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A-Z Overview of river cruising

River cruising is one of the hottest vacation concepts of this decade, and continues to go from strength to strength as new cruising options are developed by innovative partners. While not new, river cruising continues to be popular for the breadth and variety of the typically spectacular landscapes the exciting river ships pass through. River cruising is the perfect ‘unpack-once’ solution for travellers seeking a more intimate all-inclusive experience than can be found on ocean cruising; typical river cruise passenger complements range from only 130 to 200 passengers rather than in the thousands on ocean cruises.
In most cases a river cruise will deliver you to the heart of a city destination after an overnight cruise, opening the potential for a full day exploring the cultural, historical and social attractions of each port, either fully independent or guided by local experts. While various providers may operate on similar itineraries, e.g. Rhine or Yangtze cruises, you will find that each operator delivers unique packages based on value or special interest principles, so it always pays to check the inclusions and special-interest offerings, shore visits and sidetrips to select the most appropriate cruise for your specific requirements.
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APT
Flagship Itinerary:
Magnificent Europe
15  days Budapest to Amsterdam



New in 2014: 
APT’s
Royal Experience 
New Dining experience at the River Bistro
Erlebnis Chef’s Table Restaurant now available on both Aria and Concerton river ships. 
New itineraries including Danube, Rhine and Moselle rivers.
New Signatures Experiences including a behind-the-scenes experience of Burg Namedy castle and a lavish banquet in the Hall of Mirrors, Oktoberfest in Vilshofen and a visit to City Palace in Vienna and a private soiree featuring select members of the Mozart Boys’ Choir.
Demographic: 
Established households living in attractive suburbs 50 +, high income, high consuming, well educated. Tours specifically designed for Australians and New Zealanders.
Seasonality:
March to December departures
Accommodation: 
APT offers a range of suites from twin window suites, to Panoramic balcony suites and owners’ suites on all ships. Concerto ships feature the revolutionary Twin Balcony suites with a panoramic balcony and an outside balcony
Dining & Beverages: 
All meals included. Up to seven different dining experiences including the exclusive Erlebnis Chef’s Table. Complimentary beverages served throughout the cruise including beer, wine. sparkling wine, soft drinks, cocktails and Europe’s finest tea and coffee
Inclusions: 
Tipping 
Complimentary bikes (including some electric models) 
Expert Tour Directors and Local Guides 
Airport Transfers 
Pool or whirlpool 
Freedom of Choice Touring in many ports. Dine around Dining 
Personal computer & Wireless Internet access at no extra cost 
Many unique and exclusive Signature Experiences
Passenger Extras: 
Gold and Silver Butler service for guests in select suites on Concerto ships - 98% Satisfaction rating 
Entertainment and late starter/active walking tour options Themed itineraries such as Food Safari
Airline Partners:
Singapore Airlines (or another airline of APT’s choosing)
Price Range: 
15 Day Magnificent Europe starts at $6595.00

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Avalon
Flagship Itinerary:
Magnificent Europe 15 days Budapest to Amsterdam



New in 2014
: 3 new Suite ships in Europe - Avalon Impression, Avalon Illumination & Avalon Poetry. 6 new theme cruises – Beer tast­ing, Festive time, Golf, European history and Politics, Wellness and WWI history. 1 new itinerary & ship in the Peruvian Amazon – MV Aria. 1 new ship in the Galapagos Islands -MV Santa Cruz
Demographic:
Primarily 60+ age group. Shifting to a younger age range, mostly within Australian market 
Seasonality:
Europe: March - December 
Egypt: January - December
China: April - October 
SE Asia: January - December 
USA: March - December 
South America: January - December
Accommodation:
Outside Staterooms with hotel-style beds 
Open-air & French balconies on European ships
Dining & Beverages: 
Complimentary regional wine and beer served with dinner in Europe
Choice of dining options on European Suite ships. Full buffet breakfast and lunch. Four course a’ la carte dinners. Self-serve beverage station with complimentary tea & premium coffee.
Inclusions: 
All Meals while cruising 
Port charges 
Gratuities for Cruise Director and Crew 
Local guided sightseeing with choice of pace                     
Complimentary WI-FI access                     
Nightly entertainment
Airline Partners: 
Emirates                    
Etihad                   
Singapore Airlines 
Cathay Pacific     
Qantas 
Passenger Loyalty Program:
Journeys Club (Member receive 5% off any Globus Family of Brands tour) 

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Evergreen Tours
Flagship Itinerary:

