Launch your dreams on the river

WITH new ships, new itineraries, new inclusions and even new river routes, major river cruise operators are rushing to meet the rise in demand for holidays "rolling on a river".

escape river cruise

WITH new ships, new itineraries, new inclusions and even new river routes, major river cruise operators are rushing to meet the rise in demand for holidays "rolling on a river".

Interest in river cruising is at record levels and shows no sign of fading as Australians armed with a buoyant dollar discover the joys of settling for a leisurely cruise along some of the world's great rivers.

The 2011 Australian Cruise Industry Report by the International Cruise Council Australasia shows cruising including ocean cruising by Australians surged by a record 34 per cent last year to reach a high of 623,294 passengers.

River cruising passenger numbers grew by 22 per cent to almost 35,000, accounting for 6 per cent of Australian cruise passenger numbers.

This growth is expected to continue as new ships are built to meet demand and more travellers discover the enjoyment of settling in to cruise on calm waters with never-ending shore views, daily port stops at charming villages and great cities.

ICCA chairman Gavin Smith said cruising has continued to expand despite tough economic times.

He attributed the growth to the broadening range of cruise ships available locally and overseas, as well as increasing awareness of the value cruise holidays offer, with all-inclusive fares covering accommodation, transport and meals.

Major river cruise companies servicing an Australian clientele, including Avalon Waterways, APT, Scenic Tours, Uniworld and Viking, are in the process of launching ships, competing to have the best floating 5-star hotels.

Their 2013 Europe river cruising brochures highlight the value as well as the comfort of their products, with enticements such as all-inclusive deals covering things such as shore tours, beverages and wi-fi.

Some deals include airfares, while the ships themselves have a greater emphasis on pampering passengers, ranging from plush fittings through to new restaurants and butler service.

All this is great news for passengers, who are being offered greater choice for a river cruise.

Scenic Tours (scenictours.com.au) has announced the commission of a seventh Scenic Space Ship for its European fleet. To be christened Scenic Jewel, it will undertake its inaugural voyage next year along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers from Amsterdam to Budapest. Scenic Jewel joins five other Scenic Space Ships that operate along Europe's waterways, including Scenic Crystal, launched last month.

Another, Scenic Emerald, will relocate to southern France for the 2013 season. These ships allow guests to convert their balconies into an indoor lounge, a facility that will be retro-fitted to the fleet, except Scenic Emerald.

Scenic Tours cruises now include unlimited complimentary beverages, private butler service for every guest, three new dining venues, complimentary wi-fi and personal GPS guided tour systems.

Uniworld (uniworldcruises.com.au) also is expanding its fleet, with the introduction of Queen Isabel, which navigates the UNESCO World Heritage listed Douro River in Portugal, and the River Orchid, which will travel the Mekong River alongside sister ship River Saigon.

Next year Uniworld will offer an itinerary in Italy, along the Po River and the Venice Lagoon, giving guests who have "done" some of Europe's major rivers an enticing new option.

Avalon Waterways (www.avalonwaterways.com.au) is expanding its fleet with two new ships this year and two more next year, giving it a dozen ships in Europe plus access to ships in Asia including the new Avalon Angkor and on the Nile.

The new ships are tagged "Suite Ships" as they have two full decks of suites. Rather than balconies, Avalon has opted for panoramic windows that slide back.

Avalon is offering savings of $1000 a couple on selected European river cruises next year, with more than a dozen itineraries to choose from and more than 60 departures. Overall, the line will offer more than 30 European itineraries plus 14 itineraries in Egypt, China, South-East Asia and the Galapagos Islands.

The new cruises range from eight to 13 days, while other itineraries returning in 2013 range from eight to 24 days on the Seine, Rhone, Moselle, Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.

Other new initiatives by Avalon in 2013 include the choice between Essential, Traditional or Leisurely shore tours, giving an overview of a destination or a more detailed visit.

APT's (aptouring.com.au) new 2013 Europe River Cruising brochure has a range of "free return flight" deals for bookings made before September 30 this year. It includes new cruises on the Seine River in France and on the Douro River in Portugal.

The brochure has 40 per cent more itineraries than 2012, with departures from March to the New Year. Cruising is on 14 waterways the Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone, Moselle, Seine, Saone, Douro, Neva, Volga and Svir rivers and the Moscow Canal, the Main-Danube Canal and the Volga-Baltic Waterway with a fleet of 12 luxury ships that APT co-owns with the experienced river operator AmaWaterways.

Three new riverships in the fleet will be the MS AmaVida, the MS AmaPrima and the RV AmaLotus, which is operating on the Mekong. The brochure highlights there are no hidden costs in the products.

Viking River Cruises (vikingrivercruises.com.au) is also adding to its fleet with six new "Longships" this year. It has eight new itineraries for next year, covering Europe's Danube, Rhine, Moselle and Rhone rivers, Russia's Volga and China's Yangtze, with tickets inclusive of tours, amenities, wi-fi, onboard cultural performances and beverages. Viking is offering 13 itineraries ranging from eight to 29 days.

As well as the major rivers of Europe, river cruise fans can glide along a range of the world's rivers on an equally diverse range of river ships.

For a cruise with a difference, try Active Travel's (activetravel.com.au) trip down India's Hooghly River on the intimate, colonial-style Sukapha certainly not as luxurious as some European-based ships, it is nevertheless a fascinating journey on a character ship.

Then there are trips on the Murray, the Nile, Amazon, Mekong, Irrawaddy, Yangtze, Mississippi, Brahmaputra, Ganges ... the list goes on.