Some of us choose a river cruise because we love to explore some of Europe’s most historic cities. For others, the desire to sail is born out of a love of fine food and wines. If you belong to the latter group, you’ll appreciate this AmaWaterways special voyage: In Celebration of Wine President’s Cruise.
Departing March 29, 2012 from Arles, France, this unique itinerary will transport just 150 guests to some of the most historic and picturesque locations along the Rhone. Your home away from home will be the elegant and spacious MS AmaDagio, one of AmaWaterways popular “Sensation Six” vessels.
Of course, no wine-themed President’s cruise would be complete without some exciting guests. Sailing aboard AmaDagio for this one-of-a-kind journey will be AmaWaterways President Rudi Schreiner and Executive Vice President Kristin Karst. They will be joined by Carissa Chappellet of Napa Valley’s Chappellet Winery and Archie McLaren, founder of the popular Central Coast Wine Classic that takes place each year in California.
The MS AmaDagio hosts AmaWaterways
This voyage is also a momentous occasion for AmaWaterways and a great opportunity for passengers as they sail aboard the elegant MS AmaDagio, marking the first time the ship has made the journey down the historic Rhone River from Arles to Lyon, France.
AmaWaterways has put a great deal of time, preparation and planning into its “In Celebration of Wine” itineraries. The special features and events on these voyages include complimentary wine-themed shore excursions and winery visits, onboard lectures, wine tastings and wine pairings at meals.
Guests can sail in luxury along Europe
Onboard this special President’s Wine Cruise, AmaWaterways treats its guests to even more, including visits to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Arles and Avignon, the picturesque villages of Viviers, Tournon, Vienne and Trevoux, as well as excursions to the famed Beaujolais wine region.
The full itinerary of this exciting springtime voyage:
| DAY | PORT | ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arles, France | Embarkation; Welcome Aboard Cocktail & Dinner |
| 2 | Arles, France | Les Beaux excursion; Olive Farm visit; Arles Walking tour or Van Gogh tour. |
| 3 | Avignon, France / Viviers, France | Walking tour & Papal Palace or Pont du Gard excursion in Avignon; Grignan excursion and onboard nougat demonstration in Viviers. |
| 4 | Viviers, France / Tournon, France | Ghost walk in Viviers; Winery visit & tasting and chocolate tasting in Tournon. |
| 5 | Tournon, France / Vienne, France | Free time in Tournon; City tour or castle visit in Vienne. |
| 6 | Trevoux, France | Beaujoulais excursion |
| 7 | Trevoux, France / Lyon, France | Free time in Trevoux; City tour in Lyon |
| 8 | Lyon, France | Disembarkation |
This unique European voyage can be extended by adding an optional land program that includes three nights pre-cruise in Barcelona and a three-night post-cruise stay in beautiful Paris. Your journey to the French capital from Lyon will be via TGV Train. Breakfast is included daily on this optional land program, along with sightseeing tours and the services of an AmaWaterways cruise manager, who will accompany and assist you for your entire journey.
For more information on AmaWaterways and its impressive MS AmaDagio, be sure to check out our AmaWaterways line and fleet overviews right here on River Cruise Advisor.
AmaWaterways passed another milestone in its history earlier this month, when it launched its second vessel to be based along the magnificent Mekong River, the 124-guest AmaLotus.
AmaLotus heads up the Mekong River on her maiden voyage. Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways
Operating the line’s popular Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong itinerary, AmaLotus joins the 2009-built La Marguerite on voyages sailing from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. On this itinerary, guests are treated to some truly special bonuses, like a two-night stay in Hanoi and a remarkable overnight stay aboard a luxury junk ship in Ha Long Bay, itself recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“Vietnam and Cambodia offer an incredible array of interesting, historic and scenic destinations, especially along the Mekong River. We’re extremely proud to introduce a second ship there with the features and amenities of the MS AmaLotus,” said Rudi Schreiner, AmaWaterways’ President.
AmaLotus recieved a traditional blessing before setting out for the first time. Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways
Like all AmaWaterways voyages, the ship is as much of a prize as the destination itself. With no staterooms smaller than 226 square feet, AmaLotus is ideally suited to providing guests with an experience that is as relaxing as it is luxurious. The onboard décor is Colonial in theme, accented with regional Khmer touches, and passenger staterooms and suites even include kimonos and slippers.
