River Cruise Newsletter

Dear Reader,

The Yangtze River, the third longest river in the world, nearly bisects China in its 4,000-mile voyage from the mountains to the sea. Destinations along the route tell of an ancient history and fascinating culture, and a river cruise is the best way to take it all in.

Most riverboats that sail the Yangtze hold between 200 and 400 passengers. Staterooms, restaurants and lounges have panoramic windows, so you won't miss any of the spectacular views.

Between the cities of Chongqing and Wuhan, your ship passes through a series of limestone cliffs known as the Three Gorges. The towering peaks and breathtaking waterfalls make for dramatic views along the waterway, and it's one of the scenic highlights of the river.

Passengers disembark to visit the Three Gorges Dam, a jaw-dropping sight that spans nearly a mile and a half and stands 600 feet tall. The 18th-century Shibaozhai Temple, a 12-story red pagoda that clings to the side of a cliff, is another photo-worthy stop.

Yangtze River cruises are incorporated into itineraries that include touring on land, with participants usually traveling between Beijing and Shanghai.

In Beijing, guided excursions visit Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public square and the site of student-led, pro-democracy demonstrations in 1989. Guests also see the 15th-century Forbidden City, a palace complex of nearly 10,000 rooms and halls that was the imperial home of the Ming and Qing dynasties. You may also attend a performance of the Peking Opera.

Top attractions in Shanghai, on the southern bank of the Yangtze, are Yuyuan Garden, the waterfront Bund district and an acrobatics show.

Guests travel to Badaling to see a well-preserved section of the Great Wall, and they stop in Xian to view the army of life-size terra-cotta warriors that once protected the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Each sports a unique facial expression and uniform.

Some Yangtze River itineraries also include touring in Tibet, Mongolia, Hong Kong or Bangkok.

Vacations To Go sells more Yangtze River cruises than any other company in America, and you can read all about them at our site, www.YangtzeRiverCruises.com. We've listed itineraries from all major river cruise operators, with departure dates and prices. Also at the site, you'll find details about the small, intimate river vessels used for Yangtze River cruising.

This week, I've searched our river cruise site, RiverCruise.com, to create a Top 10 list of river cruises offered by the world's most respected operators. All prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability.

1) Tulip Time Cruise 2011, 9 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins and ends in Amsterdam with stops in Antwerp, Ghent and Rotterdam. Save $1,000 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Land/cruise-only starting from $1,979. Departures from April 1, 2011 through April 29, 2011. Book now!

2) The Romantic Danube (Budapest to Prague), 12 days with AMAWATERWAYS. Begins in Budapest and ends in Prague with stops in Vienna, Melk and Passau. Save $1,000 per couple, plus receive a complimentary upgrade and $100 shipboard credit. Land/cruise-only starting from $2,639. Departs October 24, 2010 and November 20, 2010. Book now!

3) Wonders of China & the Grand Yangtze 2011, 17 days with Uniworld. Begins in Shanghai and ends in Beijing with visits to the Confucian Temple, the Three Gorges Dam and the Great Wall of China. Save $600 per couple when you book and pay in full. Land/cruise-only starting from $3,299. Departures from April 14, 2011 through October 27, 2011. Book now!

4) Burgundy & Provence (Côte d'Azur to Paris), 12 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins in Côote d'Azur and ends in Paris with stops in Avignon, Vienne and Lyon. Save $2,000 per couple. Land/cruise-only starting from $3,069. Departs October 24, 2010. Book now!

5) Footsteps of the Cossacks 2011 (Odessa to Kiev), 12 days with Viking River Cruises. Begins in Odessa and ends in Kiev with stops in Sevastopol, Yalta and Zaporozhye. Companion cruises and flies for free, plus receive complimentary wine with dinner when you book and pay in full. Land/cruise-only starting from $4,049. Departures from May 5, 2011 through October 6, 2011. Book now!

6) The Enchanting Rhine (Zurich to Amsterdam), 13 days with AMAWATERWAYS. Begins in Zurich and ends in Amsterdam with stops in Lucerne, Strasbourg and Cologne. Companion cruises for free. Land/cruise-only starting from $3,069. Departs October 31, 2010. Book now!

7) Jewels of Egypt, the Nile, & Lake Nasser, 12 days with Uniworld. Begins and ends in Cairo with visits to Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo and the Valley of the Kings. Save up to $2,000 per couple. Land/cruise-only starting from $3,949. Departures from December 3, 2010 through December 31, 2010. Book now!

8) Cities of Light 2011 (Paris to Prague), 12 days with Viking River Cruises. Begins in Paris and ends in Prague with stops in Luxembourg, Heidelberg and Wurzburg. Companion cruises and flies for free, plus receive complimentary wine with dinner when you book and pay in full. Land/cruise-only starting from $5,549. Departures from March 25, 2011 through November 4, 2011. Book now!

9) Vietnam, Cambodia & the Riches of the Mekong, 15 days with AMAWATERWAYS. Begins in Hanoi and ends in Ho Chi Minh City with visits to Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh and Tan Chau. Land/cruise-only starting from $3,948. Departs December 6, 2010 and February 28, 2011.

10) Nile Explorer 2011, 9 days with Viking River Cruises. Begins and ends in Cairo with visits to the Pyramids of Giza, Edfu and Luxor. Companion cruises for free, plus save $800 per couple off the air-inclusive price when you book and pay in full. Land/cruise-only starting from $5,945. Departures from January 8, 2011 through December 17, 2011. Book now!

Finally, for a complete list of cruises by river, click any link below.

Amazon River Cruises
European River Cruises
Mekong River Cruises
Mississippi River Cruises
Nile River Cruises
Yangtze River Cruises

Once you've found a river cruise that interests you, call us toll free at 800-510-4002 (US and Canada) and a river cruise specialist will attend to your needs. Customers from the UK, please call toll free 0800 279 8084. All other international customers, please e-mail or call us at +1-713-974-2121.

To search for a river cruise anywhere in the world, click here. To see our worldwide listing of escorted tours, independent tour packages, train tours and safaris, click here. For hotels and resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Europe, Canada and the continental US, click here. For savings of up to 75% on ocean-going cruises, click here.

Please e-mail me your comments, suggestions and questions at alanfox@rivercruise.com and I will respond the same day.

To send a copy of this newsletter to a friend or friends, click here.

Sincerely,

Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO