Thursday, November 5, 2009

How to Choose 5-Star World Cruises



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As the sparkling blue waters beckon, along with the promise of luxurious dining and entertainment, how can you make the best choice in a 5-star world cruise? The appropriate answer stems from the goals you wish to achieve from the cruise.

Are you enjoying your honeymoon or renewing your vows? Is the cruise a much-needed vacation, or a time for the family to bond together over lifetime memories? The right cruise liner for you depends upon your reason for boarding a 5-star world cruise.

There are several trusted ship lines that offer 5-star world cruises. Some of the most popular ones are Celebrity Cruises, the Holland America Line, the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Each of these lines has a fleet of seaworthy ships, experienced captains, diligent crew, and luxurious onboard accommodations. Yet each of them offers a unique type of cruising experience.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises Around the World (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfJi0-mtsTI) has nine 5-star luxury hotels that are disguised as 5-star world cruises ships. All of their ships offer star power – meaning that if you are not a Hollywood celebrity, you will still be treated like one onboard the ship.

In fact, many celebrities are known to embark upon Celebrity Cruises to enjoy several days of pure relaxation. Some celebrities provide entertainment onboard, while others will indulge guests on behind-the-scene secrets on how movies are made.

In addition, Celebrity Cruises maintains ships that offer unique features. For example, Constellation has a thalassotherapy pool within a huge AquaSpa. Using seawater for healing, their pool and AquaSpa help all guests indulgently unwind.

Holland America Line

The Holland America Line is ideal for people who wanted to see the world in style. With over 130 years of experience under its belt, Holland America Line’s fleet of 5-star world cruises ships assures a comfortable, enjoyable, and unforgettable cruise. In fact, the cabins are among the most spacious in the cruising industry, and no passenger will feel cramped or claustrophobic.

All of Holland America’s 5-star world cruises ships are designed to provide luxurious dining options. If you want to meet new friends, consider dining at the indulgent main restaurant. Or if you want privacy with your loved one, take your meals inside the intimate gourmet grill.

One of the best features of Holland America is that its cruises can take passengers to several private islands in the Caribbean – ensuring that your experience is exclusive and indulgent.

Norwegian Cruise Line

The Norwegian Cruise Line invented the concept of “freestyle cruising.” This cruising philosophy forgoes any type of predetermined schedule or seating arrangements for the passengers – which ensures that the cruise vacation will be extremely relaxing and pleasurable.

The Norwegian Cruise Line has 12 5-star world cruises ships that sail to more than a hundred ports all over the world. These 5-star world cruises ships usually have ten gourmet restaurants on board, satisfying even the most discriminating palate. Their ships also feature casinos, spas, fantastic production shows, and much more.

Oceania Cruises

The ships of Oceana Cruises take luxury to a higher level. These 5-star world cruises ships offer cabins with 5-star hotel room amenities, including a tranquility bed.

This feature is excellent for romantic cruises. And if the couple managed to win against the intimate temptation of the cabin, they can also enjoy other facilities, such as the spa, the fitness center, and the casino.

In addition, the 5-star world cruises ships of Oceania Cruises make it a point to stay overnight in ports to give the passengers more time to explore the locality.

Princess Cruises

The 14 5-star world cruises ships of the Princess Cruises Around the World (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfFDapcscS8) belong to the original fleet of love boats. In fact, for love birds, the ships’ captain officiates delightful wedding ceremonies.

Afterwards, the newlyweds will be delighted by the spectacular sceneries that the ship will find for them, including whales and glaciers. Or, for the more adventurous couple, you can embark upon helicopter rides and other exciting activities.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Hailed as one of the best cruise lines in the world, the 5-star world cruises ships of the Regent Cruise Lines Around the World offer a chance to visit exotic destinations. The ships will even sail to Antarctica, making this cruise line perfect for the adventure-seeker who still enjoys luxury.

Costa Classica's Maiden Call to Manila


Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim presents the symbolic Key to City to Costa Classica Captain Giancarlo Cha.
Philippine Department of Toursim Secretary Ace Durano accepts the special Amarone wine from Costa Classica Captain Giancarlo Cha and Costa Crociere Sales and Marketing Director for Asia Pacific Dario Rustico during Costa Classica's maiden voyage to Manila.
Magsaysay Maritime Corporation President Marlon R. Rono receives the special Amarone wine from Costa Classica Captain Giancarlo Cha and Costa Crociere Sales and Marketing Director for Asia Pacific Dario Rustico.

