine. Set to raise the bar even higher than sister ship Antoinette, this beautifully appointed vessel will be replacing the River Royale along the Rhône and Saône through southern France on the perennially popular 8-day ‘Burgundy & Provence’ itinerary from Lyon to Avignon, with prices starting from £2,149 per person based on a November 9, 2014, departure (saving £400 if booked by December 31).

Further savings of up to £750 per person can be made on a spectacular 16-day cruise taking in the ‘Imperial Capitals of Europe’. Travelling through eight countries starting in Istanbul with a tour of its striking mosques and opulent palaces, the tour continues with a flight on to the eclectic city of Bucharest and the start of a cruise along the Danube to regal Vienna. This fascinating journey takes in picturesque Bulgarian towns such as Veliko, Tarnono and Arbanassi, as well as the majestic cities of Budapest (above) and Belgrade along the way. The cruise costs from £3,899 per person (if booked by December 31), based on an April 7, 2014, departure.

For details or to book, call Titan on 0800 988 5867 or visit www.titantravel.co.uk/uniworld.

NB: We featured the Imperial Capitals of Europe cruise in the magazine last year, and you can read the report on this link.

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AMA's National Cruise Week Discounts

In keeping with all the fun - and special offers - of National Cruise Week this week (Sept 21-29), AMA Waterways have come up with some tempting offers to sample their luxury river-cruise style either this year or in 2014.

Take your pick from:

Enticing Douro
Sail from the historic city of Porto through the vineyards of the Douro Valley, calling at small towns and visiting port producers along the way. Take an excursion (included) from Bara d'Alva to Salamanca, one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. Departing March 25, 2014, now from £1,428pp (was £1,662) or April 1, from £1,534pp (was £1,787).

Paris & Normandy
Cruise the Seine for seven nights, calling at Vernon, Caudebex-en-caux (for special excursions to the D-Day beaches), Rouen (for Honfleur), Les Andelys and Conflans, visiting chateaux and beautiful landscapes that inspired great artists such as Monet. Departing November 13 and 20, now from £1,693pp (was £1,974).

Provence
Spend seven nights cruising the Rhône, from Arles to Lyon, tasting the Beaujolais wines, exploring Avignon and Arles and admiring the stunning scenery of vineyards, dramatic gorges and lavender fields. Departing November 20, now from £1,693pp (was £1,974).

Enchanting Rhine
Sail between Amsterdam and Basel through the steep-sided Rhine Gorge, exploring towns and cities including Cologne, Rudesheim, Heidelberg and medieval Strasbourg. Departing April 1, 2014, now from £1,480pp (was £1,724); November 9, from £1,587pp (was £1,849); November 16 (on AmaReina) and November 17 (on AmaCerto), from £1,534pp (was £1,787).

Romantic Danube
Cruise from Vilshofen in Germany to Budapest, calling at Passau, Linz (for Salzburg), Melk, with its magnificent abbey, Vienna, and Bratislava. There's an overnight in Budapest, with a cruise of the Danube after dark to admire the glittering lights festooning all the bridges. Departing November 11 (on AmaPrima) or 12 (on AmaSonata), now from £1,534pp (was £1,787).
 

All prices include the 15% discount; full board on the ship; complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; daily guided tours and excursions; free wi-fi; free use of on board bicycles (excluding the Douro); and port taxes. Travel to and from the ship is extra. The discount applies to the cruise-only price and is based on two adults sharing.

For more details on National Cruise Week, see this link: http://www.discovercruises.co.uk/national-cruise-week.aspxhttp://www.discovercruises.co.uk/national-cruise-week.aspx

For bookings, be sure to see this link for The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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Variety & Value From AMA

As our regular readers will know, we love a good cruise offer here at Time Spent At Sea (especially with all the late deals we can't fit into the magazine), and the latest from AmaWaterways highlight both their terrific worldwide variety - from Paris to Phnom Penh - as well as some stonking good value.

Take your pick from:

August 16, Rail & Sail to Paris & Normandy; now from £2,089pp (saving £426) 

Take the Eurostar from Ebsfleet to Paris and cruise the Seine to Rouen on a 7-night voyage on board AMA's luxury river cruiser AmaLegro. The price includes free Eurostar travel, non-UK transfers, all meals, daily sightseeing tours, and complimentary wine and beer with lunch and dinner.

August 16, 9-night Mekong cruise; now from £2,199pp (saving £339)

Visit the temples, floating markets, monasteries, historic pagodas and rural villages of south east Asia, spend a day in Phnom Penh, two nights in Siem Reap and a day in Ho Chi Minh City. AMA's 'Riches of the Mekong’ adventure includes the 7-night cruise and 2 nights hotel in Siem Riep, with return London flights, transfers, all meals, complimentary house spirits, beer and soft drinks and daily tours and excursions.

September 17, Douro Valley river cruise; now from £2,279pp (saving £104) 

AMA is offering this 7-night Douro river cruise with free return flights from London and transfers. The cruise embarks and disembarks in Porto and meanders through vineyards and past fishing villages along the picturesque Douro valley and the price includes all meals, daily sightseeing tours, and complimentary wine and beer with lunch and dinner. 

