APT's AMALotus meets new friends on the Mekong River.
ASIAN RIVERS
APT has outlined 2019-20 cruise-tours in its latest Vietnam and Cambodia brochure, among them its popular 13-day "Vietnam and Cambodia Highlights" tour between Siem Reap (near Angkor Wat) and Ho Chi Minh City, which includes a seven-day Mekong cruise on AmaLotus. There's also a 25-day "Grand Tour" that includes a three-day cruise in Ha Long Bay, plus the seven-day Mekong cruise. The company also offers cruises on the Yangtze River in China aboard Yangzi Explorer, and on the Irrawaddy in Myanmar on Samatha.
Phone 1300 196 420. See aptouring.com.au
TUCK IN
Uniworld has been rolling out new dining options on its river ships this year. Its Super Ships in Europe now offer progressive dinners during which guests can eat each course in a new location on the ship. Five of its ships also have an outdoor dining option on the top deck. Several of Uniworld's restaurants, including Max's restaurant on newly-renovated Beatrice, offer cooking classes conducted by the ship's chef, while La Cave du Vin on Joie de Vivre offers a hands-on dining experience during which guests select ingredients and prepare a seven-course meal.
Phone 1300 780 231. See uniworld.com
MORE MEKONG
Evergreen Cruises launches its new river ship Emerald Harmony on the Mekong in August 2019, offering three different itineraries in Vietnam and Cambodia, including a 21-day "Grand Tour" and 17-day "Treasures and Temples" cruise-tour. There will also be a 13-day "Majestic Mekong" river cruise that starts in Siem Reap (for the temples of Angkor Wat) before journeying southwards along the river to Phnom Penh, where passengers can visit a family-owned silk factory and attend a scarf-weaving workshop in Long Khanh Island. The journey finishes with a two-night stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
Phone 1300 383 747. See evergreentours.com.au
COASTAL GREENLAND
Collette has launched a new tour of Iceland and Greenland in August 2019 that includes a cruise along Greenland's west coast. The nine-day "Nordic-Inspired Voyage" starts in Reykjavik and visits three nearby highlights, Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss Waterfall. Guests then fly to Greenland and board Ocean Atlantic for a cruise along Kangerlussuaq fjord, and to the ports towns of Sisimiut and Qeqertarsuaq in picturesque Disko Bay. The cruise also visits Eqip Sermia Glacier, one of Greenland's most active glaciers, and Ilulissat, where massive icebergs float in a World Heritage-listed fjord.
Phone 1300 792 195. See gocollette.com.au
EUROPE EXPLORED
Crystal River Cruises has unveiled its collection of European voyages for 2020 aboard its five luxury river ships, with itineraries ranging from seven to 16 days, and including special cruises to coincide with the Christmas market season in destinations such as Vienna, Strasbourg and Bratislava, as well as the once-in-a-decade Oberammergau performance of the Passion Play in Germany. Among the itineraries is a seven-night "Tulips and Windmills'' cruise round-trip from Amsterdam, a 10-night ''Treasures of the Danube'' cruise round-trip from Vienna, and a 16-night "Grand Europe'' cruise between Amsterdam and Budapest.
Phone 02 8074 6500. See crystalcruises.com
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