From Left: Dario Rustico - Sales & Marketing Director of Costa Cruises Pacific Asia Operations, Gemma Cruz-Aranete – Vice Chairperson, Manila Historical and Heritage Commission, Executive Assistant to Mayor, Costa Classica Captain Giancarlo Cha, P. Sponzillie Massimillano – Italian Trade Commissioner, Ace Durano - Philippine Department of Toursim Secretary, Rubens Anna Fedele – Italian Ambassador and Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim

Costa Cruises, Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s n. 1 cruise company, celebrated the maiden call of Costa Classica to Manila as it became the first cruise company to commit regular calls in the city’s port..

Welcomed by cultural dancers and musicians playing music of the Philippines with “rondallas”, Costa Classica, the 53,000 gross-tonnage ship cruised into South Harbour for the very first time, bringing 1,300 guests to Manila.

Sales and Marketing Director of Costa Cruises Pacific Asia Operations, Dario Rustico said, “Costa Classica has been sailing in Asia for about six months, and we are excited to be able to add this popular Asian city to her itineraries.”

As the cruise industry continues to grow in Asia - thanks to the commitment of Costa Cruises, the first company to offer regular cruises in China and Asia - Costa Cruises will be sending a newer ship – Costa Romantica – to Manila. Costa Romantica, with the same gross-tonnage as Costa Classica, will be in Asia to replace Costa Allegra (1,000 total Guests and 28,400 gross tonnage) from April 2010.

“We expect to bring more than 22,000 Guests to Manila with the combined lower berth capacity of the three ships, Costa Allegra, Costa Classica and Costa Romantica, generating tremendous economic benefits to the city, from now till November 2010,” Mr. Rustico added.

A series of captivating ceremonies and performances were arranged to celebrate the maiden call of Costa Classica. A welcoming ceremony was held at the ship’s Colosseo Theatre where Mayor Alfredo S. Lim of Manila presented the “Key to the City” to Mr. Rustico and Costa Classica Captain Giancarlo Cha. After a harmonic singing performance by the Magsaysay Children’s Chorale, guests were invited to enjoy onboard Italian gourmet food and performances by Pangkat Kawayan, a drum and bugle band, as well as native dancers before disembarking the ship.

At the ceremony, Mayor Lim said, “We welcome Costa Classica to Manila, and look forward to seeing Manila as one of the vessel’s homeports in the near future.”

Mr. Rustico, in a video presentation at the ceremony, extended his gratitude to groups and individuals for their recognition of the new cruise ship, “With a growing demand in cruise holidays in Asia, we are pleased to see that governments, tourism boards and travel agents of the region are acknowledging more and more the benefits that the cruise industry can bring to local economies, and are subsequently supporting us in the promotion and by building infrastructure capable to meet the expected growth in their respective markets.”

Marlon R. Rono, President Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, also commented on the arrival of Costa Classica to Manila, “We are proud to be Costa’s partner in the Philippines, and are happy to welcome Costa Classica, in which 80% of its workforce is Filipinos.”

Top tier national media and travel agents also participated in the ceremony onboard the Costa Classica today.

The Costa Classica, which entered into service in 1991 and was restyled in 2001, was built at the Fincantieri shipyards in Marghera-Venice (Italy). One of Costa’s most popular cruisers, with a displacement of 53,000 dwt and an overall length of 220 metres, she can accommodate a total of 1,680 Guests. Elegant rooms, attention to detail and warm and relaxing colours make Costa Classica a very comfortable ship and one of the most loved ship in the fleet. From 26 October 2009 Costa Classica will be calling regularly to Manila on a 14 days itinerary departing from Hong Kong and calling at Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, China.

Costa Cruises has already an established presence in the Philippines. In October 2007 Costa Cruises opened a new training school in Manila for shipboard hotel personnel, in collaboration with the Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts (MIHCA). The school is part of the Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, one of the most prestigious hotel training academies in the Asia-Pacific region, and is dedicated to the education of Costa's shipboard personnel employed in the restaurant, housekeeping, galley and bar areas. Another training institute in the Philippines, in cooperation with Magsaysay is devoted to deck and engine crewmembers.

