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RI V E R S
C R U I S E D I A R Y 2019 | 2020
EUROPE | ASIA | AFRICA | USA | LONG HAUL | EXOTIC
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We are a member of ABTA and our flight-inclusive holidays are protected by the ATOL scheme. Prices shown are based
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RECOMMENDED 112 Good Housekeeping readers, 2018. Prices correct at time of print (12 January 2019).
UK 2019
CONTENTS
What an amazing few years it has been for river cruising, with exciting new vessels launching and ever-growing
demand as more and more British passengers discover this is a fine way to travel. In 2017 alone, numbers rose
24% to top 210,000 for the first time, according to Clia UK & Ireland.
This year is shaping up to be another fantastic 12 months for Clia river cruise members, with more new river ships
on the horizon and many cruises already so well sold that 2020 is already on sale to cope with the demand.
What is the attraction? Quite simply being able to travel in a first-class floating hotel and discover spectacular cities
and little-known towns and villages around Europe, Asia and the US that all have fascinating stories to tell.
Want to know more? Take time to read our 2019 River Cruise Diary, which is packed with information about the
rivers your clients could be enjoying, as well as offering hints and tips to help you increase sales.
Keith Ellis, Publisher
CONTENTS
Why take a river cruise.........................................4
Europe ....................................................................13
The Lower Danube.............................................17
The Rhine and its tributaries..........................18
The Douro..............................................................20
The Rhône.............................................................22
The Seine...............................................................24
Russian Waterways............................................26
The Nile/Chobe...................................................27
The Mekong..........................................................28
The Ganges...........................................................32
The Yangtze/Myanmar....................................33
The Mississippi ................................................... 34
The Columbia & Snake Rivers ..................... 38
Brochure rack........................................................39
Published by .......................................... Keith Ellis,
Stowaway Publications
10 Tadorne Road, Tadworth
KT20 5TD Surrey
+44 (0)1737 81 2411,
kmellis@btinternet.com
Written and Edited by: ................. Jane Archer
..............................................Janearc@aol.com
Creative..... Andrew Reeves, Oddsock Design
......................Andrew@oddsockdesign.com
Front cover image courtesy of Avalon Waterways
StowawayMedia.com
StowawayMedia.com | 3
W H Y TA K E A R I V E R C R U I S E
Why
TAKE A RIVER CRUISE
4 | RIVER DIARY | JANUARY 2019
W H Y TA K E A R I V E R C R U I S E
River cruising is the holiday hit of the decade, gaining
thousands of new followers each year who are drawn to
the alluring mix of easy adventure and discovery that
awaits on the world’s waterways.
It is a very different style of travel to ocean Crucially, cruise fares now include a lot of
cruising. The ships are smaller, carrying things that once cost extra. It does mean that
an average of just 150 passengers, and they river cruising is not a cheap option, but it
navigate rivers and canals rather than sailing is great value and very appealing to mature
vast oceans, enabling passengers to really passengers (the majority of river cruisers
get under the skin of places instead of just are retired) as they don’t have to think about
visiting. extra costs while travelling.
There is always something to see along the A seven-night Rhine cruise in June costs
river banks - churches and castles in Europe, from £2,345 per person with Scenic and from
remote villages in Asia - and when vessels £2,239 per person with Uniworld. Both are
dock, it is often in the heart of a big city or among a few river cruise lines that include
town. As they don’t need clearance by local everything from flights and transfers to
authorities, once the gangway is in position,
drinks, excursions and gratuities in the price.
passengers can just walk ashore and discover
new sights, sounds and tastes. Even those that are not all-inclusive usually
incorporate one or two perks in the price,
All that and the ease of just unpacking once
whether it be free drinks at meal times,
as your floating hotel glides from once place
excursions or gratuities. Emerald Waterways
to another.
includes all three, but usually only one
As the number of river cruise passengers has excursion per port (with others at extra cost);
grown (the UK market alone rocketed 24% AmaWaterways includes drinks with meals
in 2017 to reach a record 210,400 in 2017, and a choice of excursions.
according to Clia UK & Ireland, and numbers
from the US and Australia are way higher), so Saga includes drinks with meals and some
the river ships and product have adapted to excursions, A-Rosa charges for excursions
suit changing expectations. but includes drinks. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
charges for both drinks (beverage packages
Most modern river ships now offer cabins with are available) and excursions.
balconies, additional places to eat and larger
spas. AmaMagna, a new vessel being built by Most include alternative dining where
AmaWaterways and launching in May 2019, available as well as Wi-Fi. Exceptions include
is twice the width of other river cruise vessels, the Vintage Room on Crystal Cruises’ river
has four places to eat, a wellness studio and a ships, where a handful of passengers can
rear watersports platform. The only other river enjoy wine-themed lunches and dinners
ship of the same size is Crystal River Cruises’ for an extra fee, and the waiter-service
Crystal Mozart. restaurants on A-Rosa vessels.
StowawayMedia.com | 5
W H Y TA K E A R I V E R C R U I S E
WHO INCLUDES DRINKS
(Clia members only)
The following river cruise lines
include all drinks in the prices:
APT
A-Rosa
CroisiEurope
Crystal River Cruises
Pandaw (local brands only)
Scenic
Uniworld River Cruises
Tauck
The following river cruise lines
include drinks with lunch and dinner:
Amadeus River Cruises
AmaWaterways
Avalon Waterways
Emerald Waterways
Saga (exclusive charters only) FOLLOW THE TRENDS windows that are split horizontally and open
Titan Travel The trend for more rigorous excursions and downwards at the touch of a button. In their
Travelmarvel activities is growing fast among river cruise top suites, Scenic, Uniworld and Emerald
companies as 60 becomes the new 40 and Waterways use a combination of panoramic
lines look to attract a younger generation. windows and internal glass doors to create
sun lounges.
Companies including Uniworld, Crystal,
AmaWaterways, Scenic and Emerald AmaWaterways’ vessels, which are also used
Waterways carry bikes that passengers can by APT, have split balconies so passengers
borrow for guided cycle rides or to explore can sit either inside or out, depending on the
alone, and hiking tours increasingly figure weather.
among the choice of excursions on offer.
