Category Archives: Short River Cruises

Europeanbarging Introduces the Viva Tiara for 2020 River Cruises

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We are pleased to introduce a new European river cruise line – VIVA.
The Viva line is a mid range priced cruise line with beautiful ships and great service. The parent company has been leasing and chartering their ships since 1973 and has one of the largest fleets in Europe.

Viva Tiara Ship

The first reflagged ship will be the 153 passenger Viva Tiara, who will go thru a total remodel in January and February of 2020 (though she had a remodel in 2018).  She will have a new color scheme and furnishing in a restful teal and white theme.

 

Upon entering the ship, there is a beautiful 2 story atrium with sweeping wrought iron and wood staircase to the upper level (a lift is located to the side of the stairs), chandeliers, reception desk and customer service desk and on-board boutique are on the upper Diamond deck.  There is also a stylish lounge with panoramic bar and dance floor, the comfortable Bistro Bar with Internet corner in the rear.

The Panorama restaurant is situated on the Ruby Deck and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Breakfast is a buffet, lunch is a buffet salad bar and served entree and dessert, dinner is fully served.  Main entree choices will consist of a seafood, meat and vegetarian choice.  Afternoon tea consists of cakes and sandwiches.

On the Emerald deck the guest can enjoy relaxing moments in the wellness area with fitness equipment, whirlpool, sauna, steam bath and solarium. The decks are connected by a lift (not going to the Emerald deck).

Sundeck of the Viva Tiara

The sun deck features lounge chairs for guests, a putting green, jacuzzi, walking track and weather permitting – fitness equipment for use.

New Viva Tiara cabin colorsAll cabins on the Diamond and the Ruby deck have French balconies. The outward-facing cabins are equipped with flat-screen TV, radio, stocked minibar, safe, hair dryer, air-conditioning, shower and WC.

 

“I am very excited about this cruise line and the new destinations in their itineraries – many of which I have not visited yet.”        Jan Baumgartner, Europeanbarging

The ship features English and German language.

Unique Itineraries

As mentioned above, the Viva Tiara has some interesting ports on the Rhine and Dutch cruise itineraries – both are round trip Dusseldorf).  On the 5 night Dutch and Rhine itinerary, in addition to Amsterdam and Nijmegen, there are stops in Emmerich, Deventer, Kampen, Enkhuizen and Rees (Germany).  The 7 night also features stops in Hoorn, Rotterdam and Dordricht.

The 5 night Rhine River itinerary features the towns of Niederlahnstein,  and Oestrich-Winkel, in addition to Cologne, Mainz, Frankfurt, Boppard.  The 7 night also includes Koblenz, Mannheim, Speyer and Strasbourg.

On the Danube River, the 5 night cruises include round trip Passau with stops in Vienna (overnight), Bratislava and Linz. The 7 night itinerary  additionally includes Budapest,

For Advent season, there are lovely 4 and 5 night cruises on the Rhine and Danube Rivers, where you visit the heart of Europe and experience the delight of its traditional holiday markets.

Affordable Pricing

What’s the greatest thing about this cruise trip? You’ll get to enjoy the above mentioned perks all for an affordable price. Visit your dream European destinations aboard a luxury ship starting from less than $1,000. This all-inclusive trip ensures you’ll be getting your money’s worth.  Cruise rates start $714 for a 5 night cruise in early spring on the lower deck – $1535 for a Jr suite on the upper deck, a 7 night cruise in spring and summer on the lower deck $1995 – $2725 for a Jr suite on the upper deck.  Cruise rates on the Viva Tiara include the cruise, port taxes, Gratuities, all meals, wine, and a beverage package – Soft Drinks, as well as tea and coffee, Beer, wine, throughout the day and evening between 10am and midnight. Sightseeing excursions are not included and can be booked onboard.

We are offering a 20% discount off the rates for 2020 departures booked and paid in full by Dec 30th, 2019.

Book your European river cruise now – 888-869-7907  or jan@europeanbarging.com.

Explore the Moselle River on a 5 night cruise

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Spring, TX – Europeanbarging has been in the travel business since 1998 specializing in European barge and river cruises. It represents most of the well-known companies in Europe offering simple to luxurious cruises and recommend the most appropriate based on the traveler’s interests.

There are many options for families and groups. This includes a Cologne to Cologne 5-night Rhine and Moselle River Cruise on an Arosa cruise, one of the leading short river cruise companies.

Ships docked on the Moselle River

Enjoy the picturesque scenery while having a Moselle river cruise and have a chance to taste the well-known Moselle wines.  The Moselle valley is the third largest region in Germany for wine production. Guests get to visit famous wine estates in the Moselle area that produce some of the most quality brands in the market.

