Estate Living April 2016 Digital Issue | Page 32

The River Cruise Difference Peaceful and scenic, river cruising offers a smooth, gentle ride along the world’s most remarkable waterways. Supreme comfort and convenience make it the premier way to experience magnificent cities, historic villages and little-seen enclaves. From your stateroom balcony, endless natural beauty combines with evolving views of the colourful local scenery. Castles and fortresses tower on both sides, as if you could reach out and touch them. When your ship docks in the heart of town, stroll ashore for included excursions or set off to explore on a complimentary bicycle. Unpack just once then settle in as each destination comes to you. A superb itinerary offered by AmaWaterways is the Christmas Markets on the Danube. Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with a festive journey that kicks off in Prague. After boarding your ship in Nuremberg, you will cruise through the charming region where so many of today’s most beloved Christmas traditions originated. Experience a number of enchanting Christmas markets in places such as Regensburg, Salzburg, and Vienna, each with its own local flavour and traditions. Conclude your holiday cruise in Budapest. For the connoisseur, Taste of Bordeaux offers a visit to Bordeaux, the capital of Aquitaine in Southwestern France, is one of the world’s undisputed wine capitals. You’ll discover stately chateaux, abundant vineyards and stunning scenery as you sail along the Garonne River and its surrounding estuaries, calling upon port cities like Cadillac, Bourg and Libourne. Enjoy tastings of some of the region’s most distinguished wines and visit notable sights before concluding your journey with a two night stay in the Loire Valley and one night in Paris. Another firm favourite is the Tulip Time cruise. Here you will discover the beauty and history of the Dutch and Belgian waterways in the spring and admire the spectacular tulip carpets in Keukenhof Gardens. You will visit the lush green countryside of Kinderdijk, home to the country’s greatest concentration of windmills, and experience Amsterdam’s distinctive architecture and vibrant nightlife. This is also a wonderful opportunity to admire the great medieval cities of Antwerp and Ghent and to delve into the cultural traditions of the friendly Dutch and Flemish people. These are only a few of the wonderful itineraries offered by AmaWaterways where you have no need to navigate from place to place and where you’ll find a sense of adventure and a sense of home all in one vacation.