Largest cruise ship passes bridge challenge


KORSOER, Denmark — The world’s largest cruise ship cleared a crucial obstacle Sunday, lowering its smokestacks to squeeze under a bridge in Denmark.

The Oasis of the Seas — which rises about 20 stories high — passed below the Great Belt Fixed Link with a slim margin as it left the Baltic Sea on its maiden voyage to Florida.

Bridge operators said that even after lowering its telescopic smokestacks the giant ship had less than a 2-foot (half-meter) gap.

Hundreds of people gathered on beaches at both ends of the bridge, waiting for hours to watch the brightly lit behemoth sail by shortly after midnight (2300GMT; 7 p.m. EDT).

“It was fantastic to see it glide under the bridge. Boy, it was big,” said Kurt Hal, 56.

Company officials are banking that its novelty will help guarantee its success. Five times larger than the Titanic, the $1.5 billion ship has seven neighborhoods, an ice rink, a small golf course and a 750-seat outdoor amphitheater. It has 2,700 cabins and can accommodate 6,300 passengers and 2,100 crew members.

Accommodations include loft cabins, with floor-to-ceiling windows, and 1,600-square-foot (487-meter) luxury suites with balconies overlooking the sea or promenades.

The liner also has four swimming pools, volleyball and basketball courts, and a youth zone with theme parks and nurseries for children.

Oasis of the Sea, nearly 40 percent larger than the industry’s next-biggest ship, was conceived years before the economic downturn caused desperate cruise lines to slash prices to fill vacant berths.

It was built by STX Finland for Royal Caribbean International and left the shipyard in Finland on Friday. Officials hadn’t expected any problems in passing the Great Belt bridge, but traffic was stopped for about 15 minutes as a precaution when the ship approached, Danish navy spokesman Joergen Brand said.

Aboard the Oasis of the Seas, project manager Toivo Ilvonen of STX Finland confirmed that the ship had passed under the bridge without any incidents.

“Nothing fell off,” he said.

The enormous ship features various “neighborhoods” — parks, squares and arenas with special themes. One of them will be a tropical environment, including palm trees and vines among the total 12,000 plants on board. They will be planted after the ship arrives in Fort Lauderdale.

In the stern, a 750-seat outdoor theater — modeled on an ancient Greek amphitheater — doubles as a swimming pool by day and an ocean front theater by night. The pool has a diving tower with spring boards and two 33-foot (10-meter) high-dive platforms. An indoor theater seats 1,300 guests.

One of the “neighborhoods,” named Central Park, features a square with boutiques, restaurants and bars, including a bar that moves up and down three decks, allowing customers to get on and off at different levels.

Once home, the $1.5 billion floating extravaganza will have more, if less visible, obstacles to duck: a sagging U.S. economy, questions about the consumer appetite for luxury cruises and criticism that such sailing behemoths are damaging to the environment and diminish the experience of traveling.

It is due to make its U.S. debut on Nov. 20 at its home port, Port Everglades in Florida.

Manila Welcome Costa Classica

They say nothing beats Filipino hospitality. Pinoys would move out of the master's bedroom to accommodate guests. No expense is spared to feed guests and make them feel comfortable. Call it the fiesta mentality but Filipinos enjoy entertaining and making visitors feel welcome.

So when foreign guests come calling, Manila and the Philippines will definitely roll out the red carpet.

For Italian liner Coasta Classica's maiden call to Manila, no less than Tourism Secretary Robert Ace Durano and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who presented the key of the city to Dario Rustico, sales and marketing director of Costa Cruises Pacific Asia operations and ship captain Giancarlo Cha, were on hand to say "Mabuhay."

"We look forward to seeing Manila as one of Costa Classica's home ports in the near future," Lim says.

Durano notes that Costa Allegra, which belongs to the same company, made 11 ports of call to Manila last year.

He said the Tourism Department always makes sure to provide a signature Filipino welcome to guests.

"A survey conducted among cruise ship passengers showed that Manila was found to have the best reception of any port. We want the welcome to be warm and festive," says Durano, pointing out that more port calls mean more opportunities for Filipino seafarers to show the world the country's unique brand of hospitality.

