Rare steamboats Posted December 12, 2022 #476 Share Posted December 12, 2022 1 hour ago, notamermaid said: I was a bit skeptical about the 2022 ships as well. It appears that both those German companies are not members, it could be a company behind a company that is a member but I do not recognize any names that would lead me to A-Rosa or Viva Cruises: https://www.igrivercruise.com/en/members/ Scylla AG is a member and VIVA Cruises is owned by Scylla. So I wonder why the VIVA One is not listed. steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted December 12, 2022 Author #477 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Ah, yes. Scylla AG and Viva Cruises. Missed that connection. Thanks. Odd that with the Viva One. She is certainly sailing happily along. I have spotted her very recently. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted December 14, 2022 Author #478 Share Posted December 14, 2022 New themed river cruises by A-Rosa: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/themed-sailings-introduced-by-a-rosa-river-cruises notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted December 14, 2022 #479 Share Posted December 14, 2022 4 hours ago, notamermaid said: New themed river cruises by A-Rosa: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/themed-sailings-introduced-by-a-rosa-river-cruises notamermaid Another marketing gimmick to entice cruisers to your brand. Yawn. How many hundreds of boats, with new marketing gimmicks, rafted together across a river, do we need? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted December 23, 2022 Author #480 Share Posted December 23, 2022 European River Cruising survey - the report for 2022 has been published. Short article, full version per download available: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/european-river-cruising-new-survey-reveals-majority-report-2022-business-above-or-line notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted January 4, 2023 Author #481 Share Posted January 4, 2023 A new ship has come to the Plantours Kreuzfahrten fleet! The German company welcomes the Lady Cristina who will sail from May. Okay, you really need to speak German to get enjoyment out of Lady Cristina's itineraries but I post this here for your general interest and a few of you seasoned river cruisers will remember her - she is the former Amadagio (the current one actually being her fourth name): https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/plantours-charters-lady-cristina-adds-23-itineraries-next-year Since the article went online, Plantours has put the ship info on the website https://www.plantours-partner.de/ms-lady-cristina-neues-flussschiff.html and you can see her itineraries leaving from her base in Frankfurt, an unusual city to have a river cruise ship starting almost all cruises from: https://www.plantours-partner.de/ms-lady-cristina-flusskreuzfahrten.html I love the idea of short Christmas shopping on the Main river. Will certainly look at Plantours during this year. It appears that in the last three years Frankfurt has gone up at least two levels in popularity for starting a river cruise, not just for European lines. An interesting development. Frankfurt being a passenger train hub and having an international airport this makes perfect sense. Apart from Frankfurt having much to offer as regards sightseeing and having a nice Christmas market, too, in my opinion. Perhaps in the future more international lines will add even more convenient itineraries for the Main. I hope so, especially for winter. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted January 15, 2023 Author #482 Share Posted January 15, 2023 travel weekly looks back at 2022: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/The-biggest-stories-in-river-cruising-2022 It was a chaotic year still but summer already held the promise of autumn and winter - and 2023 - getting us back on track I would say. For me as a relative local low water is always on the radar but for international travellers it is not an inviting prospect to potentially have your plans altered. Flooding to some extent and low water in late summer and autumn will always be a thing to reckon with. Just whether it will affect a specific cruise and to what extent we may only find out 48 hours in advance. Good to read that Asia is so much more open for travelling again. I must admit that I did not expect Crystal the brand and its ships to come back so quickly. A kind of happy ending, or at least the promise of one, for what was a shock to the industry at the beginning of 2022. For me, new itineraries in Germany and a couple of new ships on the Rhine are again the exciting developments this year. Yes, although the river and many ports are more or less crowded and full of river cruise ships, I still see more room to grow and space for a few ships. A 110m ship, please, operators! While this two-night "male" river cruise by Thurgau Travel called "Männersache" https://www.thurgautravel.ch/reisen/thurgau-prestige-maennersache/ is a nice start I while utter my woes of there not being a river cruise itinerary on the Rhine and or Moselle that has a "steel, stones, technical details and beer glass" focus. Needs to be seven nights long - at least - and go from Basel to Amsterdam with a pre cruise around Basel. Come on river cruise companies, be daring. I am working on one... Rest assured you can take your better half along, they may well enjoy the excursions or the coach can pick her up at the shopping center or spa. