Grand Circle Cruise Line Named "World's Best River Cruise Line" In Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards—For 5th Time

 Grand Circle Cruise Line, the leader in small ship and river

 cruising worldwide, has been named the #1 "World's Best River Cruise Line" in Condé Nast Traveler's

 2016 Readers' Choice Awards with a score of 93.55—the highest score of any cruise line in all size

 categories.  This is the fifth year in a row that Grand Circle Cruise Line has taken the top spot and

 the 12^th year it has been included as a top cruise line.  Condé Nast Traveler's 2016 Readers' Choice

 Awards were announced on line today and will be featured in the magazine's November issue.

"We are very pleased to be named the world's best river cruise line for five consecutive years and

 thankful to our travelers for sharing their experiences of us," said Chairman and CEO Alan E. Lewis. 

 "Such recognition confirms that we are giving travelers what they want—expert, local guides to

 share their homelands; culturally-rich experiences that connect travelers to local people, cultures,

 and ways of life; trip customization; and exceptional value for everyone, including solo travelers."

More than 800,000 travelers have sailed with Grand Circle Cruise Line since 1998, including more

 than 225,000 solo travelers.  Today, more than 30% of Grand Circle Small Ship and River Ship

 travelers are solo—attracted by Grand Circle's comprehensive program that includes free or

 reduced Single Supplements, free Single Supplements on all pre-and post-trip extension

 options, a Best Price Guarantee, and more.

Established in 1998 with a single river ship, Grand Circle Cruise Line's fleet today consists of

 five Small Ships, including three, 50-passenger ships (Athena, Artemis and Arethusa); the

 98-passenger Corinthian; and the 88-passenger Clio; more than a dozen River Ships; and

 exclusive charters.  For 2017, the cruise line will offer more than two dozen Small Ship and

 River itineraries worldwide, including three new, 50-passenger Small Ship Cruises along the

 Italian Coast and Malta (Sicily to Malta; Rome to Valleta, and Venice, Puglia and Malta).

A record number of more than 300,000 travelers participated in Condé Nast Traveler's 29^th

 Annual Readers' Choice Awards, which ranks the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, airlines,

 and cruise lines in the world.  In the ship category, readers cast votes for 500 cruise ships, rating

 their experiences based on the ships' activities/facilities, cabins, crew/service, design/layout,

 food/dining, itineraries/schedule, and shore excursions.  

For more information about Grand Circle's River and Small Ship Cruises and Cruise Tour itineraries,

 please visit Grand Circle Cruise Line.  To view a video of what it's like to travel solo with Grand

 Circle, please click Grand Circle Solo. 

About Grand Circle Cruise LineEstablished in 1998, Grand Circle Cruise Line offers more than a dozen Small Ship itineraries to

 Antarctica, Panama, the Dalmatian Coast, Greece and its islands, Italy; Iberia, the Adriatic, Malta

 and beyond and 10 European River Cruises and Cruise Tours.  The cruise line is a division of

 Grand Circle Corporation, which also includes Overseas Adventure Travel (est. 1978) and Grand

 Circle Travel (est. 1958).  In 1992, Grand Circle owners Alan and Harriet Lewis established Grand

 Circle Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting communities in which Grand Circle works 

and travels, totaling more than 300 humanitarian, cultural, and educational endeavors worldwide,

 including 100 schools, in 50 countries.  The Foundation is an entity of the Lewis Family

 Foundation, which has pledged or donated more than $164 million since 1981.

CroisiEurope Announces Seven New Ships For The 2016-2017 Sail Seasons

Three ships will be added to the fleet this year with an additional four coming to the Douro, Mekong, Rhine and Danube Rivers in 2017

CroisiEurope, Europe’s largest and longest operating river cruise line celebrating 40 years in 2016, is on course to add an additional seven ships to its fleet by the end of 2017. With the introduction of the much anticipated MS Elbe Princesse next month and two new barges, CroisiEurope is announcing plans to add four ships next year on the Douro, Mekong, Rhine and Danube Rivers.

The 2016 additions to CroisiEurope's fleet: MS Elbe Princesse, Deborah Barge and the Daniele Barge

3 NEW SHIPS IN 2016

On the Elbe River

The MS Elbe Princesse, an innovative paddle steamer will sail on the Elbe and the Moldau between Berlin and Prague, with stops in Magdebour, Wittenberg, Meissen, Dresden and Litomerice, as well as the reverse itinerary. With a capacity of 80 passengers in 40 spacious cabins, this stylish paddle wheeler will be christened on April 14, 2016 in its new home port of Berlin.

