River & Small Ship Cruising News

Tauck World Discovery has announced its 2010 European river cruising plans

Tauck World Discovery has announced its 2010 European river cruising plans, including the addition of two new cruise itineraries. Also slated for next year are two Oberammergau extensions, four- and five-day land journeys that combine with selected Tauck river cruise itineraries and include premium seating tickets for the village’s famous Passion Play performances. Tauck will offer a total of nine European river cruises in 2010.

“European river cruising continues to be a very robust and vibrant segment of our business, and we’re excited to continue with the careful and measured expansion of our river cruise offerings,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar. “By growing our river cruise portfolio slowly, we’ve been able to maintain the same high standards, quality of guest experience, and strong value that Tauck has been known for since 1925. Along with the launch of our new MS Swiss Jewel in April, these two new river cruises represent important steps in our efforts.”

 The two new itineraries are the 12-day “Strasbourg To Prague Serenade” and a 19-day “Romance Of The Rhine & Danube.” The Strasbourg-to-Prague cruise (from $3,990 per person, double, plus air) begins with two nights at the Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Ile, with city sightseeing in Strasbourg and an exploration of the surrounding Alsatian wine country. The following seven-day cruise includes visits to Baden-Baden, Heidelberg, Miltenberg, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nurnberg and Regensburg, before a two-day stay at the Hilton Prague Old Town with guided sightseeing in the city.

“Romance Of The Rhine & Danube” (from $6,790 per person, double, plus air) also starts with a two-night stay at the Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Ile and visits to many of the same cities along the Rhine, Main and Main-Danube Canal.  The 14-day cruise then continues along the Danube with visits to Passau, Linz, Salzburg, Durnstein, Vienna and Bratislava, before concluding with a two-night stay at the InterContinental Budapest.

Tauck’s two Oberammergau extensions allow guests to easily add an extra four- or five-day land component to their river cruise itinerary, and enjoy the moving spectacle of the Oberammergau Passion Play. Performed just once each decade, the Passion Play recounts the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  It was first performed by Oberammergau’s citizens in 1634, after the village escaped a local plague epidemic. Today the play is a major cultural event involving more than 2,000 Oberammergau residents as actors, singers, musicians and technicians.

The four-day Oberammergau extension begins in Munich with a welcome reception and dinner at the Spatenhaus, a traditional Bavarian restaurant, before proceeding to Oberammergau the following day. In Oberammergau, guests will view the Passion Play from Tauck’s specially reserved premier seating in Section 1A, before enjoying in-town accommodations at the Hotel Maximilian.  Day three includes a visit to the opulent 19th-century Linderhof Palace and free time to explore Munich, before the extension concludes on the following day.

The five-day extension also begins in Munich and includes a walking tour of the city with a visit to 17th-century Schloss Nymphenburg, a former summer residence of Bavaria’s ruling family. Days two and three include time in the market town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the Passion Play in Oberammergau (again, with reserved seating in Section 1A of the theatre). A guided walking tour of Salzburg, Austria, highlights the fourth day, with the extension concluding on day five.

Tauck’s fleet of three sister ships, the MS Swiss Jewel, MS Swiss Sapphire and MS Swiss Emerald have each been launched within the past three years, and all are virtually identical.  Tauck’s ships each accommodate just 118 guests, vs. 140 or more on other similarly sized vessels, providing a less crowded and more relaxed ambiance. The ships also feature a bistro-style Lido Bar, providing a more casual dining alternative to the main restaurant.

Riverdiscounts 800-640-4899

Uniworld Extends Deadline on Egypt Savings Program

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is offering savings on an Egypt and Nile River cruise. From the impressive temple complex of Karnak and the fabled Valley of the Kings, to the Pyramids of Giza and the great Sphinx, guests will be fascinated by the splendid sights every moment of the Splendors of Egypt & the Nile river journey. The cruise visits Luxor, Dendera, Kom Ombo, Aswan and Edfu on Uniworld's new ultra-luxurious 41 all-suite ship, River Tosca. Guests also spend four nights in Cairo. Save $1,500 per couple on cruise/land only or save $2,000 per couple on cruise/land and air.

