Grand Circle Cruise Line Acquires the River Cloud II

BOSTON, March 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Vince Cook, CEO of Grand Circle Cruise Line, the leader in small ship and river cruising worldwide, announced today that the fleet has acquired the River Cloud II,  a 90-passenger ship that will operate Grand Circle Cruise Line's new river cruise tour in Bordeaux beginning in March 2015.  Renamed the M/S Chanson, the river ship was acquired for an undisclosed price from Sea Cloud Cruises. "We are delighted to add the Chanson to our award-winning fleet," said Cook.  "With its capacity of just 90 passengers, our new ship can enter small ports that are inaccessible to larger ships, allowing our travelers to explore small villages and towns, engage with local people, and experience the daily life of a community.  These are the experiences our travelers want in small ship travel, and we are extremely happy to offer this in a brand new river cruise in one of the most beautiful parts of the world."

The Chanson will provide an intimate cruising experience for just two groups of no more than 45 travelers, each with its own expert resident Program Director.   The ship has 47 cabins—all with private baths, flat-screen color TV with DVD player, radio, telephone, in-room safe, and individual hearing and air conditioning controls; dining room with informal, single seating; lounge; bar; small library; teak-covered sun deck, and an English-speaking ship staff.

Grand Circle Cruise Line's new 13-day Bordeaux: Vineyards, Vintages & Chateaux begins at $2595 and explores Paris, Chartres, Amboise, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Cadillac, Pauillac, Blaye, Libourne, and Saint Emilion.   The cruise tour includes: Accommodations (1 night at the Pullman Paris Montparnasse or similar in Paris, France; 2 nights at the Novotel Amboise hotel or similar in Amboise, France; 2 nights at the Best Western Masqhotel in La Rochelle, France); and 7 nights aboard the Chanson; 29 meals: (12B, 8L, 9D, with complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks  during lunch and dinner onboard); 8 tours;  Exclusive Discovery Series events; Personal headset on all included and optional tours during the cruise; services of a resident Program Director (assigned to no more than 45 travelers); Captain's Welcome Reception, Welcome Dinner, and Farewell Dinner; 5% Frequent Traveler Credit applicable towards one's next Grand Circle trip;  Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips; and all port charges and gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers.   

Travelers may choose to purchase Grand Circle's airfare, with airport transfers and government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges included, or they can make their own air arrangements.  Tours include Chartres, Amboise, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Cadillac, Pauillac, Blaye, and Saint-Emilion, and Discovery Series events range from a French language lesson and French cooking demonstration to visits to an oyster farm and to the home of a local family.

Established in 1998 with a single river cruise ship, today Grand Circle Cruise Line has dozens of river ships and small ships, including 15 privately-owned river ships, three, 4-star plus 50 passenger ships that operate in the Mediterranean, and exclusive charters.  More than 79,000 travelers have sailed with Grand Circle Cruise Line in the past two years, including more than 19,000 solo travelers. Grand Circle Cruise Line anticipates 40,000 travelers in 2014, including more than 12,000 solo travelers attracted by Grand Circle's comprehensive solo friendly policies and programs.

For more information about the M/S Chanson and Grand Circle Cruise Lines's new Bordeaux: Vineyards, Vintages & Chateaux cruise tour, please call 1-800-221-2610.  

About Grand Circle Cruise Line
Established in 1998, Grand Circle Cruise Line offers 15 river cruises and cruise tours throughout Europe and Russia as well as eight small ship cruise tours to Burma, Antarctica, Panama, the Dalmatian Coast, Greece and the Greek Islands, the Aegean, Adriatic and beyond..  The cruise line is a division of Grand Circle Corporation, which also is comprised of Overseas Adventure Travel (est, 1978) and Grand Circle Travel (est. 1958).  Grand Circle has 42 offices worldwide and approximately 2,500 associates, guides, and crew serving more than 110,000 travelers per year.  Since 1992, the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation has donated or pledged more than $97M to more than 300 humanitarian, cultural, and educational organizations in 50 countries, including 100 schools in 30 countries.   

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SOURCE Grand Circle Cruise Line