Viking River Cruises took delivery of its
latest ship Viking Helvetia in March at a naming ceremony
in Cologne. Built by Dutch shipyard Merwede, the ship is a sister
to Viking Sun, inaugurated last year.
Named by German stage and film actress Gudrun
Landgrebe, the 132 meter/433 feet-long Viking Helvetia is the
largest river cruise ship on the Rhine with 198 passenger capacity
and 99 double outside cabins. Built for the European market,
she will operate seven-night cruises between Amsterdam and Basle
until the end of November, with calls at Düsseldorf, Cologne,
Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Mainz and Strasbourg. In 2007, she will
add some three- and four-night itineraries between Basel and
Duesseldorf.
CroisiEurope Orders Three New Vessels
French river cruise company CroisiEurope,
which is building a new shallow draft ship for ocean cruising
along the Croatian coast, is extending the order with Meuse
& Sambre Chantier Naval yard in Namur, Belgium to three
ships.
The first 200-passenger ship (100 outside
cabins), due for delivery in 2007, was originally named Marco
Polo, but has been renamed Belle de l'Adriatique.
It will operate weekly itineraries from April to November in
the Adriatic departing every Thursday from Dubrovnik and calling
at Mijet, Korcula, Sibenik, Trogir, Split, Vis, Hvar and Kotor.
The 3,500gt vessel will have five decks and
a speed of 16 knots. On-board executive staff will be French.
CroisiEurope aims to carry 9,000 passengers on the new ship
in 2007.
In the winter, Belle de l'Adriatique (originally
scheduled to cruise in the Red Sea) will switch to the Canary
Islands, departing from either La Palmas (Gran Canary or Santa
Cruz (Tenerife) for cruises to the Moroccan coast. Two sister
ships will follow in 2009 and 2010, which will cruise in the
Norwegian fjords and along the Croatian coast, respectively,
during the summer. Total investment for the three ships and
equipment shoreside at ports of call will be in the region of
€100m, estimates the cruise operator.
Uniworld To Launch New Vessel On Seven-Night
Cruises In France
In April, Uniworld is launching a new ship,
the River Royale, on seven-night voyages through the
heart of Provence and Burgundy. The 132-passenger vessel will
feature flat-screen televisions in each room, European-style
duvets and comforters and plush terry-cloth robes. Uniworld
says that the River Royale is the first river-cruise ship to
offer Wi-Fi service.
Amadeus Waterways Introduces New Vessel
‘Amadagio’
The brand new MS Amadagio sets new standards
in European river cruising and offers a number of features,
no other European river cruise ship can match. The 360-foot-long
ship was designed and built in Holland and offers more space
than found on most river ships in Europe. Accommodating 150
passengers, the boat has two lounges, a Fitness Center and a
Massage and Beauty Salon.
All 75 staterooms are outside and 62 feature
French balconies. The 255 square-foot cabins feature white-on-white
plush bedding with down pillows and down duvet, a cozy sitting
area, direct-dial telephone, flat-screen TV with local and satellite
channels, Internet access, a safe, individually controlled air
conditioning and ample closet space.
The ship has a crew of 41. Website: www.amadeuswaterways.com
,
February 27, 200
Viking River Cruises Launches
New Luxury Ship On Yangtze River
As tourism in China expands dramatically,
Viking River Cruises is rising to meet demand with the launch
of their third ship in three years. Viking Century Sun
will join sister ship Viking Century Sky on the Yangtze,
allowing Viking River Cruises to offer even more cruisetours
featuring the most popular Chinese cities of Beijing, Xian (home
to the Terra Cotta Warriors) and Shanghai plus the dramatic
Three Gorges of the Yangtze River.
Viking River Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen
noted that China will be the #1 tourist destination in just
a few years. Hagan said, “We’ve had such praise and demand for
our China cruisetours, with the new Viking Century Sun we can
now share this experience with a larger audience. With our unique
Swiss hotel management and the newest, most luxurious ships
on the river, we offer travelers the ability to see all the
key attractions while traveling on all-inclusive, fully-escorted
tours with Viking’s own English-speaking guides. It makes travel
to this exotic destination carefree and comfortable.”
China’s tourism continues to grow. The Asia
and Pacific region saw a 50 percent increase in tourism in 2004,
with China’s growth accounting for roughly half the increase
according to January 2005 World Tourism Organization statistics.