The result of this survey, Durano adds, is this maiden call of Costa Classica.

"A bigger ship means more tourists and consequently, expansion of Filipino businesses," he says.

The port call was more than just a pleasantry as Costa Cruises, Italy's largest tourism group and Europe's number 1 cruise company, became the first such firm to commit regular calls to the city's port.

The 53,000 gross tonnage ship, which cruised into Manila's South Harbor for the first time, brought 1,300 guests to the city.

"Costa Classica has been sailing in Asia for about six months, and we are excited to add this popular Asian city to her itineraries," Rustico says.

Costa Classica's itineraries in Asia include Hong Kong, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam and China.

Costa Cruises will send a newer ship—Costa Romantica—to Manila to replace Costa Allegra starting April 2010.

"We expect to bring more than 22,000 guests to Manila with the combined lower beth capacity of the three ships, Costa Allegra, Costa Classica and Costa Romantica, generating tremendous benefits to the city, from now till November 2010," Rustico adds.

The welcoming ceremony was held at the ship's Colosseo Theatre. After that was a sumptuous lunch of Italian food and a performance by the Magsaysay Children's Chorale. Travel agents also took part in the ceremony.

"We are proud to be Costa's partner in the Philippines, and are happy to welcome Costa Classica, in which 80 percent of the workers are Filipinos," sys Marlon Rono, president of Magsaysay Maritime Corp.

Cultural dancers and musicians entertained disembarking ship passengers who looked forward to a day of shopping or sightseeing.

Costa Classica, which was entered into service in 1991 and restyled in 2001, was built at the Fincantieri shipyards in Marghera-Venice, Italy. It is one of Costa Cruises' most popular cruisers and can accommodate 1,680 guests.

Elegant rooms, attention to detail and warm and relaxing colors make Costa Classica a very comfortable ship and one of the best-loved in Costa Cruises' fleet.

Costa Cruises, which has been in the business for over 60 years, expects to have 30 ships by 2012 from 23 this year.. This includes those in the company's German and Spanish units.

The company is no stranger to the Philippines. In October 2007, Costa Cruises opened a new training school in Manila for shipboard hotel personnel in collaboration with the Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. The school is considered one of the most prestigious hotel training academies in the Asia Pacific region and is dedicated to the education of Costa's shipboard personnel employed in the restaurant, housekeeping, galley and bar areas. Another training institute is devoted to deck and engine crew members.

South Indian Ocean


The photo is Blue Sky rounding the northern tip of Madagascar, Cape d'Ambre. This is a very rare calm here!

We are currently at the Zululand Yacht Club in Richards Bay, South Africa.

Needless to say we are very relieved to be in South Africa. The passage from Chagos to Madagascar was an experience that I would prefer to never repeat. It is all the more chilling now that the British Yacht
Lynn Rival has been hijacked by Somali Pirates. The couple is currently being held aboard a commercial vessel that was taken during our voyage from Chagos.

The stress of not communicating on VHF with our buddie boat
s/v Moose and when we did our daily sked on the SSB we spoke in a code that we only had. The commercial shipping was just as nervous as we were. We were passed on three occassion. The first was during daylight and a east bound German registered ship steam by and blew their horns wishing us luck and in hindsight blew away any bad luck. The second vessel was encountered on the Saya de Malha bank. It was just drifting and the only thing that Emma and I could guess is that it must have been awaiting orders where/what to load. The third vessel was the worst as it was just before nautical dawn. I received a beep on our CARD (collision avoidance radar detector) and immediatly powered up the Raytheon Radar to see a very strong return displayed only a couple of miles directly behind us. Worse the Somalis were using "motherships" to dispatch their boarding pirates and it was still dark and I could not see what was coming. To add to the stress we were running in "black-out" conditions and so were they! I turned on the engine and made a 90 degree turn to port. The dawn just broke as the commercial vessel passed us within 1/2 mile. (That is REALLY close.) Relief! It was only a commercial vessel but I am still pissed that a vessel their size would even consider getting that close to us. I know for a fact that our radar reflection is over 9 miles so IF the watch WAS looking, THEN they saw us for more than 30 minutes.

Making Madagascar was a relief and we rounded the northern most cape in calm conditions.

Three months of relaxation was what we needed and Madagascar proved just that!