Guests also get to see one of the great cities in Germany – Cologne. Famous for its Kölner Dom or Cologne Cathedral, seat of the Cologne’s Catholic Archbishop. It is a Gothic church and appointed a UNESCO  World Heritage site. It is believed that it holds the relics of the Three Kings who were mentioned in the Bible.

Other sites in Cologne are Cologne city hall which is the oldest city hall in Germany that is still in use, Malakoff Tower a monument built to be an observatory gateway for navy arsenals, The Great St. Martin’s Church which might have been a sacred temple for the ancient Romans, and the old abbeys that will take guests back in time.

Guests will visit the majestic castles in Cochem one of which is Reichsburg Cochem. King Konrad III once occupied the Reichsburg Cochem, also known as the Imperial Castle of Cochem. It was ruined during the Nine Years’ War. Louis Fréderic Jacques Ravené later bought and reconstructed it. The castle is now owned by the town of Cochem.

Guests can go shopping at the medieval marketplace with houses made of timber frames and visit the St. Michael’s Parish Church in Bernkastel and Keus. A bridge was built to join the once separated places in 1905. Dr. Loosen’s Wine Estate, one of the well-known wine producers is also located here.  If you visit at the end of August, you can look forward to the Bernkastel-Kues Middle Moselle Wine Festival.  From the crowning of a wine queen to a wine tasting evening to a parade and crafts, this is one of the best wine festivals in Germany.

During the tour, guests will be brought to popular sites in Trier, such as the High Cathedral of Trier, the largest roman city gate, Porta Nigra a UNESCO World Heritage site. Trier features 9 of the 35 UNESCO World Heritage sites found in Germany.  Travelers can also experience the Trier traditional wine festival in the Olewig district and enjoy the music, wine, and food.

Another ancient city included in the tour is the city of Koblenz. Guests get to visit the monument of Emperor William I at the Deutsches Eck, also referred to as the German Corner. See Alte Burg or Old Castle, which has a unique history of construction. Guests get to experience the traditional wine festival of Koblenz in the district of Lay.

The itinerary is subject to change and rates may vary depending on the chosen cabin or suite of the guests. Cruise and port taxes are included for regular rates, which start at $1040 per person. Also included on the Arosa cruises, are Wi-Fi,  all meals and a beverage package. Wine, cocktails and long drinks are available throughout the day and evening as well as soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea. Excluded are sightseeing excursions that can be booked on board.

For more information contact Europeanbarging.com at 888-869-7907 or jan@europeanbarging.com

European Barging to Offer 5 Day Rhine River Cruise at 10% Off

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With the 2019 5 day Rhine River Cruise sold out, European Barging is offering a 10% discount for travelers booking a 2020 cruise before August 25th

SPRING, TX, UNITED STATES, July 4, 2019 /EINPresswire.com/ — In its recent website post, European Barging is slashing the $1404 ticket price by 10%, a great deal considering the itinerary for the five-day mini Rhine River cruise.

The five-day cruise begins in Strasbourg, where tourists embark the ship. A welcome cocktail and dinner is served as the ship picks up the route to Breisach, Germany, located along the Rhine River.

La Boheme cruising the Rhine River

The river lends itself to a good view of the Rhine Gorge, a World Heritage Site, and Rhine Valley. But by the second day, the cruise is quickly topped with an excursion through the Automobile Museum in Mulhouse France. A home to the most expensive car displays in the world, the Automobile Museum is also considered the largest of its kind in Europe.

Meanwhile, Day 3 features a trip aboard the Glacier Express Train, from Andermatt to Tiefencastel, before returning to the ship in Basel. The scenery along the route features valley and snow covered mountains and charming villages. Andermatt it’s self is a cute village as well.

The itinerary for Day 4 offers a clear and close view of the Rhine Falls – the biggest in Europe — and Lake Constance. Mid-day is spent at Mainau Island, where tourists eat their lunch and watch birds fly about in the green park.

The cruise ends on Day 5, when tourists are return back to Strasbourg early in the afternoon.

“The UNESCO city of Strasbourg is well worth a day or 2 of exploring. Strasbourg has one of Europe’s largest medieval quarters. Also there is the famous Cathedral, (known as one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in Europe), the Alsatian Architecture as well as charming canals and the historical old town known as Petite-France.”
Jan Baumgartner, Europeanbarging

While the description of the cruise already sounds enticing, the prospect of getting a discount for this inclusive cruise is a great deal. The rate includes the 5 day Rhine River cruise, all meals, beverage package, Wi-Fi and listed excursions. European Barging, however, stands out with its great price deal. So long as interested tourists are able to book before August 20th, a ten-percent discount will be in effect. An affordable monthly payment plan is also available.

