Boston, December 2017 –Scenic and its partner, leading luxury cycling vacation company Trek Travel, are pumping up their cycling program and increasing the number of dedicated departures to 11 for 2018. Guests can enjoy biking to the town of Engelhartszell, home to the only Trappist monastery in Austria, and enjoy exploring and a gourmet local lunch. Or they can soak up the beauty of the dramatic Rhine Gorge while cycling past the south-facing vineyards and grabbing a drink at Rheinfels Castle. New for 2018 is an option to use an electric-assist bike – for those who may feel a bit out of practice. The six Gems of the Danube sailings – between Budapest and Nuremberg – run from late May through the end of August while the five Rhine Highlightscruises between Amsterdam and Basel, begin in mid-May and run until the end of September. Truly all-inclusive fares start at $6,999 per person, double.
Working with award-winning Trek Travel, Scenic’s guests can enjoy daily 12- to 60-mile explorations on Trek Domane SL7 carbon fiber road bikes with electronic Di2 OR Trek FX hybrid OR Electric assist XM 700s. The seven-night Bike & River Cruise sailings include all the luxuries and inclusions of Scenic’s award-winning river cruises plus daily route support with experienced bicycling guides, equipment transport, and Trek Travel picnics and/or Bistro lunches.
Cycling highlights on the Gems of the Danube include winding through the timbered hamlets of Furth and Erlangen, sampling local beers from the area which boasts the highest density of breweries in the world, cycling along the vineyards of the Wachau Region, discovering Vienna’s most loved cycling routes including the heavily forested range of hills known as the Vienna Woods, and exploring the rich architecture of Budapest’s Buda hills. Non-cycling Freechoice excursions include a walking tour of Cesky Krumlov or Salzburg, and a Budapest city tour or thermal baths and spa experience, while the exclusive Scenic Enrich event is a private concert in one of Vienna’s most impressive palaces – Palais Liechtenstein.
Guests experience the epicurean and cultural delights of the Rhine River on the Rhine Highlights itinerary. Visiting four countries, this trip stops at the major cities of Strasbourg, France, Koblenz and Cologne, Germany and Amsterdam. Cycling guests take in the Alsace wine route, tasting Rieslings and Pinot Gris along the way, pedal the beautiful Rhine Gorge with its castle and vineyard dotted landscape, discover the bike trails of Cologne, and partake in a cheese tasting tour through Amsterdam’s countryside. Those wishing to not cycle on any particular day can choose from an array of Scenic Freechoice excursions including a “Sweet Tastes” tour of Heidelberg and a trip to the fairy tale town of Cochem. All guests on board partake in the exclusive Scenic Enrich event – a private tour and classical concert at the Baroque period Mannheim Palace
The 5-star Scenic Space-Ships offer truly all-inclusive luxury experiences – from private butler service and unlimited complimentary beverages and spirits including mini-bar re-stocked daily, to up to six dining options, including the tradition of dégustation at Table La Rive, fine dining at Portobello and the more casual fare at the River Café. Full-size private balcony staterooms all make use of Scenic’s unique Sun Lounge technology – where the walkout open-air balcony can convert to an all-weather lounge with a push of a button.
As with all Scenic river cruises, guests will never have to reach for the wallet or purse as everything is included (except a haircut or massage): tips and gratuities, expert local guides, all Scenic Freechoice activities that allow for a more personalized vacation, plus Scenic Enrich events which are exclusive to Scenic and its guests, transfers, all meals, etc.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has grown over its 30-year history to include award-winning, all-inclusive escorted tours that take participants to many of the world’s most fascinating destinations; two award-winning river cruise lines – Scenic and Emerald Waterways; and, in 2018, the world’s first Discovery Yacht – Scenic Eclipse. Award-winning Emerald Waterways’ seven Star Ships offer deluxe cruises in Europe, and the Mekong, while Scenic’s 15 Space-Ships offer truly all-inclusive, five-star river cruises in the same destinations as well as the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar.
Trek Travel is handling bookings at trektravel.com or 866-464-8735. Additional information on these and other cruises, brochures and reservations can be obtained via travel agents; or in the US: www.scenicusa.com; phone 844-788-7985; or email: [email protected]. Brochures can also be downloaded directly from the website.