On France's canals

The Déborah Barge, a new build with modern design and decor, this barge has a maximum capacity of 22 people with 11 cabins will take an unprecedented route on the Briare Canal, in the Upper Loire Valley and the region of Sancerre. This unique itinerary will include stops in Briare, Lere, Ménétréol- Sous-Sancerre, Chapelle Montlinard, Marseilles-Les-Aubigny and Nevers.

The Danièle Barge, also hosting up to 22 guests in 11 modern cabins, will operate along a route covering the canals of Burgundy.

4 NEW SHIPS COMING IN 2017

On the Douro River

A new premium and innovative ship will be added to CroisiEurope’s fleet on the Douro River. Boasting three luxurious decks and a pool, guests will be treated to a contemporary interior decor and 66 cabins that can accommodate 132 passengers. Built at the Sambre and Meuse Shipyard in Namur, Belgium, it will be joining the four other ships on the Douro River. Beginning in 2017, it will host 8-day cruises on the “Golden River,” leaving from Porto and stopping in Regua, Vega de Terron Ferradosa and Pinhão.

On the Mekong River

The RV Indochine II, coming in 2017, will be a high class colonial-style ship joining the other four vessels on the Mekong. Accommodating 60 passengers in 30 cabins, guests will be treated to an extravagant vacation experience, due to the ship’s novel design and spacious private balconies. Itineraries along the Mekong will operate in both directions from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City, with stops in Angkor, Tonle Sap, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Tralach, Koh Chen, Phnom Penh, Chau Doc, Sa Dec, Cai Be and My Tho.

On the Rhine and the Danube Rivers

Further expanding the company’s presence on the Rhine and Danube Rivers, the MS Symphonie II and the MS Douce France II will be best-in-class ships offering a modern design and stylish décor. With a capacity of 106 passengers in 54 comfortable cabins spread out over two decks and 135 passengers in 68 comfortable cabins, respectively, their state-of-the-art technology and open spaces lend to its elegant, friendly ambiance.

Launching in April 2017 and June 2017, these ships will explore the treasures along the Rhine and the Danube.

For More Information on CroisiEurope’s existing catalog of cruises, please visit: http://www. croisieuroperivercruises.com/. T

The digital brochure is available here: http://fr.calameo.com/read/ 0043907974ba7adf863d3

About CroisiEurope

Established in 1976, CroisiEurope is celebrating its 40^th anniversary as a leader in affordable European river cruising. Based in Strasbourg, France, CroisiEurope is headquartered at the epicenter of Europe with offices in Brussels, Paris, Lyon, Nice, Laussane, Madrid, London, Phnom Penh and New York. With an English-speaking crew of 700, this family owned company operates 43 vessels that sail along Europe’s most famous rivers. Passengers can choose from a variety of itineraries that explore picturesque riverside cities in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Belgium while treating guests to on-board dining menus designed by French Master Chef Alain Bohn. Today, CroisiEurope offers cruises not only in Europe but also along the Mediterranean coast, Vietnam and Cambodia.

For more information on CroisiEurope, please visit: http://www. croisieuroperivercruises.com/ or call 800 768-7232.

Five Myths About River Cruises

(Photo: Miquel Gonzalez, Scenic Cruises)

River cruises are one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry, the vacation choice for nearly half a million Americans in 2015 on European rivers alone. These sleek vessels that take fewer than 200 passengers offer an ideal way to explore several countries at a relaxed pace. But are they for you? Here are five myths, and the truth about them, to help you decide.

1. River cruises have limited itineraries and only sail on a few rivers in Europe.

Get out your atlas, because this common belief simply isn’t true.

“Europe offers many dynamic and diverse rivers,” says Richard Marnell, senior vice president of marketing for Viking Cruises, which is the world’s largest river cruise provider and sails along 11 European rivers including the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Elbe, Dordogne, Garonne, Gironde, Saone, Rhone and Douro.

Other companies reach even further around the globe. In 2016, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will offer 38 itineraries in 29 countries, including Russia, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, India and Egypt. Their ships will ply the waters of 20 different rivers, including the Rhone, Saone, Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Gironde, Po, Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Douro, Volga, Svir, Neva, Yangtze, Mekong, Tonle Sap, Ganges and the Nile.

That’s a lot of itineraries to choose from, and from just two companies in a competitive field that also includes Scenic, AMA Waterways, Avalon and Tauck.

Take a photo tour of a Tauck river ship:

The MS Savor is the second of what will be four 130-guest Inspiration Class European river cruise ships owned by Connecticut-based Tauck Tours.  Peter Knego

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2. A river cruise is really a vacation for sedentary travelers.

That’s a popular perception but it’s far from the entire story.

