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Daily Telegraph
15 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
Review: APT Solara, a river ship that stands out from the crowd
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. To be or not to be a river ship – that is the question. When Australian-owned travel company APT approached the ambitious build of its new twin ships the Solara and Ostara, the brief was to create something dramatically different and see Europe through an Australian's eyes. Designed for the continent's busiest route from Amsterdam to Budapest, the luxurious Solara certainly stands out from the crowd. Despite having to adhere to the Danube's strict ship dimensions – there are 68 locks to navigate along the Rhine-Main-Danube route – the Solara offers surprising variety, and is contemporary and stylish with subtle nautical touches, including a chic French-navy exterior. Set the scene Checking into the airy atrium is a dreamy experience. High ceilings and a skylight open up the all-white space. There is a marble water station, a circular marble table and a tiled floor centrepiece in the dimensions of a compass. A dramatic macramé-like hanging rope sculpture descends from the ceiling into the softly curved stairwell, and the walls showcase original landscapes by artist Greg Wood and pieces curated by Melbourne gallery Otomys. The design was conceived by renowned Melbourne firm Hecker Guthrie (their first project on a ship), and influenced by APT's co-owners and siblings Lou Tandy and Rob McGeary. The designer furniture is whimsical and elegant but comfortable – think Gervasoni and Casini – and it has instant wow factor. If money was no object, this is how I'd love my home to look. We took a canal tour through Amsterdam. The itinerary While the Solara's 15-day itinerary will traverse the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, I'm only on board for four nights for the christening and 'shakedown' cruise. This is a test run of sorts, and we embark at Rotterdam under the Erasmus Bridge before sailing past green pastures and fields of wild yellow canola flowers to Kinderdijk to tour the idyllic working windmills (dating back to the 16th century). We dock overnight at quaint Dordrecht (one of the oldest cities in Holland), visit Lisse to catch the vivid annual spring tulip festival Keukenhof, and take a canal tour through Amsterdam, which is celebrating 750 years. Although the friendly crew is busily readying the final touches to the ship, and pumping out countless espressos from the shiny new La Marzocco coffee machine in The Salon, the whole thing feels flawless. With Solara's capacity for 154 guests (and 60 crew), no cabin feels like you are missing out. Picture: Supplied. The cabins There are three categories of suites: the plush Owner's Suites, the Balcony Suites and the wood-panelled Twin Window Suites, and each has a colour scheme inspired by the seasons. Thick carpets range from sage green for spring to dusky pink for autumn. Original prints of signature European shore excursions by Australian photographer Nick Wilkins (available to buy) adorn the walls and lend an antipodean lens. The bathrooms have an abundance of storage, enormous shower heads, floor-to-ceiling tiling and marble sink tops. Toiletries by sustainable Amsterdam brand Marie-Stella-Maris were sourced by Tandy herself. With Solara's capacity for 154 guests (and 60 crew), no cabin feels like you are missing out. Solara has seven bars and eateries, each of which feels like a top-notch restaurant or wine bar. Picture: Supplied. Food and drink Solara has seven bars and eateries, each of which feels like a top-notch restaurant or wine bar. Catering to Australian travellers who have curious palates and want variety and quality, APT engaged hospitality guru Monique Lane of Fellow Hospitality (collaborating with chef Stephen Seckold of House Made Hospitality). From the fare at Bistro Saison, to the degustation paired with top-notch wine in the Owner's Cellar, and the laid-back eats at Annie's Table (named for the owners' mother), the offerings are impressive. The Grüner Bar & Dining, which rises on hydraulics so it elevates above other ships in dock, is a surprising hit, with dishes such as pretzels with whipped ricotta and moreish focaccia with butter that melts in your mouth. All bread and pastries are baked on board daily, and the delicious ice-cream and gelato are handmade. It has a circular conversation pit around solar lanterns to resemble a campfire, a nod to APT's outback touring heritage. Picture: Supplied. The extras Along with a jewel-coloured spa/salon, gym, and daily shore excursions that are included, e-bikes for guests who want to explore independently are provided. The roof has a small circular heated pool and two levels for guests to enjoy, and the Daystar Deck is a standout. It has a circular conversation pit around solar lanterns to resemble a campfire, a nod to APT's outback touring heritage. A marble cooktop space functions as an outdoor bar and barbecue, lending an Australian touch. The Grüner Bar & Dining has a great menu and sitting in a vibing wine bar while enjoying the view is a highlight. Picture: Supplied. What's hot The Grüner Bar & Dining has a great menu (the fish finger sambo is the hot ticket) and sitting in a vibing wine bar while enjoying the view is a highlight. What's not The square pillows on my bed were uncomfortable, although I learned later they were delivered by mistake and had been replaced before the first guests arrived. Checking into the airy atrium is a dreamy experience. Picture: Supplied. The verdict - 10/10 While I didn't sail the full itinerary, it's impossible to fault Solara. It's the most stylish river ship I've set foot on – the combination of Australian design, food and thoughtful inclusions is impeccable. The writer was a guest of APT Luxury Travel. Its 15-day Magnificent Europe cruise on Solara and Ostara, sailing Budapest to Amsterdam, starts at around $8495 twin share. Originally published as Review: APT Solara stands out from the crowd
