River Cruise Bulletinbrought to you by Jane Archer on behalf of CLIA UK & IrelandJane Archer is the UK’s leading cruise journalist writing for trade titles including Travel Weekly and Cruise Trade News. She is also the Daily Telegraph Travel’s cruise expert.

LOOK WHAT’S COOKING AT SCENICScenic iS adding a cookery School to three of itS french river cruiSe veSSelS thiS winter.

Scenic Diamond, Scenic Emerald and Scenic Sapphire will relaunch next spring with six fewer cabins each to make way for a kitchen with individual cooking stations where passengers can learn to prepare dishes local to the areas they are cruising in.Emerald and Sapphire cruise the Rhône and Saône between Lyon and Avignon, Diamond sails the Gironde, Garonne and Dordogne Rivers round-trip from Bordeaux. An eight-night alternative to Diamond’s 11-night Beautiful Bordeaux cruise is new in 2017 and includes complimentary tours and tastings in the Médoc, St Émilion and Sauternes wine regions.As part of the reconfiguration, each vessel will be fitted with two Royal Owner’s Suites that are almost 2.5 times bigger than standard balcony cabins, larger wellness centres and gyms, plus a vitality pool.contact: 0808 102 1234 | Scenic.co.uk

New Vessels

BARGING AROUND FRANCE WITH SAGASaga haS launched new hotel barge holidayS on the waterwayS and canalS of france.

The over-50’s specialist is offering two six-night cruises from Epernay in Champagne to Paris on the Raymonde, a 22-passenger barge, and one six-night Secrets of Southern France voyage on the Canal du Rhone-à-Sete through Provence and Languedoc-

Roussillon on the 24-passenger Anne-Marie. Both vessels are operated by French river cruise giant CroisiEurope.The cruises, departing in April and October 2017, are exclusive to Saga and for clients aged over 50 only. Prices include flights or Eurostar train travel, transfers, travel insurance and an open bar with complimentary drinks (excluding Champagne, branded spirits and selected wines) served 12 hours a day.contact: 0800 300 400 | Saga.co.uk/rivercruiSeS

TAUCK TO SPRUCE FRENCH FLEET OVER WINTERtauck’S french river boatS SwiSS emerald, which SailS on the rhône, and SwiSS Sapphire, which cruiSeS the Seine, are going into dry dock thiS winter for a major refurbiShment that will knock 30 cabinS into 20 and reduce the paSSenger count from 118 to 98.

BELMOND BUILDS LUXURY DUO FOR FRANCE

belmond iS building two eight-paSSenger luxury hotel bargeS for itS afloat in france brand.Belmond Pivoine (peony) will cruise between Meaux and Châlons-en-Champagne along the River Marne and Canal Lateral de Marne while Belmond Lilas (lilac) will sail the Canal de la Marne au Rhin between Arzviller and Strasbourg in Alsace. Each will be designed to reflect the flowers they are named after and the places where they will sail – yellows and whites for Pivoine, lilacs and rustic furnishings for Lilas. They will have a small pool and bikes that passengers can borrow to explore ashore. The barges will be available for full-ship charters only.contact: 0845 0772 222belmond.com

New Itineraries

When they re-enter service in 2017, they will be rechristened Emerald and Sapphire and also have a new specialty restaurant, Arthur’s, named after the company founder.0800 810 8020 | tauck.co.uk

A RETURN TO RUSSIAapt iS relaunching ruSSia river cruiSeS under itS four-Star travelmarvel brand after a two-year break.The 11-day holiday is on the 150-passenger Surikov, comprises three nights in St Petersburg, two in Moscow and five days sailing between the two cities. There are just two departures, on July 20 and August 29; itineraries include tours of the Hermitage in St Petersburg and Kremlin in Moscow, a vodka tasting and Russian language lesson.contact: 0800 012 6686aptouring.co.uk

… AND SETS EYES ON THE SOLO MARKETuniworld haS waived Single SupplementS on more than 200 cruiSeS in europe and ruSSia in 2017 to cater for the growing number of people chooSing to travel alone.The offer, which excludes suites, applies to popular itineraries on the Rhine, Danube and Seine, and means savings of up to £2,900 for a 15-day Majestic France holiday. The holiday pairs a seven-night cruise on the Seine with one week sailing from Bordeaux on the Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne Rivers. Another 69 cruises across 10 itineraries have a reduced single supplement.contact: 0808 168 9110 | uniworld.com

A SIMPLER SOLUTION FROM APT

apt haS launched itS 2017 programme featuring two levelS of cruiSeS to help agentS find the right holiday for their clientS.Luxury denotes APT’s five-star all-inclusive departures, while Premium is the new name for its four-star Travelmarvel-branded cruises.A sub-luxury category, Voyages, taps into sister company AmaWaterways’ river cruises. Its prices include flights, transfers and excursions, but exclude the butler service, unlimited soft and alcoholic drinks and Signature and Freedom of choice tours offered under the luxury brand. contact: 0800 012 6686 | aptouring.co.uk

BOOK AND WIN WITH SCENIC AND EMERALDjamie oliver kitchen goodieS and gopro equipment are among the giftS agentS can earn in a new river rewardS Scheme launched by SiSter river cruiSe lineS Scenic and emerald waterwayS. Points will be awarded for every booking made with either brand, with double points available for those who support selected dates and itineraries. Game cards where agents can collect points have been distributed in BP’s Mailbag. To claim a gift, points should be emailed to rewards@scenic.co.uk for verification. The rewards scheme initially runs to the end of December.contact: 0808 102 1234 | Scenic.co.uk

UNIWORLD TEES OFF IN FRANCE…

excurSionS to two of france’S leading 18-hole golf courSeS are among a new collection of go active tourS on uniworld river cruiSeS’ eight-day pariS & normandy cruiSeS on the Seine next year.Keen golfers can practice their swings at Golf de Rouen Mont-Saint-Aignan in Rouen on day three of the cruise, and Golf d’Etretat, above the bay of Étretat, on day four. Other Go Active options include cycle tours in Giverny and Paris, and hiking to Richard the Lionheart’s ruined castle in Les Andelys.The cruises, round-trip from Paris, will be on the new Joie de Vivre, which launches next March with features including a swimming pool that converts into a cinema and a ‘cave’ for wine-pairing dinners.

Product Updates

AMAWATERWAYS’ WINNING WAYSagentS who make 10 bookingS with amawaterwayS over the next 12 monthS can enjoy a free river cruiSe for two through a loyalty Scheme that awardS pointS for each booking made.Points can be cashed in any time for any one of 10 prizes. These range from a bottle of champagne (one booking) to a £100 shopping voucher (six bookings) and set of luggage (eight bookings). There is no limit to the number of rewards that can be earned; to keep claiming agents just have to keep booking. Reservations should be logged on a card available by emailing rewards@amawaterways.com.The initiative comes as AmaWaterways new UK office looks to strengthen its relations with the trade. The new sales and marketing office is based in Guildford and headed by managing director Stuart Perl. contact: 0800 520 2251 | amawaterwayS.co.uk

Trade Updates