Relive The Sound of Music With Titan

Calling all Sound of Music fans, here is a cruise experience - and an exclusive opportunity - just for you! Titan Travel, in conjunction with their river-cruise partners Uniworld, are offering guests travelling on selected river cruises this summer the unique opportunity to meet and hear performances by Elisabeth von Trapp.

As the granddaughter of the legendary Maria and Baron von Trapp, whose story inspired The Sound of Music, Elisabeth (above) will share the “sounds of music” with guests on a choice of 2014 itineraries for departures from June to September. 

Guests sailing on the 8-day Enchanting Danube itinerary, from Budapest to Passau, will be able to join Elisabeth in Salzburg at the beautiful Mirabellgarten as she performs songs from the famous film. A highlight of the performance will be the chance for guests to participate in a sing-along of “Do-Re-Mi” at the famed garden where the original 1964 scene was filmed. Elisabeth will also be performing a range of Gregorian chants, 12th-century mystic Hildegard of Bingen tunes, some early American hymns and her own original compositions. 

Guests sailing on the 14-day European Serenade and 7-day Danube Discovery and Prague itinerary will also be treated to “the sounds of Von Trapp” with an exclusive on-board performance. 

Prices for the August 3 departure of the Enchanting Danube cruise start from £2,729 per person, including flights, 7-night full board cruise on board the River Beatrice, transfers, excursions with English speaking guides, unlimited complimentary drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi, taxes and Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service.

More info: call 0800 988 5867 or visit www.titantravel.co.uk/uniworld.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital 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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AMA's Christmas River-Cruise Crackers

Christmas market river cruises are now big business in Europe, and there are a wide variety of ways to enjoy the festive period along the Rhine and Danube, soaking up the best of the river-cruise style as well as the ideal way to visit these Markets.

Take this little selection from AMAWaterways...

AMA's Christmas Time cruise is a 7-night sailing between Nuremberg and Budapest on 13 departure dates from the end of November throughout the festive season. The cruise takes in the world’s largest Christmas market in Nuremberg, the festively decorated stalls of the Old Kornmarkt's in the medieval city of Regensberg and the “royal” Christmas markets at the Thurn and Taxis Palace, where craftsmen can be seen making their goods. In Passau, guests enjoy an optional tour to Salzburg, the 'Sound of Music' city, with its numerous festive markets and tourist attractions, and on to Melk, to visit the magnificent baroque Benedictine Abbey.

In Vienna, guests have the opportunity to see some of the numerous Christmas markets in Austria's capital, including the 60 traditional Christmas market stalls at the Imperial Schönbrunn Palace. The cruise concludes in Budapest, festively decorated for Christmas, and an illuminations cruise past the city after a farewell dinner on board enables guests to see the city at its finest.

Departing on December 2, the Christmas Time cruise costs from £1,639pp (including a saving of £355pp), with free return UK flights, all meals, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, complimentary daily excursions, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles. The same cruise on December 16 costs from £1,649pp, saving £504pp including free return flights from the UK.

Other 2013 Christmas Market cruises depart on November 25, 27 and 30, and December 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 18, 21 and 28 (excluding free flights offer).

Christmas also comes early on the Danube where AMA are giving free flights with bookings for their December 23 Christmas on the Danube sailing. The cruise, from Budapest to Vilshofen, visits some of Europe’s most picturesque cities and towns at their most festive, including Vienna, Passau, Melk and Bratislava. It costs from £1,719pp (saving £506pp), including free flights, all meals (with Christmas meals and events), wine with lunch and dinner, complimentary daily tours, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles.

Departing on December 18, take a magnificent 14-night journey through five countries along Europe’s main waterways, spend Christmas in the medieval city of Nuremberg then overnight in Amsterdam for New Year when the sky is lit up by a magnificent display of fireworks. AMA's Magnificent Europe at Christmas Time cruise costs from £2,789p (saving £974pp), and also includes free flights, all meals (with Christmas meals and events), wine with lunch and dinner, complimentary daily tours, free Wi-Fi and use of on-board bicycles.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury river-cruise experts.

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The Romantic Viking Cruise!

