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5 Awesome Danube River Cruises to Suit All Travelers

4/7/2023

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By John Roberts 
The Danube River is the gem of European river cruising: at 1,771 miles it's the second longest river in Europe, and it flows through 10 countries and four capital cities. With so much history, culture and stunning scenes along this grand waterway, travelers can have a hard time choosing just what river voyager is right for them. 
Emerald Cruises has a wonderful lineup, though, with details that show you just what to expect. Check out these five great ways to experience a Danube River cruise, provided by Emerald Cruises.  
You just might want to try them all!
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1. A Classic Danube River Cruise, But Make it More Active 
The upper Danube between Regensburg and Budapest is often the first choice for river cruisers with good reason. 
You can discover Old Europe because the river traverses four countries (Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary) and calls on three capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest) during the approximately 465-mile sailing.  
On Emerald Cruises' eight-day Danube Delights, cruisers take in the sights on walking tours of the ports or dial up the activity with the cruise line's menu of seven EmeraldACTIVE tours.  
Guided biking tours of Regensburg, Passau, the Wachau Valley and Vienna, as well as guided hikes in Durnstein, Bratislava and Budapest allow fitness-focused travelers to keep moving in each port. All EmeraldACTIVE tours are included and bookable onboard, meaning you can decide each day whether you want to join the active options.  
Other highlights include musical entertainment onboard from a Bavarian band, an opportunity to visit the home of a Slovakian family for coffee, cake and cultural exchange, and a tour of post-communist Bratislava via a classic Skoda automobile with a driver. Emerald Cruises offers 37 departures between April and October 2023.

2. A Leisurely Danube Voyage for Culinary Enthusiasts
Emerald Cruises' eight-day Danube Explorer itinerary shines a different light on a similar stretch of the river between Passau and Budapest. It's shorter sailing at 362 miles, and this cruise takes a leisurely pace, offering more time to explore on your own.  
However, a shorter distance doesn't mean that you'll see less. On the contrary, this route adds a country with a day trip from Linz, Austria, to the UNESCO World Heritage listed town of Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic.  
A strong focus on culinary offerings throughout this cruise entices foodies and home cooks, who get a Bavarian brunch at a farm in Passau, a Linzer torte-making demonstration and tasting in Linz, a "Tastes of Vienna" food tour and a special culinary tour of Budapest with a visit to the famed Market Hall.  
Other highlights include an overnight in Vienna for those wishing to explore the vibrant city's nightlife and renowned restaurants, a tour of Melk Abbey and the opportunity to visit the famed baths in Budapest. Emerald Cruises offers 23 departures of this cruise between April and October 2023.

3. The Lower Danube for History Buffs 
Five countries accompany the Danube on its journey through Eastern Europe. Emerald Cruises' nine-day Enchantment of Eastern Europe explores this fascinating region between Budapest and Bucharest, Romania, with ports in Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia.  
History buffs will be mesmerized by the range of significant sites visited, from visiting the oldest planned settlement in Europe, Lepesnki Ver in Serbia, which dates to 9500 BC, to a visit to Revolution Square in Bucharest, a key site that contributed to the fall of the Soviet empire.  
Opportunities for cultural immersion abound, from a choir concert in Arbanasi, Budapest, to a home-hosted lunch in Croatia and a visit to the Puszta horse farm in Hungary. The itinerary includes a one-night hotel stay in Bucharest to allow travelers to familiarize themselves with the "Paris of the East." Emerald Cruises offers 12 departures between April and October 2023.
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4. Christmas Cruise on the Danube 
A holiday Danube river cruise calling on some of the most enchanting Christmas Markets in Europe is a dream come true for any Christmas enthusiast. Wandering through the gingerbread-inspired stalls, sipping mulled wine and shopping for traditional ornaments and unique gifts is the perfect way to usher in the holiday spirit while satisfying the desire to experience Europe's timeless holiday season.  
Emerald Cruises offers two options on the Danube during the holidays.  
Its five-day Christmastime on the Danube voyage sails between Vienna and Budapest, two great cities that host two of the largest markets on the river. The longer eight-day Christmas Markets on the Danube cruises between Regensburg and Budapest and offers a nice mix of smaller markets and a wintertime visit to the Bavarian Forest.  
Emerald Cruises offers four Danube Christmas Market cruises between November and December 2023.

