Recommend February 2012 - (Page 41)

Indeed, Steve Born, v.p. of marketing for the Globus family of brands, says, “Year after year, thanks to the continuous feedback and encouragement of our travelers, cruise directors and travel agent partners, Avalon Waterways [877-797-8791; avalonwaterways.com] has unveiled new ships, amenities and experiences that set the standard in river cruising. And, in Asia, thanks to our exclusive Executive Suite program with Victoria Cruises, we’re providing travelers elite and luxurious experiences—from private cultural lessons to reserved seating for evening entertainment—that make them feel like valued VIPs.” Avalon offers three different cruise packages in China, all of which offer extensive land elements, as well. But by far the most unique is the 15-day Cultural China & Tibet with Yangtze River Cruise, which showcases the rich history and cultural treasures of China and Tibet as well as the Yangtze River cruise. Passengers enjoy the Three Gorges Dam site on the 4-night Yangtze River cruise, and experience worldfamous sites in Shanghai, Xian, and Beijing, plus visits to the Bund, Yu Yuan Gardens, the Children’s Palace, Dayan Pagoda, Terracotta Warriors, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, and Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs. High in the Himalayas, they explore Lhasa, Tibet’s mystical capital, with visits to the Summer Palace, a local home and monastery, Potala Palace, and Jokhang Temple. Priced from $3,439 land only. On the Mekong Delta, virtually all of the major river cruise companies—Viking, Avalon and Uniworld—have moved on to the river to take advantage of the growing demand for tourism to Vietnam and Cambodia. But it was AMAWaterways (800-626-0126; ama waterways.com) that sailed in first and unlike the other cruise companies, built its own ship with a similar design to its highly popular European river cruise ships. And it’s obviously working for them because last year they launched a second ship, the 124-passenger MS AmaLotus. The MS AmaLotus joins the MS La Marguerite (2009) in providing distinctive river cruises from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as part of the highly popular Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong program. Featuring ultra-spacious 624-sq.-ft. suites; 10 jr. suites at 290 sq. ft. and standard staterooms at 226 sq. ft., the MS AmaLotus offers outside balconies on 90 percent of her staterooms. With a decor that combines colonial elegance with regional Khmer accents, staterooms include comfortable sitting areas, individually controlled air conditioning, a mini-bar, safety deposit box, kimonos and slippers and luxurious bathtubs (jr. suites/suites). Guests enjoy fine dining consisting of both Asian and Western specialties; free-flowing complimentary wine and beer at lunch and dinner, plus complimentary house-brand spirits and soft drinks throughout the cruise. Onboard highlights include folklore dances, musical performances and culture discussion forums. “Vietnam and Cambodia offer an incredible array of interesting, historic and scenic destinations, especially along the Mekong River. We’re extremely proud to introduce a second ship there with the features and amenities of the MS AmaLotus,” says Rudi Schreiner, president, AMAWaterways. And they also offer a considerable opportunity to experience the incredible history and culture of the two countries with land programs complementing the river cruise component. Launched in 2009, the Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong river cruise and land program is part of the AMAVoyage line of river cruise vacations, separate and distinct from the AMAWaterways European river cruise product. The itinerary includes two nights in Hanoi followed by an overnight aboard a luxury junk in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay, then a short flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia, the gateway to Angkor Archeological Park. A 2-night stay there includes tours to Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, the Bayon and newly reopened Baphuon Temple. From Siem Reap, guests embark on their 7-night cruise along the Mekong River from Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Calls include Phnom Penh and numerous points of historical and scenic interest, including Kampong Chhnang, Oudong, Tan Chau, Sa Dec, Xeo Quyt and Cai Be. Guests will also visit floating markets, rainforests and Buddhist monasteries; ride an oxcart and a trishaw and participate in the delicate craft of rice-paper making, finishing it all off with an overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. Cruise and land packages start at approximately $3,600, and fluctuate according to departure date. A soon-to-be hot river cruise destination is going to be Myanmar, currently being served by Pandaw River Expeditions (800-798-4223; pandaw.com), which has 10 ships cruising Southeast Asian rivers and, like Victoria Cruises, is a major contractor in Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Borneo, working with major river cruise and tour operator companies in those regions. Historically, Pandaw is Myanmar’s original river cruise company and its 14-day The Irawaddy program will allow you to see virtually all of Myanmar—from Prome on the edge of the Delta, to Katha and the great 2nd Defile on the Upper Irrawaddy. Daily stops include tours of the historic capitals of Pagan with its 3,000 monuments, and Mandalay with its royal palace and many sites around the city, plus the lush teak forests around Prome, through the near desert of Middle Burma and then into the mountains of Upper Burma. Optional stays in Rangoon the capital with transfers and flights are offered as an add-on to the cruise, which is priced from $3,683. Still another hot destination served by Pandaw is Borneo, the third largest island in the world after Greenland and Australia and the stuff of cultural legend. On the 8-night Into the Heart of Borneo program priced from $1,768, passengers will explore a region of this eastern Malaysian country where there is very little tourism due to the river’s remoteness and lack of facilities. The scenery is magnificent offering a total jungle experience with the rainforest tumbling into the fast flowing river. Highlights include soft treks in the jungle, visits to Iban long houses and side trips on the company’s expedition boat, the Pandaw Adventurer. february 2012 A13 http://www.avalonwaterways.com http://www.pandaw.com http://www.amawaterways.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend February 2012

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: The Lodge at Woodloch
Tour Talk: Swain Tours
Celebrity Silhouette
Savoring the Zulu Kingdom
The Falkland Islands-Nature's Last Stand
Asia
One Bal Harbour, Florida
Las Vegas Spa Retreats
Beaver Creek Lodge, Colorado
Bliss Springs Eternal at Esperanza
The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
Time to "Czech" Out Moravia
Caribbean Uber-Luxe

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