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Saga Travel has today announced that it has released 13 new European river cruises which include the Danube, Rhine, Ijssel, Elbe and Meuse, plus a cruise through the Kiel Canal. The Saga exclusive cruises also feature a jazz-themed sailing and an all-inclusive mystery cruise.

Passengers can choose from coach travel, regional flights and Eurostar options with a VIP car service for those travelling on longer river cruises. Wine, beer and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner. Selected cruises also offer included excursions. Here’s a roundup of the fantastic new itineraries:

Castles of the Meuse Valley
Regina Rheni II
8 nights from £1,049, departing April 11 and June 23, 2017

Guests explore the Dutch and Belgian waterways calling at the dynamic city of Rotterdam and the ‘capital of cool’ Antwerp. This new itinerary, to view the magical castles along the Meuse Valley, starts in Amsterdam (round-trip) and also calls at Kinderdijk, Liège, Namur, Maastricht, Roermond and Arnhem.

Rex Rheni’s Mystery Cruise
7 nights from £999, departing August 7, 2017

Guests board the ship in Amsterdam and will enjoy four new Saga ports of call as well as a few favourites! There will also be five surprise excursions so guests can try to guess their way along the waterways. All they’ll know is that the cruise starts in Amsterdam. The ports will only be announced during the cruise! This fun-filled cruise includes a 12-hour free bar.

Great Capitals of the Danube
Filia Rheni II exclusive
9 nights from £1,449 departing April 17, 2017

This sailing takes in the wonderful towns and cities of Budapest (round-trip), Kalosca, Serbia’s capital Belgrade, Osijek, Eszterom, Bratislava, Vienna and Krems with four excursions included in the price. A two-night extension in Budapest is also available.

Jazz on the Rhine
Rex Rheni
7 nights from £999 departing July 20, 2017

Jazz fans can enjoy six performances from the John Shilito Band and two jazz talks. There will also be a special on-board concert while Rex Rheni is moored in Cologne. The Cologne round-trip visits Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Frankfurt, Mainz, Mannheim, Boppard and Andernach.

Majesty of the Middle Rhine
Rex Rheni
11 nights from £1,299 departing July 27, 2017

This cruise features Saga’s VIP door-to-door travel service to get the holiday off to a relaxing start. Guests sail from the magnificent Middle Rhine to discover vine-clad river banks, medieval towns and enchanting castles. The cruise is from Cologne to Amsterdam via Koblenz, Winningen, Cochem, Zell, Bernkastel-Kues, Trier, Traben-Trarbach, Boppard, Rüdesheim, Mainz, Andernach and Königswinter.

Keukenhof and the Ijssel River
Filia Rheni II
7 nights from £849, departing March 27, 2017

A full-day at Keukenhof to see the wonderful spring bulbs is included in this cruise which starts in Arnhem and explores Zwolle, Kampen, Lemmer, Haarlem and Amsterdam.

Natural Wonders of the Elbe
MS Johannes Brahms
Six nights from £1,099, departing April 3, 2017

Explore Hamburg and Berlin, via Lauenburg, Wittenberg, Havelberg, Brandenburg and uncover the history of Potsdam on a beautiful sailing along the River Elbe.

Prague and the Magic of Saxony
MS Johannes Brahms
8 nights from £1,199 departing May 21, 2017

Enjoy a three-night stay in Prague before sailing along the Elbe and Vlata to Decin and Bad Schandau. Sail on to Dresden for a full-day city tour, visit the Sandstone Mountains, view the porcelain museum in Meissen and discover Wittenberg – the former home of Martin Luther - during this fantastic cruise which ends in Dessau.

From Berlin to the Kiel Canal
MS Johannes Brahms
7 nights from £1,299 departing June 10, 2017

Sail along the Elbe, Havel and other German waterways to explore the historic towns and cities of Brandenburg, Berlin, Potsdam, Havelberg, Lauenburg, Hamburg and Rendsburg before an exciting sailing through the Kiel Canal. Guests can spend an afternoon in the city of Kiel and stroll along the promenade to the watch the ships sailing in and out of the Grand Harbour.

Transylvania and the Danube
Filia Rheni II
11 nights from £1,699 departing June 25, 2017

Visit Dracula’s Bran Castle, cruise through the Iron Gates gorge, discover Belgrade and take a guided tour of Budapest. This river cruise includes Saga’s VIP door-to-door travel service and starts with a hotel stay in beautiful Poiana Brasov in the heart of Transylvania followed by a cruise as Filia Rheni II sails to, Braila, Rousse, Svistov, Nikopol, Novi Sad and Mohács to Budapest.

Middle Rhine and the Alsace
Amadeus Symphony
10 nights from £1,449 departing April 9 or May 31, 2017

Stroll through the historic city of Heidelberg, visit the wine-making town of Rudesheim, admire the half-timbered houses of Colmar and marvel at Strasbourg’s Gothic cathedral on this Amsterdam round-trip. The itinerary also includes Nijmegen, Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz, Breisach, Manneheim, Mainz and Boppard.

Springtime Colours of the Rhine
Regina Rheni ll
7 nights from £799 departing March 28, 2017

See Beethoven’s home in Bonn, discover medieval Boppard, cruise past the Lorelei Rock and spend a day in Amsterdam on this lovely cruise which starts in Arnhem and also includes stops at Koblenz, Boppard, Rüdesheim, Oberwesel and Konigswinter.

Grand Cruise of the Rhine, Moselle and Main
Amadeus Symphony
14 nights from £2,149 departing on May 3, 2017

Start the holiday with Saga’s VIP door-to-door service to enjoy a cruise along the picturesque Rhine, Moselle and Main rivers and explore the birthplace of Beethoven and ancient Trier. The cruise starts in Utrecht and there will be wine-tasting in the Moselle and included tours of Frankfurt and Strasbourg as well as calls at Bonn, Winningen, Cochem, Zell, Bernkastel, Traben-Trarbach, Koblenz, Miltenburg, Wertheim, Ascaffenburg, Rüdesheim, Oberwesel, Andernach and Amsterdam.

Ends

Editors notes
Travel options to Dutch and German waterways include coach travel from Folkestone. Eurostar options from St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International and flights from London and regional airports can also be arranged (at an additional cost). Flights to all other destinations including Prague, Bucharest, Berlin and Hamburg are with British Airways or KLM and there is a choice of regional departures including Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester and Norwich.
There are early booking Incentives online and single cabins can be booked at no extra cost*, subject to availability.
For details or to book call free on 0800 300 400 or visit travel.saga.co.uk/river-cruises

Price includes UK travel package, return travel and transfers, all meals, welcome cocktail party, all on-board gratuities, porterage, optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights or a discount if passenger has own insurance.

Saga is a leading provider of products and services primarily tailored for customers over the age of 50 in the UK. The Saga brand has been carefully developed over the past 60 years to become one of the most recognised and trusted brands among UK consumers aged over 50. Saga is synonymous in the UK with the over 50s market and is recognised for its high quality products and services. These include cruises and holidays, home and motor insurance, savings and share dealing and the UK’s award winning Saga Magazine.