21-day Paris to Prague and Splendours of  Europe River Cruise 24-day Eastern Europe and Splendours of Europe River Cruise
New in 2014
NEW custom built ships with exclusive indoor/outdoor pool (24 square meters) that transforms into a cinema at night and new outside alfresco dining terrace Russia River Cruising and France River Cruising. 2014 Fleet  2 NEW Custom built Evergreen River Cruisers.
Demographic
45+ mature couples and retirees
Itineraries customised for Australians and New Zealanders
Seasonality
April – November
Accommodation
NEW deluxe Royal Concerto Suites
(315 square feet) with Lounge Room
NEW Grand Full Balcony Suites
(210 square feet)
NEW Balcony Suite with drop down window
(180 square feet)
Dining& Beverages
All cruise meals are included
Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks
with dinner
Alfresco Dining Terrace for casual dining
Inclusions:
All tipping and gratuities and port
taxes
All meals on cruise
Guided tours of towns and cities
Expert Local Tour Directors
Cruise Tour Director
Nightly entertainment
Sightseeing and admission fees
Airline Partners
Singapore Airlines
Swiss Airlines
Price Range
From $5,995 - $16,485 (per person, twin share)
Passenger Loyalty Program
Evergreen Explorer - access to exclusive
offers, free upgrades, free extra accommodation & more


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Scenic Tours
Flagship Itinerary:
15-day Jewels of Europe
River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest 15 day Romantic Rhine and Moselle River Cruise to Switzerland from Amsterdam to Basel
New in 2014
Northern France itinerary cruising the Seine River roundtrip from Paris to Honfleur over 10 nights.
Munich & Passau to the Danube Delta River Cruise.
Treasures of Europe’s Waterways from Budapest to Hoorn.
15 day touring itinerary highlighting the best of Spain and Portugal.
Steam train journey through the Black Forest and Swiss Village experience on our Romantic Rhine and Moselle River Cruise to Switzerland.
Exclusive
Scenic Tailormade:‘All-in-one’ GPS guide with up to three different audio tours per city, onboard commentary an a group guide system to enable use on all excursions. Fleet 9 Scenic ‘Space-Ships’ 8 with 169 passengers and 85
cabins PLUS Scenic Gem with 128 passengers and 64 cabins
Demographic 
55+ self-funded and semi-funded retirees
Seasonality
Europe: March - December 
France: March - November
Accommodation 
Scenic ‘Space-Ships’: 84% of cabins with full-size private outdoor balconies
Dining & Beverages 
Six dining experiences on Scenic‘Space-Ships’. Exclusive Portobellos Italian fine dining Crystal Dining – fine dining, buffet including regional culinary delights, à la carte, themed dinners with entertainment
Table La Rive – Chef’s Table degustation
River Café – all day grazing and casual fare
Sun Deck – alfresco barbeque and high tea 
Unlimited complimentary beverages on Scenic
‘Space-Ship’ (including mini-bar replenished daily)
Inclusions
All touring & sightseeing including Scenic
tailormade
Airport  transfers 
All tipping, gratuities and porterage
Most meals (all meals  on Scenic‘Space-Ships’) Private butler service for every guest
Airline Partners 
Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines
Swiss Airlines
Price Range
Europe River Cruising: 15-day Jewels of
Europe from $6,395pp twin share (E category
cabin) to $10,990pp twin share (Royal Suite)
Passenger Loyalty Program
Scenic Club: ScenicClub Gold, ScenicClub
Platinum, ScenicClub Diamond and ScenicClub Emerald


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Tauck River Cruising
Flagship Itinerary:

24 Day Grand European Cruise – nine countries, (The Netherlands,  Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Romania & Bulgaria)

New Itineraries 2014:
Rendezvous on the Seine
Cruising the Seine plus Versailles, Paris & London
Danube Reflections
The Romantic Rhine New Riverboats:
Two new riverboats, ms Inspire and ms Savor, cruising along the Rhine and Danube Rivers.
With a maximum of 130 guests, the ships are consistent in the design and service of other Tauck riverboats
Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard the ship
including regional wines, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks.
Inclusions:
Tauck Value - virtually all River Cruise expenses
are included in one upfront price with no options sold:
Tauck Private Shore Excursion Value ranges from between US$1,114 to US$2,517 on River Cruises.
Time on Tauck: Enjoy one free hotel night pre or post your River Cruise at one of Tauck’s premium hotels.  
Gratuities Included: All gratuities to Tauck Directors,
Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides and luggage are included.
Pre and Post Cruise Transfers Included: Airport and train transfers upon arrival and departure are included in your itinerary.
Complimentary Internet access in hotel guestrooms on land trips where available
Special Savings for Solo Travellers
No Single Supplement in Category 1 cabins on every departure of every European River Cruise.
Accommodation:
Standard cabins have floor to ceiling window with Juliette balcony, plasma TV, mini bar, L’Occitane amenities, air conditioning and plush bathrobes & slippers.
Dining & Beverages:
Savour an authentic taste of the region
The Lido Bar offers indoor/outdoor cocktail hour and alternative bistro dining
Wine included with dinner
offers passengers the freedom to relax and travel as an individual because all of their needs and expectations are anticipated.
Tauck’s carefully designed and choreographed itineraries are a refreshing mix of sightseeing, leisure, adventure and culture. Passengers will experience spectacular scenery and exciting events other travellers
only dream about and every detail is handled seamlessly.