The Splendors of Egypt & the Nile River Cruise package includes: seven-night river cruise (Luxor to Luxor) onboard the River Tosca; a riverview suite with French balcony; four nights in Cairo at the deluxe Marriott Hotel and Casino with a room overlooking the Nile (includes all service charges, taxes and porterage); 11 buffet breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners; scheduled air travel between Cairo and Luxor; shore excursions fully hosted by English-speaking guides; complimentary transfers throughout your cruise/tour and on arrival and departure days. New bookings can only be made by July 31, 2009. The offer is subject to availability and Other restrictions may apply. Uniworld reserves the right to withdraw or change these offers at any time. For complete details, call riverdiscounts 800-640-4899

Rivals weigh in on Deilmann’s departure from river cruising

After 26 years in the river cruise business, Peter Deilmann Cruises shocked the industry last month when Deilmann decided to call it quits at the end of the 2009 season.

The decision to take its eight river vessels out of service at the end of October came just as Deilmann was preparing to release its 2010 brochure in the U.S. market — a market that some say became a challenge in recent years for Deilmann, which predominantly served U.S., British and German passengers.

In press statements issued in its native Germany, Deilmann attributed the move to the rapid fall in the number of U.S. and British passengers and to unfavorable currency exchange rates. But the company declined to comment further.

Other river cruise companies said that the challenges Deilmann faced did not reflect setbacks in the river cruise market as a whole, where capacity has expanded rapidly over the past several years.

Patrick Clark, managing director of Avalon Waterways, said the added capacity stemming from new entrants such as Avalon and AMA Waterways "made it more competitive for Deilmann."

But, he added, "there’s no real plausible reason that I can understand [for Deilmann exiting the river cruise business]. And I say that because if you look at the market, river cruising as a travel style has held up remarkably well."

Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking River Cruises, said the problems at Deilmann were specific to that line and not with river cruising in general.

"I’ve always had a very high regard for the Deilmann product," said Hagen, adding that his first river cruise was on Deilmann’s Mozart in 1990. "They’ve always had a great product in many ways. But there have been some developments away from the Deilmann product."

He said that while Deilmann focused on a higher-end product with an elaborate dining experience, "people in this day and age want value for their money."

"They had smaller ships: They take 100 passengers, which has the same operating cost as 190 passengers," he said. "It’s hard to make good economics of it. It’s important to have economies of scale."

While the entire travel industry struggled last year, Deilmann had extra challenges of catering to separate markets, according to operators.

"They had this dichotomy of being English- and German-speaking, which is very complicated," Hagen said.

Jeff O’Rourke, senior director of national accounts at Viking River Cruises, agreed. "It’s even worse on shore excursions when you have to have several languages on a motorcoach."

In addition to language challenges, there are also cultural differences between the North American and European markets. For instance, Germans prefer leisurely cruising with long, high-quality meals because they are familiar with the towns along the way, said Rudi Schreiner, president of AMA Waterways. Americans prefer longer stops in towns and shorter meals, Schreiner said.

"Deilmann’s prime business has always been the German market," Schreiner said. "Competition within Europe for European passengers has been much fiercer than what we have experienced in North America."

Meanwhile, the fate of Deilmann's eight river cruise ships remains in question. The company’s flagship is the 200-passenger Mozart, built in 1987 and refurbished in 2007.

Even though the Mozart stirs positive nostalgic sentiments across the industry, realistically it’s an older vessel in an increasingly youthful market. That’s not to say there’s no interest in the eight ships.

Uniworld, for example, is making inquiries as to the status of the Deilmann ships, said Guy Young, president of Uniworld River Cruises. "We are always looking for opportunities to expand our fleet where it makes sense."

