Recommend November 2013 - (Page 22)

serves as third ship, ce William's Royal Hellbrunn Palace in Austria. tauck's family sailing & more "Agents should absolutely be tapping into the family river cruise market, for a number of reasons," says Tom Armstrong, corporate communications manager for Tauck. "For one, river cruising is great because you don't have to pack and unpack your bags multiple times over the course of a trip. That's a convenient selling point for any traveler, but when an agent is talking to a mom and/or dad responsible for packing up a couple of kids, it's an even more powerful motivator. Equally important, river cruise lines are really beginning to cater to the family market. For example, Tauck offered the ﬁrst-ever river cruises designed speciﬁcally for families several years ago on the Danube, and this year we've introduced an all-new family river cruise on the Rhone. Finally, and compared to ocean cruises, river cruises offer greater opportunities for fun, education and enrichment because you're traveling right through the heart of each destination, with more opportunities for shore excursions." Armstrong adds that as more and more families realize that there are family-based itineraries available, multigenerational river cruising will continue to grow. Take, for instance, Tauck's 8-day Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure on board the Swiss Jewel. Familyfocused activities include playing medieval games on a visit to Devin Castle in Slovakia; soaring over Vienna on the Ferris wheel in the Prater; learning how to make strudel aboard the riverboat; visiting Schonbrunn Palace, where Empress Maria Theresa and her daughter Marie Antoinette once called home; bicycling along the Danube and discovering tricky secrets-and "The Sound of Music" locations-at Schloss Hellbrunn in Salzburg, and making tasty marzipan creations. Rates start at $3,690 and departures are available from June to August 2014. In addition to its family cruises, Tauck has a few new goodies for 2014, including its ﬁrst-ever sailing on the Seine. There's the 10-day Rendezvous on the Seine, from $4,590 pp plus air that includes a 2-night hotel stay in Paris with guided sightseeing, as well as the 14-day Cruising the Seine Plus Versailles, Paris & London, which includes 2-night hotel stays at Versailles and at The Savoy London, with guided sightseeing. (800) 788-7885; agent.tauck.com 22 november 2013 20-27 CR VikingAMA.indd 22 sometimes, yes, kids do run out of patience. We partook in the tours at each port until we felt we got the lay of the land and then went off exploring on our own. Before disembarkation, guests can grab a map on board that gives them a good sense of the town or city. As Marnell points out, "The Romantic Danube itinerary provides the traveler with a truly immersive experience including grand cities and quaint villages along the celebrated Danube River." What not to miss? Well, in Nuremberg, recommend clients do like the tourists and turn the ring three times at the plaza's exceedingly gorgeous fountain (if they are on a summertime sailing, don't miss a treat at one of the ice cream shops). In Passau, a must is the organ concert (it's short and unbelievable). Do not miss-no matter how early departure time might be for sleepyhead teenagers-the Melk Abbey tour; its history is unique and its library and gardens are a sight to behold. In Regensburg, cross the town's famous bridge and explore the "younger" part of town (little hidden gems await). In Passau, cross through the town, passing multicolored gardens along the way, to the other side where the Inn River awaits (there's a charming park lining the river and a bench or two seemingly waiting for your clients). In Vienna, best to skip the Mozart concert that is offered upon arrival that ﬁrst evening and head straight to the very famous Vienna Ferris wheel, the Riesenrad, which is part of a larger amusement park, the Prater. And in Budapest, tell clients to board the funicular for a ride up to the old castle district with the Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church and for spectacular views of the city. Dwain Wall, senior v.p. and general manager of CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., says, "I actually think that the river cruise experience is a great family experience. We need to teach our kids history and this is a great way to teach them in a live environment. It's like having a classroom along on your vacation...and you'll have speakers on board; you can visit museums. River cruising is about experiencing the destination...it's about where you are, not so much about the ships." about those ships, though You know all about Viking's well-received Longships-we've written about them often enough in the pages of Recommend-so I won't bore you with all the details, although.... It is lovely to sit in the Aquavit Terrace and view the green-draped terraced vineyards while sailing through the Wachua Valley. The attention to detail in everything from the well-serviced staterooms to the cookies and mufﬁns always on hand at the self-service coffee and tea station is supreme. The crew bestows some of the most personable and friendly service we've ever encountered-ask for it, and your clients shall receive. The cuisine is mouthwatering and there are, we'd like to point out, a broad range for all tastes, including gluten free and vegan items (if there isn't, they'll whip it up). Also, it's pleasantly surprising to be able to access WiFi from time to time, although its unreliability is a good thing while on vacation. Yes, the Viking Longships, which accommodate 190 passengers in 95 staterooms, including two Explorer Suites, seven 2-room recommend.com 10/24/13 11:28 AM http://agent.tauck.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend November 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Generator
Tour Talk: Vistas by IsramWorld
Sailing the Danube With Viking (and a Teeneger in Tow)
AmaPrima
Bhutan: The Eternal Kingdom Beckons
The Greening of the Caribbean
The Saint Lucia Travel Agent Specialist Program
Merida: Gateway to the Yucatan Experience
Nicaragua Now
Las Vegas Embraces the Future
Tasmania: A Devilish Destination
Zimbabwe: Southern Africa's Comeback Kid
Georgia: Off the Radar

Recommend November 2013