Category: Emerald Waterways

Emerald Waterways Unwraps Holiday Trips for All Traveler Types

12/4/2020

Emerald Waterways' "Christmas Connoisseur" cruises visit some of the most festive cities and towns along the Danube, Rhine and Rhone rivers so that you can join in on the warmth and celebrations of the holiday season.

By John Roberts
People around the world are prepping for an intimate holiday season -- with most having their celebrations at home and spending time with their families, forgoing any adventures abroad for the time being.
But the spark to travel still exists, ready to be stoked and returned to a full blaze in 2021. A new year brings the hopes that we will have the chance to venture back into the world to seize new experiences and share amazing adventures with friends, both old and new.
With the holidays arriving, we can dream about future holiday travels that span the globe.
One of our preferred small-ship cruise companies, Emerald Waterways, has curated a Santa's wish list of river and yacht sailings itineraries focused on the winter holidays that offer something for just about every type of traveler, from those looking to explore winter wonderlands to destinations fit for cruisers looking for balmy environments.
Check out these Emerald Waterways' trips that you look forward to unwrapping these holidays:

The Christmas Connoisseur: These river cruises visit some of the most enchanting Christmas Markets in Europe, and it's a dream come true for any enthusiast of the festive holiday season.
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 the timelessness of the holiday season in Europe. Don't want to miss even a single cozy evening spent by the Christmas tree? Not to worry -- each river ship is fully decked out in elegant holiday regalia. Emerald Waterways' 2021 and 2022 Christmas Markets sailings range from five to 15 days with sailings along the Rhine, Danube and Rhone rivers.

The Adventurer: Southeast Asia is probably not an obvious Christmas destination, but that's what makes it so attractive for the adventure-loving travelers among us. In fact, a Mekong River sailing through Vietnam and Cambodia in December gives you the chance to enjoy the holidays from a completely new perspective -- through the lens of ancient and fascinating cultures. Festivities and decorations adorn the villages and cities along the exotic Mekong River, with the largest celebrations happening in Ho Chi Minh City, where Christmas Eve is a major holiday complete with a Vietnamese feast.
You will even see Santas zooming by on scooters. Plus, the warm temps of the region in December make this sailing extra attractive for those looking to escape the winter chill back home. Sailings and land packages of 13-21 days are available for the 2021 and 2022 season.

The Bucket Lister: A holiday sailing to the Holy Land onboard Emerald Cruises' super yacht, Emerald Azzurra, offers the opportunity for intrepid travelers to check multiple items off their bucket list. Emerald Azzurra is scheduled to launch in mid-2021.
The eight-day Holy Land at Christmastime itinerary includes Port Said, Egypt, where you can visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and savor a day cruise along the legendary Nile River, before spending two days in Haifa, Israel, and a sojourn to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee.
The highlight of this sailing are the two days spent in Ashdod, a city that plays a major role in the teachings of the Bible and still marks the starting point for pilgrimage to the Holy Land. This will be a big stop for bucket listers as well as historians and bible scholars.
Then, travelers can choose from excursions to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea and Tel Aviv.

Special Holiday Deals: Just in time for the holiday season, Emerald Cruises is offering a free "Emerald Extended Drink Package" with any 2021 or 2022 Christmastime European river or yacht cruise booking made by December 24, 2020. The drink package carries a value of $128 per person per week and includes a selection of wine, draft beer and soft drinks available throughout the day. For Southeast Asian river cruises booked by December 24, you will receive equivalent onboard credit of $128 per person, which can be used toward drinks at the bar, salon and spa services or at the onboard shop.
These deals are combinable with the current offers:

On European Christmas Market river cruises: savings of up to $2,500 per couple or free flights to Europe;
On Southeast Asia river cruises: savings of $2,000 per couple or free flights to Southeast Asia on itineraries of 13 or more days;
On Emerald Yacht Cruises: earlybird pricing of up to 20 percent off full fares.

In addition, on all these itineraries, travelers save up to an additional 10 percent off 2022 sailings, when paying in full 12 months prior to departure with Emerald Waterways' "Super Earlybird" promotion.

What trip will you put in your stockings this year? I'm leaning toward a holiday adventure in SE Asia with friends and family.
Happy holidays and happy travels, always!
Thanks for reading,
JR

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Tasty Temptations of an Emerald Waterways Rhine River Cruise

6/17/2019

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And How the EmeraldACTIVE Program Helps You Earn All Those Treats

Emerald Destiny sails with up to 182 passengers. I joined about 140 others on my cruise on the Moselle, Rhine and Main Rivers in Germany.

By John Roberts
A river cruise in Germany is an adventure that will test the willpower of anyone who generally intends to stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle.

