Cruise Adviser River guide 2016 by Cruise Adviser

APRIL 2016

CRUISE ADVISER

RIVER GUIDE

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

WINE COUNTRY WITH UNIWORLD

INFOCUS: EMERALD WATERWAYS

UNUSUAL RIVERS SPECIAL

UNIQUE HOW TO SELL GUIDE

MADE FOR THE FOODIES

Anyone with an appetite for the good life will love a Viking river cruise. From a choice of delicious hot and cold breakfast options to exciting destinationinspired lunch and dinner menus, and specially selected wines, your clients will get a real taste of what makes Viking so unique. Add to that, free seating and a relaxed dress code, and you’ve got a recipe for success.

S AV E £ 1 , 0 0 0 P P O N 2017 RIVER CRUISES 8-day river cruises from £895pp with all this included in the price: Ri ver-vi ew stateroom Al l del i ci ous meal s on board C ompl i mentary wi ne, beer and soft dri nks wi th l unch and di nner on board C ompl i mentary speci al i ty teas and coffees 24/7 I ncl uded excursi on i n al most every desti nati on Free W i -Fi * Cul tural enri chment programme Retur n schedul ed fl i ghts from the U K Free regi onal fl i ghts from up to 14 U K ai rports PLUS £100PP to spend on board Book by 30 April 2016

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Terms & Conditions: Prices correct at time of going to print but are subject to change. From prices are per person and based on two people sharing the lowest grade stateroom available on Romantic Danube, departing in December 2017. Prices include £1,000pp saving and are valid until 30 April 2016. Single supplements apply. *Restrictions apply. The £100pp on board spend offer can be withdrawn at any time and special conditions apply, please call us for more information or visit vikingcruises.co.uk/terms-conditions.

EDITOR’S TITLE LETTER

Welcome to cruise adviser’s 2016 River guide. Look out for Family, Luxury, Expedition & Adventure and 2017 Preview guides coming later in the year

Cruise Adviser

River 2016

CRUISE ADVISER CA-8

River cruise has been one of the great success stories of the travel industry over the last decade, and it’s not difficult to see why. The sector has undergone something of a facelift, with spacious, elegant ships and exciting itineraries, both on the continent and farther afield, now the standard. In fact, with a third of all European river cruise ships having been built in the last 10 years, and a quarter within the last five, modern fleets have transformed river cruise’s image. While innovation hasn’t been as ostentatious as in the ocean sector — you won’t find robotic barmen or mega waterslides on river ships — it has been considerable, with the luxury lines having led the way. Uniworld, for example, which takes our cover feature with its Burgundy & Provence cruise, p32, has made a name for itself with vessels that have bags of space, a superb staff-to-guest ratio and beautiful, unique décor. Another key to its success is the fact that it is all-inclusive, an industry trend we consider in depth on p40. We also take a look at the four-star Emerald Waterways — the subject of this guide’s InFocus, p20 — which has impressed with its modern, sleek ships, which more closely resemble Apple stores than old river ships. Then there are the itineraries, which are more varied than ever. We look at the more unusual rivers on p15, as well as combination cruises on p25, which prove that adventure is a keystone of the sector. As ever, there is our unique How To sell guide (p45) and extensive listings, beginning on p62. We would also like to introduce our brand-new comic strip, #travelagentproblems (p7). Send your amusing stories to info@cruise-adviser.com and, if we feature them, we’ll send you a Tony the Travel Agent mug. APRIL 2016

CRUISE ADVISER

RIVER GUIDE

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

WINE COUNTRY WITH UNIWORLD

INFOCUS: EMERALD WATERWAYS

UNUSUAL RIVERS SPECIAL

UNIQUE HOW TO SELL GUIDE

We hope you enjoy reading.

Sam Ballard and Anthony Pearce Publishers of cruise adviser CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Anthony Pearce publisher anthony@cruise-adviser.com +44 (0)78 3576 8383

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CONTENTS

Cruise Adviser

CRUISE ADVISER

River 2016

CRUISE ADVISER

APRIL 2016

RIVER GUIDE

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

is here to entertain and inform. In the first half of this guide you will find in-depth features and opinion on river cruises, while the second half has our unique How To Sell guide and extensive cruise line directory.

cruise adviser

CA-8

Features On the horizon

WINE COUNTRY WITH UNIWORLD

INFOCUS: EMERALD WATERWAYS

UNUSUAL RIVERS SPECIAL

UNIQUE HOW TO SELL GUIDE

What’s new for this year and beyond

INTERVIEW

sat down with one of AmaWaterways’ founders, Kristin Karst, to find out about trends, competitors and why travel agents are so important

cruise adviser

Queen of the river

––––– QUEEN OF THE RIVER –––––

AmaWaterways’ co-founder Kristin Karst talks trends and competitors

Off the beaten track

ounded in 2002 by Kristin Karst, Rudi Schreiner and Jimmy Murphy, AmaWaterways has become symbolic of the much talked about renaissance that the river industry has undergone in recent years. Renowned for their quality of hardware and depth of destination, the line now offers cruises in Europe, Vietnam, Cambodia and Africa across a growing fleet.

cruise adviser: During

your time at AmaWaterways, what has been the most noticeable trend you have seen in the river sector? Kristin Karst: One of the most exciting things about being part of the travel industry — and the river cruise sector, specifically — is that trends are always shifting! Because of that,

From the Guadalquivir to the Chobe, we take you to the more unusual rivers Kristin Karst, co-founder, AmaWaterways

InFocus: Emerald Waterways 20

––––– INFOCUS EMERALD WATERWAYS WE TAKE AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE QUICKLY EXPANDING RIVER CRUISE LINE AND SPEAK TO BRAND MANAGER DAVID WINTERTON

–––––

merald Waterways launched in 2013, but feels anything but a newcomer. Founded as part of Scenic group by Glen Moroney, the line entered the market with its first Star-Ships, the Emerald Sky and Emerald Star, in 2014, and quickly became known for its value-for-money cruises and its fleet’s modern, clean décor. Impressively, as the line has expanded by building new ships, it has also looked to broaden its horizons beyond the Rhine and Danube, the rivers on which it launched. Now chartering the Mekong Explorer in Southeast Asia, it has also just announced plans to build two new ships, the Emerald Liberte and Emerald Radiance, which will sail on some of Europe’s less-traversed rivers, the Rhone-Soane

Where the river does Rhone 32 Sam Ballard joins Uniworld in France for his honeymoon

We take a look at all-inclusive cruises

The How To Sell guide 45 Our unique walk-through guide is here to help you sell river cruises

Directory The major players in the river market

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

We pride ourselves on our unique and innovative ships — a pool that turns into a cinema at night, the contemporary look and feel; in-cabin entertainment systems are powered by Apple TV. We have a very relaxed atmosphere on board the ship with a very informal dress code; we are an Australian-owned company and many of our guests on board are Australian, and they don’t really go for the formal dress code. We also include more than most of our key competitors — we include all tips.

––––– WHERE THE RIVER DOES RHONE SAM BALLARD EXPLORES FRANCE’S BEAUTIFUL WINEMAKING REGIONS WITH A HONEYMOON CRUISE ON UNIWORLD

–––––

and Douro, when they launch in 2017. Here, brand manager David Winterton, talks about Emerald Waterways remarkable rise.

