Cruise West Enters Europe in 2009 on Danube River

Cruise West will travel to Europe for the first time in 2009 with 11- and 12-day Danube River cruises. The new Vienna-to-Bucharest route provides touring in Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and cruising in the Danube Delta onboard the new 148-guest Amadeus Diamond, which is launching in 2009.

Eighty percent of the cabins have French balconies with a full wall of glass. Four departure dates are July 16, July 24, Oct. 13 and Oct. 21, 2009. The inaugural July 16 cruise will be hosted by Cruise West Chairman Richard West and his wife, Leslie West.

The Oct. 13 sailing is a Pentax Photography Cruise featuring field events and onboard workshops co-hosted by professional Pentax photographer Kerrick James. Pre- and post-cruises are available in Prague and Transylvania on all four sailings.

Also exclusive to Cruise West guests is exploration of the remote areas of the Danube Delta aboard specialty vessels. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the best-preserved delta in Europe and the largest reed bed in the world.

Travelers will dine on local cuisine and experience traditional culture at horse shows, wine-tasting sessions at vineyards, breakfast at the Nunnery of Saun and dinner along the Black Sea. As with all Cruise West voyages, Exploration Leaders accompany the cruise and share information on the flora, fauna, culture and history of the region.

The Danube River cruise begins at $5,199 per person including taxes, port charges, fees and onboard services. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and are exclusive of airfare. Trips booked before Dec. 19 will receive an early-booking discount of up to $1,100 per cabin.