So, what's a traveler to do when sailing throughout Germany, visiting Franconia and Bavaria in regions of the world where you'll be constantly tempted by wines, cheeses, sausages, fries, beers, cakes, strudel and gelatos? And don't forget the pretzels! Oh, those pretzels.

During my weeklong cruise on the Moselle, Rhine and Main Rivers with Emerald Waterways, I was so tempted with all the mouthwatering fare I encountered that I had no choice but to implement my tried and true "Operation Mitigation" approach to eating and exercise.

The simple premise of this diet plan: If I was going to eat it, I was going to have to earn it!

It what is typically pure folly, I always head out for my trips with the idea that I will limit myself to a couple indulgences here and there, try the regional specialties and have a few beers and desserts during my trip to get a proper flavor of a destination. This is important, of course, to make sure I enjoy myself and connect in a nice way with the regions I visit.

Once we reached Bavaria, it was time for an onboard feast of regional cuisine. The crew on Emerald Destiny hustled to deliver cold beers and heaping plates of delicious grub to eager passengers who swarmed the main dining at lunch time.

But I almost always quickly realize that resistance is futile when beckoned by smooth and creamy scoops of fresh-made gelato and the twisty embrace of warm and salty Bavarian pretzels. I typically go off the rails by the end of the first night, when a few crisp and easy-drinking German pilsners go down so effortlessly during hours-long convivial meals with new friends.

Thus, it was the case on Emerald Destiny on Day 1 during my Emerald Waterways voyage. I particularly enjoy these cruises on the great European waterways because they provide the perfect environment for exploration. The small and comfortable ships feature crew members offering friendly and attentive service, and the Emerald Destiny staff was among the most upbeat and fun crew I have seen on dozens of these sailings.

My friend Lauren introduced me to the smoke beers of Bamberg. An ideal way to wash down a salty pretzel.

You also have the chance to meet well-traveled people from all over the world who share a curiosity and taste for new foods and learning about history and culture. The intimate confines give the voyages a pleasant energy as you sail past stunning scenery that makes it seem as if you are in a live painting -- drifting past castles, villages ruins, vineyards and green fields.

We journeyed from Bernkastel on the Moselle River to Nuremberg on the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, and over the course of a magical week, I would make special new friends and cherished travel moments that revolved around the entire spectacle of stunning scenery, immersive history, beautiful weather and delicious culinary delights.

Running along the Moselle River in Cochem, Germany

I got my morning in Cochem started with a run along the Moselle River. Photo credit: Jack Hollingsworth

The sunny days played a key part in my plan, as I was able to mitigate my caloric consumption with ample doses of exercise and other activities that made for a perfect guilt-free week that allowed me to do it all.

Here is the plan I used that allowed me to step on the scale not one pound heavier after returning home, while allowing me to enjoy all the food, drink and dessert that I was helpless to resist. (I'm talking two desserts daily and ample glasses of German pilsners, smoke beers and kolsches).

The Sun Deck is a fantastic spot to take part in exercise classes onboard while taking in the views while sailing.

Emerald Waterways offers an activity manager on each of its ships, and the line launched its EmeraldACTIVE program, which features a wide range of classes, activities and events that ramp up the fun for cruisers. This includes trivia contests and quizzes, cabaret shows and golf putting competitions and games of petanque on the wide-open Sun Deck.

The program also includes programming for the fitness-inclined cruiser, and we were able to take part in a guided bike tour of Bernkastel and special hiking excursions.

I jumped in to try my first water aerobics class in the large pool. Photo credit: Laura Kiniry

Harry Jordan was our activity manager on Emerald Destiny, and in addition to running the quiz shows, teaching dance classes and performing cabaret shows during which he sang Neil Diamond and Rat Pack classics, he also offered a series of active classes onboard the ship. He led Pilates, water aerobics (yes, Emerald Destiny has a large indoor swimming pool), yoga and stretch classes.

Pilates on the Sun Deck on Emerald Waterways

Soft petanque on the Sun Deck of Emerald Destiny

Top to Bottom: Our activity manager Harry led yoga, Pilates and soft petanque sessions as part of the EmeraldACTIVE program.

I added a daily run and a few workouts in the ship's small fitness center to further boost my calorie burn in "Operation Mitigation." European river cruises offer numerous wonderful chances for avid runners to explore by foot while sticking to their regimens. All of the villages we visited with Emerald Waterways on this cruise itinerary offered well-marked running paths right along the rivers and just steps off the gangway of your river ship. I went on several scenic runs, crossing ancient bridges and even up to the Koblenz Fortress (I rode the Koblenz Cable car back down, though).

