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Posts Tagged ‘Rhine River Cruises’

Suggest taking a cruise and most people will think of sailing the Atlantic, cruising the Greek islands and the balmy waters of the Mediterranean or the ultimate ambition of the Caribbean cruise.  But long before motorway networks, railways and air travel the rivers of Europe were the arteries of the continent.Liquid freeways that allowed commerce and travel for thousands of years.  The Danube, the Don, the Volga, the Seine and even the Thames were alive with traffic.

No European river is as steeped in this heritage, history and charm as the Rhine.  rhine river cruises are one of the best ways to enjoy the sights or not just one, but four European countries.A journey can begin in the sophisticated city of Amsterdam, with its canals and lively ambience and take you along the Upper Rhine to Cologne and Koblenz where the Rhine meets the Moselle and on to Strasbourg and Basel in Switzerland.

It’s in Germany though that the Rhine gains most of its tributaries and it’s here that the Middle Rhine flows through the stunning Rhine Gorge, travelling into Rhine country past the typical wine village of Rudesheim then to Mainz with the imposing Heidelberg Castle.  The Rhine Gorge must be one of the highlights of any luxury cruise on the Rhine with fairytale castles perched at intervals along the banks of the river.

Few river cruises can compete with the legends that surround the Rhine, such as the famous Lorelei Rock, or the Wagnerian epic of the Rhine Maidens and the Rhine Gold – the mysterious ring that Siegfried discovers pre-dating Tolkien by several decades.The romance and mystery fades a bit when the Rhine enters its lower reaches around the Rhur and the major ports of Holland, but even so the Rhine remains one of the most rewarding waterways in Europe for a river cruise to remember.

For couples who are looking for a modern, sophisticated atmosphere and excellent European itineraries, five- star luxury Amadeus Waterways cruise ships are hard to beat on the rivers of Europe.Accommodation is generous with large Junior Suites onboard, well equipped gyms and delicious food. The standards of the boats are more than maintained by the quality of service on board, which is consistently excellent.

AMA Waterways cruises has recently added brand-new river cruise ships – MS Amadante, MS Amacello, MS Amalegro and MS Amadagio – four of the most elegant ships on European rivers. Cruises on the great European rivers, including Danube river cruises and Rhine river cruises are popular because of the variety of landscapes and the stunning scenery that rolls by, but cruising on a luxury river cruise is also a perfect way to see the small towns and villages along the banks of those rivers.   AMA’s ships have state-of-the-art amenities and, like all the ships of Amadeus Waterways, are tastefully decorated with comfortable cabins and excellent facilities.

In addition to cruising the traditional waterways of Europe, Amadeus Waterways Cruises also offer a new cruise from Provence to Spain on board the MS Swiss Pearl and a fascinating Russian Waterways cruise on board the MS Tolstoy. The MS Swiss Pearl has been one of Europe’s most beautiful river cruise ships since her launch in 1993 and has recently started on the Rhône and Saône rivers in France. As you would expect, given the gastronomic traditions of the French, the food is sumptuous with breakfast buffets including a rich assortment of breads and pastries and regional specialties, homemade soups, gourmet entrees, and delectable desserts with unlimited wines from France’s great wine regions.

Luxury cruises that take in the impressive views and history of river routes between Moscow and St Petersburg come no better than the MS Leo Tolstoy, the most luxurious cruise ship ever built for Russian rivers. The Tolstoy was originally designed for high ranking Kremlin officials and to host foreign dignitaries. Today, she is still one of the top ships in Russia, with luxurious decor, large, well-appointed cabins and elegant public areas.

For most of us, it’s the romance of the Caribbean that springs to mind when you suggest a cruise holiday and the prospect of sun, tropical islands and beautiful beaches certainly makes the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico the number one choice for many first time cruisers. Some hardier types are drawn to the icy majesty of a cruise to Alaska, while others plump for the tried and trusted Mediterranean cruise with itineraries that cover Italy, Greece and the Greek islands.  For most of us, the world cruise remains a “one of these days” proposition, provided we retire early or win the national lottery.

River cruises are a great way to see the European continent, with packages covering the Danube, the Volga and, most popular of all, the Rhine. Certainly, very few river cruises can match the spectacular scenery between Bingen and Bonn as the Middle Rhine flows through the stunning Rhine Gorge with its fairytale romantic castles and vineyards towering on top of the steep gorge banks.But how many of us have seriously considered cruising the UK?Britain and Ireland have scenery just as spectacular as that found in Europe, or anywhere in the world for that matter.  It’s true that the weather (or rather its unpredictable nature) is the only element that lets’ the UK down, but a luxury cruise around the British Isles can be rewarding as well as relaxing. The popularity of the recent BBC TV programme “Coast” showed that there is a demand for exploring the romantic and exotic on our doorstep, so why not do that in 5 star comfort and style aboard a modern cruise ship?

Many operators have packages that take in the Channel Islands, as well as the Isles of Scilly before sailing on to Ireland where guests can enjoy the “craik” in Dublin.These same cruise programmes often include trips to the stark beauty of the Hebrides and the Western isles as well as the Orkneys and Shetland, Leith in Edinburgh and the world-class city that is London.  So next time you think of booking a cruise holiday, don’t discount the sheer variety of landscapes, experiences and destinations you could enjoy closer to home.

There are so many complaints almost daily from people who are on five star cruises because of the fact they cannot access the internet very well at all. Getting near the internet itself is something you should already be greatful for, let alone moaning. You are at sea for crying out loud, do you really expect the net connection to be totally awesome all of the time?

Many people out there hate the costs. This is because cruise companies will charge a bit extra for you to go onto the internet to check mail, send pictures or do a bit of work. Of course another idea is staying at home for your next vacation, then you can have the internet whenever you want? Cruises are meant to be fun and relaxing so why do many people spend them cooped up in a room reading e-mails and chatting to people over Facebook.

If you were away anywhere else you wouldn’t expect to use the internet but because it is there then people must simply use it time and time again. Why people just cannot wait to get home and use the internet is beyond me which is why I do not see how people have the right to complain.

Why bother spending loads of extra money on internet charges when you could be relaxed by the pool with a nice drink in your hands? Many people love sending pictures over the internet. Is there any real reason for this? It is almost certain that all of the people you know can wait until you physically get home before you show them your photos.

So whether it is one of those nice Rhine river cruises or perhaps one of those Silversea cruises just enjoy it.

The best piece of advice to take from all of this, just relax and enjoy your cruise!!

2012 is of course going to be the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic sinking. A company is setting up a trans-Atlantic cruise to do the exact same route.

8th April 2012 is the date that the ship is departing as it is exaclty 100 years since the Titanic set sail. It is also leaving from the exact same port as the original which of course is Southampton. Once it has left the port it will then stop at Cobh in Ireland in the same way that the real thing did to make the experience even more life like.

The ship is going to arrive on the spot where the Titanic sunk at 11.40 which is when it hit the iceburg. 2am is around the time the ship will carry on with its journey to New York.2am was the time in which the ship sunk.

This is certainly not going to be a disrespectful trip as the vessal is set to have a short memorial service during these hours. There will also be lectures on board as well as food and music from the era.

The ship will contain 710 cabins and will hold 1,350 passengers and a crew of around 150. The prices are of course not going to be cheap so watch out for that. This is truly going to be the luxury cruises of a life time.

Of course most of the cheaper cabins for the price above have already sold out so perhaps if you are interested in taking a cruise you should think about taking another cruise like one of those Rhine River Cruises or perhaps Silversea cruises would be a better move to make.