Avalon Waterways vessels have two decks
Avalon Waterways has dedicated active of cabins with wall-to-wall glass windows
cruises on the Rhine, Danube and, new that open two-thirds the width of the room
for 2019, the Rhône in France, while (pictured above) and give the impression of a
CroisiEurope has cycling and walking- balcony when opened up on sunny days.
themed departures with 30-mile bike rides
Tauck’s newest river ships, Joy, Grace, Inspire
and hikes of five to eight miles most days.
and Savor, have traditional French balconies
AmaWaterways has wellness instructors that open to a fixed rail. Suites, which occupy
on all its cruises this year. Those sailing the almost an entire deck on each of these vessels,
Seine, Rhine or Danube with U by Uniworld have two such balconies and are about half
can go kayaking and walking across the the size of a squash court.
rooftops of Paris.
Demand for suites is so high that Tauck,
Family river cruises are also becoming more Scenic and Uniworld have created larger
popular. Children can go on most cruises rooms on some of their vessels by knocking
WHO INCLUDES GRATUITIES two cabins into three. The latest to get the
with most lines, but Uniworld, Tauck and
(Clia members only)
A-Rosa have dedicated family departures refurb is Uniworld’s River Royale, which
with special activities and excursions to keep relaunches in March with four new suites.
APT
youngsters amused. On A-Rosa, children
Avalon Waterways Crystal River Cruises’ Crystal Mozart and
aged up to 15 travel for free when sharing a
Crystal River Cruises AmaWaterways’ new AmaMagna have suites
cabin with an adult.
Emerald Waterways that are more than three times bigger than an
Pandaw ROOMS WITH A VIEW average cabin.
Scenic Cabins on river ships all face the water but
Most river ships have a handful of lower deck
Tauck have a multitude of different designs.
cabins that are below the waterline and have
Travelmarvel
On Scenic, Emerald Waterways, Uniworld a high fixed window. These are targeted at
U by Uniworld clients on a budget and often designated as
River Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Amadeus
Uniworld River Cruises single cabins with no supplement.
River Cruises, the rooms have panoramic
6 | RIVER DIARY | JANUARY 2019
BE IN THE
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From the beginning, the ships of the Agent benefits:
From the beginning, the ships of the Agent benefits:
Amadeus
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waterways. • opportunities
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Inclusions and Benefits: Agent rewards
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Inclusions and Benefits: • Agent rewards scheme
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Inclusions and Benefits: • Agentbenefits:
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flights
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• Non-UK dining with wine, beer and soft drinks at • Award winning fleet
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• Gourmet dinnerwith wine, beer and soft drinks at • Early booking discount on 2019 departures
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dining coffee station
wine, beer and soft drinks at Early booking
• Award winningdiscount
fleet on 2019 departures
• 24- hour tea and coffee station
lunch and dinner • Unique itineraries
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fleet
• Complimentary
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https://www.amadeus-rivercruises.co.uk || sales@fredrivercruises.co.uk
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www.facebook.com/amadeusrivercruisestrade/ *Subject to Terms and Conditions
*Subject to Terms and Conditions
W H Y TA K E A R I V E R C R U I S E
The Danube is best known for itineraries
that tick off the cities of Budapest, Vienna
and Bratislava, but clients can also venture
to the lower reaches, visiting lesser-known
towns and cities in Romania, Bulgaria,
Serbia, Croatia and Hungary, where
Romans, Ottomans and the Soviet Union all
left their mark.
And in case clients can’t choose which to do,
two-week itineraries between Amsterdam
and Budapest tick off the Rhine, Main, Main-
Danube Canal and Danube.
Once they have done those, there are plenty of
other rivers to explore. In France, the Rhône
and Seine are the big two, but there are also
one-week sailings on the Garonne, Gironde and
Dordogne Rivers in Aquitaine that visit some
of France’s leading wine-growing regions, and
barge holidays along the Loire Valley.
The Douro in Northern Portugal was
Tauck’s Inspiration-class vessels each have
2017’s sales star, recording an incredible
four lower deck Loft Suites (pictured above)
85% growth in the UK to a total 20,700
The Elbe with a raised seating platform and deep
window that can be partially opened.
passengers, according to Clia. Clients can
choose itineraries that sail round-trip from
Elbe river cruises operate Exceptionally, Crystal River Cruises has Porto or combine a one-way cruise from
between Berlin and Prague got rid of lower-deck cabins altogether on Porto to the Spanish border at Vega de Terron
and call at Wittenberg, the Crystal Bach, Debussy, Mahler and Ravel. with a few nights in Madrid. Either way
birthplace of the Protestant All their cabins are above the water line they’ll have tours and tastings in port wine
Reformation; Meissen, the and have panorama windows that open lodges and take in a flamenco show.
town that gave its name to the horizontally.
world-famous porcelain; and There are also spring-time cruises through
Dresden, the city destroyed by Clients can expect cabins and suites on all the Dutch and Belgian waterways timed for
heavy Allied bombing in the river ships to have hairdryers, safes and when the tulip fields are in bloom, voyages
Second World War, but now en-suite facilities Most have showers rather along the Elbe between Berlin and Prague
restored to its former glory. It than baths. Scenic and Crystal River Cruises that combine stories of Martin Luther,
is a brilliant itinerary, but the provide butlers for all passengers. Cabins porcelain and the World War Two bombing of
river suffers from low water so and suites on Amadeus River Cruises and Dresden, and sailings on the Guadalquivir in
passengers often end up being Crystal’s vessels have walk-in wardrobes. Spain and the Po in Italy.
coached to the sights. In Russia, clients can combine a cruise on the
EUROPE’S RIVERS
The Rhine and Danube are the top-selling rivers, lakes and canals that link Moscow and
rivers in the UK, between them attracting St Petersburg with a few nights in both cities.
more than half of all British river cruise
DISCOVERING THE REST OF
passengers in 2017 on account of the many
THE WORLD
things to see and do along the way.
