Saga unveils North Sea to Mediterranean river cruise itinerary for 2016

Saga has unveiled a new nine-night two-part river cruise itinerary, sailing from the North Sea down to the Mediterranean.

This unique two-part cruise includes an overnight mooring in Amsterdam so guests can visit galleries and museums or take optional tours to the city of Haarlem or relax on an evening riverboat cruise through the Old Town. MS Monet will then sail on the Rhine calling at Wesel, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Königswinter, Koblenz, Mainz, and Worms. Guests will disembark MS Monet in Strasbourg and embark on a three hour coach journey to the charming city of Besançon.

After enjoying an included lunch passengers will re-board the coach to continue onto Chalon-sur-Saône to board MS Van Gogh. This ship will sail to Lyon, Tournon, Arles, and Avignon.

MS Monet and MS Van Gogh are both 78-cabin ships and were refurbished in 2007. The ships both enjoy a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, complimented by excellent on-board facilities. Breakfasts are buffet-style while waiter-served three-course set meals are served at lunch and dinner. Each ship offers a free bar, open from noon to midnight, serving non-branded alcoholic and soft drinks.

Prices start from £1,549 per person based on two sharing a cabin, departing London Heathrow to Amsterdam on 25 May, 26 June or 21 August 2016.

Spanish and Portuguese waterway

Saga has also revealed details of its seven-night Gems of Andalusia river cruise itinerary sailing along the mighty Guadalquivir and Guadiana rivers. Sailing on-board the 88-cabin MS La Belle de Cadix guests will enjoy a lively and friendly atmosphere, on-board dining, leisure facilities and activities.

After flying to Seville guests will enjoy an overnight mooring before the ship sails along the Guadalquivir River. From here it is onto Cádiz where guests can opt to see a traditional flamenco show in the city, visit a traditional ganadería or ranch in Jerez or tour Cádiz and the port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where Columbus and Magellan both set sail.

The Portuguese town of Alcoutim is next followed by Vila Real de San Antonio where passengers will be able to relax on the beach or wander in the town. Cruising along the coast past the Doñana National Park in Spain the ship will then head onto El Puerto de Santa Maria where guests can enjoy an included full-day trip to Granada. Isla Minima is the final call where guests can take an included tour of a traditional hacienda to see an exciting equestrian show.

The ship will return to Seville where guests can explore Seville during the day or enjoy a optional excursion to the city of Córdoba before boarding a flight in the evening back to the UK.

Prices start from £1,349 per person based on two sharing a cabin, departing London Gatwick to Seville on 19 May, 2 or 23 June, 1 September or 13 October 2016.

Russian Waterways

Saga is offering nine included tours on its 10-night St Petersburg to Moscow river cruise aboard MS Surikov. The sailing includes calls to Uglich, Yaroslavl, Goritsy, Kizhi Island, and Mandrogi, plus two overnight moorings, one in St Petersburg and one in Moscow, to allow extra time for passengers to explore these cultural cities.

The included excursions are a tour of St Petersburg, a visit to the Hermitage State Museum, a tour of Mandrogi, a visit to the monastery of Kirillo-Belozersky, a visit to the open-air museum on Kizhi island, a city tour of Yaroslavl, a walking tour of Uglich, a sightseeing tour in Moscow, and a visit to Red Square, the Kremlin and Armoury Chamber.

Prices start from £1,099 per person based on two sharing a cabin, departing the UK on 11 or 21 May, 10 or 20 June, 20 or 30 July, 29 August, or 8 or 18 September 2016.

(Photo credit to Saga Travel)