Port & Destinations Issue 7

Issue Seven | May 2023 

PORTS 

& DESTINATIONS 

ESSENTIAL PLANNING INFORMATION FOR AGENTS 

Focus on 

Gibraltar 

A day out in 

Vienna 

Inside: 22-page 

RIVER CRUISE 

SPECIAL 

StowawayMedia.com

CONTENTS 

3 

Discover the delights of Europe 

Discover the delights of Europe 

Guests can immerse themselves in Europe’s history, culture, and breath-taking beauty on an unforgettable 

Guests cruise can holiday. immerse They themselves can choose in from Europe’s an array history, of flexible culture, itineraries, and breath-taking convenient beauty departure on an unforgettable 

ports, and 

Guests cruise can holiday. immerse They themselves can choose in from Europe’s incredible an array history, European of flexible culture, destinations. itineraries, and breath-taking convenient beauty departure on an unforgettable 

ports, and 

cruise holiday. They can choose from incredible an array European of flexible destinations. itineraries, convenient departure ports, and 

This year we celebrate our 150th anniversary, a milestone that doesn’t come around often. We are proud of 

This the amazing year we history celebrate we our have 150th made anniversary, incredible 

over the past a European milestone destinations. 

century-and-a-half that doesn’t and come consider around ourselves often. We to are be pioneers proud of 

This the amazing year we history celebrate of the we our have cruise 150th made industry, anniversary, over visiting the past a milestone bucket century-and-a-half list that destinations doesn’t and come all consider over around the ourselves world. often. We to are be pioneers proud of 

the amazing history of the we have cruise made industry, over visiting the past bucket century-and-a-half list destinations and all consider over the ourselves world. to be pioneers 

We look forward to welcoming your clients on board and for them to experience our heritage. 

We look forward of the to cruise welcoming industry, your visiting clients bucket on board list destinations and for them all to over experience the world. our heritage. 

We look forward to welcoming your clients on board and for them to experience our heritage. 

Agents attending Clia’s RiverView conference in Vienna in March heard what has become a very familiar story in the 

past 12 months. Namely that cruising – and in this instance river cruising in particular – is well and truly back. Indeed 

those were the exact words AmaWaterways UK managing director Jamie Loizou used when opening the conference. 

There’s more news and comment from the event, as well as updates from the sector and a first-hand report from a 

Nicko Cruises' voyage on the Danube in a 22-page river cruise special in this month’s issue of Ports & Destinations. 

Two new features make their debut this month. Inspired by the 

conference location, A day out in … kicks off with Vienna, while Press 

pause in…, focusing on the ‘stay’ side of a cruise-and-stay holiday, 

starts with a look at Doha. 

All that plus an in-depth look at Gibraltar, a report from Fred Olsen 

Cruise Line’s Bolette and plenty of cruise news. 

Keith Ellis Publisher 

kmellis@btinternet.com 

20 

REGULARS 

4 IN FOCUS 

Discover what’s new in pictures 

16 

FEATURES 

10 JOURNEY TO THE FUTURE 

Celestyal Cruises counts down 

to a new ship 

34 A DAY OUT IN VIENNA 

There’s plenty to enjoy in the 

Austrian capital 

18 HERE COMES THE SUN 

A first glimpse of Princess Cruises’ 

new ship, Sun Princess 

42 PORT PROFILE 

You can’t help falling in love with Paris 


Avignon is a popular call on 

Rhône river cruises 


There’s more to Bordeaux than wine 

24 

20 IBERIA UNCOVERED 

There are excursions to suit all on 

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ voyages 

around Spain and Portugal 

27 RIVER CRUISE SPECIAL 

Whether travellers want to be active, 

enjoy lazy days or dip into history, 

culture or wine, there is a river cruise 

to suit 

EUROPE&VOYAGESNOWONSALE 


Cruise only fares from £ pp 


Cruise only fares from £ pp 

To book, visit Cruise POLAR only Online fares via from GoHAL www.gohal.co.uk 

call our To reservations book, visit team POLAR 0344 Online 338 8600 via GoHAL £ pp 

or visit www.hollandamerica.com 

www.gohal.co.uk 

call our 

Terms and conditions: Featured fare is pp To 

reservations 

based book, on double visit 

team 

POLAR 

0344 

occupancy Online 

338 8600 

sailing on via O358. GoHAL 

or visit www.hollandamerica.com 

Prices are www.gohal.co.uk 

correct at time of print but are subject to change. The cruise 

fare Terms is based and conditions: a Have Featured it All fare, call fare subject our is pp reservations to based availability, double team available occupancy 0344 for new sailing 338 bookings 8600 on O358. or only, Prices visit available are www.hollandamerica.com 

correct for 1st/2nd at time guests of print only, but are are not subject combinable to change. with The any cruise other 

fare is based discounts on a Have and are it All not fare, transferable subject to or availability, refundable. available Fares listed for are new in bookings GBP. Full only, terms available and conditions for 1st/2nd can be guests found only, are www.hollandamerica.com 

not combinable with any other 

Terms and 

discounts 

conditions: 

and are 

Featured 

not transferable 

fare is pp based 

or refundable. 

on double 

Fares 

occupancy 

listed are 

sailing 

in GBP. 

on O358. 

Full terms 

Prices 

and 

are 

conditions 

correct at 

can 

time 

be 

of 

found 

print 

on 

but 

www.hollandamerica.com 

are subject to change. The cruise 

fare is based on a Have it All fare, subject to availability, available for new bookings only, available for 1st/2nd guests only, are not combinable with any other 

discounts and are not transferable or refundable. Fares listed are in GBP. Full terms and conditions can be found on www.hollandamerica.com 

SPONSORED 

11 FOCUS ON GIBRALTAR 

With everything from history and 

hiking to boat trips and beaches to 

choose from, cruise visitors in town for 

the day are spoiled for choice 

16 ONE LOVE 

Happy 2022: Jamaica records 

more British visitors than Barbados 

for the first time 

24 PRESS PAUSE IN … QATAR 

Qatar’s capital, Doha, is the perfect 

add on to the growing number of 

cruises starting or ending in the city 

Published by 

Written and Edited by: 

Creative 

Stowaway Publications 

10 Tadorne Road, Tadworth 

KT20 5TD Surrey 

+44 (0)7802 257275 

Jane Archer 

Janearc@aol.com 

Andrew Reeves, Oddsock Design 

Andrew@oddsockdesign.com 

Front cover image: 

The Rock of Gibraltar ©Jane Archer 

36 

31 HEY MAGDALENA 

AmaWaterways is launching on the 

Magdalena River in Columbia in 2024 

32 ACTION PACKED 

And you thought river cruising was a 

sedentary affair 

36 QUICK FIX 

Great value and fun facts on a Nicko 

cruise on the Danube 

40 CLIA RIVERVIEW CONFERENCE 

The annual three-day conference 

was held in Vienna for the first time 

PORTS & DESTINATIONS

4 IN FOCUS 

IN FOCUS 

5 

Long voyages 

Holland America Line is celebrating its 150th anniversary with 

a selection of long Legendary Voyages for those who want 

more time afloat. Options include a 52-day Majestic Japan 

cruise from Vancouver to Seattle in September 2024 that pairs 

nine days in Alaska with almost three weeks in Japan, where 

there are calls into 13 ports. A 35-day circumnavigation of 

Australia from Sydney in November 2024 visits 17 ports and 

includes overnights in Hobart in Tasmania and Fremantle, the 

port for Perth (pictured). The itinerary also includes a call into 

Komodo Island, home of the Komodo dragons, in Indonesia. 

Polar plunge 

Ponant promises thrills and chills on two cruises to east Greenland in 

spring 2024 that offer adventurers the chance to join a two-day trek 

through the snowy wilderness. Those taking part – a maximum 10 per 

trek - must be fit enough to trek up to 15km each day on Nordic skis 

and prepared to give up their warm cabin for a night under canvas. The 

10-night cruises, round-trip from Reykjavik in Iceland, are on Ponant’s 

icebreaker, Commandant Charcot. Departures are April 16 and May 6. 

Prices from £13,360 per person. The trek costs £875 per person. 

Trains, boats 

and glaciers 

Why just cruise when you can sail and rail 

on Riviera Travel’s 10-night Rhine cruises? 

Its Rhine Cruise to Switzerland with Glacier 

Express Extension holiday pairs seven-night 

Rhine River cruises from Cologne to Basle 

(or vice-versa) with three nights pre or 

post-cruise in Switzerland. Customers will 

stay one night in Chur then travel over the 

Alps on the Glacier Express train (pictured) 

for a two-night stay in Zermatt, from 

where an optional tour on a cog railway to 

Gornergrat is offered. Prices from £2,898 

per person in 2024 including flights. 

MAY 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA 


6 IN FOCUS 

IN FOCUS 7 

Stay in Seattle 

Countdown 

to an Icon 

Duelling pianos, jazz in the park and an Aquadome 

that transforms from being a chill zone by day into 

entertainment central after dark are among a host of 

new features making their debut on Royal Caribbean 

International’s Icon of the Seas. The world’s biggest cruise 

ship, holding up to 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew, Icon 

launches at the end of the year. It will sail seven-night 

Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises year-round from 

Miami starting January 2024. 

If joining a cruise to Alaska isn’t reason 

enough for visiting Seattle this summer 

(spoiler alert: it is), then a trip to the 

top of the city’s iconic Space Needle 

certainly is. Seven cruise lines are 

homeporting 13 ships in Seattle this 

summer, mostly offering seven-night 

cruises that are perfect for pairing 

with four or five pre or post-cruise 

nights in the city so there’s time to visit 

the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), 

explore the new-look waterfront, tour 

the old city beneath the streets and 

join a wine-tasting tour to some of 

Washington’s 1,000 or more wineries. 

Tampa in Southampton 

Visit Tampa Bay in Florida is sponsoring two of Clia UK & Ireland’s key events for the first time - the Clia Conference 

in Southampton from May 12-14 and the Cruise Forum in December. Delegates from Visit Tampa Bay will attend 

both events, giving agents a chance to learn more about the destination, which acts as a gateway to the Caribbean 

and Mexico, and what it offers for cruise passengers. 



8 IN FOCUS 

Nassau in the news 

Global Ports Holding was at Seatrade in Miami in March to tell delegates about a $250 million dollar 

redevelopment at Nassau Cruise Port that includes building a new cruise terminal and regenerating the waterfront 

with new restaurants and bars. The port attracts some 3.7 million cruise passengers a year and is operated by a 

consortium comprising the Bahamas Investment Fund, the Yes Foundation and GPH. The latter, the world’s largest 

cruise port operator, has appointed former Carnival product director Erika Tache to the new position of vicepresident 

business development for shorex and landside. 