Clients who are prepared to travel further
The Rhine is popular for the many afield have even more choice. Voyages along
castles along a deep gorge that runs 58 the Mekong River between Siem Reap and
miles between Koblenz in the north and Ho Chi Minh City are the top-sellers when it
Rudesheim in the south but returning comes to long-haul river cruises thanks to an
passengers will find plenty to enjoy on exhilarating combination of ancient temples,
itineraries that also explore its tributaries, the exciting cities and exotic markets.
Moselle and Main.
Staying in Asia, three or four-night cruises
The Moselle is a narrow waterway that flows through the towering three gorges on the
through one of Germany’s top wine-growing Yangtze in China offer a moment to relax
regions and is lined with vineyards and on tours that take in the cities of Beijing and
picture-postcard villages; the Main is also Shanghai. In Myanmar, golden pagodas, trips
narrow and takes passengers to towns and to workshops and balloon rides over Bagan
cities with centuries-old history and culture. await on voyages on the Irrawaddy.
8 | RIVER DIARY | JANUARY 2019
W H Y TA K E A R I V E R C R U I S E
WHO INCLUDES EXCURSIONS
What’s new for 2019 (Clia members only)
AmaWaterways
American Cruise Lines
Amadeus River Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Riviera Travel and Viking River
Cruises are all launching new river ships on the Rhine and Danube in 2019. APT
Avalon Waterways
Belmond
AmaWaterways’ AmaMagna will be twice the width of other river ships and have Crystal River Cruises
four complimentary places to eat including Chef’s Table, which serves a taster Emerald Waterways
menu, Al Fresco, an outside/inside venue at the front of the ship, and Jimmy’s Pandaw
Wine Bar. Riviera Travel
Saga (selected tours only)
Scenic
Saga has a new 23-night river cruise through the heart of Europe, from
Amsterdam to the Black Sea. The cruise, exclusively for Saga customers, is on Tauck
the river ship Amadeus Royal on five dates next summer and includes a post- Travelmarvel
cruise hotel night in Bucharest in Romania. U by Uniworld
Uniworld River Cruises
niworld River Cruises’ River Royale re-enters service on the Garonne, Gironde
U
The Po
and Dordogne Rivers in spring after a massive refit that will add a pool, four
suites and two dining venues. It will also have a new name, Bon Voyage.
The Po is the longest river
CroisiEurope, AmaWaterways and Viking are building new vessels to sail the in Italy, flowing 652 miles
Douro in Northern Portugal in 2019, while A-Rosa is making its debut on the river from the Cottian Alps and
with the new A-Rosa Alva. Starting 2020, Tauck will be cruising the river on the new emptying into the Adriatic
Andorinha. south of Venice. However,
river cruises sail only about
60 miles upriver to Polesella.
Emerald Waterways is launching its first river ship in Asia. Emerald Harmony will As well as spending time in
accommodate 84 passengers, have an outdoor pool and bar, two inside lounges Venice, there are excursions to
and sail the Mekong between Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City. Padua, one of the oldest cities
in Italy, Bologna and Ravenna,
notable for the 5th and 6th-
Passengers sailing the Seine with U by Uniworld can sleep under the stars on the
century mosaics that adorn
top deck of The B starting 2019. The €60 per person price tag for the ‘rooftop
its churches and Basilicas.
camping’ includes an evening cocktail and breakfast hamper.
Ferrara, also visited, is a
medieval town with ancient
APT has seven new Signature Experiences in Europe for 2019 including a journey on the cobbled streets.
Grand Empress steam train in Budapest on Magnificent Europe itineraries and a Lido
de Paris dance show on Seine cruises. There’s a private cocktail reception at the Pont du
Gard on the Rhône and cocktails and Fado music at Palácio da Bolsa on the Douro.
CroisiEurope has new one-week culinary cruises on the Rhone with included
tours to the Valrhona chocolate factory in Tain L’Hermitage and Les Halles
in Lyon, and dinner (extra charge) at Paul Bocuse’s Abbaye de Collonges.
Departures are weekly between April and October 2019.
Crystal River Cruises’ 2021 itineraries include a new 11-night Eastern Danube
Discoveries voyage round-trip from Vienna that visits Hungary, Serbia and
Croatia, and includes a cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge.
A-Rosa is putting 11 e-bikes on its Seine river ship A-Rosa Viva. It offers 3.5-hour
bike tours to Monet’s Garden from Vernon and around Normandy. They cost
extra and can be booked on board.
StowawayMedia.com | 9
W H Y TA K E A R I V E R C R U I S E
Those keen to get right off the beaten track can
WHO INCLUDES FLIGHTS
cruise the Upper Mekong in Laos, where days
( Clia members only)
are spent exploring small villages, temples and
markets, or the Red River in Vietnam, where
APT
they’ll visit Halong Bay and Hanoi.
Avalon Waterways
Emerald Waterways In India, cruises along the Ganges take
Fred Olsen River Cruises intrepid travellers to mosques and temples
Riviera Travel and the headquarters of the Hari Krishna
Scenic movement. Further north, in Assam, voyages
Saga along the Brahmaputra include elephant-
Shearings back rides at dawn in search of tigers and often with the option of joining one for slow
Tauck rhinos in Kaziranga National Park. walkers.
Titan Travel Tours usually comprise a guided walk and
After years in the doldrums, the Nile in Egypt
Travelmarvel is back on the river cruise radar and demand time to wander alone. Tours that depart in the
Uniworld River Cruises is growing fast as river cruise lines add morning will be timed to be back for lunch. If
capacity and travellers again flock to see the they are in the afternoon, lunch will likely be
ancient temples and tombs of the pharaohs earlier than usual.
on cruises between Luxor and Aswan.