For more information contact Europeanbarging at 888-869-7907 or jan@europeanbarging.com, River Cruise and Barge specialist since 1998.

Europeanbarging Offering 10% Discount For All Military Personnel

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Europeanbarging, an ARC accredited agency, is offering a Military Discount of 10%, for both active or veterans, on its’ full line of barge and river cruise products.

Their products include: European river cruises, Short European river cruises (4, 5, 6 and 7 days) Luxury European Barge cruises and Casual Bike and Barge cruises.

The river cruise itineraries include the countries of  France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Austria, Hungary, Portugal and Spain.

The luxury barge cruises are offered on the canals of France, Mosel River in Germany, Venice lagoon in Italy, Thames River in England, Scottish Highlands of Scotland and the Shannon River in Ireland.

The casual bike and barge cruises take place in Holland and Belgium, Germany, France and Italy.

“A  river cruise is one of the easiest ways to visit multiple cities throughout Europe, while still enjoying enough downtime to have the relaxed holiday getaway you deserve.  Our spectacular cruise packages are the ideal way to travel in style and beauty.”  Jan Baumgartner, Europeanbarging

AmaWaterways is rated one of the top river cruise lines in the world.  In addition to offering many different itineraries, they have many themed cruise itineraries such as wine, art, food and music.  The rates include 7 night cruise with multi choice excursions, use of bicycles to cycle the area, free Wi-Fi,  all meals including wine with lunch and dinner as well as a one hour happy hour each evening before dinner.  A wide variety of food choices available onboard.  Rates start at $2999 per person in low season, often with discounts up to $750 off.  Military discount would be additional.

AmaLegro docked at night

Europeanbarging offers two different international cruise lines for their short river cruises:

While onboard the German/English cruise line Arosa, you will enjoy a multitude of amenities including all meals, a beverage package, free Wi-Fi and discounts on spa services.  Meals feature food stations offering regional specialties with lots of options.

Rates for your Rhine River Cruise, Danube River Cruise, Douro River Cruise, Rhone River Cruise or Seine River Cruise start as low as $1,429 per person for a 7 night cruise when booked through Europeanbarging.    For singles, there is a low single supplement charged.  Each ship has a few lower deck cabins with 3 beds that will hold 3 persons.  Children 15 and under CRUISE FREE with 1 or 2 adults in the cabin.

For the French/English cruise line Croisi, their rates include all meals, unlimited complimentary onboard beverages, including: beer, fine wine, spirits, mineral bottled water, soft drinks specialty coffees and tea as well as included Wi-Fi.  They offer optional, motorcoach and walking tours as well as active excursions of cycling and hiking.   Several of their ships feature single as well as triple cabins and elevators. A five day Rhine River Cruise starts at $909 per person.

Luxury barges range in price from low $3000’s to over $7000 per person.  There are several barges in the mid to high $4,000’s.  The rates include the 6 night cruise, daily maid service, bicycles on board for cycling, gourmet meals, wine and cheese of the region with lunch and dinner, open bar with alcoholic beverages and all the sightseeing.  Some barges will have a small swimming pool or spa/Jacuzzi.

Barge on Canal du Midi

The prices are based on the features of the barges and food/wines provided. On the lower priced barges, you will be looking at cabins around 90 – 100 sq. ft., compact bathrooms and small shower stall. The wines will be regional wines. The more expensive barges will have larger cabins – 170 – 230 sq. ft. with larger bathrooms, big shower stalls with a glass door. Some of the wines will be premier and grand cru.  Children are not allowed on the barges unless it is a specific children’s week or a family charter.

Many of the casual bike and barge cruises are 7 nights instead of the 6 nights on a regular full service barge.  Prices range from $1940 to $2378 per person.  These barges range from  6, 20, 21, 22, 24 and 34 passengers.

Barge and Bike In Italy

These cruises are typically for serious cyclist as the biking ranges from  20KM – 65KM per day.  Bikes on these barges are typically heavy duty bikes designed for cycling in the  area.  Many bike and barge cruises have electric bikes available at a cost of between $100 – $150 for a week.

Included in the price: 6 or 7 night cruise, guide for the cycling tours , breakfast buffet, including makings for your packed lunch, dinner (3 courses) on boat, water with meals, clean towels and  bed linen delivered half way through the cruise and bike rental (with helmets).  Children are allowed on the bike and barge cruises.

Europeanbarging welcomes all inquiries to help you find the perfect cruise.  888-869-7907

4 – 7 Night Bordeaux River Cruises

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You’ll be raising your glass many times in Bordeaux, which is renowned for its wines, considered amongst the best in the world. As the capital of the department Gironde in the region Aquitaine, it has over two and a half million inhabitants in its metropolitan area. After years of neglect, the former wet docks are the country’s new hot spot, with a number of cafés, gardens, and museums springing up all the time. A lively university community of over 60,000, (Bordeaux Campus is the largest in France) establishes that Bordeaux is about more than just wine.

