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Comments (5)
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Upload your photos. We may feature them.Last Friday we posted an item, "A reader proposes smart new routes for river cruises." Clarence Moore suggested several great new routes for European river cruises, "plugging gaps" in the existing coverage by the top companies.
Other readers chimed in with their own comments. Carol, for instance, asked for help finding a cruise covering Ukraine, the Black Sea, and Istanbul.
Well, we have good news. A representative from Viking River Cruises has written in with a helpful response. Thank you, Joost Ouendag, VP Product Marketing at Viking River Cruises.
As the person in charge of developing new product for Viking River Cruises, I would very much like to second your request for more, more, more! Having said that, here is what we have found, as far as European rivers are concerned: one of our competitors a few years ago tried sailing the Wisla in Poland. there is a lot of historical interest along that river, so it seemed appropriate. However, the river turned out to be barely navigable during the best of times—if my memory serves me well, only two or three cruises could take place as planned. The venture was abandoned after that one season.The Oder north of Berlin does get some river cruise traffic, but the ships have to be relatively small, and the demand is limited, just as it is on the lower Elbe and the waterways of Northern Holland. To my knowledge, only one European company services these regions.
A few years ago a number of companies sailed on the Po river, but the water levels in that river proved a major challenge in operating an entire season. Subsequently, all of these operators were forced to pull out.
On the Iberian peninsula, only the Douro river is large and deep enough for river cruise vessels. There are a few operators that offer cruises on this river that drains northern Portugal.
To Carol: Viking River Cruises does offer a cruise in the Ukraine, from Kiev to Odessa or vice versa. Check out our website.
Finally, to Clarence Moore: some parts of Europe are only now finding the economic benefits river cruising can bring. Infrastructure is constantly being improved and new opportunities present themselves. Rest assured that wherever we find a river that can sustain an exciting, dependable and rewarding cruise experience, you will find us there!
EARLIER
Viking and other river cruise companies introduce new ships
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I especially would like to see a\sine river cruises offerred on the Elbe River from Hamburg and on to Prague or Dresden. Much more interesting to see that part of Germany by river cruise than by bus for us older people who like only having to unpack and repack once during a trip.
Posted By Nona Tyler on August 31, 2009, 5:43 PM
I, for one, would like to see more holiday river cruises that begin and end in easy-to-get-to cities. For Prague, you need a bus ride .... I would love a Vienna/Frankfurt holiday cruise. I would love a Main River cruise that goes just for 7 days. Too many river cruises are for 10/12 days. For those of us - over 60, no less - with pets at home, retirement means nothing. Our pets come first.
Posted By pua on August 31, 2009, 7:48 PM
How about the Neva and/or Volga Rivers? Any Russian river cruises?
Posted By Tom B. on August 31, 2009, 7:55 PM
Except for the "hooligans" we encountered in the St. Petersburg subway system, our river trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg was AWESOME!! Beautiful places, friendly people, great guides that stayed with us the entire length of the rivers, etc. Check it out for yourself. It's the "Trip of a lifetime" according to my wife, and we have seen a lot of the world in the last 70 years!! I can't say enough good things about Viking.
A HAPPY TRAVELER
Posted By Jerry Fuhr on September 1, 2009, 5:45 PM
Speaking of the Iberian Peninsula, as Joost Ouendag of Viking River Cruises says, only the Douro River has enough depth to allow river cruise vessels to sail on it. There were several tries to offer cruises in the Guadiana River in the southeast border between Portugal and Spain in the Algarve area, but all unsuccessful.
I’m a representative of DouroAzul, Portuguese leading cruising company, and one of the companies that offer cruises along the Douro, going from its mouth in the City of Porto to Vega Terron in Spain. The Douro Valley, for those who aren’t familiar with it, offers its visitors some truly breathtaking landscapes and was named in 2001 a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Currently it’s one of the sites in the Nature Reserve List of the New 7 Wonders of Nature initiative.
Beside the landscapes, cruising the Douro also offers you the possibility to enjoy the Portuguese heritage, especially related to wine making as the Douro is the birthplace of the famous Port Wine. You should visit our website if you’re interested.
Posted By Bruno Ribeiro on September 3, 2009, 9:19 AM