The Rise of The River Feb 2017
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THE RISE<br />
OF THE<br />
RIVER<br />
Find out why so many<br />
people are choosing<br />
to take a river cruise
“...you can sail right into<br />
the heart <strong>of</strong> a destination with a<br />
floating hotel for all your<br />
holiday needs ...”<br />
We’re not exaggerating when we say that<br />
river cruising is having a moment right now.<br />
European rivers – such as the Rhine and Danube – have never been<br />
so popular, with their fairytale castles, charming capital cities and tiny<br />
villages. <strong>The</strong> appeal is obvious: board a river cruise and you will sail<br />
right into the heart <strong>of</strong> a destination, wander along the Seine under<br />
the lights <strong>of</strong> the Eiffel Tower, sample Bordeaux’s finest reds or watch a<br />
concert in a Viennese palace.<br />
Meanwhile, rivers further afield are growing in popularity – African,<br />
Asian and North American rivers give the more adventurous access to<br />
some <strong>of</strong> the most amazing places on earth.<br />
<strong>River</strong> cruising is made for immersing yourself in a destination – with a<br />
ship that’s far smaller than ocean-faring vessels. Read our introductory<br />
guide to get a bit <strong>of</strong> a flavour <strong>of</strong> what they’re like and book yourself on<br />
the trip <strong>of</strong> a lifetime. You’ll soon see what all <strong>of</strong> the fuss is about.
RHINE<br />
SEINE<br />
RHONE<br />
DANUBE<br />
DOURO<br />
EUROPEAN<br />
RIVER<br />
CRUISING<br />
Here is a selection <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the most popular<br />
river cruise destinations in Europe:<br />
Danube<br />
BEST FOR: City breaks<br />
WHY GO: <strong>The</strong> Danube runs through five<br />
capital cities: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest,<br />
Belgrade and Bucharest, more than any other.<br />
Rhone<br />
BEST FOR: Wines<br />
WHY GO: <strong>The</strong> south <strong>of</strong> France produces<br />
some <strong>of</strong> the finest wines around – and they<br />
save the best for themselves<br />
Rhine<br />
BEST FOR: Castles<br />
WHY GO: Sailing through the Rhine Gorge<br />
is one <strong>of</strong> the most scenic river cruises in<br />
Europe<br />
Seine<br />
BEST FOR: Romance<br />
WHY GO: Board your vessel in the centre<br />
<strong>of</strong> Paris, the city <strong>of</strong> lights, and try to not let<br />
the atmosphere seduce you<br />
Douro<br />
BEST FOR: Ports and churches<br />
WHY GO: Good weather and port is pretty<br />
much guaranteed in this Mediterranean<br />
hotspot
GLOBAL<br />
RIVER<br />
CRUISING<br />
Here is a selection <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong><br />
the most popular river cruise<br />
destinations beyond Europe:<br />
Mississippi<br />
BEST FOR: Music<br />
WHY GO: Listen to Blues or Jazz in a club in the<br />
Deep South – where both were born.<br />
Mekong<br />
BEST FOR: Life on the river<br />
WHY GO: See how generations have lived in<br />
floating villages in fascinating southeast Asia<br />
Yangtze<br />
BEST FOR: Mountainous landscapes<br />
WHY GO: <strong>The</strong> Three Gorges Dam is immense, but<br />
the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army are not<br />
far away<br />
Irrawaddy<br />
BEST FOR: Ancient pagodas<br />
WHY GO: Explore Myanmar’s riverside villages,<br />
unspoilt by tourism and take a hot air balloon<br />
above Bagan’s temples<br />
This is just a selection <strong>of</strong> the river cruise destinations available<br />
For more please visit cruiseexperts.org
“...<strong>River</strong> cruising is all about<br />
having the freedom to do<br />
what you want...”<br />
As the river ship <strong>of</strong>ten stops right in the heart <strong>of</strong><br />
the city or town, then you can <strong>of</strong>ten simply step<br />
<strong>of</strong>f and explore a whole new world.<br />
And you have so many ways to explore - enjoy a shore excursion, a<br />
walking tour or a cycle ride to explore some <strong>of</strong> these amazing places.<br />
And at night, take an after-dinner stroll, take in a local bar or simply<br />
enjoy the night-time views<br />
<strong>River</strong> cruising is all about having the freedom to do what you want.<br />
While there’s usually a whole lot thrown into the price including some<br />
shore excursions, (see page 5), you can just as easily go <strong>of</strong>f for a walk and<br />
discover a destination for yourself.<br />
Think about some <strong>of</strong> the amazing European river cities that you can visit<br />
– some wonderful cities to explore: Cologne, Paris, Budapest, Vienna and<br />
Amsterdam
IN THE HEART OF THE CITY<br />
TOP TIP<br />
Look at river itineraries closely to find out what time you are departing.<br />
Many ships stay in port overnight, allowing night owls to sample some local flavours!