Bordeaux is a flat city, built on the banks of the Garonne River. It is also one of the largest French cities by area and geographically one of the largest in Europe. The Garonne merges a dozen kilometers below the city with another river, the Dordogne River to form the Gironde Estuary, which is the biggest estuary in France.

The city center is located west and south of the Garonne. To the east are a few hills – the only ones in the vicinity. These hills mark the beginning of an industrial zone and suburbs. Because it is a flat city, bicycles make excellent modes of transport, especially as the city has more than 580 km of cycle tracks. Bordeaux is among the most economically dynamic cities in France.

Due to the weakness of the subsoil, there are no skyscrapers in Bordeaux, which explains its sprawl. The center of the town has retained its traditional stone mansions and smart terraces, hence the reason behind the city being called “Little Paris”. Bordeaux also features the world’s largest reflecting pool with interactive fountains.

Modern buildings can be found to the west (administrative center) and south (university) of the city. Travel to France’s legendary wine capital, Bordeaux, Iconic châteaux, timeless vineyards and delicious wine tastings are plentiful as you visit Libourne, Blaye, Bourg, Pauillac and Cadillac. This trip is a must for anyone interested in the best of French culture, lifestyle, wine and food.

Being at the center of a major wine-growing and wine-producing region, Bordeaux remains a prominent powerhouse and exercises significant influence on the world wine industry. Non wine production is conducted within the city limits. It is home to the world’s main wine fair, Vinexpo, and the wine economy in the metro area takes in 14.5 billion euros each year. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the 8th century. The historic part of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble” of the 18th century.  After Paris, Bordeaux has the highest number of preserved historical buildings of any city in France.

Towns visited from a Bordeaux cruise include:  Cadillac, Pauillac, Blaye, Bourg, Saint-Emilion, as well as several wineries for tastings.

BLAYE, is known for its 17th century Citadel, built by Vauban.  Around the Blaye Citadel, there are lots of shops, cafes, restaurants and small hotels.

CADILLAC was founded in 1280 to serve as a river port for the castle of Benauges by the lord of the castle, Jean I de Grailly.  Cadillac is directly across the Garonne river from Sauternes, and is known for producing sweet dessert wines under the Cadillac AOC designation.

Possible excursion from Cadillac includes traveling by coach for the Château de Roquetaillade. This magnificent and prestigious medieval castle built between the 12th and 14th centuries is a listed historic monument. You will see its medieval keeps, the first Renaissance chimneys in the region (1600), but above all its unique 19th-century interiors, a masterpiece by Viollet-le-Duc today listed as a historic monument.

PAUILLAC – From this port is the stepping stone to the famous Grands Cru Wine Route of Medoc – a region producing some of the most famous Red Wine in the world.  As you drive through the region, you will pass through charming towns, acres of vineyards and sunflowers as well as beautiful chateau.

SAINT-EMILION’S – history goes back to prehistoric times and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with fascinating Romanesque churches and ruins stretching all along steep and narrow streets.  The town features the Monolithic church of Saint Emilion – built into a limestone cliff rock.

Monolithic Church of Saint Emilion

The Romans planted vineyards in what was to become Saint-Émilion as early as the 2nd century. In the 4th century, the Latin poet Ausonius lauded the fruit of the bountiful vine.

The town, previously called Ascumbas, was renamed after the monk Émilion (d.767), a traveling confessor, who settled in a hermitage carved into the rock there in the 8th century. The monks who followed him started up the commercial wine production in the area.  Saint-Émilion is one of the principal red wine areas of Bordeaux along with the Meoc, Graves and Pomerol. The region is much smaller than the Médoc and adjoins Pomerol. As in Pomerol and the other appellations on the right bank of the Gironde, the primary grape varieties used are the Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with relatively small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon also being used by some châteaux.

There are a variety of cruise options in Bordeaux:  Barge cruises as well as several river cruise options.  There are short Bordeaux Cruises of 4 night, 5 night and 6 night as well as 7 night cruise itineraries.  On an AmaWaterways 7 night Taste of Bordeaux cruise, you will enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours, wine with dinner, daily happy hour and included Wi-Fi. In many cases, you will have a choice of excursions, such as standard tours, bike tours, hikes and Special Interest Tours. We always include a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore.   The international cruise line CroisiEurope, offer short France River cruises with classic and active optional excursions.  CroisiEurope includes a beverage package as well as Wi-Fi in their cruise rates.   No matter your preference, your days will be full of discovery and wonder.

For more information contact:  Europeanbarging.com  /  888-869-7907  /  jan@europeanbarging.com