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Danube Tourist Commission
2008-05-19 14:06:43
This season will see six new ships sail the Danube: Amacello, Amadante, Scenic Safir, and Scenic Emerald (Rivertech), Premicon Queen (Premicon), and Swiss Safir (Scylla Tours). Three other ships will travel the river under new names: the Da Vinci, Isabella and TUI Maxima.
Avalon Waterways unveiled its third new ship in Europe in two years. The Avalon Scenery, the newest ship on French waters, accommodates 138 passengers. The Scenery boasts floor-to-ceiling windows on two decks, a "fun pool" on the sky deck, elevator and Club Lounge. The ship also showcases Avalon's signature 172-square-foot staterooms with standard amenities that include hotel-style beds with duvets, Egyptian cotton linens, flat-screen satellite televisions, mini-bars, safes, modern bathrooms and large wardrobes.
In 2008, the Avalon Scenery will sail exclusively on the new "Flavors of Burgundy & Provence" journey with 32 departure dates between April and November.
The new 11-day "Flavors of Burgundy & Provence" trip begins with a stay in Paris. From Paris, guests will drive south into Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Côte d'Or area, and continuing to Chalon-sur-Saône to board Avalon Scenery. After a port stop in Tournus, travelers will sail to Mâcon for a guided walking tour. From there, they will cruise down the Rhône to Lyon, France's second largest city and its gastronomic capital. Then, it's off to the twin cities of Tournon and Tain L'Hermitage, located among vineyards between the River Rhône and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Avignon -- also called the "City of Popes" -- is the next stop. Then, the boat heads to Arles for more exploration, including venturing into the Roman Amphitheater. This journey ends with a stay in Nice and optional excursion to Monte Carlo in Monaco. The trip is priced from $2,059 cruise- and land-only.
Call 800-640-4899 for discounted rates
Jewel River Cruises -- the brand-new "boutique luxury" cruise line that was supposed to debut this spring with the launch of its first ship -- is suffering setbacks. The launch of the all-suite Jewel Imperial Blue has been delayed at least until August, due to extensive alterations in the original design.
The former ms Hispania, which carried mostly British passengers on river journeys in Europe, is being completely renovated to enlarge cabins and upgrade facilities. Additional architectural changes are said to be responsible for the delay.
Jewel River Cruises is one of three sub-brands of Jewel River Cruise Line (the others' ships are already chartered to European tour operators), and is being marketed to U.S. cruisers. JRCL is the brainchild of Albert Peter, who held the title of CEO at luxury line Silversea Cruises from 2001 until 2007.
Despite repeated postponements of the launch date, Jewel River Cruises' spokespersons still promise that the improved vessel will be the most luxurious river ship in Europe.
We'll keep you posted.
Yachts of Seabourn have three 32,000 gross ton newbuildings on order that are three times the size of the existing ship of the company and with 450 beds, carry twice as many passengers. However, Pamela Conover, president ceo of the Carnival Corp & PLC subsidiary, says the company remains committed to small ship experience. “I think there is a line between a small-ship and a large-ship experience. We choose not to cross that line, because we are committed to providing the sort of individualized experience that is the reason Seabourn guests choose to travel with us. We are building for a particular sort of very discerning traveler who understands the equation between intimacy and luxury,” she said. The new ships, Seabourn Odyssey and her un-named sisters-to-be, will provide among the highest ratios of space per guest in the industry, and they will take advantage of that space to lay on amenities such as an expansive 11,500-square foot indoor/outdoor spa, spread over two decks, that will be the largest on any luxury ship. Ninety percent of the ship’s guest accommodations will have private verandas, and the ships will feature four alternative dining venues, again unheard of for ships of this size, Seabourn said.
Pearl Seas Cruises' new ship met water for the first time at the Irving Shipyard in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This is the first of several ships the company plans to build for world service. The ship will carry no more than 214 guests and feature 108 suites, all with private balconies. The suites will range in size from 320 to 640 square feet. The ship will be outfitted with Rolls Royce active wing stabilizers, which the company says will create the optimum ship -- small enough to sail to places inaccessible to larger cruise ships while also providing a smooth, comfortable ride in the deep ocean. The 2009-10 schedule is detailed on the company's website and showcases 29 itineraries that will visit more than 100 ports throughout Eastern Canada, New England, Canadian Maritimes, Caribbean, Central America, Panama Canal, and the Great Lakes. The ship will feature a spa, elevators to all six decks, and Internet access throughout the ship. 800-640-4899
An Australian cruise operator is making waves on the Rhine and the Danube, writes Mike Heard.
APT World Discoveries has criticised the advent of full-size balcony areas on some European river ships, saying they make cabins less comfortable and don't get much use anyway.
The criticism is seen to be aimed at fierce rival Scenic Tours, which has been heavily promoting new-design balcony cabins on the so-called spaceships it will operate on the Rhine, Danube and other European rivers next year.
The balcony areas are big enough for a table and two chairs. Vessels of most other river-cruise companies, including APT, have only french doors opening on to a railing.
Scenic's advertising invites Australians to experience Europe river cruising in a "whole new way" by seeing Europe from a private balcony. APT says other river cruise operators have rejected the private balcony concept "because of the adverse impact on the comfort inside the cabins caused by narrowing the interiors and the limited time passengers spend on balconies".
APT says balconies are fine for ocean cruising, where passengers are at sea for several days at a time. But river cruising offers sightseeing on both sides of a vessel, so passengers using private balconies are going to see only half of the action.
The company has just announced plans to build two more 150-passenger vessels in partnership with European operator Amadeus Waterways, giving it a fleet of eight by 2010.