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Travel IndoChina
Flagship Itinerary:
12 day/11 night Jahan ‘Saigon
to Angkor’

Travel Indochina has been exploring Asia’s rivers for as long as 20 years and counting and have carved out a reputation based on our passion for creating real travel experiences in Asia. With the introduction of Burma river cruising, exclusive itineraries in Laos, plus a 22-day Indochina itinerary taking in Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos; Travel Indochina sets new standards for travellers seeking a new and unique way to experience Asia. Travel Indochina has an extensive range of cruise itineraries across which you will find in the 2014 Asia River Cruising brochure.
New in 2014
Accommodation:
All rooms aboard The Jahan & The Jayavarman feature private balconies, floor to-ceiling glass sliding doors and king size beds. The RV Paukan offers the option to Upgrade to a Deluxe Cabin featuring a private balcony.
Indochina - 4 x new 10 day cruise/land packages from Saigon to Siem Reap itineraries on the Jayavarman. And a ‘short’ Heritage Line cruise on the Jayavarman, which is either 4 or 5 days long.
• LAOS - 5 day cruise package called ‘Mystical Luang Prabang & Cruise’.
• LAOS - 16 day cruise package ‘Enchanting Rivers of Indochina’ which operates from Saigon to Luang Prabang.
• BURMA - 12 day cruise package ‘Irrawaddy River Cruise to Mandalay’ operates from Yangon to Yangon.
• BURMA - 11 night  ‘Discover The Chindwin River’, 8 day ‘Jewels of the Ayeyarwady’ or 7 night ‘Ayeyarwady Experience’ on board the new cruise ship Orcaella.
• CHINA - 3 Victoria Cruise packages in China.
Demographic:
45+ couples and single travellers
Itineraries are ideal for experienced or first time ‘cruisers looking for a new & unique cruising experience within Asia.
Travellers that want to see all the highlights of Indochina & Burma but like to travel at a leisurely pace whilst still getting off the beaten track.
Inclusions:
Accommodation
All meals on board
All sightseeing & entrance  fees
Entertainment on-board
Return airport transfers
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles
Local English-speaking guides
Tips & porterage 
Dining & Beverages:
All meals on-board are included
The ships offer gourmet menus of both Eastern & Western delicacies prepared by internationally-trained chefs, using the freshest local ingredients tea & coffee is provided free of charge on board all ships
Alcoholic beverages are available both on board and on land, at reasonable prices
Seasonality:
Departures across January to December (itinerary & departure dates vary dependent on the season & ship)
Passenger Extras:
Travel Indochina offers exclusive 12-day charter cruise packages on selected departures
The Jahan is the most luxurious boat on the Mekong offering private shore excursions and an on-board spa and pool.
Price Range:
The Jahan ‘Saigon to Angkor’ 12 days/11 nights starts from $3555* pp twin share
Airline Partners:
Vietnam Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific & Thai Airways

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Travelmarvel
Flagship Itinerary: 
15-Day Classical Europe: Budapest to Amsterdam 





New in 2014: 
                    
2 New world-class luxury ships; the
Travelmarvel Diamond and Travelmarvel Jewel, each with 85 spacious well-appointed staterooms and French balconies.  
Accommodation:
French Balconies in over 90% of Staterooms, featuring 172 sq ft floor space and floor-ceiling glass doors. 
Window staterooms with all the comforts and amenities of a deluxe hotel Owners’ Suites with 258 sq ft of floor space, French balconies and additional windows. 
Dining & Beverages: 
A stylish restaurant welcomes with an impressive culinary journey through Europe’s fine cuisines. Naturally, this fine dining at breakfast, lunch and 4 -course dinner is part of the package. Complimentary local wines, beer and soft drink with dinner. 
 
Airline Partners:         
Singapore Airlines (or an airline of Travelmarvel’s choosing) 
Inclusions:
All gratuities aboard & onshore 
All meals onboard
All airport transfers 
Shore Excursions & sightsee­ing hosted by English-speaking local experts                     
Complimentary portable audio headsets on shore excursions   
Complimentary internet and WI-FI             
Complimentary use of bicycles             
Onboard entertainment featuring local performers 
Insightful Presentations on history & culture by expert local guest speakers
Unique Insider Experiences to take the guest behind the scenes and away from the tourist trail to experience authentic European adventures                    
Free carry on bag and document kit.             
Internet stations 
Complimentary bottled water daily 
Complimentary 24 hour coffee & tea bar 

Accommodation:                   
French Balconies in over 90% of Staterooms, featuring 172 sq ft floor space and floor-ceiling glass doors. Window staterooms with all the comforts and amenities of a deluxe hotel Owners’ Suites with 258 sq ft of floor space, French balconies and additional windows. 

