Peter Deilmann Cruises
Deilmann Expands Golf Programs On River
Cruises In 2006
Peter Deilmann Cruises is offering an expanded
program of golf theme cruises this year on both its European
river cruises and ocean sailings on the Mediterranean, Atlantic,
Baltic and around the British Isles. Golf enthusiasts can sail
the inland waterways of the Danube, Rhine, Rhone and Seine rivers,
visit historic cities and towns and golf on some of Europe’s
most renowned courses. Departures are between April and September.
Deilmann river cruises feature golf in the
Danube regions of Austria, Hungary and Germany, the Provence
region of France on the Rhône, the Normandy region of France
on the Seine and the Rhineland areas of Germany, France and
Switzerland. The six river cruise and golf packages include
pre- or post-hotel stays that offer additional opportunities
to golf at nearby courses.
Four Deilmann five-star river ships are offering
golf theme cruises with two on the Princesse de Provence
and the Cezanne and one on the Mozart and Heidelberg.
Golf and Rhône River cruises in Provence, May 9-20 and September
5-16, begin with three days of play at the 240-acre Pont Royal
Golf course and three or four nights at the Chateau Hotel Le
Moulin de Vernegues, 10 minutes away. The package includes six
rounds of golf and a seven-night sailing on the Princesse de
Provence from Arles to Avignon, Tournon, Vienne, Macon and Lyon.
Rates start at $2,580 per person for an outside twin cabin and
include transfers, green fees, pull cart, travel to and from
the courses and guides.
-- The Normandy Golf tournament players cruise
on the Cezanne on the Seine from Paris to Rouen, May 13-24 and
September 2-13. The six golf courses on this itinerary include
the 27-hole Omaha Beach Golf Club at Bayeux, the Etretat golf
course situated high atop spectacular white cliffs and the Deauville
Golf Club. The 12-day cruise and golf package ends with four
nights at the Hostellerie de Tourgeville or Hotel du Golf Barrier
and is priced from $3,045 per person outside twin.
-- On a Rhine cruise aboard the five-star
Heidelberg, Deilmann offers an 11-day golf cruise tour, July
8-18, with six days of play at three courses in Strasbourg,
France, one in Switzerland and two in Germany. Following the
seven-night Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, participants
stay three nights at Le Kempferhof Hotel in the Alsace region
of France. The all-inclusive package price starts at $3,000
per person for an outside twin cabin.
-- The Mozart Golf Cup cruise tour on the
Danube, September 10-21, features tournament play at clubs in
Vienna, Budapest, and three of the six 18-hole courses in the
eastern Bavarian resort of Bad Griesbach, including one designed
by golfer Bernhard Langer. This golf theme cruise combines a
seven-night Danube cruise aboard the five-star Mozart roundtrip
from Passau, Germany, to Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and small
towns in Austria and Hungary with four nights at the Hotel King
Ludwig in Bad Griesbach. The 12-day package rates start at $3,160
per person for an outside twin.
Depending on the itinerary, non-golfing river
cruise companions deduct between $400 and $650 from the river
cruise golf package price. Golfing guides for each of the tournaments
are players and tour managers from different clubs in Germany.
Deilmann arranges hotel stays, shore excursion packages, air
transportation, meet and greet service and transfers between
airports and ships for all river cruises. Additional cruise
dates are available for groups of six or more players.
Golfers can view and download the day-by-day
itineraries of the golf programs online by logging on to www.deilmann-cruises.com. Details
on the golf and cruise itineraries are available from travel
agencies or Peter Deilmann Cruises by calling 1-800-348-8287
or by e-mail at pdcmail@deilmann-cruises.com.
Victoria Cruises Announces Discounts On
Select Winter Yangtze River Sailings
In celebration of Chinese New Year 2006 —Year
of the Dog—Victoria Cruises, a leading innovator and pioneer
on China’s magnificent Yangtze River with the largest number
of five-star rated ships plying these waters, is featuring discounted
winter sailings, yielding a savings of over 40 percent off its
regular season rates.
Following is an outline of the Chinese New
Year specials, which extend to select high-season sailings along
the famous Yangtze River:
-- Chongqing – Yichang (four days/three nights
downstream) and Yichang – Chongqing (five days/four nights upstream):
Rates start at $450 per person in a standard cabin (including
accommodations, meals, entertainment and on-board lectures),
valid for departures now through mid-March 2006. A favorite
among travelers, the Three Gorges Highlights cruise program
provides an opportunity to sail through the verdant valleys
that comprise the Three Gorges as well as a tour of the Three
Gorges Dam Site.
-- Chongqing-Yichang-Chongqing (eight days/seven
nights): Rates start at $800 per person in a standard cabin
(including accommodations, meals, entertainment and on-board
lectures), valid for departures now through mid-March 2006.
The Three Gorges Explorer roundtrip program provides different
daily shore excursions in each direction in order to showcase
an in-depth Yangtze River experience from the Three Gorges and
Three Gorges Dam project to old cities steeped in culture and
historical treasures and new cities built to accommodate those
who were forced to relocate due to the rising Yangtze waters.
Consumers traveling during the winter season
will enjoy their journey on the Victoria Empress, a member
of the Victoria Cruises’ fleet that earned the coveted five-star
rating from the China National Tourism Administration for its
superior amenities and exceptional service along China’s Yangtze
River.