From Madagascar we motor/sailed over to Mayotte. Staying only a few weeks we then proceded to the East Coast of Africa. Ile Mozambique was our landfall and proved a stunning sight with its fort.

We used the southerly/northerly weather to make our way down the coast of Mozambique. We were amazed at the huge population of humpback whales. They would cruise past the boat or we would see them breaching off in the distance or tail/flipper slapping the water. We made it into Richards Bay, South Africa just after our closest pass of a whale. It surfaced directly in front of the boat and that with the engine running and blasting music from the stereo. I guess he was just curious. One vessel did collide with a whale and it disabled his propeller and rudder. The fleet this year gave the local sea rescue a busy time. Of the 9 vessels that left Mauritius 4 of them were towed into Richards Bay with some dammage.

Now that we are here we will take advantage of its proximity to the game parks. Hopefully we will be fortunate and see at least a few of the big 5. Phoebe is hoping for an elephant and Drake wants to see a lion. I'll just be happy to take a quick break!

more to follow....

Cruise Holidays in Europe and the Mediterranean





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One of the many advantages of a cruise is that everything is organised for the tourist if the person wants it to be so. They can also choose how long they want to be away for, whether it is a mini cruise, a seven day cruise or even longer. Reserve an European cruise in North or South Europe, sail to the famous Mediterranean with yachts, mouth-watering food, mountains, lovely historical buildings, perfect beaches and friendly folk.

The Baltic Sea area

Starting in Northern Europe, do not miss the Medieval Baroque architecture of Norway and Finland and also its dramatic scenery and rich history. Visit St Petersburg, Russia s most beautiful city and a most in any tourists itinerary. Enjoy the wild night life of Hamburg or Copenhagen in Germany and Denmark respectively. Explore one of the richest areas in the world and take advantage of the cruises facilities.

Europe

Departing from Southern England, visit the Atlantic ports of France and Spain experience the world famous fine cuisine and wine culture! Cruises sail through the Bay of Biscay and the Straits of Gibraltar, where tourist can also enjoy the most beautiful ports of Portugal and Southern Spain. Finally some cruises also visit the well renowned Spanish islands including Mayorca and Ibiza.

The Mediterranean

Visit historic places, romantic cities and beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, but also enjoy the top quality resorts and sandy beaches. The Mediterranean has been divided into three main areas, as follows: Western Mediterranean cruises include the French Riviera, la Costa Brava and volcanic Sicily. Southern Mediterranean sails through Northern Africa, including the most important ports in Egypt and Morocco. Eastern Mediterranean cruises travels along the Aegean Sea covering most of the Greek Islands, Turkey and Italy; expect to find amazing ruins from the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians

River cruises: Distant voyages of discovery


River cruises: Distant voyages of discovery
The Murray River is known as the 'Mighty Murray' to locals

River cruising is now for winter, spring and autumn, and not just for summer. It hasn't always been the case, such cruising in the past having largely been restricted to seasonal forays down the main European waterways, with the exception of the odd Nile trip and rare Amazon excursion.

However, river cruising is booming and the companies involved are becoming more adventurous as increasing numbers of travellers come to appreciate the intimacy and convenience of boat travel, and the often unparalleled ease of access to remote communities and cities it provides. As a result, the choice of river cruise destinations and itineraries is becoming increasingly diverse and exotic.

Furthermore, riverboats are finally catching up with their ocean-faring cousins in style, comfort and facilities, ranging from restored 19th-century, six-person dahabiyyas to modern, 250-passenger vessels complete with bathtubs and elevators.

From the Amazon to the Zambezi, here is my selection of the best, farther-flung river cruises:

MURRAY RIVER, AUSTRALIA

The Murray River ("Mighty Murray" to locals) is Australia's largest river, meandering some 1,500 miles across inland plains from the Australian Alps to the state of South Australia. You can follow the river through the Outback and past old riverside ports at a leisurely pace aboard the paddle-wheeler PS Murray Princess.

Cruise itineraries combine guided nature walks through the mallee scrub, red gum forests and dramatic gorges with small-boat safaris to lush lowlands with informal talks about the history of local villages and indigenous people.