Cartagena record 

Last year was a busy one for Cartagena Cruise Port in Spain, with a record 184 cruise calls – almost 10% 

up on its pre-Covid best. The total included Royal Caribbean International’s behemoth Wonder of the Seas, 

Silversea's Silver Dawn and Silver Moon, and Azamara's Azamara Onward., The port is partway through a 

major investment programme designed to make the area more appealing for visiting cruise passengers. 

To arrive at Cartagena is to enter Spain fully... to enjoy 

the best of an entire country, without ever leaving this 

region where the sun -and time itself- have mellowed 

each little corner into a unique treasure 

Vestiges of a thousand-year-old culture, gastronomy 

that prides itself on excellence in every dish, the best 

beaches for enjoying water sports all year round, a 

different form of leisure living, popular and religious 

festivals... No place offers more Spain than this 

unique port: the Port of Cartagena 

Brought to you by the Mediterranean 

Powered by Spain 

MAY 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA

10 DISPATCHES 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GIBRALTAR MINISTRY FOR BUSINESS, TOURISM AND THE PORT 11 

FOCUS ON 

Gibraltar 

Gibraltar might be small but with 

everything from history and hiking to 

a lazy day at the beach on offer, cruise 

visitors are spoiled for choice. 

Celestyal Journey starts sailing for Celestyal Cruises 

in September this year. 

JOURNEY INTO THE 

future 

Celestyal Cruises looks to boost UK bookings as it counts down to a new ship and 

gives agents access to flycruise packages for the first time. 

Busy times at Celestyal Cruises. The Greek line 

had no sooner released details of Celestyal 

Holidays, a trade-only brand agents can use 

to book flight-inclusive cruise packages, than 

it unveiled plans for Celestyal Journey, a ship 

joining its fleet later this year. 

The ship first, because as Celestyal itself 

admits, it is quite a step up in the luxury 

stakes for the line. It was built for Holland 

America Line, most recently sailed for P&O 

Australia and enters service in its new colours 

on September 2, after a refurbishment costing 

close to £18 million. 

It has 630 cabins, of which 149 have a 

private balcony – that’s three times more 

than on Celestyal Crystal, the ship it will 

replace on the company’s seven-night Idyllic 

Aegean itinerary. Of those 149 rooms, 148 are 

either junior or grand suites, while one lucky 

passenger can bag a Penthouse. 

The 1,260-passenger vessel has seven 

places to eat – again way more than Celestyal 

Crystal - eight bars and lounges, a large spa 

and gym, a dedicated cooking demonstration 

theatre and Chef’s Table venue, and lots of 

open deck space, two outdoor pools and two 

Jacuzzis. 

Among planned changes, Celestyal will be 

creating a private access Beach Club for suite 

passengers. Those in Grand Suites will have 

exclusive use of the Poseidon Lounge and a 

concierge service. 

And so to Celestyal Holidays. A trade-only 

brand developed in partnership with Aviate, 

it allows agents to package any of Celestyal’s 

cruises with flights and pre and post-cruise 

hotels. It’s a win for Celestyal as it makes 

them more attractive to sellers and also a 

win for agents as they will earn commission 

on a whole package rather than just a cruiseonly 

fare. 

Celestyal’s chief commercial officer Lee 

Haslett says: “I’m confident [this will help] 

us achieve our growth objectives in the UK 

while continuing to support our loyal trade 

partners.” 

Where to find Journey 

Celestyal Journey will sail seven-night 

Idyllic Aegean cruises in Greece round-trip 

from Piraeus (Athens) starting September 

2. These call into Thessaloniki, Kusadasi 

(Turkey), Crete, Santorini, Mykonos and Milos, 

and run until October. Prices from £1,089 

per person departing September 2. 

In October, the ship switches to two oneweek 

Steps of Paul cruises from Piraeus that 

call into Thessaloniki and Kavala in Greece, 

Istanbul, Dikili and Kusadasi in Turkey, and 

Patmos in Greece. 

Celestyal Journey then sails seven-night 

Three Continents cruises that visit Port Said 

(Egypt), Ashdod (Israel), Limassol (Cyprus), 

Rhodes (Greece) and Kusadasi (Turkey) 

before departing on an 11-night festive cruise 

that spends Christmas Eve and Day in Haifa 

in Israel. 



12 BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GIBRALTAR MINISTRY FOR BUSINESS, TOURISM AND THE PORT 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GIBRALTAR MINISTRY FOR BUSINESS, TOURISM AND THE PORT 

13 

The Skywalk is the newest 

attraction on the Rock. 

All pictures this page: gibraltar.gov 

WHAT TO SEE ON THE ROCK 

In the Upper Rock Nature Reserve 

(admission: £18 adults, £12 children aged three to 11) 

Mediterranean Steps 

Strap on the walking shoes because this 

is a testing hike that follows a rocky path 

along the face of the Rock and then climbs 

steeply upwards, but rewards all the puffing 

and panting with great views over the 

Mediterranean and North Africa. The path 

starts 180 metres above sea level and climbs 

to 246 metres. 

Great Siege and World War 

Two Tunnels 

In 1779, as the British were busy fighting the 

American War of Independence, the Spanish 

decided to take Gibraltar and so the Great 

Siege began – and so did the digging. The 

tunnels – 370 feet into the Rock by the time 

the Siege ended in 1783 - gave the British 

a prime position from which to fire on the 

Spanish (and the French, who joined the fight 

in 1782). During the Second World War, the 

British dug another 34 miles of tunnels in 

the Rock where the 16,000-strong garrison 

stationed in Gibraltar could be housed with 

enough food to last 16 months (civilians were 

evacuated at the outbreak of the war). 

Did 

you know? 

Be honest. What are the first things you think 

about when someone mentions Gibraltar? 

Cheap drink and cigarettes? Marks & Spencer? 

Neither answer is wrong – alcohol and 

cigarettes are much cheaper than in the UK 

and there is a branch of M&S on the high 

street – but there is a lot more to this British 

enclave in the sun. 

For one thing, you might have noticed its 

massive rock. It rises almost 1,400 feet in the 

air – the height of nine Nelson’s Columns – 

and takes up most of the tiny peninsula on 

which the territory sits and which will forever 

be the symbol of Gibraltar. 

If it could but talk, what stories that Rock 

would tell. Of the Moors who landed in 711 on 

their way to conquer Spain, of the British who 

took control in 1704 to guard the entrance to 

the Mediterranean, of the tunnels excavated 

over the centuries to keep out invaders, of 

the Barbary monkeys that live on the rock. 

No one knows how they got there (we can 

probably dismiss the idea that it was a tunnel 

from North Africa, which is just 24 km over 

the Straits of Gibraltar) but according 

to legend, if they ever leave, the 

Rock will cease to be British. 

Spain would love that – 

Gibraltar is joined to the 

Iberian Peninsula and 

the Spanish have tried 

several times to take 

it, including during the 

Great Siege of 1779- 

1783 - but with a thriving 

population of 200 or so 

macaques, that doesn’t look 

likely to happen. 

Gibraltar is barely the size of a 

small town (and that’s after considerable land 

reclamation), which is both a blessing and a 

curse for cruisers. 

Did 

you know? 

English is the official language 

of Gibraltar but locals also 

speak Llanito, which is a mix 

of Spanish and English 

words, often in the same 

sentence. 

On the one hand, as it doesn’t take long to 

get anywhere, they can pack a lot into a day 

ashore. On the other, having 3,000 or more 

extra people in such a small area 

(that assumes one large ship in 

any one day but there will 

be two in at once several 

times this year) is a 

challenge, especially 

as the rock is the 

main attraction and 

the road up is narrow 

and winding so large 

coaches are out of the 

question. 

Visitors can get there by 

taxi or cable car from the town 

centre (or they can walk up if feeling 

really energetic), but there are just two cable 

cars, each with capacity for 40-50 people. 

Gibraltar’s tourism minister, Vijay Daryanani, 

who also looks 

after business 

and the port, 

says a private 

sector project to 

increase capacity 

has been approved and 

bigger cars should be in place 

in two to three years. 

It’s easy to spend a whole day exploring 

the Upper Rock Nature Reserve (see right) 

but as Daryanani points out, Gibraltar has 

much more, including dolphin-watching 

tours, museums, lovely beaches, a botanic 

garden, even a small zoo. Cruisers can 

explore the historic old town, go gin tasting, 

refuel in any number of restaurants and 

bars both in town and on the harbour front 

(cuisine has a decidedly Spanish flavour and 

is great value), and of course shop for those 

tax-free bargains. 

Cruise ships docked in 

Gibraltar are allowed 

to open their casinos 

after 6pm. 

St Michael’s Cave 

This is the top attraction in the nature reserve 

for good reason. The cavern is spectacular - 

vast and filled with centuries-old stalagmites 

and stalactites. Look out for ‘the angel’ and 

the huge part of a stalactite that lies where it 

fell thousands of years ago. Walk deeper into 

the cavern and you come to the Cathedral 

Cave, a massive auditorium with a stage and 

seating for up to 600 people that is used 

for classical concerts (Azamara has hosted 

AzAmazing Evenings here) and shows. 

Comedian Dara O’Briain is due to perform 

there in October. A sound-and-light show, The 

Awakening, runs every 20 minutes. 

Windsor Suspension Bridge 

Opened in 2016, the bridge is 75 metres long 

(the length of 7.5 London buses), spans a 

50-metre deep gorge and sways as you walk 

over it. For those who dare to look, the views 

from the middle are fabulous. It forms part of 

an extensive network of footpaths hikers can 

enjoy on the Rock. Luckily for those who don’t 

have a head for heights, there is a solid path 

around the side. 

Skywalk 

Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker, aka the actor Mark 

Hamill, opened the Skywalk at the top of the 

Rock in March 2018. It doesn’t sway but it does 

have a glass floor with views all the way down 

to sea level. 



14 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GIBRALTAR MINISTRY FOR BUSINESS, TOURISM AND THE PORT 

Gibraltar can handle up to three cruise ships at a time. 

PORT OF 

#VISITGIBRALTAR 

GIBRALTAR 

WHAT TO SEE 

IN TOWN 

Museum of Gibraltar 

The museum, in Bomb House Lane, is a 

compact but fascinating introduction to Gibraltar 

history. It starts 32,000 or more years ago with 

the Neanderthals who lived here, showcases 

memorabilia from military times, takes you into 

a 14th-century Moorish bath house and houses 

a relief map of the Rock created by Lieutenant 

Charles Warren, who went on to join the Met but 

was kicked out after failing to solve the Jack the 

Ripper case. 

Gin tasting 

You learn two things during a gin tasting at 

Spirit of the Rock. One is that Spirit of the Rock’s 

gin is the only thing made in Gibraltar apart 

from babies and money, the other is that the 

Brits’ love affair with gin began with William 

of Orange, who brought it to the UK when he 

ascended the English throne and allowed it to 

be sold tax free. There is loads more trivia – and 

plenty of gin - to imbibe as Spirit of the Rock 

owner Peter takes you on a fun journey through 

the history of Mother’s Ruin. 

