Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders
2012 may only be a few hours old, but we’ve got a feeling the forthcoming year could be one of the best ever for the river cruise industry. No less than 10 new river cruise ships will launch this year, six of which will enter service for Viking River Cruises, with four of the company’s brand-new Viking Longships set to debut this March in the beautiful port of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Viking River Cruises' beautiful new Viking Longships are due to launch in Spring 2012. Photo courtesy of Viking River Cruises.
New ships are also coming from AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is nearing the final stages on a massive fleetwide refurbishment program that has seen each of its unique vessels recieve a top-to-bottom redesign, in conjunction with the company’s long-standing partners at Red Carnation Hotels. Be sure to check out our fully updated Uniworld Profile page and ship reviews.
The Main Lounge aboard Uniworld's River Ambassador has been extensively refitted. Photo courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Of course, we’re here to bring you first-hand coverage of all the “latest and greatest” in the river cruise industry this year here on River Cruise Advisor.
Stay tuned – it’s going to be a fun ride!
If you’ve been through the amazing Christmas Markets of Europe, you’ll be familiar with the warming scents of the German spiced mulled wine known as Gluhwein.
Enjoying a warming cup of Gluhwein at the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders
Now, the good people at Viking River Cruises are sharing their own recipe for this traditional delicacy:
Ingredients:
Four quarts dry red wine (e.g., zinfandel, pinot, burgundy)
One quart dry white wine
One pint brandy
One cup white sugar (more to taste)
Six cinnamon sticks
Twelve whole cloves
One-eighth teaspoon allspice
One-eighth teaspoon mace
Two oranges
One lemonDirections:
Pour red wine into a three-gallon pot (or larger) and begin gentle heating. Add sugar and spices. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add brandy and white wine, slices of one orange and the lemon. Steep for one hour over low heat. Serve hot and garnish with orange slices or a cinnamon stick.Makes 12-15 servings.
Check out this and other regional recipes on the Viking River Cruises website!
We spent seven fantastic days aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaLyra sailing from Nuremberg, Germany to Budapest, Hungary recently.
The 2009-built AmaLyra, docked in Melk, Austria. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders
Along the way, we stopped in some of Europe’s most beautiful cities and towns, exploring the historic Christmas Markets and partaking in the traditions of times gone by. The spicy aroma of hot mulled Gluhwein mingled with the fresh pine of trees and the scent of sizzling Bratwurst drifted across the historic town squares along the way.
Come step aboard AmaWaterways' AmaLyra with our complete, deck-by-deck Photo Tour! Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders
But the real star of the trip was arguably the 2009-built AmaLyra. Featuring every conceivable comfort and staffed by a crew of 41 highly dedicated individuals, the AmaLyra proved herself to be one of the most comfortable ways to explore the historic waterways of Europe.
Now, you can tour her yourself – virtually – with our complete, deck-by-deck AmaLyra Photo Tour!
Also, be sure to check out our updated profiles of AmaLyra and her sister-ship, the elegant AmaDolce – now with brand-new photos! More information on AmaWaterways, their fleet and stellar itineraries can be found on our complete AmaWaterways Company Overview!
On Avid Cruiser
