VANCOUVER — Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has announced its 2021 river cruise offerings featuring two 12-day culinary themed itineraries in France.

In addition, travellers who book early can enjoy either a free economy roundtrip air or reduced fares of $295 or $495 per person, depending on itinerary, when booked by May 3, 2020. Solo travellers will receive 50% off the single supplements on select sailings, while guests who book their own flights will receive air credits of $450 to $1,000 per person.

Here are some highlights:

FRANCE

Guests wanting to explore France’s culinary delights can opt for the 12-day ‘tAstes of Southern France’ tour, priced from $8,570 per person, double before the savings. Also available is the 12-day ‘Flavors of Bordeaux’, priced from $8,270 (also before the savings). Both itineraries include one pre-cruise night in Paris and train transport to the ship. Highlights in southern France include truffle hunting, a cooking demonstration at the Georges Blanc restaurant in Mâcon, a meal cooked by Michelin-star Chef Didier Goiffon, a blind wine tasting, and shopping for local ingredients with the ship’s chef before a dedicated cooking demonstration.

Guests on the Bordeaux sailing can enjoy an array of fine wines and food, go cycling through the vineyards of Sauternes, taste the Grand Cru wines of Château Lafaurie Peyraguey and brandies of Remy Martin, enjoy a wine and cheese pairing experience, discover the history of foie gras during a farm visit, and shop with the chef for local ingredients to use in a Scenic Culinaire class.

IMPERIAL EUROPE

Also new is the five-day ‘Tastes of Imperial Europe’ tour featuring two days each in Vienna and Budapest, with a day in Bratislava in between. Guests can visit Vienna’s State Opera, St. Stephens Cathedral and Schönbrunn Palace. Budapest’s attractions include the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Hospital in the Rock, the Szechenyi Bath, and a private classical music concert at the 18th-century Gödöllö Palace. Fares start at $2,895 per person, double.

THE RHINE

Guests booking the eight-day ‘Tulips or Rhine Highlights’ itineraries can opt to add a new four-day city stay in Bruges as one of 20 add-on possibilities, spanning from London, Paris, Switzerland, and Madrid.

CRUISE GUARANTEE

Scenic’s river cruise guarantee automatically covers every guest from the start of their cruise for delays or cancellations due to weather, natural disasters, mechanical breakdowns, labour strikes, and high/low water issues. Approved claimants will receive direct monetary refunds, up to $1,000 per day, with a maximum of seven days or $7,000 per guest, rather than the industry standard of future cruise credits.

To download the recently released 2021 Preview Brochure go to scenic.ca.