Arena Travel's The River Cruise Line has announced it is launching a new ship, MS Arena, at the end of March 2020. The ship is currently undergoing a major pre-season refurbishment.

River cruising continues to be one of the fastest growing sectors of the travel industry and this investment reflects the growing interest in river cruise holidays. 

The ship will sail the Dutch waterways, , Moselle, Rhine and Danube as far as the Black Sea and its 'push-style' engines will allow it to sail overnight while its passengers enjoy a peaceful sleep.

Each spacious cabin has floor-to-ceiling windows, French balconies, flat screen TVs and free wi-fi. Basic fares include flights, transfers and all meals whilst the 'premium package', costing from £20 per passenger per night, will add a drinks package, a 10% discount on excursions and free use of the wellness suite.

Guests will also enjoy the bright and spacious Panorama Restaurant, the Ambassadors Lounge and an open sun deck.

MS Arena can accommodate up to 180 guests who must be at least fourteen years of age. The company also offers a price guarantee to ensure that, once booked, you will not find anyone on board who has paid a lower price for the same accommodation.

​Built specifically for the British market, Saga’s first new ship, Spirit of Discovery, was christened in Dover on 5th July by her godmother, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. It was the first ship to be named in Dover for over a decade. Registered in London it proudly flies the Red Ensign.
 
The naming event was held at a garden party on the quayside where the ship was moored awaiting its first paying guests. Normally a sea of concrete, the quay was transformed into a large lawn, covered in grass brought down from Yorkshire. Around five hundred guests enjoyed delightful food, accompanied by Hush Heath English sparkling wine. A jeroboam of the same vintage was later used in the naming ceremony.

​On display at the garden party was a six foot long cake (top picture) in the shape of the ship, prepared by chocolatier Mark Tilling. The Duchess’s first duty was to cut the cake, whilst Esther Rantzen looked on. The Duchess is patron, and Esther is the founder of The Silver Line which provides a 24-hour telephone service for older people who are feeling lonely or isolated. It is also Saga’s first national charity partner.
 
Once seated for the formal events, guests were entertained by the Band of the Royal Marines Collingwood and the Morriston Orpheus Choir before the Duchess stepped up and performed the official naming ceremony.

Bucking the trend for ever larger ships, and with a nod to the problems of over-tourism, Saga’s boutique ship holds just 999 passengers. No longer do passengers have to choose between inside, outside and balcony cabins as all the cabins on Spirit of Discovery have balconies and over one hundred are designated for single use.

​The ship's decor is muted and it seems Saga has played it safe in terms on not wanting to upset its many loyal and regular clients. For some it may have been a little too safe and perhaps the decor of Discovery's sister ship, Spirit of Adventure, which comes into service in 2020 will be a little more, shall we say, Adventurous? Let's wait and see.

One thing's certain, however, Saga has raised the  bar in terms of boutique cruising and these new ships will be a big hit with clients old and new.

​With 13 suite ships in Europe and two in Asia, Avalon,  recommended by Good Housekeeping and Which? magazines, is leading the way in bringing new levels of comfort and guest experiences to river cruising.  Three new classes of shore excursions are being introduced in 2020.

​Classic offers guests the opportunity to explore the history and culture of the region, Discover allows guests to get hands-on experience of things such as cooking and painting, whilst Active enables guests to explore by biking, canoeing and hiking the area. There is an ‘adventure host’ on each ship who holds stock of useful items such as maps, Nordic walking poles and so on.

​Avalon’s cabins are unique in the industry. The beds face the window so guests can enjoy the view before they get up, and the windows open to turn the entire cabin into a virtual balcony. This layout also means that bathrooms are bigger and even offer ‘his and hers’ towels and L’Occitane toiletries. There are also mattress and pillow menus to enhance guest comfort.
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In the main restaurant the majority of tables start out as tables for two but, should you wish to dine with new-found friends, they can be pushed together to accommodate larger groups. Dining times are also flexible between 7.00pm and 8.30pm and there is the option of chilling out in the Panorama Buffet and enjoying all the items from the main dining room menu, along with a few unique extras. 