Rates quoted are per person, based on double
occupancy, may change without notice and are subject to space
availability. Shore excursions and port taxes are additional.
Victoria Cruises Welcomes New Vessel
In April
Looking ahead to the spring season, Victoria
Cruises is delighted to welcome its largest and most elaborate
ship into its fleet—the Victoria Anna. This state-of-the-art
ship, featuring 154 cabins, will make its debut in April 2006
and boast the highest passenger capacity with more suites than
any other vessel sailing the mighty Yangtze.
For more information and a free color brochure,
contact Victoria Cruises at 57-08 39th Avenue, Woodside, NY
11377; phone (800) 348-8084, (212) 818-1680; fax (212) 818-9889.
Send e-mail to contact@victoriacruises.com or visit www.victoriacruises.com.
Celebrate This Valentine's Day With a
Romantic, Scenic River Cruise
This Valentine's Day, treat your special
someone with a dozen red roses and then surprise them with the
trip of a lifetime on a Viking River Cruises vacation. The all-inclusive
itineraries provide an intimate setting, perfect for rekindling
your romance, and Viking River Cruises is offering two great
savings packages on a variety of 2006 Europe, Russia and China
itineraries when you purchase a cruise and to complete the perfect
Valentine's Day gift, Viking River Cruises will also provide
a free bouquet of one dozen beautiful red roses.
Viking River Cruises is offering two great
Valentine's Day savings packages.
The first package offers $400 savings per
cabin ($200 per person), and a dozen red roses when booking
one of the following 2006 itineraries:
-- Berlin to Prague: 11-night cruise through
former East Germany, offered
between June and September
-- Footsteps of the Cossacks: 14-night Ukraine
cruise from Kiev to the
Black Sea and back to Kiev, offered
between June and September
-- Waterways of the Czars: 11-night Russia
cruise from Moscow to
St. Petersburg, offered between June
and September
-- Burgundy & Provence: seven-night cruise
through Southern France, offered
between July and September
-- Paris & The Heart of Normandy: seven-night
cruise through Northern France,
offered between July and September
When reserving your Viking River Cruises
vacation, mention 01Dover to take advantage of the Valentine's
Day special $400 savings per cabin and to receive a free bouquet
of one dozen red roses. Offer only valid on new bookings, and
passengers must pay-in-full at time of booking.
Viking River Cruises gives you a second Valentine's
Day savings offer with air fare starting at just $399, and a
dozen red roses when booking one of the following 2006 itineraries:
Europe (Offered between June and September):
-- Romantic Danube: 7-night cruise from Budapest
to Nuremberg
-- Belgium to Switzerland: 12-night cruise
from Antwerp to Basel
-- European Adventure: 12-night cruise from
Vienna to Amsterdam
-- Eastern European Odyssey: 14-night cruise
from Budapest to the Black
Sea and then to Vienna
-- Grand European Tour: 14-night cruise from
Amsterdam to Budapest
China (Offered between April and November):
-- China's Cultural Delights: 15-night cruisetour
from Beijing to Shanghai
including a nine-night cruise
-- Imperial Jewels of China: nine or ten-night
cruisetour from Shanghai to
Beijing including three- or four-night
cruise
Ships offer deluxe accommodations, gourmet
food and a friendly, English-speaking staff. Meals and daily
shore excursions with English-speaking guides are included.
Ships feature all-outside cabins with private bathrooms and
shower, and include a restaurant, observation lounge, sun deck
and bar.
When reserving your Viking River Cruises
vacation, mention 02Dover to take advantage of the Valentine's
Day special with air fare starting at $399, and to receive a
free bouquet of one dozen red roses. Offer only valid on new
bookings, and passengers must pay-in-full at time of booking.
For more information about this special promotion, please go
to www.ValentinesRomanticTrips.com.
MIR Offers Volga River Cruise With Russian
National Orchestra
MIR Corporation invites you to join the Russian
National Orchestra for an unforgettable trip! Experience the
wonders of Moscow... Cruise the mighty Volga River... Attend
performances by Russia's finest musicians and travel with them
through the heart of Russia... Who better to show you the artistic
treasures of Russia than MIR Corporation, whose expert staff
and local guides will give you a taste of the best in Russia's
performing and visual arts.
On board the MS Glushkov, you will
journey with the musicians into the rich culture of the Russian
heartland. You will see the majestic and beautiful towns where
ancient Russia first took root, and will visit remote country
churches, peaceful monasteries, bustling provincial marketplaces
and artistic centers.
Passengers will enjoy full orchestra and
select chamber concerts; treated to guided tours and specially-catered
meals; and will socialize with the musicians in intimate gatherings.
Receptions and events with civic leaders and the public are
planned in several cities. In Moscow, you will spend two days
on custom-designed cultural tours. There will also be special
wine tastings and dinners on board.