What makes Emerald Waterways stand out from the pack?

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

hat could be better than a honeymoon cruise on board an ultra-luxury line sailing through France’s southern vineyards? As our plane landed in Lyon, the country’s third biggest city, I couldn’t think of a single thing. However, being the curious being that I am, I was more than willing to find out. Our home for the next week is the SS Catherine, property of a certain Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. The company, is renowned for its elaborate, slightly ostentatious, décor. Anyone who has been on board will know, Uniworld is hardly known for its subtlety. Having seen one or two ships at Clia’s

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Fam trips and more to look out for

What does that include?

There is an increasing amount of noise coming from the river sector. How do you differentiate from your competitors? Our president, Rudi Schreiner, has had his hand in helping shape the river sector as we know it today, most recently being named Most Innovative River Cruise Executive by a leading US–based travel media organisation. I mention this because I feel the expertise Rudi brings is so important, as is the experience of the rest of our team, who have dedicated our careers to the river cruise industry. Together, we have made AmaWaterways the most distinctive line in the entire industry. Our hands-on approach to management allows us to give attention to every detail, making an AmaWaterways river cruise truly stand out from the rest. When it comes to specific differences between AmaWaterways and our friendly competitors, I would say a few things. First is our ship design. Rudi has a degree in architecture and as a

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One river not enough? Here’s how customers can double up

Dates for your diary

What is the best thing about owning a cruise line? The best thing for me is that I can introduce our clients to the most beautiful destinations in Europe, Asia and Africa. Places with an incredible history and culture and the most wonderful people. To allow them to discover this by river cruise ship, the best and most luxurious way to travel to all these destinations in an intimate and highly inclusive environment! At AmaWaterways, we love working to provide our guests with only the best travel experiences. In fact, ‘Ama’ is derived from the Latin word for love — an energy that we put into crafting every aspect of our river cruises. It is this passion that fuels our attention to detail, commitment to innovation and culture of making our guests our top priority. Even more important to me as we continue to build the AmaWaterways business is the relationships we are fortunate to create. From local residents in cities and

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

An in-depth look at one of river cruise’s most impressive new lines

Two for one

River Convention, I was intrigued about what to expect. I knew that the line sat right at the top of the ultra-luxury market for river cruises, but little else. Our cruise would first take us north, to Macon and Beaune, before heading south. We would then stop overnight in Lyon (we wouldn’t be spending our first night here) and further on through the Rhone Valley and eventually to Avignon. First impressions are an incredible thing. This could almost be a mantra for Uniworld. The ship’s foyer is dominated by an emerald Murano glass chandelier, which hangs above a large glass horse. The walls in public areas are covered in mirrored

glass and decorated with criss-crossed green piping. The upkeep of the surfaces alone must be a nightmare. The SS Catherine is a ship which wears its luxury like a queen wears her crown. And its market — predominantly Americans and Australians — love it. They are spending good money on these trips, which often form part of a longer holiday, and many of them find it reassuring to see the heavily decorated ship after they’ve made the long hop over here. We check in and have a quick buffet lunch with the other early arrivals, as well as the late leavers who were trying to cling on to the last remnants of their holiday. They looked at us jealously — always

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

ON THE TITLE HORIZON

The innovations and new additions to look out for over this year and beyond

Croisi continues expansion

C Crystal clears the way

aving initially planned to launch in 2017, Crystal Cruises brought forward its river division to July 2016 with the purchase of MS Mozart. Four purpose-built ships — two more than planned — will launch in 2017. The line’s huge expansion shows no signs of abating. On top of Crystal River, the company will build three more ocean cruise ships and launch Crystal Air.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

It also plans to purchase historic ocean liner, the SS United States. Each of its river ships will be named after famous composers from the countries they sail. Crystal Mozart will sail on the Danube; Debussy on the Seine; Bach on the Rhine and Moselle; Ravel on the Garonne and Dordogne rivers and the Gironde Estuary; Mahler on the Rhine, Main and Danube.

roisiEurope will follow the launch of three ships in 2016 with four in 2017. The line will introduce RV Indochine (Mekong), MS Symphonie II and MS Douce France II (Rhine and Danube), plus another ship on the Douro in Portugal.

Riviera to build four more ships

iveria will launch four new ships in 2017, three of which will be all-suite. MS Thomas Hardy, Emily Bronte and Oscar Wilde will offer three levels of suites, with the standard at 17 sq m. The five-star MS Douro Elegance will sail an Porto and Salamanca itinerary.

BOOK YOUR CUSTOMERS WITH THE

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TOP RATED EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISE SHIPS

IT’S ALL INCLUDED... Luxurious accommodation •

Fine dining including complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner •

Complimentary tours and excursions

AmaWaterways is STILL family owned and operated

•

Complimentary bicycles* •

Cocktail reception and Captain’s Gala Dinner

AmaWaterways is the ONLY river cruise company inducted into Confrérie de la Chaine des Rottisseurs

•

FREE Wi-Fi throughout the ship •

Spa** & Fitness Room

AmaWaterways introduced the twin balcony concept

CREATE THE PERFECT PACKAGE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS

Choose from

Despite low water levels in Europe, AmaWaterways cancelled ZERO cruises In the 2014 Berlitz guide AmaWaterways achieved all top 11 spots out of 280 river cruise ships with AmaPrima at #1

Cruise only •

Cruise packaged with flights or rail •

A local airport with time convenient for you •

TOP RATED EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISE SHIPS

Pre or post cruise hotel stays •

Private or shared transfers

Please Call 0808 1499 567 www.AmaWaterways.co.uk agency.sales@amawaterways.co.uk Lead in fare is based on 2 adults sharing a category E cabin on selected European departure dates. Price includes economy flights from London (regional flights available on request), non UK transfers and port changes. All prices are correct at time of print and are subject to availability and/or change and can be withdrawn at any time. *Europe only - Excluding Douro **Spa/ Salon treatments available at an additional cost.

––––– QUEEN OF THE RIVER –––––

INTERVIEW

sat down with one of AmaWaterways’ founders, Kristin Karst, to find out about trends, competitors and why travel agents are so important

cruise adviser

cruise adviser: During

Kristin Karst, co-founder, AmaWaterways

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

we challenge ourselves to anticipate consumer behaviour as much as we can, continuously innovating and staying ahead of the game. Most recently, we have seen an increasing interest in experimental, health, wellness and active travel. What is the best thing about owning a cruise line? The best thing for me is that I can introduce our clients to the most beautiful destinations in Europe, Asia and Africa. Places with an incredible history and culture and the most wonderful people. To allow them to discover this by river cruise ship, the best and most luxurious way to travel to all these destinations in an intimate and highly inclusive environment! At AmaWaterways, we love working to provide our guests with only the best travel experiences. In fact, ‘Ama’ is derived from the Latin word for love — an energy that we put into crafting every aspect of our river cruises. It is this passion that fuels our attention to detail, commitment to innovation and culture of making our guests our top priority. Even more important to me as we continue to build the AmaWaterways business is the relationships we are fortunate to create. From local residents in cities and

towns we visit to the closeknit bonds we’ve formed with travel agents who are out there on the ground, selling our product, it really is all about the incredible people we get to interact with on a daily basis! There is an increasing amount of noise coming from the river sector. How do you differentiate from your competitors? Our president, Rudi Schreiner, has had his hand in helping shape the river sector as we know it today, most recently being named Most Innovative River Cruise Executive by a leading US–based travel media organisation. I mention this because I feel the expertise Rudi brings is so important, as is the experience of the rest of our team, who have dedicated our careers to the river cruise industry. Together, we have made AmaWaterways the most distinctive line in the entire industry. Our hands-on approach to management allows us to give attention to every detail, making an AmaWaterways river cruise truly stand out from the rest. When it comes to specific differences between AmaWaterways and our friendly competitors, I would say a few things. First is our ship design. Rudi has a degree in architecture and as a

