Orbital Travel Expands Nile Fleet

The River Nile continues to be an overlooked travel destination this year with so much focus at the moment on all the new river-cruise ships in Europe (and yesterday's announcement of super-model Twiggy as godmother to the new Emerald Waterways - see this link!), but Orbital Travel are determined to remedy that. The luxury travel specialists have just added the five-star MS Royal Esadora to their Nile cruise programme, bringing their array of offerings on the great river to five. The Royal Esadora was launched in March 2006 and completely renovated in 2009. This modern, stylish Nile cruiser also offers funky surroundings and guestrooms with contemporary spacious interiors. Facilities include a large sundeck with bar, large swimming pool and Jacuzzi. There are two restaurants on board, one being a buffet style with international cuisine, and the other being slightly smaller offering an à la carte menu. Royal Esadora has 62 cabins with foursuites with large picture windows and Juliet balconies from which to admire the unfolding scenery. Prices for a 7-night cruise lead in at £659 per person on Full Board and £719 per person on All Inclusive. The cruise includes 7 nights’ accommodation (upper/middle deck cabin), flights, transfers and 12 excursions escorted by a qualified Egyptologist. Orbital Travel also offers four other 5-star Nile cruisers, namely the MS Monica, the Domina Prestige, the HS Nile Vision and the MS Mayfair. More info: call 0333 123 7147 or visit www.orbitaltravel.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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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.

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Titan's New Offerings For 2014

 

Cruises that explore different destinations in high style are always going to catch our attention here at World of Cruising, and here is just that from Titan Travel, who have launched a new series of both ocean and river cruise brochures for 2014. These include a new Escorted River Cruise brochure along with a new Cruise & Tour brochure and the third edition of their deluxe river cruise programme in exclusive partnership with Uniworld.

Uniworld

The third edition of the 2014 Uniworld 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.

On many of these itineraries there are some significant savings at the moment, such as £2,050 off a 17-day ‘Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong’ tour departing on September 2. The cruise now costs from £2,999 per person (if booked by February 28) and contrasts the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, with the tranquillity of the Angkor Temple Complex in Cambodia and an unforgettable 7-night cruise along the Mekong River. Cost includes flights, all meals on board, wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner, 7 nights in hotels on a B&B basis, the 7-night cruise, many excursions and Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service.

A further enhancement to the VIP Home Departure Service for passengers travelling with Uniworld this year is the addition of friendly Titan airport representatives to assist in the check-in process.

Escorted River Cruise

Also out this month is the second edition of the escorted river cruise brochure. New for 2014 is the 8-day ‘Highlights of Belgium and the Netherlands’ cruise. This is a no-fly holiday and passengers travel in a comfortable coach to Cologne, via Eurotunnel, and then board the all-inclusive A-ROSA Viva. Highlights include Amsterdam with its romantic canals, the ‘diamond city’ of Antwerp and the charming medieval city of Bruges, famed for its architecture. With departure dates in June and September, prices start from £1,545 per person and include coach travel with experienced drivers, 7-night cruise, 21 meals, all-inclusive drinks package on board, a Titan onboard drinks party, many excursions and Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service.

Cruise & Tour

The second edition of the 2014 Cruise & Tour Brochure is now out and combines the freedom of a journey by sea with all the excitement of a land-based tour. Titan pioneered these innovative style holidays back in the 1990s to deliver the best of both worlds and the popular concept has now developed into an exciting range of globetrotting tours from exotic adventures in far flung corners of the globe, as well as experiences closer to home. 

New for this edition is a series of four tours that have been combined with a Fred. Olsen cruise, such as the 29-day ‘Great South American Odyssey’. Providing the perfect introduction to Latin America the cruise on board the Fred. Olsen’s Black Watch is combined with the rhythms of Rio, the majestic Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires and the spectacular glaciers of Chile. Departing in January 2015, prices start from £4,295 per person including flights, 6 nights in hotels, 20-night cruise, 67 meals, Titan on-board cocktail party, various excursions, and Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service.

More info: call 0800 988 5858 or visit www.titantravel.co.uk.