How to For a very different Africa holiday, three and
In cities such as Vienna and Strasbourg, river
ships stay docked for a day or overnight. In
increase your four-night safari cruises on the Chobe River other places, once everyone on board, you’ll set
river cruise in Botswana or Lake Kariba on the Zambezi
River include daily excursions in small boats
off for the next destination. This is the time to
relax, enjoy the views, listen to a talk about the
sales in search of elephants, giraffe, leopards and a
myriad of other wildlife.
river, watch a cooking demonstration or join
a beer or wine-tasting session. There will be
arget ocean cruisers
T commentary sailing through the Rhine Gorge
In the US, paddlewheel boat cruises along the and Wachau Valley in Austria.
looking for smaller vessels
Mississippi and Columbia and Snake Rivers
or a change of scenery. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge, then
bring to life stories about the history of rock
Switch-sell escorted tour and pop music, the American Civil War and there is time to shower and get changed
passengers to a river cruise. Mark Twain. For the ultimate adventure, before returning to the lounge for pre-dinner
They’ll still be touring but three-week voyages explore the American drinks and the tour director’s presentation
only have to unpack once heartland all the way between St Paul in about the next day’s tours and activities.
and enjoy the comfort of a Minneapolis to New Orleans.
Dinner is served at 7pm, usually with open
river ship.
A TYPICAL DAY ON THE RIVER seating so you can sit with whoever you like.
Attract non-cruisers by Although river cruising is a leisurely way to Around 9pm, the evening entertainment
packaging a river cruise into travel, the days are busy with sightseeing, starts – maybe a quiz, a classical concert or
a land-based itinerary, for cookery demonstrations, talks and quizzes. local folk dancers. Other times the resident
instance a tour of Southeast pianist will keep the music going until the last
Asia with a week on the Breakfast is usually from 7am to 9am, but person is standing.
Mekong or the Ganges with lying-in is not an option as morning tours
a tour of India’s Golden start early. Passengers are split into groups, And next day it starts all over again.
Triangle.
Get to know the destinations
so you can talk with
confidence about them and
inspire clients to want to visit.
What to pack
There are no dress codes on the rivers
Suggest an Asia river cruise so passengers just need to pack for the
to clients planning their climate. As a guide, advise light clothes for
first long-haul holiday but summers in Europe, warmer attire for the
nervous of travelling alone. shoulder seasons and warm coats, boots,
Grab every opportunity gloves, hats and scarves for Christmas
offered by Clia and its river markets cruises. Asia is warm year round
cruise members to get on but clients will need wet-weather gear
board their river ships so if they are visiting during rainy seasons.
you get first-hand product These differ from country to country. Smart
knowledge. casual is fine for evenings. Most cruise lines
ask that no shorts are worn to dinner.
10 | RIVER DIARY | JANUARY 2019THE BEST NEVER
GOES ON SALE
Welcome aboard...
where the ambiance is charming...
the exclusive shore excursions go beyond the ordinary...
and if it means a better travel experience, it’s included.
I N S P I R E D B Y T H E D E S T I N AT I O N
On Tauck river cruises, deep destination knowledge and longstanding local relationships create
exclusive cultural experiences ashore. Delivering truly inspirational travel experiences has defined
Tauck for 90+ years... and Tauck river cruises connect you with people, places and daily life along
Europe’s great rivers – with you at the very heart of it.
2019 itinerary details are available at tauck.co.uk or call your preferred travel
agent or Tauck on 0800 810 8020
w w w. t a u c k . c o . u k
CLASSIC LAND JOURNEYS • RIVER CRUISING • SMALL SHIP CRUISING • F A M I LY A D V E N T U R E SW H Y TA K E A R I V E R C R U I S E
WHO GOES WHERE - EUROPE (Clia members only)
Dutch water-
Guadalquivir
ways/Rhine
Bordeaux
Danube
Rhone
Russia
Douro
Seine
Elbe
Po
Cruise line Website
Amadeus River Cruises ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ amadeus-rivercruises.co.uk
AmaWaterways ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ amawaterways.co.uk
APT ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ aptouring.co.uk
A-Rosa ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ arosa-cruises.com
Avalon Waterways ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ avaloncruises.co.uk
CroisiEurope ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ croisieurope.co.uk
Crystal River Cruises ✔ ✔ crystalcruises.co.uk
Emerald Waterways ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ emeraldwaterways.co.uk
Fred River Cruises (GSA) ✔ fredrivercruises.co.uk/volga-dream
Fred Olsen River Cruises ✔ ✔ fredolsencruises.com
Riviera Travel ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ rivieratravel.co.uk
Saga (exclusive whole season
✔ ✔ ✔ saga.co.uk
charters only)
Scenic ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ scenic.co.uk
Shearings (exclusive whole
✔ ✔ shearings.com
season charters only)
Tauck ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ tauck.co.uk
Titan Travel ✔ ✔ titantravel.co.uk
U by Uniworld ✔ ✔ ✔ ubyuniworld.com
Uniworld River Cruises ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ uniworld.com
WHO GOES WHERE - REST OF THE WORLD (Clia members only)
Columbia River
Brahmaputra
Chobe/Lake
Mississippi/
Irrawaddy
Ganges/
Mekong
Yangtze
Kariba
Nile
Cruise line Website
AmaWaterways ✔ ✔ amawaterways.co.uk
APT ✔ ✔ ✔ aptouring.co.uk
Avalon Waterways ✔ ✔ avaloncruises.co.uk
Belmond ✔ belmond.com
CroisiEurope ✔ ✔ croisieurope.co.uk
Emerald Waterways ✔ ✔ emeraldwaterways.co.uk
Fred River Cruises (GSA) ✔ ✔ fredolsencruises.co.uk
Pandaw ✔ ✔ ✔ pandaw.com
Riviera Travel ✔ ✔ ✔ rivieratravel.co.uk
Scenic ✔ ✔ scenic.co.uk
Uniworld River Cruises ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ uniworld.com
12 | RIVER DIARY | JANUARY 2019EUROPE
Europe JOURNEY: THROUGH THE HEART OF
FIND IT for those on a return visit, the Van Gogh or
This journey starts in Holland and ticks off Rijksmuseum, and the house, now a museum,
four other countries (Germany, Austria, where Anne Frank wrote her diary while in
Slovakia and Hungary), three rivers (the hiding from the Nazis, are excellent. Scenic
Rhine, Main and Danube) and one man- offers guided walking or bike tours around the
made waterway (the Main-Danube Canal). canals. Avalon has an optional culinary tour.
