Jetsettersblog

eWaterways, the small ship travel expert, will feature four naturist cruises to Croatia in 2012 on a fleet of motor powered sailing ships.

There are two different itineraries for the naturist cruises, both of which offer opportunities for guests to go clothing optional while on-board with clothes only required when in port and during meal times.

The Kvarner Bay Island Hopping Naturist Cruise is a round trip sailing from Opatija where holidaymakers can enjoy day trips to tranquil islands and secluded beaches for snorkeling, swimming or sunbathing.

In the evenings, guests can enjoy the local culture, explore inland dining options and enjoy tours of the picturesque towns and villages.

The nude cruise includes a stopover at Krk, the Adriatic’s largest island and visits to other picturesque islands such as Rab (“the island of love”), Zadar and Losinj.

The eight-day cruise departs on June 16, 2012, and Aug. 25, 2012, with prices starting at $745 per person (including daily breakfast, lunches, and taxes).

Flights, transfers and optional tours are not included but can be arranged by eWaterways.

The Dalmatian Island Hopping Naturist Cruise starts and ends in Split offering a true “back to nature” experience for cruisers in the Adriatic waters off Croatia’s coastline. Activities include skinny dipping on the daily agenda and the option of snorkeling, cave exploring, hiking or even white water rafting on the Cetina River. Departing from Dalmatia’s capital Split, the cruise ship travels to at least two islands per day, including Korcula, Lastovo, Komiza and Starigrad. The eight-day cruise departs on June 9, 2012, and August 18, 2012, with prices starting at $619 per person (including daily breakfast, lunches, and taxes). Flights, transfers and optional tours are not included but can be arranged by eWaterways.

For more information, call 877-217-4083 or visit www.ewaterways.us

AmaWaterways has released a 128-page brochure detailing its offerings in 2012, the company’s 10th anniversary. In 2012, the line will operate nine vessels in Europe, all featuring French balconies or twin balconies, and amenities such as complimentary in-room Internet, ship-wide Wi-Fi and guided bicycle tours.

Popular European itineraries commence in the spring with “Tulip Time” cruises in the Netherlands and Belgium. The new 164-passenger twin balcony AmaCerto will make its debut with a departure in April. Making its debut in France in the spring is the AmaDagio, marking the first time an AmaWaterways vessel will operate on the Rhone River.

The 2012 brochure also details a number of new programs and distinctions. For example, all AmaWaterways vessels in Europe are members of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the only river cruise line to hold that honor. Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is a gastronomic society that dates back to the Middle Ages.

The brochure also details cruise departures that include a visit to the Floriade World Horticultural Expo, an event taking place every 10 years in the Netherlands.

Also new for 2012 are “Culinary Delights-Bites and Sights” walking tours that explore the culinary heritage of Europe.

Additionally, the brochure includes an overview of the line’s specialty cruises, including “In Celebration of Wine” cruises on the Danube, Rhine and, for the first time, the Rhone River in France. Details about the 2012 “Jewish Heritage” cruises are set forth as well, including itineraries, dates and prices.

Beginning in 2012, the line will offer its Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia itineraries under a new “AmaVoyages” product line. AmaVoyages consist of river cruises and land programs that are separate from the AmaWaterways experience in Europe.

The brochure includes descriptions, dates and prices for the “Russian Waterways” program on the newly redesigned AmaKatarina, and the “Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong” program featuring Mekong River cruises on La Marguerite and the new AmaLotus.

For more information, call 800-626-0126 or visit www.amawaterways.com

This summer gardening enthusiasts can indulge in their hobby while enjoying a 5* luxury European river cruise that take in one of the world’s most spectacular flower shows, the `Bundesgartenschau’ Germany’s famous Federal Horticultural Show. Award-winning river cruise line AmaWaterways is offering complimentary entry to the show on seven of its luxury Rhine river cruises during summer 2011 as part of a range of complimentary shore excursions.

The Bundesgartenschau (`BUGA’) is a major event in Europe’s horticultural calendar and takes place every two years in different cities in Germany. This year’s venue, Koblenz, is one of the most popular cultural centres on the Rhine, and the show runs  to October 16.

The venue allows guests on seven of AmaWaterways’ luxury river cruises to spend a day wandering around hundreds of stunning landscape and floral garden displays which take over the whole town, normally better known for its wood-timbered houses and many wine taverns.

Dazzling displays of exotic gardens will be created at the Kurfürstliches Schloss (Electoral Palace) and the Blumenhof (Flower Garden) at Deutsches Eck in Koblenz itself, but the most dramatic exhibits will be at the Ehrenbreitstein Castle, perched high on a hilltop on the opposite bank, with sweeping views down over the Rhine and Moselle.