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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River Cruising Expands Market

Over the past few years, river cruising has become an increasingly popular vacation option. Today, thanks to affordable pricing and innovations by several top river cruise lines, the category’s sales continue to skyrocket. river cruise sales are up 67% in 2009 vs. 2008.

There are several reasons for the growing popularity of river cruising. First, many of the world’s finest destinations cannot be reached by traditional cruise ships. These much sought-after spots can, however, be reached by river cruising vessels. Then, there are the ships themselves. River cruise ships typically transport less than 200 passengers, offering an intimate “boutique hotel” feel. Cabins are, in some cases, more spacious than on larger ships. And, there is no shortage of evening entertainment including piano players, singers and local talent. Today’s river cruise ships even feature gyms, swimming pools and Wi-Fi.

A variety of new innovations by three top river cruise lines have contributed to the category’s rising popularity. Examples include:

Avalon Waterways
“In preparing for 2010, Avalon announced a renewed focus on unique themed river cruise vacations, dubbing their approach ‘passion travel’,” “An emphasis on wine, music and other cultural traditions is being marketed and attracting the attention of avid cruisers seeking a new experience.”

Uniworld
“Uniworld has really committed to upgrading their ships and services this year “Our 2009 Uniworld bookings continue to increase, primarily because of the line’s two new ships and emphasis on technology and amenities.”

The new vessels include the 160-passenger River Beatrice and the 82-passenger River Tosca. Both have new hi-tech features including iPOD docking stations and flat-screen TVs, as well as new pool areas with cabanas, hotel-style beds, pillow menus and L’Occitane bath products.

Viking
“Viking is one river cruising line that should not be left out of the mix when talking about innovation in 2009,”“Most significantly, Viking has redesigned their itineraries and ships in Russia in response to consumer demand, which is satisfying customers looking for shorter, aggressively priced China and Europe voyages.”

One example of this is Viking’s new 10-day China Discovery, which includes three days in Beijing and a six-day Yangtze River cruise. A new 8-day Imperial Danube sailing begins and ends in Passau, letting travelers will enjoy an intimate journey through Germany, Austria, Hungary and Romania.

Amawaterways have added new ships along with a new itinerary from Amsterdam to Switzerland. Bikes are available for passengers along with free internet.

RiverDiscounts.com 800-640-4899 

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

Uniworld leverages a hotel partner on Europe's rivers

River cruise ships are often described as floating hotels. Uniworld River Cruises has gone a step further in making its newest ship, the River Beatrice, just that.

Uniworld has a unique resource in that parent company TravCorp also owns the Red Carnation Hotel Collection of luxury boutique hotels. Red Carnation's designers were employed to make the ship's interior look less like that of a ship and more like that of, well, a boutique hotel.

"It's been our philosophy that we want to position Uniworld at the top end of the market," said Guy Young, president of the Los Angeles-based Uniworld. "We want to be a luxury boutique hotel group on the waters. Certainly, what we've done with the Beatrice is set the standard for the company going forward."

Consequently, Young said that Uniworld "spent a lot more on the ship" than on any previous Uniworld ship, most of which went to interior design details and extras such as the made-to-order Savoir Beds (an English bed company established in 1905).

And while the Red Carnation team has weighed in on the interiors of previous Uniworld ships, Young said the company really "kicked it up a notch" with the Beatrice.

For instance, the ship is filled with all original artwork that was scouted at auctions and antique stores -- the owner's suite features art by 20th century English Impressionist Paul Maze. Staterooms have Egyptian cotton bedding and towels from Christie's of Manchester.

With 15 suites and 65 staterooms, the vessel has far more suites than any other Uniworld ship. The most suites on any Uniworld ship until now had been four.

The 160-passenger Beatrice, which launched softly in April, is Uniworld's 10th ship in Europe, and at 410 feet it is the river cruise operator's longest ship to date.