We asked for a large plate of fries to share at the pub. Instead, we got five big plates to share. Something was lost in translation, I suppose.. That doesn't mean we didn't give our best effort in trying to finish off those fresh, hot and tasty potato delights.

Emerald Waterways ships also carry a fleet of bikes that you can sign out to go on a ride. Want to explore independently and get in some exercise at the same time? Ask your activity manager or cruise director for a good running or biking route or a special hike that they have found in each port.

Tip: Bring along your camera or mobile phone and be ready to stop numerous times for pictures during your ride or run. Also, bring a credit card and a few euros because your route is bound to bring you past a quaint little pub or cafe by the river that will draw you in for a beer, wine or other treat.

The bottom line: You will feel the constant tug of temptation on these cruises in Germany, but Emerald Waterways gives you a good chance to burn off just as much as you take in.

Our EmeraldACTIVE program got off to a nice start with a long and scenic bike ride in Bernkastel.

We were fortunate to enjoy mostly sunny days, which yielded views like this one in Miltenberg on our hiking excursions.

The most importantly thing, though, is that my cruise on Emerald Destiny was an overall fun experience, giving you a full menu of things to savor -- from foods to adventures and activities.

Don't worry if you give in to the cravings, like I did. I find it's always lot easier to cut back on the calories when I'm back home. My appetite isn't as powerful when I'm the one doing the cooking.

Thanks for reading,
JR

I broke loose from the crowd in Miltenberg for a run. This was simply my afternoon prep for another hearty dinner experience back on the ship. Remember to always travel fit, travel happy and travel often. -- JR

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Emerald Waterways Boosts Fitness Options on European Cruises

2/8/2019

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The new Emerald Waterways Activity Managers will lead active adventures on the line's European voyages.

Activity Managers to lead EmeraldACTIVE excursions and fitness classes

By John Roberts

Emerald Waterways has announced that its seven "Star-Ships will sail with a dedicated Activity Manager on its European river cruises.

Activity Managers will support all of the line's "EmeraldACTIVE" shore excursions -- which include guided bike tours and hiking and canoeing trips -- as well as daily wellness and fitness classes onboard the ships.

The fitness options onboard include yoga and Pilates classes, aqua aerobics in heated indoor pools and one-mile walks on the open-air Sun Deck track, all coordinated by the onboard fitness experts.

This new program from Emerald Waterways marks a further development in the positive trend toward more fitness-focused activities and an overall emphasis on wellness that we have seen in the past handful of years for river cruising.

AmaWaterways has launched several programs, including biking and hiking theme cruises with partner Backroads, as well as placing their own Wellness Hosts on every ship. Scenic Cruises (a sister brand to Emerald Waterways) also offers active sailings through its partnership with cycling outfitter Trek Travel.

Read more about these active river cruise trips:

What is the AmaWaterways Wellness Program Like?

My Danube River Biking Cruise with Scenic and Trek Travel

7 Things About a Biking Trip with Backroads and AmaWaterways

Emerald Waterways is offering a comprehensive program that will help passengers remain active in all kinds of ways during their European voyages.

"In addition to coordinating the group fitness programs, the Activity Managers will also be available to assist guests with planning individual cycling tours or athletic walks in port," said Lisa Norton, vice president of brand management for Emerald Waterways US. "River cruisers of all ages are increasingly interested in active, health-conscious travel, and we're committed to offering programming that delivers a wide variety of options."

Emerald Waterways' river cruises offer contemporary, deluxe ships, outstanding service and an incredibly inclusive pricing plan. Cruise fares include all transfers; all port charges; all onboard (and some on-shore) meals; unlimited specialty tea and coffee, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; bottled water in the cabins replenished daily; continental breakfast, pre-dinner canapes and after-dinner sweet treats served in the top suites; complimentary Wi-Fi onboard the ship; most shore excursions as well as all onboard and excursion gratuities. On touring days, hotel accommodations, internal flights and transfers are included.

Part of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Waterways' eight branded Star-Ships offer river sailings in Europe and on the Mekong, as well as the MS Rossia along the Volga River in Russia; the Adriatic Princess and Adriatic Pearl yachts in Croatia; and the MS Hamees on the Nile.

Thanks for reading!

Travel fit, travel happy and travel often.
JR

Bottom line: We love that Emerald Waterways is the latest river cruise company to add more wellness and fitness activities. It's a great way top explore Europe.

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Emerald Waterways Unwraps Holiday Trips for All Traveler Types

Tasty Temptations of an Emerald Waterways Rhine River Cruise

Emerald Waterways Boosts Fitness Options on European Cruises

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