  • Captain Cook Cruises (01483 222093; www.captaincook.com.au) offers Murray River cruises throughout the year. Prices start from £395 per person for a three-night itinerary, £525 for a four-night cruise and £810 per person for the seven-night 'Total Murraylands' cruise.

MEKONG RIVER, VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA

The Mekong has been of vital cultural, political and ecological significance to south-east Asia for centuries. Rising in the Tibetan plateaus of China's Yunnan province, it negotiates the dense rainforest, open plains and rice fields, fishing villages and floating markets, ancient temples and shrines of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand en route to the South China Sea. Explore the rich sights and sounds of the lower Mekong Basin from the decks of an original ''Pandaw'' paddle steamer, calling at the former French colonial city of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Phnom Penh and the ancient Khmer capital, Angkor.

  • Voyages Jules Verne (0845 166 7003; www.vjv.com) offers the 12 night 'Angkor Wat & the Mekong' itinerary from £1,895 per person, including flights, tours and accommodation.

HUDSON RIVER, US

A visit to New York shouldn't be restricted to the city alone – sailing on the Hudson River is a wonderful way to experience some of the highlights of picturesque New York State. A week-long Hudson River cruise takes you north from New York City to the historic United States Military Academy at West Point in the Catskills, the attractive city of Albany, past the grand mansions of "Millionaires Row" in Kingston, and to the charming riverside town of Sleepy Hollow before returning to the Big Apple.

  • Frontier Travel (020 8776 8709; www.frontier-world.co.uk) offers a seven-night Hudson River Cruise, with a day tour of New York City, from £1,762 per person, excluding flights.

CHOBE RIVER, BOTSWANA

The Chobe River is the name given to the lower section of the Cuando River, which rises in the northern Angolan highlands, flows through the Kalahari into Botswana and then runs along the northern border of Chobe National Park before flowing into the Zambezi. Combine a traditional land safari with a three-night river cruise on the Chobe for an original way to experience the beauty and wildlife of Botswana, travelling aboard the traditional ''Ichobezi'' houseboat. Take out a small boat with a guide to go game viewing or fishing, or simply soak up the views from the top deck.

  • Audley Travel (01993 838000; www.audleytravel.com) offers a 10-night safari in Botswana with three nights on the Ichobezi from £3,500 per person, including return flights, activities and full board.

NILE, EGYPT

A Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan is the ideal way to appreciate the rich legacy of one of the world's most ancient civilisations. Having taken in the highlights of Cairo and Luxor, the ruins of Memphis and the pyramids, sit back and watch the shores of the Nile slip past from the Mövenpick Radamis II. Using this comfortable river boat as a base, explore the East Bank, home to the temples of Luxor and Karnak, and the West Bank's mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon before sailing through the Nile lock at Esna to the High Dam at Aswan.

  • Titan HiTours (0800 988 5823; www.titanhitours.co.uk) offers the 12-day 'Treasures and Pleasures' tour from £1,795 per person, including flights, VIP Home Departure Service (free pickup from your home), accommodation and tours.

DNEIPER RIVER, UKRAINE

Steeped in the diverse history and culture of the Vikings, Tartars and Cossacks, Ukraine offers visitors a unique mix of architecture and tradition. It is also home to the Dneiper, Europe's fourth-longest river (at nearly 1,500 miles), which rises in Russia and flows through Belarus before reaching Ukraine and emptying into the Black Sea. Formerly a key commercial artery between the northern and southern parts of Eastern Europe, the Dneiper is dotted with elegant, cosmopolitan cities such as Kiev, Odessa and Yalta, as well as picturesque fishing villages, lakes and ancient forests.

RAJANG RIVER, MALAYSIA

Until recently, the Rajang River in Borneo was the sole territory of locals, including the Iban tribes who retained their headhunting traditions until the Fifties. Following the introduction of the RV Orient Pandaw, the Rajang now offers adventurous travellers the opportunity to explore the dense, untouched rainforest that flanks the river and small communities that dot its shores.

An eight-night journey on board the Orient Pandaw forms part of Noble Caledonia's 20-day exploration of Malaysia, which incorporates visits to the vibrant cities of Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, and relaxing stays at the colonial station of the Cameron Highlands and beaches of Sabah.

