River Cruising
River cruising is as popular as ever. This type of holiday combines the opportunity of doing plenty of sightseeing and touring from the comfort of your own floating hotel, without ever having to repack and unpack your suitcase! The major cruising rivers are the Nile (often combined with a few days in Egypt or Luxor), the Rhine and its tributaries (the Moselle, Main and Neckar), and the Danube. The Elbe, especially its seven-day voyage from Prague to Berlin, is also becoming increasingly popular. Also in Europe you can cruise the Seine and the Rhone in France, the Po in Italy from Venice to Cremona, or the Neva and Volga in Russia from Moscow to St Petersburg. Destinations worldwide include the Yangtze in China, the Murray River in Australia, and the Mississippi in America.
Themed cruises are also available including food and wine appreciation; history; and gardens.
Facilities on board the ships are good, with some having heated pools and saunas, and most cabins with large panoramic windows. The European season runs from March to October, with seven-night itineraries costing around £800 to £900, including all flights and meals. Ships vary in size according to the river, from 80 to 200 passengers, although the Russian ships can carry up to 300.
Sample options on the Danube:
Seven-nights itinerary including the magnificent medieval cities of Nuremberg, Regensburg and Bamberg - from £783
Seven-night Passau round-trip cruise combining Budapest, Vienna and the wine-rich village of Durnstein and Wachau Valley - from £995
Luxury ten-night trip from Regensburg or Nuremberg to Budapest or Vienna - from £2,665
Call or "contact us" for details.