Cruise into 2018 with Jules Verne

Expanded collection features 28 new river and coastal cruises, from the Algarve to Amazonia… plus a North Pole expedition on board a nuclear-powered ice breaker –

Innovative tour operator Jules Verne has expanded its River and Coastal Cruises collection for 2018, adding 28 inspiring new journeys along some of the world’s most scenic rivers and coastlines. Sailing on small vessels for many of its itineraries (most accommodating between ten to 100 guests, in contrast to the larger, more formal ships offered by many holiday companies), Jules Verne’s cruise programme spans six continents, from relaxing meanders through European countries such as France, Spain and Norway to far-flung adventures in destinations as diverse as Egypt and Ecuador.

Many of the cruises featured in the 2018 collection have been chartered exclusively by Jules Verne for its clients, either on selected departure dates or for the complete series. Travelling during the most favoured time of the year for a particular itinerary, yet maintaining lower than normal prices during that season, these include river cruises on the Danube, Douro, Mekong and Brahmaputra, and coastal explorations of Croatia, Greece and Russia.

Jules Verne also includes Special Events on many of its river and coastal cruises, further illuminating the unique culture and people of a chosen destination. Whether attending a special ceremony, music or dance performance, a dinner or drinks party in a spectacular location, learning about cooking and the local way of life or enjoying access to sites not normally open to the public, Jules Verne clients can be assured of an unforgettable holiday.

NEW River Cruises for 2018 include:

• Spring Dutch Waterways: A ‘no-fly’ voyage (return travel via Eurostar) from Flanders through The Netherlands to Amsterdam, timed perfectly to capture colourful tulip fields and visit the breath-taking Keukenhof Gardens, where an impressive seven million bulbs will be in bloom. Departing 8 & 16 April aboard the MS Léonard de Vinci, four nights cost from £965 pp*.
• The Wonderful Waterways of Sweden: Step back in time for a passage on a characterful river vessel as it travels between Gothenburg and Stockholm, along quiet waterways and through the lakes and locks of the Göta Canal. Departing 19 May & 4 July (Gothenburg-Stockholm) and 7 & 27 June, 10 July and 4 & 31 August (Stockholm to Gothenburg) aboard the MS Diana, seven nights cost from £2,395 pp*.
• Péniche Haute Seine: Following the popularity of its Péniche Provençale barge cruise, Jules Verne has introduced this delightful journey between Paris and Burgundy, visiting the châteaux of royal Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte, artistic Barbizon and sacred Sens whilst passing through bucolic river landscapes. Departing 16 & 23 June aboard the Péniche Raymonde, six nights cost from £1,995 pp*.
• El Andalus & the Algarve: Combining coastal and river cruising, this holiday takes in two rivers (the Guadalquivir and the Guadiana), two countries (Spain and Portugal) and two thousand years of history, travelling from Seville to Granada via ports of call that include Cordoba, Jerez, El Puerto de Santa Maria, the traditional Algarve village of Alcoutim and the Portuguese region’s capital, Faro. Departing 31 May and 28 June aboard the MS Belle de Cadix, 7 nights cost from £2,045 pp*.
• Amazing Amazonia: Venturing to the remote upper reaches of the mighty Amazon River, travel deep into Peru’s protected Pacaya-Samaria Reserve for unrivalled access to the rainforest’s most pristine areas. Abundant flora and fauna await in one of the last great unexplored regions of the world on ‘Natural History’s Greatest Voyage’. Departing 6 April, 4 May, 1 June, 13 July, 10 August, 14 September, 12 October, 9 November and 7 December aboard the RV Amazon Star, ten nights cost from £4,995 pp*. No single supplement applies on all dates (subject to availability).

NEW ocean cruises for 2018 include:

