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A Look at the River Cruise Experience with Avalon Waterways

5/28/2020

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Picture
Courtesy of Avalon Waterways
By John Roberts
Cruising without the crowds.
It's something that I've always preferred.
Now, it seems like this style of travel will be the most palatable choice for many cruise lovers as we navigate a new world and embrace innovative and creative ways to explore in healthy, safe and responsible ways.
River cruising has grown by 250 percent during the past decade as more travelers are turned on to the intimate, fun, flexible and immersive experiences that it offers.
Avalon Waterways has been among the leaders in offering special itineraries throughout Europe and Asia. The line says its voyages provide an unforgettable fusion of distinctive sights, colorful cultures and enduring traditions while sailing aboard innovative and award-winning Suite Ships.
"Our guests know that it's possible to cruise without a crowd, explore new cultures with ease and sail in intimate settings," said Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways.
"Aboard our spacious, state-of-the-art Suite Ships, travelers enjoy the company of an expert cruise director, appealing crew-to-passenger ratios, the personalized attention they deserve and seamless dock-and-go sightseeing with insider tips and experiences only the locals can provide.

"River cruising is the perfect way to see and explore the world."
So, what makes river cruising so special? Avalon Waterways lays out six reasons this travel style should appeal to people seeking a more curated, flexible and intimate adventure.

Sensible Size: It matters. River cruise vessels are built to slowly navigate and explore the world's great rivers. Ships pull into port amid storybook settings. They sail under centuries' old bridges and squeeze between 12-meter-wide locks. Avalon Waterways' ships serve as quaint floating boutique hotels, carrying an average of 150 guests, with ships cruising in Asia much, much smaller. Suite Ships on the Mekong River, for instance, have just 18 staterooms, accommodating 36 cruisers.
Travelers on these voyages share a passion for exploration, and fellow passengers become fast friends while enjoying intense discovery in fantastic destinations.
On every ship, the average passenger-to-crew ratio is 3:1, which means you get personalized attention from staff and officers who are happy to engage and help with personal requests to make your experience special.

Scenic Shores: River cruises wind and bend through the heart of fascinating countries providing a panoramic view of the Old World. Because you are always within a few feet of shore on a river vessel, travelers pass clifftop castles, hillside vineyards, ancient villages and gorgeous capital cities. You have quick and easy access to ports-of-call, day and night.

Hassle-Free Daily Activities: River cruise itineraries are destination-focused, with expert guides coming directly from the communities leading daily excursions. These passionate guides help travelers experience -- and connect more fully -- with the destinations. Most river cruise itineraries also venture to off-the-beaten-path attractions, visiting small fairytale villages, quaint town squares and family owned wineries, bakeries and restaurants.
Avalon Waterways' excursions typically accommodate no more than 30 people at a time, providing every traveler an immersive and authentic experience.

A Breath of Fresh Air: On board Avalon's innovative Suite Ships, passengers on two full decks are make their homes in 200-square-foot Panorama Suites, each featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that open 7-feet wide. This wall of glass converts into an open-air balcony. Plus, every Deluxe Stateroom and Panorama Suite offers guests natural light and most feature beds facing the views for which river cruising is famous.
Public areas also provide plenty of space to move around, as well as providing great vantage points to take in the views. And, the ships' top area Sky Decks run the length and width of each vessel. These areas are our favorite places for a morning workout, daily walks and just sitting back in the lounge chairs and enjoying a beer or cocktail in the fresh air and sunshine.

A Positive Impact: Avalon engages with communities by hiring drivers, guides and operators for land activities. This "give back" mentality extends to the purchase of produce, wines, beers and even bread, further connecting travelers to people, places and culture.
River cruising benefits exclusively because of the vibrant and beautiful natural surroundings of the world's rivers. So, of course, it is up to river cruise companies to preserve the precious environment and limit their footprint. Avalon Waterways says it takes great strides to improve monitoring and measurement to reduce its environmental impact, to save water, to limit waste and to foster a sustainability culture among its crew and passengers.
This work includes supporting Ocean Cleanup in its unprecedented efforts to clean up the world's rivers and oceans.

Staying Ship-Shape: The world has changed for travelers, but it's refreshing to see that some companies are striving to keep cruising safe and enjoyable. Avalon Waterways has developed its new Avalon Assurance program, with help from its Global Health and Safety team, dedicated to ensuring that the cleanliness of all operations exceeds today's standards -- throughout your entire journey.
This new health program features seven major categories and protocols that span across the passenger experience touch-points -- and all of these items are being shared, explored, reviewed and renewed continuously.