​With all this great food around, perhaps it’s as well each ship has a fitness room to augment the daily excursions.

​Avalon is clearly looking to stay ahead of the game. 

​With basic wedding packages costing between £1200 and £2400, it’s getting more and more popular.  One cruise line now organises around 1500 a year, so they’ve had plenty of practice. 

There are dedicated staff, both ashore and on board, to organise the event for you. All you have to do is to decide what you want, then relax and enjoy days and nights of pure luxury while they make sure it all happens.
 
Performing marriages is one of the Captain’s most pleasurable duties, and if you decide to go it alone, two of his senior officers will be honoured to act as witnesses. Weddings take place on sea days when the ship is sailing in international waters and the wedding legally takes place where the ship is registered. 

​the ceremony itself, champagne, a cake, photography and a commemorative marriage certificate, as your legal certificate may take a short time to reach you.

​Each cruise line has its own version of the offering with some extras included. However, you can add items to suit yourself and the cruise lines have special brochures detailing what’s available.

​Cruise lines offering weddings at sea include P&O, Cunard, Princess,  Norwegian, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, who provided these images.

Cunard has announced three of wine’s biggest names as the headline speakers for the second annual ‘Voyage Du Vin’, on board Queen Victoria, setting sail this September.

​As one of three famed wine experts on the voyage, Oz Clarke is one of the world’s foremost wine connoisseurs. Clarke has written several award-winning books, and is generally regarded as leading Britain's wine revolution in the 1990s and 2000s. Clarke has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, including Food and Drink, the long-running BBC Food show.  He said: “Whether you’re an existing wine buff, or simply have a love of fine wine, fine holidays and good times, the Voyage du Vin 2019 is sure to delight.  I’m already looking forward to joining Queen Victoria in September.”

Joining Clarke, is award winning columnist and broadcaster Will Lyons, who will bring his trademark humour and down to earth style to the voyage. For more than a decade Lyons has published a weekly column on wine, formerly in The Wall Street Journal and now The Sunday Times. His humorous, informed, down-to-earth writing has been recognised in both the Glenfiddich and Roederer wine writing awards.

Supporting them will be Charles Metcalfe, the International Wine Challenge’s co-chairman. One of the best-known, most spontaneous and amusing wine critics in Britain, Metcalfe presented drinks and occasionally food items for 12 years as one of the Richard-and-Judy team on the ITV programme, ‘This Morning’.

Along with talks from the experts, guests will experience daily wine tastings, pairings and fine dining, featuring over 400 wines from 23 countries.

The much anticipated Voyage Du Vin 2019 will depart from Southampton on 6th September, returning 14-nights later. 

One of the highlights of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ new 2020/21 ocean programme is its inaugural 14-night D2101 ‘Authentic Japan’ fly-cruise, from Tokyo in January 2021, aboard Boudicca. 

Ports of call are Tokyo, Japan (overnight stay) – Nagoya, Aichi, Japan – Kobe, Hyogo (overnight stay) – Hiroshima, Japan – Beppu, Oita, Japan – Nagasaki, Japan – Keelung (Taipei), Taiwan – Hong Kong (overnight stay). Prices start from £3,349 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded Interior Room, and accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, plus port / airport taxes, flights and transfers.

Plus, as part of exclusive launch offers, all guests who book by 31st May inclusive will have their gratuities covered by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, with this cruise also qualifying for the ‘Three Cruises for the Price of Two’ offer. For more information on Fred Olsen cruises, click here.

Le Boat is the No.1 provider of boating holidays on Europe and Canada's beautiful inland waterways, with the world’s largest fleet of over 900 self-drive boats. The award-wining campaign capitalised on their involvement in the Channel 5 television series ‘Celebrity 5 Go Barging’ and the hugely popular Channel 4 show ‘Great Canal Journeys’, in which stars Timothy West and Prunella Scales enjoyed a spectacular Le Boat river cruise along the Marne-Rhine Canal in Alsace and Lorraine.  For more information on Le Boat, click here.