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From left: AmaWaterways’ Kristin Karst and Rudi Schreiner, with Cruise Planners’ Michelle Fee; the mayor of Vilshofen, Florian Gams; and 2nd County Commissioner Rainmund Kneidinge at the christening of AmaSerena

result, every aspect of our ships is purposefully built, designed with the optimal guest comfort in mind. Our ships feature unique French balconies or our signature twin balcony designs, which we created, each consisting of a French balcony with a second fullsize step-out balcony. This gives travellers even more space in their stateroom, which is so important. We feature unique inroom entertainment on demand systems with complimentary internet, music, movies and English TV programming; fitness rooms, massage suites and salons; a second speciality dining venue called Chef’s Table and our wine bars, which gives travellers more options than just the main dining room; sun decks with heated swimming pools featuring swim-up

bars and so much more. At the end of the day, our biggest point of differentiation, I feel, is the personal service we provide. We are familyowned and try very hard to create a family feel for travellers, starting with personal involvement from our senior leadership team. We are here for travel agents and our guests directly at any time, and we go above and beyond to ensure our staff are trained with that very same passion for guest service. Why should a travel agent sell more river cruise? The most important things to travel agents, I hear time and again, is the ability to make money and the chance to offer unique experiences to their clients. River cruising offers both of these things, and so much

more. Given the average price point of a river cruise, the earning potential for travel agents is very strong. Just as important, though, is that river cruising is one of the hottest travel segments right now. Selling the right river cruise to a client, you are not just sending them on another vacation. You are affording them the opportunity to visit some of the world’s most beautiful, off-thebeaten path destinations, creating memories that will last a lifetime. River cruises create loyal customers, so once a guest has experienced a river cruise on the right ships, they will come back and try many more river cruises on the different rivers in Europe, Asia and Africa. See Off the beaten track, p15, and Directory, p63

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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Discover the exclusive world of river cruising with eWaterways

Lord of the Glens - Scotland

Mekong Prestige II - Mekong River

Amadeus River Cruises - European Rivers

A cruise along the Rhine

In order to offer the ultimate collection of river cruise holidays for the discerning traveller, we have very carefully selected the most elegant vessels on fascinating rivers throughout the world; offering timeless decor and exceptional style and effortlessly blending tradition with modern day standards. eWaterways offers holidays on rivers throughout Europe, Russia, North America, China, Vietnam, Burma, South America, Africa, Australia and many more.

eWaterways also offers a huge variety of other small ship cruise holidays: from expedition cruising in Antarctica, Alaska and the Arctic to coastal cruising; sailing holidays and luxury hotel barges; from chartering your own crewed vessel to discovering the beauty of the South Pacific aboard a luxury motor yacht...we cover it all!!

The charms of river cruising are countless: whether you want to relax with a glass of whisky as you glide through the Lochs of Scotland, or experience the thrill of visiting the stunning cities of Europe that line the banks of the Danube, Rhine, Volga, Douro, Seine and Rhone rivers; or perhaps travel further afield and become immersed in the local culture and customs along the Amazon, Mekong or Irradwaddy rivers - there is a river cruise holiday to suit everyone!

To speak to our cruise experts Freephone 0808 168 1458 or visit us online at www.ewaterways.co.uk

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––––– OFF THE BEATEN TRACK THERE’S NO DENYING THE ENDURING CHARM OF THE RHINE AND DANUBE, BUT THERE’S MORE TO RIVER CRUISE THAN MEETS THE EYE

–––––

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

he river cruise market is a broard church, but sometimes you wouldn’t know it. Of the 140,000 Britons who took river cruises in 2014, 86 per cent of them headed to Europe, according to Clia’s most recent figures. The majority of those stuck to the new duopoly of the Rhine and Danube, the latter of which saw its popularity rise by 41 per cent, putting it firmly in second place. But, beyond the headline acts, the statistics reveal a complicated landscape, particularly given the continued decline of the Nile, once the favoured river of the British traveller. The Egyptian waterway has left a huge gap in the market, while an increasingly adventurous clientele are convincing cruise lines to look further afield. There’s a reason Clia’s figures show the Mekong, in Southeast Asia, up 55 per cent, and total non-European cruises up to

Seville, Spain (Credit: Bud Ellison/Flickr)

19,000, a 12 per cent rise. In Europe, cruise lines continue to add capacity to the mainstays — the Rhine, Main and Moselle, and Danube — but it is a continent that offers considerable choice. The Rhone-Saone and Seine in France have seen steady growth (see Uniworld, p32), while Portugal’s Douro — no longer the secret it once was — could be the next big river market, with a hatful of lines now sailing there, and more heading soon. As ever with cruise, it pays to think outside the box. Not all rivers are navigable, but it’s always worth checking, remember that river cruise lines have a presence across the continent. For example, 2,900 people cruised the Italian Po in 2014; 2,800 the Elbe through Germany and the Czech Republic; and a further 13,400 passengers took cruises on ‘other’ European rivers. Among these others is the Guadalquivir, which snakes through sun-kissed southern

Spain, and by the grand cities and rolling green hills. You can point customers towards CroisiEurope, which operates its 176-passenger La Belle de Cadix through Seville, Cadiz, Granada and stunning Córdoba, once capital of the Islamic Emirate ruled by the Muslim Umayyad dynasty. In fact, the operator is a specialist in offering itineraries on rivers many others don’t sail to, notably running itineraries on France’s shallow-water Loire between Saint-Nazaire and Angers. The Russian waterways remain quietly popular, rarely generating the column inches they deserve, considering the Volga, the longest waterway in Europe, connects the magnificent cities of Moscow and St Petersburg (above). For customers looking east, Viking River Cruises’ Waterways of the Tsars is a great option, sailing between the two cities over 13 days, taking in Kuzino,

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Inset credit: brando.n/Flickr

UNUSUAL RIVERS

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Main credit: Danel Solabarrieta/Flickr

A hot air balloon floats into the sky above Bagan, Myanmar

Yaroslavl and Uglich on the way. Through eWaterways customers can also experience the two cities on eight-day trips, which also call at the remarkable Kizhi Island. Even the muchtraversed Danube offers unusual delights. Emerald Waterways’ Enchantment of Eastern Europe cruise begins in Budapest and sails through Belgrade, taking in the Iron Gates, the narrow gorge between the European Alps and Carpathian Mountains, and onto Bucharest. Avalon Waterways’ 14-night Blue Danube to The Black Sea also offers sailings east from Vienna to the Romania capital. While the Nile has fallen

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

below 10,000 UK cruise passengers for the first time, a by-product of the turbulent political situation the country faces, there are still operators sailing there. Uniworld, for example, offers a fantastic 12-night return trip from Cairo (Splendours of Egypt & the Nile), with excursions that, of course, include the Pyramids of Giza and Valley of the Kings. Further south, AmaWaterways offers cruises on its Zambezi Queen, which was specifically designed for safari river cruises on the Chobe river. The line’s brilliant Rivers & Rails of Africa cruises begins with three nights in Cape Town, followed by a four-night safari cruise, two nights in

Victoria Falls, and then a three-night Rovos Rail train journey to Pretoria. Elsewhere is the Irrawaddy, in Myanmar (formerly Burma), which is fast becoming one of Asia’s top rivers, after travel restrictions to the country were relaxed. Several operators now sail there, notably Pandaw River Expeditions, which has eight ships on the Irrawaddy, as well as one on the Chindwin tributary (and Andaman Explorer coastal ship). Another great option is AmaWaterways’ Hidden Wonders of Myanmar, which begins with a night in Yangon. Customers then fly to Mandalay and embark upon a 14-night cruise that ends in Yangon.

