Return To River Cruising with the brand new SS Sphinx from Uniworld!

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“You British? Been long time – where you go?”  The grizzled robed hawker fixes me with a gap-toothed grin as he enthusiastically proffers an armful of colourful pashminas before raising his hands in an elaborate flourish and crying “Welcome to Alaska”.  As we’re standing in the depths of the crowded bazaar in the southern Egyptian…

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Expert Review: Avalon Waterways’ Active & Discovery Voyages

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Wachau Valley - Europe - Austria
It’s not long after 7am and in the gathering light of a crisp autumnal morning Vienna’s elegant streets are deliciously deserted and devoid of the usual tourist hordes. Even locals are few and far between. Exploring the Austrian capital as it starts to wake up gives me a privileged feeling of peeking behind the scenes,...

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Austria’s Wachau Valley brims with bucolic appeal

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Wachau Valley - Austria, Vienna
Austria’s Wachau Valley is an unexpected star of Danube cruises, its pastoral charms making it one of the highlights of sailings heading westwards towards Germany. Yet for the uninitiated, this peaceful panoramic region is generally overshadowed by the glories of the historic cities sitting along the Danube’s banks, with the trio of high-profile capitals, Vienna,...

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After a meteoric rise, has Myanmar lost its sheen?

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Temples silhouetted against the sunset in Bagan
When Myanmar finally emerged from decades of isolationism and oppressive military rule, its potential gleamed like a precious jewel in Asia’s tourism crown. This former British colony, previously known as Burma, had long been a tantalising prize. Immortalised in Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem, Mandalay, and George Orwell’s celebrated novel, Burmese Days, it had lain virtually...

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Port in focus: Paris

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It is impossible to resist the seductive spell that Paris casts so beguilingly over visitors. This is a city that stands apart in fulsome Gallic style, confident of its reputation as one of the world’s most romantic and beautiful metropolises – and it does not disappoint. Oscar Wilde's resting place - Pere Lachaise For travellers taking...

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Emerald Liberté: A fresh flavour on France’s rivers

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Sleek, stylish and perfectly proportioned for the narrow locks and low bridges of the Rhône and Saône rivers, Emerald Liberté has brought its own distinctive style to this corner of southern France. As one of the newest vessels in the fleet of Emerald Waterways (having launched in April 2017), the 138-passenger Emerald Liberté perfectly reflects...

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