Britain's Prince Michael of Kent, Royal Patron
of the Russian National Orchestra, will join the Volga Cruise
for several days leading up to and including the visit to Kostroma
on May 2. The concert in Kostroma will herald the inauguration
of a new bass bell, weighing eight tons, which The Prince Michael
of Kent Foundation is donating to Ipatiev Monastery in Kostroma,
at the request of the city, Archbishop and the Governor of the
region. The Ipatiev Monastery is closely linked with the Romanov
dynasty, to which Prince Michael of Kent is related. The Monastery
protected Prince Mikhail Romanov and his mother during the Time
of Troubles and was the site of his acceptance of the crown
as the first Romanov tsar in 1613.
A Memorial Concert to Russian-American journalist
Paul Klebnikov, former editor-in-chief of the Russian edition
of Forbes, will be given in Saratov on April 27. Klebnikov was
gunned down in Moscow in July 2004, a tragedy with worldwide
repercussions. The Saratov concert will be the first of a series
of four memorial concerts, to be held also in Moscow, Tver and
St Petersburg. Russian President Vladimir Putin is among the
patrons of the memorial events. A Contribution of $1000 per
person goes to the not-for-profit Russian Arts Foundation
Take this incredible opportunity to travel
with MIR Corporation and join the Grammy- award- winning Russian
National Orchestra on its spring Volga River Cruise concert
tour. Relish the relaxing hours as we slip by peaceful river
towns along the tree-lined shore, mingle with world-class musicians
and disembark for tours and concerts in fascinating Russian
cities not always found on standard itineraries. As the musicians'
fellow travelers, we enjoy prime seats for each of the five
performances on our nine- city cruise. Extend a hand in friendship
- $1000 of your tour cost goes to the Russian Arts Foundation,
a US-non profit supporting the Russian National Orchestra and
musical outreach in Russian orphanages.
One Departure in 2006 - Cultural Series April
24-May 7, 2006
Priced From: $4350 per person double occupancy
More information at http://www.mircorp.com/
Celebrate Mardi Gras On RiverBarge Excursions’
Mardi Gras Mambo
RiverBarge Excursion Lines, Inc. is inviting
partygoers to Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler (let the good
times roll) on its annual Rare on the River Mardi Gras Mambo
excursion, offering travelers access to the World’s Greatest
Free Show on Earth. The five-day New Orleans round-trip excursion
from February 26 – March 2, 2006, offers revelers bead tossing
in grand fashion as the R/B River Explorer serves not
only as hotel and sanctuary, but as a base of operations for
participation in the festivities. Guests will partake in three
days of Mardi Gras whoopla before barging along the Lower Mississippi
River and culminating in New Orleans.
The party begins in New Orleans. Guests will
be escorted to several grand parades. On Lundi Gras, the Monday
before Mardi Gras, travelers are free to experience all of what
New Orleans has to offer, including a visit to Mardi Gras World
and the National D-Day Museum. On Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday),
once again, guests can safely experience all the famous parades.
After Mardi Gras is over, RiverBarge keeps
the party going with a late evening departure along the Lower
Mississippi River. The following day includes a visit to an
antebellum plantation in Plantation Country. The vessel continues
on the Mississippi before arriving in New Orleans for an overnight
stay.
The all-inclusive price is $1,695 for the
Royal Deck and $1,850 for the Platinum Deck, featuring balconies.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy.
For further information and reservations,
call a travel professional or 1-888-GO BARGE, ext. 1 (1-888-462-2743,
ext. 1); send an e-mail to rel@riverbarge.com or visit the web
site at www.riverbarge.com.
Deilmann Cruises
French Country Waterways
Ritz Tours
RiverBarge Excursion
Lines
Three Deilmann Danube Sailings To Feature
Music Cruises
In response to the growing interest in music
theme cruises on European sailings, Peter Deilmann Cruises is
offering four onboard classical music cruises in 2006 on seven-night
sailings on two rivers, three on the Danube on the 200-passenger
Mozart, and one on the Seine from Paris on the 100-passenger
Cezanne. Each Danube music program cruise will feature onboard
concerts and performances in Vienna and Budapest and visits
to sites of musical interest in Vienna. Sailings are roundtrip
from Passau, Germany, to Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava.
Eight classical musicians will perform on
the first Mozart sailing, April 2-9. The artists, members of
the Lübecker Ensemble came together while studying at the University
for Music in Lübeck, Germany. The Ensemble musicians play the
violin, cello, clarinet, flute, piano and percussion and include
vocalists. Their repertoire encompasses music by Mozart, Beethoven,
Brahms, Haydn, Schubert and baroque trios. In addition, they
perform Broadway show tunes and movie theme music. Deilmann
will announce the programs for the other two Mozart sailings,
Oct. 1-8 and Oct. 9-16, and the Cezanne Seine River cruise,
Sept. 2-9, in early 2006.
Deilmann’s Danube cruises sail from Passau
in eastern Bavaria, situated at the confluence of the Danube,
Inn and Ilz rivers. The ship’s route takes passengers to Vienna,
Budapest, Bratislava and villages and small towns in Austria
and Hungary. The dollar’s devaluation against the Euro has less
impact on travelers who book a European river cruise as the
cruise is priced in dollars and includes seven nights accommodations,
all meals, transfers, musical performances, sightseeing and
shore excursions. Starting price for the seven-night music cruise
is $2,080 per person twin for an outside cabin. Outside single
rates start at $2,710.