River Cruising is also a growing trend with a 23 percent increase
in bookings from 2003 to 2004, according to the UK and Europe
Cruise Information Service.
For 2006, Viking River Cruises offers 4 all-inclusive
itineraries in China. Passengers can choose from more than 100
departure dates running March 2006 through November 2006.
Both Viking Century Sun and Viking Century
Sky were built in partnership with the Chongqing New Century
Cruise Company. With these two new ships, Viking River Cruises
continues to provide the only vessels on the Yangtze with Swiss-managed
service and Western food, both of which have proven extremely
popular with passengers. Viking River Cruises also maintains
offices in Beijing and Chongqing to manage all operations and
oversee the company’s English-speaking guides. Like her sister
ship, Viking Century Sun features an observation lounge, restaurant,
sauna, sun deck, bar, massage room and beauty salon, plus Internet
access and two elevators enabling easy access to the ship’s
five decks. The ship measures 415 ft. in length and 56 ft. in
width with a capacity of 300 passengers. All cabins are equipped
with a private balcony, telephone, hairdryer, air conditioning,
and private bathroom with shower.
Avalon Waterways Announces Russian River
Cruise Delays
The Arctic freeze gripping most of Russia,
causing the lowest recorded temperatures in a quarter century,
has pushed back the construction and renovation for the MS
Avalon Anastasia, encouraging its operator, Avalon Waterways,
to make the difficult decision of canceling its 2006 Russia
river cruise offerings. Specifically, this situation affects
all departures for the company’s Imperial Waterways vacations,
featuring 12- or 13-day cruises from St. Petersburg and Moscow.
“Although we could not control the record-breaking cold contributing
to the postponement of MS Avalon Anastasia’s renovation
completion, we can make sure our customers will eventually experience
a ship of the highest standards and quality,” said Phillip Gordon,
chief executive officer and president of the Globus family of
brands. “Under the circumstances we could not guarantee to
deliver that standard. And, while we are disappointed with
this situation, we are committed to make every effort to provide
a selection of alternative holiday choices for our clients –
both agents and consumers.”
Avalon Waterways, under the Globus family
of brands, is providing customers booked on its 2006 Russia
river cruise vacations with the following options: A full cash
refund or the chance to rebook a vacation on any 2006 Globus
family of brands cruise or tour at a 40 percent discount. Additionally,
agents are being accommodated as the company is fully protecting
agent commissions on Russia river cruise bookings.
When the MS Avalon Anastasia’s renovation
is complete, it will mark the first time Avalon Waterways has
operated river cruise itineraries in Russia. The ship will
feature nine junior suites and 51 standard cabins, offering
every modern comfort, as well as large windows for enjoying
the superb views of the passing river landscape. All staterooms
will feature comfortable hotel-style twin beds that convert
to a queen, spacious bathrooms with shower cubicles, large closets,
individual climate control, telephone, color satellite TV, radios,
mini-bars, safes and hairdryers. Additionally, with 58 crewmembers
on board catering to only 120 passengers, travelers will receive
the highest level of personal service available.
Victoria Cruises’ Newest Vessel To Launch
In April
Victoria Cruises is preparing for the launch
and inaugural sailing of its largest and most elaborate ship
to-date—the Victoria Anna— which will make its first
trip down China’s Yangtze River on April 25, 2006. Continuing
with its mission to present an unparalleled group of luxury
vessels sailing the fabled Yangtze, the addition of the Victoria
Anna expands Victoria Cruises’ fleet to seven. “We are very
excited about the approaching inaugural sail of the Victoria
Anna,” said Benson Wu, vice president of Victoria Cruises.
“With the introduction of this incredible ship, we reaffirm
our commitment to remain the premier cruise line on the Yangtze
River,” Wu added.
The Victoria Anna will be the largest ship
in the company’s fleet and boasts the highest passenger capacity
and most suites of all vessels sailing the mighty Yangtze.
The Victoria Anna will feature 154 cabins
(132 standard accommodations, 16 junior suites, four deluxe
suites and two Shangri-la suites) for a total passenger capacity
of 308 (and a crew of 138). At a gross tonnage of 6,200, the
five-passenger deck vessel will be 347.7 feet long, 54.4 feet
wide, 50 feet high and feature a draft of 2.6 meters.