Dolphin-watching boat tours 

Nothing is guaranteed, but anecdotal 

evidence suggests that dolphins love the 

waters around Gibraltar so those on boat 

tours have a good chance of seeing them 

frolicking in the water. Boats operate yearround 

from the Marina Bay area, a short walk 

from the cruise ship dock. 

Shopping 

British cruisers tend to make a bee-line for 

the off-licenses to stock up on spirits and 

cigarettes (up to 40% and 75% cheaper than 

here) before returning to the UK, but check 

out the other shops as well. There are a few 

familiar high street brands, but most are local 

outlets, which makes a refreshing change. 


Minister eyes big increase in cruise calls 

Gibraltar might be small but tourism 

minister, Vijay Daryanani, also looks after 

business and the port, has big plans for 

its cruising sector. “I want Gibraltar to be 

the main port of call in the Mediterranean,” 

he says. 

The territory has fared well in the 

cruise bounce back since the Covid hiatus. 

Some 185 ships are scheduled to call into 

Gibraltar this year, marginally down on the 

197 recorded in 2019, but 183 are already 

booked for 2024 and more are expected. In 

passenger terms, this year is expected to be 

close to 2019’s figure of just over 328,000. 

Daryanani is keen to increase those numbers; 

the challenge is that the port can only take three 

ships at a time. “We have to turn down calls so 

we are looking at ways to take more, maybe 

tendering passengers ashore.” He is also talking 

to cruise lines with smaller ships about offering 

turnarounds in Gibraltar. Realistically, they have 

to be British lines as the only flights into and out 

of the Rock are from the UK with British Airways 

and EasyJet. 

Daryanani is confident that catering for the 

extra numbers these plans will bring is not a 

problem. As well as existing attractions (and 

a new one showcasing Gibraltar’s Northern 

Defences on the cards after a Covid-induced 

delay), tourism chiefs are looking to introduce 

a hop-on, hop-off bus – “probably electric” – to 

take cruise passengers to points of interest 

around the Rock including the beaches. 

Most cruise calls are in the shoulder 

seasons of April, May, September and 

October. From the cruise terminal (which is 

slated for an upgrade), it’s just a 10-minute 

walk to the Ocean Village/Marina Bay area. 

There are shuttle buses into town (£2 per 

person) for those who don’t want to walk. 

CRUISE CALENDAR 

Cruise lines calling into Gibraltar 2023 

(CLIA members on sale in the UK only) 

Azamara 

Carnival Cruise Line 

Celebrity Cruises 

Costa Cruises 

Fred Olsen Cruise Line 

Holland America Line 

Marella Cruises 

MSC Cruises 

Nicko Cruises 

Norwegian Cruise Line 

Oceania Cruises 

P&O Cruises 

Princess Cruises 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises 

Royal Caribbean International 

Saga Cruises 

Seabourn 

Silversea 

Windstar Cruises 

More information at Gibraltarport.com 

THE IDEAL 

CRUISE SHIP 

PORT OF 

CALL 

• Established, quality cruise facilities 

• A wide choice of shore excursions 

• Competitively priced bunkers delivered by quality operators 

• Excellent international communications 

• Broad spectrum of marine services 

Gibraltar Port Authority 

North Mole, Gibraltar, Tel: +350 20046254, Fax: +350 20051513 

gpaenquiries@port.gov.gi 

www.gibraltarport.com

16 BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE PORT AUTHORITY OF JAMAICA 

One love 

Whether you’re visiting for the day or staying 

on the island after a cruise, you can't help but 

fall in love with Jamaica. 

No wonder the Jamaicans are smiling 

even more than usual. In 2022, the 

island overtook Barbados as the Brits' 

Caribbean favourite for the first time, 

in all welcoming more than 231,000 

UK visitors – nicely up on the 225,037 

achieved in 2019. 

Stats from the cruise side were also 

great, with almost 20,000 Brits arriving 

to sail on Marella Cruises’ Discovery 2, 

one of only three vessels that homeport 

on the island (the others are German 

brands TUI Cruises and AIDA). 

Better still, almost a quarter of those 

20,000 – 4,000 - added a hotel stay 

in Jamaica to the start or end of their 

cruise so they had time to see more 

of the island that gave the world Bob 

Marley and reggae. 

They would not have been 

disappointed. Jamaica is truly blessed, 

offering everything you need to make 

a holiday go with a swing and more 

besides. There are miles of white sandy 

beaches, the beautiful Blue Mountains 

and top-class hotels (and more beds are 

being added in the next three years, with 

openings from the likes of Hard Rock 

Hotel, Planet Hollywood, RUI and Viva 

Wyndham). 

You can get wet, wet, wet climbing 

waterfalls, go river rafting, zip Tarzanlike 

through the tree canopy, swirl over 

rapids in an inner tube, speed downhill in 

a bobsleigh, swim with dolphins, imbibe 

rum and ride horses in the sea. 

The island is equally blessed when 

it comes to cruise ports. Falmouth 

(half way between Montego Bay and 

Ocho Rios) is the biggest and busiest, 

but there are four others - at Montego 

Bay (where Marella is based), Ocho 

Rios, Port Antonio and Port Royal. The 

latter, the port for Kingston, the capital, 

is new and only takes small ships, but 

is increasingly popular, with Marella, 

Seabourn and Silversea among lines 

calling there this winter. 

Jamaica is blessed with a plentiful 

supply of lovely sandy beaches. 

Marella Cruises 

Marella Cruises’ adult-only ship Marella 

Explorer 2 is taking over the Montego 

Bay sailings in winter 2023/24. Three 

seven-night itineraries are available 

between December and March 2024. 

They are: 

✔ Flavours of the Caribbean: 

Visits Georgetown in Cayman Islands, 

Havana in Cuba and Cozumel in 

Mexico. 

✔ Exotic Explorer: Visits Roatan in 

Honduras, Belize City in Belize, and 

Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico. 

✔ Pride of Panama: Visits Port Royal 

in Jamaica, Cartagena in Columbia, 

Colon in Panama and Puerto Limon in 

Costa Rica. 

Best of Jamaica. On Repeat. 

Montego Bay | Falmouth | Ocho Rios | Port Antonio | Port Royal 

@cruisejamaica 

Cruise Jamaica 

Prices include TUI flights from various 

regional UK airports direct to Montego 

Bay, as well as drinks and tips. Pre or 

post-cruise hotel stays are available at 

25 adult-only or family resorts. 

@portauthorityja 


Climbing Dunns River Falls in Ocho 

Rios is a favourite activity in Jamaica.

18 NEW SHIP 

FACTFILE 

Launches: February 8 2024 

Passengers: 4,300 double occupancy 

Length: 1,133 feet 

Cabins: 2,150 (including 50 Signature suites) 

Decks: 21 

Fuel type: Liquefied natural gas 

Working together 

towards shared goals 

Top: New cabana cabins come with exclusive access to a private deck space. Below: The redesigned theatre (left) and piazza. 

Here comes the Sun 

It’s every designer’s dream. A blank piece of paper, a multi-million-dollar budget and 

the OK to start building a new ship. Jane Archer gets a first glimpse of Sun Princess. 

C 

AD 

Barcelona 

M 

Richard Parker, Princess Cruises new-build, 

guest experience and product development 

director, can hardly contain his excitement. “I’ve 

been waiting six years to say this: Welcome on 

board Sun Princess.” 

I’m standing in the atrium on Sun Princess, 

the Princess ship launching in February next 

year, just days after its float out (when water 

hits the hull for the first time) and in truth it 

looks like a building site. 

There is scaffolding everywhere, wires 

are hanging out of the ceiling and sparks are 

flying from welding guns as workers at the 

Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone continue 

piecing the ship together around those of us 

being given a sneak peek behind the scenes 

of a vessel Parker calls, with just a dash of 

understatement, an evolution. 

“We started with a blank piece of paper and 

looked at how we could host 4,300 people and 

still deliver the Princess product,” says Parker. 

There is certainly a lot that Princess 

regulars will recognise – the décor, which 

blends elegant with a touch of glamour, 

the Crown Grill steakhouse, Sabatini’s 

Italian trattoria and the Sanctuary, Princess’ 

trademark adults-only outdoor escape with 

cabanas and plunge pools (although they 

might get lost trying to find it as it moves 

from the front to the back of the vessel).. 

That’s to make way for a huge glass dome 

at the top of the ship that is a relaxation area 

by day and morphs into an entertainment 

venue in the evening. 

It’s just one of many iconic new features 

on the ship. There are cove cabins with 

balconies close to the water, patio-style 

cabana accommodation with exclusive 

access to a private outside deck space and 

a new-look theatre where the audience sits 

around the stage. 

The piazza has a new open design, creating 

an alternative entertainment venue with good 

sightlines for all (there is even tiered seating 

on the balconies that overlook it so everyone 

up there gets a better view as well). The 

Marketplace buffet, which moves to deck nine, 

is being opened up to improve passenger flow. 

On deck four, The Landings is a purposedesigned 

embarkation deck where passengers 

will get on and off the ship – including into 

tenders – in comfort instead of queuing in 

narrow corridors and stairwells. 

The three main dining rooms of old have 

been pulled into one venue over three decks 

and new speciality restaurants are being 

added but for now these are under wraps. 

The ship features new Signature suites 

that come with exclusive access to a private 

restaurant and lounge as well as their own 

area of deck within the Sanctuary. Also new, 

passengers in mini-suites and cabanas can 

upgrade to a Reserve Collection level of 

perks that includes access to another private 

restaurant. 

Sun Princess launches in February 2024 

and spends its inaugural summer in the 

Mediterranean. It relocates to Fort Lauderdale 

in October to spend winter in the Caribbean. 

Prices from £1,349 per person including drinks, 

tips and Wi-Fi for a seven-night Greek Isles and 

Turkey cruise from Rome to Piraeus (Athens) 

departing April 27 2024. Flights extra. 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 


20 CRUISE REVIEW 

CRUISE REVIEW 

21 

Previous page: Clockwise from top - The 

pilgim city of Santiiago de Compostela in 

Spain; Portugal's famed pasteis de nata; 

dining on chicken satay in Fred Olsen's 

Colours & Tastes Restaurant. 

iberia 

UNCOVERED 

Keith Ellis picks some of the highlights of cruising around Spain 

and Portugal with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. 

Hands up all who know where Getxo is. If 

you said northern Spain, go to the top of the 

class, then give yourself an extra pat on the 

back if you also know Getxo is the jumping-off 

point for an excursion to the world-famous 

Guggenheim art museum in Bilbao. 

The port is one of the most popular on 

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ no-fly voyages 

around the Iberian peninsula, and not just for 

the Guggenheim, although that is popular. 

Passengers can also take their pick from easywalking 

tours of Bilbao with a city architect to 

a wine-tasting trip to the La Rioja Vineyards. 