Thanks for reading,
JR
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Avalon Waterways’ Danube Cruises Stop at Lesser-Visited Ports

4/27/2020

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Golubac Fortress in Golubac, Serbia
Avalon Waterway's new Danube River itineraries include a visit to Golubac, Serbia, where you can visit the Golubac Fortress.
By John Roberts
The Danube River is an epic waterway that offers a fantastic way to travel among numerous great destinations throughout Europe. The Danube flows through 10 countries and carves a historic path that delivers memorable scenes to curious travelers.
You experience fairytale villages, capital cities, cliffside castles and forested landscapes while immersing in the regional cuisine, culture and history. One of our favorite cruise lines, Avalon Waterways, has created an array of extraordinary new experiences along this legendary river. Avalon Waterways unveiled six new Danube River port visits as well as three 2021 European river cruise vacations that feature Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.

We've traveled with Avalon Waterways on the line's amazing exotic journeys on the Mekong River to see Cambodia and Vietnam and the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar:
Our Enchanting Mekong River Cruise in Cambodia and Vietnam
Cruising the Irrawaddy River: Postcards from Burma (Parts 1 and 2)

We're really excited about these new Danube cruises, too. We've sailed along the Danube more than a handful of times, and the experiences are always special. But they typically hit the same port stops every time.
The lineup of new Avalon Waterways Danube River cruises, however, give this popular old river adventure a fresh twist with visits to these charming villages. The routes head south of Budapest to Bucharest and the Black Sea, offering cruisers a look at a different part of the waterway. Most Danube voyages run between Budapest and Nuremberg in the northwestern part of the river.
Ilok, Croatia: Surrounded by hilly vineyards, Ilok is the easternmost town in Croatia. Here, Avalon Waterways immerses travelers in the town's 1,000-year-old wine-making tradition and explores Ilok's cultural heritage, protected by a medieval fortress.
Golubac, Serbia: Sitting high above the Danube, just outside the Iron Gates, is the medieval Golubac Fortress. This is one of the best-preserved fortresses in Europe. Visitors learn about the area's tumultuous history and its ties to the Habsburg Monarchy and Ottoman Empire.
Constanta, Romania: A brilliant port city on the Black Sea, Constanta offers sweeping views and easy access to explore the city's Natural History & Archeological Museum, which gives an in-depth look at early Romanian cultures.
Ybbs, Austria: Established in the 1300s, Ybbs acted as an important port for trade in the Middle Ages. Today, it serves as the entry point for the Danube to lower Austria. Avalon Waterways is the first international cruise operator to stop in this village.
Hainburg, Austria: This beautiful Austrian village sits 20 miles outside Bratislava, Slovakia, and owns a strong Habsburg history. Here, you will have the opportunity to experience the area's wetlands, visit the castle and learn about a period of Roman influence.
Have a look at Avalon's new Danube itineraries -- including those that feature the new ports:
  • Nine-day Balkan Odyssey (from Bucharest, Romania, to Zagreb, Croatia)
  • Nine-day The Danube from Croatia to the Black Sea (from Zagreb to Bucharest)
  • Sixteen-day The Danube from Germany to the Black Sea (from Deggendorf to Bucharest)
"On our all-new Balkan Odyssey cruise, travelers will embark on an adventure along the Danube and Drava rivers for an unforgettable journey through time and tradition," said Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways. "This itinerary is perfectly book-ended with two nights in both Bucharest and Zagreb and represents our Danube expansion, giving travelers more ports and more possibilities for their river cruise exploration."
All cruise itineraries sail on Avalon Waterways' signature Suite Ships. These innovative vessels feature two full decks of 200-square-foot Panorama Suites with the industry's only Open-Air Balconies and beds facing those balconies for incredible views as you sail.

Thanks for reading,
JR
We are an affiliate of Cruise Critic Smart Deals, where you can find the best prices for your upcoming cruises. Check out the deals here. We get a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and visit the website. Happy sailing!
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Avalon Waterways Offers Active Days on Danube River Cruises

2/29/2020

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Picture
By John Roberts 
Avalon Waterways is among the cruise lines that jumped in early to the trend toward offering more active ways to explore the rivers. A river cruise traditionally has been a slow-paced and dreamy way to relax and enjoy the villages and towns located along the wending waterways in Europe and Asia. 
But we've been advocating for years for ways to break away from the pack and to inject a little excitement and vigor into these voyages.  
Avalon Waterways offers great itineraries throughout the world, and we traveled on the line's ships in Myanmar on the Irrawaddy River and in Cambodia and Vietnam on a glorious Mekong River journey.

