This was published 9 years ago
The Shipping News: Cruise Express' new Japan land and cruise tour
From Yokohama to beyond: Experience Japan on the Cruise Express Diamond Princess.
Made in Japan
Cruise Express is showcasing Japan on a new eight-day land tour coupled with a 10-day cruise with inclusive shore excursions. The 'Land of the Rising Sun' tour departs on July 11 and takes in Tokyo, Lake Ashi in the shadow of Mount Fuji, two 320-kph bullet train rides to Kanazawa, and the palaces and gardens of Kyoto. Passengers then board the Diamond Princess in Yokohama. The round-trip cruise visits Kushiro, Otaru and Hakodate on Hokkaido, and includes the spectacular Shiretoko Peninsula and visits to Aomori and the remote Russian outpost of Korsakov.
Phone 1300 764 509. See cruiseexpress.com.au.
Fine Rhine
Viking River Cruises is introducing two new springtime itineraries on the Rhine in 2015. An eight-day Legends of the Rhine journey between Amsterdam and Frankfurt provides a window into some of the historic eras and events that shaped northern Europe, and includes Remagen, the site of World War II's Operation Market Garden, and Nijmegen for a guided visit to Overloon War and Resistance Museum. A 10-day Rhine Rhapsody cruise-tour starts in Paris and takes in the Main and Moselle rivers as well as the Rhine, before finishing in Basel in Switzerland.
Phone 1800 131 744. See vikingcruises.com.au.
Shore leave
Ocean companies are slowly moving to more inclusive packages, and Silversea has announced it will include shore excursions on its 52 Mediterranean cruises in 2015. Guests have a choice of included excursions in every port of call. The small-group excursions present each destination's art, history and culture in the company of expert local guides, and range from exploring the Acropolis in Athens to discovering the Renaissance treasures of Florence. Also now included is two hours of complimentary Wi-Fi per day, or unlimited Wi-Fi for guests in higher suite categories.
Phone 1300 306 872. See silversea.com.
Into the wild
Variety Cruises has a new and interesting cruise this year on the recently renovated, 44-passenger ship Pegasus: a 10-day Madagascar & Mozambique Channel itinerary showcasing seldom-explored parts of north-west Madagascar. Tailored excursion packages will allow travellers to snorkel or dive (often straight from the ship's platform when anchorage conditions permit), visit Amber Mountain and Ankarana National Park, spot some of Madagascar's unique wildlife such as lemurs and discover amazing landscapes such as the famous Tsingy region. Cruises start from either Nosy Be or Diego Suarez.
Phone 1800 623 267. See discovertheworld.com.au.
Choices, choices
Scenic Tours is offering new FreeChoice activities on its European river cruises this year. They include guided tours in cities such as Belgrade and Rotterdam, a ride on a steam train through Germany's Black Forest and a train journey from Vienna to Bratislava. The more active can cycle from Breisach in Germany to Colmar in France while on a Rhine cruise. Other interesting choices: flamingo-spotting in the Camargue region of southern France, exploring a coal mine at Essen in Germany, or accompanying the ship's chef on a tour of food markets in French cities.
Phone 1300 723 642. See scenictours.com.au.
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