A post-cruise package to Salzburg, birthplace
of Mozart, is an added attraction to the Deilmann music cruises
in 2006, which is the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth.
The optional program includes transfer from the ship in Passau
to Salzburg, two nights at the Salzburg Sheraton with breakfast,
chamber orchestra concert with dinner at the Hohensalzburg Fortress,
half-day city sightseeing tour and is priced at $490 per person
double.
The October music theme sailings will offer
the same cruise itinerary, sightseeing program and optional
two-night package to Salzburg. Outside twin prices for these
cruises start at $2,645 per person double for the October 1
sailing and $2,080 for the October 8 sailing.
The music cruise program in Vienna will begin
with an evening concert performance in the city and the next
morning will feature sightseeing that focuses on the musical
traditions of the city visiting the Theatre of Vienna where
Mozart’s Magic Flute was first played, St. Stephen’s Cathedral
where Mozart married and Figaro House where he wrote “The Marriage
of Figaro”. In the afternoon there are visits to the State
Opera House and the Museum of Musical Instruments in Hofburg
Palace. In Budapest, music cruise participants will attend
an evening performance at Budapest’s Hungarian State Opera House.
Dürnstein, the ship’s first morning call,
is an Austrian wine village with narrow, hilly streets, 16th
and 18th century town houses, cozy wine taverns and the ruins
of the medieval castle where Richard the Lionhearted was imprisoned.
The Mozart sails next to Vienna, the incomparable Austrian capital,
and then through river locks and under bridges to the Hungarian
capital of Budapest where the pristine, restored Buda hill district
rising high above the river and bustling, commercial Pest are
on opposite sides of the river connected by seven distinctive
bridges.
Austria’s grandiose Baroque abbey at Melk
and Gothic town of Grein, the Hungarian city of Esztergom with
its cathedral designed after St. Peter’s in Rome and Bratislava,
capital of Slovakia with its restored old town, are other destinations
on the itinerary.
Deilmann’s five-star Mozart has cabins of
203 square feet, largest of any river ship. This small floating
hotel has 100 cabins, 95 outside and identical in size, and
two suites of 406 square feet. Refurbished in 2003, the vessel's
decor features polished rosewood and original works of art.
Passengers will find a spacious panoramic lounge, two bars,
café, full-size indoor pool, sauna, fitness room, library, boutique,
beauty salon, laundry and infirmary with a doctor. Dining is
single seating in a nonsmoking, windowed restaurant and breakfast,
morning bouillon, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and midnight
snack are served daily. The cruise line has also expanded no-smoking
restrictions to ship cabins and corridors. As on all vessels
in the Deilmann river fleet, service is of the highest standard
with one English-speaking crew member for every 2.5 passengers.
To view and download the Mozart music cruise
brochures, log on to www. deilmann-cruises.com and click on
theme cruises. Cruise details are also available from
Peter Deilmann Cruises by calling 1-800-348-8287 or by e-mail
at pdcmail@ deilmann-cruises.com . Details and photos of the
ship are online at www.deilmann-cruises.com.
French Country Waterways Maintains 2006
Rate Structure At 2005 Levels
French Country Waterways is reducing luxury
barge cruise rates in April by $800 and in May by $400 per person
while maintaining its 2006 value and high-season rates at 2005
levels. Leisurely six-night, all-inclusive cruises are $3,095
to $4,995 per person, double occupancy, on eight- to 18-passenger
barges plying scenic canals in Burgundy, the Upper Loire Valley
and Alsace-Lorraine from April 2 to October 29, 2006. The Adrienne,
a new 12-passenger, all-suite luxury barge launched in September,
will sail on her first full season in the Upper Loire. The
eight-passenger, all-suite Horizon II will cruise on
three itineraries in Burgundy for the first time. All-suite
barges operate in every cruise region.
Special spring savings of $800 per person
apply to five weekly April departures (priced $100 less than
last year at $3,095 to $4,195); and the $400 discounts offered
in value season have been extended to the May 7 and 14 departures.
Value-season rates are $3,495 to $4,595 and are in effect for
two weeks of each month between May and October, except in June
and September. High-season rates remain at $3,895 to $4,995.
Elegantly decorated in 18th-century country
French style with intricately carved custom-made furniture,
rich fabrics and granite and marble bathrooms, the Adrienne
cruises 17th-century canals in the Upper Loire, gateway to the
chateâux country. The route includes the unusual barging experiences
of crossing the River Loire on the Briare Aqueduct, the world's
longest canal bridge, and mooring in Rogny-les-Sept-Ecluses
below a huge seven-lock staircase used for almost 250 years.
The Horizon II, recently converted from a
12- to an eight-passenger, all-suite barge, starts and ends
the season on her historic Burgundy route and adds cruising
the charming Canal du Nivernais from May 21 to July 22 and a
new itinerary on the Canal de Bourgogne between Tanlay and Auxerre
on the May 14 and July 23 departures.
The choice of barges also features the 18-passenger
Esprit in the fabled Côte d'Or wine-growing region of
Burgundy and the eight-passenger Princess, formerly shipping
magnate Daniel Ludwig’s private barge, in Alsace-Lorraine.
The Nenuphar is out of service in
2006 for a complete renovation of the all-suite lower deck.