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Celebrity Chef David Thompson Set For Aqua's New Mekong Ship

Aqua Expeditions has announced the appointment of Michelin-starred Chef David Thompson to its culinary team. Australian-born Thompson joins Aqua as Executive Chef of the new Aqua Mekong river-cruise ship, scheduled to launch in September. Thompson's Nahm restaurant in Bangkok is considered a destination in itself for international travelers.

The Chef was selected by Francesco Galli Zugaro, CEO and founder of Aqua Expeditions, who sets great store by Aqua's culinary offerings, which are a notably feature of their original cruises on the Upper Amazon in Peru (also featured in the Autumn issue of World of Cruising - click on this link).

Galli Zugaro said: "I was determined to identify the very best and most creative chef in the region for my second river destination. As Asia's top ranked chef on 'San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants,' David is the perfect fit for the exclusive Aqua Mekong. His unique culinary experience and first-hand knowledge of Asian ingredients and palates will enable us to provide guests with the authentic culinary experience they expect from an Aqua cruise."

With a reputation for first-class cuisine influenced by South-east Asia, Thompson will create an exclusive menu for Aqua guests, combining the culinary traditions of Mekong River culture with the freshest local ingredients from the markets of Saigon, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

 

He says: "Working with Aqua Mekong will be an exciting challenge and the food will be based on the cooking of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, the countries which depend on the Mekong River. I look forward to setting sail."

 

Aqua was the first adventure travel company to introduce five-star luxury cruises to the Amazon in Peru. The Aqua Mekong will be the company's first vessel in Asia and will take guests on a journey on the Mekong River, between Cambodia and Vietnam. 

More info: call +511 434 5544 or visit www.aquaexpeditions.com.

Our new edition is now out - see more on this link! Or, to subscribe with our special limited time 50% off rate, go to our subscriptions page.

 

 

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New Indian River Cruise Options

Cruises on the rivers of India have become a significant new addition to the great river-cruise choice of the world in recent years, and India's Assam Bengal Navigation are a great example of this growing trend.

 

There are some 1,750 miles of navigable waterway along rivers like the Brahmaputra, Hugli and Ganges, and ABN have just launched their third ship, which will begin voyages next year.

The ABN Rajmahal was launched in Calcutta, a sleek 22-cabin vessel specially designed with extra-shallow draught, triple engines and low air draught, for the line's pioneering City of Light cruises between Patna and Varanasi .

 

These innovative 7-night cruises will operate in August and September 2014, the only months river conditions allow. During the winter months, the ship will be taking over the

current programme of cruises on the Hugli and the Ganges, with her maiden voyage scheduled for February 15.

 

Brahmaputra Cruises In October

Assam in October is a joy, with good weather, lush scenery, clear views and easy cruising, making for a perfect combination with Darjeeling, Sikkim or Bhutan. ABN's Frontier Lands cruises are ideal for this time of year, sailing between Guwahati and Dhubri. These feature tea gardens, a Maharajah's palace, archaeological sites, temples and silk weaving, and the joining point at Cooch Behar can be reached in a little over two hours by train from New Jalpaiguri. 

More info: visit www.assambengalnavigation.com.

 

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this month ONLY - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

 

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AMA Take To The Irrawaddy

Award-winning river cruise line AmaWaterways has announced a new ship and new river cruise programme on Burma’s Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, starting in November 2014.

Two itineraries will be on offer: the 10-night Golden Treasures of Myanmar and 14-night Hidden Wonders of Myanmar, both detailed in a new brochure. All voyages start in Yangon and include pre-cruise hotel accommodation in the city. The first departure is on November 24.

One of the world’s most secretive, mysterious and fascinating places, Burma has a unique, centuries-old culture and spectacular architectural wonders, including sacred structures gilded with gold leaf and encrusted with precious gems, and these two new itineraries are designed to take in all the highlights:
 

• Bagan – A cultural treasure trove of more than 2,200 temples, stupas and pagodas, on par with Cambodia’s massive Angkor Wat temple complex.
• Mandalay – The country’s last royal capital and second largest city, the “Golden City” of Mandalay is regarded as Myanmar’s cultural heart, renowned for its master craftsmen and its patronage of the arts.
• Mount Popa – The stunning shrine perched at the top of Mt. Popa is considered the legendary home of spirit gods worshipped by Burmese Buddhists.
• Ancient Royal Cities – Inwa (Ava) was the capital of Burma for more than 400 years; Amarapura has the world’s longest teak bridge; Sagaing is famous for its tranquil atmosphere; and Mingun has many historic sites to explore.
• Yangon (Rangoon) – The “Garden City of the East,” retains much of its colonial charm with cobblestoned streets, tree-lined avenues and Victorian architecture.