You might also like:
Sailing with Avalon Waterways in Myanmar
Exotic Mekong River Cruise in Cambodia and Vietnam

Picture
The line also offers untethered river cruises through Europe. The company's Active & Discovery itineraries are helping to drive the rising trend of active travel on the rivers. Cruisers are demanding more wellness and fitness-focused options, and Avalon Waterways invites its passengers to customize every moment of their voyages to match their interests.
Since launching this series of unfettered cruises, Avalon Waterways has expanded its offerings along the Rhine, Rhone and Danube Rivers.  The line's Active & Discovery on the Danube itinerary is its most popular for 2020, so I wanted to show you how you might spend your days while traveling along our favorite European river.
Here is just one way you can enjoy Avalon Waterways' Danube itinerary in a way that fits your active travel lifestyle.

Day 1 Budapest:
 Arrive and navigate the area using the GPS-based, AvalonGO app to see and experience what the city has to offer in terms of restaurants, museums, markets and more.

Day 2 Budapest:
 See the sights from a different perspective by joining a bike tour along the city's bike paths and pedestrian areas. Then, transport to the city's historic past on a "Retro Tour" via Trabant car. Enjoy a Hungarian dinner onboard while enjoying a scenic cruise through the Danube Bend.
Other active options: A walking tour of Budapest or a cave-hiking adventure through the city's underground cave system.

Day 3 Visegrad:
 Wake up in this small castle town in Pest with stretching on the Sky Deck with the ship's onboard Adventure Host. Join a guided visit to the Medieval Knights Tournament at Visegrad's lower castle -- an excursion that features demonstrations by members of the St. George Knightly Order.
Other active options: Take a scenic hiking tour to Count Dracula's prison tower or enjoy a canoe excursion through the picturesque Bend region.

Day 4 Vienna: Take a tour of Vienna to get a behind-the-scenes look at the sights and attractions, including meeting residents and preparing Viennese food. Spend the evening at a private concert in this majestic city of music or spend the time walking the city on your own to further explore the authentic tastes of Vienna with schnitzel or Sacher torte.
Other active options: A guided biking tour along the famed Ringstrasse lets you discover hidden city highlights or take part in a sightseeing tour that includes a visit to the Belvedere Palace to see Gustav Klimt's renowned "The Kiss" painting.

Day 5 Vienna: Enjoy a morning walking tour of the city, which includes breakfast at a Viennese cafe and VIP access into the Kunsthistorisches Museum (one hour before opening). During the evening, join a guided hike through the vineyards surrounding the city and get a taste of a Viennese Heurigen (wine tavern) for dinner.
Other options: Immerse yourself in European history with a guided tour of the Habsburg family's private art collection or take a tour of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Military Museum.

Day 6 Krems to Grein: Paddle a canoe on a guided tour through Austria's wine country or grab one of your ship's bikes (yes, it carries a fleet onboard) for a picnic along the Danube River. Then, in Grein, see Burg Clam on a guided visit and meet the Count of Clam during your tour.
Other active options: Join a bike tour from Spitz to Krems with a stop in Durnstein or partake in an interactive "Wine World Experience" and wine tasting -- with a guided visit that showcases the region's production of fruits, vegetables and wine.

Day 7 Grein to Mauthausen to Linz: Take a guided walk of Grein, including its historic theater -- the oldest one in Austria still holding regular performances. In Mauthausen, join a sobering guided tour of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp, one of the largest and most brutal Nazi camps in WWII. This evening, mix with the locals in Linz on a pub crawl. 
Other active options: Take a bike tour along the Danube to discover the fertile farmland or step  back in time with a visit to the 9th century St. Florian Monastery, the largest in upper Austria and home to Augustine Monks.

Day 8 Engelhartszell to Schlogen Oxbow: Visit the stunning rococo-style Engelszell Abbey and sample the cheese and beer made by the resident Trappist monks. During the afternoon, join a scenic hike along the Danube’s Schlogen Oxbow.
Other active options: Join a guided tour of the "House of the Stream" and walk across the Danube Power Station or plan for a scenic hike.

Day 9 Linz: Disembark for your journey home after a river cruise that leaves you feeling fit and refreshed.

"Our new Avalon Choice program has reinvented the river cruise experience with customizable 'Classic,' 'Discovery' and 'Active' options on every river cruise itinerary," said Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways. "Avalon's innovative Active & Discovery itineraries take that concept one giant step further with 'Classic,' 'Discovery' and 'Active' excursions to choose from every day. Our most robust and diverse itinerary is on the Danube River in 2020."

While all Active & Discovery cruises travel between Budapest and Linz, cruisers have approximately 30 customizable opportunities during this nine-day cruise. This means you can easily create an experience that suits your style or mood.
The vast majority of these excursions are included in your cruise fare.

Thanks for reading.
Remember to travel fit, travel happy and travel often.
JR
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