This Valentine's Day, Viking River Cruises is offering the perfect trips for anyone who wants to surprise their partner with a romantic river cruise in 2013. The Danube and the Seine are known for their prestigious beauty and illustrious history and, with Viking, the rivers will also offer the perfect route to a memorable Valentine's gift. The Romantic Danube This 8-day journey on board one of Viking’s stylish Longships travels through the heart of Germany, Austria and Hungry on the international waterway of the Danube. Sail between the divided city of Budapest (above) and under the grand Chain Bridge, take a half-day city tour of Vienna, visiting the quaint village of Passau and cruise between the soaring gorges and take in the stunning scenery through the Wachau Valley. The eight-day itinerary costs from £1,245 per person, based on two people sharing. This price includes return economy flights, all meals on board, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, six guided tours (visiting four UNESCO World Heritage Sites), a Hungarian evening show, a classical music performance and all port charges, airport taxes and transfers.

Paris & the Heart of Normandy On this 8-day journey, the Viking Pride sails from the ‘city of love’, Paris, and through breathtaking Normandy visiting the likes of Rouen, Les Andelys, Giverny and Conflans before ending back to picturesque Paris. Itinerary highlights include the Gothic architecture of Rouen, exquisite gardens of Giverny and the historic shoreline of the Normandy beaches. It costs from £1,195 per person, based on two people sharing. This price includes return economy flights, all meals on board, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, six guided tours (visiting three UNESCO World Heritage Sites), French lessons, wine-making demonstrations and tastings, plus all port charges, airport taxes and transfers. For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury river-cruise specialists.

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Christmas On The Danube

AmaWaterways 'Christmas Time' cruise is a 7-night sailing between Nuremberg and Budapest on 10 departure dates from the end of November until just after December 25, making it an ideal way to see the Yuletide markets and take in Europe’s festive atmosphere.

Nuremberg is home of the world’s largest Christmas Market, where more than 100 red and white canvas-topped booths offer an assortment of unique children’s toys, tinsel angels, dolls, dollhouses and gingerbread. In Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved Medieval cities, complimentary guided tours take in the Old Kornmarkt's festive stalls adorned with fir branches and the “royal” Christmas markets at the Thurn and Taxis Palace, a very traditional handicraft Christmas market where craftsmen can be seen making their goods. In Passau, guests enjoy an optional tour to Salzburg, the `Sound of Music' city, with its numerous festive markets and tourist attractions, and on to Melk, to visit the magnificent baroque Benedictine Abbey.

In Vienna, guests have the opportunity to see some of the numerous Christmas markets in Austria's capital, including the 60 traditional Christmas market stalls at the Imperial Schönbrunn Palace, and to take in a concert or opera (at extra cost). The cruise concludes in Budapest, festively decorated for Christmas, and an illuminations cruise past the city after a farewell dinner on board enables guests to see the city at its finest.

AMA's 7-night Christmas Time cruise costs from £1,265pp, including all meals, wine with dinner, complimentary daily tours and excursions, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles, but excludes flights. Departures are on November 21, 28 and 29 and December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 and 27.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury river cruise experts.

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Luxury Late River-Cruise Deal with AMA Waterways

How's this for a great late, late offer for a river-cruise? Admittedly, we do get a lot of them here at World of Cruising, but this is definitely worth passing on for the saving involved (more than 50 per cent), sailing with luxury operator AMA Waterways, and departing next Monday. Full details as follows:

8th August: £900pp saving off luxury Danube river cruise

Luxury river cruise operator AmaWaterways is offering a last-minute £900pp saving off a 7-night Danube River cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg sailing through Vienna, Durnstein, Melk, Passau and Regensburg, departing 8th August, with prices now from £863 per person (usually £1,763 per person), including all meals, champagne breakfasts, wine with dinner and complimentary shore excursions.

See more at www.amawaterways.co.uk or contact the river-cruise agents at The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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AmaWaterways Latest Luxury River-Cruise Offers

Here are three more great offers this summer for river-cruises with AMAWaterways, taking in Russia and their Legendary Danube route.

