If you are planning to be in London on the 21st or 22nd of March 2009 you may like to check out the Telegraph Cruise Show. The event is being hosted at the Excel London. The State of the art ExCel London exhibition facilitiy is situated on the stunning waterfront alongside Royal Victoria Dock . The ExCel is easily accessible by road, rail, air or boat. There are three  onsite DLR stations and easy access to the Jubilee Line and London City airport . There parking for 4,000 cars on site.

This is a first where cruisers can meet the cruise line companies direct.  There will be expert speakers from the Sky Network, Cruise Critic and the Telegraph. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the day. It looks like all the main cruise line companies will be represented with stands and displays. Given the international economic circumstances  it might be a good opportunity to pick up a cruise for 2009 at a special discounted price.

So whether your a veteran cruiser or a first timer this show should be worth a visit.

You can find out more at the dedicated web site www.cruisingshow.co.uk

European river cruise ships differ significantly so keep in mind that some of the content below may not always apply.
River cruise ships are very different to large ocean going cruise ships.

Firstly, river cruise ships are a lot smaller in size . They don’t have the large multiple bars, clubs, discotheques, casinos, ballrooms, cinemas etc. So if all night partying is your thing maybe European river cruising is not for you.

I would with respect suggest that if you want to enjoy the delights of the river and the various stop over destination all night partying is not to be recommended.

The day time on a European river cruise can be busier than on an ocean cruise ship. The distances between stop over’s on the river are relatively short so you may find yourself docking at a minimum of one new destination every day. Along with your stop over, you will be disembarking and partaking in an excursion of some sort. So to enjoy these daily excursions to their fullest a pain free head and healthy body is recommended.

The river cruise ship bars and restauraunts tend to be more intimate and casual than the large ocean cruise ships.
Having said that there is plenty of opportunity to meet others in the bar and have fun on a European river cruise.

One advantage of the smaller vessel is that you tend to get to know the cruise ship staff better. You will probably be on a first name basis with the bar personnel before your cruise is over and enjoy a chat with them each evening.

There is usually an on board pianist or keyboard player that will provide music in the bar after dinner. Most of the lounge bars have a small dance area so you can burn off any last remaining energy before heading for bed.

Sometimes, the cruise companies will have local talent organised to come on board to provide some interesting cultural acts. Possibly local music and dance acts etc.

If the bar does not tempt you after dinner you can always take a night cap up on deck and sip it slowly as you drift along the river. (My personal favourite is an Irish Black Bush whiskey on the rocks watching the river drift in to darkness. So peaceful, so quiet!)

Of course there will be evenings when your boat will be moored for the evening so you can disembark and explore some of the local on shore hostelries.

So thats it, after dinner on your European river cruise. Relaxation and some soft music with a little drop of your favourite beverage. What more could you want?

By Stefano Sandano

Since the end of the jubilee of Rome held in they year 2000, the majority of Rome, in cooperation with the Coast guard of Fiumicino, agreed that the river of Rome, the Tiber deserves more attention for its historical importance.

In fact since that year it has been inaugurated to the boat entrepeneurs the competition to apply for licenses and permissions to perform cruises on different parts of the tiber.

As many people do not know yet, not all the Tiber river is navigable, for the presence of marble steps, remains of old roman bridges and other hidden treasures like lead anchors.

It’s so weird to see how Rome is no more noisy when you go down the travertine steps to join a cruise tour. In fact the white marble walls to protect the city of Rome against the floods from the Tiber river were built during the period of the unification of Italy at the end of the 19th century. These shields are long 6 miles and provide in assuring the security of the city against bad weather and insisting rain.

That Rome was indebted, if not for its origin, at any rate for its importance, to these commercial and strategical advantages of its position, there are accordingly numerous further indications, which are of very different weight from the statements of quasi-historical romances. Thence arose its very ancient relations with Caere, which was to Etruria what Rome was to Latium, and accordingly became Rome’s most intimate neighbour and commercial ally. Thence arose the unusual importance of the bridge over the Tiber, and of bridge-building generally in the Roman commonwealth. In this sense, then, certainly Rome may have been, as the legend assumes, a creation rather than a growth, and the youngest rather than the oldest among the Latin cities.

