Life on the river Bridges Throughout the cruise, we will sail under many different styles of bridges. On such days, we may need to close the Sun Deck for guest safety. Our crew will lower the railings and the captain’s wheelhouse will be mechanically dropped to allow the Star-Ship safe navigation. But, with plentiful public spaces available throughout our Star-Ships, you’ll always have somewhere to enjoy river views.
A river cruise in Europe provides the most captivating passage through the history of this diverse continent. As you cruise along some of Europe’s most iconic waterways, not only will you witness Mother Nature at her finest, but also engineering at its most impressive.
Double-docking
Emerald Radiance, Porto Bridge
River cruising takes you right into the heart of different destinations. In certain locations docking space may be limited and you may find that, overnight, your ship has docked next to another ship. This is all part of the river cruising experience and drawing your curtains at night is advised. You’ll also get a glimpse of your neighbouring ship as you walk through to embark or disembark.
River Cruise Cover
What is a lock?
Top gate closed
Lock area
Upper level Ship enters the lock
Water flow
Lower level
Double-docking
Water flow
Upper level Water flow
Sm
e
Navigating a lock Our Star-Ships have been engineered with locks in mind, designed to fit perfectly with inches to spare. Your captain is trained for such manoeuvres, but sometimes water levels don’t cooperate and, on occasions, this can lead to lock closures or difficulties passing under bridges when water levels are too high or too low. We always have a plan in place to handle navigation issues in a timely and efficient manner, with minimal disruption to your journey. 30
Lower level Water flow
Top gate closed Ship leaves the lock
Top gate opened Upper level Water flow
Lower level Water flow
ITH CONF W I
ts
Top gate closed
er
Lock area, water level rises
NCE DE
Top gate closed
Th
The Main-Danube Canal itself boasts 16 locks, some as deep as 30 metres and reaching a height of over 406 metres.
CRUI SE
Europe’s waterways are not just distinctive because of their history, their terrain can make navigation more challenging, which is why water locks – essentially an elevator with which ships can be raised or lowered to overcome the variations in water level – were designed.
Top gate opened
As with any other element of Mother Nature, rivers have personalities of their own. While we make every effort to plan our trips carefully, some days Mother Nature simply doesn’t co-operate and your cruise may have a deviation due to low or high water levels or lock closures. At no extra cost, we have created our river cruise cover to give you peace-of-mind should your cruise be impacted. For more information see page 120.
a ll- S h i p E x
p
Our commitment to your health & safety Our commitment to our guests and crew, the guest experience and their health, safety and wellbeing remains our key priority.
We continue to work closely with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), and local and international Government Health agencies, to ensure our protocols exceed the latest regulatory requirements. Our Health & Safety Steering Committee oversees all health and safety policies and training with Emerald Cruises, ensuring you can travel with complete confidence that your wellbeing and safety are taken care of to the highest standard. In addition, we are implementing the most recent insights and
technologies, with our Emerald Cruises team dedicated to exceeding the levels of cleanliness required in today’s travel climate. We are continuously updating our protocols to safeguard both the health, safety and the experience of our valued guests.
To book contact your local travel agency or email info@emeraldcruises.eu
31
