Beyond Travel recently gave a group of 21 Aussie travel agents and their partners a taste of European river cruising on an eight-night journey from Amsterdam to Basel aboard Amadeus Princess. The experience enabled the group to develop their own love affair with the serene method of travel and to highlight the variety of river vessels available to Australians. After departing the Dutch capital city, the cruise headed down the Rhine and visited Cologne, Cochem and Koblenz, with highlights including a performance at the Beethoven festival in Switzerland before reaching Basel. Among the messages the agents took home was the value for money provided on a Beyond Travel river cruise yet still enjoying high service standards, inclusions and onboard facilities. Pictured above in the Piano Bar from left is Tanille Amiet, Gippsland Travel; Marcela Hrncir, St Ives Cruise & Travel; Natasha Melhuish and Erin Beckford of HWT Salamander Bay; Clair Pritchard and Ceri Pritchard, Black Rock Travel; Irina, Amadeus Cruises; Helen McMullen, Cruise Holidays; Terri Dillion, Go See Tours; Boris, Amadeus Cruises; Sorin, Amadeus Cruises; Bryce Crampton, Beyond Travel and Katrina Roberts from Richmond Travel. MEANWHILE, Beyond Travel has introduced a range of tour products in various parts of Europe with reduced solo supplements. Marketing manager Bryce Crampton says the solo traveller market is growing “at an unprecedented rate” with the company selling places for single pax on many river cruises, small ship journeys and escorted touring with supplements starting at $250 over twin share.