Award-winning river cruises 2017 NOW ON SALE Give your customers more for their money with Emerald Waterways - Cruise from £995 per person

UNFORGETTABLE ITINERARIES

AWARD-WINNING SHIPS

Discover perfect itineraries from our unique collection and set sail on the Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle. Plus new for 2017 the Rhône and Douro.

Explore Europe aboard our innovative fleet and experience unique highlights like a heated pool that transforms into a cinema at night.

Call free on: 0808 102 0310 agencysales@emeraldwaterways.com Terms and Conditions: Prices are per person based on two people sharing a Cat E. Stateroom and departing at a similar time year on year. The £1,000 per couple saving is based on the full brochure price new bookings only made between 1st March and 30th April 2016. Flights are subject to availability and may be an additional 1.5% charge made on bookings paid by credit card (1.95% for AMEX). For full terms and

2017 CRUISES AT 2016 PRICES TITLE

SAVE £1,000

PER COUPLE

PLUS RECEIVE

€300

PER CABIN

ON-BOARD CREDIT

To celebrate the launch of our 2017 European river cruise collection, we’re giving your customers the chance to save £1,000 per couple on any one of our 2017 itineraries and enjoy €300 worth of complimentary on-board credit. This offer will not be repeated, so book your customers today with a special low deposit of just £250 per person and they could be setting sail for as little as £995 per person.

DINING AND DRINKS

IT’S ALL INCLUDED

Every dining experience showcases regional cuisine and seasonal produce, with free drinks accompanying lunch and dinner.

From flights to dining, excursions to all tips, almost everything you can think of is included in the price of your cruise. 2014 Editors’ Picks

Order your 2017 brochures at TradeGate today!

Best New River Ship

are subject to availability. Supplements apply for upgraded accommodation. The 2017 cruises at 2016 prices promotion is based on the same cruise and the €300 on-board credit is per cabin, based on two people sharing. Single guests will receive 50% of the on-board credit. Offer is available for incur a supplement. The necessary deposit at the time of booking is £250 per person, with full payment required within 90 days of departure. There will conditions, please refer to our 2017 European River Cruise preview brochure or visit our website www.emeraldwaterways.co.uk

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––––– INFOCUS EMERALD WATERWAYS WE TAKE AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE QUICKLY EXPANDING RIVER CRUISE LINE AND SPEAK TO BRAND MANAGER DAVID WINTERTON

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and Douro, when they launch in 2017. Here, brand manager David Winterton, talks about Emerald Waterways remarkable rise.

What makes Emerald Waterways stand out from the pack? We pride ourselves on our unique and innovative ships — a pool that turns into a cinema at night, the contemporary look and feel; in-cabin entertainment systems are powered by Apple TV. We have a very relaxed atmosphere on board the ship with a very informal dress code; we are an Australian-owned company and many of our guests on board are Australian, and they don’t really go for the formal dress code. We also include more than most of our key competitors — we include all tips.

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Did you anticipate Emerald Waterways’ rapid growth? We certainly didn’t. For our first year of sailing, 2014, we built two new ships and didn’t expect to build any more for a couple of years but with 2017 sailings now on sale, we will have seven ships, all built especially for Emerald Waterways. We don’t want to be the biggest river cruise line, we want to be the best at everything we do — the best ships, the best on board service, the best included shore excursion and have the best price with everything included to have a great holiday.

Talk us through the ships’ décor? It’s very modern It is very modern, contemporary, with clean lines. We have been compared with the Apple Store and the W Hotel chain. As you walk on board you enter a threefloor atrium with large

exotic plants and futuristic lighting. The Horizon Bar has large floor-to-ceiling windows to watch the scenery go by and the comfy sofas are tones of grey. All cabins are fitted with white high gloss cabinets and the bathrooms have modern furnishings.

What’s included in the price? We include everything that is needed to have

the perfect holiday. Flights, accommodation in one of five grades of accommodation, all onboard meals, drinks with lunch and dinner, a daily shore excursion, free water in the cabin, free wi-fi and, most importantly, all tips saving up to £440 per couple. Our guests and the market that we are in is very much price led, in terms of what is included. The biggest challenge that the river cruise companies have are ocean cruisers who go on a cruise at £399 for a week in the Mediterranean and see our prices that are over £1,000. The challenge is for the river operators and travel agents is to compare like-for-like. So on board our ships, everything that is needed is included in the price versus an ocean cruise, where customers pay £399, but pay for

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INFOCUS TITLE absolutely everything once they get on board, from wifi to all the shore excursions. From a customer point of view, ‘all-inclusive’ isn’t the key, it’s value for money. They want as much as possible to be included, but they also want the price to be valuable.

TIMELINE

Emerald Waterways

August 2013 Company launched by Glen Moroney

September 2014 Charters A-Rosa ships

April 2014 Emerald Sky launches

August 2014 Emerald Star launches

June 2015 Charters Mekong Navigator in Asia

August 2015 Emerald Dawn and Emerald Sun christened

What customers expect from the Rhône/Saône and Douro itineraries? The Douro and Rhone are new rivers for us in 2017. Sales on these two new itineraries have started off extremely well. The ships are being built in the same innovative features as the current ships on the Rhine, Main, Danube with just a few tweaks as they are smaller in size, such as the Radiance has a small pool on the Sun Deck to take advantage of the Portuguese weather.

The Radiance won’t have the famous Emerald Waterways cinema — was that a difficult decision to make? The pool that turns into the cinema is one of our key selling points, but the reason we’re doing it on the Emerald Radiance is that the Douro is a much smaller river. It would have been a luxury for us to have, instead we’re moving the pool to the sundeck. But all the guests will be able to see the same films in the cabins as all the cabins have Apple TV and all the films are on that!

2017 Emerald Radiance and Emerald Radiance to join fleet

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Are you looking to expand into Asia? That is an area we are seriously looking at. We have chartered the Mekong Navigator, that will sail for us this year and next year. Sales have been fantastic,

especially with our loyal guests, who have already been with us, it’s a great alternative for them. And it’s such an amazing place, it’s certainly on our radar.

How important is the trade to Emerald Waterways? I am actually from a trade background myself. I worked for Co-operative travel and Thomson for many years and so I am a very big fan of working closely with our travel agency friends. Everything we do at Emerald Waterways has the trade in mind. We have one pricing policy and we promote the trade on brochures, direct mailings and television ads. We are aware river cruising may be new to many agents and so we want to help them grow their river cruise business by offering advice and training on the market in general.