If they fancy staying in Getxo, they won’t be 

disappointed. It’s a lovely relaxed town – think 

Spain without the tourists or gift shops. 

Cruises around the Iberian Peninsular also 

visit Lisbon, a beautiful city where highlights 

include São Jorge Castle, where the modern 

state of Portugal was founded in 1147, and 

the district of Alfama, where tiny houses are 

jammed together in a maze of small streets 

and alleys. It’s easy to get lost, but that is all 

part of the fun. 

Fred Olsen has six excursions here, offering 

everything from maritime history to visits to 

basilicas and churches. There are tours that take 

in the Belem Tower and Monument of the 

Discoveries and food-themed outings, with a 

hands-on lesson to bake your own pasteis de 

nata, Portugal’s famous custard-filled tart. 

The Monument of the 

Discoveries in Belem is one 

of the must-see sights in 

Lisbon. Below: The cathedral 

in Seville is said to be 

the final resting place of 

Christopher Columbus. 

Picture: Nuno Correia 

Cadiz has a magnificent cathedral, 

narrow shopping streets to explore and 

a busy fruit and veg market. Tour options 

include a chance to try your hand – or 

should that be feet? - at flamenco or a 

coach ride to surrounding Andalusian 

villages. 

There are also tours to Seville, a beautiful 

town about 75 miles north of Cadiz, to enjoy 

its magnificent plazas and huge cathedral, 

the third largest in the world, which is said 

to be the final resting place of Christopher 

Columbus. 

The town of El Ferrol is probably not 

on any bucket lists, but it should be as 

it’s the jumping off spot for excursions 

to the pilgrimage town of Santiago de 

Compostela. The Romanesque cathedral 

here, said to be the burial place of the 

relics of St James the Apostle, is the last 

stop on the 490-mile Camino de Santiago 

pilgrimage route and truly spectacular. 



71 

70 

22 CRUISE REVIEW 

Bolette has several dining options. 

Cruising on Bolette 

My cruise, a nine-night voyage around Spain 

and Portugal, was round-trip from Dover on 

Bolette, which joined Fred Olsen in 2020. The 

vessel has capacity for 1,350 passengers, but 

sails with no more than 1,200 in keeping with 

the line’s smaller-is-better philosophy. Most 

passengers were retired Brits. 

Bolette is immaculately furnished, has 

spacious interiors and a good supply of 

cabins and suites with balconies and for solo 

travellers. Entertainment-wise, there’s plenty to 

keep everyone occupied, with nightly shows in 

the theatre, live music and quizzes in the bars 

and a well-stocked library. 

Dining options range from served meals in 

the two restaurants to casual breakfast, lunch 

and dinner buffets in View. Vasco and Colours 

& Tastes specialise in Goan and Asian dishes 

respectively and are excellent value at £15 per 

person. For specialist teas and coffee, and a 

few light bites, head to the Bookmark Café. 

For a treat, the afternoon silver service tea 

in the Observatory serves scones, strawberry 

jam and clotted cream. It costs £13 per 

person and is not great for the waistline. How 

lucky then that fitness classes in the spa are 

complimentary. 

✔ A six-night Discover Northern Spain cruise 

from Southampton to Getxo, Santander and 

Gijon on Bolette costs from £749 per person 

departing November 13 2023. 

Bolette will be calling into Dubrovnik on a voyage to the Adriatic in September. 

Four Fred Olsen cruises to book this year 

LUXURY SHOPPING 

DESTINATIONS 

Scenic cruising 

Bolette will be exploring Norway’s mountains and fjords on an eight-night cruise round-trip 

from Southampton departing August 30 that calls into Bergen, Olden, Flam and Eidfjord, 

and packs in plenty of scenic cruising. Prices from £1,249 In per Qatar, person. luxury shopping is serious business. 

Island fling 

Here are the top picks for the fashion-savvy. 

Go island-hopping as Bolette blazes a trail around the UK on an 11-night cruise round-trip 

from Southampton departing September 7. There are calls into Guernsey in the Channel 

Islands, St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly, Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis, Lerwick in the Shetland 

Islands and Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands. Prices from £1,799 per person. 

Mediterranean sun 

Venice, Dubrovnik, Split and Kotor are among highlights on a 26-night cruise to the Balkans 

and Adriatic on Bolette round-trip from Southampton departing September 18. Prices from 

£3,499 per person. 

Meet the fleet 

Bolette is joining a day of celebrations in Madeira, as Fred Olsen’s three ships meet in 

Funchal on November 9. The ship will be on a 15-night Spain and Portugal cruise departing 

Southampton on October 29. Prices from £1,999 per person. 

Sailing from the UK 

Getting to Dover couldn’t be easier. There are regular trains from London and for drivers 

it’s dual carriageway all the way from the London/Kent motorway system straight into the 

Dover cruise terminal. Remember to pre-book parking. Crew are on hand to take all the 

luggage, which is delivered straight to the cabins. leaving passengers free to check-in, get 

on board and start exploring their new home. The holiday starts right away. 

WINTER 2022 

PLACE VENDÔME 

The new home of luxury shopping in Qatar, 

Place Vendôme (pictured left and above), is 

vast in size and big on Parisian style. Over four 

floors, discover more than 580 high-end and 

mid-range stores, from Gucci and Valentino to 

Zara and H&M. There’s also the largest Louis 

Vuitton and Sephora stores in the Middle East. 

Outside every night from 19:00-23:00 on the 

hour, enjoy the whimsical Dancing Fountains 

show in the courtyard. 

GALERIES LAFAYETTE 

Luxury lovers from across the globe are 

captivated by the array of designer goods at 

21 High Street in Katara – home to prestigious 

Parisian department store, Galeries Lafayette. 

There’s also a curated collection of worldrenowned 

fashion, watches and jewellery 

boutiques, from Cartier to Joseph. Expect a 

first-of-its-kind outdoor shopping experience 

in a cool, regulated environment, then head to 

Katara Hills for sunset. 

THE PEARL-QATAR 

This man-made island just a 15-minute drive 

from the city centre, is a mix of luxurious 

residential villas overlooking the Arabian 

Gulf, with prestigious shops and supercar 

dealerships. A fun precinct where super yachts 

are moored in view of boutiques such as 

Alexander McQueen, you’ll see homegrown 

designers thriving alongside global brands, 

and the young Qatari style set hanging out. 

Find chic sneakers at Loft, delicate threads 

from Elie Saab or a luxury car from Ferrari. 

FASHION & SHOPPING 

AL HAZM 

Step back in time to the grandeur of 

Europe with the added bonus of outdoor 

AD 

Qatar 

air-conditioning. This mall is a feast for the 

Breathtaking new hotels, art galleries, museums, sports arenas, world 

senses with gleaming marble walkways, 

lush 600-year-old olive trees imported from 

class restaurants Italy and Spain, and along glamorous with heat-absorbing boutiques, coupled with timeless 

floors and a state-of-the-art ventilation 

system to keep shoppers cool. There’s a 

souks, inspiring mosques and countless, centuries old traditions. 

sophisticated line-up of retail outlets – Glam 

District, Kashperia, Arabian Notes, De Beers 

And now a cruise port and community setting new standards in the 

and Palazzo Nero selling stunning abayas. 

Shop until you drop, then get a mani at Aldo 

world of travel Coppola by before sea coffee and at Rosemary by Café. land for you, your friends and family. 

134 135 

Expect the wonderful 

5OF THE BEST... 

THEME PARKS & 

PLAY CENTRES 

1. DESERT FALLS WATER 

& ADVENTURE PARK 

Make a splash at one of the 

largest theme parks in the 

Middle East. With sprawling 

cave-like structures housing 

more than 56 attractions, it’s 

made for aquatic adventures. 

+974 4423 6416 

4. LUSAIL WINTER 

WONDERLAND 

London’s favourite Christmasthemed 

amusement park 

comes to Doha with festive 

attractions, activities, music, 

entertainment and delicacies 

at Al Maha Island in Lusail. 

Al Maha Island, Lusail City 

104 

Explore Qatar for the first time and we know you will return. 

FOOD & DINING 

2. SNOW DUNES 

Skiing in the desert? Yes! 

Nestled inside the Doha 

Festival City entertainment 

precinct is the first snow 

experience in Qatar, with 

snowy slopes that wrap 

around an imaginary city. 

+974 4042 0444 

5. DOHA QUEST 

One of Doha’s newest theme 

parks, Quest takes you on a 

journey through time and is 

divided into three dimensions 

– past, present and future. 

The best bit? It’s indoors and 

fully air-conditioned. 

+974 4410 3444 

FINE DINING 

3. ANGRY BIRDS WORLD 

This adventure park themed 

around the iconic gaming 

sensation of Angry Birds is 

a fun fantasy land brimming 

with 35 rides and colourful 

play zones inside Doha 

Festival City. 

+974 4042 0444 

Cool off at Desert 

Falls, one of the 

largest theme parks 

in the Middle East. 

Right: 

Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park. 

Qatar’s most coveted dining destinations 

take global flavours to new heights. 

Qatar’s food culture is steeped in humble dishes and generous hospitality, and now 

contemporary fine-dining adds to the rich tapestry of flavour. You’ll find global 

outposts of world-renowned fine-dining restaurants serving everything from modern 

Japanese to Peruvian, Cantonese, Mediterranean and beyond. 

NOBU, DOHA 

LOBITO DE MAR, DOHA 

Dani Garcia’s breezy 

new seafood restaurant 

and tapas bar at The 

Pearl-Qatar is inspired by 

Spain’s chiringuitos (casual 

beachfront seafood eateries). 

Be transported to the 

Mediterranean as you dine 

on tuna carpaccio, squid ink 

croquettes, perfectly grilled 

fish and seafood paella in the 

lush gardens at the elegant 

Marsa Malaz Kempinski. 

+974 3100 0373 

ALBA BY ENRICO 

CRIPPA, DOHA 

Michelin-starred Italian chef 

Enrico Crippa has opened his 

first restaurant outside of Italy 

and it’s here in Doha. Head 

to Raffles Doha at the iconic 

Katara Towers in Lusail to 

dine on typical Italian dishes 

with a contemporary twist. 

The menu will feature all the 

flavours of Italy, including 

truffles from Alba in the 

northern Piedmont region. 

raffles.com 

NOBU, DOHA 

The Doha outpost of the 

world’s most exclusive dining 

destination is a curved oystershaped 

restaurant that sits 

on its own private beach. 

The design is a celebration 

of Qatar’s pearl diving past 

and the menu pays homage 

to Japanese-Peruvian cuisine. 

Must-try dish: miso marinated 

black cod. Nobu’s Friday 

brunch is also one of the 

hottest in town. 

+974 4494 8500 

FAMILIES & CHILDREN 

105 

FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 SPECIAL 

www.visitqatar.qa 


24 BROUGHT TO YOU BY QATAR TOURISM 

Press pause in… 

Doha 

CRUISE AND STAY 

25 

A new series looks at what there is to see and do in ports around the 

world for those who add a pre or post-cruise stay to their holiday afloat. 

