Myanmar News Articles: Go with the flow

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March 16, 2014

Sally Macmillan

The Cruise Director

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Kick back and relax: Pandaw river cruises.

It pays to get in early when it comes to river cruises, writes Sally Macmillan.

Have you tried to book a European river cruise recently? Many 2014 cruises are selling fast and if you want to guarantee your preferred cabin on a specific ship sailing in a particular region, you might be best off booking one for 2015. Earlybirds can also take advantage of some terrific offers - free flights, specials for solo cruisers, 2014 prices for 2015 itineraries - although there are still deals out there for late-season 2014 cruises.

Meanwhile, cruise lines are responding to our ever-growing demand by building more ships - this year, in Europe alone, 27 new river ships will be launched.

Viking River Cruises' Freya Boppard Longship.

Southeast Asia and India are becoming increasingly popular as Australian travellers seek destinations to explore that are closer to home and Myanmar in particular is seeing a huge influx of visitors.

River cruising is one of the easiest forms of travel - your floating hotel takes you to the heart of cities and villages and you usually visit at least one port a day.

Fares generally include all meals, shore excursions, free Wi-Fi and gratuities, and some include all drinks, butler service and bespoke tours that might include dinner with a princess in her palace or a private tour of a family vineyard.

APT pool. Photo: SUPPLIED

Here's our A to Z guide to the new river ships launching in 2014.

ABERCROMBIE KENT

Sanctuary Retreats, a division of Abercrombie Kent, is launching the 48-passenger, all-suite Sanctuary Ananda in Myanmar, in November. The ship will operate three, four and seven-night "discovery cruises" between Bagan and Mandalay, and seven, 10- and 11-night "exploration cruises" on the Upper Irrawaddy River, the Chindwin, Lower Irrawaddy River to Pyay (formerly Prome) and twice a year to Yangon.

Highlights: All suites are air-conditioned, have a large private balcony and include iPod docking station and iPad TV connectivity; sun deck with outdoor pool; Thambyadine Spa and gym.

Season: September to April.

More info: phone 1300 851 800, see abercrombiekent.com.au.

APT

Two more 164-passenger Concerto class ships, AmaSonata and AmaReina, will set sail in April and July on the Rhine and Danube.

They join an impressive fleet of river vessels that operate all over Europe.

Highlights: Heated pool with swim-up bar; butler service in top suites; five specialty restaurants; small group tours; fully inclusive fares.

Season: March to December.

The 56-passenger AmaPura launches on Myanmar in November, operating 10- and 14-night cruises on the Irrawaddy River.

Highlights: All 28 suites have balconies; other facilities include a gift shop, spa, pool and a sun deck.

Season: APT is offering two exclusive APT-only sailings in February and April 2015 aboard AmaPura as well as joint sailings with partner AmaWaterways from November 2014.

More info: phone 1300 196 420, see aptouring.com.au.

A-ROSA

European company A-Rosa's new 158-passenger ship A-Rosa Flora will be sailing seven to nine-night cruises on the Rhine from May.

The cruise line is represented by eWaterways in Australia.

Highlights: 83 cabins and suites include two family staterooms for four people; tours feature activities such as kayaking, horse riding, hiking, plus cultural tours; ship facilities include a "live" cooking station, spa, and wine bars.

Season: May to September

More info: phone 1800 503 669, see ewaterways.com.au.

AQUA EXPEDITIONS

Best known for its luxury cruises on the Peruvian Amazon, Aqua Expeditions' 40-passenger Aqua Mekong will be operating three, four and seven-night cruises in Vietnam and Cambodia from October.

Highlights: Four 10-passenger boats for off-ship adventures; private film-screening room; suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows; interconnecting suites for families.

Season: Year round

More info: phone 1800 243 152, see aquaexpeditions.com.

ASSAM BENGAL NAVIGATION COMPANY

This specialist river cruise company has capitalised on its experience on the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers to build its new 22-cabin ship RV Raj Mahal especially for often-tricky Indian river cruising conditions.

RV Raj Mahal is operating seven- and nine-day cruises on the Upper Ganges and eight-day cruises on the Hooghly (Lower Ganges).

Australian companies including Active Travel and Travelmarvel charter the ship.