The tiber is also the third biggest river of Italy after the Po and the Adige that flows in the romantic city of Verona.

The river of Rome has also a very important island, the Tiber Island ( isola Tiberina ) that has the shape of a boat because it remembers the transportation by boat of the sacred animal ( a snake ) and of the worship of the god of the healing Aesculapius from Greece in the IV century BC. The scholars says that this animal jumped off the boat and settled in the Island as signal for the Romans of the place where they had to built the sanctuary dedicated to the god of the healing.

Today this famous Island is connected to Rome with two roman bridges of the II century BC which allow pedestrians to cross very easily the side of the jewish synagogue with Trastevere.

Cruising the tiver river today means to visit three parts of Rome:

1- from Ponte Marconi to Ancient Ostia, famous roman colony and strategic salt harbor for the roman ships arriving from the mediterranean sea;

2- From Ponte Risorgimento until the Tiberina Island with the possibility to see also the bridge wanted by the same pope who built the sistine chapel, sistus IV

3- From ponte Umberto cruising to the northern districts of Rome, with the possibility to admire a wonderful panorama of the dome of saint peter’s basilica designed by Michelangelo in the renaissance period.

About the Author: Cruising the Tiber river is a new deal in Rome for people who desire to visit the eternal city off the beaten paths. If you want to know more about the tiber river visit http://www.tiber-river.com

Source: www.isnare.com

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By Eugen Lisov

Danube Delta is probably the last truly wild place in Europe, a stretch of land and water that offers a comfortable place to live to an incredible diverse wildlife and an incredible spectacle of nature to visitors. With over three hundred and twenty species of birds and 1500 species of fish, it has one of the biggest biodiversities in the world.

Because not many people yet know about it, the Danube Delta offers a rare opportunity for a true nature passionate to spend a few days in the middle of what could easily be called Paradise.

Being chosen as the “Landscape of the year 2007-2009” by The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, there are plenty of nature-related activities you can choose to spend your time with.

Bird watching

Danube Delta is an El Dorado for the true birdwatchers. Nowhere in the world will you see so many species of birds crowded all together in a small place. You will find here over half of the world’s population of cormorants and the largest population of pelicans.

You will also have the pleasure to see the winter and summer swan, the white tailed eagle, wild ducks and geese, cranes, egrets, spoon bills, red neck geese, eastern flossy ibis, white, gray, yellow and red herons, bald coots, Dobrudjan hawks, storks, and many flamingo birds.

To go on a bird watching trip, you can either to book a trip with one of the many specialized agencies here, or you can simply choose to hire one of the locals to take you on a private boat ride. Usually, the second choice will be the most interesting because the locals know the best places to visit and they have many entertaining stories to complete the picture.

Fishing

Fishing is one of the most popular activities here. With over 1500 species of fish, this place is the favorite place for many recreational fishermen to spend their holydays. Among the fish you can catch here, you’ll have the surprise to see the great sturgeon, the catfish, carp, pike and a whole lot more.

Now, at the end of the day, to celebrate a great day of fishing, somebody should prepare the traditional fish soup, or ‘bors de peste’. Again, a local will do it best. Trust me; you won’t eat anything like this anywhere else! It is simply delicious!

Beaches

Ah, yes… The beaches… If you want to catch a tan and also have some privacy, the 30 km stretch of wild beach between Sulina and Sf. Gheorghe is just perfect. There are no people anywhere near and you will most like have the chance to see the only pack of wild horses in Europe roaming around.

And if you feel particularly romantic, take your partner for a pleasant night walk on the beach! Out here, in the wild, you’ll see the night sky better than ever. There are so many stars out there, that some will start falling al around you. Start making wishes

If you want a combination of wild and modern, then Gura Portitei is the place to go. It is a modern beach resort that has all the rustic and wild elements that make the Danube Delta the unique place it is.