Guests will cruise the Ayeyarwady aboard the all-suite AmaPura (above), a 56-passenger vessel furnished with a combination of modern and traditional motifs. All 28 suites feature a balcony (a French balcony, step-out full balcony or twin balconies), a well-appointed en suite bathroom and many other deluxe amenities. The public areas include a restaurant, main lounge and bar, gift shop, spa, refreshing pool and a Sun Deck perfect for lounging, enjoying a cool drink, or simply gazing out at the passing scenery.

An optional four-night post-cruise land extension is available on both itineraries, featuring three nights in Inle Lake and one further night in Yangon.

The Golden Treasures of Myanmar itinerary costs from £4,999pp, including return UK flights from London, two nights pre-cruise and one night post-cruise stay in Yangon, transfers to and from the ship, 10 nights on board, all tours, all meals, complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, on-board entertainment including cultural shows and lectures, and port charges.   

More info: call 0808 223 5009 or visit www.amawaterways.co.uk.

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Wine & Christmas With AMA

Enjoy Europe’s vineyards during the wine harvest on a wine-themed luxury river cruise with AmaWaterways, during a 7-night sailing from Budapest to Vilshofen on board one of the newest and most advanced river ships in Europe, the AmaPrima. 

Departing on November 6, AMA's "In Celebration of Wine" sailing includes wine-themed tours and presentations, visits to wineries and wine tastings, and the price of £1,599pp includes a generous saving of £373pp.

Or save £734pp off a week-long cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg, departing on November 20. The AmaPrima sails to Bratislava, Vienna, Melk, Linz, Passau and Regensberg, before arriving in Nuremberg, home of Europe’s largest Christmas market. The price is now from £2,159pp .

AMA's Christmas markets river cruise has a saving of £388pp on  a week-long sailing from Nuremberg to Budapest, with the numerous and varied Christmas markets in Vienna and the picturesque stalls and wares for sale in Linz and Passau. This "Christmas Time Cruise" departs on December 16 and now costs from £1,779pp.

And two more great festive season river-cruise ideas:

December 28: Recuperate from Christmas and Celebrate New Year!

Get Christmas over and done with and head off for a week on a luxury river cruiser, sailing from Nuremberg to Budapest. See Europe in its festive finery, visit the regal cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, spend New Year’s Eve in picturesque Linz and enjoy a relaxing New Year’s Day in the spectacular surroundings of the Baroque Melk Abbey, followed by a cruise through Austria’s Wachau Valley. The week-long sailing now costs from £1769pp, saving £469pp.

December 25: River cruise solves Christmas AND New Year!

Spend Christmas Day in festive Nuremberg and New Year in Amsterdam, where fireworks will light up the sky for miles around and the city will be partying right into New Year’s Day. Embark on the luxury new river cruiser AmaPrima on December 25, sail along the Main and Rhine waterways, visiting picturesque towns and villages each day and enjoying five-star cuisine and comfort all the way, to arrive in Amsterdam for New Year. The price of £1,649pp saves £431pp.

NB: All prices include return flights from London, ship transfers, all meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, complimentary daily tours and excursions, wi-fi and use of onboard bicycles. 

More info: Contact AmaWaterways on (freephone) 0808 223 5009 or online at www.amawaterways.co.uk.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

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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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Tauck's New Seine Sensations

Highly-rated escorted tour and river-cruise specialists Tauck have two new-for-2014 itineraries on the Seine. in the shape of the "Cruising the Seine Plus Versailles, Paris & London" tour and a fabulous new "Rendezvous On The Seine" option.