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted January 18, 2023 Author #483 Share Posted January 18, 2023 Scenic has announced new excursions and experiences on their European river cruises: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/scenic-rolls-out-new-shore-excursions-european-river-cruises I said that I would like to see more variety on the Rhine river (and elsewhere) so this looks good. For the Rhine/Moselle itinerary and within the Netherlands "Het Loo" is a great addition I find. This is a palace that has been on my list of favourite places that need exploring in my neighbouring country for a few years now. On the Rhine in Germany, I do not know about you, but I am underwhelmed by the Rüdesheim excursion. It is nice but isn't almost everybody doing this? The eagle spotting in Croatia - sounds amazing. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canal archive Posted January 18, 2023 #484 Share Posted January 18, 2023 Very interesting but I’m pretty sure we’ve been on some of these excursions, maybe not exactly the same but very very similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougK Posted January 18, 2023 #485 Share Posted January 18, 2023 The Rüdesheim excursion is definitely not new. It's exactly what has been offered since at least 2017. The only difference is they now mention the purpose of the Niederwald Monument ("which marks the 19th century unification of Germany") instead of saying "for a spectacular view of the river." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted January 18, 2023 Author #486 Share Posted January 18, 2023 Thanks you two, I had a suspicion that this was a bit hyped for the Rhine at least in the article and probably only an alteration to what had been available in previous years. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted January 19, 2023 #487 Share Posted January 19, 2023 Maybe the difference is the combination of Siegfried's plus the cablecar. When I did this itinerary on AMA we had to choose between a vineyard walk/wine tasting or the cable car in the afternoon, then Siegfried's or Rudesheimer coffee after dinner. IMO this one excursion combines the best 2 of those 4 choices. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canal archive Posted January 19, 2023 #488 Share Posted January 19, 2023 On our second trip we did Siegfried’s and then the cable car, a quick dash around the Christmas shop, then found a cafe where we sat and had an excellent Rudesheimer coffee whilst watching the chaos as the heavens opened and made the streets like mini rivers. Then a slow amble back to the ship and in the square several local car clubs were showing off their pride and joys. I nearly got captured by a (rather attractive) Frenchman when he discovered I’d owned a 2CV for many years. Altogether another memorable day on the rivers of Europe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted February 2, 2023 Author #489 Share Posted February 2, 2023 Another Viking ship for the Seine, not until 2025, but the company seems to want to announce early that there is a contract for building a fifth ship for the Seine. So the four 125m ones will get another sister: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/viking-adds-fifth-ship-to-paris-fleet It says "Exclusive docking location at Port de Grenelle". Err? I think they must mean that they have a landing stage that is Viking's own. Do not be fooled by the wording, there are other ships docking at Port de Grenelle: The two blue dots close together are CroisiEurope's MS Boticelli and MS Renoir. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted February 8, 2023 Author #490 Share Posted February 8, 2023 A famous chef will be on board the Scenic Diamond: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/cruise/raymond-blanc-to-join-culinary-themed-scenic-sailing notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canal archive Posted February 8, 2023 #491 Share Posted February 8, 2023 He’s an absolute star a gorgeous Frenchman with a delicious accent. His foods not to bad either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted February 11, 2023 Author #492 Share Posted February 11, 2023 Amadeus River Cruises unveils 2024 itineraries: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tour-operators/amadeus-river-cruises-unveils-2024-european-programme The "Rhine in Flames" one is a truly special date. It incorporates the experience of the fireworks at Koblenz: https://www.rhein-in-flammen.com/spay-koblenz-gb/spay-koblenz-gb.html notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted February 26, 2023 Author #493 Share Posted February 26, 2023 APT and Travelmarvel have published their itineraries for 2024: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tour-operators/apt-and-travelmarvel-unveils-2024-european-river-cruising-programme The new 15 day cruise in Belgium and the Netherlands looks a really in-depth experience, I must say. