European Barging Introduces Premicon Queen
Tour operator European Barging and River Cruises has announced that its new 100-passenger, all-suite Premicon Queen is offering two- to six-night cruises on the Rhine and Danube Rivers. For all 2008 departures, European Barging is offering a 25 percent discount off published fares.
The Premicon’s suites are 193-322 square feet, with Queen suites featuring 32-square-foot balconies. Queen Suite guests have personal butler service available at all times; snacks and drinks can be delivered to all guests at any time. The in-room minibar is stocked daily and the Premicon’s concierge can provide services that include theater tickets in Vienna or limousine service to the nearest golf course. The ship has an elevator, Wi-Fi accessibility and laptops are available for guests. German and English are the onboard languages.
Rhine cruises sail between Cologne and Basel through the Middle Rhine Valley — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout the course of the cruise are 40 castles that stretch over 40 miles; Sayn Castle — one of the last fairy-tale fortresses — is a shore excursion destination. Another stop is the wine capital of Rudesheim, where special culinary selections will be served by chef Johann Lafer’s team at the nearby Stromburg castle. In addition, guests will learn trade secrets from gourmet chefs of the Table d’Or and enjoy Black Forest cake and coffee aboard a classic train as well as a wine and chocolate tasting at the Graflich Wolff Metternich’schen winery.
After circling the legendary Lorelei, the Premicon Queen will move on to the Main river and Frankfurt. Further downstream, the Main flows through the Franconian wine country and destinations that include Bamberg, where the entire Old City is made up of narrow canals; it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another stop includes Nuremberg, birthplace of Albrecht Durer and the idyllic Altmuhltal (Valley of Old Mills) before the cruise disembarks in Regensburg.
The Danube cruise starts in Regensburg with an opportunity to visit the Spanish Riding School where haute ecole (equestrianship) has been taught for 430 years. The finale is a ride on a vintage steam train to the Godollo Palace and a festive dinner in Budapest’s famous Gundel restaurant.
Premicon Queen also offers roundtrip Frankfurt Christmas Market itineraries, a Christmas Cruise and New Year’s cruises.
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