ORIENT-EXPRESS SHOWCASES TRAIN, BARGE AND CRUISE TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD FOR 2009

London - October 20, 2008: Highlighting the romance of luxury travel by train, barge and boat, Orient-Express Trains and Cruises has released its 2009 brochure. With itineraries, photos and descriptive information consolidated into one portfolio, the brochure is easier to read than ever and covers journeys and experiences in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.

For the first time, luxury barge trips with Afloat in France are featured in the brochure and the totally reconditioned river cruiser, The Road To Mandalay, is reintroduced. The new brochure highlights the diverse range of luxurious and unique experiences on land and water throughout the world.

The Great European Journeys of Orient-Express
More than a mere train journey, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, with original 1920s and 30s carriages, threads its way through majestic scenery en route to Europe’s most dynamic capitals from London to Istanbul. This is train travel at its best and it is a destination all on its own. The new brochure highlights The Classic Journey between London and Venice (starting at $7,550 per person) and The Historic Journey between Paris and Istanbul (starting at $9,190), both of which include stays at legendary hotels such as the Hotel Cipriani in Venice. Journeys into Central Europe with visits to Vienna, Krakow, Budapest, Bucharest and Prague are also featured.

The Great Asian Journeys of Orient-Express
On the other side of the globe, the Eastern & Oriental Express, the finest train in Asia, runs through the lush beauty of the Malay Peninsula, from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, into Thailand to Bangkok, and on to Chiang Mai and Vientiane. The classic journey between Bangkok and Singapore can be combined with stays at top hotels such as The Oriental and Raffles (starting at $4,285 per person for an eight-day itinerary). Guests can cover a range of routes, some with side trips to Laos and Cambodia, where temples and other treasures of the region are highlights of the tour.

The Royal Scotsman, British Pullman and Northern Belle
Meanwhile, back in the U.K., the spectacle of Scotland’s wilderness unfolds as The Royal Scotsman wends its way through Lowlands and Highlands with a choice of itineraries departing from Edinburgh (starting at $3,610 per person). Fully owned by Orient-Express, The Royal Scotsman combines fine dining with Edwardian furnishings and extraordinary scenery in a step back in time. A new “Country Homes & Gardens of Scotland Journey” includes stops at some of the finest estates and gardens in the country combined with the ruggedly beautiful scenery outside the train window.

The new brochure also contains information on the stylish British Pullman and Northern Belle trains which feature day excursions and short travel experiences across the UK. The Northern Belle covers highlights of England (such as York and Chester) and Scotland (Edinburgh) in seven days. The British Pullman offers day excursions departing from London Victoria to such cities as Bath and York.

Afloat in France
Orient-Express complements its extensive program of train travel with luxury Afloat in France barge trips along the canals and past the vineyards and villages of Burgundy, Provence and the Loire Valley. A standout of the program, back for the second year, is a unique seven-day experience for wine connoisseurs called the “Semaine des Grand Crus,” with tours, tastings and winemaker dinners, departing from Paris on July 19, 2009. The trip combines the TGV to Macon with a cruise through Burgundy aboard the Napoleon, a beautifully appointed Afloat in France barge ($7,800 per person).

The Road to Mandalay
Totally repaired and reconditioned after a cyclone in 1998, The Road to Mandalay will again cruise the rivers of Myanmar starting on August 26, 2009. Four-, five- and eight-day journeys are available introducing guests to the country’s history and culture. A full Road to Mandalay brochure will follow in late 2008.

To know more, visit www.orient-express.com or call toll-free (800) 524 2420.

October 20, 2008   Posted in: Airlines & Railways