Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours has launched its 2022 river cruising programme six months ahead of schedule.

The tour operator, known for its luxury river sailings and the superlative ocean vessel Scenic Eclipse, has opened bookings for the new European river cruising programme, providing agents with further flexibility when selling new holidays and re-booking suspended sailings.

On sale now, the early release will allow guests more access to their preferred European river cruise itinerary, sailing dates and choice of suites.

Offering some peace of mind, all future bookings will be covered by the cruise line’s Deposit Protection Plan. Protecting passengers’ deposits, the plan is provided at a cost of £100 per person per river cruise and £200 per person per voyage on Scenic Eclipse sailings.

The plan provides agents with the flexibility and assurance to sell, knowing their booking is safe.

Highlights of the 2022 European river cruise programme include a behind the scenes tour of Austria’s Artstetten Castle on an eight-day Gems of the Danube itinerary, and the chance to visit WWI memorials in Belgium as part of the Romantic Rhine & Moselle river cruise.

Other highlights include a 15-day Jewels of Europe voyage where guests are treated to a private evening concert featuring the music of Mozart and Strauss and a 16-day Danube Delta Discovery sailing stopping at Croatia and Bulgaria.

Director of trade sales for Scenic Joseph Grimley said: “Our agents are requesting dates for new bookings and importantly re-booking for further afield and I am thrilled to be able to bring the 2022 programme to market so far ahead of schedule.

“The future dates allow our valued agent partners to provide their customers with greater flexibility of itineraries, dates and cabins, but also the confidence to book a future cruise today thanks to our Deposit Protection Plan which allows guests to change their travel dates or itinerary up to 90 days before departure.”

Passengers who book by 30 September 2020 will also receive £1,200 savings per couple, plus complimentary door-to-door chauffeur-driven transfers. There’s also a saving of £125 per person to be had if the cruise is paid in full before 31 October 2021.