Ride like royalty on the Mississippi
American Queen cruise on a steamboat evokes images of times past
River cruising is all the rage these days and Europe is the top draw for many. But if you’re looking for something with a little less jet lag and a whole lot of soul, Avalon Waterways is offering sailings on the 436-passenger American Queen river steamboat along that famous waterway in the U.S., the mighty Mississippi.
The 12-day trips include two nights in Nashville, one night in New Orleans and a seven-night sailing out of Memphis to ports of call including Helena, Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville and Baton Rouge, with plenty of Civil War history and tours of antebellum homes along the way.
Avalon has put the March 21 departure on sale with a savings of 20 per cent, for a lead-in rate of $3,812 per person, double occupancy for an outside stateroom, including all meals, wine and beer with dinner and shore excursions. Bookings must be made by Feb. 12. See avalonwaterways.ca.
PORTUGAL ON SALE
JM Vacations has packaged two nights in Lisbon with seven, 14 or 21 nights in the sunny Algarve, for a starting price of $868 per person including flights with Air Transat, sub-compact rental car with unlimited kilometres, and hotel taxes and service charges. The $868 lead-in rate applies to the nine-night Feb. 3 package, with other nine-night dates available for between $918 and $1,168.
Meanwhile the 16-night trips start at $1,148 and the 23-night trips, from $1,428. Accommodation in Lisbon is at the four-star, centrally located Hotel Mundial, and in the
DISCOVER TABOO
BEST BUY OF THE WEEK
Algarve, the featured resort is the Cerro Mar Atlantico, offering selfcatering apartments overlooking the pool and the old town in Albufeira. Airport taxes ($363) are extra. See jmvacations.ca.
Muskoka’s Taboo Resort is now open year-round for the first time since 2002, and with the new season comes the Discover Taboo package, offering overnight accommodation for two plus a $50 credit for use at the spa (also new) or Elements restaurant. Prices start at $185 per couple. The 85-room resort boasts gas fireplaces, deep soaking tubs and views of Lake Muskoka, plus cross-country skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, skating and snowmobiling. See tabooresort.com. Sunquest’s Tax Buster Sale, worth up to $1,100 per couple, applies to all 2013 seven- and 11-night Mediterra- nean cruises, and comes with a free upgrade to an ocean-view balcony stateroom, plus Sunquest will cover your fuel surcharge and fees. Sister company ALBATours is also offering the Tax Buster Sale, valid on 2013 escorted coach tours in Italy with savings of up to $500 couple. For both deals bookings must be made by Jan. 31. See sunquest.ca or albatours.com. Kathryn Folliott