How can travel agents find out more? We have a great team of sales managers on the road — headed up by Ang (National Sales Manager), Lucy (south), Dawn (midlands) and William (North & Scotland) — plus we have a Jasmin and Cat in the office. We are keen to get involved in training staff, helping with customer information sessions and general marketing. For more information, see Directory, p62

More Included with Avalon Waterways ✓ Included daily sightseeing tours with local guides

✓ Largest staterooms on Europe’s rivers

✓ Private chauffeur service † to and from the airport

✓ Personalised service with one staff member to every three passengers

✓ Contemporary & modern ships ✓ Gratuities, transfers and port charges included with panoramic windows

✓ Full board sumptuous dining with wine and beer

✓ Included flights or travel by rail

✓ Best views with beds facing panoramic windows

Book online or call us FREE on 0800 668 1190 or visit us at

www.avaloncruises.co.uk

We are a member of ABTA & all our flight inclusive holidays are protected by the ATOL scheme. † Avalon private chauffeur driven service is included if you live within 100 miles of your departure point, if you live further than 100 miles away you can still take advantage of this service by paying the excess mileage at £1.70 per mile. All offers are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time, correct at time of send (4 March 2016).

––––– TWO FOR ONE BACK-TO-BACK ITINERARIES ARE NOT JUST FOR OCEAN GOERS. HERE, WE EXPLORE COMBINATION RIVER CRUISES

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COMBO CRUISES

here is a little known secret in the river industry — admittedly made more for the US and Australian market — but which we believe will start to grow in popularity over here, too. Combination cruises, where a passenger is able to sample more than one river in just one cruise, have been a staple of river cruise line programmes for decades. However, with the so-called renaissance of river cruising well underway, it is only a matter of time before the idea begins to take off with British passengers too. The idea is simple. You only get one holiday and you want to do as much as possible. Maybe you have customers who are keen on doing Europe this year, but want to go long-haul next. The idea of a river cruise

appeals to them, and the idea of taking two is too good an opportunity to miss out on. Crucially, these tours are not often very well signposted. So agents need to really be in the know in order to uncover them — let alone sell them. There are more options than you think. Avalon Waterways, for example, offers a package that includes the Seine and the Rhone, France’s two main rivers. This gives passengers the opportunity to enjoy Paris, the most romantic city in the world, before heading north to Normandy, then south to Caudebec, Rouen and Conflans on the Seine, before returning to the capital. From there guests are transferred to Dijon, and onto Beaune for a wine tasting or visit of the Hôtel-Dieu. In Chalon-surSaône, passengers board

their second cruise ship and sail to Avignon and Lyon. The spectacular trip spans over 19 days in total, and starts from £5,374pp. CroisiEurope, which is something of a specialist in unusual cruises, offers several combinations, including a new 15-day Seine, Loire and Garonne cruise from Paris to Bordeaux (from £2,376pp), which includes visits to the Chateaux of the Loire Valley, Mont Saint-Michel and the city of Cognac. Also new for 2016 is a nine-day cruise from Strasbourg to Honfleur that combines the Rhine, Moselle and Seine and includes a full day in Luxembourg and visits to Mainz, Cochem, Trier, Paris and Honfleur.

The canal Sat between the pretty German towns of Bamburg

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France’s beautiful Lyon, where the Rhône and Saône rivers converge

and Kelheim is the 106-mile long Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, an often overlooked but crucial component in the geography of Europe. The construction, completed in 1992, divides the continent in two and makes the remarkable connection between the North Sea and Black Sea. On one side is the Main, the Rhine’s largest tributary (pictured left), and the Rhine itself, a 764 mile-long river, which takes in six countries. On the other, is the Danube, which, at almost 1,800 miles long, stretches out through 10 countries and four remarkable capitals. What it means for river cruise is huge, allowing customers to travel right across the continent. One great option is AmaWaterways’ 15-day Magnificent Europe cruise, which begins in Amsterdam, taking in historic Cologne,

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the stunning Rhine Gorge, the canal, and the remarkable capitals of Vienna and Bratislava and Budapest, where the cruise ends. Prices start from £1,979pp. There is also the line’s Ultimate River Cruise: a 20-day holiday that includes two nights in Budapest, a 14-night cruise to Luxembourg and three nights in Paris. . Viking River Cruises’ 15-night Grand European Tour sails from Amsterdam to Budapest (from £2,445pp), taking in the tulips of Holland, the castles of the Rhine and the majesty of Vienna. For those looking to take in even more, Avalon Waterways runs east and westbound North Sea to Black Sea cruises beginning or ending in Bucharest and Amsterdam, with stops at Cologne, Würzburg, Budapest, Belgrade and more along the way, as

well as a chance to see the imposing Iron Gate. The epic 24-day cruise starts at £6,610pp. For those with less time on their hands, Riviera Travel has the fantastic Medieval Germany — the Main to the Danube cruise (from £1,299pp), which begins in pretty Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, and home to some of Germany’s best vineyards. The eightday cruise takes in medieval Bamberg, Rothenburg, and its Romantic Road, and beautiful Regensburg, which is steeped in Roman history. And with pre and post cruise options — even outside the embarkment and disembarkement points, given Europe’s excellent network of railways — there are any number of options for the ambitious traveller. For more information, see the Directory, p62

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FAM trips and ship launches to look out for...

MARCH

CroisiEurope Three-day tour operator fam trip on Seine on MS France.

MAY Scenic Scenic Amber (Danube/Rhine) to launch

APRIL Amawaterways AmaViola (Rhine/Danube) to launch

JUNE Tauck Joy (Danube) to launch

Avalon Waterways Avalon Passion (Danube) and Avalon Imagery II (Rhine) to launch CroisiEurope Elbe Princesse to launch in Berlin Three-day tour operator fam trip on Danube on MS Vivaldi (April 29) Scenic European river cruise FAM trip (April 11) Tauck Grace (Rhine) to launch

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JULY Crystal Mozart (Danube) to launch Disney Adventures by Disney (Danube) to launch on Amawaterways SEPTEMBER Scenic Scenic Aura (Irrawaddy) to launch

ALL-INCLUSIVE BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISES IN EUROPE

As the world’s most renowned river cruise line, Uniworld redefine All-Inclusive by combining unsurpassed luxury and attention to detail with unmatched amenities, personalised experiences, unrivalled value and incomparable service.