With its fascinating Arabic culture, fabulous winter sun, choice selection of luxury hotels, beaches, 

designer shopping malls and adrenalin-inducing theme parks, Qatar’s capital, Doha, is the perfect add 

on to any cruise starting or ending in the city. There are certainly plenty to choose from thanks to a 

spectacular new cruise terminal that, along with the country’s heightened profile during the 2022 World 

Cup, has put the Middle East state well and truly on the cruise radar. Allow three days to get a good 

taste of the city; more to add time to relax. 

Top tours 

Those who prefer to be guided can sign up 

for getting-to-know-you city tours that take 

in the National Museum, the Corniche, the 

souk, Katara Cultural Village and the Pearl, 

an upscale residential and leisure complex 

on a man-made island. To see the city from 

the water, add a cruise around Doha Bay on a 

dhow, a traditional wooden boat. 

Something for the kids 

Kids of all ages will get wet, wet, wet on a 

splash-tastic day out at Desert Falls Water 

and Adventure Park at Hilton Salwa Beach 

Resort, which has spinning rapids, tube rides, a 

torrent river, wave pools and more. 

A day off 

For a break from the cultural stuff, Katara 

Beach can be reached on the metro and is 

great for swimming and watersports. Or 

skip the sand and enjoy a few hours rest, 

relaxation and pampering in one of Doha’s 

world-class spas. 

Venture out 

Don't miss 

The National Museum of Qatar is a 

spectacular building that resembles a desert 

rose. Inside, massive LED screens, games 

and quizzes tell the history of Qatar, from its 

ancient beginnings to the days when locals 

risked life and limb diving for pearls and the 

moment oil was found and riches started to 

flow in. 

Eat out 

Diners can take their pick from restaurants 

serving local dishes or stick with familiar Italian, 

French and Mexican dishes. Parisa is a favourite 

for a taste of the Middle East (outlets in Souq 

Waqif, Sharq Village Hotel and Al Mesilla Hotel). 

Nobu has a restaurant in the Four Seasons 

Hotel; Naua Restaurant in the 3-2-1 Olympic 

and Sports Museum serves dishes created by 

Michelin-starred British chef Tom Aikens. 

It’s time to buckle up and hold tight as 

we’re off on a exciting dune-bashing 

adventure in the desert, about an hour 

outside Doha, where 4x4 jeep drivers 

rev up the adrenalin levels on rollercoaster 

rides over the shifting sands. 

Tours include hotel pick-ups and throw 

in other fun activities such as sandboarding 

and camel rides. 

Where to stay 

Getting around 

GO THERE WITH * 

Shop in 

Souq Waqif is the heart of Doha, full of 

narrow alleys lined with shops selling 

spices, jewellery, colourful shawls and even 

falcons (falconry is a major sport in Qatar). 

For designer gear, head to Place Vendôme 

shopping mall in Lusail. 

Doha has hotels to suit all pockets and 

preferences, with luxury beach resorts 

and city-centre properties such as Fairmont 

Raffles, Marriott, Four Seasons and Ritz- 

Carlton alongside budget 

brands including Premier 

Inn and Ramada Encore. 

To be in the heart of 

the action, choose 

Arumaila, a boutique 

property by Tivoli 

Hotels in Souq Waqif. 

A metro links Hamad Airport 

to the centre of Doha (there 

are stops at Souq Waqif, the 

National Museum and Corniche) 

and the city of Lusail. Prices 

start from QR2 (about 46p) 

per journey. A free tram circles 

the Msheireb district, close to 

the Souq. Uber and local Karwa 

taxis (and the metro) take cards. 

Hop on, hop off bus tours cost 

from QR180 (£41 per person). 

Costa Cruises 

Explora Journeys 

MSC Cruises 

Norwegian Cruise Line 


Ponant 


Silversea 

Windstar Cruises 

*CLIA members on sale in the UK only 



RIVER CRUISING 

27 

Explore Europe, 

your way. 

Explore Europe, 

your way. 

With only 155 guests onboard, you can Live Happy 

knowing you’ll get a quality, personalised experience, 

plus 

With 

there’s 

only 155 

so much 

guests 

included 

onboard, 

– 

you 

from 

can 

tips 

Live 

to 

Happy 

flights 

and knowing transfers. you’ll get a quality, personalised experience, 

plus there’s so much included – from tips to flights 

and transfers. 

It’s time for a 

river cruise 

Whether travellers want to stay active on 

holiday, enjoy lazy days or dip into history, 

culture or wine, there is a river cruise to suit. 

Please see www.tui.co.uk/river-cruises/ or the relevant brochure for full booking terms and conditions that apply. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will 

Please see be www.tui.co.uk/river-cruises/ supplied with an ATOL Certificate. or the Please relevant ask for brochure it and check for full to ensure booking that terms everything and conditions you booked that (flights, apply. hotels All the and flights other services) and flight-inclusive is listed on it. holidays Please see are our financially booking conditions protected for by further ATOL information scheme. or When for more you pay you will 

be supplied information with an about ATOL financial Certificate. protection Please and ask the for ATOL it and Certificate check to go ensure to: www.caa.co.uk. that everything TUI is you a trading booked name (flights, of TUI hotels UK Limited, and other a member services) of TUI is Group. listed Registered on it. Please office: see Wigmore our booking House, conditions Wigmore Lane, for further Luton, Bedfordshire, information or for more 

information 

LU2 

about 

9TN. Registered 

financial protection 

in England No: 

and 

2830117. 

the ATOL 

ATOL 

Certificate 

2524, ABTA 

go 

V5126. 

to: www.caa.co.uk. TUI is a trading name of TUI UK Limited, a member of TUI Group. Registered office: Wigmore House, Wigmore Lane, Luton, Bedfordshire, 

LU2 9TN. Registered in England No: 2830117. ATOL 2524, ABTA V5126. 


28 RIVER CRUISING 


29 

Previous page: Cologne is one 

of the calls on TUI River Cruises' 

extended selection of Christmas 

Markets' cruises this winter. The 

line has added seven more festive 

sailings to meet demand. 

Left: There are castles galore to spot 

on a cruise through the Rhine Gorge. 

Below: Avalon Waterways' river 

ships have two decks of Panorama 

suites with inside balconies 

It’s hard not to fall in love with river cruising 

and its alluring mix of easy adventure and 

discovery on the world’s waterways. 

The river ships are small and friendly, 

carrying just 100 to 200 passengers, and 

take you through countries on rivers and 

canals, giving you a view no matter where 

you are sailing. In Europe it might be a 

church or ruined castle here or acres of 

vineyards there. In Asia, a remote riverside 

village or fishing boats bobbing in the 

calm waters. 

When they dock, the vessels are usually 

in the heart of a big city or town; once the 

gangway is in position, the choice is yours. 

Join an excursion or discover the new sights, 

sounds and tastes under your own steam. 

All that and the ease of unpacking just 

once as your floating hotel glides from once 

destination to another. 

The newest river ships are nothing short of 

amazing. The décor is modern and the finish 

of the highest quality. There are cabins with 

outside balconies, panoramic windows or sun 

lounges, a choice of places to eat, spas, indoor 

or outdoor swimming pools, even cinemas. 

On the Danube, AmaWaterways’ AmaMagna 

and Riverside Luxury Cruises’ Riverside Mozart 

have double-width vessels with four places 

to eat, full-size spas and pools. On the Rhine, 

A-Rosa Cruises’ A-Rosa Sena has four inside 

decks, a full-size spa and the first kids’ club on 

a river ship in Europe. 

Fares have become increasingly inclusive, 

which is great for the growing number of 

travellers who like to pay for everything 

upfront so they don’t have to think about the 

budget while on holiday. 

Most river cruise lines include Wi-Fi and 

dining, including in the speciality restaurants, 

in the price (exceptions are the waiter-service 

restaurants on A-Rosa river ships and the 

wine-and-dine experience in the Vintage Room 

on Riverside vessels) but after that they all do 

things differently. 

Some include flights and transfers, others 

include some or all drinks and some or all 

excursions, others still include drinks but 

no excursions. Sail with Scenic, Tauck and 

Uniworld and everything is taken care of - 

flights, transfers, drinks, tips, a choice of shore 

excursions, all dining, the lot. 

TUI River Cruises includes flights, transfers, 

tips and drinks with meals, and offers 

passengers the option to upgrade to an allinclusive 

drinks package. Nicko Cruises, sold 

in the UK by Light Blue Travel, offers one tour 

a day (and a few others as optional extras) in 

all-inclusive fares that cover everything from 

flights and drinks to tips (see p36-37). 

The trick is to identify what inclusions 

passengers want – some people don’t drink, 

others like to skip organised excursions and do 

their own thing – and then find a river cruise 

line that matches those requirements. 

Follow the trends 

Anyone who thinks river cruising is a 

sedentary holiday has not been keeping up. 

Of course you can enjoy lazy days on the 

rivers, but increasingly there are hikes, bikes 

and fitness classes to cater for those who 

like to stay active and also attract a younger 

generation to the rivers. 

AmaWaterways has wellness hosts 

on all its European river ships (not the 

Douro in Portugal) who offer three or four 

complimentary fitness classes a day and lead 

guided hikes or bike rides ashore. 

Emerald Cruises has activity managers and 

an EmeraldActive programme with included 

hikes and bike tours. Avalon Waterways has 

adventure hosts and action-packed active and 

discovery cruises for people who want to take 

home more from their holidays than a tick-list 

of sights (see page 32). 

All three lines, and also Uniworld, Scenic 

and Riverside, carry bikes on their vessels 

that passengers can borrow. CroisiEurope has 

walking-themed river cruises on the Douro, 

Danube, Po and Rhine/Moselle. 

There is also a growing trend for more 

families to take to the rivers. It is a great 

holiday for children aged from about 10 years 

old, bringing different cultures and history 

alive, and offering plenty of fun activities too. 

Uniworld and Tauck have family sailings 

with activities and excursions for the kids but 

at dates mostly timed to coincide with the US 

school holidays. For British families, it’s hard 

to beat A-Rosa, which has the aforementioned 

kids’ club on A-Rosa Sena, as well as a children’s 

pool and family cabins. It is even offering 

swimming lessons for children on two A-Rosa 

Sena sailings this summer. On all A-Rosa river 

ships, except A-Rosa Alva on the Douro in 

Portugal, children 15 years and under cruise for 

free when sharing a cabin with an adult. 

Rooms with a view 

River ships traditionally have three 

accommodation decks. On the top two decks, 

passengers get a cabin or suite with a view, 

often with a French balcony; on the lowest 

deck. cabins are below the water line so have a 

high fixed window. 