“River cruising is great for all experienced travelers, including those that live an active lifestyle,” says Marnell of Viking. The line offers “a variety of active shore excursions in each port that range from walking tours to nature walks.”

Viking itineraries that go through Regensburg provide travelers with a walking tour through one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities. Viking provides guests with an overview of all walking tours and grades them based on difficulty and length. They also have an onboard concierge to recommend additional activities, and help find jogging trails and bike paths.

Other companies have a more active mandate for their guests, such as Uniworld, where “guests have the choice to be as active as they wish,” says Guy Young, president of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection. Each Uniworld ship offers a fully-equipped fitness center along with a certified wellness coach who provides personal training, including TRX, exercise and yoga classes. Onshore guests can participate in Uniworld’s “Go Active” program with activities such as guided biking and hiking tours.

“For example, (guests can) hike through UNESCO World Heritage Wachua Valley along the Danube with a naturalist who will share their knowledge about the local history, flora and fauna,” Young points out. “Take a guided bike ride with a sports guide who will share their passion for biking along these timeless the river trails. For those who prefer to blaze their own trails, complimentary bicycles with helmets andNordic walking sticks are available.”

USATODAY

10 best reasons to take a river cruise

3. I’ll get bored, because they don’t offer all the diversions of an ocean-going cruise ship.

Those who love river cruises claim that it’s impossible to get bored on one of these cruises. On board a Uniworld ship, there are sun decks with life-size chessboards, heated swimming pools, cinemas, spas and fitness centers, libraries, boutiques, wine tastings, and a collection of complimentary movies in the staterooms.

Young of Uniworld says that “guests are encouraged to get to know the destination that they’re in and immerse (themselves) in the local life through tasting the beloved regional foods and visiting top attractions. On specific journeys, Uniworld offers a Village Day, which provides an up-close look at rural European and Russian towns and the chance to visit local homes and workshops and get an intimate view of modern village life.”

Other river cruise companies offer similar options to connect passengers with the locals in the countries they’re passing through. Viking gives guests background information to make the local cultural offerings, from the history and art, to the food, music and architecture, more meaningful.

Marnell notes Viking’s “Culture Curriculum,” which can include onboard demonstrations from “musicians from St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre on the Waterways of the Tsars itinerary, local traditional dancer performances, and culinary activities such as apple strudel-making workshops, and regional wine and cheese tastings.”

Take a photo tour of a Viking Longship:

Viking River Cruises? Viking Skirnir is one of forty innovative, European-based Longships, named for the ancient Viking craft used for trade, commerce and warfare during the Viking Age.  Peter Knego

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4. My kids would be bored, because these cruises are aimed at retirees.

There’s some truth in this, and a reason that the ads for these cruises feature couples almost exclusively, most of them with a touch of silver in their hair. You won’t find water slides, teen clubs or babysitters on board a typical river cruise. Marnell of Viking doesn’t dispute this, but adds that while “Viking’s onboard experience is not designed for young children, older kids who enjoy history, art, culture and exploration tend to enjoy the interactive onboard demonstrations.”

Uniworld takes this a few steps further and will offer 13 family departures in 2016. These cruises will feature additional activities and excursions that are designed specifically for families. These will include visits to castles, a guided tour of the dinosaur skeletons in Frankfurt’s paleontological museum, and in a Venice, a treasure hunt as well as a glass blowing and mask making workshop. Okay, it’s not a Caribbean beach barbecue by any means, but it is an attempt to reach out to curious teens.

“On board,” says Young of Uniworld, “kids can partake in French, German, Italian or Hungarian language classes, dessert making with the ship’s pastry chef, hands-on craft workshops including making a Christmas Advent calendar and Venetian art. Additionally, all ships feature kid-friendly menus.”

5. There are never any deals or discounts on this type of cruise.

There may be river cruises aimed at viewers of Downton Abbey, but it’s also the travel industry, so by definition there is always a chance of a deal or a discount. The sage advice is to keep your eyes open. Like ocean-going cruises, there are early booking deals worth watching for. Viking is currently offering an early booking discount with 2-for-1 cruise pricing, adding up to a savings of up to $2,000 per couple on 2016 departure dates for European itineraries. Uniworld is also offering an early booking savings of up to $1,600 per couple on a 2016 Europe River cruise. Customers that purchase cruise and airfare with Uniworld can save from $3,000 to $5,000 per couple on a varied selection of 2016 itineraries and departures. Free airfare is offered on select Italy and Russia cruise departures, and solo travelers can rejoice with waived or reduced single supplements on over 100 departures in 2016.

By Everett Potter, Special for USA TODAY