40 of the most exciting river cruises for 2020
AFRICA
CHOBE
10. Out of Africa
An average day meandering the channels of Lake Kariba in southern Africa might bring sightings of basking crocodiles, hippos and elephants. But you’ll see an awful lot more on CroisiEurope’s The Ends of the Earth itinerary with an extension to Cape Town and the Cape of Good Hope. Throughout the journey, you will enjoy spotting a great variety of wildlife. You will also embark on a number of safari experiences – both on the water and on land – as you make your way through four different countries. The majority of cruising is done on board the brand-new Zimbabwean Dream. Highlights of the trip include cruising on the Gache Gache and Zambezi rivers, game-spotting in Matusadona National Park on the shore of Lake Kariba, a visit to Impalila Island in Namibia and an optional flight over Victoria Falls.
• The 13-day trip costs from £6,475pp including city hotel stays plus accommodation at Cascades lodge, all meals and transfers, some cruise excursions, domestic flights, the services of a local guide and some tips. Excludes international flights and a Zimbabwean visa ($30) (020 8328 1281; croisieurope.co.uk)
NILE
11. Sea of Galilee and the Pyramids
The opportunity to combine a Nile cruise with a visit to neighbouring Israel is rather unusual but Emerald Waterways is offering just that on a new itinerary that travels from Tel Aviv to Cairo via a slew of fascinating historical cities and sights. Highlights include a cruise along the Sea of Galilee, a tour of Jerusalem’s beguiling Old Town and a visit to the ancient temples of Ramesses II in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. The cruise is aboard the MS Hamees.
• The Israel and Ancient Egypt River Cruise costs from £5,420pp departing Sep 13. Includes a four-night river cruise in Egypt and 11-nights’ hotel accommodation (0808 301 3228; emeraldwaterways.co.uk)
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• Everything you need to know about cruising the Nile
12. Mythical voyage
Luxury line Uniworld is set to launch a new ship on the Nile in August, the SS Sphinx. The 42-suite Sphinx is a good option for those wishing to spend a bit more time on the river, as she will sail on 12-day round-trip cruises from Cairo, where passengers spend two nights at the Four Seasons hotel. The cruise runs the gamut of sights including temples dedicated to Hathor and Hatshepsut as well as the Valley of the Kings. Giza’s Grand Egyptian Museum is due to open in October.
• A 12-day Splendours of Egypt and The Nile cruise costs from £5,000pp, including seven nights on board with unlimited drinks, excursions, tips, transfers and four hotel nights in Cairo (0333 300 8478; uniworld.com)
EUROPE
DANUBE
13. A rare passion
The Oberammergau Passion Play is a decennial event, which has been performed since the 17th century, and a handful of operators have bagged some of those once-in-a-decade tickets for passengers this summer. This journey through four countries, from the Alps to the Black Sea through the scenic Wachau Valley, is a perennial favourite among river cruisers. Activities include city tours and a tour of Melk Abbey. This year’s Passion Play will involve active participation from more than 2,300 locals, ranging from infants to 96-year-old Anni Drohmann.
• CroisiEurope’s seven-night Cruise on the Beautiful Blue Danube and the Passion Play in Oberammergau costs from £2,159pp departing June 17; from £2,102pp departing Aug 26, cruise-only. Includes orchestra seat tickets to the Passion Play (020 8328 1281; croisieurope.co.uk)
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• The ultimate guide to Europe’s greatest river
14. Balkan gems
River cruises to the Balkans have proved so popular for APT that the operator has added several more departure dates for this summer. Itineraries now include a journey to the Godollo Palace in Hungary on board the Grand Empress, a restored steam train once used by Emperor Franz Josef and his wife Sisi. Balkan Gems takes guests down a less visited stretch of the Danube from Budapest to Giurgiu, in southern Romania. In Pecs, there is a chance to view the ceramics collection of Laszlo Gyugyi.
