Deilmann’s ‘Heidelberg’ Sails Fall Cruises On Rhine And Moselle Rivers

Scenic fall sailings on the Rhine and Moselle rivers are still available on the five-star MV Heidelberg of Peter Deilmann Cruises in September and October this year. The seven-night cruises sail on the Moselle to the small wine villages of Cochem and Bernkastel with castles,  half-timbered houses and old market squares - here towns and villages are close together in the narrow space between the river and the vineyard-covered hills. 

The ship calls at Trier, Germany's oldest town with 2000 years of history seen in its Roman town gate, and the pretty port town of Klobenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle.  It is from Koblenz south to the wine region and Mainz that travelers will discover the many castles and castle ruins above the Rhine.     

Other Rhine cities on the itineraries include the Dutch capital of Amsterdam; historic and art-filled Cologne with its grand Gothic cathedral; chic and modern Düsseldorf known for its elegant “Ko”, a boulevard lined with fine shops and trendy cafes; the colorful small wine town of Rüdesheim; the old imperial city of Speyer, and Strasbourg in the Alsace region of France with its lovely medieval quarter of well-preserved half-timbered houses and Gothic cathedral.  Cruises depart from Amsterdam, Trier and Mainz (Frankfurt) on Saturdays.   

The MV Heidelberg, built in 2004, is a four-deck vessel that accommodates 110 passengers in 54 spacious cabins.  Staterooms on the two upper decks are 190 sq. feet in size and feature full-length French doors that open into the cabins.  Deilmann’s newest ship, the Heidelberg, now flagship of the river fleet, has beautifully appointed cabins, a panoramic restaurant and lounge, fitness center and Wellness Spa. The sun deck, for viewing the passing river scenes, is well equipped with deck chairs and blankets. 

Deilmann river vessels are deluxe boutique hotels that offer six meals daily and a very high level of service with one crew member for every 2.5 passengers. Like all Deilmann river ships, no smoking is allowed in the dining room, cabins or corridors.  Seven of the nine river vessels in the Deilmann fleet are five-star with the Mozart on the Danube offering the largest cabins at 203 square feet of any river ship in the world.

Value Season departures are Oct. 14, 21 and 28 with prices starting at $1,495 per person in a twin outside cabin.  Main Season rates start at $2,050 per person twin.       

Along with the cruises, Deilmann arranges air transportation, pre- and post-cruise city packages, reduced rate shore excursion packages, meet-and-greet services and transfers between airports and ships.  For information on the fall sailings, contact a travel agent or Peter Deilmann Cruises at 1-800-348-8287 or pdcmail@ deilmann-cruises.com .  All the cruise details are online at www.deilmann-cruises.com .       

Orient Flexi-Pax Tours To China Include Yangtze River Journey

Orient Flexi-Pax Tours introduces travelers to the charm, history and majesty of China with a special deluxe 13-day Yangtze River Splendors package, priced from $3,075 per person that incorporates an excursion with Victoria Cruises and its premium, brand new Victoria Anna sailing the Yangtze River.

The deluxe 13-day Yangtze River Splendors journey includes the following:

-- Roundtrip, trans-Pacific air transportation on United Airlines from Los Angeles or San Francisco; all flights within China; accommodations in deluxe five-star hotels: three nights in the capital city of Beijing, three nights in cosmopolitan Shanghai and two nights in historic Xian and comprehensive sightseeing in Beijing, Shanghai and Xian with professional English-speaking guides as well as a three-night Yangtze River excursion aboard the brand new Victoria Anna, the largest passenger vessel sustaining international standards on the river (sailing downstream from Chongqing to Yichang featuring a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam Site). The tour also includes 11 breakfasts, eight lunches, five select Chinese Dinners, one Western Dinner and two Special Dinners; and all transfers between the airport, hotels and the cruise ship.

This deluxe 13-day Yangtze River Splendors escorted vacation is priced from $3,075 per person, based on double occupancy, with departures now through November 2006. The airport tax/fuel surcharge is not included. Please ask for Orient Flexi-Pax’s optional extension to Guilin and Hong Kong. Add-on airfares are available from various U.S. gateways. To book, please contact your travel agent, or call ORIENT FLEXI-PAX TOURS at (800) 545-5540/(212) 692-9550, send a fax to (212) 661-1618 or visit www.orientflexipax.com.