APT has tours to Zaanse Schans, a Dutch
THE CRUISE village with windmills and cheese.
This is the big one when it comes to river
cruising in Europe – a full-on two-week THE RHINE
voyage from Amsterdam to Budapest (or From Amsterdam river ships sail south along
vice-versa) that takes passengers through the Rhine, first stop Cologne, a German
scenic valleys and countless locks, visits city best-known for a magnificent Gothic
medieval towns, world-class cities and cathedral that survived the World War
glittering palaces, and lays on walking tours, Two bombing while all around the city was
wine-tastings and classical concerts. If destroyed.
time allows, an extra week can be added to
A miracle? Who knows but as it took 630
selected departures for a journey all the way
years to build and it was only finished in 1880,
from Amsterdam to Romania and the Black
it would have been a shame if it had been hit.
Sea (see page 17).
Most visitors marvel at the interior; those
GETTING THERE feeling active can climb the 533 steps to the
Flying in or out of Amsterdam and Budapest top for great views over the city and river.
is the only sensible option.
Walking tours are a good way to get to know
WHAT TO SEE the city. For those interested in World War
Assuming a north-south cruise from Two history, the NS-Documentation Centre
Amsterdam, the trip will probably start with in the former Gestapo headquarters is highly
an overnight on board so clients can settle in recommended. The Chocolate Museum,
and explore the city the next day. For first- close to where the river ships dock, is a treat
timers, a canal cruise is a good introduction; for those with a sweet tooth.
StowawayMedia.com | 13EUROPE
THE MAIN RIVER
A little way south of Rüdesheim, river ships
turn left into the Main River. This is narrower
and more picturesque than the Rhine but as
there are 34 locks to navigate the sundeck
will be closed most of the time while sailing.
On most vessels that means there will be
limited outside space.
Key attractions along the Main include
Miltenberg, a pretty town with half-timbered
houses and a beautiful Renaissance fountain,
and Würzburg, where city tours usually visit
the baroque Bishop’s Residence to see its
ornate staircases, acres of stucco and one of
the largest frescos ever painted.
A few river cruise lines alternatively
offer tours from Würzburg to
Rothenburg. It’s about 45
minutes’ drive away along
what’s known as the
Top tip: ‘Romantic Road’, and
a fairytale-like town
Cabin balconies really come
enclosed by thick
into their own on cruises on the
Main and Main-Danube Canal
walls that’s full of
as passengers have their own medieval houses and
outdoor viewing space even has a Christmas shop
though the sundeck is that’s open all year.
closed.
Koblenz, at the confluence Cruises also visit
of the Rhine and Moselle, is Bamberg, a town famous
recognisable for the enormous for a strange smoked beer and
equestrian statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I architectural gems including a town hall
at the Deutsches Eck, or German Corner. covered with tromp d’oeil frescoes.
Walking tours visit the statue and the narrow
streets, squares and churches in the old city, THE MAIN-DANUBE CANAL
but it’s a small place and easy to explore Bamberg marks the start of the Main-Danube
alone. A cable car goes across the river to the Canal, a man-made waterway that opened in
Ehrenbreitstein fortress, 118 metres above 1994 to enable ships to sail all the way from
the river. the North Sea to the Black Sea. There are
another 16 locks along the canal so again the
Koblenz marks the start of the Rhine Gorge, sundeck will be closed most of the time.
the most scenic stretch of the river with more
than 40 castles and fortresses that date back The main attraction on the canal is
to the Middle Ages. Cruise directors point Nuremberg. Tours go to the Nazi rally
out the sights during the sailing, and also tell grounds and Documentation Centre in
the legend of the Lorelei, a beautiful maiden Hitler’s unfinished Kongresshalle, which
said to have thrown herself to her death over a charts the rise of the Nazi party. In the
faithless lover who then lured sailors to their city, many visit the courtroom where the
deaths with her hypnotic singing. war crime trials were held at the end of the
Second World War.
In Rüdesheim, a small town at the
southern end of the gorge, tours visit Most river cruise lines stay a day in the city
Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Cabinet, an so there is also time to explore the medieval
extraordinary collection of music machines centre. A castle, the vast market square, the
from years gone by. If that doesn’t appeal, Church of our Lady and the local Nuremburg
a cable car goes over the vineyards to the rostbratwurst are among attractions.
monumental Germania statue that celebrates
the foundation of the German Empire. THE DANUBE
Guides will point out the Drosselgasse - a At Kelheim, the canal flows into the Danube
narrow street lined with bars, cafés and River. Cruises visit Regensburg, a town with
souvenir shops. narrow medieval streets, towers built by
14 | RIVER DIARY | JANUARY 2019NAME
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StowawayMedia.com | 15EUROPE
Top tip:
Don’t miss a drive around
Vienna’s Ringstrasse after
rich merchants to show off their wealth and extravagant dark. It is fabulous by day, but
a beautiful 12th-century stone bridge, and Mozart spectacular at night when the
Passau, where walking tours visit St Stephen’s and Strauss palaces, opera house and
Cathedral and potter through the cobbled concerts. parliament are lit up.
streets and alleys. Those happy to
explore alone can see
Some river cruise lines offer all-day tours Klimpt’s famous painting
from Passau to Salzburg, the Austrian town The Kiss at the Belvedere Palace,
where Mozart was born and scenes from the
splash out on coffee and Sacher Tort at the
movie The Sound of Music were filmed, or
Sacher Hotel and ride the big Prater Wheel
Cesky Krumlov, a picture-postcard medieval
made famous in the film The Third Man.
city in the Czech Republic with a large castle
and narrow streets made for exploring. Next up it’s Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia,
the fourth country of the cruise. The Old
Once past Passau, river ships enter Austria.
Town is easy to explore alone – it’s very small
From Melk, tours visit a baroque Benedictine
and just a five-minute walk from where the
monastery dripping with gold decoration,
boats dock – but there are walking or hiking
acres of marble, grand frescoes and a library
tours around the centre and up to the castle
that stores 100,000 books.
that sits above the city.
