14 CRUISE NEWS
February 2019 Travel News
A SUCCESSFUL VIKING INVASION!
T Relative newcomer to the market, Viking Cruises has taken Which? survey by storm Mini-cruise on river of romance
WITH an accordionist providing typically French musical accompaniment, a magical atmosphere is promised as Spirit of Discovery arrives in Rouen at dusk, just as the lights fl icker on in the ‘City of a Hundred Spires’.
This Rendezvous in Rouen voyage features a cruise along the River Seine for a two-night mooring in northern Normandy’s capital, the perfect place to stroll in the medieval ambience of narrow streets and half- timbered houses.
The romance continues on Valentine’s Day with the opportunity to visit Paris to see the Eiff el Tower and Arc de Triomphe, visit the Louvre, explore the city’s
bohemian side in Montmartre, or to simply enjoy the café culture.
The ship’s Explore Ashore team off ers expert knowledge to help guests choose a restaurant for a candlelit dinner or arrange bespoke tours to suit interests from art to architecture, and music to history. On board complimentary drinks include selected wines with lunch and dinner, house-branded spirits and cocktails, draught beer and lager, plus all mixers and soft drinks so guests can relax on our stunning new ship and raise a glass to romance during their unique mini-cruise.
For details visit
saga.co.uk/ocean-cruises.
HOUSANDS of cruise passengers have voted for the best and worst cruise lines in this year’s survey by Which? the consumer magazine.
Scandinavian newcomer Viking took the crown with an 88 per cent customer score as passengers were impressed by how much room they had on board its small, yet spacious, ships. Viking was closely followed by Saga (87 per cent), Noble Caledonia (86 per cent) Hurtigruten (85 per cent) and Azamara (84 pr cent), proving the continued popularity of small ship cruise lines over traditional mega-ships.
Historic cruise lines such as Cunard were beaten by the new wave of boutique liners off ering intrepid itineraries and port
excursions.Similarly, popular P&O failed to wow passengers. A lacklustre performance saw the British giant slump towards the bottom half of the table. The worst cruise line only scored two stars for customer service, cabins, on-board facilities and port excursions. Small ships equal the best cruises Viking’s fi ve-star on-board facilities and ‘friendly, knowledgeable service’ pushed it to the top of the table. Unlike larger, more congested ships, customers enjoyed the lack of queues and awarded the brand fi ve stars for its passenger-to-space ratio.
Noble Caledonia fans praised its fi ve-star port excursions for stopping at ‘small towns and beauty spots not visited by large ships’. Local guides and intimate excursions were complimented, with travellers feeling well taken care of. Azamara’s aff ordable, all-inclusive
luxury ranked higher than its high-end rivals, with customer service and social atmosphere on board giving it the edge.
Cunard and P&O struggle against competition. Cunard is one of the world’s most famous cruise lines and with a four-star rating for matching its brochure billing and value for money, it delivered what passengers expected. However, younger brands and smaller ships have successfully pushed Cunard down the rankings, into eighth place.
Likewise, P&O failed to challenge the dominance of the smaller cruise ships in this year’s survey. Despite being one of the cheapest, and by far the most used cruise line, passengers gave it a mediocre three-star rating in most categories. Dozens of rivals felt less busy on board and this coupled with wi-fi that P&O customers felt was overpriced, saw the brand plummet to 13th place out of 20 cruise lines.
Twenty cruise companies were rated for customer service, passenger-to-space ratio, description matching reality, cabins, food and drink, value for money, on- board entertainment, port excursions and more. Which? only recommends cruise lines that provide clear information about gratuities, excursions and drinks at the booking stage. After all, it’s hard for customers to compare prices if they can’t fi nd these details before parting with their cash.
If the companies fall down in more than one area, they’re not eligible to be Which? Recommended Providers, whatever score they receive in the survey.
First British Godmother of new AmaWaterways ship
AMAWATERWAYS has announced Advantage Travel Partnership Chief Executive Offi cer Julia Lo Bue-Said as its fi rst-ever British Godmother. As Godmother of the highly anticipated 102-passenger AmaDouro, Bue-Said will bless the ship during a ceremony in Porto, Portugal, on April 12, 2019.
“We are so pleased that Julia has accepted our invitation to be Godmother to AmaDouro,” said Kristin Karst, Executive Vice President and Co-Owner of AmaWaterways. “A huge part of our success is due to our very important trade partners, and Advantage has been incredibly supportive of us as we continue to grow our brand in the UK. For that reason and others, Julia is a welcome addition to our family of Godmothers.”
“I am very excited to take on this role and truly humbled to be AmaWaterways’ fi rst UK Godmother,” said Bue-Said. “This honour comes during a milestone year as Advantage celebrates our 40th anniversary. AmaWaterways commitment to the UK trade is testament of the opportunities
developing partnerships create, and we fully support their commitment to drive more business through our members.” AmaDouro off ers 51 spacious, elegantly designed staterooms, most with outside balconies to enjoy beautiful views of hills and vineyards along the UNESCO-designated Douro River Valley. Additional amenities include a Panoramic Lounge for nightly entertainment, a heated Sun Deck swimming pool, fi tness room, massage room and the company’s renowned cuisine at the Main Restaurant, serving regionally-inspired dishes and hand- selected wines.
Joining sister ship AmaVida on the Douro river, AmaDouro will be based in Porto and off er seven-night roundtrip Enticing Douro cruises through one of Europe’s most unspoiled areas. AmaDouro is the fi rst of three new ships that will be added to AmaWaterways’ innovative fl eet this year. Other new ships making their debut include AmaMora, sister ship to AmaLea and AmaKristina, sailing on the Rhine, and the revolutionary AmaMagna on the Danube.
Nautical journey through a mystical landscape...
SAILING between Vancouver and Victoria on a sleek, modern catamaran presents a quintessential British Columbia adventure for local and world travellers.
If you are planning a memorable trip to the region, the world’s most scenic city destinations – vibrant and bustling Vancouver and quaint and charming Victoria - the new V2V experience is an iconic adventure for you to experience. Departing from downtown Vancouver at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, one level above the Seaplane Terminal and Docks, on the Waterfront Walkway, the V2V Terminal is within walking distance of a variety of accommodation options, including luxury hotels such as the Fairmont Pacifi c Rim and the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel.
In Victoria, V2V Empress departs directly from the Inner Harbour at the historic Steamship Building. The V2V dock is within walking distance of the
Fairmont Empress Hotel and the Hotel Grand Pacifi c, and pick up points to the best Victoria and Butchart Gardens sightseeing tours and activities. The waters of southwestern British Columbia are some of the most spectacular in the world and the V2V experience -- with massive windows and outdoor decks -- showcases the stunning regional coastline, waters, bays, mountains and harbours.
The V2V catamaran sails between Vancouver and Victoria... a scenic trip for any visitors to Canada
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