Every cruise includes dinner ashore at the
most celebrated Michelin-starred restaurant near each route:
Lameloise in Chagny, L’Espérance in St-Père-sous-Vézelay and
La Côte d'Or in Saulieu, Burgundy; Le Cerf in Marlenheim, Alsace;
and Les Templiers in Les Bézards, Upper Loire. Aboard ship talented
chefs, who blend classic cooking techniques with the trend to
lighter cuisine, prepare creative dishes that are served with
Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines from Burgundy and other major
French wine regions.
French Country Waterways owns and operates
its entire fleet and strives to set the standards in personal
service, quality and safety for luxury barge cruising. Stylish,
impeccably maintained barges are refurbished each year to insure
the extra level of comfort that Americans expect. Each barge
has its own character but all have a sundeck, lounge and dining
room, well-stocked bar, library of books and games, and bicycles.
Spacious suites on the Adrienne, Horizon II and Princess are
equipped with king-size beds. All staterooms and suites have
generous storage space, individual air-conditioning and heating
controls, private bath, hair dryer, extra pillows and fresh
flowers.
Daily sightseeing excursions take in historic
cities, medieval villages and churches, stately châteaux and
famous vineyards. During free time passengers can relax on
the sundeck and walk or bicycle on canal towpaths. Hot-air
ballooning is an option.
Cruise rates cover accommodations, all meals,
dinner ashore at a well-known Michelin-starred restaurant, estate-bottled
wines at lunch and dinner, open bar, tours and excursions, private
wine tasting, bicycles, services of the English- and French-speaking
crew and escorted transfers between Paris or Strasbourg and
the barges. Smoking is not permitted inside the barges and
coaches.
The barges are available for individual bookings
and for charter by families, friends and small groups. Charter
rates are available on request. French Country Waterways,
Ltd. is at P.O. Box 2195, Duxbury, MA 02331; (800) 222-1236
in the U.S. and Canada and (781) 934-2454 in MA. Website: www.fcwl.com
Ritz Tours Offering 11-Day Yangtze Winter
Holiday Package To China
Offering the ultimate escape from the ordinary
in the 2006 New Year, Ritz Tours has introduced the captivating
11-day Yangtze Winter Holiday package with air-inclusive prices
starting at $1,299 plus taxes per person, based on double occupancy.
This exclusive tour combines stays in Shanghai and Beijing with
a cultural and historical trip along China’s mystical Yangtze,
the River of Heaven.
The tour begins with sightseeing in cosmopolitan
Shanghai where travelers will be awed by the dramatic landscape
and the international influences that encompass China’s most
populous city. While in Shanghai, travelers will visit Yu Garden,
a Ming Dynasty-era garden, bustling Nanjing Road, and the famed
waterfront Bund, once known as the Wall Street of Asia.
After several days in Shanghai, travelers
head to Yichang, the economic and cultural center of China’s
Hubei Province, to board a deluxe Victoria Cruises ship for
a magnificent voyage up the mighty Yangtze River. Highlights
of the tour include the Three Gorges (offering picturesque views
of rock formations and green valleys), the massive Three Gorges
Dam site (an engineering project of unrivalled scale), and shore
excursions of old cities steeped in historical treasures and
new cities built to accommodate those people who relocated because
of the rising Yangtze waters.
Following the cruise, the next stop on the
program is the capital city of Beijing. Several days of sightseeing
introduces travelers to Tiananmen Square (the world’s largest
public square), the Summer Palace, a place of rest and recreation
for the emperor and his royal family, and the Forbidden City,
so named because commoners were not allowed inside its gates.
No trip to Beijing would be complete without walking along the
Great Wall, which snakes its way thousands of miles across Northern
China.
Priced from $1,299 plus taxes per person,
based on double occupancy, the 11-day Yangtze Winter Holiday
tour features roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles; airfare between
cities visited in China; accommodations in five-star hotels;
sightseeing in air-conditioned motor coaches; meals and entertainment
per the itinerary; a journey along the Yangtze River with Victoria
Cruises; and the services of knowledgeable tour guides.
Departure dates are available from January
to March 2006 as follows: January 12. 26; February 9, 23; and
March 9. Single supplements cost an additional $500 per person.
For those looking to extend their travels
in Asia, Ritz Tours is offering a four-day/three-night Super
Value Extension to Hong Kong, priced at $600 per person ($170
single supplement). While visiting this Pearl of the Orient”
travelers will enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour with stops
at majestic Victoria Peak for panoramic views of Hong Kong and
its harbor, Repulse Bay and Aberdeen’s Floating Community. The
itinerary provides a generous amount of free time so travelers
can immerse themselves in the city’s vibrant culture, historical
attractions, world-class shopping and eclectic cuisine.
For more information, see your local travel
agent or contact Ritz Tours at www.ritztours.com or send e-mail to china@ritztours.com.
A member of the U.S. Tour Operators Association
(USTOA), the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and the
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Ritz Tours delivers
on its motto “the best quality tours at the most affordable
prices” with a selection of exceptional programs that is unrivaled
in the marketplace.