Dining can also be taken as you wish, with an immersive menu of Asian and North American specialties, ensuring there are culinary options available for those seeking more local fare, or meals more reminiscent of home. Complimentary wine and beer are offered during lunch and dinner hours, along with complimentary spirits and soft drinks.
Staterooms aboard AmaLotus will reflect the same modern yet traditional decor found on La Marguerite. Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways.
But few things can rival the natural majesty of the Mekong River as seen from the expansive Sun Deck aboard AmaLotus. Guests can kick back and relax in a deck chair, amble up to the bar for a refreshing drink, or end the afternoon off with a final plunge in the onboard swimming pool.
It all adds up to a remarkable experience aboard AmaWaterways’ newest luxury river cruise vessel, sailing the mystical waters of one of the world’s oldest rivers.
For more information on AmaWaterways and the brand-new AmaLotus, be sure to check out our line and fleet overviews right here on River Cruise Advisor.
When many people think of river cruises, they automatically picture the waterways of Europe. While the vast majority of river cruises visit some of Europe’s most fascinating locales, there’s a world of river cruises that are available around the world, and perhaps none are more exotic than those that explore Asia. One such voyage is on our own personal “must-cruise” list: Viking River Cruises’ 12-night Imperial Jewels of China itinerary.
Viking Emerald cruises the Yangtze River. Photo courtesy of Viking River Cruises.
Operating between Beijing and Shanghai (or reverse) aboard Viking Emerald, Viking’s Imperial Jewels of China is a land and river cruise tour featuring some of China’s most important cities and sights. Numerous departure dates are offered between March and November of 2012. If you have a specific timeframe when you can cruise, it’s best to book now; we noticed some departures, like the April 5, 2012 sailing, are almost entirely sold out.
The city of Shanghai, China takes on a bright, colorful appearance at night. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Your journey begins in Beijing in the heart of China, where you spend three days soaking up all this ancient city has to offer, topped with a visit to the spellbinding marvel that is the Great Wall of China. Built in the 5th Century as a way to ward off invading nomadic forces, the Great Wall now spans 5,500 miles or 8,851 kilometers. That’s equal to the distance between Los Angeles and New York City – twice.
You’ll also visit the legendary Terra Cotta Army in Xian. Discovered in 1974, more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses were buried with Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, in 210 BC in order to protect him in the afterlife.
One of the sumptuous suites aboard Viking Emerald. Photo courtesy of Viking River Cruises.
Aboard Viking Emerald, one of the main highlights as you sail along the Yangtze is surely the transit of the Three Gorges and the Three Gorges Dam. A remarkable technological feat, the transit crosses five-stage locks, and you will see it in operation first-hand during a fully guided tour.
The full itinerary on this itinerary:
| DAY | PORT | ITINERARY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing | Arrive in Beijing and check into your hotel; free time. |
| 2 | Beijing | Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City |
| 3 | Beijing | Visit part of The Great Wall of China |
| 4 | Beijing & Xian | Tour Beijing via rickshaw and fly to Xian in the afternoon to explore this great city. |
| 5 | Xian & Chongqing | Tour the Terra Cotta Warriors before flying to Chongqing to board the beautiful Viking Emerald. Set sail in the evening. |
| 6 | Shibaozhai | Visit a 12-story temple built along the Yangtze in 1650 before continuing your cruise in the afternoon and evening. |
| 7 | Three Gorges & Lesser Three Gorges | Traverse the Yangtze for 150 miles through the Three Gorges. In the evening, transit the five-stage locks of the Three Gorges Dam. |
| 8 | Three Gorges Dam & Three Gorges | Tour the Three Gorges Dam in the morning, before sailing through Xiling Gorge, the largest of the Three Gorges. |
| 9 | Jingzhou | Embrace the opportunity to visit an elementary school sponsored by Viking River Cruises! |
| 10 | Wuhan & Shanghai | Disembark in Wuhan before flying to Shanghai. |
| 11 | Shanghai | Visit Old Shanghai for a look at this fascinating city. In the afternoon, tour the Yuyuan Gardens. |
| 12 | Shanghai | Your Asian adventure draws to a close this morning as you transfer to the airport for your flight home. |
Few itineraries offer the kind of discoveries that this itinerary does, and all in under two weeks’ time. This is one River Cruise of the Week you surely don’t want to miss.
For all the details on this voyage, check out the full departure details on the Viking River Cruises site, and be sure to view our complete Viking River Cruises and Viking Emerald profiles right here on River Cruise Advisor.
On Avid Cruiser