September 27, Rhine cruise now from £2,085pp (saving £300pp)

This luxury 7-night luxury Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basel visits Cologne, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and the Black Forest and the price includes free flights from London, non-UK transfers, all meals, daily sightseeing tours, and complimentary wine and beer with lunch and dinner.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury river cruising specialists.

  

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Titan's New Look For 2014

Titan Travel and their exclusive partnership with deluxe river cruise line Uniworld has launched the first edition of their new 2014 river cruise brochure, with three brand new itineraries and savings of up to £600 per person on bookings made before the end of September. With a new format showcasing all 24 itineraries to the most scenic waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Vietnam and Cambodia, the brochure highlights Uniworld’s fleet of superbly appointed floating boutique-style hotels. With an average capacity of 130 guests and the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry, all the 5-star vessels are designed by Red Carnation Hotels and include original works of art, antiques and furnishings. For the first time in 2014, every European itinerary (excluding Russia) is all-inclusive, with prices covering all gratuities (on-board and ashore), unlimited wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks throughout (excluding premium wines and spirits) and on-board Wi-Fi. This enhancement invites guests to relax in the knowledge there are no hidden extras once on board and these extras are offered in addition to the existing range of Zagat-recommended river-view staterooms, full board fine dining, a choice of expert-guided shore excursions at every port of call and unique door-to-door transfers from any UK address as part of Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service. New for 2014 is the expansion of Uniworld’s award-winning fleet of vessels with the addition of the new SS Catherine. Set to raise the bar even higher than sister ship SS Antoinette, this beautiful vessel will replace the River Royale along the Rhône and Saône through southern France on the perennially popular 8-day ‘Burgundy & Provence’ itinerary from Lyon to Avignon, with prices starting from £2,099 per person based on a November 2014 departure (saving £300 if booked by September 30). For more info, visit www.titantravel.co.uk and for more river-cruise ideas, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxuring cruise specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

New Rhone-Rhine Itinerary From CroisiEurope

Distinguished French river-cruise operator CroisiEurope has combined two of its most popular routes to create a brand new 10-day cruise along the Rhine and Rhone rivers. The new and original itinerary, which launches next year, will see passengers board in Amsterdam, before setting off along a scenic and culturally enriching route that passes through some of the continent’s most treasured towns and sites in Holland, Germany and France.

While travelling the length of the celebrated Rhone before transferring onto the Rhine – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – passengers will enjoy a range of optional and complementary excursions to some of Europe’s most historical sites. From a guided tour of northern Europe’s most ancient Cathedral in Aachen to a circuit of Lyon’s Old Town and Traboules passageways, to a train journey through the Medieval town of Tournon, in southern France, there is plenty to cater for all interests.

The cruise starts in Amsterdam and visits Xanten, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Konigswinter, Koblenz, Mainz, Worms, Strasbourg, Chalon Sur Saone, Lyon, Tournon and Arles before finishing in Avignon. The 2014 departure dates are April 22, May 17, June 27 and September 28. Cruise-only prices start at €1,303 per person (approximately £1,100) based on two people sharing an air-conditioned twin main deck cabin with a fully equipped en suite bathroom, including all meals and drinks on board (excluding Champagne and wines on the wine list), a wide range of entertainment, a welcome cocktail, coach transfer, a museum visit, Gala dinner entertainment, insurance and port taxes.

For bookings, see http://www.croisieurope.travel/; for more river-cruise ideas, follow this link to our sponsors, The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury river-cruising specialists.

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Sample La Belle Vita With European Waterways

We are big fans of European river-cruising for the chance to really get under the skin of the destinations you visit, and here is a great opportunity for a taste of Italy, sailing in style through the Venetian Lagoon and the Po Valley to the Renaissance City of Mantua.

This special cruise route can be found with European Waterways’ 20-passenger La Bella Vita, giving passengers the opportunity to enjoy the diverse cultures and landscapes en route, from picturesque lagoon islands with their colourful houses, to wild beach dunes and pine woods with an abundance of birdlife; and from the charming Venetian port of Chioggia via the River Po and Bianco Canal to the captivating lakeside setting of the Renaissance city of Mantua.

Cruise highlights include:

• Guided tour of historic Venice – hidden gardens, Pavilion of the Gondolas, Naval Museum
• Cruise the Canal of the Orphans past picturesque lagoon islands
• Tour of the colourful port of Chioggia and its famous red fish market
• Private wine tastings at Villa Widmann-Borletti
• Visit to the 17th Century private stately home, Villa Ca’Zen
• Tours of historic Mantua and Ferrara

Like all the hotel barges in the European Waterways fleet, La Bella Vita will be fully crewed with a captain, gourmet chef, hostesses and a tour guide. Every 6-night cruise includes comfortable accommodation in air-conditioned, en suite cabins, gourmet meals, open bar, fine wines, daily escorted excursions, entrance fees, local transfers and the use of barge facilities such as bicycles to explore the towpaths and a large sundeck to relax on from which to enjoy the Venetian Lagoon and River Po.

This summer, booking by 19 July, a 6-night all-inclusive Venice and Po Valley cruise aboard La Bella Vita departing on August 25, starts from just £1,890pp, including a £500 per person discount (based on double occupancy).

For bookings visit www.gobarging.com, or see more ideas on this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury river-cruise specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.