An ISRAMWORLD Company, Orient Flexi-Pax Tours is a member of the U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA) and headquartered in New York City. Orient Flexi-Pax Tours maintains a group of Destination Specialists whose expertise and knowledge of China and the Yangtze River is extensive and impressive.

Based in New York, Victoria Cruises is an American-managed company with the coveted five-star rating from the China National Tourism Administration.

For more information and a free color brochure or copy of the expanded DVD, visit   www.victoriacruises.com.

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May, 2006

Riverbarge Excursions Says “Welcome Home” To Repeat Guests

Shortly after the first journey of the R/B River Explorer in 1998 from Memphis to New Orleans, it was evident that the hospitality and service of RiverBarge Excursions Lines, Inc. would have bargers coming back again and again. Today repeat guests make up 37 percent of vacationers taking a RiverBarge vacation. Some BargeMates have been on as many as 30 excursions and have already booked up to six future journeys. The RiverBarge Family is showing their appreciation to repeat guests by offering them up to $200 savings per person on select all-inclusive excursions. The BargeMate Family Special is available on the following trips traveling the Ohio, Upper Mississippi or Cumberland rivers:

-- June 24-July 1, 2006 - Cincinnati to St. Louis - America’s Junction

Royal Deck: $2,485 / Platinum Deck: $2,695*

Includes Home Free Motorcoach return to Cincinnati

-- July 18-25, 2006 - Nashville to Cincinnati  - Expanding Frontiers

Royal Deck: $2,485 / Platinum Deck: $2,695*

Includes Home Free Motorcoach return to Nashville

-- July 25-August 1, 2006 - Cincinnati to St. Louis - America’s Junction

Royal Deck: $2,485 / Platinum Deck: $2,695*

Includes Home Free Motorcoach return to Cincinnati

-- August 15-22, 2006 - Cincinnati Round Trip - America’s Junction

Royal Deck: $2,630 / Platinum Deck: $2,835*

-- November 5-10, 2006 - Louisville to Nashville - Expanding Frontiers

Royal Deck: $1,340 / Platinum Deck: $1,490*

Includes Home Free Motorcoach return to Louisville

Pricing is fully inclusive of tips, taxes, port charges, all meals and scheduled shore activities and varies depending on length and region of excursion.  For your copy of the RiverBarge Schedule, or 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 www.riverbarge.com.

Viking River Cruises Offers Moms The Vacation Of A Lifetime

To celebrate mothers across the nation this year, Viking River Cruises is offering special roundtrip trans-Pacific airfare to China from only $99 in conjunction with any 15-night China’s Cultural Delights Cruisetour. “Viking River Cruises always tries to offer the most unique travel experiences with excellent value for the money,” says Jeff Dash, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Viking River Cruises. “With this limited-time only special of $99 airfare, we hope to reward Moms and pamper them on our China Cruisetours.”

Passengers get to sample the very best China has to offer with highlights in Beijing; the Terra Cotta Warriors; a Yangtze River cruise on the newest, most deluxe ship; plus Shanghai and much more.

The China’s Cultural Delights Cruisetour itinerary features:

-- 15-night China Cruisetour Beijing to Shanghai (or reverse) including 6 nights in 5-star hotels & a 9-night deluxe Yangtze cruise, with English-speaking escorts, all tours & excursions. Highlights include Beijing’s Forbidden City, Great Wall, Tiananmen Square & Summer Palace; Xian’s Terra Cotta Warriors; Yangtze River: Three Gorges, Wuhan Museum, Birthplace of Porcelain; Jingdezhen’s Ceramic History Museum; Nanjing, Suzhou, and 2 overnights in Shanghai.

