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Peter Deilmann Cruises Bale out
Peter Deilmann Cruises has withdrawn from the river cruising market with the division of the German-based company declared insolvent.
The decision will impact “hundreds” of group and charter Australian bookings, Sydney-based general sales agent Classic Voyages said.
A statement from Peter Deilmann said that its “river ship division has been moved into insolvency which is the German for corporate reorganisation”.
“The 2010 river cruise program has been cancelled and charter and group operators involved have been advised of this situation,” the company said.
The 2009 season will go ahead as planned.
The move does not affect voyages of its cruise ship ms Deutschland, which is separately owned and operated.
Peter Podesta, managing director of Classic Voyages, said the river cruising vessels have independent owners and it remained to be seen what decision they will make over future bookings. “As more information comes to hand we will advise the trade,” he said.
The operation has been losing money in a tough market which the cruise company could no longer sustain.
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Globus’ Avalon and Monograms Partner on Cruise Tours
The Globus family of brands’ Avalon Waterways and Monograms have put together seven- to 10-day pre- and post-cruise packages for river cruise itineraries in London, Paris, Nice, Amsterdam, Vienna, Prague, Munich, Zürich, Interlaken, Lucerne and Berlin. Monograms’ A Week in Paris vacation interlocks perfectly with Avalon Waterways’ Burgundy & Provence itinerary. And the seven-day Vienna & Prague vacation package is good fit with Avalon’s A Taste of the Danube itinerary, post-cruise. In 2010, Avalon Waterways and Monograms are offering nearly 15 pre- and post-cruise packages to fit many river cruise itineraries. Additional examples include Paris & Nice -- seven days, priced from $1,599, combining pre-cruise with Avalon Waterways’ Burgundy & Provence; Amsterdam, Paris & London -- seven days, priced from $1,389, combining post-cruise with Avalon Waterways’ Romantic Rhine, European Splendor, Magnificent Europe, Windmills, Vineyards & Paris or North Sea-Black Sea Cruise; and Vienna, Munich & Berlin -- 10 days, priced from $2,429, combining post-cruise with Avalon Waterways’ A Taste of the Danube
“Monograms is independent travel made simple and a perfect choice for first-time travelers to a destination. We pair travelers with local hosts in European cities to provide guided sightseeing and point them in the right direction on trip,” said Steve Born, vice president of marketing for the Globus family of brands. “We also ensure travelers are staying in hotels located in the heart of each city for easy access to sites. Booking a Monograms vacation pre- or post-cruise is a safe and easy way for agents to not only build business but also to enhance client satisfaction.”
To encourage travelers to book the cruise of their dreams, Avalon Waterways is offering early booking incentives. Receive $150 off per person on any Egypt, China, Galapagos or Taste of the Danube cruise/land-only vacation in 2010, or $300 off per person when booking air on the same itineraries. For most Europe cruise vacations, the deal increases. Receive $250 off per person on select Europe river cruise/land-only vacations, or $500 off per person when booking air on the same itineraries. Avalon Waterways is part of the Globus family of brands, a travel industry leader with 80 years of international travel expertise. Monograms offers travelers packaged vacation options, enabling them to embark on getaways in cities around the world, without any pre-planning. For information on Avalon Waterways, call 800-640-4899
Pearl Mist problems lead to cancellation of remaining 2009
Pearl Seas Cruises, a new US based cruise company, has cancelled the remainder of the 2009 touring season in the Atlantic region for a high-end vessel built at the Halifax Shipyard, the ChronicleHerald.ca website reports.
Pearl Seas Cruises said it had to cancel the remainder of the 2009 Eastern Canadian and St. Lawrence Seaway cruises because of deficiencies with the Pearl Mist recently discovered during sea trials, quality issues and construction delays."Pearl Seas deeply regrets this situation and is hopeful that various issues can be resolved with Irving Shipbuilding in the near future," the company based in Guilford, Conn., said in a news release.
The company has been involved in a dispute over the construction of the vessel with Irving Shipbuilding Inc., and said it would be issuing the release and not discussing the situation further. Passengers who are booked on 2009 cruises have the option of receiving a full refund of their deposits or rebooking for a later cruise. Pearl Seas Cruises said is "very appreciative of the tremendous support" it received from of all the Canadian provinces and communities where the ship was scheduled to visit this year.The company had hoped its small cruising vessel would be ready for service in May 2008. Construction delays kept pushing back the delivery date.
Pearl Seas Cruises had previously cancelled a Caribbean tour with the Halifax-built vessel, which can accommodate about 214 passengers. An official with Irving Shipbuilding has previously suggested that delays with engineering-and-design instructions were behind the construction delays, the report said.
Irving has built offshore vessels, rigs and tugs prior to entering the cruise sector with the contract with Pearl Seas Cruises. It is also a ship repair co,pany.
Rajang River Cruising
We are delighted to announce the safe arrival of the ORIENT PANDAW in Sibu on 2nd May after a 72 hour crossing from Saigon under her own steam. All is on schedule!
The maiden voyage on the mighty Rajang River is on 1st July. This is an eight day journey deep into the Borneo jungle where few travellers have gone before. Jungle tumbles off the mountains into the muddy eddies of this little explored river. Incredible flora and fauna in this the most bio diverse place on the planet, long houses of ex head hunters, colonial vestiges, all conspire to make this a very unusual journey.
For the maiden voyage the explorer and travel writer Redmond O'Hanlon will be joining us and will give a series of talks on his own Rajang expedition, described in his classic book INTO THE HEART OF BORNEO.