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12 Jun; 10 Jul; 07 Aug Was from £3014pp^ NOW from £1715pp^

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^Price is per person, twin-share including taxes and based on the lowest available category. Single supplements apply. International airfare is not included in the prices listed. Uniworld reserves the right to withdraw or change offers at any time. *Cruise operates in reverse on these dates. For complete details on all general ABTApromotions, No.Y6200 information, and terms and conditions please visit uniworld.com/uk. ABTA No.Y6200

––––– WHERE THE RIVER DOES RHONE SAM BALLARD EXPLORES FRANCE’S BEAUTIFUL WINEMAKING REGIONS WITH A HONEYMOON CRUISE ON UNIWORLD

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UNIWORLD a good sign — and joke around with the crew like old friends, proving their old-hand status. While Lyon was feeling decisively autumnal, the sun was making a decent fist of it. We opted to take a couple of Catherine’s bicycles — which are free on a first come first served basis — for a ride alongside the Rhone River. Unsurprisingly, given France’s cycling heritage, Lyon is a very safe city to ride in. As somebody who braves London’s roads on a daily basis, it’s a welcome change to have a lane free of cars, buses, motorbikes and pedestrians. We rode for a couple of miles along the river before reaching the huge and imposing iron gates of Parc de la Tête d’Or, and its 117 hectares of lakes, rose gardens and greenhouses. After we explore the park, we head back to the ship ready for our cruise to begin. As we sail towards Macon, a town around 50 miles away, I am reminded of everything I love about river cruising. Put a customer on a river ship and they develop a far closer intimacy with their 01. Catherine docked in Tain l’Hermitage 02. Beaune’s historic hospital 03. Les Halle market in Lyon 04. Viviers’ cobbled streets 05. The oldest working cathedral in France 06. Vineyards during harvest 07. The mighty Rhone river 08. The rooftops of Viviers 09. Grapepickers hard at work 10. The light show at Avignon

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fellow passengers; there is a camaraderie between guests. Personally, I like nothing better than sitting on deck and watching the scenery go by. We pull into Macon and board a bus for Beaune, getting our first glimpse of the vineyards that make this region famous around the world. They stretch as far as the eye can see. Luckily we arrived during harvest season and gangs of grape-pickers are dotted around the landscape. We are now in Burgundy. A region famous for its pinot noir and chablis, and many of the vineyards we pass through have been awarded the exulted ‘grand crus’ certification, the highest rank possible. These aren’t bottles you can pick up in Aldi for a Friday night in. Beaune, a small town nestled among some of Burgundy’s best vineyards, is known as the wine capital of the region. However, if you Google Beaune, it isn’t the wine that comes up, but the beautiful 15th century Hospices de Beaune. Built in 1443 as a hospital for the poor, the building is one of the finest examples of medieval French architecture in existence. The night before we arrive in Lyon, our cruise manager runs through some tour options for the next day. We can take a bus ride through the city, visit the ancient cathedral on a tour designed for slow

UNIWORLD walkers or take the active option, and cycle through the city. There is also an after-dinner open top bus ride to see the city at night. As well as these excursions, which are included in the price, there’s also a paid for visit to the cookery school of Paul Bocuse, the father of modern French cuisine. We spend the afternoon cycling through the town and learning about Lyon’s silk weaving heritage. We are led through the secret traboules passageways that proved so useful during occupation in the Second World War. These alleyways provide a secret city, by linking up Lyon’s streets with a network of tunnels, that the Nazis never managed to quite comprehend. We make it back on board, famished, in time for the lunchtime buffet, served in the Cezanne restaurant. Speaking as a man who has married a (fussy) vegetarian, I can say that the Uniworld buffet gets the thumbs up. Salads, pastas and sandwiches were served alongside joints of meat and beautiful soups, all made on board. Lyon is beautiful by day, but stunning by night. The city, which is the real city of lights according to our guide, is overlooked, and according to legend protected, by the Virgin Mary, who stands on top of the basilica. The 19th-century church dominates the skyline, and imperiously looks down upon all it surveys.

Having left Lyon, and the confluence of the Saone and Rhone rivers, we take the latter south towards the Rhone valley. Our day is spent in Tournon and Tainl’Hermitage, tiny villages that sit either side of the river and are accessible by a rickety wooden bridge. The region is beautiful at this time of year and a warm, early summer, coupled by some decent rain, has helped create what many experts are predicting to be an exceptional vintage. We hike through the steep vineyards of Tainl’Hermitage before crossing the bridge and finishing with a wine and cheese tasting on the opposite hill in Tournon. Wine runs through the arteries of the Rhone valley: everywhere you look there are the perfectly ordered flanks of the vineyards, which capture the sun for most of the day. The tiniest variance in sunlight, wind or rain has a butterfly effect on the wine — and the price. Our tour guide walks us through the tiny village of Tain-l’Hermitage before turning up a rocky hill and beginning the steep trek into a vineyard. We are told about different appellations of grape, the grower’s calendar and why wine is such a big business. The excursion finishes on the opposite side of the river in Tournon. By this point we have picked up a local expert who owns a wine shop in the town, and are treated to a couple of

bottles from her private stock. We are taught how to enjoy the wine while we gaze at the heady views of Hermitage Hill and the valley below. Back on ship, we are delighted to hear that dinner that evening will be served with wines from the region itself. The next day we dock in historic Viviers, all winding, medieval lanes, period houses and ancient cathedrals. Our tour guide teaches us about famous residents, past conquerors and the avenues of trees planted by Napoleon’s marauding armies. Its cathedral — the oldest functioning one in France — is a testament to the church’s regional importance. We are treated to a short concert using its creaking organ. Puccini and Bach are interspersed with modern renditions from the world of cinema, which goes down well with the ship’s American contingent. Our most renowned call of this saunter through Burgundy and Provence is Avignon, famous for a song that I had never heard of (Sur le’pont d’Avignon) and a palace that I have, Palais des Papes. My wife tells me I should get my priorities right. We dock right outside Avignon’s old city walls. Inside we find a strange contrast, as both museum and functioning city coexist. For most of the 14th century, Avignon was the capital of the Christian world after the church moved its Holy

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The town of Viviers, one of many pretty along the route

See to the south of France when it became apparent that the troubles in Rome were too close to the Vatican for comfort. Over the following decades the palace became a metaphor for indulgence and excess. What’s left is certainly something to behold. Our visit to Avignon coincides with the night that their famous light show is to be narrated in English. That evening we watch the castle’s walls be torn down and rebuilt as images are projected onto the real palace walls. It’s a really rather clever way to get the ancient city’s history across. Over the past few days we have cycled, hiked and explored on Uniworld’s active excursions. Today we will be kayaking. As a virgin kayaker, my wife and I decide to take a two-

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person kayak and use her expertise to help guide us down the river. It soon becomes apparent that a two-person kayak is a test for the most sturdy of relationships. Accusations fly as we serve off course. Halfway through it turns out I’ve been steering incorrectly. We capsize; although the water is barely above our knees. About two thirds through we pass under Pont du Gard, a huge Roman aqueduct, which was built in the first century. The bickering stops as we pass underneath the vast structure. Despite our sulky moods, it’s the highlight of the entire trip. We always knew that the south of France — especially at this time of year — would be the perfect destination for a honeymoon. Uniworld,

in all of its bells and whistles glory, has been the perfect host. The fact that the cruise includes hiking through vineyards, cycling through Lyon and kayaking through Roman aqueducts in the price makes it all the better. For anyone asking whether a cruise is a good honeymoon option, we can safely say that the answer is yes. Both river an ocean cruises have brilliant qualities. While both are technically within the same class of holiday, they couldn’t be further apart. Probe a little deeper with your customer and find out what they are really looking for. You may be surprised with the amount of people that would quite naturally fit onto a river holiday. For more information, see Directory, p62

1976

2016

WORLDWIDE RIVER CRUISES A

EUROPEAN RIVERS AND COASTAL CRUISES

EXOTIC RIVERS: MEKONG, AMAZON, VOLGA

FRENCH CANALS

2017 SALES NOW OPEN Contact us for offers on 2016 last remaining cabins

HIGHLIGHTS

INCREDIBLE PLACES IRRESISTIBLE PRICES Look what is included: • Fabulous French Food • On board musicians and entertainment • Unlimited complimentary drinks • Free Wi-Fi

INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS Tel. 0208 3281 281 Email: resuk@croisieurope.com

www.croisieurope.co.uk

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––––– WHAT DOES THAT INCLUDE? TIME TO GO ALL-INCLUSIVE?