The Yangtze cruise is aboard Viking Century Sun, a brand-new ship that just launched this year, which provides spacious, all outside cabins with private balconies for 306 passengers. Each cabin is equipped with a phone, color television, private bathroom and shower, hotel-style beds and climate control. The ship also includes a restaurant, observation lounge and bar, coffee bar, sauna, business center, internet café, sun deck, shop, and laundry service. A doctor, massage services, and beauty salon are also available onboard.

 In addition to experiencing some of China’s best-kept secrets, Viking Century Sun guests will be treated to some of the best in Chinese cuisine with Chinese menus designed by world-famous chef Martin Yan, of Yan Can Cook. Yan was contracted by Viking River Cruises to ensure the best Chinese food was available to passengers onboard, in keeping with the line’s reputation for quality. In addition to the Chinese meals, passengers can also enjoy the same level of European service and gourmet meals that are standard onboard the company’s European itineraries because the line offers the only Western food and Western-style kitchen on the Yangtze, managed by the Viking River Cruises Swiss hotel management team.

The $99 promotional roundtrip airfare to China is available with purchase of a 2006 15-night China’s Cultural Delights Cruisetour for passengers flying from Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle. Passengers flying from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, Newark, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Tampa or Washington D.C. fly for just $199 per person. Special air rate is subject to availability and must be booked prior to May 31, 2006. Passengers must pay in full at time of booking to secure air special. Travelers can obtain this special by referencing offer code 05Papa.

For more information about this special promotion, please go to www.moms.vikingrivercruises.com.

April 27, 2006

French Country Waterways Announces Value-Season Discounts On Select Trips

French Country Waterways has announced value-season discounts of $400 per person on its cruises in Alsace-Lorraine, Burgundy and the Upper Loire Valley from May 7 to 20, July 23 to August 19 and October 22 to November 4.  The all-inclusive, six-night cruises on stylish eight to 18-passenger barges are reduced to $3,495 to $4,595 per person, double occupancy, in value season.  

Cruise rates include a suite or deluxe stateroom, sumptuous French cuisine served with estate-bottled wines, many from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards, at lunch and dinner, open bar, dinner ashore at the most famous Michelin-starred restaurant on each route, all tours and excursions, bicycles, personal service by an English- and French-speaking crew, and escorted transfers between Paris or Strasbourg and the barges. 

Far from the fast track the barges ply tree-lined canals through rolling countryside dotted with medieval villages, fields and vineyards in the heart of provincial France. Daily excursions take in historic cities and medieval towns, Gothic and Romanesque churches, stately châteaux and private wine tastings.   During free time passengers can relax on the sundeck with a good book and an excellent Riesling (or other fine wine), chat with fellow cruisers or walk or bicycle along canal towpaths.

The eight-passenger Princess sails in fairy-tale Alsace-Lorraine; the eight-passenger Horizon II on two stretches of the Canal de Bourgogne in Burgundy; the 12-passenger Adrienne in the Upper Loire, gateway to the châteaux country; and the 18-passenger Esprit in Burgundy’s fabled Côte d’Or wine region.  An elegant dinner ashore is held at La Côte Saint-Jacques in Joigny, La Côte d'Or in Saulieu and Lameloise in Chagny in Burgundy; Le Cerf in Marlenheim, Alsace; and Les Templiers in Les Bézards, Upper Loire.

Although each barge has its own character, all have a sundeck, lounge and dining room with handsome provincial furnishings, a well-stocked bar, library of books and games, comfortable suites or staterooms, and bicycles.  Information, brochures and reservations are available from French Country Waterways, Ltd. at (800) 222-1236 in the US and Canada and (781) 934-2454 in Massachusetts or visit www.fcwl.com.

