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RIVER CRUISES
Viking Freya on the Danube
Banking on success With the launch of modern vessels and an increase in the variety of journeys available, the future looks very bright for river cruising
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ntil recently, river cruises were seen as the toddler to the ocean-cruising teen, but things are starting to change. Figures from the Cruise Lines International Association UK and Ireland reveal more Britons than ever took a river cruise last year, with figures up by 14% to 130,000. European river cruises saw the biggest increase – 12% up on the previous year. While it still has a long way to go to catch up with the popularity of the ocean cruises – 1.7 million passengers last year – the introduction of new ships and the variety of voyages that are tempting ocean cruisers to try out the river journeys are guaranteed to give the operators a boost. Here is a round-up of what lines are heading upstream around the world in 2014. Europe Viking River Cruises is setting its sights on the French waterways for 2014 with the launch of its eight-day Heart of Bordeaux cruise. Viking Forseti will operate the itinerary along the Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde Rivers. Starting and ending in Bordeaux, the voyage will take in the historical towns of Pauillac, Blaye, Libourne and Cadillac, visiting three UNESCO sites, including Blaye’s 17th-century Citadel and SaintEmilion. Viking believes this cruise will be popular with food lovers, who will have ample opportunity to enjoy the region’s specialities such as oysters, truffles, cognac All About Cruising
and the region’s famed wines, with time built in to tour the wine country. How much? From £1,095 per person. Avalon is aiming to appeal to its guests who have cruised with them before, with a new range of themed cruises that will allow them to combine their hobbies with a river cruise. The new voyages include the nine-day Austrian Highlights and Bavaria River cruise for beer lovers. With departures on 7 July and 13 October 2014, the cruise takes in the charming towns, castles and museums along the Bavaria River as well as giving guests the chance to enjoy a food and beer-pairing dinner with special courses and beers chosen by an expert; on-board lectures; visits to Kuchlbauer World of Beer in Abensberg and the German Hop Museum in Wolnzach with tasting; and visits and tastings at a number of historic breweries along the way. How much? Prices lead in at £1,499 for the nine-day cruise including flights. History lovers will be enchanted by the eight-day Paris to Normandy Landing Beaches voyage, which departs on 1 April and the 16-day Grand France cruise that leaves Paris on 24 March and heads through Normandy to the D-Day landing beaches before returning to Paris where guests board the second cruise ship and set sail for the Cote d’Azur. Both itineraries will mark the 100 years since the start of World War I and will include visits to some of Europe's most famous war sites, on board lectures about
World War I and a visit to the Museum of the Great War in Meaux. These new cruise options are in addition to the existing choice of wine, music, art and impressionist, culinary, European history and politics, Jewish heritage and festive cruises. How much? From £1,379 including flights for the Paris to Normandy Landing Beaches, with the 16-day Grand France tour starting at £3,215. Africa AmaWaterways has introduced new itineraries based around the boutique, 28passenger Zambezi Queen, which sails the Chobe River in southern Africa. The cruiseline’s 16-day Stars of South Africa voyage includes three nights in Cape Town, a four-night safari cruise on Zambezi Queen, two nights at Victoria Falls, one night in Johannesburg and three nights in Kruger Park. The 15-day Rivers and Rails of Africa takes in three nights in Cape Town, a fournight safari cruise on Zambezi Queen and two nights at Victoria Falls, followed by two nights on the Rovos Rail luxury train and one in Johannesburg. Finally, the 19-day Golden Trails of East Africa includes one night in Johannesburg, a four-night safari cruise on Zambezi Queen, two nights at Victoria Falls and one night in Johannesburg before flying to Nairobi for a six-night tour of East Africa, including Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. Zambezi Queen is a luxury river boat with 10 suites and four master suites, all en-suite with king or twin beds, private balconies and full length sliding shutters. How much? From £7,791 per person for a 13-night cruise and land safari, excluding flights and transfers. 19