THE RISE OF THE RIVER. Find out why so many people are choosing to take a river cruise

Transcription

1 THE RISE OF THE RIVER Find out why so many people are choosing to take a river cruise

2

3 ...you can sail right into the heart of a destination with a floating hotel for all your holiday needs... We re not exaggerating when we say that river cruising is having a moment right now. European rivers such as the Rhine and Danube have never been so popular, with their fairytale castles, charming capital cities and tiny villages. The appeal is obvious: board a river cruise and you will sail right into the heart of a destination, wander along the Seine under the lights of the Eiffel Tower, sample Bordeaux s finest reds or watch a concert in a Viennese palace. Meanwhile, rivers further afield are growing in popularity African, Asian and North American rivers give the more adventurous access to some of the most amazing places on earth. River cruising is made for immersing yourself in a destination with a ship that s far smaller than ocean-faring vessels. Read our introductory guide to get a bit of a flavour of what they re like and book yourself on the trip of a lifetime. You ll soon see what all of the fuss is about.

4 GLOBAL RIVER CRUISING Here is a selection of some of the most popular river cruise destinations beyond Europe: Mississippi BEST FOR: Music WHY GO: Listen to Blues or Jazz in a club in the Deep South where both were born. Mekong BEST FOR: Life on the river WHY GO: See how generations have lived in floating villages in fascinating southeast Asia Yangtze BEST FOR: Mountainous landscapes WHY GO: The Three Gorges Dam is immense, but the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army are not far away Irrawaddy BEST FOR: Ancient pagodas WHY GO: Explore Myanmar s riverside villages, unspoilt by tourism and take a hot air balloon above Bagan s temples This is just a selection of the river cruise destinations available For more please visit cruiseexperts.org

5 RHINE SEINE RHONE DANUBE DOURO EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISING Here is a selection of some of the most popular river cruise destinations in Europe: Danube BEST FOR: City breaks WHY GO: The Danube runs through five capital cities: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest, more than any other. Rhone BEST FOR: Wines WHY GO: The south of France produces some of the finest wines around and they save the best for themselves Rhine BEST FOR: Castles WHY GO: Sailing through the Rhine Gorge is one of the most scenic river cruises in Europe Seine BEST FOR: Romance WHY GO: Board your vessel in the centre of Paris, the city of lights, and try to not let the atmosphere seduce you Douro BEST FOR: Ports and churches WHY GO: Good weather and port is pretty much guaranteed in this Mediterranean hotspot

6 ...River cruising is all about having the freedom to do what you want... As the river ship often stops right in the heart of the city or town, then you can often simply step off and explore a whole new world. And you have so many ways to explore - enjoy a shore excursion, a walking tour or a cycle ride to explore some of these amazing places. And at night, take an after-dinner stroll, take in a local bar or simply enjoy the night-time views River cruising is all about having the freedom to do what you want. While there s usually a whole lot thrown into the price including some shore excursions, (see page 5), you can just as easily go off for a walk and discover a destination for yourself. Think about some of the amazing European river cities that you can visit some wonderful cities to explore: Cologne, Paris, Budapest, Vienna and Amsterdam

7 IN THE HEART OF THE CITY TOP TIP Look at river itineraries closely to find out what time you are departing. Many ships stay in port overnight, allowing night owls to sample some local flavours!

8 WHAT S INCLUDED?

9 ...River cruising is one of the most generously packaged holiday types available... In short, all your holiday needs - and much more besides River cruising is one of the most generously packaged holiday types available. You will always have your food and accommodation included (some ships have secondary dining spaces too), and most also offer alcoholic drinks with meals, a selection of shore excursions, transfers to the airport, access to bicycles and on board entertainment all free of charge! Simply check with your travel agent to ensure that you know exactly what is included. TOP TIP Most river cruise lines take only Euros on board, so booking extras such as drinks packages (if they re available) before you leave can save you money in the long run.

10 Exploring river cruise destinations has never been easier River cruising is all about the places that you visit absorbing that history, culture, shopping and cities and taking in breath-taking scenery and places. And what s more most river cruise operators include shore excursions in their package, so you can enjoy until your hearts content. Shore excursions are often divided into groups depending on how much walking you want to do, while bicycles are also offered on many ships. An increasing number are also now themed running cruises for fitness fanatics where passengers can cycle, walk or even run their way through a holiday.

11 EXPLORING FROM YOUR SHIP TOP TIP River cruises are great when it comes to cuisine. Despite the ships being like small hotels, they cater for a whole range of tastes including those who don t want to indulge!

12 WHAT S INCLUDED? TOP TIP It isn t just wine that finds its way on board a river ship, but local delicacies too. Daily menus are typically full of specialities such as wiener schnitzel, escargot or frankfurters!

13 Your river dining experience. One of the most popular things about a river cruise is that, because they typically meander through some of the best wine countries in the world the drink on board is incredible. Most companies (although not all) will include wine with at least dinner and these are often taken straight from the local vineyards. Whether that s beautiful pinot noirs from France s Rhône, a Riesling from the Rhine in Germany or port from the Douro in Portugal, any wine lover will simple adore a river cruise. Food is the same. From eating Peking duck on China s Yangtze to grits and biscuits on the Mississippi a river cruise is a cultural experience that simply cannot be beaten.

14 THE HIGHEST RATED RIVER CRUISE SHIPS RIVER CRUISES For the best cruise advice and to book your next incredible holiday, find your local CLIA expert at www. cruiseexperts.org