Tauck has announced it will officially restart operations in Europe and Africa with a staged approach. The tour operator will begin with select departures of its “Iceland” and “Treasures of the Aegean” small-ship ocean cruises in June and July.

The company will also restart its operations in the Galapagos and Costa Rica in July, operating cruises and its Tauck Bridges family adventure.

In August, guided safaris will begin again in eastern and southern Africa and land tours will take place in Spain, France and Portugal.

The tour operator will also begin river cruising again in August when sailings start on the Rhone and Seine rivers in France and the Douro River in Portugal. The bulk of Tauck’s remaining Europe land tours will start up in early fall as border openings permit.

Viking River Cruises announced today that it will restart its European river operations in July 2021 with select itineraries in Portugal, France and along the Rhine.

Offered exclusively for vaccinated guests as part of Viking’s Welcome Back collection, the first five European river itineraries now available in July are among the company’s most popular: Rhine Getaway (8 days; Amsterdam to Basel), Portugal’s River of Gold (10 days; Lisbon to Porto), Paris & the Heart of Normandy (8 days; Paris roundtrip), Lyon & Provence (8 days; Avignon to Lyon) and France’s Finest, a 15-day journey that combines the northern and southern France itineraries in one seamless experience.

One line isn’t letting the coronavirus stop them. Viking Cruises is thinking to the future, 2022 to be exact, when the line will launch a series of new cruises on the Mississippi River.

It certainly is something to look forward to as we all try to picture a world without Covid-19 lurking around the corner.

The announcement was made March 30 by Viking chairman Torstein Hagen, who said this new series will further expand its destination-focused travel experiences.

The company's first custom vessel, utterly modern Viking Mississippi, is expected to debut in August 2022. She will sail the Lower and Upper Mississippi between New Orleans and St. Paul, Minn.

Burma is an enchanting land in the middle of a transformation. After decades of harsh rule under a military junta, the Burmese people are riding a wave of optimism as the country, also known as Myanmar, transitions toward a more open relationship with the Western world, and a new government promises more political and economic freedoms.  I was lucky to visit Burma during an adventurous Irrawaddy River cruise with Avalon Waterways on its new ship Avalon Myanmar. It was an amazing experience, seeing a land with such a unique history and people unfailingly friendly and welcoming. Most Burmese people are as interested in new visitors to their little-seen farming and crafts trade villages as we are in seeing how they live and their proud traditions.

Walter Christen's insight:

An Avalon Waterways river cruise aboard the Avalon Myanmar is great way to see and experience the culture and people of Burma/Myanmar. Fascinating sites and history make this a must see region for the adventurous cruise traveler.

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I’m an addict. There’s no question about that. I am addicted to river cruising. I am also fortunate. I’ve been able to do more than 30 river cruises in the past decade, and I have loved them all.

I’ve been on the Douro, the Loire, the Rhone and the Saone. I’ve cruised the Seine, the Rhine and the Danube (upper and lower). I’ve been on the Main (pronounced mine) and the Main-Danube Canal. I’ve yet to do the Elbe or the Po, but I have barged a few canals, in Burgundy and in the south of France (and I am going to do so again in September).

The fast-growing river cruise line AmaWaterways is celebrating the modern epicurean lifestyle aboard its upscale ships with the announcement of its 2017-2018 wine cruise itineraries and release of its new Wine Cruises Through Europe brochure.

With a new luxury ship in its fleet, AmaKristina, and 95 sailings hosted by celebrated North American wine experts, AmaWaterways invites guests to uncork the traditions of the local culture and experience the wonders of wine along Europe’s legendary waterways.

Luxury travel provider Crystal Cruises, operator of ships, yachts, river boats and a private jet, today announced the cutting of the first piece of steel for the construction of Crystal River Cruises’ two additional Rhine Class luxury river yachts, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel, which are scheduled to sail in spring 2018.   

MV Werften of Mecklenburg, Germany, celebrated  the occasion as the first plates of the extravagant river ships were flame cut in the presence of the Genting Group executive  Chairman Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Economics Minister Harry Glawe and numerous other guests.

A Viking River Cruise along the Rhone River from Provence to Lyon is a historical, cultural and gastronomic experience not to be missed.

September of this year saw me fulfilling a long-standing dream of taking a European River Cruise. From Provence in the south to Lyon in the northern Rhone region of France, I spent seven days on board the Viking longship Buri.

During the week long cruise, we stopped at six ports along the Rhone River. Each port was a mini history and culture lesson. Often the food and wine of a particular area was a special treat at dinner, as when we arrived in Tournon Sur Rhone, where just across the river are the famous Hermitage AOC Vineyards. That evening, we drank a local Syrah. Food, wine, art, and architecture – all the things I love about Europe – were part of the cruise experience, which Viking does so well.

This was my first time in France, and I was not disappointed. Many of my readers know that I’m a big Italophile, but this year I went to France instead of Italy. Who knew that France has almost as many Roman ruins as Italy? Everywhere we went, we saw magnificent monuments and remains of what was once the mighty Roman Empire.

In an industry first, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has launched U by Uniworld, a new brand aimed at river cruisers ages 18 to 40, which will feature vessels with a more contemporary look and feel, fewer inclusions and longer stays in each destination.

Uniworld will renovate two of its existing vessels, the River Baroness and River Ambassador, which launched in 1997 and 1999, respectively, after which they will be entirely dedicated to the U by Uniworld brand. Sales of U by Uniworld will start in March 2017 and the first sailings will begin in early 2018.

The 116-passenger sister ships, River Baroness and River Ambassador, are being transformed to have a more contemporary look and feel, featuring communal tables for dining, a new culinary program, cocktail mixologists and international DJs onboard.

This summer, Adventures by Disney-- the guided tour arm of the Disney Company-- dipped its toe in the growing river cruising market, offering a Danube River cruise itinerary in partnership with AMAWaterways.

River cruising has traditionally catered to a more mature consumer but the new 170 passenger AMAViola sold-out for the limited Adventures by Disney summer sailings.

Now, Adventures by Disney returns to the Danube for two holiday cruises this December. There are plenty of family friendly things on board-– from twinkling lights and dangling baubles, to spiced gingerbread cookies and spiked eggnog, to carols and music.

You'll also get to visit historic and renowned old-world European Christmas markets during the trip.

River cruising is one of the breakout stars in travel for 2016 and there are more ways than ever to experience rivers around the world onboard any number of ships. However, there are a few tried and true tricks to making your river cruise experience a success and to fall in love with this mode of travel that can take you around the world.

Here are five ways to enjoy the journey.

Whether you go to buy gifts, replenish your Yuletide larder or simply to soak up the atmosphere, Europe’s Christmas markets weave a captivating spell.

While snowfall cannot be guaranteed, it is more likely. At the very least you can expect a Christmas-card setting with traditional handmade decorations, along with daytime and evening markets packed with festive flavors and, if you’re lucky, local choirs providing the requisite soundtrack.

It is possible to cruise by river or sea to enjoy Europe’s markets. The advantage with river cruising is the opportunity to visit not just one but several Christmas markets and, as you sail, to see towns and villages decorated for the festive season. The biggest concentration of Christmas markets lies along the banks of the Rhine and the Danube; there are also some on the Main and the Seine – many in Paris itself.

There are still some cruises to choose from, but you’ll have to be quick.