So far so easy. The problem is that modernday 

travellers, especially those migrating from 

the oceans to the rivers, have come to expect 

cabins with a proper balcony. 





31 

Thing is, you can put balconies on ships 

sailing the open ocean, but it’s not so simple 

on rivers as vessels can’t be wider than 

the locks they have to pass through. Add a 

traditional balcony and you make the inside of 

the cabin smaller, which no one wants either. 

Cue all sorts of ingenious designs, including 

sun lounges, split balconies with indoor 

and outdoor seating and wall-to-wall glass 

windows that open two-thirds the width of the 

room, creating an inside balcony. 

Lines including Tauck and Nicko have stuck 

with the French balcony – even the suites on 

Tauck’s newest vessels, Joy, Grace, Inspire and 

Savor, have French balconies, albeit two each. 

Others have gone for panoramic windows split 

horizontally that open from the top down. 

Whichever ship or cabin category 

passengers choose, they can expect TVs, 

hairdryers, safes and en-suite facilities. Most 

have showers rather than baths. Scenic and 

Riverside provide butlers for all. Cabins and 

suites on Riverside and Amadeus River Cruises’ 

vessels have walk-in wardrobes. 

Karnak Temple is one of the many attractions on a cruise on the Nile in Egypt. 

hey MAGDALENA 

Where to cruise 

Cruises on the Rhine and Upper Danube are 

the big sellers, popular for their castles, 

A-list cities such as Vienna and Budapest, 

and historical towns, but there are plenty 

more waterways to discover. 

Cruise the Moselle or Main and you’ll 

sail past acres and acres of vineyards, visit 

cute towns and villages packed with halftimbered 

houses and taste smoked beer 

(yes, there really is such a thing). Journey 

through Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia 

and Hungary on the Lower Danube to see 

cowboys and fortresses, and hear about life 

during Communist times. 

France has everything from winetasting 

and Roman remains to World War 

history and grand chateaux on cruises 

on the Rhône/Saône, the Seine and the 

Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne Rivers in 

Aquitaine (collectively known as Bordeaux). 

CroisiEurope has exclusive cruises on the 

Loire. 

The beautiful cities of Porto in Portugal 

and Salamanca in Spain book-end river 

cruises on the Douro in Portugal; there are 

magnificent tulip displays on the Dutch 

and Belgian waterways in spring; the Elbe 

comes with overnights in Berlin, Dresden 

and Prague. 

Further afield, there are cruises on 

the Mekong River between Siem Reap 

in Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City in 

Vietnam, on the Ganges in India and on the 

Chobe River in Botswana or Lake Kariba 

on the Zambezi River. New for 2024, 

AmaWaterways has cruises on Columbia’s 

Magdalena River (see p31). 

The Nile in Egypt is the place to see the 

ancient temples and tombs of the pharaohs 

on cruises between Luxor and Aswan. In the 

US, cruises on the Mississippi and Columbia 

and Snake Rivers bring the history of rock 

and pop, the American Civil War and Mark 

Twain to life. 

Below: The view over the Moselle River from Cochem castle. Right: A yoga lesson on AmaWaterways' AmaPrima. 

Just when you thought you’ve been there, 

done that on a river cruise, along comes 

one you’ve probably never heard of that 

promises to take your breath away. 

It’s called the Magdalena, it’s in Columbia, 

South America, and it joins AmaWaterways’ 

river cruise portfolio next year offering 

everything from nature, wildlife, music and 

culture to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

“Every day [on the Magdalena] is a magical 

experience,” enthuses AmaWaterways cofounder 

and executive vice-president Kristin 

Karst. The company will be the first and only 

major river cruise line operating there when 

sailings start in March 2024. 

Karst says demand globally is already 

high, which is good news given the line has 

decided to dive straight in with two speciallybuilt 

river ships - AmaMagdalena and 

AmaMelodia – that each hold 60 passengers 

and are currently being built in Columbia. 

The vessels will feature AmaWaterways’ 

signature twin balcony cabin design, which gives 

passengers seating inside and outside, as well 

as a sundeck whirlpool. The floors will be bare 

wood in a nod to the country’s tropical climate; 

Pioneering river cruise line AmaWaterways 

is opening a new river in 2024. 

the décor will have a local feel and showcase 

handicrafts and ceramics from Columbia. 

The first vessel enters service on March 

30 2024, offering a seven-night Wonders 

of Columbia cruise from Cartagena to 

Barranquilla. The second starts on April 6 

2024, sailing a reverse direction Magic of 

Columbia cruise. 

Optional two-night pre-cruise land stays 

in Cartagena or three and two nights stays 

in Medellin (a city in the Andes famous 

for coffee) and Cartagena respectively 

with included tours can be added to either 

itinerary. An optional three-night post-cruise 

stay in Panama City comes with an included 

full-day Panama Canal tour. 

Each day on the river will be different, 

with bike taxis, walking, wildlife and tuk-tuk 

tours in the various ports visited. There’s 

a tour of Cartagena’s colourful Getsemani 

district, an exclusive street jazz performance 

in the island town of Mompox, dinner ashore 

with a cumbia national music and dance 

show in El Banco, and birdwatching or hiking 

in Magangue. 

Barranquilla, where the Magdalena empties 

Passengers will tour Cartagena's colourful 

Getsemani district. Top: Every day on the 

Magdalena River is a magical experience. 

into the Caribbean sea, loves its Carnaval so 

much that there’ll be an exclusive mardi gras 

celebration for AmaWaterways’ passengers no 

matter what time of year they are there. 

Prices start from £2,729 per person cruiseonly 

for a seven-night Magic of Columbia cruise 

on AmaMagdalena departing May 18 2024. 




Action packed 

THE DINING OPTIONS 

YOU CRAVE 

À la carte, four-course dinners, continental breakfasts, 

or al fresco lunch at the Sky Grill. We always set the table 

using fresh, quality ingredients prepared by expert chefs. 

THE WIDEST VIEW IN THE 

WHOLE WIDE WORLD 

No other fleet of river cruise ships offers you 

a view of the world like Avalon Suite Ships. 

There’s nothing between you and the view. 

2023 

& 2024 

ON SALE 

NOW 

And you thought river cruising was a 

sedentary affair. Not on Avalon Waterways’ 

activity-themed cruises, it isn't 

You'll keep the mind and body in trim 

on one of Avalon Waterways' Active & 

Discovery cruises. 

There’s even less excuse for lazing around on 

an Avalon Waterways’ cruise this year thanks 

to new Active & Discovery sailings the line is 

launching on rivers in Northern and Eastern 

Europe. 

The action-packed voyages, all seven nights, 

are aimed at people who like to keep active 

as well as those who want more from their 

holiday than simply ticking off sights. They 

were first introduced in 2017 on the Danube 

and have since been launched on the Rhine 

and Rhône. 

Last year, Active & Discovery cruises were 

added on the Moselle in Germany and the Seine 

in France. This year, they are new on sailings in 

Holland and Belgium from Amsterdam as well 

as Lower Danube cruises between Bucharest in 

Romania and Zagreb in Croatia. 

Avalon is also offering more Active & 

Discovery cruise-and-stay options, with time 

in Paris, Lucerne or Prague available with 

Moselle, Rhine and Danube sailings. Two nights 

in Transylvania, with an included dinner in 

Dracula’s Castle, can be added to the Lower 

Danube itinerary. 

Active & Discovery itineraries make up 14% 

of the company’s portfolio and are designed 

to appeal to a broad range of guests with 

varying interests, says Avalon sales and 

marketing director Janet Parton. “Guests 

can tailor their trip to suit their interests and 

they are suitable for all energy and fitness 

levels.” 

Each itinerary comes with two or three 

daily included excursions categorised as 

either active, discovery or classic. On the 

Lower Danube cruise there are 21 excursions 

including guided bike rides and hikes, lessons 

in the basics of the Cyrillic alphabet and 

Bulgarian wine-making (with tastings of 

course!) and tours of medieval fortresses and 

the cities of Belgrade and Bucharest. 

Passengers on the new Holland and Belgium 

Active & Discovery cruise can learn about flood 

controls on a trip to the Delta Works, have a go 

at making Belgian chocolate and painting Delft 

tiles, channel their inner Van Gogh at a painting 

class in Amsterdam and see the sights of 

Rotterdam on a guided bike ride. 

Avalon president Pam Hoffee admits 

creating a river cruise itinerary that was 

totally different was risky but believes the 

results speak for themselves. “It could be 

that eventually all our itineraries are Active 

& Discovery,” she says. The cruises attract a 

slightly younger audience – the average age 

is late 50s compared to mid-60s on Avalon’s 

other cruises. 

THE ART OF MAKING YOU 

FEEL AT HOME 

We deliver exquisite service that’s professional, 

courteous, and informative. Our approach is never 

stuffy but creates an atmosphere of relaxed luxury. 

AD 

Avalon Waterways 

CRUISE YOUR WAY 

Borrow a bicycle from the ship for a picnic on shore or 

glide through the Rhine Gorge in a kayak. Whichever 

way you wish to spend your day, you’ll find activities 

that speak to you. 

THE AVALON TOUCH IN EVERY DETAIL – INCLUDED ON EVERY CRUISE 

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on board daily 

• Complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; 

wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner 

• Expert Cruise Director 

• Avalon Adventure Host available as your guide 

for fitness activities and active excursions 

• Avalon Choice® with your preference of Classic, 

Active, or Discovery included excursions 

and sightseeing 

• AvalonGO mobile app with itinerary 

information before and during your cruise 

• Complimentary Wi-Fi 

• Club Lounge with 24-hour self-serve 

beverage station 

• All gratuities included in the cruise price 

• Welcome Back Credit - the more you travel, 

the more credit you earn toward future trips 

0330 0588 257 | avalonwaterways.co.uk | visit your travel agent 

Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended survey of Avalon Waterways customer experience, 106 Good Housekeeping readers, 2018. 


34 EXPLORE ASHORE 

EXPLORE ASHORE 

35 

Where is it? 

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is the jewel 

in the Danube’s crown with its spectacular 

palaces and grand baroque architecture. 

River ships dock along Handelskai, from 

where most cruise lines provide a shuttle 

bus into the city. Passengers can also 

take the metro (two stops on the U1 from 

Vorgartenstrasse to Schwedenplatz) or walk - 

it takes about 40 minutes. 

A few lines alternatively use Nussdorf, a 

little way upriver. From there, passengers can 

take tram D into the city centre. 

Itineraries usually allow at least a day and 

a late evening in Vienna so passengers can 

attend a Mozart and Strauss concert. Some 

stay overnight. 

GO WITH 

Vienna 

Day out in… 

Vienna played host to CLIA’s RiverView Conference for the first time in March. 