Deilmann Expands Cycling Itineraries On European River Cruises

Cycling enthusiasts can sail the inland waterways of Europe, visit cities and towns and bicycle through the countryside on more Peter Deilmann river cruises this year.  Deilmann is expanding soft cycling adventures this summer and fall on river cruises visiting the Rhône-Saône, Provence and Normandy regions of France, the Hanseatic and eastern regions of Germany and the Danube areas of Austria and Hungary.  The cycling river cruise programs include pre- or post-hotel stays and opportunities to ride and explore the countryside.  Deilmann is also introducing hiking river cruises in France.      Travelers can join cycling river cruises on Cezanne sailings on the Seine River from Paris in June, July and August; Princesse de Provence cruises on the Rhône from Lyon to Avignon in August and September; Dresden cruises on the Elbe from Hamburg in June, July and August; and Mozart sailings from Passau on the Danube in July and September.  The hiking theme cruises from Lyon to Avignon are to Burgundy castles, Beaujolais vineyards and Provence in May-June and October. (Deilmann also has a hiking theme ocean cruise on its 520-passenger luxury liner that sails from the Spanish island of Palma de Mallorca to Santa Cruz de Tenerife with hiking in the Canary Islands, November 10 to 20.)

The Seine River cycling tours start in Fontainebleau where there is dinner and an overnight stay in a four-star hotel. Participants board the ship in Paris where the ship remains overnight. There are bicycle rides to the market town of Milly-la-Fôret and Rambouillet, visiting Chartres Cathedral and the Palace of Rambouillet.  Bikers cycle along country roads through the scenic Pays de Caux to Tancarville Castle, along the river at Rouen to a Cloister ruin and through the Normandy landscapes to Monet’s house and garden at Giverny.     

Cruise tour rates start at $3,285 per person in an outside twin cabin for seven nights on the ship, one night at the Napoleon Hotel in Fontainebleau with dinner and breakfast, six escorted cycling tours, bicycle rental and service, accompanying driver, refreshments, lunches and picnics, transfers, excursions and entrance fees. 

-- The cycling cruises on the Rhône begin in medieval Pérouges with dinner and overnight stay at the classic Hostellerie du Vieux-Pérouges and a bike ride though the forests, fields and meadows of Lyon.  Cyclists ride through the wine regions of southern Burgundy and Beaujolais, to the Ardeche plateau down to the bottom of the gorge, the medieval town of Viviers, to Les-Baux, the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and to the Roman theater of Orange. 

The ship sails roundtrip from Lyon and calls at Tournous, Chalon sur Saône, Mâcon, Trévoux, Tournon, Arles, Avignon and Vienne. The eight-night package starts at $2,620 per person for an outside twin cabin for the seven-night cruise and all meals, the Pérouges hotel overnight with dinner and breakfast, six escorted cycling tours, two wine tastings, lunches and afternoon picnic, transfers, excursions, entrance fees and farewell dinner in Lyon.    

-- The Danube cycling river cruises aboard the Mozart  begin with an overnight stay at the first class Hotel Residence in the lovely German town of Passau, two hours from Munich. The cycling excursions feature paths along the Inn River; a ride along the Danube through Austria’s Wachau wine region; small country roads, orchards and wine terraces leading to Vienna, a ride to “Heurigen” or rustic wine taverns in the Viennese Forest and along the Danube Bend to a Hungarian village. 

--The Danube cruise calls at the wine village of Dürnstein, overnights in Vienna and Budapest and visits Bratislava, capital of Slovakia.  Rates start at $3,160 per person for an outside double or twin for seven nights on the Mozart and one at the Passau hotel with dinner and breakfast, the cycling program, lunches, picnics, transfers, excursions, fees and accompanying driver. 

Biking cruise tour rates are up to $580 less than in 2005.  Each day’s cycling mileage, on traffic-free paths and small side roads, is outlined in the program.  Depending on the itinerary, non-cycling river cruise companions deduct between $400 and $800 from the cruise tour price. Deilmann also arranges air transportation, meet and greet services and transfers between airports and ships for all river cruises.  Port charges are an additional $90 per person.

Cycling theme cruises and Great Rivers of Europe 2006 brochures are online for viewing and downloading at www.deilmann-cruises.com. For copies, cruise details and booking, contact a travel agent or Peter Deilmann Cruises at 1-800-348-8287;e-mail at pdcmail@deilmann-cruises.com or visit www.deilmann-cruises.com. 