AMAWATERWAYS has christened its sixth new ship in three years

The 148-passenger MS Amadolce. The ceremony comes six weeks after the christening of MS Amadolce’s sister ship, the MS Amalyra, in Vilshofen, Germany.
Durnstein, Austria, served as the backdrop for the MS Amadolce’s christening. Located on the Danube in the Wachau wine-growing region, Durnstein is one of the area’s most-visited tourist sites. It is also an extremely popular destination on several of AMAWATERWAYS’ Danube river itineraries, known for its iconic hilltop castle fortress dating back to the days of Richard the Lion-Hearted.

The festivities for MS Amadolce included regional touches, such as folk music from a local school group; a performance by the Dürnsteiner Bläsersextett brass instrumentalists and a choir and folk-dance performance. AMAWATERWAYS President Rudi Schreiner (a native of Vienna), presided over the ceremony, which also included a welcome by Durnstein Deputy Mayor Knoll Emmerich and a convocation by a local priest. AMAWATERWAYS Chairman Jimmy Murphy also attended the christening, along with key international travel partners and local dignitaries.

Geoff McGeary, owner of Australia Pacific Touring (which has chartered the vessel for the Australian market for most of 2009), delivered the keynote speech. After the traditional breaking of the champagne bottle against the ship’s hull by travel agents Karen Broadhurst and Joanne Morgan (serving as proxies for godmother Anne McGeary), the celebrations continued onboard the Amadolce.

MS Amadolce features complimentary Wi-Fi; 170-square foot standard cabins, with over 82 percent boasting French Balconies; plush bedding with down duvets; flat-screen TVs;  in-room “Infotainment system,” with complimentary stateroom Internet access; and marble-appointed bathrooms,with spa-quality bath amenities, terry robes and slippers.

Gourmet meals in the restaurant are accompanied by free-flowing complimentary local wines, and specialty coffees are always available in the main lounge or at meals (and always complimentary).  AMAWATERWAYS vessels also feature a fitness center, beauty salon, whirlpool, walking track on the Sun Deck and a fleet of bicycles for passenger use.  A professional cruise director accompanies passengers throughout their entire cruise and land experience.  And expert local guides conduct complimentary city tours at every destination. <b>RiverDiscounts 800-640-4899</b>

Bengal Pandaw experiences ‘adventures a-plenty’ on her journey to the Ganges

Pandaw River Cruises’ 28-stateroom Bengal Pandaw has experienced ‘adventures a-plenty’ on her journey to her new life on the Ganges River.

Scheduled to leave Burma for Calcutta last month, a tug sent to pick up the luxury vessel in Rangoon ran into a cyclone on the India coast and had to seek refuge until the storm abated.

 When a second attempt was made to cross to Rangoon, the tug broke down and was forced to return home for repairs.

The tug finally made it to Rangoon on the third attempt, however, coming back across the Bay of Bengal a monsoonal storm hit the tug and Pandaw, and they didn’t reach the safety of India’s Hugli River (a tributary of the Ganges) until May 15.

“The last time a Pandaw river boat crossed the Bay of Bengal was ninety-odd years ago when a number were sent to support allied troops on the Tigris River during the First World War,” a spokesman said.

“But several were lost in a monsoonal storm on the Bay, which probably explains why we couldn’t get insurance for our tow this year!”
 
After storm repairs and a refit, Bengal Pandaw will be put back in service with an iron-clad promise to passengers that they will undergo “one the greatest river journeys in the world.”

Bengal Pandaw will set sail on spectacular 14-night sailings in September from Calcutta to Varanasi in the upper reaches of the Ganges, a luxury experience of over 1600 kilometres via a near-dozen ports.

For full details of her itinerary, daily sightseeing and prices for just 28 pampered couples 800-640-4899

Swan Hellenic's new River 2010 itineraries

Fresh from the success of their return to European river cruising, Swan Hellenic is extending their river programme in 2010 with the Rhine as a new destination. Swan Hellenic’s River cruises in 2009 featured the Rhone and the Danube – destinations that also feature in the 2010 programme.