The largest city in Danube Delta is Sulina. It’s got a great history and in the 19th and early 20th century it was the headquarter of the European Commission of the Danube, an early precursor of the European Union. It was one of the most cosmopolite cities in Europe at the time and the legacy of those days can still be seen today. If you happen to have a dink with an old local, make sure to ask him about the pirates that used to raid this place a century ago. The stories are great!

Cultural Activities

Being at the crossroads of many cultures, there is also an incredibly ethnic diversity in Danube Delta. Each of the nationalities living here, the Romanians, Ukrainians, Lipovans, Armenian, Greeks, Turks and many more, have their own unique traditions which they celebrate during various festivals.

Recently, the International Independent Film Festival has become the most important event in the region. It takes place every year in Sfatu Gheorghe and it brings together big names in the movie industry, from Romania and the whole Europe.

About the Author: Eugen Lisov has lived most of his life in Danube Delta and his website http://www.Wild-Danube-Delta.com is a modest attempt to make this place better known for its unique natural elements. Please feel free to visit his site to learn more about the magic of this place.

Source: www.isnare.com

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By Colin Hartness

What image comes to mind when you hear the word barge? Most likely, an American will visualize a long low-slung cargo vessel situated on a river or the Great Lakes, dirty and loaded with coal or iron ore. The idea of a barge cruise may be reminiscent of an old black and white movie where the hero leaves home at a young age on a cheap tramp steamer to seek his fortune in the great world beyond. Or a barge cruise might bring to mind long-haired hippies of the 1960’s traveling through Europe on $3 a day. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The only resemblance between an American cargo barge and a European cruising barge is the long low-slung shape and overall proportions. A European cruising barge is, in reality, an exclusive and elegant means of travel. These barges are also called floating hotels due to the preponderance of amenities and staff.

Forget the thought of a tiny pigeon-hole stateroom just above the waterline of a 2,000 passenger cruise ship. All staterooms in a floating hotel are spacious and well-appointed, more like suites that you find on a cruise ship. Staterooms typically feature twin beds and a private bath. On luxury barge cruises, you will find even larger cabins and modern conveniences such as TV, jacuzzi, and computer hook-up. You have all the amenities of home, including air conditioning, carpeting, a commons area, a dining area and, of course, a bar.

The European barge cruise is an intimate and personal experience as barges typically accommodate as few as 4 people up to as many as 24. Each barge is staffed with a personal chef who prepares gourmet meals from locally purchased ingredients to please guests as well as a captain who pilots the vessel and stateroom staff. A cruise with 6 people can be served by as many as 4 staff members.

Barge cruises are available on most of the rivers and canals in Europe. You can experience up-close the beauty and cultural sites of Belgium, England, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, or Scotland. The pace of a barge cruise is leisurely. The itinerary includes stopping at historic and cultural places of interest along the cruising route. You can sightsee on foot or on bicycles that are available onboard. On barge cruise operator even provides an air-conditioned touring bus to takes passengers to local points of interest at each stop along the way. What a change of pace from the hotel hopping of a bus trip! Just depart from the barge in the morning, enjoy a day of sightseeing and return to the quiet of a private dining room where a gourmet meal is waiting.

The price of a European barge cruise, like all other cruises, varies based upon the cruise line, the accommodations selected, the area visited, and the season (high or low). However, a quiet and personal barge cruise can be had for a price competitive with a Caribbean cruise, without airfare of course. The barge cruise price usually includes accommodations, 3 meals a day, beverage service that includes wines and spirits, and pre-arranged sightseeing tours. And these barge cruises cater to the American tourist by providing English speaking crew members.

About the Author: Looking for information about cruises?
Go to: http://www.whatcruises.com
‘What Cruises’ is published by Colin Hartness -
An excellent resource for Cruises!
Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.whatcruises.com/archive

Source: www.isnare.com

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