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he question: what is included in a river cruise, is one that we hear a lot here at cruise adviser. It would be safe to assume that it is something of a grey area for many travel agents. Most have heard that river cruises are more inclusive than their ocean going rivals, but when it comes to the details, things start to get a bit foggy. Well, there’s no job too small for us. So, as well as providing you with a nifty little table (p42) we also thought we would run through some of the basics right here.

The all-inclusive brands When trying to get a decent understanding of the river cruise industry, the easiest place to start is at the top. Like the ocean sector, there are a number of very high end operators that are allinclusive. Uniworld, Scenic,

Crystal and Tauck are the river-going equivalent to Seabourn and Silversea. For these operators, everything is included in the price and indulgence is key. The only real place to spend your money while on board is either in the spa or when booking a ‘specialist’ shore excursion. These can vary from out-of-this-world tours to Paul Bocuse cookery school to dinner at a private chateau.

Are drinks on the house? The most common distinguishing factor between the all-inclusive river cruise lines and the rest of the pack is your bar bill. With the aforementioned all-inclusive brands, you more than likely won’t have one at all. However, virtually every other river operator offers at least local wines and beers with dinner. It

is always worth checking to see if there are drinks packages available at the time of booking, though, if you have passengers who would rather pay everything off before they even set foot on the ship. With AmaWaterways while speciality coffees are free of charge, soft drinks are put in the same bracket as alcohol. The same goes for Avalon where complimentary soft drinks are served at lunch, while regional beers and wines are included with dinner. Emerald Waterways, the sister company of Scenic, offers alcohol with lunch and dinner as well as hot drinks throughout the day. CroisiEurope includes all drinks while on board except champagne and premium wines.

Day-tripper Shore excursions are probably the distinguishing factor between river and ocean cruises. Emerald Waterways includes all of its excursions, as well as its Emerald Plus trips, which go a little deeper into a destination — like having afternoon tea with a family in Slovakia to learn more about their way of live. Cruise & Maritime Voyages river product, Signature, offers two half-day sightseeing excursions for each cruise. AmaWaterways’ cruises include a sightseeing tour in each city or town on the cruise. They also run tours for those who want to go at

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a slower or faster pace, as well as a late starter tours in some ports for those who want a bit more of a lie in. Shore excursions with Avalon are included in the price, except for a few additional tours, which offer a more “immersive” experience and will cost extra. A number of cruise lines (Uniworld, AmaWaterways and American Queen to name but a few) have free bicycles on board. These are typically available on a first come first served basis.

Transfers Airport transfers are a great benefit of river cruising and is something that a lot of lines include as standard. Emerald

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Waterways includes flights and transfers with its cruises, Riviera Travel offers Eurostar tickets (or return flights for a supplement) and Viking offers a choice of either cruise only or flights included.

Wi-fi Being connected while on holiday is something that is becoming more and more important. While ocean cruise lines haven’t been as quick to get to grips with including the internet within their cruise price, river ships have been a little bit more on the ball. Uniworld, Viking, Scenic and Avalon offer free wi-fi while on board. But, be warned that the signal may become somewhat temperamental, especially

when travelling through rivers with plenty of locks.

Tips With many of the cruise lines gratuities are generously included within the price of the holiday. However, it is always worth checking (see overleaf). AmaWaterways recommends £3 per passengers per day in Europe for those who receive good service. Riviera recommends between £5 and £10 per passenger per day if you are happy with the service. Uniworld, Scenic, Emerald and Avalon all include service. Turn the page to see our infographic

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HOW TO SELL

––––– HOW TO SELL RIVER CRUISES WELCOME TO THE 2016 HOW TO SELL RIVER CRUISES GUIDE. OVER THE NEXT FEW PAGES WE OUTLINE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW YOU CAN BEST INTRODUCE THE IDEA OF A RIVER CRUISE TO YOUR CLIENT — WHETHER THEY HAVE, OR HAVEN’T, CRUISED BEFORE — AND THEN SHOW SOME GREAT EXAMPLES OF WHAT’S AVAILABLE THIS YEAR. KEEP THE GUIDE HANDY — YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MIGHT JUST HAVE THAT POTENTIAL CRUISE PASSENGER WALK THROUGH YOUR DOOR.

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––––– Q1. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?    

EUROPE ASIA AFRICA AMERICAS

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hat better way to see Europe’s rivers than in the absolute lap of luxury? These companies run cruises throughout the year, so the itineraries are not restricted to the dates we’ve chosen. However, below you will find some great offers on the Douro, the opening of the season in Paris and Crystal’s very first river cruise. So, what’s not to like? These cruises lend themselves very well to preand post-cruise stays too, Tauck in particular specialises in holiday extensions.

Line: Scenic River: Douro Departure port: Porto Duration: Eight days Date: October 13, 2016 Price: £2,695 per person

Line: Tauck River: Seine Departure port: Paris Duration: Ten days Date: June 11, 2016 Price: £3,540 per person

Line: Crystal Cruises River: Danube Departure port: Vienna Duration: Ten days Date: July 13, 2016 Price: £3,910 per person

As we explained in our Ex-UK guide, customers taking a European river cruise don’t necessarily need to fly. The Eurostar is a great way of getting across the channel without having to take to the skies.

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hile these cruises might not include everything, we would stress that on the whole they include a lot more than their ocean-going counterparts. A majority of shore excursions, drinks with meals and sometimes even return travel to the UK are often within the price of the ticket. Check in with our nifty table on p42 to find out what your customers are paying for!

Line: Viking River Cruises River: Russian waterways Departure port: Moscow Duration: 13 days Date: August 22, 2016 Price: £4,745 per person

Line: Emerald Waterways River: Rhine Departure port: Amsterdam Duration: Eight days Date: Apr-May 2016 Price: from £1,395 per person

Line: Cruise & Maritime Voyages River: Rhone Departure port: Lyon Duration: Seven nights Date: September 2, 2016 Price: £1,969 per person

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here are plenty of opportunity for your guests to take a European river cruise that goes beyond the typical itineraries. Whether that’s a themed cruise, like Amadeus’s jazz sailing on the Seine in October, or CroisiEurope’s monster 40-day anniversary itinerary. The latter in particular is a great opportunity to see a majority of Europe’s waterways, while not spending the earth to do so.

Line: CroisiEurope Rivers: Guadalaviar, Gironde, Loire, Seine, Rhine and Danube Departure port: Seville Duration: 40 days Date: May 5, 2016 Price: From £6,900 per person Why so special? CroisiEurope’s 40th anniversary cruise will visit each country and region in which the company has a presence

Line: Amadeus River: Seine Departure port: Paris Duration: Eight days Date: October 6, 2016 Price: £1,681 Why so special? A special concert programme is being presented on board for fans of jazz

Top tip: Always keep your eye open for themed cruises. River cruise lines have been quick to cater for gastronomes, audiophiles and knitters. As ever, just make sure that you do your homework!