All cabins will have bathrooms complete with
a shower and bathtub, television with HBO and BBC broadcasts,
and private balconies so guests can appreciate the magnificent
views of the Yangtze any time. The Victoria Anna will feature
two restaurants (a single seating main dining room and an a
la carte restaurant on the top deck), two lounges, three bars,
a fitness room, lecture room (for talks about the river’s history
and lessons in Tai Chi, Mandarin language and mah jong), library,
beauty salon, massage room, foot massage center, gift shop,
spacious observation deck, Internet access, two elevators and
a three-story atrium lobby.
The Victoria Anna will sail Victoria Cruises’
highly-acclaimed Three Gorges Highlights program, both upstream
and downstream.
Delta Queen Introduces New Steamboat Schedule
The Delta Queen Steamboat Company will operate
two steamboats during the 2006 season, with the legendary Delta
Queen and the magnificent Mississippi Queen steaming
on the inland rivers of America. The New 2006 Steamboat Schedule
for the two boats has just been released, with "Special
Offers" on many cruises. This schedule insert is designed
to be used in conjunction with the current 2006 brochure, "This
is Our America." 2006 prices on page 83 of the brochure
still apply.
Both boats will return to service in
April 2006. To request a complimentary copy of the New 2006
Schedule or our 2006 "This is Our America" brochure,
contact our Reservations Department at 800/543-1949 or visit
our website at www.deltaqueen.com.
Uniworld Unveils New Ship—‘River Royale’
Uniworld, a premier river cruise and tour
operator, will launch a new ship, the River Royale, and
new 2006 itineraries for its popular river sailings in France.
River Royale will be the first river cruise ship to provide
Wi-Fi and internet access with email and satellite ship-to-shore
calling. Costs will be comparable to those in any internet
cafe or long distance cellular provider. “River Royale will
be the flagship of our expanding fleet, embodying innovation
and technological advances that will set a new standard in the
river cruise industry, said Scott Franey, vice president, marketing,
for Uniworld. “The ability to offer these kinds of advancements
on the river will allow us to attract an even broader clientele,
including those who require an efficient way to stay connected
even while on vacation,” he added.
Among the additional technological advances
is a hydraulic system that allows the bridge and the top deck
railings to be efficiently lowered for passage under the historic
and low-span bridges of the Rhône and Saône rivers.
Built at the Vahali Shipyard in Holland,
the ship is 460 feet (110m) in length and 37.5 feet (11.40m)
wide. It will have one suite of approx. 247 square feet, and
64 staterooms between 155-162 square feet - most with large
floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows. The 132-passenger vessel
will join Uniworld’s premium fleet of 18 ships which the company
owns and/or markets in Europe, Russia, China, and Egypt. River
Royale amenities include flat-screen TV’s, spacious and luxuriously
decorated public areas, an onboard spa and exercise area, and
deck marquees providing ample shade against the sun. The interiors
will be French provincial in design and each deck will be tastefully
themed with a French-styled motif. One of the most distinctive
aspects of the ship will be the extensive use of walnut paneling
and various marbles and decorative finishes throughout the ship,
including white Thasos marble in the well-appointed bathrooms.
The 2006 program will focus on the regions
of Provence and Burgundy known for artisans, fine cuisine and
wines. “We are confident this itinerary with its rich historical
past, world-class cuisine and famous wines will be among our
most popular offerings,” said Franey.
Uniworld’s River Royale will offer an itinerary
that give French connoisseur’s an overview of the region, dipping
in and out of areas made famous by Peter Mayle’s book entitled
“A Year In Provence.” The ship sails along the Rhône and Saône
rivers from the cultural and historical city of Lyon, making
port calls in Châlon, Mâcon, Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage, Viviers,
Avignon, and Arles. Along the way, guests will see contrasting
terrain of plummeting gorges, salt flats, lavenders fields and
sun-drenched vineyards. Among the many highlights of these sailings
will be Côte du Rhone wine tastings; dinner at L’Abbaye des
Collonges, Paul Bocuse’s famed restaurant; chocolate sampling
at L'Ecole du Grand Chocolat de Valrhona, the renown school
that adjoins the famous Valrhona chocolate factory; and tours
through the villages and regions forever captured in the paintings
of Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne.
Onboard River Royale, both Provencal and
American cuisine will be featured and paired with memorable
private reserve wines from the region.
