AD3_AUT13_p30_Travel River Cruise_Layout 1 07/10/2013 19:56 Page 30
Autumn 2013
digesttravel
River cruise in comfort
Joe Bamford finds European river cruises that take the hassle (and flights) out of travel
German Christmas Markets
Visit the German Christmas
markets in style aboard a ship
that cruises from Andernach to
Cologne.
Cologne’s Christmas market – one of
Germany’s finest
Travel to the start of the cruise
is included, via executive coach
that leaves from a range of
locations around the UK and
then ferry or Eurostar (for a small
supplement).
Within the four-day cruise are
visits to the Christmas markets,
trips to Oberwesel and Koblenz
and stops at wine centres along
the way. Finish off the fabulous
pre-Christmas treat with a
walking tour of Cologne.
Price: from £349 for 3 nights,
visit www.rivercruiseline.co.uk or
tel 0844 544 6581.
The Medieval Gems of Flanders
A stress-free way of enjoying a
spectacular holiday is the
Medieval Gems of Flanders
cruise. The journey begins by
coach travel to the picturesque
and vibrant city of Amsterdam
via Eurotunnel.
From Amsterdam, the boat
winds its way down the Dutch
and Belgian waterways, stopping
at Willemstad and Middelburg
and finally Ghent, a magical
The Medieval Gems of Flanders
Cruise begins in Amsterdam
30
www.arthritisdigest.co.uk
medieval city often overshadowed
by Brussels and Bruges.
The world heritage site of
Antwerp is the next port and
from there on to Bruges, a city
teaming with life, spectacular
architecture and beautiful canals.
The journey ends in Brussels, a
city that has evolved from a
10th-century fortress town into a
culturally exciting destination.
Price: from £949 for 8 nights,
tel 0800 096 0074.
Seine Cruise
MS France is a spacious and
refined vessel that accommodates
159 passengers and has a large
sun deck from which to enjoy the
fresh air and wonderful scenic
view of the Seine Cruise.
Take the Eurostar to Paris
where you will be met and
transferred to the ship, for
embarkation… and a cocktail
party to get you in the mood.
The Seine Cruise begins with a
cocktail party in Paris aboard
MS France
The first couple of days allows
time to explore Paris, after when
you’ll drift along the Seine,
through pretty towns such as
Vernon, with the option of an
excursion to the Claude Monet
Foundation in Giverny, and then
onwards to Caudebec-en-Caux
and Honfleur and a trip to the
“Flowered Coast”.
Under the Pont de Normandie
Bridge, Rouen and the history of
Joan of Arc is the next stop,
before calling at Les Andelys and
the Chateau of Martainville.
Price: from £1,323 for 7 nights,
visit www.archersdirect.co.uk or
tel 0808 115 2738.
Great Cities of the Danube
Shearing Holidays serves up a
treat with its offer of a seven-day
spectacular Roman
arena and strong
associations with
Van Gough, and
later Avignon, a
stunning medieval
town.
A sensational
MV Esmeralda meanders up the Danube
view can be seen of
cruise aboard the MV Esmeralda, Viviers, a quaint town with
venturing through the spectacular cobbled lanes and stone houses
cities along the Danube in Eastern built around a 12th-century
Europe.
cathedral that can be explored on
Return travel by coach or air is
foot.
included and if you’re travelling
MS Camargue then proceeds
by coach, the price includes
to Turnon and a wine tasting
overnight hotel stays on
experience and castle museum,
outbound and return journeys.
and finally returns to Lyon.
The start point is Passau, the
Price: from £1,327 for 8 nights,
city of three rivers on the
visit www.archersdirect.co.uk or
Germany-Austria border from
tel 0808 115 2738.
where you will embark on an
unforgettable journey along the
Elbe Cruise
river Danube, visiting towns and
The trip begins on the Eurostar to
cities such as Krems and on
Brussels, where you’ll change
through the graceful Wachau
trains and continue to Nuremberg
Valley to the fabulous Austrian
and a night at the Maritim Hotel.
capital, Vienna.
The next day, journey East to
From there, Bratislava, and an
Prague, the city of a hundred
option al full day tour to Budapest, spires.
a city that has long been a haven
for writers, artists and musicians.
Then back to Austria and
Durnstein with its cosy wine
taverns before returning to Passau.
Price: from £1,099 for 7 nights,
visit www.shearings.com or tel
0844 824 6351.
Picturesque Provence and
the Rhône
Take the Eurostar to Lille and
continue by train to Lyon
(included in the price) where you
will be met and transferred to
your ship, MS Camargue.
After a guided tour of France’s
second city with its Roman ruins
and basilica the ship sets sail to
Macon and then on to Vienne,
once Rome’s major wine port,
where you can appreciate the
Romanesque cathedral of
St Maurice. Arles is next, with its
Take in the cobbled streets of
beautiful Viviers
View of the River Elbe in Prague
Tour the Czech capital before
boarding the MS Sanssouci and
embarking on a seven-night
journey along first the Vitava and
then the Elbe river. The Elbe
meanders through “Saxon
Switzerland” to Dresden, one of
Germany’s most beautiful cities,
known as the Florence of the
Elbe.
The cruise continues along the
Elbe-Havel Canal, stopping at
Wittenberg and Potsdam, a world
heritage site, before ending in
Berlin where a tour by coach
enables you to enjoy the
numerous attractions in comfort.
Travel home is arranged via rail
to Brussels where you’ll join the
Eurostar to London.
Price: from £1,775, 7-night cruise
and 4-night hotel, visit
www.greatrail.com or tel
01904 521 936. AD
ARTHRITIS