It’s the year of the river cruise

This will be the year of the river cruise, according to the UK’s Passenger Shipping Association. Which is a little bit strange because I have a funny feeling they said the same about 2012.
But the organisation’s 12 river cruise operators have come up with some convincing arguments – such as the five new ships and the 30 new itineraries on sale in the UK for 2013.
AmaWaterways will be introducing two new vessels and four new routes in France and Portugal, including its first cruises on the Seine. AmaPrima, which caters for 164 passengers, will debut in April and cruise the Danube and Rhine. Sister ship AmaVida will carry ip to 106 passengers on the Douro. Both vessels have heated pools and spacious sun decks.
Avalon Waterways takes delivery of two new “suite” ships in May; the Avalon Artistry II and the Avalon Expression, claiming cabins which are a third larger than their competitors’, join last year’s debutantes, the Visionary, Vista and Panorama. Beyond Europe, the company will also be cruising the Yangtze in China and the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia.
Scenic Tours claims to be the first river cruise line to offer all-inclusive fares covering unlimited drinks and a personal butler service for every guest. Its new ship, Scenic Jewel, will be sailing the Rhine and Danube and all current ships on the same rivers will be refurbished.
The River Cruise Line has announced that several of its cruises will carry no single supplements, including a five-day Rhine cruise and a Venice cruise at Christmas. The line will also be introducing a selection of four-star cruises on board the Ms Switzerland II. New cruises for 2013 will inclde destinations such as Russia and the Mekong Delta.
Tauck is also dropping single supplements and introduces two new itineraries on the Rhône, one with a family focus and a second looking at the art and culture of southern France.
Shearings‘ new brochure includes 15 new routes, including an Eastern Europe exploration visiting both Prague and Berlin. The company also provides coach travel to the ships from 300 pick-up points in the UK.
And if you think it’s a mystery why the rapidly-expanding Viking River Cruises – sponsor of ITV’s The Mystery Drama series – don’t get a mention in the PSA’s list, then wonder no more. They are not members of the organisation.