The former costs from $6,790 per person (plus airfare) and is a comprehensive two-week journey that begins with an included two-night stay in London at the landmark Savoy, featuring guided sightseeing plus a Tauck-exclusive lecture by Winston Churchill's biographer and grand-daughter Celia Sandys. After travelling via high-speed train beneath the English Channel to Calais, guests will board the MS Swiss Sapphire in Caudubec-en-Caux for a nine-day cruise along the Seine.

Highlights along the river will include an excursion to Normandy's D-Day beaches, an exclusive dinner with music at a private chateau in Rouen, and private tastings of absinthe in the Absinthe Museum in Auvers-sur-Oise and Calvados at Chateau du Breuil, a distiller of the spirit since the 1500s. The journey continues in Paris, where the Swiss Sapphire will dock for three nights to allow guests enjoy an in-depth exploration of the city with included sightseeing. The 14-day itinerary concludes with a two-night stay in Versailles at the Trianon Palace Versailles, a Waldorf Astoria property, highlighted by an exploration of the Chevreuse Valley and a visit to the 12th-century Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay.                    
 
Tauck's second new French itinerary, "Rendezvous on the Seine," (10 days from $4,590 per person, plus airfare) also begins with an included two-night stay in Paris, at the Hotel Pullman close to the Eiffel Tour. A subsequent seven-day cruise on the Seine includes ports-of-call at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Giverney (where guests will visit the home and gardens of Impressionist painter Claude Monet), Vernon, Les Andelys and Rouen. Highlights include a farm visit and tasting of local farm-to-table specialties in Étretat, a visit to the seaside town of Honfleur, a lecture on the events of D-Day followed by a tour of Normandy's iconic beaches, and guided visits to historic abbeys and chateaux.

For more info, see Tauck's website at http://www.tauck.com/.

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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.

  

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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.

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AMA's Christmas Classics

AmaWaterways is offering some tempting Christmas market river-cruises this year, with the chance to grab a real bargain for early-bookers.

Departing on November 25, AMA's 7-night 'Christmas Time' cruise costs from £1,589pp, including a saving of £347 and with free return UK flights, all meals, wine with lunch and dinner, complimentary daily tours and excursions, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles. The same cruise on December 16 costs from £1,595pp, including flights from the UK, saving £359pp.

2013 Christmas market departures also on November 27 and 30 and December 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 18, 21 and 28 (excluding free flights offer).

Christmas on the Danube

Christmas comes early on the Danube where AmaWaterways are giving free flights with bookings for their 7-night December 23 sailing, saving £359pp. The cruise, from Budapest to Vilshofen, visits some of Europe’s most picturesque cities and towns at their most festive, including Vienna, Vilshofen, Passau, Melk and Bratislava. The cruise now costs from £1,585pp.

Magnificent Christmas cruise

Departing on December 18, this magnificent 14-night journey travels through five countries along Europe’s main waterways, spending 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 now costs from £2,719pp, saving £684.

All prices include flights, all meals (with Christmas meals and events), wine with lunch and dinner, daily tours and excursions, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles. 

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

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AMA's Free Flights Offer

AmaWaterways is offering free flights with selected wine-themed cruises this November, with opportunities to take part in wine tastings, visit vineyards, hear presentations from top wine experts and enjoy food and wine pairings. The offers save up to £352 per person for a 7-night Danube cruise from Budapest to Vilshofen.

 

The choices in full are:

November 15 & 22: The Enchanting Rhine wine cruise, saving £337pp
Learn as you sip on a 7-night wine appreciation cruise on luxurious river cruiser AmaCello, in the company of expert U.S. wine host Holly Howell, who will guide guests in enjoying and tasting wines. The new price of £1,499pp represents a saving of £337pp. The same cruise on Nov 22 costs from £1,499pp, saving £317pp. 

November 11 and 18: The Romantic Danube wine cruise, saving £352pp
Visit a Heuriger (wine tavern) in Vienna, cruise through the autumn colours of Austria’s Wachau Valley and join in Oktoberfest festivities in Vilshofen. Taste beer and wine in wineries and breweries between Budapest and Vilshofen and, when on board, enjoy presentations from top wine experts on a 7-night sailing on 5-star river cruiser AmaCerto. The new price of £1,499pp represents a saving of £352pp. The same cruise on Nov 18 costs from £1,469pp, saving £342pp.