5. A Danube River Cruise for the Whole Family 
Emerald Cruises features a Danube cruise perfect for the whole family. The eight-day Family Danube River Cruise sails between Budapest and Passau and has been carefully crafted with passengers ages 10 to 18 in mind. In Budapest, families can opt to visit the AM 3D gallery, a quirky museum where you are encouraged to interact and pose with the art. 
In Bratislava, budding chefs will enjoy taking part in a cooking class on an active Slovakian farm. A geocaching outing in Passau and an archery lesson at Schallaburg Castle in Austria ensure that the kids are having fun while discovering Europe, too.  
Onboard, young cruisers can look forward to dedicated pool activities with the ship's wellness coach, wheelhouse tours with the captain, learning about what it takes to navigate the mighty Danube, and locally inspired dinner menus with options modified for younger more-finicky tastes. 
Emerald Cruises first Family Danube River Cruise will depart July 15, 2023. 

Thanks for reading, and happy cruising!
JR
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Emerald Cruises Ramps Up EmeraldACTIVE on Rivers and Oceans

5/3/2021

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Emerald Cruises' EmeraldACTIVE program offers bike tours during its river and ocean itineraries.
By John Roberts 
Travelers continues to crave more and more options when it comes to exploring the world in an active way.  
For some travelers, an active vacation might entail summiting a mountain or completing a marathon in a particular destination. For others, it could mean remaining committed to an active lifestyle while vacationing (maybe ensuring that you hit your step count on each day of your cruise).  
Well, Emerald Cruises fully understands the growing desire to keep active while traveling, which is why the line created the popular (and complimentary) EmeraldACTIVE tour program for its river cruise passengers in 2016. 
Since the start of the program, the options for staying active and adventurous during your voyage have increased greatly 
EmeraldACTIVE offerings have grown by nearly 50 percent, encompassing all river sailings across Europe and in Asia, adding activities like kayaking and canoeing. In 2019, Emerald Cruises upped the ante even further with the announcement that all European river cruises would feature a dedicated Activity Manager.  
This crew member leads the EmeraldACTIVE tours, offers onboard group fitness programs and assists cruisers with planning individual cycling tours or athletic walks while in port.  
I gave the EmeraldACTIVE program a spin on my sailing in Germany and had a great time.

EmeraldACTIVE: A Rhine River Cruise with Emerald Cruises
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Onboard the ships, Activity Managers lead activities like fitness classes.
Now, with the 2022 launch of Emerald Cruises' first ocean-going luxury superyacht, Emerald Azzurra, these fun EmeraldACTIVE tours will be available on both ocean and river sailings for a total of 40 active excursion options across all of Emerald Cruises' itineraries. 
Check out how these active experiences break down: 
  • Emerald Cruises offers 31 unique EmeraldACTIVE tour options on European river sailings, including 15 guided hikes available across eight countries, 13 guided bike tours encompassing more than 140 miles of cycling and guided canoe tours in Portugal and France; 
  • You'll find eight brand new EmeraldACTIVE tours available on Emerald Azzurra yacht sailings in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Red Seas; 
  • And two EmeraldACTIVE shore excursions on Mekong sailings in Southeast Asia, including a kayaking tour of Halong Bay in Vietnam and a scooter tour of the countryside near Siem Reap, Cambodia. 
Hiking tours include such outings as a guided hike along the terraced vine slopes of the Cotes du Rhone, one of France's most esteemed wine-making regions during your Rhone River sailing, or an active trek through the mystical woodlands of the Black Forest on Rhine River cruises.  
Cycling enthusiasts will love the 23-mile bike tour through rolling vineyards and quaint towns in the Wachau Valley, a beautiful region of northern Austria known for its dramatic landscapes and viticultural heritage. These rides are a staple of Danube River cruises. 
Or, you can enjoy a shorter city ride in Arnhem, Holland, famous for its postcard-worthy streets and scenic parks. 
When Emerald Azzurra launches in 2022, you will be able to take part in EmeraldACTIVE excursions in stunning destinations -- such as a guided hiking tour to Forte Filippo in Port Ecole, Italy along the Italian Riviera, and a guided bike tour in and around historic Kusadasi, Turkey. 
"It's clear that small ship cruisers of all ages are increasingly interested in active, health-conscious travel," said David Winterton, Global Brand Director for Emerald Cruises. "We're committed to offering programming both onboard and in ports that delivers a wide variety of options to our guests." 
Emerald Cruises has a lineup of river and yacht cruises on three continents. Emerald Azzurra, the line's first ocean-going vessel is set to debut in January 2022. This 100-passenger, luxury superyacht will sail the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Black and Red Seas.  
On the rivers, Emerald Cruises sails eight branded Star-Ships in Europe and one on the Mekong River in Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as a chartered river ship sailing the Russian waterways (MS Nizhny Novgorod). These contemporary deluxe ships feature outstanding service and an incredibly inclusive pricing plan that has won them the honor of being named Best River Cruise Line for Value by the Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards for five years running.