This is the start of the Wachau Valley, a
Last stop is Budapest, the capital of Hungary,
scenic 24-mile stretch of river with vineyards,
where itineraries usually include an overnight
ruined castles and picturesque villages.
stay so there’s time to see the sights before
Several river cruise lines offer guided bike
going home.
rides through the valley to Dürnstein, a tiny
Did you know? town where attractions include wine, apricots The city has many claims to fame - the oldest
and a ruined hill-top castle in which Richard underground rail network in Europe after
the Lionheart was once held captive. London, the largest Jewish synagogue in
Almost 16,000 British river
cruisers sailed the Rhine/Danube Europe and the third-largest parliament
But the jewel in the Danube’s crown has to
itinerary in 2017, up almost 50% building in the world (it’s trumped by the
be Vienna, the glorious capital of Austria, a
on the previous year, according to Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest and the
city of music, art and palaces, from where the
Clia UK & Ireland. Palace of Westminster in London).
Habsburg emperors and empresses ruled the
Austro-Hungarian empire for some 700 years. There are walking, cycling and Segway tours,
First-time visitors will want to ride around an amphibious bus, which drives around Pest
the spectacular Ringstrasse, a three-mile before plunging into the Danube and thermal
circular boulevard lined with grand palaces, spas for those who want to relax. Tour
museums and government buildings, and highlights include Heroes Square, an area
peek into the royal family’s Hofburg Palace. laid out in 1896 to mark Hungary’s 1,000th
anniversary, and Fisherman’s Bastion, a
There are also tours to the Schönbrunn lookout spot in Buda with great views of the
Palace, the Habsburg’s summer residence, and river below.
16 | RIVER DIARY | JANUARY 2019THE LOWER DANUBE
Lower Danube JOURNEY:ALONG THE
FIND IT River cruise lines itineraries generally account of its grand Belle Epoche buildings.
The Danube flows from the Black Forest include an illuminations cruise through
Budapest after dark so passengers can see From Rousse, tours visit Veliko Turnavo,
in Germany to the Black Sea in Romania,
the city by night. They then set sail, heading the capital of Bulgaria before the Turkish
passing through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary,
east through Hungary. invasion in the late 1300s, and Arbanassi,
Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania
a village with six tiny churches
along the way. The Lower Danube runs
First top is either Pecs, a city plastered with ornate
from Budapest to the Black Sea.
founded by the Romans frescoes. An Orthodox
THE CRUISE some 2,000 years ago, Top tip: choir performance in the
The top-selling voyage is seven nights, or Kalosca, from where Church of Archangel
The most interesting
sailing from Giurgiu, the port for Bucharest excursions visit the Michael and Gabriel is a
sights on the Lower Danube
in Romania, to the Hungarian capital of Hungarian puszta, highlight of the tour.
are not along the river bank
Budapest (or vice-versa), visiting Croatia, of prairie, to watch a so passengers should be
Serbia and Bulgaria, and usually including traditional horse show. Veliko Turnavo is about
prepared for long
an extra pre-cruise hotel night in Bucharest. In Hungary that means two hours’ drive from
transfers most
A few cruises also visit the Danube Delta, whip-cracking cowboys days.
Rousse. For those who don’t
where the river flows into the Black Sea. who gallop their steeds wish to stray so far, most river
without spilling glasses filled cruise lines offer alternative tours
GETTING THERE with wine. to Ivanovo, 30 minutes from Rousse,
Clients sailing between Bucharest and to visit two churches hewn into rocks some
Budapest will fly in or out of each city. Novi Sad in Serbia or Osijek in Croatia are 900 years ago and decorated with frescoes
next, then there’s a full day to explore the and icons.
WHAT TO SEE Serbian capital of Belgrade. Tours visit
This is a fascinating journey through five Tito’s mausoleum and the impressive St Giurgiu, the port for Bucharest, is on the
Eastern European countries that visits Sava Orthodox church but it is just as easy other side of the river from Rousse. Cruises
forts, castles, Roman archaeological sites to explore alone as river ships dock right by mostly end here but include a tour of the
and spectacular rock formations. It also the city centre. capital - a vast palace built by former
includes a transit through the scenic Iron dictator Nicholas Ceausescu that now
Gates Gorge. Soon after Belgrade, river ships enter the houses the Romanian Parliament is the
Iron Gate Gorge – a series of four canyons main attraction – and a hotel night in the
A few river cruise lines offer three-week that run for 90 miles. A 40-foot-high rock city before passengers fly home.
voyages all the way from the North Sea to statue of King Decebalus, the erstwhile
the Black Sea. For details of the journey ruler of Dacia, in what is now Romania, CroisiEurope, A-Rosa, Fred Olsen and
as far as Budapest see pages 13 to 16. The marks the eastern end of the gorge. others cruise further east and include bird-
following continues the journey from spotting trips in the Unesco-listed Danube
Budapest to Romania, but itineraries also Most itineraries call into Rousse in Bulgaria, a Delta Biosphere Reserve where the river
operate in the other direction. town known in its heyday as Little Vienna on meets the Black Sea.
StowawayMedia.com | 17THE RHINE AND MOSELLE
Rhine and Moselle
JOURNEY: ALONG THE
Top tip:
It’s worth adding a couple of
hotel nights in Amsterdam to the
start or end of the cruise as there
is so much to see. There are long
FIND IT queues for the city’s museums day from London to
The Rhine flows and Anne Frank House so Amsterdam (three from
from Switzerland advise clients to book June 2019). The return
to Holland, passing tickets online. journey requires a change
through France and in Brussels.
Germany along the way.
The Moselle rises in north-east WHAT TO SEE
France and flows through Luxembourg and If it’s spring again, it has to be tulips from
Germany, joining the Rhine at Koblenz. Amsterdam. All the Dutch and Belgium
waterways’ cruises in spring include tours to
THE CRUISE the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, Holland,
One-week sailings between Amsterdam and where seven million tulip, daffodil and
Basel in Switzerland navigate the Rhine orchid bulbs are planted each year, creating
Gorge and call into Cologne, Koblenz, themed displays (it’s Flower Power in 2019)
Rüdesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg and Breisach. that attract millions of visitors. The gardens
Some itineraries start or end in Cologne or are open from mid-March to mid-May.