 

American West Steamboat Co. Offering Savings On Three Great Rivers Cruise

In summer on the Columbia River, the cool Pacific air meets with summer heat of inland desert, the terrain gives way from lush greenery and stunning waterfalls to the Western plateaus and rolling Palouse prairie. Travelers can experience all that summer has to offer on a unique river cruise aboard the Queen of the West. On selected departures passengers will pay spring rates for summer dates on a seven-night Three Great Rivers cruise, saving up to $400 per couple double occupancy, when they you book by May 31, 2006.

American West Steamboat Company's specially designed ships deliver unequalled combination five-star comfort, service and convenience while bringing to life the spirit do discovery shared by the adventuresome steamship travelers of years past.   Website: www.americanweststeamboat.com  

Uniworld's Flagship ‘River Royale’ Sets Sail

Against a vibrant backdrop of the bustling Port of Lyon, and among a cadre of invited travel industry guests, Uniworld recently christened its newest flagship, River Royale.  The river cruise ship will offer a nine-day itinerary through Provence and Burgundy on the Rhône and Saône Rivers.  In addition to being the most technologically advanced ship on any river today, River Royale will feature unusual shore excursions that give its guests exclusive access to food, wine and cultural offerings.

In celebration of River Royale's inaugural, Uniworld will offer free airfare and a complimentary three-night pre- or post-cruise option in Paris for its return guests ($498. per person offer for first-time guests) on select cruises.  Inaugural season pricing for the nine-day sailings begins at $2,848. per person, double occupancy.

Los Angeles-based Uniworld, a premier river cruise company, features custom-designed ships for the experienced traveler, expertly planned itineraries, and an all English speaking staff.  It offers 500 departures on more than 30 itineraries sailing on 12 rivers in 20 countries across four continents.  For reservations and more information on these exclusive offers, see your Preferred Travel Professional, or call Uniworld at 800.733.7820, or visit www.uniworld.com.

Three Vintage Ships Ply Historic Gota Canal Between Stockholm And Gothenburg

M/S Juno, M/S Wilhelm Tham and M/S Diana, vintage ships built in 1874, 1912 and 1931 and lovingly maintained to preserve their classic interiors, ply the historic Gota Canal between Stockholm, the Swedish capital, and Gothenburg, the largest port, on journeys back in time. Seven- and nine-day air-inclusive cruise tours are scheduled from May 17 to September 10 on an unusual route linking the Baltic and North Seas by three canals, eight lakes and a river and named after the 118-mile Gota Canal, an engineering landmark hand excavated from 1809 to 1832.  A 15 percent discount applies to cabin rates through June 20 and from August 25 to September 12.

Designed to fit the narrowest canal locks, the recently renovated vessels cruise across Sweden at a leisurely five to 10 knots on tree-lined canals bordered by fields and forests, the 11-lock Berg staircase, huge Lakes Vanern and Vattern, and by many islands.  Sightseeing, which varies according to cruise length and direction, may include Lacko and Stegeborg Castles, the Birka Viking city on Bjorko Island, the medieval towns of Vadstena and Soderkoping, the seaside resort of Trosa and the Royal Hunting, Trollhatten Canal and Motala Motor Museums.

The ships retain their stylish Art Nouveau décor, reminiscent of the hey-day of upper class sailings, with mahogany paneling, brass fittings and paisley fabrics.  Each has a lounge with a bar and small library, a dining room featuring French cuisine with a Swedish twist and a large wine selection, and 25 to 29 cozy cabins with bunk beds, washbasin and shared toilets and showers with privacy locks.

Cruise packages, priced at $2,235 to $3,550 per person, double occupancy, for the seven-day, and $2,850 to $4,130 for the nine-day voyage, include roundtrip flights from New York, four-day/three-night or six-day/five-night cruise with cabin category selected and all meals, six or 11 stops, shore excursions, services of a multilingual crew and a one-night hotel stay and breakfast in Stockholm and Gothenburg.  Fuel surcharges may apply.  Add-on airfares from other U.S. cities and extra hotel nights are available.  Rates are lowest in May and September.

Gota Canal information and reservations are available from Norwegian Coastal Voyage, (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; brochures at (800) 666-2374, 24 hours a day; and www.norwegiancoastalvoyage.us.