This was published 4 years ago
Cruising news: Viking launches line-up of 2020-21 Mediterranean cruises
A viking ship cruising off Dubrovnik, Croatia.Credit: White Rain
MEDITERRANEAN MARVELS
Viking has launched its line-up of 2020-21 Mediterranean cruises, which feature numerous brand-new itineraries and land extensions. The new routes showcase the history and culture of ancient Greek and Roman civilisations along the Adriatic, Aegean and Mediterranean, visiting ports in Greece, Croatia and Italy and, after a five-year absence from Turkey, the three ports of Troy (Canakkale), Ephesus (Kusadasi) and Istanbul. Among the choices is a 15-day Mediterranean Antiquities cruise from Athens to Barcelona, an 11-day Greek Odyssey round-trip from Athens, and a 15-day Ancient Adriatic Treasures cruise that sails between Venice and Istanbul.
Phone 138 747. See vikingcruises.com.au
BARGING IN
APT is launching bespoke barge cruises on the Thames River in Britain in 2020. The barge Magna Carta accommodates eight guests in four suites and carries an expert crew and chef for the ultimate boutique cruising experience. After an overnight stay in London, guests embark on a six-night journey that includes guided tours of Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace, afternoon tea at Cliveden House, explorations of Henley on Thames and Oxford, and the chance to cycle along the Thames Towpath. The barging holidays have departure dates between May and September 2020.
Phone 1300 196 420. See aptouring.com.au
EUROPE ENCIRCLED
Cruisco has put together four back-to-back cruises to create a 46-night European Grand Voyage that sails from the Mediterranean to the Baltic on all three of Azamara Club Cruises' ships. The cruise from Athens to Barcelona and onwards to Southampton and Copenhagen will see guests sailing to Mediterranean showstoppers such as Santorini, the Amalfi Coast and Nice, while the Baltic leg aboard Azamara Pursuit explores the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and beyond in ports such as Tallinn and St Petersburg. The journey departs on May 9, 2020 and includes two-night stays in Athens and Copenhagen.
Phone 1800 550 320. See cruising.com.au
ULTIMATE SAIL
iExpedition is offering an eight-day Exclusive Antarctica voyage aboard the 22-passenger Legend, which started life as a Soviet icebreaker and was completely transformed in 2016 into an expedition superyacht. Passengers will fly across the notorious Drake Passage and board the ship on the Antarctic Peninsula for a sail that will feature icebergs, pods of humpback and orca whales and colonies of penguins. Expert expedition guides will share their insights and take passengers on Zodiac excursions in the White Continent. The journey departs Puerto Williams in Chile on December 6, 2019 and December 13, 2019.
Phone 1800 960 577. See iexpedition.com
PLAN AHEAD
Crystal River Cruises has already announced its 2021 season, during which its five luxury ships will sail the Danube, Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers on itineraries of between seven and 16 days. There are more than 180 departures, with every voyage featuring at least one overnight stay, and many with double or triple overnights. Among the itineraries is an Eastern Danube Discoveries cruise debuting on Crystal Mozart for a deeper exploration of Hungary, Serbia and Croatia; a springtime Tulips & Windmills cruise in the Netherlands and Belgium; and winter sailings that focus on Christmas markets.
Phone 1300 059 260. See crystalcruises.com
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