Highlights: All cabins have french balconies; onboard spa; itineraries include remote villages and towns in rural India.

Season: Year round.

More info: Active Travel, phone 1300 783 188, see activetravel.com.au; Travelmarvel, phone 1300 336 932, see travelmarvel.com.au.

AVALON WATERWAYS

Avalon is launching three more "suite ships" in Europe: the 166-passenger Avalon Impression and 128-passenger Avalon Poetry II this month, and 166-passenger Avalon Illumination in June.

TV personality Deborah Hutton will christen Avalon Illumination in Vienna. All three ships will cruise the Rhine, Main and Danube.

Highlights: Two decks of suites featuring the line's signature panoramic windows that transform the living space into an open-air balcony; large marble and granite bathrooms; special- interest cruises including beer-tasting, Jewish heritage and golf.

Season: March to December.

More info: phone 1300 230 234, see avalonwaterways.com.au.

EVERGREEN TOURS

Scenic Tours' sister company is launching the 182-passenger Emerald Star and 182-passenger Emerald Sky in April to cruise the Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle Rivers.

Evergreen is also introducing 21-day Christmas markets cruises and new itineraries in France.

Highlights: All-weather pool with a bar that converts into a cinema by night; open-air terrace; "You're Invited" program, where passengers can meet local people.

Season: March to December.

More info: phone 1300 364 414, see evergreentours.com.

PANDAW RIVER EXPEDITIONS

Pandaw, which has six vessels on Myanmar's Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers, is launching two more - the 40-passenger Kindat Pandaw and Kalaw Pandaw - in July and a third, the 20-passenger Kha Byoo, at the end of the year.

Kindat and Kalaw will have an ultra-shallow draft, allowing them to pass through channels blocked to other vessels at low water.

Highlights: Kindat and Kalaw will be finished in traditional Pandaw style with teak and brass, and like their six fleetmates in Myanmar, will be replicas of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company ships of the 1920s.

Season: Varies according to the itineraries; some are year-round.

More info: phone 02 8006 7013, see pandaw.com.

SCENIC TOURS

The Australian-owned and operated company is launching two more "space ships", the 169-passenger Scenic Jade and 126-passenger Scenic Gem, in May and July, bringing its fleet to nine.

Scenic Jade will operate the "15- Day Jewels of Europe River Cruise" between Amsterdam and Budapest and Scenic Gem has been custom-built for the Seine.

Highlights: Both ships will feature butler service, luxury suites with private balconies and a complimentary mini-bar; shore excursions are included in the fare.

Season: April to October

More info: phone 1300 723 642, see scenictours.com.au.

TAUCK

Tauck's new Inspiration-class vessels, the 130-passenger MS Inspire and MS Savor, launch in June, and will sail on the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Each will be bigger than their sister ships but will carry fewer passengers.

Highlights: All cabins will be outside, 85 per cent will have floor-to-ceiling windows and eight are "loft" cabins over two decks; Tauck operates two family-friendly cruises a year; bespoke cultural excursions are a speciality.

Season: April to October

More info: phone 1300 804 522, see traveltheworld.com.au.

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISE COLLECTION

Uniworld's new "super ship", S.S. Catherine, enters service at the end of March to cruise on the Rhone and Saone rivers in Burgundy and Provence.

She will be similar to S.S. Antoinette, has a passenger capacity of 159 and will be one of the company's largest ships at 135 metres long.

Highlights: Every Uniworld ship boasts original decor; S.S. Catherine features artworks and antiques; all cabins have full or french balconies; bistro and main restaurant; pool, spa and fitness centre.

Season: April to November

More info: contact your travel agent, see uniworldcruises.com.au.

VIKING RIVER CRUISES

This month, Viking is launching another 12 of its 190-passenger Viking Longships to cruise in Europe, taking the fleet of Longships to 28 and Viking's overall fleet to 35.

Highlights: Two new longships will cruise the Douro River in Portugal; cabins on the top two decks feature french balconies on one side of the ship and verandahs on the other, and some suites have both.

Season: March to November.

More info: phone 1800 829 138, see vikingrivercruises.com.au.

AHOY!

Each week on Carnival Spirit, passengers consume 18,000 prawns, 55,000 eggs, 5000 apples and 700 kilograms of coffee beans.