River Cruise Newsletter

Dear Reader,

This week, I'd like to share some news from Globus, which offers river cruises under its Avalon Waterways brand. The company has a brand-new ship and a great money-saving special on its 2009 river cruise vacations.

First, the promotion:

Vacations To Go customers can save $600 per couple ($300 per person) off the air-inclusive price of select 2009 river cruises, or $250 per couple ($125 per person) off the cruise-only price, when you book by August 31. Click here to see applicable itineraries.

The Avalon Scenery is the newest member of the Avalon Waterways fleet. Carrying a maximum of just 138 passengers, it is the smallest of the Avalon ships, making for an even more intimate cruising experience.

The ship features elegant decor with clean, simple lines. Guests will find a hair salon, fitness center, bar, two lounges, sky deck with whirlpool, an elevator for easy access between decks and stunning panoramic views throughout the ship from large picture windows. Staterooms feature spacious closets and comfortable beds with duvets and Egyptian cotton linens.

Avalon Waterways has produced a narrated virtual tour of the Avalon Scenery with 360-degree views, which you can view by clicking here.

The Avalon Scenery cruises the picturesque Burgundy and Provence regions of France. To see departure dates and rates, click here, then click any FastDeal # for a detailed itinerary.

In times when the dollar isn't stretching as far as it used to in Europe, the inclusive nature of a river cruise will help you get the most for your money. With meals, local wines at dinner, sightseeing and lodging all included in one prepaid price, the bulk of your expense has already been taken care of before your journey begins.

Avalon's European fleet averages just two years of age. More than 90 percent of the staterooms have floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and French balconies. Modern conveniences include flat-screen TVs in all the staterooms and wireless Internet access.

Dinners are fine-dining affairs with impeccable service from an English-speaking crew and cuisine tailored to North American tastes.

Because Avalon is part of the Globus family of brands, all land programs ashore are operated by Globus. Ships often dock in city centers, so you can walk directly off the vessel and into the heart of town. Expert Tour Directors share little-known stories and insightful tips, and you'll return to the ship having experienced a true slice of local life.

Here are this week's Top 10 Globus Vacations. All prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability.

1) Christmas in The Heart of Germany 2009 (Frankfurt to Prague), 9 days with Globus. Begins in Frankfurt and ends in Prague with stops in Wurzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Land/cruise-only starting from $1,709. Departs November 29, 2009 and December 21, 2009. Book now!

2) Tulip Time Cruise 2009, 9 days with Globus. Begins and ends in Amsterdam with stops in Antwerp, Ghent and Middelburg. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Land/cruise-only starting from $1,799. Departs April 4, 2009 and April 11, 2009. Book now!

3) Romantic Rhine 2009 (Basel to Amsterdam), 9 days with Globus. Begins in Basel and ends in Amsterdam with stops in Strasbourg, Koblenz and Cologne. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Land/cruise-only starting from $1,889. Departures from May 2, 2009 through November 7, 2009. Book now!

4) Flavors of Burgundy & Provence 2009 (Paris to Nice), 12 days with Globus. Begins in Paris and ends in Nice with stops in Lyon, Avignon and Arles. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Land/cruise-only starting from $2,209. Departures from April 4, 2009 through December 5, 2009. Book now!

5) Grand Tour of Egypt, 12 days with Globus. Begins and ends in Cairo with visits to the Pyramids of Giza, Luxor and Aswan. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Land/cruise-only starting from $2,253. Departures from January 5, 2009 through December 28, 2009. Book now!

6) The Legendary Danube 2009, 12 days with Globus. Begins in Prague and ends in Budapest with stops in Regensburg, Passau and Vienna. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Land/cruise-only starting from $2,399. Departures from April 22, 2009 through October 28, 2009. Book now!

7) The Blue Danube Discovery 2009, 14 days with Globus. Begins in Budapest and ends in Prague with stops in Vienna, Regensburg and Nuremberg. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Land/cruise-only starting from $3,199. Departures from April 16, 2009 through October 22, 2009. Book now!

8) Cultural China & Tibet With Yangtze River Cruise, 15 days with Globus. Begins in Beijing and ends in Shanghai with visits to the Terra Cotta Warriors of Xian, Lhasa and the Three Gorges Dam. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Land/cruise-only starting from $4,049. Departures from April 26, 2009 through October 4, 2009. Book now!

9) Jewels of Central Europe 2009 (Paris to Budapest), 18 days with Globus. Begins in Paris and ends in Budapest with stops in Bernkastel, Wurzburg and Vienna. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Land/cruise-only starting from $4,459. Departures from May 14, 2009 through October 15, 2009. Book now!

10) Discover the Galapagos and Peru, 15 days with Globus. Begins in Lima and ends in Quito with visits to Machu Picchu, Cuzco and Cotopaxi National Park. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Land/cruise-only starting from $5,099. Departures from January 7, 2009 through December 9, 2009. Book now!

US River Cruises

Mississippi River Cruises (includes Ohio and Tennessee rivers)
Pacific NW River Cruises (includes Columbia River)

International River Cruises

European River Cruises
Amazon River Cruises
Nile River Cruises
Yangtze River Cruises
Russia River Cruises

Once you've found a river cruise that interests you, call us toll free at 800-510-4002 (US and Canada) and a river cruise specialist will attend to your needs. Customers from the UK, please call toll free 0800 279 8084. All other international customers, please e-mail or call us at 001-713-974-2121.

To search for a river cruise anywhere in the world, click here. To see our worldwide listing of escorted tours, independent tour packages, train tours and safaris, click here. For hotels and resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Europe, Canada and the continental US, click here. For savings of up to 75% on ocean-going cruises, click here.

Please e-mail me your comments, suggestions and questions at alanfox@rivercruise.com and I will respond the same day.

To send one sample copy of this newsletter to a friend, click here.

Sincerely,

R. Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO