Latest news with #CroisiEurope
Travel Weekly
6 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
CroisiEurope unveils ship name and itineraries for Brazil river cruises
River cruise line CroisiEurope announced its new Amazon itineraries in Brazil, which will begin in 2027. The itineraries will be offered on the line's new river ship, the 32-passenger Brasilian Dream, and will focus on eco-tourism on the Amazon. The line will operate three 11-day itineraries. Amazon & Rio Negro will sail roundtrip from Manaus, Amazon & Rio Tapajos will cruise between Manaus and Santarem, and Cruise Along the Amazon Between Brazil & Colombia will operate between Manaus and Tabatinga. The cruises will visit major parks and UNESCO sites, where passengers will observe the region's wildlife in dinghies and dugout canoes. Guests will embark on nocturnal excursions and visit river villages. The four-deck Brasilian Dream will have vibrant colors and local artwork inspired by Amazonian culture. Lodging consists of 16 suites with private balconies, including two presidential suites. The ship also will feature a restaurant serving Brazilian-inspired dishes, spa, fitness room, sun deck and conference room. The Brasilian Dream will have an advanced wastewater treatment system and solar panels. More information, including prices, will be unveiled in July.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Amazon itineraries have been revealed for CroisiEurope's new luxury river cruise ship
Canoe trips along the Amazon and meetings with indigenous communities are among the experiences that cruise line CroisiEurope is set to offer as the brand prepares to debut on the world's longest river in 2027. The European river cruise will debut RV Brasilian Dream in 2027 with three 11-day itineraries to choose from – The Amazon & Rio Negro round trip from Manaus, The Amazon & Rio Tapajos between Manaus and Santarém, and Cruise Along the Amazon Between Brazil & Colombia, which sails between Manaus and Tabatinga. From January to June, cruise passengers will be able to explore the flooded forest by canoe, getting up close to river dolphins and aquatic birds. Between July and December, itineraries will focus on the region's white sandy beaches and abundant wildlife along the riverbanks. Highlights of the cruises will include visits to major parks and UNESCO-type protected areas, while passengers will be able to observe wildlife in dinghies and from dugout canoes. There will also be meetings with indigenous communities, evening excursions and visits to villages on stilts along the riverbank, plus the chance to learn about local crafts, plants and produce and a variety of on-board lectures. Further details, including dates, prices and when bookings will open will be announced at the beginning of July 2025. The cruises will take place on the new 32-guest RV Brasilian Dream, a four-deck ship inspired by Amazonian culture. Accommodation includes 16 suites with private balconies, including two presidential suites suspended between the sky and water. There will also be a gourmet restaurant serving Brazilian-inspired dishes, a spa, fitness room, sun deck and a conference room. As part of its commitment to protecting and preserving the Amazon, CroisiEurope said it is implementing the latest eco innovations, including engines that meet the strictest environmental standards, an advanced wastewater treatment system and solar panels that will allow the ship to shut down its generators at night and operate on batteries.
NZ Herald
03-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Are people friendly Vietnam? Why this country may be the kindest in the world
Ho Chi Minh City was the final port of call on my Discovery Riverboat Cruise with CF Mekong by Croisi Europe. As we glided down the aquatic lifeblood, calling into various Vietnamese towns for shore excursions, it was more often the people, and their demonstrable kindness, rather than the ancient attractions or natural beauty which caught my attention. Vietnam places a strong cultural value on offering mutual assistance, known as tinh thần tương thân tương ái (the spirit of mutual love and support). This principle is deeply embedded in Vietnamese society, where people often go out of their way to help strangers, whether it's offering directions or assisting after natural disasters. When our teak-panelled riverboat stopped in bustling Chau Doc, I saw this virtue in action. I had just turned down a street vendor's offer to buy her proffered chicken hands (I really need to learn the Vietnamese word for vegetarian), when our tour guide pointed out an act of kindness. A local man was paying a roadside cafe owner in advance for 'cơm treo' (hanging rice). When someone in need later comes along, they can claim this free meal, which is sometimes sitting (hanging) at the front of the shop, ready to be discreetly taken. Other times, a sign will indicate whether hanging meals are available. Paying in advance for 'cà phê treo' (hanging coffee) is common too. I buy a sweet, Vietnamese coffee: bitter espresso paired with sweetened condensed milk served over ice, and I feel cooled by the drink but also warmed by the notion of this culture's way of paying it forward. Later, our riverboat took us into the heart of the Mekong Delta, and our shore excursion delivered us deep into the Tra Su Forest. Here, I climbed the observation tower to get a bird's-eye view of the 850ha forest, and the 70 species of birds that call this sanctuary, and now a popular ecotourism site, home. Forty years of painstaking reforestation by the Government and local communities has successfully breathed new life into this ancient wetland ecosystem, which sustained significant damage during the Vietnam War. Now you can pay to glide around its hyacinth-strewn streams