Lavish exhibitions and romantic gardens will turn the castle’s plateau into a floral paradise, with themes including nature and the environment and even wine-growing.

As an added bonus, large parts of the Prussian fortress have been opened to the public for the first time.

The seven-night `Enchanting Rhine’ cruise from Amsterdam to Basel costs from £1,763pp, for the excluding flights. Contact AmaWaterways on 0808 223 5009, www.amawaterways.co.uk.

AmaWaterways cruises taking in BUGA 2011 are :-

`Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle’ (nine departures): Eight days between Amsterdam and Luxembourg,

http://www.amawaterways.co.uk/itinerary.asp?iticode=AR11

`Europe’s Rivers and Castles’ (10 departures): Eight days between Luxembourg and Nuremberg,

http://www.amawaterways.co.uk/itinerary.asp?iticode=AD11

`Magnificent Europe’ (five departures): 15 days between Amsterdam and Budapest,

http://www.amawaterways.co.uk/itinerary.asp?iticode=AE11

`Enchanting Rhine’ (15 departures): Eight days between Amsterdam and Basel,

www.amawaterways.co.uk/itinerary.asp?iticode=AI11

`Ultimate River Cruise’ (11 departures): 15 days between Budapest and Luxembourg, http://www.amawaterways.co.uk/itinerary.asp?iticode=AF11

`European Treasures’ (three departures): 22 days between Luxembourg and Rousse, http://www.amawaterways.co.uk/itinerary.asp?iticode=AL11

Contact AmaWaterways on (freephone) 0808 223 5009, www.amawaterways.co.uk

General Tours World Traveler introduced two river cruises featuring the five-star ships of AmaWaterways. Limited to only 16 guests each, these all-inclusive departures will be personally escorted by General Tours. Guests can choose from a wine celebration cruise from Basel to Amsterdam or a Danube voyage showcasing Europe’s most festive Christmas markets.

Sailing on Nov. 12, the eight-day Rhine voyage aboard the AmaCello features an onboard guest expert, Teri Rolleri from the Ferrari-Carano Vineyards in Sonoma County. Priced from $2,177, this fully escorted cruise features shipboard wine lectures, a complete program of sightseeing, specially-arranged tastings and wine-themed activities, and complimentary wine at dinner, including unique wine pairings selected by Rolleri and the AmaCello’s experienced sommelier.

In December, General Tours will offer its escorted Danube voyage, priced from $2,377, an eight-day cruise aboard the luxury AmaLyra, which showcases Europe’s cities bedecked for the season. Shore excursions every day are complemented by special visits to festive Christmas markets in Budapest, Vienna, Passau, Regensburg and Nuremberg — home to the Europe’s oldest and largest holiday market. Through July 29, travelers save $300 per person when they pay-in-full at time of booking. In addition, travel agents who are members of General Tours Rewards will earn a $100 Booking Bonus for every valid booking made during this promotion. There is no cap to how many bonuses can be earned — which are paid at time of travel. Agents who are not yet Rewards members can sign up for free at www.GeneralToursRewards.com . For more information, call 800-221-2216 or visit www.GeneralTours.com

AmaWaterways is staging a “Picture Yourself on a River with AmaWaterways” photo contest, offering a grand prize of a seven-night European cruise.

Passengers and travel agents are encouraged to submit their best images of “Ship Shots,” “Shore Excursions/Bicycle Tours” and “Scenery” by registering and uploading photos at http://photos.amawaterways.com

The contest will run through December, with prizes awarded in the passenger and travel agent categories.

In addition to two grand prizes, three monthly prize winners in the passenger and travel agent categories will earn certificates for $300, $250 and $200 off of a future cruise in 2011 or 2012. Passengers and travel agents may submit up to three entries per photo category, per month. For complete rules and to enter, visit http://photos.amawaterways.com

For general information, call 800-626-0126 or visit www.amawaterways.com

Avalon Waterways has expanded its themed vacations for 2012 to include legacy themes, with a new Jewish Heritage cruise and European History and Politics cruise. The Jewish Heritage cruise takes travelers to the museums, monuments and landmarks significant to Jewish history, including Budapest’s Jewish Museum, Regensburg’s Jewish Quarter and ancient synagogue excavations, Prague’s Jewish Cemetery, and the Jewish ghetto of Terezin.

This 13-day journey begins in Budapest on Oct. 29, and is priced from $2,249 per person, double.

