Avalon Waterways’ Australian Ambassador, Melissa Doyle, has shared her favourite Avalon Waterways adventures, top tips and reasons why her “first river cruise ticked more boxes than expected”, as travellers look forward to setting sail in 2024, whether river cruise first-timers or seasoned pros alike.
Journalist, radio presenter, TV host, author, and now river cruise convert, Melissa has shared her first-hand experience of cruising with Avalon Waterways in a series of new videos, a blog and social media content, as Melissa’s ambassador role continues with Avalon Waterways.
Setting sail solo for the first-time in 2022 on one of Avalon’s Active & Discovery itineraries along the Danube, and most recently, discovering the spoils of the Romantic Rhine with her husband, Melissa has hailed river cruising with Avalon as ‘heaven’, spending her days “meandering through countries, filling my camera roll in the prettiest villages and my stomach with the tastiest food”.
“As someone who loves to travel, Avalon’s relaxed luxury, attention to detail, flexible itineraries with plenty of choice and incredible local experiences are a travel-lovers dream. Unpacking once yet exploring multiple countries and all whilst being able to relax in style, is what river cruising with Avalon Waterways is all about,” said Melissa.
Melissa’s top five favourite things about sailing with Avalon Waterways include:
- Elegant design for the ultimate view in river cruising. Mel said “I spent many blissful hours simply sitting in my Panorama Suite, on my bed that so perfectly faced the river. My wall to wall, floor to ceiling glass sliding doors fully open – fresh air, curtains swaying, feet up, and a cheeky glass of chilled rose.”
- Avalon’s flexibility and amazing array of choice. Mel said “The options were endless, and always mine. I loved having the choice to do whatever I felt like on that day…if I felt rested and energised, I selected the excursions that were a little more active – hiking, biking, and canoeing.”
- One of a kind, memorable local excursions. Mel said “in October last year, my husband John and I went hiking through the vineyards in Rudesheim and learnt how to make proper Rudesheim coffee. We biked along the foreshore of Heidelberg, explored the mountaintop 13th century castle, and replenished that afternoon with schnitzel and apple strudel.”
- Discovering hidden gems. Mel said “I saw little riverside towns that I would have missed if I’d been travelling by road and quaint little villages that weren’t pumping with tourists. I made new friends and added more places to my ever-growing list of cities to visit.”
- Setting sail solo. Mel said “My first river cruise with Avalon was my first overseas holiday alone. For a busy working mum of two that was heaven! I also took comfort in knowing that as a solo traveller, our cruise director was keeping an eye out for his passengers.”
Globus family of brands, Managing Director Asia Pacific, Gai Tyrrell is excited for Aussies to experience Avalon’s relaxed luxury through the eyes of Melissa Doyle and get onboard themselves in due course.
“Melissa has perfectly captured what’s so special about cruising with Avalon Waterways, the virtues of river cruising and Avalon’s diverse offering for all types of travellers.
“We look forward to sharing more stories with Mel this year and welcoming even more guests onboard Avalon Waterways in 2024, which is set to be an exciting season for us with a new Suite Ship the Avalon Alegria launching on the Douro in March and an extended season on multiple rivers in Europe to meet demand,” said Tyrrell.
Guests can read more about Melissa’s Avalon adventures on the Globus family of brands Go Live It blog here, watch the video series here, and should keep eyes peeled and ears tuned into the airwaves for more to come from Mel in 2024!
