Cruises

APT and Gourmet Traveller launch reader cruises

Kicking off in February 2018, six exclusive tours will take Gourmet Traveller readers far and wide, delivering exceptional service, fine dining and, of course, a first-class travel experience.

Last year we released our inaugural Cruising Special in honour of Australia's growing appetite for exploring the high seas.
This year, we're following up with another truly exciting first: a partnership between APT and Gourmet Traveller that will see us co-host six river tours in 2018.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, APT has undoubtedly changed the way we travel. A family run business, Geoff McGeary turned a suburban bus company into a global travel empire, taking a risk on river cruising in the early 2000s. It paid off. Today APT operates 18 luxury ships on the rivers of Europe and Asia, all with the same motto: exceed expectations. 
The APT and Gourmet Traveller tours will aim to follow suit, showcasing a diverse and exciting array of river cruising destinations at their finest, while also inviting readers to join the Gourmet Traveller team on what will surely be a memorable expedition.
THE 2018 APT AND GOURMET TRAVELLER PROGRAM
Tour 1: 13 Day Vietnam & Cambodia Highlights (Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City)
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Departure date: 2 February 2018 Highlights: Enjoy a degustation dinner at Ho Chi Minh City's Xu Restaurant inspired by APT Ambassador Luke Nguyen; journey to Ba Ria and learn about the Battle of Long Tan; learn how Vietnamese rice paper is made; take a rickshaw ride around Tan Chau; discover the World Heritage-listed Temple of Ta Prohm; partake in an authentic Buddhist blessing at the Monastery of Oudong. Price:** From $6,395pp
Tour 2: 13 Day Highlights of the Danube (Budapest to Prague)
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Departure date: 11 April 2018 Highlights: Explore Budapest's Great Market Hall; enjoy a private classical concert at the City Palace; take in Vienna's striking architecture; visit Slovakia's capital, Bratislava, and see some of the architectural landmarks that were built during the city's time under Communist rule; stroll over Prague's gothic masterpiece, Charles Bridge, on the way to the Old Town Square; get a private tour of the Chateau Jemniště. Price:** From $7,295pp
Tour 3: 13 Day Best of China (Beijing to Shanghai)
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Departure date: 24 May 2018 Highlights: Explore the Imperial City; have a private lunch at the Great Wall of China; board a traditional vessel for a cruise around the Summer Palace in Beijing; cruise along the Yangtze River through the spectacular Three Gorges region; sample and learn how to make some delicious Shanghai dumplings. Price:** From $8,095pp
Tour 4:**12 Day The True Heart of Italy - Small Group Discovery (Rome to Venice)
**Departure date: 22 June 2018
Highlights: Take a trip to Rome's famous Trevi Fountain; sample Italy's iconic chocolate in Perugia; take a traditional Italian cooking lesson; enjoy your own private market and an exclusive brunch at Florence's Central Market; check out the local produce in Modena; travel via the dramatic landscapes of the world-famous Cinque Terre.
Price: From $8,895pp
Tour 5: 14 Day A Taste of Iberia - Small Ship Europe Cruise (London to Lisbon)
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Departure date: 24 September 2018 Highlights: Try the oysters at Cancale; enjoy an evening stroll in Bordeaux; visit Entre-Deux-Mers and Pomerol vineyards where Merlot grape dominates; discover A Coruna's food scene; explore a Portuguese family estate, where you will enjoy a local wine tasting and lunch; take a tour of Sintra. Price:** From $14,245pp
Tour 6: 15 Day Incredible India (Kochi to New Delhi)
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Departure date: 5 November 2018 Highlights: Learn how to prepare a traditional Keralan meal in Kumarakom, explore energetic Mumbai and the World Heritage-listed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus; wake up to breakfast overlooking the Aravali Ranges; enjoy lunch overlooking the Taj Mahal; explore the labyrinth of tiny lanes of Shahjahanabad in a rickshaw.  Price:** From $14,995pp
This article is presented by APT. More information about the 2018 APT and Gourmet Traveller tours will follow soon.