Travel Weekly
a day ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
The big travel brands diving into Europe river cruising
Clockwise from top right: Lisa Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Travel; host Rebecca Tobin and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman talk about the new developments in river cruising. Subscribe now using your favorite service: Today is all about travel brands making an entry into Europe river cruising. We've been surprised this year by the number of established names moving in to the Rhine, Danube and beyond: Celebrity, Trafalgar and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions among them. With Lisa Fitzgerald, a river-cruise expert advisor and founder of Fitzgerald Travel, and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman, we're exploring why each of these brands is approaching river, and how they're doing it in different ways. We'll also look at the popularity of emerging destinations around the world, and numbers from Viking, the biggest river cruise line. We also talk about Brinley's trip on Riverside Luxury Cruises - this episode was recorded in mid-May, so that trip has already concluded, and we've included some of her reporting in the show notes. This episode was edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands. At the end of this episode, stay on for a special, bonus discussion about the latest from the Globus Family of Brands between Camille Olivere, Globus' chief sales officer, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing partnerships for Northstar Travel Group, Travel Weekly's parent company. Related reports Trafalgar's river cruise debut is seen as just a first step Lindblad, Trafalgar, Waldorf: More companies are attracted to river cruising River cruise lines are excited that Celebrity is wading into the business -- why? No slowing down for river cruising: 2026 looks better than 2025 Dispatch, Riverside Debussy: An indulgent, fine-dining experience Fitzgerald Travel
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Best shows to watch: money and marriage in The Gilded Age; sexy reality TV dating double
From period dramas and reality TV dating shows to travelogues and Oscar-winning movies, there's something for everyone on TV and streaming this week. THE GILDED AGE Monday, Paramount+ Fittingly for a period drama set in an era of immense social and economic change, this third season opens with sisters Ada and Agnes (Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski) struggling to accept their new roles in society and in their own home. After years of being her wealthy socialite sister's plus one at events, the recently widowed Ada now finds herself the one with the invitations and the clout. For Agnes – whose sense of self and purpose is tied to her status – being forced down the pecking order is a shock to the system. On the other side of the street, the new moneyed Bertha (Carrie Coon) continues her ambitious ascent with a plot to marry off her daughter to a cash-strapped duke. Unfortunately for Bertha, her daughter has her heart set on marrying for love and not social climbing. Much like Julian Fellowes' other beloved franchise, Downton Abbey, this series is an addictive glimpse at a bygone time that offers bitingly current social commentary. JOANNA LUMLEY'S DANUBE Thursday, 8pm ABC With a voice as soothing as it is joyful and the inquisitive and courageous spirit of a great explorer, Joanna Lumley takes viewers on yet another globetrotting adventure. This time she's traversing along the Danube. While she may be best known as the beehived, chain-smoking Patsy, the real Lumley is far more down-to-earth than her iconic Absolutely Fabulous alter ego and, at 79 years of age, she remains youthfully eager to learn and take on new experiences. Dressed in sensible trousers and shoes, Lumley tours Germany, sharing historical insights and learning about cuckoo-clock-making with genuine wonder. Just like David Attenborough, Lumley is an inspirational tour guide. WE WERE LIARS Prime Video Just like Revenge, Sirens and the Perfect Couple before it, this thriller unfolds in the summer playground of a wealthy family where, beneath their seemingly glossy lifestyle there is a nasty rot of dysfunction. Here we have the tight-knit foursome of Cadence, Gat, Johnny and Mirren (Emily Alyn Lind, Shubham Maheshwari, Joseph Zada and Esther McGreggor) who have always enjoyed carefree family vacations together at on the family island until one terrible summer when Cadence is found washed up on the beach. With no memory of how she wound up in the ocean, Cadence slowly begins to piece together what happened. MOONBIRD Thursday, 8.30PM, NITV & SBS On Demand The untamed beauty of Tassie certainly seems to be taking centre stage in many productions these days. Used as a backdrop for the Netflix mystery The Survivors and the ABC drama Bay of Fires, Tasmania's windswept countryside is also used to stunning effect in this film about an estranged father and son (Kyle Morrisson and Lennox Monaghan) trying to reconnect on a weekend away. Recently sober, the father is eager to bond with his son while