The European History and Politics cruise is available on three itineraries in July and August 2012 — the 17-day Jewels of Central Europe cruise (Paris to Budapest, priced from $4,929); the 13-day The Blue Danube Discovery (Budapest to Prague, priced from $2,589); and 12-day Central European Experience (Paris to Prague, priced from $2,489).

Joining travelers onboard will be a diplomacy expert who has worked at the United Nations, on the NATO/Warsaw Pact and on E.U. security and economic issues, who will present special lectures on Central Europe.

Also new for 2012, Avalon will take Tulip Time cruisers to the Floriade, an international exhibition of flowers and gardening, held every 10 years.

Travelers who book select 2012 Avalon Europe cruises by Aug. 30, 2011, can save up to $500 per person.

For more information, call 877-380-1535 or visit www.avalonwaterways.com

Continuing its major fleet expansion, Viking River Cruises today announced that the celebratory christening of its second state-of-the-art “green” ship, Viking Prestige, will be in Amsterdam June 30, 2011. Viking is honored that Janice Farrar Titus, wife of the late renowned cruise industry innovator Warren Titus, will be the ship’s godmother.

“This is a proud time for everyone at Viking River Cruises,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking River Cruises. “Viking Prestige will mark the first ship in our fleet expansion program which will see four Viking Longships in 2012 followed by another three each in 2013 and 2014, for a total of ten new ships in three years.”

Making its debut in Europe in July 2011, Viking Prestige will be a 188-passenger, state-of-the-art river cruise ship. Building upon the standard set by Viking Legend, the industry’s first “green” river cruise vessel, Viking Prestige will have the same efficient, hybrid propulsion system. Using significantly less fuel and producing less vibration, this cutting-edge technology offers a smoother, quieter ride than other ships and represents the environmentally responsible future of Viking’s European vessels.

With all-outside staterooms and French balconies on both the Upper and Middle decks, the ship will feature Viking’s signature décor: sophisticated, understated elegance. Reminiscent of the design philosophy of the storied Royal Viking Line, the concepts have been realized by renowned Norwegian maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten, designers of The Yachts of Seabourn, Oceania and Disney vessels, among others. The ship’s public areas, including a single-seating restaurant, observation lounge and bar, and library as well as an expansive sun deck, provide unobstructed panoramic views throughout.

The debut of Viking Prestige marks the next step in the company’s $250 million fleet development program, announced in May 2010, and will represent the first European ship in a series of ten new builds to follow for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons.

“I also find great significance in having Mrs. Titus as the ship’s godmother,” adds Mr. Hagen, “considering my unparalleled respect for Warren Titus and his contributions to our industry with Royal Viking Line and Seabourn. It is additionally appropriate because June 30, our christening date, would have been Warren’s 96th birthday.”

Mrs. Titus, a former advertising and public relations executive, has an extensive background in the cruise industry as well. In addition to working with such clients as American President Lines, Seabourn and Pearl Cruises, she was involved from the inception with the formation of Royal Viking Line.

Currently being built at the Neptun Shipyard in Rostock, Germany, part of the esteemed Meyer Neptun Group, Viking Prestige will make its maiden voyage on the 15-day Grand European Tour. It then will host guests throughout the 2011 season on the popular 8-day Romantic Danube itinerary which travels Budapest to Nuremberg (or reverse), visiting ports in Hungary, Austria and Germany.

Dates and pricing as well as ship and itinerary information are available on the company’s website at vikingrivercruises.com. Viking’s all-inclusive pricing features accommodations, all onboard meals, daily guided shore excursions and more. Also, Viking is the only river cruise line to include port charges in the cruise fare. For additional details, contact your travel agent or Viking River Cruises toll-free at 1-877-66VIKING (1-877-668-4546)

About Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise company, offers scenic cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt. The company has been honored multiple times as the top river cruise line on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” and Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” Awards as well as recognized as the World’s Leading River Cruise Operator at the World Travel Awards. Travel agents have also recognized Viking River Cruises as “Best River Cruise Line” by Travel Weekly, “Best River Cruise Line” by Recommend and Travel Agent magazines, Best Cruise Line for Luxury River Cruises at the Luxury Travel Advisor Awards of Excellence and as “Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising” and “Best River Cruise Line for Travel Agent Support” by TravelAge West. Since its 1997 inception, the company has grown to a fleet of 19 vessels, and provides unique, deluxe vacations to experienced travelers with an interest in geography, culture and history. With a $250 million investment in a fleet development program, by 2014 Viking will have several refurbishments plus the introduction of ten new Viking Longships starting with four to be introduced in 2012—Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord and Viking Odin. For additional information, contact Viking River Cruises at 1‑877‑668‑4546 (1‑877‑66VIKING) toll-free or visit the company online at http://www.vikingrivercruises.com

