Avalon Waterways Unveils Wide Variety of Active River Cruises

Avalon Waterways takes passengers to gorgeous towns, such as Cochem on the Moselle River in Germany. // Images courtesy Avalon Waterways

By John Roberts 
The rivers of Europe offer limitless opportunities for exploration and adventure. And Avalon Waterways continues to craft an excursion program built around thrilling experiences that give travelers a truly unique look at all the special destinations in each country along your route have to offer. 
Cruisers can stir-up a dish passed down through generations or try a painting class that lets them inhabit the spirit of the masters. Or, you can begin the day with a morning guided sightseeing walk or paddle amid stunning river scenery, pedal around historic cityscapes or chill-out during a wine tasting.  
How about wandering the halls of history or shuffling through the ruins of an ancient castle?  
On Avalon Waterways' Active & Discovery cruises, featuring Avalon Choice excursions, every day will be an adventure. In 2022, Avalon Waterways is offering Active & Discovery cruises on the Rhine, Moselle, Rhone and Seine Rivers and the waterways of Holland and Belgium, as well as its popular program on the Danube River. 
Since launching Active & Discovery cruises on the Danube River in 2017, Avalon Waterways has added these popular itineraries to every major European waterway it sails, increasing its offerings by 600 percent. In 2022, the cruise line is offering travelers six Active & Discovery itineraries with 47 departures. 
"Untethered and full of opportunities to infuse interests and passions into each cruise, our Active & Discovery vacations feature extraordinary -- included -- activities that give travelers the choices they crave," said Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways. "On these one-of-a-kind cruises, every day, travelers can choose from a selection of included Active, Discovery and Classic excursions." 
Hoffee said the cruise itineraries offer an average of 22 unique Avalon Choice excursions.  
Take a look at the program for 2022: 
The new eight-day Moselle River itinerary features 21 Avalon Choice excursions, including: 
Active: 
Paddle a canoe on the mighty Moselle River; 
Hike up to Landshut Castle in Bernkastel; 
Bike through the Moselle Valley near Cochem; 
Soar over Rudesheim on an open-air cable car and hike through the vineyards. 
Discovery: 
Enjoy a wine-tasting experience in the Moselle Valley; 
Take a walk through history, visiting one of Germany's oldest mustard mills; 
Visit a famous brewery in Koblenz and taste classic brews; 
Meet with an apple farmer and walk through the family's orchard. 
Classic: 
Walk the winding streets of Cochem and spend the afternoon at Reichsburg Castle; 
Visit the medieval marketplace of Bernkastel; 
Take a guided tour of the famous Frankenstein castle.

Avalon's new nine-day Seine cruise features 23 Avalon Choice excursions, including: 
Active: 
Spend the day biking in Le Havre; 
Kayak along the Seine river, near Rouen; 
Hike up to the castle ruins of Chateau Gaillard, the historic home of Richard the Lionheart; 
Take an e-bike tour to the Chateau de Maisons-Lafitte. 
Discovery: 
Enjoy a cocktail workshop in Palais Benedictine where world-famous Benedictine liquor is made; 
Discover the legends of the haunted Abbey de Mortemere; 
Learn about the Normandy cheese trail and taste traditional pastries; 
Visit Chantilly Castle where the experts of the Confrerie des Chevaliers Fouetteurs de creme Chantilly will help you prepare Chantilly cream. 
Classic: 
Visit the WWII landing beaches of Normandy and the American Cemetery; 
Learn the history of Joan of Arc on a walking tour of Rouen; 
Walk in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise.

Active & Discovery cruises are also at the center of the company's new Storyteller Series of sailings, featuring celebrity hosts.  
Candace Bushnell is hosting "Sex & the City of Lights" -- an Active & Discovery program on the Seine, departing on July 19, 2022; Cheryl Strayed is hosting "Wild & Whimsy on the Water" -- an Active & Discovery sailing on the Danube, departing on July 21, 2022; Gillian Flynn is hosting "Gone Girl!" -- an Active & Discovery cruise on the Danube, departing on September 15, 2022; and Edwin McCain is hosting "I'll Be . . . Romancing the Rhine" on the Rhine itinerary, departing on May 3, 2022.  
Active & Discovery sailings include more excursions -- at the same cost -- as other river cruise itineraries, Hoffee said.  
“They are the perfect choice for travelers who have a diverse set of interests; those who want to customize their vacation; those returning to a river for a new experience and multi-generational travelers with different passions and pace levels," Hoffee said.

Thanks for reading,
JR