  • Noble Caledonia (020 7752 0000; www.noble-caledonia.co.uk) offers the 20-day 'Malaysia River Deep Mountain High' itinerary from £2,995 per person, including flights, accommodation and guides.

THE WATERWAYS OF RUSSIA

A river cruise is a fascinating way to travel between two of Russia greatest cities – Moscow and St Petersburg. The luxurious MS Tolstoy makes its way along the Russian waterways that link the two cities in both directions, providing passengers with the opportunity to stop at little known towns off the beaten track such as Uglich, Yaroslavl and Kizhi Island along the way. The ship follows various rivers, including the Svir River and Volga-Baltic Waterway, and crosses Lake Ladoga, Europe's largest lake.

  • APTouring (0845 604 0792; www.aptouring.co.uk) offers the 13-day 'Russian Waterways' tour from £1,525 per person, excluding flights and port charges.

THE GANGES, INDIA

India boasts many remarkable rivers but the Ganges is regarded as the country's holiest waterway and arguably plays the most important cultural, economic and social role of any river in the world. To travel along this waterway from the heaving city of Kolkata (Calcutta) past pilgrimage sites, temples, mosques, palaces and elaborate gardens to the temples of Varanasi is to sample a wonderful slice of India. As you make your way slowly along an 800-mile-long stretch of the river aboard the classically designed, 28-cabin RV Bengal Pandaw, you can soak up the ever-changing views and vibrant atmosphere of the river and enjoy varied excursions.

  • Noble Caledonia (020 7752 0000; www.noble-caledonia.co.uk) offers the 16-day 'Slowly on the Ganges' itinerary from £3,495 per person, including flights, accommodation and guides.

YUKON RIVER, CANADA

A journey along the Yukon River should be high on every intrepid traveller's "bucket list" (things to do before you die). More than half the river is located in Alaska, with most of the rest of it lying in Canada's eponymous Yukon Territory. Frontier Canada offers a unique eight-day river safari that covers 370 miles of wilderness in the Yukon. Travelling with an experienced guide, small groups follow the river from Whitehorse to Dawson City, making stops for wildlife viewing, hikes, canoe and fishing excursions. The journey includes a flight in a sea plane and a night in luxury tented accommodation at the remote Wilderness Outpost.

  • Frontier Canada (020 8776 8709; www.frontier-canada.co.uk) offers the seven-night 'Great River Journey up the Yukon River' tour from £3,734 per person, including transfers, full board, guiding and equipment, but excluding flights. Book before December 31, 2009, to save £300 per couple.

BRAHMAPUTRA, INDIA

Another of India's remarkable rivers, the Brahmaputra cuts its way from the glaciers of south-western Tibet to the Bay of Bengal, traversing the beautiful plains and lush tea plantations of Assam. Having seen Calcutta, board a stylish river boat (RV Charaidew or Sukapha) for a week-long cruise along the Brahmaputra. Highlights of this varied itinerary include an elephant ride and jeep safari in the Kaziranga National Park, visits to riverside villages and Majuli, the world's largest river island and the site of fine Hindu monasteries, as well as the Gatoonga tea estate. The tour finishes with two days in Delhi.

  • Bales Worldwide (0845 057 1819; www.balesworldwide.com) offers the 13-day Brahmaputra cruise from £3,195 per person, including flights, accommodation and guides.

YANGTZE, CHINA

China has captured the imagination of travellers for hundreds of years, with its ancient customs and dramatic landscapes, not least the world's third-longest river – the Yangtze. Today China retains many of its traditions and, despite its huge population, has vast areas of countryside that remain the picture of rural simplicity, and which provide a vivid contrast with modern cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Chongqing. Follow the Yangtze as it winds its way past the new and old faces of China, with the Three Gorges Dam en route.

THE AMAZON, PERU

Although it is the world's second-longest river, the Amazon is the largest river by volume, with a total flow greater than the next eight largest rivers combined – some parts are more than 120 miles wide during the wet season. It also boasts an unparalleled wealth of flora and fauna – the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve alone is home to more than 2,000 species of birds, 4,000 species of butterflies and countless monkeys, sloths, tarantulas, pink dolphins, land iguanas and caiman. Explore this extraordinary river from the traditional, seven-cabin MV Delfin, which offers various Amazon itineraries, with guided small boat trips, shore excursions and optional piranha fishing.