Amadeus River Cruises, AmaWaterways*, 

APT, APT Travelmarvel, Arena River Cruises, 

A-Rosa River Cruises*, Avalon Waterways*, 

CroisiEurope*, Emerald Waterways*, Nicko 

Cruises*, Riverside Luxury Cruises*, Riviera 

Travel, Scenic*, Tauck, TUI River Cruises*, 

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises* 

* Indicates lines that visit and have 

turnarounds in Vienna 

Spend the morning 

Get a first glimpse of the city on a coach tour 

around the Ringstrasse, a grand three-mile 

boulevard lined with monumental buildings 

that were constructed between the 1860s and 

1890s on the site of the city walls. 

Alternatively, watch riders training the famous 

white Lipizzaner horses at the Spanish Riding 

School. Sessions run most days (not in July), 

start at 10am and last an hour. 

Go back for 

Stay for lunch 

The Naschmarkt, a few minutes’ walk from 

the opera house and Hofburg Palace, is more 

than 1km long, and always busy. You can 

taste your way around the stalls, stock up on 

herbs, falafel, olives and exotic spices, enjoy 

a bevvy or two in the lively bars and refuel 

in restaurants serving Asian favourites, local 

specialities and Turkish delights. 

The Schonbrunn Palace, the favourite residence of Empress Maria Theresa, is a baroque 

masterpiece with grand staterooms and beautiful gardens. Climb to the Gloriette for the best 

view of the palace and formal gardens. 

Art-lovers can get a selfie with Gustav Klimt’s world-famous Kiss at the Belvedere Palace. 

Several of his other paintings are here, along with the artworks by Van Gogh and Renoir, and 

the French impressionists Manet and Monet. 

Don't miss 

Coffee and Sachertorte (chocolate cake with 

layers of apricot jam, served with cream) at 

the famous Sacher Hotel is a must. There is 

usually a queue and it’s not cheap but don’t 

be put off. You’ve not been to Vienna if you’ve 

not indulged in the coffee house culture and 

tasted Herr Sacher’s original recipe. 

Get active 

Several river cruise lines offer guided cycle 

rides around the outskirts of Vienna or 

borrow a bike and explore alone (many 

river ships carry bikes that are free to use). 

Alternatively set off on a DIY walking or 

jogging tour of the Ringstrasse (after walking 

into the city of course!). 

Take the kids 

Get the adrenalin racing on roller coasters, 

ghost train rides and scary things that 

whirl and spin you around in the air, 

as well as the big Prater Wheel 

made famous in the film 

The Third Man at the 

Prater Park (easily walkable 

from Handelskai). 

Pictures: ©WienTourismus/Christian Stemper/ Peter Rigaud/Paul Bauer. 

CLIA members on sale in the UK only 





37 

Quick 

fix 

Jane Archer finds great 

value and fun facts on a 

taster voyage along the 

Danube with Nicko Cruises. 

If you learn nothing else on cruises along the 

Danube River, it’s that things are never quite 

what they seem. 

Take the cannon ball lodged in the façade 

of one of the shops in Bratislava’s old town. 

It was fired by Napoleon’s troops when he 

bombarded the city in 1809. Or was it? Given 

the French were firing from the river and the 

building has its back to the water, it would 

have been close to impossible for the ball to 

have ended up where it is. 

“In recompense for the damage done, 

anyone whose property was hit was let off 

taxes for a year,” guide Jana smiles. “Of course 

people found the cannon balls and put them 

into the fronts of their homes.” 

I’m visiting the city, the capital of Slovakia, 

on the penultimate day of an all-too-quick 

four-night cruise on NickoVision, a river ship 

owned by Nicko Cruises, a German river cruise 

line sold through Cambridge-based Light Blue 

Travel and making a name for itself in the UK. 

Most of the other passengers on the cruise 

are German, but there are 28 Brits on board. 

Some are agents getting their first taste of 

river cruising after Clia’s Riverview conference 

in Vienna, others are holidaymakers, some 

also river cruise virgins, who were tempted on 

board by Light Blue’s great value fares, which 

cover flights, transfers, drinks, tips and daily 

excursions. 

“It was a very good price so we thought we’d 

give it a go,” one of the Brits told me. He was 

with his wife and elderly mother, who doesn’t 

travel much due to poor eyesight but was 

managing well on the ship. Natalie, another 

river cruise newbie, was so smitten that by 

day two she was planning a pre-Christmas 

getaway with Nicko. 

NickoVision launched in 2018 and has 

two decks of cabins with French balconies 

(rooms on the lower deck have a fixed 

window), a sauna, gym and small top-deck 

pool. Unusually for a river ship of this size it 

has three individual restaurants. The main 

dining room and Manhattan, on the middle 

deck and lower deck respectively, are open 

for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mario’s Grill, 

Esztergom's grand basilica towers over the River Danube. Below: A cabin, the main dining 

room and Manhattan Restaurant on NickoVision. Left: A statue outside Esztergom basilica 

depicts the crowning of St Stephen, Hungary's first king, on December 25 1000. 

a more intimate eatery at the back of the 

vessel, is open for lunch and dinner. All are 

complimentary. 

Our cruise, round-trip from Vienna and 

calling into Budapest, Esztergom and 

Bratislava, was a one-off, slipped in as a taster 

for first timers and a little pre-season escape 

for river regulars. Once over, NickoVision was 

heading to Passau to start a summer season 

of seven-night Blue Danube sailings. 

English-language tours 

There are separate English and Germanspeaking 

tours in each city (and incidentally 

no language problems on board as 

announcements, menus and daily 

programmes are in English and German, 

and crew are bi-lingual) but I skip the one in 

Budapest and instead strike out alone. 

It’s a national holiday in Hungary, 

commemorating the revolutions that swept 

across Europe in March 1848, so most shops 

are shut and some museums have free 

entry. I visit one that remembers the tragic 

events of 1956, when thousands were killed 

and wounded after Soviet tanks rolled in to 

Budapest to crush an uprising against the 

Communist government. 

In Esztergom, a sleepy place now but once 

the capital of Hungary, a little train clunks 

and clanks its way up to a grand basilica with 

an enviable location looking down over the 

river. Inside, is beautiful, with a massive altar 

and walls lined with marble. Or are they? 

Apparently it’s actually gypsum because they 

couldn’t afford the real thing. And that brass 

frieze? Gypsum painted to look like brass. As I 

said, nothing on the Danube is what it seems. 

In Bratislava, Nicko has arranged another 

little train, this time to a castle up above 

town and with views over the surrounding 

countryside, where Jana tells us about life 

when the city was part of Czechoslovakia and 

trapped behind the Iron Curtain. 

“We could see Austria but we could only 

dream about what life there was like,” she 

says. When her family finally got a pass to go 

to the seaside after many years of applying, 

one sister had to stay behind to make sure 

the family didn’t abscond to the west. 

Back in town Jana guides us through 

streets lined with half-timbered houses and 

restaurants and cafés – a sign that the city, 

now just in Slovakia after splitting from the 

Czech Republic, has left the past well and truly 

behind it. Or has it? No river cruiser can miss 

seeing the UFO bridge as they sail into town. 

“It was built by the communists but we still 

like it,” Jana laughs. 

✔ A seven-night Blue Danube cruise roundtrip 

from Passau and calling into Ybbs, Vienna, 

Budapest, Bratislava and Melk this summer 

costs from £1,755 per person all-inclusive. 


ALL INCLUSIVE 

DANUBE 

CRUISES 

time to to discover 

Royal Royal Cities, Cities, Unique Unique Countryside 

From From its source its source in the in Black the Black Forest Forest to to 

the natural the natural wonder wonder of the of Danube the Danube Delta, Delta, 

the river the river known known as the as “beautiful the “beautiful blue blue 

Danube” Danube” meanders meanders and crosses crosses through through 

ten countries ten countries and and covers covers a length a length of some of some 

2,888 2,888 km. km. This This “Queen “Queen of European of European Rivers” Rivers” 

provides provides a habitat a habitat for a for unique a unique variety variety of of 

flora flora and and fauna. fauna. It also It also unites unites countries, countries, 

people, people, and and cultures, cultures, giving giving Vienna, Vienna, 

Budapest Budapest and and Bratislava Bratislava an incomparable 

an cityscape cityscape while while providing providing you you with with a cruise a cruise 

that that is full is of full cultural of cultural and and scenic scenic highlights. 

The The Danube Danube is quite is quite justifiably justifiably one one of the of the 

most most popular popular destinations in the in world the world for for 

river river cruise cruise enthusiasts. 

The The Blue Danube 

Jun Jun to Aug to Aug 2023 2023 + Mar + Mar to Aug to Aug 2024 2024 

Bustling Bustling cities, cities, beautiful beautiful countryside countryside and a and a 

fabulous fabulous river river experience: experience: on this on cruise this cruise you’ll you’ll 

visit the visit most the most unmissable unmissable destinations along along 

the Danube. the Danube. Spend Spend an evening an evening and full and day full in day in 

magical magical Vienna, Vienna, visit the visit charming the charming Biedermeier 

city of city Baden of Baden and marvel and marvel at the at Baroque the Baroque majesty majesty 

of historic of historic Melk Melk Abbey. Abbey. From From the UNESCO the UNESCO World World 

Heritage Heritage valley valley of Wachau, of Wachau, to the to Hungarian the Hungarian 

capital capital Budapest, Budapest, join us join on us a journey on a journey full of full of 

cultural cultural highlights highlights and stunning and stunning landscapes. landscapes. 

Highlights 

Sail aboard Sail aboard award award winning winning nickoVISION 

From From just £1,540 just £1,540 per person person for a for Main a Main Deck Deck 

cabin cabin 

4 Guided 4 Guided excursions excursions & overnight & overnight in Vienna in Vienna 

This This 8-day 8-day river river cruise cruise features features some some of the of the 

most most popular popular destinations within within the Danube the Danube 

Delta Delta 

Return Return economy economy flights, flights, unlimited unlimited drinks, drinks, 

all meals, all meals, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi, and gratuities and gratuities are all are included all included 

as standard as standard 

Prices Prices 

from from 

£1.540* 

PER PERSON 

PERSON 

*Based *Based on 2 people on 2 people sharing sharing a HV cabin a HV / cabin / 

Departure Departure Date: 23 Date: Oct 23 2023. Oct 2023. 

Down the the Danube 

to to the the Black Sea Sea 

Jun Jun to Oct to Oct 2023 2023 + Apr + Apr to Sept to Sept 2024 2024 

Cruise Cruise through through the picturesque the picturesque Wachau Wachau Valley, Valley, 

the dramatic the dramatic valley valley breakthrough of the of Danube the Danube 

Cataracts Cataracts on your on your way to way the to imperial the imperial and royal and royal 

cities cities of Vienna, of Vienna, Budapest Budapest and Bratislava, and Bratislava, plus the plus the 

glamorous glamorous metropolises of Belgrade of Belgrade and Bucharest. and Bucharest. 