Setting the Standard for Innovation, Viking’s New Longship Class Features
State-of-the-Art Engineering and Design, and Europe’s Largest Real Suites and Staterooms

Viking River Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise line, today announced the next phase of its $250 million fleet development program as it unveils details of four, state-of-the-art vessels set to launch at the start of its 2012 sailing season. This is the second time in a decade that Viking River Cruises has engaged in four new ship builds in one season—an accomplishment that no other river cruise company has matched since Viking did it in 2001.
Building on the company’s reputation as the industry innovator—Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord and Viking Odin—are the first of Viking’s Longships, a new class of vessel within the fleet that is marked by sophisticated and inviting design coupled with high-tech and patent-pending features. Designed by celebrated maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten—the team behind the Disney Dream and the Yachts of Seabourn—the new ships are characterized by the long and graceful design of ancient Scandinavian vessels and were named after key members of the Norse pantheon.

“Innovation has been a hallmark of how Viking River Cruises has grown its business from its inception, with our guests serving as our inspiration,” says Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking River Cruises. “We were the first to introduce hotel-style beds in Russia, the first to design purpose-built ships to navigate the Elbe, the first to introduce hybrid engines that deliver a quieter and more peaceful experience to guests with Viking Legend and the first to operate Western-style ships on China’s Yangtze, amongst many other firsts.”

Integrating cutting-edge technology with amenities that reflect guest preferences and travel trends, Viking River Cruises is changing the industry once again with this class of vessels by setting a new standard in onboard amenities, energy efficiency and guest comfort.

By shifting the corridor one meter and reorienting the staterooms to create additional space, the new Viking Longships will boast the largest real suites in Europe—featuring separate sleeping and living rooms in each of its Explorer Suites and Veranda Suites—as well as more full-size rooms and full-size verandas than other European river cruise vessels. Plus, three-quarters of staterooms will feature a veranda, French balcony or both.

“For our 2012 new builds, we have stretched ourselves creatively and technologically, evaluating every aspect of the guest’s cruising experience and asking ourselves how we can surpass it,” Hagen continues. “What has emerged are vessels that will deliver a peerless travel opportunity to aficionados of river cruising and those that have yet to try this unique way to see the world.”

Scheduled to sail four of Viking’s most popular European itineraries, including the 10-day Tulips & Windmills, 8-day Romantic Danube, 15-day Grand European Tour and 8-day Danube Waltz, each of the new Viking Longships will be 443 feet (135 meters) long, and feature 95 staterooms per ship. Representing a $120 million investment, each of the new ships will boast key innovations such as:

Two Explorer Suites, which will be the largest river cruise suites in Europe at 445 square feet, each featuring a separate living room, bedroom, bathroom and private wraparound veranda, offering 270-degree views.
Seven 270-square-foot Veranda Suites with full-size verandas in the living room and French balconies in the bedroom.

39 Veranda Staterooms with full-size verandas at 205 square feet.
Sustainability upgrades such as energy-efficient hybrid engines, solar panels and an onboard organic herb garden.

A new all-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace that reinvents the lounge by bringing the outdoor river scenery indoors with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors.

Al fresco dining areas on the Upper deck, adjacent to the lounge to present more dining choices to guests.

The Viking Longships are currently available for booking. Dates and pricing as well as ship and itinerary information are available on the company’s website at www.vikingrivercruises.com

Viking’s all-inclusive pricing features accommodations, all onboard meals, daily guided shore excursions and more.

Also, Viking is the only river cruise line to include port charges in the cruise fare.

For additional details, contact your travel agent or Viking River Cruises toll-free at 1-877-66VIKING (1-877-668-4546).

About Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise company, offers scenic cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt. The company has been honored multiple times as the top river cruise line on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” and Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” Awards as well as recognized as the World’s Leading River Cruise Operator at the World Travel Awards. Travel agents have also recognized Viking River Cruises as “Best River Cruise Line” by Travel Weekly, “Best River Cruise Line” by Recommend and Travel Agent magazines, Best Cruise Line for Luxury River Cruises at the Luxury Travel Advisor Awards of Excellence and as “Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising” and “Best River Cruise Line for Travel Agent Support” by TravelAge West. Since its 1997 inception, the company has grown to a fleet of 19 vessels, and provides unique, deluxe vacations to experienced travelers with an interest in geography, culture and history. With a $250 million investment in a fleet development program, by 2013 Viking will have several refurbishments plus the introduction of ten new ships beginning with Viking Emerald and Viking Prestige in 2011 and four ships in 2012.