RiverBarge Excursion Lines Offering Mardi
Gras Mambo Excursion In February
Filled with excitement and revelry, RiverBarge
Excursion Lines, Inc. is offering bead-tossing in grand fashion
with its five-day Mardi Gras Mambo excursion from February 26
- March 2, 2006. The barge serves not only as a hotel and sanctuary,
but a base of operations for participation in the world famous
festival. The R/B River Explorer docks in New Orleans for Mardi
Gras, starting the party off right with the Bacchus Parade Extravaganza,
where privately reserved grandstand seats await RiverBarge guests.
Guests can enjoy Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) On Mardi Gras Day
(Fat Tuesday), guests can let the good times roll with a close
look at the parades of the World's Greatest Free Show on Earth
from private reserved grandstand seats. Proper bead-catching
techniques are taught by well-trained BargeMates throughout
the excursion.
After the festivities cool down Tuesday
evening, the vessel departs from New Orleans to explore the
Lower Mississippi River and visit an antebellum plantation home
before returning to New Orleans the following day. The all-inclusive
price is $1,695 for the Royal Deck and $1,850 for the Platinum
Deck, featuring balconies. Prices are per person, based on
double occupancy. www.riverbarge.com.
Savings Of $800 Per Person On All April
Departures Of FCW Barge Cruises
French Country Waterways (FCW) is offering
special spring savings of $800 per person, or $1,600 per couple,
on all April departures of its luxury barge cruises and has
extended the savings to four regions of France: Alsace-Lorraine,
Burgundy, Champagne and the Upper Loire Valley, as well as to
charters. The all-inclusive cruise rates on weekly sailings
from April 2 to 30, 2006 are $2,995 to $4,195 per person, double
occupancy.
Leisurely six-night canal cruises on stylish
eight- to 18-passenger barges capture the essence of spring
in the French countryside. The Princess sails in Alsace,
the Liberté in Champagne, the Esprit and Horizon
II in Burgundy, and the new Adrienne in the Upper
Loire. Daily excursions include historic cities, medieval towns,
stately châteaux, Gothic and Romanesque churches, and private
wine tastings. Passengers can relax on the deck and walk or
bicycle along canal towpaths in free time. Hot-air ballooning
is an option.
Cruise prices provide a deluxe stateroom
or suite, all meals, dinner ashore at an acclaimed Michelin-starred
restaurant, estate-bottled wines at lunch and dinner, open bar,
daily tours and excursions, personal service by an English-
and French-speaking crew, the ambience of a floating country
inn, bicycles and escorted transfers between Paris or Strasbourg
and the barges.
The April savings apply to individual bookings
and charters. Space is limited. Information, 2006 brochures
and reservations are available from French Country Waterways,
Ltd., P.O. Box 2195, Duxbury, Massachusetts 02331; (800) 222-1236
in the US and Canada and (781) 934-2454 in MA. Website: www.fcwl.com .
Victoria Cruises Sets Sail With 2006 Itineraries
On China’s Yangtze River
Committed to delivering an unmatched and
equally unforgettable Yangtze River sailing experience in China,
Victoria Cruises is pleased to present an exciting series of
itineraries for 2006. Additionally, Victoria Cruises is preparing
for the launch of a new ship in April —the Victoria Anna—as
well as the introduction of expanded menu options on all of
its cruises, each designed to enhance the already-impressive
Victoria Cruises experience.
In 2006, Victoria Cruises will be offering
a variety of programs varying from four to nine days Three Gorges
Highlights, Three Gorges Explorer and Grand Yangtze Discovery.
Prices and sailing dates listed below are valid for 2006.
Three Gorges Highlights
The upstream (five days) and downstream (four
days) programs between Chongqing and Yichang – the Three Gorges
Highlights itinerary – remain popular favorites among travelers.
The opportunity to sail through the verdant valleys that comprise
the Three Gorges (Qutang, Wu and Xiling Gorges) and visit the
Three Gorges Dam, an engineering marvel, leaves an indelible
picture in the imagination. Prices start at $775 per person,
based on double occupancy in a standard cabin during the shoulder
season (March 16-31, June, July, August and November) and $820
per person, double, in season (April, May, September and October).
Rates in junior suites, deluxe suites and Shangri-La suites
are available. Shore excursions cost an additional $80 per person.
The downstream program sails Sunday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. The upstream program sails
Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. As a result
of Victoria Cruises’ increased fleet, beginning May 1, sailings
will be added on Mondays downstream and Thursdays upstream (meaning
six sailings instead of five in each direction).
Three Gorges Explorer
Providing a comprehensive, in-depth view
of the impressive Three Gorges region in China, the eight-day
Three Gorges Explorer program takes travelers on a roundtrip
journey, Chongqing-Yichang-Chongqing, offering different shore
excursions in each direction and spectacular views of dramatic
scenery, deep valleys, verdant landscapes and breathtaking vistas.
In addition to the spectacular Three Gorges and Small Gorges,
travelers are treated to shore excursions to New Zigui, a new
city built to accommodate families who relocated as a result
of rising Yangtze waters and the Dam project, and Shibaozhai,
known for its 400-year-old, 12-story wooden pagoda. Depending
on river conditions, the excursion to Shibaozhai may be substituted
with visits to Wanzhou, the “Gateway to the Eastern Szechuan
Province,” or the “ghost city” of Fengdu.