Dusseldorf; a few operate round-trip from
Cologne. Longer cruises combine the Rhine These cruises call at Arnhem, to visit the
with the Moselle. There are also one-week Airborne Museum that remembers the 1944
spring-time cruises around Holland and Battle of Arnhem, and Veere or Middelburg,
Belgium round-trip from Amsterdam. for tours to an enormous storm barrier built
after devastating floods in 1953.
GETTING THERE
There are scheduled and low-cost flights Dutch waterways itineraries also visit Antwerp
direct from the UK to Amsterdam, and Ghent in Belgium, offer excursions to
Dusseldorf, Basel and Cologne. Clients Bruges and call at Rotterdam in Holland,
joining a spring-time cruise from from where there are outings to Gouda, Delft
Amsterdam might like to consider travelling and Kinderdijk, where visitors can go inside a
by train. Eurostar has two direct services a windmill and learn how they operate.
18 | RIVER DIARY | JANUARY 2019Amsterdam to Basel cruises follow the same Speyer, to visit what was once one of the ON THE MOSELLE
route as Amsterdam to Budapest itineraries biggest cathedrals in the western world and The Moselle is a much narrower and more
but carry straight on when the latter turn left an 800-year-old Jewish mikveh, or purifying scenic river than the Rhine as it cuts through
onto the Main River (see pages 13-16). That’s bath, and then it’s on to Strasbourg, the the heart of one of Germany’s main wine-
at Mainz, where the chief attraction is the highlight of the whole cruise for many. growing areas and the banks are a carpet of
Gutenberg Museum dedicated to the man verdant vines.
who invented printing. The city is a mix of old and new architecture
(the half-timbered houses in Petite France All Moselle cruises call at Cochem, a pretty
Next stop is Mannheim, an industrial city vs the modern European Parliament and town of half-timbered houses and wine shops
where Karl Benz built the world’s first European Court of Justice) and French that’s overlooked by the imposing Reichsburg
motor car. Fred Olsen River Cruises has and German cultures due to the fact it has Castle. It’s a stiff climb up to the fort but
walking tours of the city that visit a model changed hands between the two countries worth doing for the views over the river.
of his first automobile but most river cruise five times since 1800.
Itineraries also call at Trier, a city founded by the
lines whisk passengers away on excursions
Attractions include an astronomical clock Romans in 16BC, where the huge Porta Nigra
to Heidelberg, a far more attractive town
in the Gothic Cathedral that dates back (Black Gate) and the house where Karl Marx
about 20 minutes away.
to 1574 and still keeps perfect time, the was born are among attractions, and Bernkastel.
It sits on the Neckar River and is overlooked cathedral itself (peek inside or climb the Avalon Waterways and AmaWaterways offer
by a huge partly ruined red sandstone 332 steps to the top) and canal boat rides. cruises that start in Luxembourg.
castle with a long history of conflict and
destruction. Tours visit the castle, then Breisach, the last stop before Basel, is
allow free time in the town. For those
feeling active, AmaWaterways, APT and
the gateway for excursions into the Black
Forest (tours visit the Vogtbauernhof open
Did you know?
Avalon Waterways offer hikes up Holy air museum depicting life in the region, and
Mountain on the other side of the river. there are hiking and biking trails) or Almost 50,000 British river cruise
Their reward (apart from feeling righteous) to Riquewihr, a medieval village nestling passengers sailed the Rhine and Moselle in
is great views of the castle. in the vineyards of Alsace that’s so picture 2017, making it the top selling river in the
perfect it’s like stepping back in time UK, according to Clia.
From Mannheim, river cruise lines call into 500 years.
StowawayMedia.com | 19THE DOURO
Douro JOURNEY: ALONG THE
Top tip:
The Douro cruise is leisurely
FIND IT weeks or more to get with fab scenery for those who dos Remédios in
The Douro rises in north central Spain back as the vessels want to take it easy but those who September.
and flows south-west and into northern had to be pulled by want to kick things up a gear can
men and oxen. go walking through vineyards Most itineraries
Portugal, emptying into the Atlantic at
and canoeing with Emerald include local food
Porto.
Porto is a grand city with Waterways. and port tastings at a
THE CRUISE narrow cobbled streets, quinta, or wine estate,
There are two itineraries. The first, and grand squares and centuries of some have canoeing trips on
most popular, is a voyage from Porto to history. Walking tours visit a 13th- the Sabor River, a tributary of
Vega de Terrón, a distance of 210km (130 century cathedral, the São Bento railway the Douro.
miles), an excursion to Salamanca in Spain, station, which is adorned with 20,000 tiles
depicting Portugal’s history, and the bookshop But the highlight after Porto has to be
and a cruise back to Porto. The second
where JK Rowling wrote some of her Harry Salamanca, a Spanish city known as
option is a one-way cruise between Porto
Potter novels. the Golden City because its sandstone
and Vega de Terrón sandwiched between
buildings glisten in the sunshine. It’s a
hotel stays in Madrid and Lisbon.
Excursions often include a boat ride under two-hour drive from Vega de Terrón, but a
GETTING THERE the bridges over the Douro that link Porto gorgeous day out (most excursions include
Direct flights operate from London to with Gaia on the other bank and usually lunch with a flamenco show) and a chance
Porto. Clients who want to add a few nights squeeze in a tour and tasting in one of the to discover Spain as it used to be, before
in Lisbon can fly there and take the train to city’s port wine lodges. millions of tourists moved in.
Porto, a journey of just two and a half hours.