For additional information, contact Viking River Cruises at 1‑877‑668‑4546 (1‑877‑66VIKING) toll-free or visit the company online at http://www.vikingrivercruises.com . Follow Viking River Cruises on Facebook

Newly built at the De Hoop shipyard in The Netherlands, the S.S. Antoinette will be Uniworld’s largest ship length-wise at 443 ft. and width-wise at 37.5 ft. The public space per passenger, along with the staterooms and suites, will be significantly higher than on comparable vessels.

De Hoop, who has been building ships for over 120 years, has partnered closely with Uniworld, and their sister company, Red Carnation Hotels – a collection of four- and five-star boutique hotels – to set a new standard in river cruise ships. According to Patrick Janssens, owner of De Hoop, “The S.S. Antoinette is a highly customized vessel, more so than any other vessel, and we have used new techniques to optimize it and to make sure that it really is the next generation of vessels for the luxury cruise market.”

Several unique features will make the S.S. Antoinette the most innovative, efficient, and luxurious river cruise ship in the marketplace today. All top deck suites and staterooms offer full open-air private balconies that, with a touch of a switch, will raise the glass to create a completely enclosed conservatory. All staterooms throughout the ship will have their own LCD flat-screen infotainment center, including movies-on-demand, music, news, sports, hotel services, and more. And each suite has an extra TV located on the balcony.

For those who wish to view movies in a more traditional venue, the S.S. Antoinette features the first movie theater on a river cruise ship. Equipped with a 20-seat movie theater, guests can view a range of movies on a state-of-the-art flat screen with Dolby surround sound.

Surround sound is also a feature that can be found as guests swim in the inviting, blue-tiled mosaic, heated swimming pool. With a water depth of five feet, guests can listen to underwater music piped in as they swim. The swimming pool together with the Serenity River Spa™ and fitness center, provide a host of options for guests to maintain their overall well-being throughout their trip.

The S.S. Antoinette has impressive green credentials as well with a waste-management system consisting of a food macerator and tank, a glass-crunching machine and compactor machine. Further, she will be powered by a newly developed noise and vibration reduction feature consisting of double-resilient mounted frames for the engine and thruster. And De Hoop has designed the S.S. Antoinette for the highest degree of safety – beyond existing rules and regulations.

“Our goal is to make the S.S. Antoinette set a really new standard in luxury river cruising. Together with Uniworld and the Red Carnation Hotel team, we are going to make this happen, and we are going to be even more proud when the vessel sets sail,” furthers Janssens.

About Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Los Angeles-based Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the world’s only authentic boutique cruise line, is recognized in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Top Small Ship Cruise Lines; Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List and their Readers’ Poll for Top 25 Small Ships, and their Readers’ Choice Awards for World’s Top Small Ship Cruise Lines and Best River Cruise Ships; Cruise Critic’s Editors’ Pick for Best River Cruise Line and Best New River Ship for the River Beatrice; and Top 3 cruise line ranking in Zagat Survey® in the categories of Top Cabins and Top Dining, and is the only river cruise line represented in their cruise survey with the best of the best in the cruise industry. Uniworld features luxuriously appointed boutique cruise ships with an average capacity of 130 guests; expertly planned itineraries with custom-blended, included shore excursions; world-class, gourmet cuisine; and award-winning hospitality from an all-English speaking staff. The company offers over 500 departures on 39 itineraries sailing on 12 rivers in 20 countries throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, and China.

For more information, please contact your Preferred Travel Professional, Call Uniworld at 800-733-7820 or visit www.uniworld.com

European Waterways announced the completion of refurbishment projects on several luxury hotel barges for 2011. The 12-passenger hotel barge in Burgundy, La Belle Epoque, now has new bathrooms in two cabins, new air conditioning, heating and dehumidifying systems, and new or improved electrics, soundproofing and plumbing. The cabins have been redecorated and now feature new wood paneling, beds and bed linen. The barge also has new carpets, curtains and brass lighting throughout.

Its sister ship, L’Impressionniste, now has one new bathroom, new beds in all the cabins, new seating in the saloon and new lighting throughout. Anjodi, European Waterways’ most barge on the Canal du Midi, has four newly fitted bathrooms and new bedding and soft furnishings. European Waters offers 10 percent commission to travel agents on all bookings. For more information, visit www.gobarging.com