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4 Amsterdam

FOURTH ITINERARY:

THE RHINE from 23 to 28 May 2016

Ho l l a nd Duisbourg RHINE Dusseldorf

THIRD ITINERARY:

THE SEINE from 19 to 23 May 2016

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Koblenz Wurtzbourg Rudesheim Bamberg Caudebecen-Caux Rouen

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Miltenberg ConflansSte-Honorine Paris SEINE

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Wertheim

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Vienna

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Budapest

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THE GIRONDE from 12 to 18 May 2016

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THE DANUBE AND BLACK SEA from 28 May to 15 June 2016

Po r t u g a l GUADIANA Sanlucar de Guadiana Alcoutim Faro

Cordoba

GUADALQUIVIR

FIRST ITINERARY:

THE GUADALQUIVIR from 5 to 12 May 2016

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Sevilla Isla Minima Grenada Jerez Vila Real de San Antonio Cadiz El Puerto De Santa Maria

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ASIA

uropean waterways are the bread and butter of many of the major river operators. However, that’s not to overlook the Asian programmes that are on offer. From the mighty Mekong to the holy Ganges, these are rivers that are often far more alive than their European cousins. The three cruises we have chosen all offer something completely different. However, they do share one thing in common — you will be travelling in the absolute lap of luxury.

Line: Uniworld River: Ganges Departure port: New Delhi Duration: Eight days Date: November 11, 2016 Price: From £5,659 per person

Line: APT River: Mekong Departure port: Hanoi Duration: 21 days Date: August 19, 2016 Price: From £4,995 per person

Line: Belmond River: Irrawaddy Departure port: Bagan Duration: Five days Date: October 22, 2016 Price: From £1,861.20 per person* *wines only at lunch at dinner

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Major holiday operators such as Belmond and Uniworld are backed up by large parent companies and so can offer land tours to bolt on to river cruises within their own stable of companies. Meaning your customers can seamlessly go from one to another.

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here are a plethora of cruises available on Asia’s waterways. From China’s Yangtze (for which we have chosen the Viking cruise we experienced last year) to sailings to the Mekong and Irrawaddy. The tours are all incredible in their own right and equally versatile. It’s an unfortunate fact that they are often banded under one heading because, as with Europe, each river has its own characteristics and history.

Line: Riviera Travel River: Mekong Departure port: Ho Chi Minh Duration: 15 days Date: October 17, 2016 Price: From £3,740 per person

Line: G Adventures River: Mekong Departure port: Siem Reap Duration: Ten days Date: July 20, 2016 Price: From £1,399 per person

Line: Viking River Cruises River: Yangtze Departure port: Beijing Duration: 13 days Date: July 4, 2016 Price: From £2,595 per person

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Learn what each river is known for. What is it your client is interested in? The food, culture and history of each river is going to be worlds apart, despite being on the same continent.

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Line: Pandaw River: Chindwin and Irrawaddy Departure port: Yangon Duration: 20 nights Date: August 27, 2016 Price: From £5,044 per person

Line: Avalon River: Yangtze Departure port: Beijing Duration: 11 days Date: June 19, 2016 Price: From £3,529 per person

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Extensions are usually available for these tours. The Avalon trip has the option of an additional three or five night stay in Hong Kong, which can take the entire journey up to 17 days. A great way to get more in depth experience of Asia.

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ruise figures for the Nile have fallen off the face of the Earth. Arab Springs and revolutionary rumbles in Cairo have meant that the country’s tourist economy is still suffering. However, for people prepared to travel to Egypt, the experience has never been better. The Valley of the Kings is virtually deserted and visitors will have tombs and ancient palaces to themselves. There are some very good operators in Egypt right now and all of us at Cruise Adviser hope that the country’s tourism industry gets back on its feet again soon.

Line: Uniworld River: Nile Departure port: Cairo Duration: 12 days Date: April 9, 2016 Price: From £3,399 per person

Be careful when selling Egypt. Look into the security that companies offer guests. Often river ships will be heavily guarded and customers should be made aware that the vendors are even more pushy than normal

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here are some absolutely brilliant deals to be had on the Nile right now, as this short tour with Sanctuary Retreats proves. Covering from Luxor to Aswan, the cruise allows guests to sample the Valley of the Kings in the height of luxury. There’s also the ability to bump this up to a seven-day cruise too — or add a drinks package for about £60 per day.

Line: Sanctuary Retreats River: Nile Departure port: Luxor Duration: Four days Date: May 2, 2016 Price: From £831 per person

Egypt is reportedly home to a third of the world’s antiquities. It’s difficult to get across the sheer volume of history that sits within this country. Who doesn’t want to see what we all learned about in school?

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n African river cruise that isn’t the Nile? Yes, it’s true. AmaWaterways runs an unbelievable programme on the Zambezi Queen, which operates short cruises on the Chobe River. These are combinable with safaris, rail journeys and stays in Victoria Falls — all of which is included in the cruise below. Certainly something to suggest for those clients you have that want to go away for some really, rather special indeed.

Line: AmaWaterways River: Chobe Departure port: Cape Town Duration: 12 nights Date: April 8, 2016 Price: From £7,9341 per person

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It is always worth having a trip like this in your arsenal. This tour — three nights in Cape Town, four-night safari cruise, two nights in Victoria Falls and A three-night rail journey — is one to bring out for those customers who may need a little bit of impressing

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he Amazon is the second longest river in the world after the Nile. However, unlike its African cousin, the Amazon is renowned for its abundance of wildlife. There are 5.5million square kilometres of rainforest, with an estimated 390 billion trees. One in ten of the world’s known animal species lives in the Amazon Rainforest. It is therefore unsurprising that it has become such a popular cruise destination. The cruise we have chosen, on the Peruvian Amazon, is stunning. The sailing includes calls at Pacaya National Reserve as well as remote villages throughout the thick jungle.

Line: Aqua Expeditions River: Amazon Departure port: Iquitos Duration: Seven nights Date: April 2, 2016 Price: From £5,500 per person

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There are 2.5 million insect species in the Amazon. It’s probably not the place to be if you are scared of creepy crawlies.

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merica’s deep south is the stuff of legend. Southern belles, Southern hospitality and the home of rock and roll, all mean that the Mississippi is on many people’s bucket lists. This cruise, which sails from New Orleans up to Memphis will take in some of the most famous sites of the American Civil War, plantation houses as well as Graceland, the home of one Elvis Presley.

Line: American Queen Steamboat Company River: Mississippi Departure port: New Orleans Duration: Nine days Date: May 29. 2016 Price: From £1,780 per person

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Check with operators to see about special extended sailings as well as themed cruises. At the time of writing American Queen Steamboat Company is organising a mammoth 23-day Mississippi itinerary.

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aving only launched last October, the Amazon Discovery is one of the newest ships operating on South America’s largest river. This ship has just 22 cabins, making for an intimate experience as you travel from Lima, through the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and then Iquitos where you board. There is an extension available to go and visit the Nazca Plains too, to make take the trip up to 13 days.

Line: Avalon Waterways River: Amazon Departure port: Lima Duration: 11 days Date: October 20, 2016 Price: From £3,561 per person

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Combining a land and river package is one of the best ways to get a full grasp of a region. In this case seeing the Unesco World Heritage site Machu Picchu along with a trip along the Amazon. It’s almost two holidays in one.

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