Thanks for reading,

JR
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Emerald Cruises Sets New Itineraries for Luxury Superyacht

4/9/2021

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Emerald Azzurra is set to launch in early 2022. Emerald Waterways has revealed an exciting set of Med voyages for 2023 that we find enticing.
By John Roberts 
Small ship cruise experiences are the way to go to get access to unique destinations. They also are a wonderful way to avoid the crowds.  
In that spirit, I am excited to learn that Emerald Cruises has announced where its new luxury superyacht Emerald Azzurra, will be going in 2023. The new ship is set to debut in early 2022. 
I know that seems like a long timeline, but it has always made sense to me to have a good number of trips to look forward to, as well as ensuring that I don't miss out in case it sells out quickly.  
These itineraries are definitely worth putting in the mix for some future trips. 
In addition to sailings in the Mediterranean, Red, Aegean and Adriatic seas, the 2023 itinerary for Emerald Azzurra features two different voyages to the Black Sea. 
The 15-day Mykonos, Gallipoli and Essence of the Black Sea itinerary sails between Athens and Istanbul, with a port stop in Mykonos before exploring the storied Black Sea at ports in Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. You get to explore the iconic whitewashed alleyways of Mykonos; learn the history of Sinop, Turkey's prison fortress, where many famous Turkish writers and journalists were imprisoned; and be treated to a private recital in the Palaces of Odessa in Ukraine. Departures are planned for August 5 and August 19, 2023. 
For a more in-depth exploration of this diverse region, the 22-day Discover the Greek Islands, Turkey and the Black Sea itinerary expands on the 15-day voyage with additional ports of call in Patmos, Rhodes and Amorgos, Greece, and Kusadasi and Bodrum, Turkey. The extra days are filled with guided city and historical site tours, including a hike to the Monastery of St. John while on Patmos -- arguably one of the most beautiful Greek islands -- and a folklore show in Amorgos, complete with regional delicacies. Sailings are scheduled for July 29 and August 19, 2023. 
In addition, Emerald Cruises has announced its "Epic Voyages," two expanded itineraries that combine several shorter itineraries. Offering the best of the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, the 26-day Discover Gems of the Mediterranean Coastlines itinerary begins with an exploration of the French and Italian Rivieras between Nice and Rome before heading down Italy's western coast to Sicily and the Ionian Sea to Greece. The last leg of the journey takes cruisers roundtrip from Athens to interesting destinations in Greece and Turkey.  
Also, the 22-day Discover the Pearls of Croatia, Greece and Turkey itinerary begins with coastal cruising around Greek islands and the Turkish coastline before setting sail for Dubrovnik with ports of call in Albania and Montenegro. From there, you'll sail north along the Croatian coastline before crossing the Adriatic Sea and finishing your journey in Venice. 
Launching in January 2022, Emerald Azzurra is the first custom-built ocean superyacht from Emerald Cruises, offering a luxury cruising experience to small ports and harbors only accessible to small ships. The superyacht will carry just 100 cruisers, who will sail in comfort in 50 deluxe suites and staterooms. Emerald Azzurra features a variety of areas in which to dine and relax; it also has an onboard wellness center complete with a spa, gym and sauna for the ultimate indulgence. The superyacht's marina platform is designed for easy access to snorkeling, paddle boarding and swimming -- just a few of the many activities included.

Thanks for reading, 
JR
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