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,...

Read More

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...

Read More

From historic architecture to riverside parks, the waterways of the world are home to some of the most romantic destinations to enjoy as a couple. Sail along the Rhine for storybook scenery where or stop in Shanghai for a modern-day romance. With Valentine’s Day coming soon, here are nine of our favourite destinations along some...

Read More

If anywhere embodies the archetypal German scene, it is the Rhine gorge, all chocolate-box riverside villages, half-timbered houses, vine-shaded pub gardens and window boxes cascading with brilliantly clashing geraniums. Not to mention the castles; fairy-tale structures of turrets and towers, some ruined, some still inhabited, each one gazing out over gravity-defying vineyards. The gorge isn’t...

Read More