Stir-up a dish passed down through generations or mix-up paints on a palette? Warm-up with a morning guided sightseeing walk or chill-out during a wine tasting? Wander the halls of history or step-through the ruins of an ancient castle? Paddle through scenery or pedal around cityscapes? On Avalon Waterways’ Active & Discovery cruises, featuring Avalon Choice excursions, every day is an adventure and every adventure is up to the cruise line’s guests. This idea – and promise – couldn’t be more true in 2022. For the first time, travellers are invited to choose an Active & Discovery cruise on the Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Rhône and Seine Rivers as well as the waterways of Holland and Belgium.
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 per cent. In 2022, the company is offering travellers six Active & Discovery itineraries with 47 departures.
“Untethered and full of opportunities to infuse interests and passions into each cruise, our Active & Discovery holidays feature extraordinary – included – activities that give travellers the choices they crave,” said Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways. “On these one-of-a-kind cruises, every day, travellers can choose from a selection of included ‘Active,’ ‘Discovery’ and ‘Classic’ excursions. In fact, the average number of Avalon Choice excursions on these cruises is 22, giving our guests countless opportunities to customise their getaway.”
New Active & Discovery itineraries for 2022 are Active & Discovery on the Moselle and Active & Discovery on the Seine. They join Active & Discovery in Holland & Belgium (added in 2021); Active & Discovery on the Rhône (2019); Active & Discovery on the Rhine (2018) and Active & Discovery on the Danube (2017).
The new 8-day Moselle 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 in the Moselle Valley
- Take a walk-through history, visiting one of Germany’s oldest mustard mills
- Visit a famous local brewery in Koblenz and taste a classic brew
- Meet with an apple orchard farmer and walk through the family’s orchards
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
The company’s new 9-day Seine cruise also features 23 Avalon Choice excursions, including:
ACTIVE:
- Spend the day in Le Havre on two wheels
- Kayak along the Seine river, near Rouen
- Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard, the historic home of Richard the Lionheart
- Take an e-bike tour to the Château 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 Confrérie des Chevaliers Fouetteurs de créme 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 spotlighted in the company’s new Storyteller Series of sailings, featuring celebrity hosts. Candace Bushnell is hosting Sex & the City of Lights – an Active & Discovery on the Seine itinerary, departing on 19 July, 2022; Cheryl Strayed is hosting Wild & Whimsy on the Water – an Active & Discovery on the Danube itinerary, departing on 22 July, 2022; Gillian Flynn is hosting Gone Girl! – an Active & Discovery on the Danube itinerary, departing on 15 September, 2022 and Edwin McCain is hosting I’ll Be … Romancing the Rhine – an Active & Discovery on the Rhine itinerary, departing on 3 May, 2022.
“Priced from $3,294*, our Active & Discovery holidays include more excursions – at the same cost – as other river cruise itineraries,” said Hoffee. “They are the perfect choice for travellers who have a diverse set of interests; those who want to customise their holiday; those returning to a river for a new experience and multi-generational travellers with different passions and pace levels. There’s nothing else like them on Europe’s rivers.”
All Active & Discovery cruise itineraries sail on Avalon Waterways’ signature Suite Ships which provide guests two full decks of 200-square-foot, one-of-a-kind Panorama Suites featuring the industry’s only Open-Air Balconies and beds facing the incredible views for which river cruising is famous.
BOOK NOW & SAVE: Save up to $6,400/couple on select 2022 Europe river cruises.
*Price is per person, twin share and includes applicable promotional discount
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