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted March 21, 2023 Author #494 Share Posted March 21, 2023 Fancy a round of golf and cruising the Rhine? You can combine a trip along the river and that sport on a river cruise with Amadeus: https://www.amadeus-rivercruises.co.uk/river-cruises/detail/2023/golf-cruise-on-the-rhine-8-days I can confirm that the Golfclub Jakobsberg has a great setting on a plateau in the Rhine Gorge. An exclusive but good vibe was at the entrance gate - I do not play golf but was up there during a day trip with short hike in the area. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted March 27, 2023 Author #495 Share Posted March 27, 2023 The Viva Two was christened in Düsseldorf on 23 March. German reports have come in since, but this is the first in English: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/viva-cruises-confirms-third-new-ship Apparently on the occasion of the christening, Viva Cruises announced that a third new ship will join the fleet. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyK13 Posted March 27, 2023 #496 Share Posted March 27, 2023 On 3/21/2023 at 1:30 PM, notamermaid said: Fancy a round of golf and cruising the Rhine? You can combine a trip along the river and that sport on a river cruise with Amadeus: https://www.amadeus-rivercruises.co.uk/river-cruises/detail/2023/golf-cruise-on-the-rhine-8-days I can confirm that the Golfclub Jakobsberg has a great setting on a plateau in the Rhine Gorge. An exclusive but good vibe was at the entrance gate - I do not play golf but was up there during a day trip with short hike in the area. notamermaid Interesting! An avid golfer, my husband would love this as he has not had the chance to golf on any of our European trips! I would be happy to accompany him but I coudn't tell by their list of excursions if there would be other choices for non-golfers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted April 8, 2023 Author #497 Share Posted April 8, 2023 In the Rhine thread I mentioned the christening of the MS Alisa. She is sailing for the German company Phoenix Reisen. Nice to read that she will feature in another series of "Verrückt nach Meer" (actually, it should be Verrückt nach Fluss) a series that follows a few select passengers and the crew along on a cruise or river cruise. Previous seasons were filmed on other ships in the Phoenix fleet. https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/04/phoenix-reisen-names-new-river-boat-alisa/ notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted April 11, 2023 Author #498 Share Posted April 11, 2023 Amadeus brings back a festive cruise itinerary: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tour-operators/amadeus-river-cruises-reintroduces-festive-sailing I really like this one. Starting in Strasbourg rather than Basel cuts out a section of the river that is often sailed at night anyway, i.e. the Canal in Alsace. You miss Breisach though, which is a small place and one that I think I would not need to see in winter. It is for warmer days for me. Great ports are visited on the Rhine and Main and stopping at Würzburg is an unusual but nice idea. While Würzburg has no international airport it is a train hub and connections are good for Frankfurt and Munich. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted May 23, 2023 Author #499 Share Posted May 23, 2023 The seasoned cruisers among you will know that the European market for river cruises differs from the North-American one, meaning the passengers on the continent and from the UK travel differently and lines cater to that. It is not a vast difference but noticeable. A few notes from travelweekly on this. Perhaps there is some info that you find interesting. https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/River-cruises-for-Europeans-and-US-guests notamermaid 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted May 24, 2023 Author #500 Share Posted May 24, 2023 Two continents, three river cruise ship christenings. The American Jazz and the American Serenade: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Cruise-Lines-christens-two-riverboats?ct=river The Amadeus Riva: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Amadeus-Riva-christened?ct=river Safe travels to them always. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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