By Judy Newell
Mexico News
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Cruise News
More River Lines Announce European Restart Dates
More river cruise lines have announced summer 2022 restart dates, as the European Union moves toward approving international travel for vaccinated Americans.
Scenic and Emerald Cruises will restart their Europe season with sailings on Portugal’s Douro River beginning in late July. Uniworld will be restarting in Italy and France in June, 2022. AmaWaterways will restart in Portugal on July 3, with more sailings throughout Europe later in the month.
Meanwhile CroisiEurope announced restart dates for river and canal cruises on a number of European rivers, starting with Portugal’s Douro River on June 7, and followed by the Gironde and the Seine on June 30, in France.
Avalon Waterways and Tauck have also announced their European restarts. Avalon will resume service with select departures on France’s Seine, with departures on the Rhine, Danube, Rhône and Moselle Rivers to follow.
Luxury tour operator Tauck will return to the rivers in August, with its new MS Andorinha setting sail on Portugal’ s Douro. Tauck will also resume operations on the Seine and Rhone at that time.
The announcements from AmaWaterways, Scenic, Emerald and Uniworld come after Viking put out July restart dates on a few of its summer itineraries in Portugal, France and countries along the Rhine River.
Crystal Announces Zero Single Supplement on 15 Ocean Voyages
Crystal Cruises has announced a new promotion for solo travelers sailing on the cruise line’s Crystal Symphony. The promotion, entitled “Zero Single Supplement”, allows solo guests to enjoy all of the luxury amenities on the 922-passenger vessel at double occupancy rates without the supplemental fee typically charged to solo travelers.
It is applicable to 15 Crystal Symphony ocean voyages to the Caribbean and Mediterranean in 2022.
With the Zero Single Supplement promotion, all-inclusive fares start at US$2,299 per person with savings up to US$4,000 per person for an ocean view stateroom. It is offered on the following Crystal Symphony sailings departing from six homeports in North America and Europe:
- Caribbean: seven-night voyages from Miami and San Juan, (January through March, 2022)
- Mediterranean: seven-, eight- and 10-night voyages from Lisbon, Venice, London and Monte Carlo (April, June, and August, 2022)
Crystal said that guests must book by January 5, 2022, to take advantage of these special solo fares, with special reduced deposits of US$100 on select sailings.
Aviation News
United App Warns You if You’re in a Middle Seat
Getting out of the middle seat just got easier on United Airlines. A new feature on the United Airlines mobile app will warn you if you are in a middle seat and a better seat opens up prior to your flight, giving you the ability to change your seat prior to boarding.
Deal of the Week
Oberammergau Passion Play & Danube Explorer Cruise
10 days Munich to Budapest; from US$3,890.
Join Emerald Cruises for Germany’ s famed Passion Play performed just once every 10 years.
Embark on the experience of a lifetime in 2022 when you add Germany’s Oberammergau Passion Play to the 8-day Danube river cruise. Performed since 1634, the play is performed in praise of God and his sparing the villagers of Oberammergau, Germany, from plague. The production depends on 200 committed local actors, singers, musicians, and cast residents from the surrounding village. You’ll visit the origins of this momentous tradition performed live, at the edge of the Bavarian Alps, where it all began over 380 years ago.
Cruise dates: May 15–24; June 11–21; July 7–16; September 1–10; September 8–17; September 15–24, 2022.
Your cruise includes:
- Seven nights on board an Emerald Cruises Star-Ship
- Airport transfers to and from the ship
- The services of an Emerald Cruises Cruise Director
- Port taxes and charges
- All tipping and gratuities
Included excursions:
- Guided tour of Passau
- Guided tour of Melk Abbey
- Guided tour of Vienna
- Walking tour of Bratislava
- Guided coach tour of Budapest
EmeraldPLUS
- Guided tour of Ceský Krumlov
- Local Slovakian entertainment on board
- A traditional Hungarian folklore show onboard
EmeraldACTIVE
- Hike to Veste Oberhaus
- Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
- Guided bike tour along the Danube river
- Bike tour in Vienna
- Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
- Hike to Buda Hill
Dining highlights
- 19 superb meals including 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
- Including a Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner
- Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board
Your Passion Play package includes:
- 1 night in a hotel in Munich
- Guided tour of Munich
- Passion Play performance in Oberammergau
- 1 night in a hotel in Oberammergau
- Transfer to the ship
- 2 breakfasts, 1 dinner
Judy Newell, an international travel consultant for 50 years, heads Perfect Journeys and specializes in unique travel experiences to destinations around the world. She custom designs journeys that are tailored to suit client’ s interests, physical abilities and budget. Please contact Judy for further information on Travel News topics and around-the-world travel. Cell phone 415 111 8765, Vonage 949-300-3682; email judynewell@perfectjourneys.net. Sources: Travel Impressions, Cruise Critic, Cruise Industry News, The Mondee Group, Emerald Cruises