Discover Discover the towns the towns of Pécs, of Pécs, Novi Novi Sad and Sad Ruse and Ruse 

– and – experience and experience an included an included excursion excursion to the to the 

magnificent magnificent coastal coastal city of city Constanza of Constanza in Romania, in Romania, 

on the on beautiful the beautiful Black Black Sea. Sea. 

Prices Prices 

from from 

£2,730** 

PER PERSON 

PERSON 

**Based **Based on 2 people on 2 people sharing sharing a HV cabin a HV / cabin / 

Departure Departure Date: 09 Date: Oct 09 2023 Oct 2023 

Highlights 

Sail aboard Sail aboard award award winning winning nickoVISION 

From From just £2,730 just £2,730 per person person for a for Main a Main Deck Deck 

cabin cabin 

6 Guided 6 Guided Excursions, Excursions, sailing sailing through through 8 countries 8 countries 

nickoVISION will take will take you on you a fabulous on a fabulous 

15-day 15-day river river cruise cruise to some to some of the of Danube’s the Danube’s 

most most impressive impressive destinations, including including 

Budapest Budapest and Bratislava and Bratislava 

Return Return economy economy flights, flights, unlimited unlimited drinks, drinks, all all 

meals, meals, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi, and gratuities and gratuities are all are included all included 

as standard as standard 

Financially Financially Protected Protected 

Standard Standard Terms Terms & Conditions & Conditions Apply Apply / Offer / Offer Subject Subject to to 

Availability Availability / Visit / Special Visit Special Offers Offers Section Section of the of website. the website. 

For For reservations call call 01223 01223 568907 568907 

Email: Email: sales@lightbluetravel.co.uk 

or visit or visit www.nicko-cruises.co.uk



41 


sales and marketing 

director Janet Parton. 

Photo: Steve Dunlop 

“The real hero 

of a river cruise is 

the destination.” 

Janet Parton, Avalon Waterways. 

Riverside Luxury Cruises, Europe’s newest river cruise line, 

showcased the double-width Riverside Mozart to agents. 

Agents touring Avalon Envision got to see the 

company’s trademark Panorama suites. which 

have beds that face a window of glass that 

opens out to the river. 

(Above) Agents learned about the 

various dining options, including 

the invitation-only Table la Rive, 

on a tour of Scenic’s Scenic Jasper. 

(Left) Nicko Cruises was 

promoting its all-inclusive offering 

and multiple dining options to 

agents touring NickoVision. 

Clia RiverView Conference 

Some 400 agents attended Clia’s three-day annual river cruise forum, which 

was held in the Austrian capital of Vienna for the first time in its 10-year history. 

Clia UK & Ireland director Andy Harmer and 

AmaWaterways’ executive vice-president and 

co-founder Kristin Karst. Photo: Steve Dunlop 

“After the pandemic, 

people... are living 

for today.” 

Kristin Karst, AmaWaterways. 

Any agents unsure if their future lay in 

selling river cruises were left in no doubt 

during the conference as one after another 

speakers and panellists from the sector 

reported on huge and growing demand. 

The optimistic note sounded straight off 

with AmaWaterways UK managing director 

Jamie Loizou telling agents that river cruising 

is not only well and truly back but that 

people are travelling longer and spending 

more. 

The line launched a 46-night seven-river 

cruise in 2021 and it was snapped up so fast 

that two more departures were added for 

2023 and another two in 2024. 

Loizou, who is also chair of Clia’s UK & 

Ireland working group, urged agents to make 

the most of the RiverView event. “Take the 

opportunity to learn all you can in the next 

three days and use the experience to create 

new business,” he said. 

During the event, agents attended 

conference sessions, connected with the river 

cruise lines during a trade fair and got to 

tour river ships belonging to AmaWaterways, 

Avalon Waterways, Nicko Cruises, Riverside 

Luxury Cruises, Scenic and TUI River Cruises. 

They stayed on different vessels each night 

so they could experience the food and 

service first-hand. 

Tui River Cruises UK managing director 

Chris Hackney echoed Loizou’s upbeat 

message. “There were concerns about the 

cost of living crisis but Wave exceeded 

expectations,” he said. 

Clia UK and Ireland chair Ben Bouldin 

said the outlook for river cruising in 2023 is 

bright but the industry needs to do better at 

marketing itself. “This is a great holiday for 

all ages but it hasn’t reached its potential. 

The sector needs to broaden its horizons. It 

doesn’t articulate its value compared to land 

holidays enough.” 

Bouldin, who is also Royal Caribbean 

International vice-president of Europe, the 

Middle East and Africa, told agents not to 

waste the opportunities the conference 

presented. “There’s no point in coming if 

you’re not going to do anything on the back 

of it,” he advised. 

(Left) AmaViola features AmaWaterways’ 

signature split balconies. It is sailing seven-night 

cruises on the Danube between Nuremberg and 

Budapest and Vilshofen and Budapest this year. 

(Left) TUI Maya was the first TUI River 

Cruises’ ship to make an appearance at 

the annual river conference. 

(Left) The trade fair 

was an opportunity to 

learn more about the 

individual river cruise 

lines’ product. Photo: 

Steve Dunlop 

(Below) 

AmaWaterways UK 

managing director 

Jamie Loizou. Photo: 

Steve Dunlop 




PORT PROFILE 

43 


Paris 

River cruise lines with turnarounds in Paris, 2023 


Amadeus River Cruises 

AmaWaterways 

A-Rosa River Cruises 


CroisiEurope 

Nicko Cruises 

Riviera Travel 

Scenic 

Tauck 

Uniworld River Cruises 

WHY NOT? 

Have your portrait painted in the shadow of the Sacré 

Coeur Basilica in Montmartre. 

Enter the world’s largest grave in a labyrinth of tunnels 

that lie some 20 metres below the city and contain the 

bones of some six million Parisians. 

Take a daytrip to the magnificent Palace of Versailles. 

Treat your loved one to a romantic dinner cruise on the 

Seine with Bateaux Mouches. 

You can’t help falling in love with Paris, the start and end 

point for river cruises on the Seine that take passengers 

to Normandy and the D-Day beaches and back. 

Itineraries include at least a day in the city, but that 

really isn’t long enough to do Paris justice given there is 

so much to see and do, from getting a cultural fix in the 

Louvre and climbing the Eiffel Tower to marvelling at 

the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. 

Most river ships set sail from beneath the shadow of 

the Eiffel Tower, making it one of the world’s most iconic 

river cruise sailaways. 

WHAT TO DO 

Get a 360-degree view of the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower. 

Take a stroll down the Champs Elysées. 

Be one of the 7.8 million people a year to visit the Louvre, home 

of some 35,000 art works including Leonardo da Vinci’s famous 

Mona Lisa. 

Explore the streets and alleys of the trendy Latin Quarter before 

stopping for a spot of lunch. 




PORT PROFILE 

45 


Avignon 

River cruise lines calling into Avignon, 2023 


Amadeus River Cruises 

AmaWaterways 

A-Rosa River Cruises 


CroisiEurope 

Nicko Cruises 

Riviera Travel* 

Riverside Luxury Cruises 

Scenic 

Tauck 


* Turnaround port 

WHY NOT? 

Take a tour to the stunning Pont du Gard 

Roman aqueduct, some 24 miles outside 

the town. 

Taste your way around Avignon on a gourmet 

food tour. 

Sip wine in nearby Chateauneuf du Pape, 

home of some of France’s finest red wines. 

Avignon is a classically medieval French city, still partly enclosed in 

what remains of the stout walls that once encircled it, with, inside, 

a maze of narrow roads and a fabulous market (closed Mondays) 

packed with mouth-watering local produce. 

It is also home to a grand – and vast - gothic palace, the home of 

a succession of popes who lived here in the 1300s to escape civil 

wars in Italy, and the only bridge in France – and probably the world 

- with a song named after it. We know it as Pont d’Avignon, but it is 

actually called Pont Saint-Bénezet. 

Avignon is a popular call on Rhône river cruises, but also used 

as a turnaround port now and then. River ships dock a five-minute 

walk from the entrance to the city so it’s easy for passengers to 

explore alone. 

WHAT TO DO 

Find out why guests at medieval banquets ate with dogs 

under the table on a tour of the Popes’ Palace. 

Dance on what remains of the Pont d’Avignon – just four of the 

original 22 arches remain, the rest having been washed away. 

Visit Les Halles to see a mouth-watering selection of charcuterie, 

olives, cheese and wine. 

Grab a table in one of the outdoor restaurants in Place de 

l'Horloge to watch the world go by. 




PORT PROFILE 

47 


Bordeaux 

River cruise lines with turnarounds in Bordeaux, 2023 


AmaWaterways 

CroisiEurope 

Scenic 


Ocean cruise lines visiting Bordeaux, 2023 


Azamara 

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines 

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises 



Saga Cruises 

Seabourn 

Silversea 

Windstar 

© Steve Le Clech Photos 

WHY NOT? 

Get in shape on a guided bike tour of the 

city’s historical quarters and waterfront. 

Sign up for a wine-filled outing to a worldfamous 

Grand Cru chateau in the Médoc. 

Join a tour to St Émilion to peek inside the 

remains of an subterranean church and 

learn about the town’s founding father, the 

monk St Émilion. 

Take a trip to Arcachon to climb the 

massive Dune du Pilat. 

Lucky Bordeaux. In the 1990s, the then mayor decided it was time 

the city was returned to its former glory and a huge regeneration 

project ensued. 

Today it can justly claim to be France’s most-beautiful city (although 

Paris might not agree). The waterfront promenade, once clogged 

with cars, now buzzes with walkers, joggers and cyclists, the beautiful 

18th-century architecture has been cleaned up, the charming old town 

is just that – charming – and in case that’s not enough, there are acres 

and acres of world-class vineyards on its doorstep. 

All in all, it’s a brilliant starting point for wine-themed river 

cruises that zig-zag their way around France’s Gironde, Garonne 

and Dordogne Rivers, and also a favourite call for small ocean 

ships able to navigate up the Garonne. Vessels tie up on the 

waterfront so cruisers just have to cross the wide promenade and 

road and they are in the old town and shopping area. 

WHAT TO DO 

Become an oenophile for the day on a visit to La Cité du Vin. 

Stroll along Rue Sainte-Catherine – it’s the longest pedestrian 

street in France (nearly a mile) and lined with shops, bars and 

restaurants. 

Channel your inner child at the miroir d’eau, literally a mirror of 

water that reflects the magnificent Place de la Borse and shoots 

out a cooling shower of mist every 15 minutes. 

Visit the Bassins de Lumières – the world’s largest digital art 

museum – in gigantic submarine bunkers with 15ft walls that 

were bestowed on the city by the Germans during the Second 

World War. 



Inspirational in-person & virtual events Be part of it 

> Certified learning to build cruise confidence Be part of it 

> Access to unique cruise resources Be part of it 

The global cruise community 

Be part of it 

2023 

Membership details 

available at cruising.org

Port & Destinations Issue 7

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?