The Hot List: River cruise

Insider Journeys is operating a new Mekong & Beyond small-group journey in January 2016, featuring a seven-night river cruise onboard the boutique Jayavarman vessel from Tonle Sap in Cambodia to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Prices start from £2,815pp. Clients can escape the crowds by using Angkor Wat’s little-used eastern gate before dawn and explore by torchlight, before watching the sun rise over the spires.

insiderjourneys.co.uk

Scenic and Emerald Waterways have appointed Dawn Quinn as sales manager for the Midlands region. Quinn has substantial industry experience including a stint as cruise commercial manager at Co-operative Travel.

scenic.co.uk

A seven-day cruise with The River Cruise Line along Dutch waterways takes in no fewer than four gardens, including Keukenhof, where seven million bulbs create a carpet of colour. Departing April 9, “Spring Gardens in Holland and Belgium” is priced from £779pp.

rivercruiseline.co.uk

Aqua Expeditions has refurbished its two boutique cruisers that operate on the Amazon. Aqua Amazon’s 12 suites and Aria Amazon’s 16 suites have been updated with new floors, furniture and bathrooms. Guests also now have access to all-terrain touring bikes for cycling excursions around Nauta, a classic Peruvian town.

aqauexpeditions.com

Clients can catch a flamenco show in Cadiz and explore Seville in a Gems of Andalusia river cruise offered by Saga. Traversing the Guadalquivir and Guadiana rivers, the 88-cabin La Belle de Cadiz also takes in Sanlucar de Barrameda, from where Columbus set sail. Cruise departs on selected dates in summer 2016, from £1,349pp for seven nights including flights.

saga.co.uk

Shearings has added 21 new itineraries for 2016, including five onboard the Serenade. The 17-day Spectacular Danube to the Black Sea tour visits six countries and the Iron Gates, a gorge on the borders of Romania and Serbia. The three-night “Scenic Rhine Mini-Cruise” is recommended as a taster experience for those new to cruising.

shearings.com