The Rhine has a host of surprises in store – passengers on A-ROSA Aqua enjoy a rich array of scenery as they sail a round trip from Cologne past Moselle vines to half-timbered towns and turreted historic castles. A vast array of inclusive excursions are offered, such as a visit to the magnificent Schwetzingen Palace Gardens and a walking tour of Basle that includes of a visit to the Pflaz royal residence.

As with their ocean cruises, Swan’s distinctive approach to discovery cruising allows passengers to gain greater insights and a further appreciation of each destinations history. Through knowledgeable on board guest speakers passengers hear about Roman campaigns to the South of France on the Rhone, whilst along the Danube, an exploration of the origins of Baroque art and architecture and stories behind the Cold War will be on agenda. Whilst on the Rhine hear about finds dating back to Neolithic man, military campaigns fought over the Alsace region or the story behind Martin Luther and the Diet of Worms – all promise to fascinate!

With A-ROSA’s modern vessels matching the style and luxury of ocean-going vessels, passengers will travel in comfort aboard A-ROSA’s sophisticated fleet of river vessels that have been designed with Europe’s great rivers in mind. With less that 200 passengers on each cruise every one will benefit from an outside cabin, which with all the spacious public rooms and decks, allow travellers to soak up the cultural feasts of these three great rivers.

Swan’s River cruising is going from strength to strength as Colin Stone, Swan Hellenic’s Managing Director comments, "We’ve expanded the 2010 programme to include the Rhine due to the success of the 2009 programme. Swan River cruising is popular with passengers as they experience the same ocean-going standard, whilst seeing some of the most spectacular sights that Europe has to offer. A Swan Hellenic River cruise allows passengers to discover the heart of Europe in comfort and style."

An 8 day river cruise starts from just £1325 per person - fares are inclusive of flights and transfers. What’s more, Swan’s price promise means that once a cruise is booked, if prices go down in future brochures, they will refund the difference – plus they guarantee no fuel or currency surcharges.

Uniworld Introduces One Of The Largest Vessels On Europe’s Rivers

Staterooms are outfitted with hotel-style beds with Egyptian cotton sheets, European comforters, terry robes, bottled water, individual air conditioning and flat-screen televisions.

The River Beatrice also features a lounge, restaurant, library, sundeck, massage services, fitness center, sauna, Jacuzzi, gift shop and elevator. Wireless Internet access is available on board the ship. Complimentary use of bicycles is a new feature being offered by Uniworld.

The River Beatrice is scheduled for 33 departures this year along the Enchanting Danube itinerary, a nine-day cruise along the Danube River through Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany from Budapest to Passau.

The cruise alternates with a Passau-to-Budapest itinerary. The ship is also scheduled to sail four departures of the nine-day Danube Holiday Markets cruise along the same route, between November 29 and December 20, 2009

Star Clippers Announces 40 New Maiden Calls For 2010

Star Clippers (www.starclippers.co.uk) has added 40 maiden calls to its 2010 and 2011 sailing itineraries, including some of the world’s most remote islands, an ecologically preserved archipelago and lesser known ports and islands in Europe and Central America. The new sailing itineraries are on board the four masted Star Clipper, its twin ship Star Flyer and on Royal Clipper, the tallest full sail ship in the world.

New Star Clippers destinations include the Marquesas Islands in the open Pacific, (the furthest islands from any land mass in the world), the ecologically preserved islands of the Mergui Archipelago (Burma), lesser known European ports, such as Sanary-sur-Mer in Provence, France, the Greek Cyclades islands of Milos and Tinos, and new Caribbean and South American destinations including three of the British Virgin Islands, the Pearl islands in the Gulf of Panama and the Coco Islands off Costa Rica.

New exotic islands:-
In spring 2010, Star Flyer makes the 34-night voyage from Papeete in Tahiti to the Mediterranean, calling at Hiva Oa and Nuku Hiva, two of the twelve volcanic islands that make up the Marquesas Islands, the furthest islands from any land mass in the world, 853 miles off the north east coast of Tahiti. Continuing through the Panama Canal during the same voyage, Star Flyer makes calls at the Cocos Islands, off the coast of Costa Rica, and the Pearl Islands in the Gulf of Panama.