• An eight-day Balkan Gems cruise from Budapest to Giurgiu costs from £2,345pp departing 2021. Includes transfers and drinks (0800 046 3002; aptouring.co.uk)
15. Tales of empire
In a region endowed with picturesque riverside towns and villages, not to mention some of the world’s prettiest perched castles, it’s easy to overlook the more ancient historical significance of some of Europe’s river-cruise favourites. Archaeological specialist Andante Travels has teamed up with A-Rosa to offer an in-depth look at the former Roman province of Pannonia, bound on the north and east by the Danube. An expert historian will accompany passengers on visits to two former capitals of Roman Pannonia – Carnuntum (near Vienna) and Aquincum (near Budapest) – and to Devin Castle, which dates back to the Neolithic period. On board the A-Rosa Donna, more tales of the Roman empire can be gleaned during early-evening lectures.
• An eight-day Cruising the Danube: Romans, Amber Habsburg Splendour itinerary costs from £2,499pp departing on August 30 and October 18, including transfers and excursions (01722 713800; andantetravels.com)
• Dramatic history, thermal baths, buzzy ‘ruin’ bars – an expert guide to Budapest
16. Ripping up the rule book
With its open-all-hours approach to breakfast, lounge-style rooftop bar, truly informal dress code and late nights in port, U by Uniworld not only has a younger demographic in mind but also the prices to match. This year, Uniworld is offering three new itineraries and moving its ship, The B, to Central Europe (on an Amsterdam and Brussels-bound itinerary). The A will sail the Danube on a new Vienna Vibe itinerary from Vienna to Nuremberg. Sailing includes a DJ set and a complimentary daily happy hour and the itinerary builds in plenty of time to explore independently in Krems, Melk, Linz, Passau and Regensburg.
• From £1,899pp in a studio cabin. Excludes flights (0845 678 2795; ubyuniworld.com)
17. Secret Danube
Finding new experiences on return visits to a favourite region or country can be tricky. Jules Verne’s Secrets collection has been created with this in mind. A new Secret Danube itinerary delves into the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires, travelling via capitals that were once behind the Iron Curtain and visiting places including Constanta/Tulcea, Bucharest, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, the Iron Gates, Belgrade/Novi Sad and Osijek. At the Black Sea, the river widens into the marshy, tree-fringed lakes, reed islands and forests of the Danube Delta, possibly one of the well-travelled river’s best-kept secrets.
• A nine-night Secret Danube cruise from Bucharest to Budapest on the MS Gerard Schmitter or MS L’Europe costs from £2,395pp departing on May 20 and Oct 6. Also includes one hotel night and drinks on board (020 3733 2694; vjv.com)
18. Ultra luxury
Impeccably executed menus, longer stays ashore (with the option to dine in acclaimed restaurants) and an unparalleled crew-to-guest ratio have secured Crystal’s footing in the ultra-luxury river-cruising category. With an eye on December’s Christmas markets, passenger s sailing on Crystal Ravel between Regensburg and Budapest can take advantage of a new shore extension in Prague, which offers exclusive access to the Rothmeyer and Spanish halls, the Rudolph Gallery, the Throne Hall, and the Glass and Habsburg salons.
• A seven-night Delightful Danube cruise on board Crystal Ravel costs from £2,938pp, departing on Dec 7. Includes drinks, transfers, some shore excursions and tips. The Prague Discovery extension costs £1,230pp and includes three nights at the Mandarin Oriental with breakfast, private transfers and most tours (020 7399 7604; crystalcruises.co.uk)
RHINE
19. Rumba on the river
Snake-hipped ballroom heart-throb Pasha Kovalev was noticeable by his absence on the most recent series of Strictly Come Dancing but guess where you’ll find him this spring? Rumba-ing down the Rhine past tulip fields, windmills and castles on an Emerald Waterways river cruise from Basel to Amsterdam. Exclusive events will include a private dance performance at the Electoral Palace in Koblenz, a QA with Kovalev and, of course, the chance to hit the dance floor yourself.
• The Rumba down the Rhine with Pasha Kovalev cruise, on board Emerald Sun, costs from £1,845pp departing April 3, including tips and excursions and events (0808 301 3228; emeraldwaterways.co.uk)
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