Dining & Beverages: 
A stylish restaurant welcomes with an impressive culinary journey through Europe’s fine cuisines. Naturally, this fine dining at breakfast, lunch and 4-course dinner is part of the package. 
Complimentary local wines, beer and soft drink with dinner. 
 
Airline Partners: 
Singapore Airlines (or an airline of Travelmarvel’s choosing) 
Guests who travel with Travelmarvel will receive the great value-for-money touring for which they are known, as well as the confidence of travelling with APT. Through APT’s co-ownership of  AMAWATERWAYS, they’re globally recognised as the leader in European River
Cruising. Travelmarvel offers premium travel
experiences at exceptional value.

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Uniworld
Flagship Itinerary:
European Jewels
Budapest to Amsterdam




New in 2014:
Uniworld has introduced new Super Ship Catherine to be sailing on the Rhone & Saone rivers through Burgundy & Provence. We also introduce two new itineraries through the Bordeaux region, a wine connoisseurs paradise.
Accommodation:
Riverview Staterooms and Suites have hand-crafted English Savoir beds draped in fine linen. French balconies in most Category 1 staterooms and suites.
Dining & Beverages:
Buffet breakfast and lunch offering an extensive array of hot and cold selections
Relaxed open seating in the evening
Menu selections changing daily inspired by the season and region of travel
Award-winning signature dishes
Inclusions:
All gratuities onboard & onshore
Unlimited beverages onboard
All meals onboard
All scheduled airport transfers
Shore Excursions hosted by English-speaking local experts
Complimentary portable audio headsets on shore excursions
Variety of complimentary culinary experiences and onboard dining options
Complimentary internet and WI-FI access aboard
Complimentary in-stateroom
Infotainment Centre
Complimentary fitness centre and exercise classes
Complimentary use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks for onshore enjoyment
Finest Riverview staterooms afloat
Onboard entertainment & lectures
Award-winning service from trained English-speaking staff on ships with an average capacity of 130 guests and highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry
Uniworld's Boutique River Cruises has the  most elegantly appointed fleet of boutique, hotel-style river cruises in Europe & Russia, Egypt, China and on the Mekong through Vietnam & Cambodia. From the elegant onboard restaurants, inviting lounges and luxuriously appointed cabins; to world class cuisine, award-winning hospitality & the finest amenities, there is no wonder Uniworld has a 98% guest satisfaction rating

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VIKING RIVER CRUISES
Flagship Itinerary:
Grand European Tour - 15-day cruise between Amsterdam and
Budapest
2014 Fleet 
Total of 48 ships across Europe, Russia and China 
110-198 passengers on European ships

 New in 2014:
Debut of 12 additional Longship class vessels in Europe. More full-size verandas and full-size staterooms than on any other ship in Europe. Aquavit Terrace with floor-to-ceiling windows that roll aside to create a unique area that combines the comfort of the indoors with the fresh air and exhilaration of the outdoors. Debut of 2 new Longship-style vessels in Portugal:
Viking Hemming and Viking Torgil
Demographic:
Active baby boomers interested in history and culture
Couples or friends looking to explore the world in comfort
Often engaged in charitable organisations
Newspaper subscribers 
Have travelled overseas in the past
Seasonality:
Europe: Select dates from March to December
Russia: Select dates from May to October
China: Select dates from March to November
Accommodation:
Every stateroom has an outside river view with a window
French balcony or Veranda for viewing scenery, and on every ship most
windows open to fresh air
Hotel-style beds with European linens and duvets, premium  bath products
and satellite television
Dining & Beverages:
Menu combines regional specialties with classic cuisine
Inclusions:
All onboard meals and complimentary beverages
Daily shore excursions
On board Enrichment Program
Port charges
All gratuities for Europe and Russia
Deluxe accommodation during land portions
Wifi in Europe and Russia and internet café in China
Price Range:
$2,495pp - $17,295pp dependant on season, itinerary
and stateroom (inclusive of any Early Booking Discount*)
Passenger Loyalty Program
Clients who reserve their next journey within one year
receive $200pp in travel credit; if they reserve within two years,
they receive $100per person in travel credits
Accolades:
World’s Leading River Cruise Operator- 2009,
2010, 2011 and 2012 World Travel Awards



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