New eco-islands:-
In Winter 2010 Star Clipper crosses the Indian Ocean for southeast Asia, where she will sail between Singapore and Phuket and make maiden calls at Bo Cho, Ko Phawt, Nyaung, Shark Island and Great Swinton Island, five of the 800 isolated and virtually uninhabited islands that make up the Mergui Archipelago off the southern tip of Myanmar (Burma). The location is one of the world’s most spectacular diving and snorkelling sites, with beautiful beaches and stunning coastal scenery.

New European ports
From May 2010 new seven-night, western Mediterranean itineraries on board Star Flyer from Monte Carlo include yachting favourites St. Tropez, Portofino and Portoferraio (Elba), as well as new ports such as Sanary-sur-Mer, France, and Lerici, Italy.

In the eastern Mediterranean, new itineraries through Greek and Turkish waters in July and August will include off-the-beaten-track sailing destinations along the Turkish coast such as Olympus, Antalya, Kemer, Kekova, Fethiye, Gocek and Marmaris, while in Greece the ship calls at Kastellorizon, Simi, Amorgos and Elafonisos for the first time.

Royal Clipper, the company’s flagship, will sail a 12-night cruise from Malaga to Civitavecchia (for Rome) in April 2010 introducing the glamorous yacht marina of Puerto Banus. After a summer sailing round trip from Civitavecchia or between Civitavecchia and Venice, the ship repositions to the Caribbean via a maiden call at Essaouira, Morocco.

New Costa Rica itineraries
From November 2010 the four-masted Star Flyer will operate two seven-day, round-trip itineraries from Puerto Caldera on the west coast of Costa Rica. The first itinerary calls at San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; and Cuajiniquil, Playas del Coco/Flamingo, Puerto Carrillo and Islas Torguas, Costa Roca. The second itinerary calls at Isla Coiba, Panama; and Golfito, Isla del Cano/Drake’s Bay, Quepos and Islas Tortugas, Costa Rica. Each itinerary includes a day at sea to enjoy the experience of sailing on board a true tall ship.

BVI in 2011
For the first time Star Clippers has added new sailing for guests to cruise the British Virgin Islands with port calls that include Norman Island, reputedly the inspiration for `Treasure Island’, the yachting centre of Tortola, the `barefoot island’ Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda, the third largest island in the BVI.

The new itineraries represent a total of 40 new destinations and maiden ports, among the most exciting and least featured sailing destinations for any commercial cruising operation, largely due to the ships’ relatively small size.

Commenting on the new itineraries, passionate yachtsman Mikael Krafft, owner and president of Star Clippers, said “We wanted to freshen up our itineraries so that both our loyal past guests and new Star Clippers cruisers would have exciting reasons to select a Star Clippers sailing adventure in 2010. I’m introducing our guests to more of my favourite ports; places I have been fortunate enough to visit while sailing with my family, and these maiden calls truly are spectacular.”

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.

River Cruise New Builds

The market of river cruise ships is also on the move. The Neptun shipyard in Rostock-Warnemunde will deliver one river cruise ship in 2009 and one in 2010 to its customer A’Rosa. Last year Neptun built the river cruiser 'Premicon Queen', a further development of the innovative TwinCruisers, for the Munich based Premicon AG. River cruise specialists, Nicko Tours in Stuttgart, is also expanding its fleet with a 5 Star Deluxe Suite Ship ‘Nile Excellence’, offering cruises along the River Nile, and ‘Century Diamond’, the first German-speaking river cruiser at the Yangtze in China. Viking River Cruises is setting benchmarks with its 14th newbuild: This summer the company will introduce the first river cruise ship with a diesel-electric engine. ‘Viking Legend’ will be characterised by low fuel consumption and low noise emissions.

Scenic River Cruises

Scenic Tours boss set to launch a mini-fleet

Two years ago, Glen Moroney decided to build his own European river cruise ships rather than charter others. Now he has two ships and is launching two more this spring.