Top attractions along the river include Tours visit Plaza Mayor, one of the
WHAT TO SEE Guimarães, where Portugal’s first king was biggest squares in Spain, a 12th-century
The scenery is the star on these cruises, crowned almost 900 years ago, and the Romanesque cathedral, a ‘new’ Gothic-
which either start or end with a tour of baroque Mateus Palace, the manor house style basilica built next door almost 300
Porto and then journey past acres of depicted on bottles of Mateus rosé wine, years ago and a bustling market where
terraced vineyards that produce the grapes where tours show off a priceless collection stalls parade mouth-watering local Jamon
used to make port wine and through deep of books, furniture and reliquaries. Iberico (cured ham), olives, oil and cheeses.
valleys on the way to Vega de Terrón.
The Douro Museum in Regua has an
Vessels navigate five deep locks along the excellent exhibition about wine growing in Did you know?
way. These were built between 1964 and the region. In Lamego, the top attraction
1985 to tame the river, which until then was is the Sanctuary of our Lady of Remedies,
The number of Britons cruising the
a raging torrent – so wild that in the days a pilgrimage church at the top of an ornate Douro in 2017 leapt 85% to 20,700,
before roads and railways, it took wine- baroque staircase. There are some 680 making it the fastest-growing river
growers two or three days to get their grapes steps that pilgrims climb on their knees in Europe, according to Clia.
from Regua to Porto by boat but three during the festival of Nossa Senhora
20 | RIVER DIARY | JANUARY 2019NAME
Boutique river cruising
through the heart
of Europe
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combining state-of-the-art Star-Ships with meticulously planned itineraries, EmeraldVALUE
plus our promise of exceptional EmeraldVALUE, so your customers can be
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value for money. ■■ Return flights from a choice of
up to 15 UK airports
■■ Stylish accommodation on-board
our innovative Star-Ships
■■ All on-board meals in
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■■ Complimentary wine, beer & soft
drinks with lunch & dinner
■■ Onshore excursions and
Heated indoor pool† Sun Deck guided tours
■■ Extra-special EmeraldPLUS and
EmeraldACTIVE experiences
■■ Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi
■■ Complimentary on-board bicycles†
■■ All port charges, taxes and
transfer costs
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Reflections Restaurant Enjoy included excursions PLUS ALL TIPS ARE INCLUDED
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From the moment your customers step We take your customers to the heart of local Everything your customers could need is
on-board one of our Star-Ships they’re culture with our included excursions and included in the price of their river cruise.
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From return flights, to all on-board meals,
every inch designed with comfort and experiences and ensuring they see the countless
complimentary wine, beer & soft drinks with
enjoyment in mind. highlights as they sail Europe’s rivers.
lunch & dinner, onshore excursions and guided
Guests can indulge in delicious and diverse On most of our Star-Ships we offer tours, complimentary on-board Wi-Fi and all
dining in the Reflections Restaurant and enjoy complimentary bicycles†, allowing guests port charges, taxes and transfer costs.
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StowawayMedia.com | 21Cruising
IN FRANCE
22 | RIVER DIARY | JANUARY 2019THE RHÔNE AND SAÔNE
JOURNEY: ALONG THE
Rhône and Saône
Top tip:
One river is great but two
is even better. Offer clients a
FIND IT Michelin-starred Itineraries also call at Viviers, a once-
combo pairing the Rhone with
The Rhône rises in establishments or thriving town that now has just 1,000
the Seine. They are offered by
Switzerland, flows Avalon Waterways, Uniworld
so-called bouchon inhabitants and the smallest working
into Southeast France River Cruises and APT. bistros that serve local cathedral in France, and Vienne, where
and empties into the Lyonnais food. highlights include a 13,000-seat Roman
Mediterranean south of amphitheatre and a temple built in honour
Highlights in the city of Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia
Arles. The Saône rises in
include the white Basilica of more than 2,000 years ago.
France. The two meet at Lyon,
Notre Dame and remains of a nearby
where the Saône flows into the Rhône.
Roman theatre above the old town (tours In Arles, tours visit an even bigger Roman
THE CRUISE will drive there but there is a funicular for amphitheatre with seating for 20,000 that
Most are one-week sailings from Lyon to those exploring alone). Tours also visit is still used for concerts and plays, and pass
Avignon or Arles or vice-versa that include Les Halles food hall and the traboules, scenes immortalised in oil by Vincent Van
a couple of nights sailing the Saône as far the name given to alleyways built in Gogh when he lived in the town in 1888
as Chalon-sur-Saône. Some itineraries medieval times and hidden behind huge and 1889.
operate round-trip from Lyon. A few wooden doors.
include Paris at the start and end of the Some tours visit the asylum in St Remy
cruise. The city sits at the confluence of the Rhône that he checked into after leaving Arles and
and Saône. Head north towards Chalon- where he painted The Starry Night. A few
GETTING THERE sur-Saône and there are excursions to also go into the Camargue, a region famous
Lyon has its own airport; for Avignon Cluny, to see what remains of what was for cowboys, bulls and rice paddies.
and Arles, passengers will fly in and out once the largest church in the world, and
of Marseilles Airport, which is about an Beaune, where more than 500 years ago In Avignon, tours will likely visit the grand
hour’s drive away. Clients can alternatively a hospital was opened to care for the poor Popes Palace, where seven pontiffs lived in
travel by Eurostar train from London, and sick. It’s now a museum and one of the the 1300s, and head out to the Port du Gard, a
transferring onto France’s high-speed TGV most visited sights in France on account of magnificent 160ft-high Roman aqueduct that
train network in Paris. Journey time from its spectacular multi-coloured tiled roofs. was built almost two thousand years ago.
Paris to Lyon is around two hours and from
Head south on the Rhône and there are Those happy to go ashore alone, will
Paris to Avignon just under three hours.
days out in Tournon, a town across the find narrow streets to explore, mouth-
WHAT TO SEE river from Tain L’Hermitage, where wine is watering produce in the Les Halles
Lyon is France’s second-largest city and king. Naturally a tasting is on the cards, but market and what remains of the Pont
the acknowledged gastronomic capital of there are also walking tours of Tournon and d’Avignon (it’s only half a bridge these
France - some even say the world – for its several river cruise lines have guided cycle days because it was washed away so many
multitude of restaurants including classy rides along the river. times they gave up rebuilding it).
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