AUSTRALIAN river cruising fans and first-timers can look forward to an
incredible 32 new vessels next year.
On the way are 14 longships from Viking, three from Avalon Waterways
and APT, two each from Scenic Tours, Evergreen Tours, Pandaw and
Tauck, one each from Uniworld and CroisiEurope, and another two from
Haimark Travel that will be chartered by various companies. Phew!
Cruise Weekly has crunched the stats to provide this rundown of
debuts, in order of christenings, in 2014.
APT: AmaPura
Passengers: 56 Where: Burma/Myanmar
Best bits: Pool; spa; all suites have a French balcony, a full balcony or
twin balconies.
APT: AmaReina & AmaSonata
Passengers: 164 Where: Europe (Rhine and Danube)
Best bits: Heated pool with swim-up bar; gym and spa; bicycles; large
cabins with twin balconies, four 300 sq ft suites.
Viking River Cruises: Alsvin, Bestla, Buri, Dellig, Eistla, Gullveig,
Heimdal, Hermod, Hlin, Idi, Ingvi, Kara, Kvasir & Lif
Passengers: 190 Where: Europe
Best bits: Top-level suites have two rooms and two balconies; alfresco
dining terrace; putting green; walking track; herb garden; solar panels;
low-vibration hybrid engine.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: SS Catherine
Passengers: 159 Where: Europe (Burgundy/Provence)
Best bits: Pool and spa; alfresco dining terrace; casual bistro; two bars;
fitness room; boutique; marble bathrooms; higher quality furnishings.
APT & Scenic Tours: Irrawaddy Explorer & Mekong Navigator
Passengers: 56 & 68 Where: Myanmar & Vietnam/Cambodia
Best bits: British colonial luxurious style; high quality furnishings and
amenities; in-cabin on-demand movie system.
(Also t0 be chartered by Lüftner Cruises and Vantage Travel in the US.)
Avalon Waterways: Avalon Impression, Avalon Poetry II & Avalon
Illumination
Passengers: 166 & 128 Where: Europe (Rhine, Danube, Moselle)
Best bits: All-suite accommodation with full-wall floor-to-ceiling
windows; spacious bathrooms; casual bistro.
Evergreen Tours: Emerald Sky & Emerald Star
Passengers: 182 Where: Europe (Rhine, Danube, Moselle)
Best bits: Pool with a retractable roof that converts into a cinema at
night; huge owners suites; alfresco dining terrace; bicycles; gym & salon.
CroisiEurope: MS Lafayette
Passengers: 88 Where: Europe (Rhine)
Best bits: Fewer cabins; larger public spaces; modernised design.
Scenic Tours: Scenic Gem & Scenic Jade
Passengers: 128 & 169 Where: Europe (France & Rhine, Danube)
Best bits: Balconies that convert into all-weather ‘sun lounge’; French
restaurant; café; dégustation for guests of the Danube deck.
Tauck: Savor & Inspire
Passengers: 128 & 169 Where: Europe (Danube, Rhine, Moselle)
Best bits: One-third of all cabins are 300 square foot suites; other cabins
have a raised loft seating area; indoor/outdoor bistro.
Pandaw River Expeditions: RV Kalaw Pandaw & RV Kindat Pandaw
Passengers: 40 Launch: Myanmar/Burma
Best bits: 1920s-replica traditional brass & teak style; ultra-shallo