1st June: Russian Waterways, saving up to £365pp

There are big savings of £365pp off a spectacular 11-night voyage from Moscow to Uglich, Yaroslav, Goritsy, Kizhi and Svirstroy, finishing in St. Petersburg along the Volga-Baltic waterways and through Europe’s two largest lakes, Onega and Ladoga. The cruise costs from £2,314 per person, including cruise and port taxes, all meals, champagne breakfasts and wine with dinner, daily excursions, and transfers and return flights (maximum value up to £360pp) from London.

June 27: Legendary Danube, saving up to £428pp

There are also savings off this 7-night Danube River cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest, with prices from £1,649 per person (was £2,077pp), fully inclusive of all taxes, meals, etc. The sailing cruises to Budapest through the charming towns and beautiful vistas of Hilpoltstein, Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg, Linz, Melk and Vienna.

July 8: Legendary Danube, saving up to £426pp

This 7-night Danube cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest now has prices from £1,709 per person (was £2,135pp), inclusive of taxes, all meals, excursions, transfers and flights from London or Manchester. Again, it cruises through Hilpoltstein, Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg, Linz, Melk and Vienna.

For more info, visit www.amawaterways.co.uk or contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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AMA Waterways New Offers

Once again river cruise specialists AMA waterways are offering huge savings. Take a look at this latest selection from the boutique river-cruisers:

25th April : Tulip Time Cruise, saving £427 per person

A 7-night cruise on board AmaCello through Holland's spectacular bulb-fields, now from £1,329pp (was £1,756), with accommodation in a spacious cabin with French balcony. 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. As with all AMA cruises, prices include all meals, champagne breakfasts and wine with dinner; free Wi-Fi and free use of onboard bicycles and daily excursions.

8th May: Enchanting Rhine, saving up to £460pp

A 7-night luxury cruise along the Rhine, from Amsterdam to Basel visiting Cologne, Kloblenz, Rudesheim, Worms, Heidelber, Strasbourg, Breisach and Basel, sailing through majestic historic cities and towns, can now be booked from £1,425pp (was £1,885).

14th May : Legendary Danube with £457pp saving

A 7-night Danube River cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest, with prices from £1,595 per person (was £2,052pp), this sailing cruises through the charming towns and beautiful vistas of Hilpoltstein, Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg, Linz, Melk and Vienna.

14th May: Rhone and the Provence with £457 saving per person

A 7-night luxury river cruise along the Rhone, from Lyon to Arles, visiting Trevoux, Vienne, Tournon, Viviers and Avignon, with wine-tasting in beautiful wine growing regions where such famous wines as Beaujolais, Côte du Rhône and Chateauneuf-du-Pape are produced, can now be booked from £1,595pp (was £2,052).

For more info, visit www.amawaterways.co.uk or contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Cruise Through Christmas and The New Year

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Award-winning river cruise specialist AMA Waterways has savings of over £1300pp off Christmas and New Year luxury 5-star river cruises on the Danube, Rhine and Moselle, with a 7-night Christmas sailing from Budapest to Nuremberg, departing on December 20, available for £1289pp, and a New Year sailing from Nuremberg to Amsterdam for the same fare and saving, departing on December 27.

For those wishing to while away the entire Christmas and New Year period, cruising Europe’s scenic waterways amid luxurious hotel-style surroundings, with generous sized staterooms, free Wi-Fi and a state-of-the-art infotainment centre, high-quality cuisine inclusive of champagne breakfast, lunch and dinner with free-flowing wine, AMA has a 14-night sailing from Budapest to Amsterdam departing on December 20, for £2149, saving more than £1300pp, based on two sharing.

Single savings on River Cruises

AMA is also offering savings of up to £1030 for single travellers this Autumn, with prices from £1054 for a week’s cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg, visiting Bratislava, Vienna, Durnstein, Melk, Linz, Passau and Regensburg, departing on November 22.

Singles prices are based on solo occupancy of a twin/double cabin and include champagne breakfasts, lunch and dinner with free-flowing wine, free Wi-Fi, daily guided tours and free use of on-board bicycles.

For more info, contact www.amawaterways.co.uk

And don't forget to visit their stand at the The Cruise Show at Birmingham in October (16-17) and London next March (26-27).

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