Photo courtesy of Emerald Waterways
Following news that parent brand Scenic will build a new ocean expedition vessel, Emerald Waterways announces its own new riverboats as well as fresh itineraries and reduced fares.
Star-Ships
Besides the new Star-Ship Emerald Belle launching on the Rhine and Danube rivers in 2016, two smaller versions will emerge in 2017 - the 138-guest Emerald Liberté on France's Rhône and Saône Rivers and the 112-guest Emerald Radiance on Portugal's Douro River. They will be reduced in size due to the rivers' properties (such as the Douro River's tighter clearances) and bring the total fleet size to seven.
Both will exhibit a 3-to-1 guest-to-crew ratio, and the Emerald Radiance will accommodate a new 330-square-foot cabin category with panoramic floor-to ceiling windows on two sides. Otherwise, a new stateroom design replaces a French balcony with an indoor balcony deck.
Both ships will feature pools, but only the Emerald Liberté will have the line's signature heated convertible pool with a retractable glass roof and ability to transform into a cinema. The pool on the Emerald Radiance will instead be positioned on the top deck without a cinema.
Additionally, the ships will contain the Reflections main dining room and The Terrace for light breakfast and lunch as well as a hairdresser, massage therapy room, fitness area and complimentary-use bicycles.
Itineraries
Portuguese and Spanish sailings along the Duoro will make calls at the World Heritage city of Porto and the Roman settlement of Regua, plus Vega de Terron and Salamanca. Specifically showcased experiences include discovering the Roman ruins of Lamego, joureying to Spain's Roman city of Salamanca, seeing pre-historic carvings in the Coa Valley Museum, receiving Portuguese cooking and cocktail demos, tasting tapas and dining at a local wine estate.
French sailings aboard the Emerald Liberté in 2017 along the Rhône and Saône Rivers will consist of eight days from Lyon to Arles through Chalon-Sur-Saône, Tournon and Avignon. Excursions will feature country villages, castles, palaces and ruins such as the Hospices de Beaune and Arles's Roman Amphitheatre. Other highlights will include regional wine, cheese and olives complete with tastings.
Early booking fares maintain pricing at 2016 levels through February. Seven-night cruises start at $2,195 per person, double occupancy, for the Douro and $2,695 for the Rhône and Saône. A 15-day combo cruise features both sailings starting at $5,385.
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