AMA Waterways Sets New River Itineraries for 2010
AMA Waterways announced a new lineup of itineraries for 2010. In addition to its recently announced “Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong” program in Southeast Asia, the line’s European offerings has increased to 20. The AMA Waterways lineup for 2010 includes itineraries on the Danube, Main, Rhine and Mosel rivers, as well as the Douro River in Portugal, the Rhône in France and the Volga-Baltic waterways in Russia. New land programs also have been added.
New for 2010 is the seven-night “Romantic Christmas Cruise” with two nights in Prague; the seven-night “Enchanting Rhine” cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, plus two nights in Luzern and two nights in Zurich; the seven-night “Rhine Winter Voyage” from Basel to Amsterdam with two nights in Zurich and two nights in Luzern; and the “Heart Of Portugal & France,” a combination of the “Cruising Portugal & Spain” and “Provence & Spain” itineraries. Also new is the optional pre-Prague land program -- two nights in Berlin and two nights in Dresden -- now available on spring and fall “Romantic Danube,” “Legendary Danube” and “Christmas Time” cruise itineraries.
The previously announced “Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong” cruise-tour, launching this fall, includes two nights in Hanoi, an overnight junk cruise in Ha Long Bay, three nights in Siem Reap/Angkor, a seven-night Mekong River cruise aboard the new La Marguerite, and one night in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Contact RiverDiscounts 800-640-4899
Uniworld’s new River Beatrice
Uniworld’s new River Beatrice set sail on March 24, and hosted the godmother and namesake of the ship, Beatrice Tollman, founder and president of Red Carnation Hotel Collection, a sister company of Uniworld. Tollman christened the ship in the medieval, walled city of Nuremberg, Germany. In attendance were Guy Young, president of Uniworld; Christine Sustreanu, director of European operations for Uniworld; Mike Ness, CEO of The Travel Corp. (the parent company of Uniworld); and the entire Tollman family. The River Beatrice sails a nine-day “Enchanting Danube” program from Budapest to Passau, visiting Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Durnstein, Melk, Linz (Salzburg) and Passau. Uniworld is offering 2-for-1 air and $300-per-couple savings off of the “Enchanting Danube and the “Danube Holiday Markets” river cruises. Prices start at $1,799 per person, cruise only. For more information, call riverdiscounts. 800-640-4899.
Tauck launches new river cruise ship
On April 27, the Tauck family, along with local dignitaries and business colleagues, gathered in Passau, Germany to christen Tauck World Discovery's third new riverboat since 2006, the MS Swiss Jewel.
The Swiss Jewel joins its sister ships in Tauck’s growing riverboat fleet, comprised of the MS Swiss Sapphire launched last April, and the MS Swiss Emerald launched in 2006.
“Our goal is not to be the biggest river cruise line, but to be the best,” said Dan Mahar. “Having the Swiss Jewel enter service is another exciting milestone in our efforts. She lives up to the same award-winning standards set by the Swiss Sapphire and the Swiss Emerald, and we look forward to hosting our first Tauck guests aboard the Jewel in the coming days.”
Guests aboard the 361-foot Swiss Jewel will enjoy a relaxed and casually elegant atmosphere, as the ship accommodates just 118 guests, versus 150 or more on other similarly sized vessels. The Jewel offers a total of 59 outside-facing staterooms, including 14 suites and seven junior suites.
As on Tauck’s other vessels, the Jewel’s 300 square-foot suites are highlighted by floor-to-ceiling windows, French balconies, walk-in closets and marble baths with full size tubs. The additional 45 junior suites and cabins range from 150 to 183 square-feet, with 85 percent of all accommodations including floor-to-ceiling windows and French balconies. Each of the Jewel’s suites, junior suites and cabins feature plasma TVs, mini-bars, terry cloth robes, radios, safes, individual air conditioning and L’Occitane toiletries.
The Jewel also provides guests with a second onboard dining option, the Lido bar, where bistro-style food is offered as a more casual alternative to the ship’s main dining room. Other onboard amenities include a 24-hour Jacuzzi, lounge and wellness center. Along with a ship’s crew of 29, the Jewel also has an onboard staff of three Tauck Directors and one Tauck Cruise Director.
Those interested in learning more about the Swiss Jewel and Tauck’s river cruises can call RiverDiscounts.com 1 800 640 4899
Canadian Travel Company Offers Great Lakes Cruises
The Great Canadian Travel Company is offering seven-night cruises on the Great Lakes aboard the 100-passenger, all-suite Clelia II. The cruises operate on four of the five Great Lakes from Toronto, Ontario, to Duluth, Minn. The cruise includes welcome and farewell receptions; all meals; house wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; and open bar throughout the cruise. Tours and excursions also are included, as are educational programs and guest lecturers. Fares start at $5,595 per person, including transfers between pier and airport, port and embarkation taxes, and gratuities to porters, guides and drivers. There are 12 departures this year between June 27 and Sept. 12.
The cruise starts in Toronto and travels on Lake Ontario and bypassing Niagara Falls with time for an excursion. There’s a day at sea while cruising past Detroit and onto Lake Huron. The cruise then visits Manitoulin Island, the world’s largest freshwater island, where the Wikwemikong Reserve is a thriving community that has never ceded authority to Canada. Next is a visit to Mackinac Island and passage through Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie. The cruise continues through the Portage Waterway to call at Houghton and Thunder Bay before concluding in Duluth. For more information