All prices include complimentary visits to vineyards, beer and wine tastings, themed dinners with wine pairings, daily tours and excursions, wine presentations, as well as free flights, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, free Wi-Fi and use of on-board bicycles.

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

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European Waterways Feature New Bordeaux Cruise

European Waterways have introduced a new 6-night itinerary for their luxury hotel barge Rosa, which features more of the renowned Bordeaux wine region, including a visit to Saint Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tastings of premier cru and grand cru wines - perfect for you wine lovers!  

This new itinerary is only available this year on August 18 and 25 but, in 2014, Rosa will cruise this itinerary from August to November. 

The beautifully appointed Rosa carries just 8 passengers and can be booked either individually or whole-boat chartered. There is an elegant dining room and spacious sun deck, while there are bicycles for passengers to use along the tow paths.

All drinks are included and the onboard cuisine, like all European Waterways voyages, is provided by a highly-trained local chef using only the best regional ingredients.

The Bordeaux voyage sails from Castet-en-Dorthe to Boe (or vice versa) and includes calls at the medieval town of Nerac as well as a series of charming villages dating back to the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries.

For more info, visit www.gobarging.com and, for more luxury river-cruise ideas, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Big Savings With gAdventures On Amazon

Expedition cruise specialists gAdventures have a fabulous discount on offer for their grand Amazon River cruise this July and August, with savings of 50 per cent off the regular price off this unique voyage in Peru.

The full details are as follows:

Amazon Riverboat Adventure

Was £1,549pp - now £775pp for a nine-day trip from Lima to Lima, departing July 20, 27 and August 3. It includes return flights from Lima to Iquitos, six nights aboard the Queen Violet Amazon riverboat with meals, two nights in comfort hotels with breakfast, arrival transfer, canopy walkway excursion in Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, and launches and land excursions with G Adventures’ expert naturalist team.

Highlights: G Adventures’ Amazon River cruises take guests on a trip that explores both the cultural and natural sides of this remote part of the world. The spacious Queen Violet has large open deck spaces where briefings with top naturalists take place during voyages. Each journey along the Amazon includes visits to local villages, where travellers learn about local life from schooling to handicrafts, and spend some time with a local family.

Flights are available to be purchased separately and are priced from £1,042pp flying Air Europa from London Gatwick to Lima return. 

For more info, visit http://www.gadventures.com/; for more adventure-cruise ideas, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury adventure-cruise specialists.

Have you got your copy of the new Summer edition of World of Cruising magazine yet? You can subscribe 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.

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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Take a River Cruise - And Save!

AmaWaterways have a new series of worldwide river-cruise special offers this week, with savings of up to £391 per person for their distinctive voyages in Russia, France, along the Danube and in the Far East.

Here are the full details:

July 26: Cruise Russia’s waterways, saving £271pp 

Discover Russia’s waterways and her vast and spectacular lakes, dine traditional style with a Russian family and discover the cities en-route between St Petersburg and Moscow. This 11-night sailing is now £2,979pp (was £3250pp).

August 9: Cruise through Provence, saving £391pp 

This one-week luxury river cruise from Lyon to Arles along the Rhone takes in famous wine growing regions, historic towns and the spectacular Provencal countryside. The price is now £2,299 per person (was £2,690).

August 16: Vietnam, Cambodia & Riches of the Mekong

Departing on August 16, AMA has a magnificent 7-night cruise along the Mekong between Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City, including a 2-night pre-cruise stay in Siem Reap (B&B basis) in Cambodia, for just £2,299pp, saving £239. The cruise is on board the La Marguerite, and visits floating markets, exotic villages, temples, monasteries and historic pagodas along the way.

August 26: Cruise the Danube, save £281pp 

Or how about a week’s Danube cruise from Vilshofen to Budapest, highlighting the very best of this region from Austria to Hungary. The price is now £2,064 per person (was £2,345). 

All prices include return UK flights, transfers, full board, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, complimentary daily tours and excursions, plus use of onboard bicycles on Provence and Danube routes. 

For bookings, follow this link to 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.