Prices start at $1,400 per person, based
on double occupancy in a standard cabin during the shoulder
season (March 16-31, June, July, August and November) and $1,500
per person, double, in season (April, May, September and October).
Rates in junior suites, deluxe suites and Shangri-La suites
are available. Shore excursions cost an additional $225 per
person.
The program sails Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Saturday. As a result of Victoria Cruises’ increased
fleet, beginning May 1, a sailing will be added on Mondays (meaning
six sailings instead of five).
Grand Yangtze Discovery
The Grand Yangtze Discovery encompasses the
magnificent Three Gorges area as well as the intriguing and
historic sites along the Eastern part of the Yangtze River.
Journeying between Chongqing and Shanghai (upstream for nine
days and downstream for seven days), this itinerary offers a
window into the soul and spirit of China and its people.
Highlights include the Three Gorges, the
massive Three Gorges Dam, Mt. Huangshan (“Yellow Mountain”),
one of China’s most outstanding scenic attractions, and Nanjing,
capital of the Jiangsu province, where cruisers will experience
the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and a Qing Dynasty-style Bazaar surrounding
a Confucian Temple
Prices start at $1,400 per person, based
on double occupancy in a standard cabin during the shoulder
season (March, June, July, August and November) and $1,500 per
person, double, in season (April, May, September and October).
Rates in junior suites, deluxe suites and Shangri-La suites
are available. Shore excursions cost an additional $225 per
person.
The downstream program sails on Fridays,
and the upstream program sails on Thursdays.
In addition to the line-up of 2006 sailings,
Victoria Cruises is delighted to welcome its largest and most
elaborate ship into its fleet – the Victoria Anna. This state-of-the-art
ship, featuring 154 cabins, will make its debut in April 2006
and boast the highest passenger capacity and the most suites
of all vessels sailing the mighty Yangtze. The Victoria Anna
will bring the Victoria fleet to a total of seven, including
five other Premier ships (the Victoria Katarina, Victoria Empress,
Victoria Prince, Victoria Queen and Victoria Star) and one Classic
ship (the Victoria Rose, rebuilt in 2001).
Also on tap for the new season, Victoria
Cruises has expanded its menus with more Western-style specialties
to further appeal to the palate of its Western clientele. The
company hired Concepts By Staid, Ltd. For this task, internationally-acclaimed
chef Walter Staib and Paul Bauer, his lead project manager,
traveled to China and fully equipped the ships and trained the
culinary teams with the necessary skills and recipes to prepare
high-quality Western dishes (beyond the actual recipes, this
included European-style butchering techniques and presentation).
Additionally, Associate Corporate Pastry Chef Stephen Leffew
spent a month with the chefs to improve the quality of breads,
pastries, desserts and afternoon tea accompaniments.
To further the gastronomic pleasures of the
discerning traveler, the revamped menus will feature savory
appetizers, salads, entrees, sauces and desserts. These tantalizing
delights will be introduced during the launch of the 2006 sailing
season.
Based in New York, Victoria Cruises established
new standards of excellence for sailing China’s Yangtze River
when its first ship edged out of port in 1994. Since that time,
For more information and a free color brochure,
contact Victoria Cruises at 57-08 39th Avenue, Woodside, NY
11377; phone (800) 348-8084, (212) 818-1680; fax (212) 818-9889.
Send e-mail to contact@victoriacruises.com or
visit www.victoriacruises.com.
An American-managed company, Victoria
Cruises operates the largest fleet of vessels with the coveted
five-star rating from the China National Tourism Administration.
Victoria Cruises Introduces Winter Specials
On Select Yangtze River Sailings Offering visitors the opportunity
to experience the breathtaking beauty and intriguing history
of China’s Yangtze River at a fraction of the cost, Victoria
Cruises, a leading innovator and pioneer on the Yangtze, has
introduced a variety of winter specials on select sailings yielding
savings of over 40 percent off the regular season rates.
Following is an outline of Victoria Cruises’
steeply-discounted winter specials:
-- Chongqing – Yichang (four days/three nights
downstream) and Yichang – Chongqing (five days/four nights upstream):
Rates start at $450 per person in a standard cabin (including
accommodations, meals, entertainment and on-board lectures),
valid for departures December 2005 through mid-March 2006. A
favorite among travelers, the Three Gorges Highlights cruise
program provides an opportunity to sail through the verdant
valleys that comprise the Three Gorges as well as a tour of
the Three Gorges Dam Site.
-- Chongqing-Yichang-Chongqing (eight days/seven
nights): Rates start at $800 per person in a standard cabin
(including accommodations, meals, entertainment and on-board
lectures), valid for departures December 2005 through mid-March
2006. The Three Gorges Explorer roundtrip program provides different
daily shore excursions in each direction in order to showcase
an in-depth Yangtze River experience from the Three Gorges and
Three Gorges Dam project to old cities steeped in culture and
historical treasures and new cities built to accommodate those
people who relocated because of the rising Yangtze waters.
Rates quoted are per person, based on double
occupancy, may change without notice and are subject to space
availability. Shore excursions and port taxes cost extra.
Based in New York, Victoria Cruises is an
American-managed company and has received the coveted five-star
rating from the China National Tourism Administration.