Moroney is the creator, owner and chief bottle washer for Scenic Tours. Their new "spaceships," as he calls them, are unique on the rivers of Europe. They are 135 metres long which is the maximum length for sailing rivers like the Main, Danube and Rhine.

Scenic Tours' main cruise is a one-way, 14-day trip from Amsterdam to Budapest. The same cruise is available in the reverse direction. See scenictours.com for more information.

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Scenic Tours has grown over the past 20 years from a ground operator out of Australia to a company running trips to many destinations from its offices in England, Canada and Australia.

You get the feeling when talking to Moroney that he has a passion for travel and especially for river cruises. "As of right now we are 93 per cent booked which is good considering the economy. What surprised me was that our suites were selling first, we expected different in this market," he said.

Single cruisers -- who get very few breaks when it comes to cruising -- were offered cabins at the same rate as per person based on double occupancy. Singles being treated as equals is almost unheard of in the cruising business.

We are reaching capacity on some days at Caribbean ports. Do the river cruisers have the same problem? "No net yet," he said. "Amsterdam and Budapest can be a problem so we decided at the outset to leave on Mondays to avoid the other ships."

Is the Industry growing? "Yes, no doubt about it, but we all have some short-term growth problems in this economy. For us this is going to be two record years in a row," he said.

"We find the satisfaction level high. We have a lot of repeat customers and we know our market -- its Boomer plus."

What makes your line different? "The space I've been talking about. We carry 169 passengers but the dining room holds 189. There is room for double tables. The lounge has room for everyone on the ship at the same time. That is unique. Also, we have a five-metre outdoor veranda around the lounge ensuring that our passengers can stay outside when we are traversing low bridges."

Why river cruising? "Where else, except for a few ports, can you pull right into the heart of town? Most cities in Europe were built on rivers and this allows us to land right in the middle of all the activity. In many cases you can see what the city has to offer by just walking."

Contact RiverDiscounts 800-640-4899

Viking 2010 Best Discounted Rates Ever

Viking River Cruises announced its 2010 lineup of 20 river cruise itineraries through northern and southern France, central and eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, China and Egypt and is offering an early booking discount through May 31.

Discounts include:
*    Two-for-one pricing on the cruise portion of every itinerary, for every stateroom category (single staterooms receive a 50 percent discount)
*    A $500-per-person discount on international roundtrip air purchased through Viking,
for a total savings of $1,000 per stateroom
*    Complimentary wine with onboard dinners for guests who book and pay in full for a 2010 itinerary by May 31, to "sweeten" the deal even further

Viking is introducing three new itineraries in 2010. Including:

Danube Waltz: an eight-day itinerary sailing through four of Europe's most enchanting countries-Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia-along the storied Danube River, which includes a tour of the 900-year-old baroque Benedictine abbey at Melk and an all-day excursion to the scenic city of Salzburg.
China Discovery: a 10-day cruisetour featuring all the imperial treasures of Beijing plus a six-day Yangtze River cruise through the Three Gorges. Guests on this itinerary enjoy a final afternoon and evening adjacent to Beijing's Olympic Village, where they can see some of the distinctive venues constructed for the 2008 Summer Games.
Nile Explorer: a nine-day itinerary that showcases the highlights of Cairo and features a five-day Aswan-to-Luxor cruise rich with comprehensive tours and experiences.

The 2010 season will also feature Viking Legend, which makes its debut in July 2009 with the largest suites on Europe's rivers and a new, energy-efficient propulsion system. In total, Viking offers 19 ships to the North American market for 2010. In France, guests will enjoy the hospitality of Viking Sprit and Viking Neptune, featuring deluxe staterooms with hotel-style beds; in Russia, the fully renovated Viking Kirov and Viking Surkov set the standard; and the five-star Viking Century Sun is the most sumptuous ship in China, where every stateroom has a river view and private balcony. Contact RiverDiscounts 800-640-4899

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.

More info on Borneo Cruises

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