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
“...<strong>River</strong> cruising is one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
most generously packaged<br />
holiday types available...”<br />
In short, all your holiday needs -<br />
and much more besides<br />
<strong>River</strong> cruising is one <strong>of</strong> the most generously packaged holiday types<br />
available. You will always have your food and accommodation included<br />
(some ships have secondary dining spaces too), and most also <strong>of</strong>fer alcoholic<br />
drinks with meals, a selection <strong>of</strong> shore excursions, transfers to the airport,<br />
access to bicycles and on board entertainment – all free <strong>of</strong> charge!<br />
Simply check with your travel agent to ensure that you know exactly what is<br />
included.<br />
TOP TIP<br />
Most river cruise lines take only Euros on board, so booking extras such as drinks<br />
packages (if they’re available) before you leave can save you money in the long run.
Exploring river cruise destinations<br />
has never been easier<br />
<strong>River</strong> cruising is all about the places that you visit –<br />
absorbing that history, culture, shopping and cities<br />
– and taking in breath-taking scenery and places. And<br />
what’s more – most river cruise operators include shore<br />
excursions in their package, so you can enjoy until your<br />
hearts content.<br />
Shore excursions are <strong>of</strong>ten divided into groups depending<br />
on how much walking you want to do, while bicycles<br />
are also <strong>of</strong>fered on many ships. An increasing number<br />
are also now themed running cruises for fitness fanatics<br />
where passengers can cycle, walk or even run their way<br />
through a holiday.
EXPLORING FROM YOUR SHIP<br />
TOP TIP<br />
<strong>River</strong> cruises are great when it comes to cuisine.<br />
Despite the ships being like small hotels, they cater for a whole range <strong>of</strong> tastes –<br />
including those who don’t want to indulge!
WHAT’S INCLUDED?<br />
TOP TIP<br />
It isn’t just wine that finds its way on board a river ship, but local<br />
delicacies too. Daily menus are typically full <strong>of</strong> specialities such as wiener<br />
schnitzel, escargot or frankfurters!
Your river dining experience.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the most popular things about a river cruise is that,<br />
because they typically meander through some <strong>of</strong> the best<br />
wine countries in the world – the drink on board is incredible.<br />
Most companies (although not all) will include wine with at<br />
least dinner – and these are <strong>of</strong>ten taken straight from the<br />
local vineyards. Whether that’s beautiful pinot noirs from<br />
France’s Rhône, a Riesling from the Rhine in Germany or port<br />
from the Douro in Portugal, any wine lover will simple adore<br />
a river cruise.<br />
Food is the same. From eating Peking duck on China’s<br />
Yangtze to grits and biscuits on the Mississippi – a river<br />
cruise is a cultural experience that simply cannot be beaten.
THE HIGHEST RATED RIVER CRUISE SHIPS<br />
RIVER CRUISES<br />
For the best cruise advice and to book your next incredible holiday,<br />
find your local CLIA expert at<br />
www.cruiseexperts.org