Bookings have opened for APT’s new 2018 Europe and Russia River Cruising season.

Travel agents are now able to offer a range of early booking savings, new cruises and also a choice of new ships for clients on some of the tour operator’s most sought after itineraries and destinations.

For a limited time APT is offering an “Exchange Rate Freeze”, basing all prices in the new Europe and Russia River Cruising 2018 brochure on pre-EU Referendum exchange rates.

This enables travel agents to offer clients the lowest APT brochure prices for 2018.

For example, the 15-day Magnificent Europe cruise is available from £2,595 per person twin share if booked before April 29, 2017.

This classic Amsterdam to Budapest itinerary takes in both the grandeur of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and the charm of European village life from the comfort of a luxuriously appointed Concerto river ship.

Included in the itinerary are three exclusive APT Royal Signature Experiences: A visit to Germany’s Namedy Castle, a cocktail reception and private concert at Vienna’s City Palace, and a private rail journey on board the Majestic Imperator, a grand recreation of the trains once used by the Austrian royal family.

The brochure also features three exciting new all-inclusive Luxury itineraries.

15-day Western Front Explorer with ANZAC Day Dawn Service: Priced from £3,645 per person, twin share the Western Front Explorer with ANZAC Day Dawn Service is a 15 day France and Belgium battlefield cruise timed to commemorate the centenary of the victory at the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, which crippled the German offensive and helped change the course of WWI.

This journey, a round trip from Amsterdam departing April 14, 2018, also visits the British Memorials at Pozieres. Three of APT’s Signature Experiences are included: a special Michelin-starred lunch at Neercanne castle; a private organ recital at the oldest Protestant church in the Netherlands; and a private tour of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

8-day Balkan Gems: The 8-day Balkan Gems is a spring-time only cruise of the lower Danube that sails from Budapest to Giurgiu and is priced from £1,545 per person, twin share. This cruise of the lesser visited stretch of the Danube departs 14 April 2018 and sails to charming Bratislava and grand Vienna before heading down through Serbia and the series of magnificent gorges known as the Iron Gates, to Bulgaria and Romania.

8-day Balkan Jewels: APT is also offering the new 8-day Balkan Jewels from Giurgiu to Budapest from £1,545 per person, twin share. Travelling through Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary this cruise departs 21 April 2018. Sightseeing highlights include a Hungarian cultural experience in Kalocsa where APT showcases local crafts before hosting a visit to a local farm to enjoy a traditional horse riding show and lunch.

Two new ships will be joining the APT Premium fleet in 2018. The MS Douro Serenity, a custom designed river cruiser with 63 cabins, will be built this year and will be used for the Douro Discovery cruises commencing in June 2018. The Russian river cruiser, the MS Alexander Borodin, formerly the Tikhiy Don, will be fully rebuilt to accommodate the increase in demand for cruising Russian waterways and will operate on the Treasures of Russia sailings in 2018.

According to Angela Waite, APT’s UK sales & commercial manager, the tour operator’s European river cruise portfolio is going from strength to strength, “We are seeing increased demand for our Luxury and Premium river cruises as the segment continues to mature in the UK. Agents have a great opportunity to capitalise on this growth and to help facilitate this we have introduced our new ‘Exchange Rate Freeze’ while also extending our range of Luxury cruises in central Europe and adding exciting new Premium ships in Russia and Portugal. We’re looking forward to getting our 2018 season off to a strong start as a result.”

For more information email [email protected], contact your APT account manager or call 0800 046 3002.