Inaugural season pricing for the seven-night
sailings begins at $2748. per person, double occupancy, including
air from New York with attractive add-ons from cities throughout
the U.S. and Canada. Departures begin April 12 and run through
November 1, 2006. Pre-and post-trips include three-night visits
to Paris or the French Riviera for an additional $898 per person,
double occupancy.
Los Angeles-based Uniworld, North America’s
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 17 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
.
2006 ‘American Queen’ Cruises Canceled
The Delta Queen Steamboat Company (a Delaware
North Company) has canceled all cruises aboard the grand American
Queen for the 2006 sailing season. The schedules aboard
the legendary Delta Queen and the magnificent Mississippi
Queen remain unchanged, with both boats returning to service
in April 2006. As previously announced, the Delta Queen begins
operations on April 21, followed closely by the Mississippi
Queen on April 23.
For the past few years the American Queen
has operated primarily on the Lower Mississippi itinerary out
of New Orleans. She was scheduled to return to service on May
30, 2006 following her charter supporting the disaster recovery
efforts in the Gulf Coast area. Many experts cite that New Orleans
will not be able to support normal tourism operations until
the spring of 2007, at the earliest. With that in mind, the
company deliberated long about how best to serve the passengers
and crew of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company.
Without the Lower Mississippi itinerary,
plans were to operate the three steamboats along their normal
upriver spring, summer and fall itineraries between Memphis
and St. Louis, St. Louis and St. Paul, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh
on the Ohio River, and Nashville and Chattanooga on the Cumberland
and Tennessee rivers.
Even though bookings have been doing very
well since November, the company did not feel there would be
sufficient demand for a third steamboat on the same upriver
itineraries where the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen were
scheduled to travel. The decision was made to cancel the American
Queen voyages for the entire 2006 season-from the end of May
through the end of November. The American Queen will be berthed
at our Robin Street Wharf during her 2006 layup, following the
completion of her charters this winter. Bruce Nierenberg, president
of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, expressed his gratitude
to the Delta Queen's loyal passengers and its crew as the company
has developed its operating plan for the steamboats post Katrina.
"We believe that New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi
area will recover, and we hope to be back with the American
Queen and her sister boats in New Orleans as soon as possible."
Ambassadors International Inc. Plans To
Acquire American West Cruises
Ambassadors International, Inc. has signed
a definitive agreement to acquire 100 percent of the membership
interests of American West Steamboat Company LLC and related
entities ("American West Cruises") from Oregon Rail
Holdings, LLC.
American West Cruises is one of North America's
premier river and coastal cruise companies operating unique,
historical and nature-oriented cruise itineraries on the Columbia
and Snake rivers, Alaska's Inside Passage, British Columbia
and Washington's Puget Sound. Founded in 1995, American West
Cruises currently operates two vessels, the 231-passenger Empress
of the North and the 150-passenger Queen of the West.
American West Cruises' voyages are exemplified
by their Cruise Into History(R) experience in which guests and
crew recreate the grandeur of the past on the company's luxurious,
modern-day sternwheelers with onboard historians and naturalists,
visiting historical points of interest and cruising through
natural scenic wonders.
The Company also announced that David Giersdorf
will join the Company as President and Chief Operating Officer
of Ambassadors Cruise Group, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Company established to own and operate American West
Cruises. Giersdorf is a well-known and respected cruise industry
executive. He was most recently Executive Vice President, Marketing
and Sales for Holland America Line Inc., part of Carnival Corporation's
family of cruise lines. From 1999 to 2004, he was responsible
for global brand management, product planning, revenue management,
sales, distribution and public relations for Holland America
and its subsidiary companies Windstar Cruises and Holland America
Tours. Giersdorf served as Chairman of Cruise Lines International
Association in 2004. From 1989 to 1991, he held the position
of Vice President, Windstar Cruises.
The transaction is subject to the approval
of certain debt covenant amendments by the U.S. Department of
Transportation, as well as customary closing conditions, and
is expected to close during the first quarter of 2006. Under
the terms of the agreement, Ambassadors Cruise Group will acquire
the membership interests of American West Cruises for one dollar,
repay certain outstanding indebtedness of approximately $4.3
million currently held by American West Cruises and assume approximately
$41.5 million in fixed-rate, 4.63 percent debt payable through
2028 and guaranteed by the U.S. Maritime Administration. In
addition, the transaction consideration consists of 250,000
shares of the Company's restricted common stock, which is subject
to forfeiture to the Company if certain future financial targets
are not met during the four years following the close of the
transaction.