doing some traditional mutton-birding on a remote Tasmanian Island. Upon discovering the island's native fauna is all but gone it reopens old wounds and bad habits, derailing plans for an idyllic reunion. THE SURFER Stan Twenty odd years ago Nicolas Cage arrived in Australia to film one of the first and lesser-known Marvel films, Ghost Rider. Back then the Oscar-winner was still a bankable box office star. When Cage returned to our shores this time to film this psychological thriller, he, much like the man he portrays, isn't quite the guy he used to be. About to get divorced, Cage's character returns to the small town where he grew up looking to reclaim his lost youth (and the family he neglected in order to further his career). Far from it being a happy homecoming, the man goes to war with a group of local yobbos and their creepy leader (Julian McMahon) and slowly begins to unravel. STRANDED ON HONEYMOON ISLAND Monday, 7.30pm, Channel 7 'Somewhere, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 12 Aussie singles are leaving the toxic world of modern dating behind,' we are told by Jackie O in her opening narration. Instead, professionally-matched participants are marooned (in full wedding finery) with a stranger for 21 days. There are no phones. No luxuries. No support network of family or friends. Only each other … and the cameras. Jackie promises that this new reality show will be an 'experience unlike any other' but essentially it is a strangely compelling mash-up of Married At First Sight and Survivor. Together in the tropics, the pressure of getting to know one another is magnified. And for the bigger personalities of the group – Amy and Mike – that leads to inevitable power struggles. OPEN HOUSE: THE GREAT SEX EXPERIMENT Streaming Tuesday, 6pm, 7Plus There's a lot more to being polyamorous than throwing your car keys in a bowl for a night of frolicking between the sheets with like-minded folk. At a luxury retreat housing a swag of swinging singles, couples flirting with opening their relationships decide (with some expert advice from clinical psychologist Lori Beth Bisbey as well as poolside cocktails and some saucy party games) whether to invite a third – or even fourth – person into their bed. It's a big decision. And not one that everyone can handle. A cocktail of Love Island and MAFS, this British reality series puts monogamy to the ultimate test and features some larger-than-life personalities. AUSTRALIA'S MOST IDENTICAL Tuesday, 7.30pm, Channel 9 After Bridgette and Paula Powers, 51, became viral internet sensations for their unintentionally hilarious interview about a Sunshine Coast carjacking, comes this search for Australia's most identical set of twins. You'd think (after seeing Powers sisters speaking in unison and wearing matching garb) that search is already over because the in-synch pair would have this title in the bag. But this series proves that there's a lot of other matching duos who look – and talk – alike. So, what sets one set apart from the rest? Gold Logie winner Scotty Cam and Olympian Jana Pittman (who are each parents of twins themselves) join experts to put 100 pairs of twins through their paces. First up, a game of 'would you rather?' to see how aligned they are in their core values. ANORA Streaming, Binge Even If, like me, you still feel Hollywood OG Demi Moore was robbed of her Oscar by up-and-comer Mikey Madison (which was sort of like life imitating art for The Substance star), this film is worth a look. Madison plays the titular Anora 'Ani' Mikheeva. Ani is a New York stripper who is coerced into a quickie marriage by a wealthy client while on a bender with him in Vegas. Believing the man's feelings for her are sincere and hoping the marriage will provide an exit strategy from the daily bump and grind, she says 'I do'. Far from being her happily ever after, Ani finds herself facing off with her playboy husband's family who are powerful figures in the Russian underworld. MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Tuesday, 7.30PM, Channel 10 & 10 Play Hot on the heels of Nornie Bero's visit to the kitchen on Monday (where she shared some of her wisdom about cooking with Indigenous ingredients before setting a Pressure Test drawing on the lessons she imparted), comes Curtis Stone. Now based in the US with his Beverly Hills 90210 wife Lindsay Price, Stone has jetted back to Australia to put the latest batch of contestants through their paces with his signature (easygoing but laser-focused) approach to cooking. The laid-back chef challenges four contestants to recreate his Herb Ricotta Raviolo with Braised Lamb. And yes, it's as tricky as it sounds. The person whose dish looks (and tastes) the least like Stone's original dish will be sent packing. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT … In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Scarlett Johansson confessed that making this movie with Bill Murray wasn't easy. 'Everybody was on tenterhooks around him, including our director and the full crew, because he was dealing with his … stuff' the star divulged. Director Sofia Coppola wrote the character of Bob (a movie star having a midlife crisis) specifically for Murray and spent a year lobbying the reclusive Ghostbusters star into doing it. Loosely inspired by Coppola's feelings of displacement while working in Japan in her 20s, the film explores a platonic romance between Bob and a disenchanted student (Johansson) while they are both at loose ends in Tokyo. Despite his negativity on set, Murray was nominated for an Oscar for his performance while Coppola won for her screenplay.
