10 of our best-selling river cruise itineraries, listed below in no particular order.
On these vacations, you'll glide along scenic and historic waterways on an intimate and comfortable vessel, enjoying river-view staterooms, superb dining and personalized service. Daily excursions ashore and onboard entertainment and enrichment activities also are generally included in the upfront rate.
Rhine Getaway, 8 days with Viking River Cruises -- On a route between Amsterdam and Basel, you'll visit 700-year-old Marksburg Castle, the Alsatian city of Strasbourg and Rudesheim's Drosselgasse, a cobblestone lane lined by taverns, shops and restaurants.
Charms of the South, 9 days with American Queen Voyages -- Travelers cruise the lower Mississippi River on a modern-day paddle wheeler, learning about Vicksburg's role in the Civil War and visiting 19th-century mansions in Natchez.
Burgundy & Provence, 8 days with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises -- A cruise of France's Saone and Rhone rivers reveals Roman ruins, a 14th-century papal palace and the culinary treasures of Lyon.
Melodies of the Danube, 8 days with AmaWaterways -- This trip starts in Budapest, where you'll take in the views from the Fisherman's Bastion. See St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and enjoy a hike up to Bratislava Castle in Slovakia.
Paris to Normandy, 8 days with Avalon Waterways -- Tailor this French cruise to your interests: In Vernon, tour Monet's Giverny or 18th-century Chateau de Bizy, and while in Caudebec, choose a trip to D-Day landing beaches or a "Taste of Normandy" culinary excursion.
Secrets of the Douro, 8 days with Emerald Cruises -- Sail Portugal's Douro River in a region known for its port wine production. Enjoy dinner at a local wine estate and also cross into Spain to visit Salamanca, a lively university city.
Columbia & Snake Rivers, 8 days with American Cruise Lines -- Discover the Pacific Northwest's rugged beauty, particularly along the Columbia River Gorge, and visit Mount St. Helens and sites associated with explorers Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery.
Gems of the Danube, 8 days with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours -- Guests can choose from a variety of included excursions on this itinerary. In Vienna, tour opulent Schonbrunn Palace or journey to the city's acclaimed wine region. In Nuremberg, visit World War II sites or sample beer in the city's underground cellars.
Grand European Tour, 15 days with Viking River Cruises -- See the sights along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers on a panoramic sailing between Amsterdam and Budapest. Guided tours reveal the history and culture of Vienna, Regensburg, Cologne and more.
Romantic Rhine, 8 days with Avalon Waterways -- Classic highlights of this itinerary include the picturesque Rhine Gorge, Heidelberg Castle and Strasbourg's pedestrian-friendly old quarter. You'll also visit whimsical spots like a museum devoted to mechanical musical instruments.
New Mexican Law on Accepting US Dollars
9/13/2010 3:01:24 PM Link | | Add comment
The Mexican Government passed a new law which goes into effect in Mexico
beginning September 14, 2010. With this new law, the use of American Dollars
(CASH) to make purchases in Mexico will not be as free as it has been in the past.
Many repeat guests to Mexico who have become accustomed to freely using
American Dollars (CASH) in Mexico will notice the difference. Other payment
methods such as credit cards of all types and all issuing banks, Travelers Checks,
Mexican pesos and non-American foreign currencies (such as Euros or Canadian
Dollars) are not affected in any way by this new law.
The most noticeable differences to customers will be:
• Hotels and Exchange Booths will only be able to change a maximum of
$1,500 USD CASH per person per month into Mexican Pesos. Previously
there was no limit.
• Businesses (including Amstar DMC in Mexico) will only be able to accept a
maximum of $100 USD CASH per transaction - but the number of transactions
per customer is not restricted.
• Certain businesses may not be able to, or may choose not to accept American
Dollars for any purchase at all (this may include shops, etc).
If a customer wants to purchase an excursion (for example) that costs $139 US
dollars per person, he/she will only be able to pay $100 of this amount in USD
CASH and the remainder will need to be in another form of payment (credit
card, Mexican pesos, etc).
Vacationers should never carry large amounts of American dollars with them to
Mexico, but instead they should consider either using a Credit Card, taking or
locally withdrawing Mexican Pesos, or use Travelers Check’s (of any currency).
