Get Free or Reduced Air to Europe When Booking by August 31
Boston, MA (June 2020) – Emerald Waterways, the river cruise line named “Best River Line for Value” by industry leader Cruise Critic for five years running, has opened the books on their 2021 river cruise season with complimentary or reduced airfare deals on all European sailings. The upcoming season will feature a newly launched Star-Ship, Emerald Luna, new land extensions to Istanbul and Transylvania, and several fresh itineraries on some of Europe’s most popular rivers. All 2021 river cruise bookings also now include Emerald Waterways’ Deposit Protection Plan at no extra charge, so guests can book their vacations with confidence. The complete 2021 river cruise program is detailed in the company’s brochure, available to view digitally now.
Christmas Market sailings have become increasingly popular as an ideal way to visit the festive traditional holiday markets of Europe. New for 2021, Emerald Waterways is offering three 5-day itineraries to see and shop the iconic markets on the Rhine (sailing between Basel and Frankfurt), the Danube (sailing between Vienna and Budapest) and for the first time on France’s Rhone river between Avignon and Arles.
Guests booking a river cruise of eight days or longer will receive free, round trip airfare to Europe, while those booking any of the new five-day Christmas Market sailings will receive round trip air for $695. In lieu of air, guests may opt to receive a discount on their booking, with $1,000 and $500 off per person, respectively. Additionally, guests paying in full within fourteen days of booking on sailings of eight-days or longer will receive an early payment savings of $250 per person; $150 when paid in full before August 31, 2020. Finally, guests booking a 15-day Splendours of Europe sailing between Amsterdam and Budapest will receive a complimentary extended drinks package (value of $225 per person). Booking deadline is August 31, 2020.
Two European itineraries are making their debut in 2021. A 10-day sailing through Holland and Belgium entitled Springtime Delights departs round trip from Amsterdam in April and includes stops in lesser-explored ports such as Maastricht, Holland’s oldest fortified city, and Haarlem, the heart of the Dutch flower growing industry. Art enthuiasts will love the visiting the Kröller-Müller museum with its unique collection of Van Gogh, Mondrian, Picasso to name a few, and one of the largest sculpture gardens in Europe, as well as an optional guided visit to the Rubens Museum in Antwerp. And because April is the height of tulip season in Holland, the itinerary will include a visit to the iconic Keukenhof Gardens, which boasts nearly 80 acres abloom with more than seven million multicolored tulips. The eight-day Legendary Rhine & Moselle itinerary has been updated, and now sails from Mainz to Bernkastel with new ports of call in Rüdesheim and Wiesbaden.
Two new land extensions—to exotic Istanbul and gothic-styled Transylvania—are now available on the Enchantment of Eastern Europe sailing on the Lower Danube. A three-night land extension to Istanbul, Turkey includes tours of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Spice Market and a Bosphorus sightseeing cruise to the spot where Europe meets Asia. A four-night extension to Transylvania, in the mountains of Romania, features a guided tour of the magnificent and iconic Dracula Bran Castle in Brasov. As well as the vampire’s famous home, guests will have plenty of time to explore the ancient Gothic town, which inspired Bram Stoker’s haunting novel, and enjoy the delights of the capital, Bucharest.
Spring 2021 will also bring the launch of Emerald Luna, the line’s sixth Star-Ship to sail the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Built to the same specifications as the line’s other ships, EmeraldLuna will feature Emerald Waterways’ signature indoor pool that converts to a cinema at night as well as their innovative all-weather indoor balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Emerald Cruises is the parent brand of Emerald Waterways and the newly formed Emerald Yacht Cruises. The Emerald Azzurra, the first ship to launch under the Emerald Yacht Cruises brand, is a 100-guest super yacht that will ply the warm waters of the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Red seas when she sails in July 2021. Emerald Waterways features nine branded Star-Ships offering river sailings in Europe and on the Mekong, as well as the fully-chartered river ships along the Volga River in Russia (MS Rossia) and on the Nile (MS Hamees). The brand offers contemporary deluxe ships, 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’ Choice Awards for five years running.
Additional information can be found by contacting your local travel agent; on Emerald Waterways’ website, www.emeraldwaterways.com; or by calling the consumer/travel agent reservations line at 844-428-8389. Brochure orders may be placed on the website, or a digital downloadable version is available.