Travel Weekly
11-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
ASTA executive Sarah Little will be godmother to AmaWaterways ship
AmaWaterways announced that Sarah Little of the American Society of Travel Advisors will be godmother to a new ship. Sarah Little The river cruise line named Little godmother of the AmaSofia, which will sail the Danube beginning next year. The christening ceremony is slated for next March during the ASTA River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam. Little, ASTA's senior vice president of business development, was chosen due to her "unwavering support of the advisor community and her deep-rooted passion for the industry," said Kristin Karst, AmaWaterways' co-founder and chief brand ambassador. "It will be incredibly meaningful to christen AmaSofia in front of more than 1,600 travel advisors during ASTA's River Cruise Expo. There couldn't be a more fitting setting or audience for this special celebration," Karst said. The river cruise line said that Little's "enthusiasm for storytelling and commitment to building meaningful connections reflect the very essence of river cruising with AmaWaterways." "Being part of this journey with AmaWaterways, a company that shares ASTA's commitment to supporting travel advisors, is very meaningful to me," Little said. "I look forward to christening AmaSofia alongside so many of my fellow advisors at ASTA's River Cruise Expo and celebrating the future of travel together." The AmaSofia will cruise seven-night itineraries on the Danube, including Melodies of the Danube and Romantic Danube. The vessel will be the brand's 10th ship on the Danube.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Daily Mail
The cheapest underrated city in Europe revealed - with flights under £17
A team of travel experts have revealed the cheapest and most underrated city to visit in Europe and Brits can get there for under £17. And it's Linz, a city in northern Austria, which is Europe's best cheap hidden gem, according to a study that looked at average Google searches across the UK in the last 12 months to find out where the continent's most underrated destinations are. Austria's third-largest city, Linz sits on the banks of the Danube River and has an attractive old town. Linz Castle is one of the city's top attractions, located at the heart of its historic centre. Tourists will find a museum inside where they can learn more about the region's culture. A visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: 'A beautiful museum with an impressive location in Linz Castle. The exhibitions are diverse, exciting and very well curated - from nature to technology and art.' Don't miss the Mariendom church in the Old Town, which is Austria's largest church. The striking building was finished in 1924 and can accommodate 20,000 people. Visitors can also climb to the top of the spire to enjoy panoramic views of Linz from above. Kids will love Linz's Grottenbahn, a dragon-themed train adventure that takes tourists through a miniature world. One visitor described it as a 'magical fairytale world for young and old' while another said it was very 'cute'. When it comes to eating out, there's one sweet dish that's a must-try. The city's Linzer Torte is a pastry with a lattice crust, almond filling and redcurrant jam. The experts at Holidu, the company who conducted the research, found one-way flights for under £17 and with low Google searches for the destination, tourists aren't likely to have to fight off crowds while they're there. A Holidu spokesperson says: 'This ancient city, named the European Capital of Culture in 2009, is particularly known for its history and culture.' But Linz is also a fantastic base from which to explore the rest of Austria. Holidu recommends visiting Hallstatt, famed as the location of the castle that inspired Disney's Frozen, and Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace, both of which are less than two hours away from Linz. After Linz, the next best underrated destination in in Europe, according to the study, is Poitiers in France. Brits can fly to Poitiers for just £15. Holidu describes the city's old town as a 'must-visit' due to its 'rich history' and 'Romanesque architecture'. Holidu found one-way flights for under £17 and with low Google searches for the destination, tourists aren't likely to have to fight off crowds while they're there And if you're not looking to travel far this summer, the third underrated destination on the list could be the perfect spot for you. Kerry in Ireland can be reached for under £15 and is bound to 'impress with its stunning and dramatic landscapes', says Holidu. At the other end of the scale Dublin, Paris and Barcelona are the most-searched for destinations by British tourists. Alicante, Tenerife, Malaga and Malta are also popular choices with Brits looking for a summer break.
