UNIWORLD COMBINES CRUISE, LAND AND TRAIN FOR 2021
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is introducing two new itineraries incorporating cruise, land and train travel for 2021.
In partnership with Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, the two packages will travel through Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. This offers clients the opportunity to explore a variety of destinations across several countries in one journey, combining major cities with little-known destinations. Agents will be able to start booking clients on Uniworld’s new Cruise & Rail 2021 itineraries later this month.
The new itineraries include the 14-day Cruise & Rail: Milan, Venice & the Swiss Alps that starts with a land portion in Milan, a round-trip cruise from Venice and ends with a train trip to Zurich; and a 12-day Cruise & Rail: Venice & the Swiss Alps starting with a train trip from the Zurich to Venice and then a round-trip cruise.
JANN ARDEN TO HOST AVALON RIVER CRUISE
Agents with clients who are fans of Jann Arden have a huge treat in store – next year the Canadian entertainer will be hosting a special sailing of Avalon Waterways’ Active & Discovery on the Rhine cruise departing May 25, 2021.
As well as mingling with passengers, Arden will perform a private concert on board and participate in a photo op and CD signing.
Arden acted as godmother of the Avalon ship Tranquility II in 2015 and has hosted cruises in 2017 and 2019.
“The Avalon river cruise experience is beyond special,” she says. “I was able to take my mom a few years before she passed away and it’s a memory I will always hold so very dear. Avalon’s attention to detail on every level truly makes the experience ‘the trip of a lifetime.’ Of course the fact that I get to bring a few members of my band and do a concert is simply the cherry on top.”
The eight-day trip starts with an overnight stay onboard the Avalon Expression in Amsterdam before sailing on to Nijmegen, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Koblenz/Rudesheim and Mainz, before disembarking in Frankfurt, Germany.
The cruise will be onboard the 166-passenger Avalon Expression, which was launched in 2013. The majority of accommodation is in the company’s signature Panorama suites: 200-square-foot staterooms featuring marble bathrooms, wall-to-wall windows which open over two metres wide, and window-facing beds – perfect for taking in the views of medieval towns and vineyards.
The cruise is priced from $4,649 (excluding airfare), but travellers can save up to $600 per person if they book by April 6 of this year.
“We are so thrilled that Jann has chosen to sail with us again,” says Stéphanie Bishop, managing director of Avalon’s parent company, the Globus family of brands, in Canada. “Our guests always tell us how much they love the fun and informal atmosphere on board.”
CRYSTAL RIVER CRUISES RELEASES 2022 ITINERARIES
Crystal River Cruises is set to take guests on journeys of cultural and historical discovery in 2022, exploring storybook villages, cosmopolitan international hubs, and towns hosting rare events and decked in seasonal delights.
Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel – all-suite, all-balcony sister ships – will offer itineraries from seven to 10 nights. Crystal River’s 2022 itineraries are available for booking and published on crystalcruises.com.
Throughout the roster of 2022 voyages, Crystal’s focus remains on the overall guest experience during their voyage, with careful thought given to the best ways to experience the famous tulips in Holland; capitalizing on cooler July weather along Dutch and Belgian waterways, when the crowds are calmer; the beautiful spectacle of seeing the decennial Floriade International Horticultural Expo just outside of Amsterdam; and the rich Jewish and culinary cultures in select destinations.
New in 2022 are a “Treasures of Southeast Europe” itinerary, featuring maiden ports Vidin, Bulgaria and Giurgiu, Romania, and a “Joyous Danube” holiday voyage round-trip from Vienna, highlighting the Christmas markets of the region. Every itinerary features at least two overnight stays – some as many as four – allowing guests to explore destinations in varying and ways and venture beyond the ports for greater discoveries.
With more seven-night itineraries than ever – including roundtrip options from convenient air travel hubs Vienna and Amsterdam – many Crystal River Cruises’ 2022 sailings are also combinable for longer vacations. Two May itineraries aboard Crystal Ravel, “Treasures of Southeast Europe” and ”Delightful Danube” can be combined for a 14-night voyage between Vilshofen and Giurgiu, while Crystal Bach’s July and August “Dutch & Belgian Waterways” and either “Legendary Rhine” (westbound) or “Romantic Rhine” (eastbound) cruises can create five-country, 14-night voyages between Amsterdam and Basel.
Crystal’s pre- and post-cruise Extended Land Programs expand Crystal vacations ashore with options in Prague and Zurich showcasing the most fascinating points of culture and history.