Victoria Cruises’ portfolio of ships comes
in two categories—premier and classic. Premier ships (the Victoria
Katarina, Victoria Empress, Victoria Prince, Victoria Queen
and Victoria Star) are new or newly-rebuilt ships featuring
enhanced facilities such as private balconies in every cabin,
more spacious public areas, and a higher level of comfort, sophistication
and décor throughout the ships. In the Classic ship category
is the Victoria Rose (rebuilt in 2001). Although smaller
than the other ships in the fleet, the Victoria Rose maintains
the same high-quality standards of the company’s other vessels.
In April 2006, Victoria Cruises will welcome
its largest and most elaborate ship into its fleet—the Victoria
Anna.
For more information send e-mail to contact@victoriacruises.com or
visit www.victoriacruises.com.
Avalon Waterways Offering $300 Off Europe
Vacations In 2006
$300 off per couple on the air-inclusive
price on 2006 Avalon Waterways Europe vacations on British Airways,
United, Austrian, Lufthansa or SAS.
Book a 2006 Globus, Cosmos, Monograms, Avalon
Waterways or Brennan Vacations air-inclusive vacation on select
carriers to receive the $150 per person discount. Booking must
be made, under deposit and discount applied between October
12 and November 30, 2005 for travel commencing by October 31,
2006. The full discounted air price, plus $200 deposit, plus
applicable travel protection fees must be made at the time of
deposit to receive the discount. Not applicable with any other
discounts, and applies to new 2006 Europe bookings only. Offer
reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will
apply. Additional restrictions may apply.
Departures are available for 2005, 2006,
or both depending on the cruise. Select the year below.
Europe
-- Tulip Time. Nine day- spring cruises
through Holland and Belgium. Amsterdam to Amsterdam
-- Black Sea Discovery. 12-day cruise with
two nights in Budapest and then sailing on the Lower Danube
to the Black Sea. Budapest to Bucharest
-- The Legendary Danube. 12 day-cruise with
three nights in Prague and then cruising from Nuremberg to Budapest.
Prague to Budapest
-- The Blue Danube Discovery. 14 days. Spend
three days in Budapest, cruise to Nuremberg, then spend three
nights in Prague. Budapest to Prague
-- Magnificent Europe. 16 day-grand cruise
from Amsterdam to Budapest.
Amsterdam to Budapest OR Budapest to Amsterdam
(reverse)
-- Grand Black Sea Cruise. 20 days. Spend
three nights in Prague and cruise from Nuremberg to the Black
Sea. Prague to Bucharest
-- Christmastime Cruise. 10 days. Spend two
nights in Prague and cruise from Nuremberg to Vienna. Prague
to Vienna. Special holiday departures - 2005
--The Rhine & Moselle. 16 day-cruise
from Amsterdam to Basel.
--Romantic Rhine. Nine-day cruise from Basel
to Amsterdam.
Russia
-- Imperial Waterways. 12 days. St. Petersburg
to Moscow.
China
-- The Heart of China & Yangtze River
Cruise. 17 days. Spend three nights in Beijing and cruise from
Chongqing to Yichang.
-- Magical China & The Yangtze River.
13 days. Spend two nights in Shanghai and cruise from Yichang
to Chongqing.
Delta Extends Advance Purchase Pricing
Through December 31, 2005
The mighty waters of the Mississippi River
system will continue to welcome the three authentic paddlewheel
steamboats of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company in 2006 as it
is full steam ahead for the company in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina.
Bruce Nierenberg, President of the Delta
Queen Steamboat Company praised its parent company's commitment
and enthusiasm as the company announces its revised 2006 schedule.
"We are certainly very excited to announce that in 2006,
with only a few schedule changes, the boats of the Delta Queen
will continue their legacy of excellent service and exploration
as we welcome passengers to our journeys next year," says
Nierenberg. We lost about 6 weeks of booking activity in September
and October due to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The situation
at the time made it very difficult for our loyal customers to
choose their voyages and book with us for 2006 during this traditional
peak booking period. Because of this, we have extended all advanced
purchase discount offers for 2006 cruises that were due to end
on October 31, 2005 until December 31, 2005. Additionally,
all 2006 voyages booked before the end of 2005 will be sold
at 2005 rates. With this extension of our offers, our customers
can take advantage of the great rates and book the cruise of
their choice from some of our classic, favorite experiences
to our newest routes and destinations." In addition to
the extension of pricing through December, the company announced
the new spring startup schedules. The Delta Queen will
begin its spring schedule on April 21, departing on her first
2006 trip from Baton Rouge, on a 7-day voyage to Memphis.
She will be followed closely by the Mississippi
Queen on April 23, departing from Memphis on a special Quilting
Theme Cruise. The American Queen will begin her spring
season from Baton Rouge, on May 30. Her first trip will be
a special nine-day voyage that ends in St. Louis. "All
passengers currently booked on 2006 voyages will be called by
a Delta Queen representative, or their travel agent, with complete
information as it applies to their individual vacation,” Nierenberg
says. “There is no need for the customer or travel agent to
make the call to Delta Queen. It is part of our dedication to
one-on-one customer service." The company's website www.deltaqueen.com
highlights the specific schedules and ports.