• In the Wake of the Vikings: Set sail on the trail of the formidable Vikings, cruising along Britain’s beautiful coastline before reaching the spectacular geysers, volcanoes and glaciers of Iceland and onwards to one of the world’s smallest capitals, Tórshavn, on the dramatic Faroe Islands. Departing 7 July aboard the Aegean Odyssey, 15 nights cost from £2,995 pp*.
• Croatian Coastal Cruising: Dotted with UNESCO World Heritage Sites and beautiful national parks, Croatia’s rugged coastline delivers delightful vistas, clear azure waters and an archipelago of over a thousand idyllic islands. Sail from the medieval city of Dubrovnik to the pretty Opatija Riviera, soaking up the sights of Romanesque Split and historic Zadar along the way. Departing 14 July aboard the MV Black Swan from Dubrovnik to Opatija, seven nights cost from £1,895 pp*. An eight-night cruise (Opatija to Dubrovnik) costs from £1,995 pp*, departing 20 July.
• Svalbard: ‘Kingdom of the Polar Bear’: An adventurous expedition cruise to Spitsbergen and beyond in Norway’s Svalbard Archipelago, one of the world’s most untouched wildernesses, that also features a programme of informative on-board lectures. Travel to a land of epic landscapes: stark tundra, towering sea stacks, ice cliffs and vast glaciers, where wonderful wildlife sightings, including walruses, whales, seals and polar bears, await. Departing 19 & 27 August aboard the MV Ortelius, ten nights cost from £6,895 pp*.
• Maldivian Magic: Island hop the Central Atolls of the spectacular Maldives, visiting palm-fringed white sands, sheltered blue lagoons and coral reefs teeming with marine life on this small ship cruise, with ample free time for swimming, snorkelling and diving in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Departing 11 February, 11 March, 8 & 22 April, 20 May, 17 June, 29 July, 12 August, 9 September, 8 & 22 October, 18 November and 2 December aboard the MV Yasawa Princess, eight nights cost from £2,095 pp*. No single supplement applies on selected dates (subject to availability).
• Destination North Pole: This extraordinary voyage to the High Arctic archipelago of Franz Josef Land and the North Pole, one of the world’s least accessible spots, takes place on a nuclear-powered icebreaker, designed to travel through water that is almost always covered with ice up to ten feet thick. This is an expedition like no other, made even more memorable by exhilarating helicopter rides and the insight of historians, scientists, naturalists and other specialists on board. Departing 7, 18 & 29 July aboard the 50 Years Victory, 13 nights cost from £21,495 pp*.

40TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION CRUISES:

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2018, Jules Verne has launched a collection of Special Edition escorted tours, including several cruises. Circumnavigate Great Britain, and several of her island outposts, on The Great British Voyage (departing 22 July aboard the MV Aegean Odyssey, 14 nights cost from £2,550 pp*); discover Glorious Glacial Greenland (departing 31 July aboard the Ocean Diamond, ten nights cost from £4,295 pp*) and cruise the USA’s Lower Mississippi on a steamboat, evoking the opulence of the American Victorian era, on Ol’ Man River (departing 10 March, 13 October and 24 November aboard the American Dream, 12 nights cost from £3,695 pp*). 

Remote Nagaland, set on the Chindwin River and shrouded in folklore and mysticism, is the setting for Burmese Jungle Waterways (departing 5 September aboard the RV Kha Byoo Pandaw, 14 nights cost from £4,195 pp*), whilst The Great White Continent journeys to some of Antarctica’s most isolated fjords (departing 26 November aboard the MV Ocean Atlantic, 13 nights cost from £6,595 pp*. No single supplement applies on selected dates, subject to availability).

*Prices are based on two people sharing (unless otherwise specified – see ‘Cruises for Single Travellers’ below) and include return flights or rail travel, cabin accommodation, transfers, port charges, meals, drinks, excursions and on-board lectures as per the itinerary, and the services of a Tour Manager, guides and local representatives. 

CRUISES FOR SINGLE TRAVELLERS:

Renowned for its arrangements for single travellers, Jules Verne offers No Single Supplement places (subject to availability) on selected cruises across its worldwide programme, including An Iberian River Journey (seven nights from £1,580 pp*), The Original Nile Cruise (eight nights from £1,695 pp*) and The Holy Ganges (11 nights from £2,195 pp*). NEW for 2018, Jules Verne has also introduced Solo Group departures on a number of its itineraries, with singles-only sailings on cruises such as Venice from the Water (four nights from £745 pp*), Impressions of the Seine (seven nights from £1,695 pp*) and From Bagan to Mandalay (11 nights from £3,045 pp*).

BOOKING WITH THE BEST:

Fully ABTA and ATOL bonded, and winner of many travel awards, including Which? ‘Recommended Provider Status 2017’, Jules Verne’s expert staff organise every detail, ensuring that clients can book in complete confidence. This commitment is further reinforced by Jules Verne’s 100% Price Guarantee; the holiday price is fixed when clients book and will remain so, even if Jules Verne’s costs increase subsequently. Clients cruising with Jules Verne can also select their cabin at no extra charge, making early booking highly recommended.

For more information or a copy of Jules Verne’s new Coastal & River Cruises brochure, which includes a useful, at-a-glance 2018 Cruise Calendar, call 020 3553 3722, visit www.vjv.com or click here.