in small watercraft, or hike through its depths. Arriving at the top of the observatory, drenched in wet season sweat, I spy a beautiful, young Vietnamese couple on their honeymoon, somehow not even sporting a bead of perspiration. They are taking Polaroids of themselves against the backdrop of graceful melaleuca trees. I try to look at the view unobtrusively, not wanting to trespass on their special moment, but they insist on taking a photograph of me and my friends too. Handing me the developing picture, they say meaningfully, 'so you can remember your time in our country'. I still have it on my fridge. Of course, I'm not naive. Vietnam is not some kind of utopia. The impoverished still suffer, and I was reminded of this when I was weaving my way through Ho Chi Minh's littered back streets and alleyways, pitying the skinny kittens searching for scraps. As I neared the glitzy Bui Vien Walking Street, motorbikes skimmed either side of me, drawn towards the noisy chaos, leading the way. That was when I noticed a mother and child, lying on the edge of the street, both deep in slumber as they embraced one another. I paused, unsure of how I could help them, other than by leaving a wad of dong for them to wake up to. It struck me that they seemed to be sleeping more soundly than I usually did in my feathered bed at home, often lying awake with my Western worries, which now seemed inconsequential. Reluctantly walking on, I could only hope and pray that Vietnam's spirit of mutual love and support would be wide enough to embrace these two beautiful, vulnerable humans.
The Age
30-04-2025
- The Age
Port guide: Venice, Italy
This floating city is packed with churches, palaces and art. Although overcrowded and maddening, it's impossible not to fall under Venice's spell. Who goes there Venice has long been a key port for cruises in the Adriatic and wider eastern Mediterranean, so you'll have no shortage of cruise lines to choose from, as just about all sail there – or technically speaking, to ports nearby. CroisiEurope, European Waterways and Uniworld operate river ships from Venice itself around the Venetian Lagoon. Sail on in Large ocean ships have been relocated from Venice centre, so you'll only get a distant view of the floating city and, on a clear day, the Italian Alps behind. On a river-cruise ship, though, you'll be dazzled as you sail past St Mark's Square, the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore and buildings encrusted with gargoyles, angels, balconies and belfries. Berth rites A ban on larger cruise ships has seen other, quite distant ports such as Chioggia, Ravenna and Trieste slowly take over, so check what 'Venice' on your schedule really means. The closest docks are now at Fusina and Marghera on the mainland. Some cruise lines may still check you in at the old Marittima cruise terminal at the edge of the historic centre and transfer you by shuttle. River ships continue to dock at Marittima or on San Basilio and Santa Marta piers in Venice. Going ashore Part of Venice's pleasures is to wander and find your own favourite corner, canal or view. Key sights however include the gold-laden Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with its fabulous Byzantine-style mosaics, both of which overlook St Mark's Square. You'll also want to see the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, 16th-century San Giorgio Church and the Church Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, which has a Titian altarpiece and splendid tombs. Admire more Titians and Tintorettos at the Galleria dell'Accademia, and modern art at the nearby Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Sydney Morning Herald
30-04-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Port guide: Venice, Italy
This floating city is packed with churches, palaces and art. Although overcrowded and maddening, it's impossible not to fall under Venice's spell. Who goes there Venice has long been a key port for cruises in the Adriatic and wider eastern Mediterranean, so you'll have no shortage of cruise lines to choose from, as just about all sail there – or technically speaking, to ports nearby. CroisiEurope, European Waterways and Uniworld operate river ships from Venice itself around the Venetian Lagoon. Sail on in Large ocean ships have been relocated from Venice centre, so you'll only get a distant view of the floating city and, on a clear day, the Italian Alps behind. On a river-cruise ship, though, you'll be dazzled as you sail past St Mark's Square, the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore and buildings encrusted with gargoyles, angels, balconies and belfries. Berth rites A ban on larger cruise ships has seen other, quite distant ports such as Chioggia, Ravenna and Trieste slowly take over, so check what 'Venice' on your schedule really means. The closest docks are now at Fusina and Marghera on the mainland. Some cruise lines may still check you in at the old Marittima cruise terminal at the edge of the historic centre and transfer you by shuttle. River ships continue to dock at Marittima or on San Basilio and Santa Marta piers in Venice. Going ashore Part of Venice's pleasures is to wander and find your own favourite corner, canal or view. Key sights however include the gold-laden Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with its fabulous Byzantine-style mosaics, both of which overlook St Mark's Square. You'll also want to see the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, 16th-century San Giorgio Church and the Church Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, which has a Titian altarpiece and splendid tombs. Admire more Titians and Tintorettos at the Galleria dell'Accademia, and modern art at the nearby Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
