It’s been a busy week for river cruises.
This week European river cruise company Riviera River Cruises, which is making a major expansion into the North American market, launched the first of four planned new cruise ships: the 167-passenger MS Robert Burns. The new ship will offer itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. The MS Douro Splendour will launch in August, followed by two more ships before the end of 2019.
Also in 2019, Emerald Waterways will add two new eight-day cruises along the Danube, the line announced this week. The Classic Danube itinerary will travel from Nuremberg to Vienna and will be aimed at guests who would prefer to spend a longer time in the area’s larger cities, with a full day and overnight in both Nuremberg and Vienna. The Lower Danube Waltz, sailing from Vienna to Belgrade, will be aimed at travelers looking to explore off the beaten path, with a number of stops in smaller towns.
In luxury news, this week AmaWaterways released its 2019 Europe, Asia & Africa Extensive Brochure. The 2019 season will see three new cruise ships for the line – the AmaDouro, AmaMagna and AmaMora – as well as expanded wine and wellness offerings. The AmaMagna will also sail with a new Exclusive Concierge Golf Program for golf-loving guests.
Finally, this week Scenic and National Geographic Expeditions announced three new travel packages for 2019 that will take passengers to Christmas markets along the Danube, to the gardens of the Netherlands and Belgium and along the Douro in Portugal. Each itinerary will be accompanied by a National Geographic expert, who will provide presentations, informal discussions and shore excursions. A National Geographic photographer will also be onboard to help guests with their photography skills.
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