Russian Waterways cruise operators have partnered with Imperial River Cruises and Orthodox Cruise Company to form World Quest Cruises, the newest river cruise brand. To assist in launching and providing significant North American sales, marketing and call center support for the new brand, World Quest Cruises will partner with Global Voyages Group of Bellevue, Wash.
"These include river cruising on the waterways of Russia and Ukraine, the Douro River of Portugal, the Mekong River of Vietnam as well as the highly sought after expedition cruising destinations of the North Pole and Antarctica,” said Alexander Bout, president World Quest Cruises.
The Douro River in Portugal has been garnering a great deal of attention lately. In November, it was selected by our readers as one of the top destinations to watch in our Trending Destinations poll on social media.
RELATED: Travel Agent's Trending Destinations of 2013
The 2014 product offerings for World Quest Cruises include several vessels in operation on the waterways of Russia and Ukraine. Program lengths range from 9 days/8 nights to 20 days/19 nights, with cruise-only prices starting at just $2,100 per person double occupancy (plus port taxes and fuel surcharges). On Portugal’s Douro River, World Quest Cruises guests will be treated to a series of 10-day/9-night cruises on the beautiful Douro Princess with prices starting at $3,100 per person double occupancy. On Vietnam and Cambodia’s Mekong River, guests will enjoy an 11-day/10-night itinerary with prices starting at $2,750 per person double occupancy, on the Mekong Prestige.
In July, Mekong was one of the rivers that attracted more cruise line interest and new vessels; the other was Irrawady river. In a poll by American Express travel agents, 27 percent said Cambodia and Vietnam on the Mekong as "unexpected destinations" for increasing consumer interest.
RELATED: Cruise Sales 2014 - Top 5 Factors to Watch
Beginning in spring 2015, World Quest Cruises will begin offering exclusive 12-day/11-night Russian Waterways programs between Moscow and St. Petersburg aboard the beautiful 100-passenger Princess Anabella. This boutique ship will be completely refurbished for this program and will be one of the very finest ships operating in this destination. Prices for this program start at $4,495 (plus port taxes and fuel surcharges).