Mark Beretta takes Australian viewers on a cruise through Europe as Avalon Waterways turns a television premiere into a tempting 2027 holiday opportunity.
Australian television is about to discover a rather agreeable alternative to the usual Saturday-night drama: a glass of French wine, a passing castle and not a single contestant being voted off the boat.
Avalon Waterways will take centre stage in the premiere of Ports to Paradise, Channel 7’s new cruising series hosted by Mark Beretta, airing on Saturday 10 October at 7 pm AEDT. It invites viewers to see Europe from river level and, for the cruise line, offers a valuable opportunity to bring the pleasures of its floating boutique hotels into Australian living rooms.
The premiere draws on two of Avalon’s European itineraries, Burgundy & Provence and Romantic Rhine. Together, they make a persuasive case for travelling slowly through destinations that many holidaymakers otherwise race between by train or road.
Two rivers, very different flavours
The eight-day Burgundy & Provence journey sails through France from Lyon to Arles along the Saône and Rhône. Its appeal is not difficult to fathom. Think vineyard country, medieval streets, serious food, and the welcome discovery that another charming French town waits around the next bend.
Lyon supplies the gastronomic credentials. Avignon contributes the Palace of the Popes, while Arles brings Roman history and a connection with Vincent van Gogh. In between, the countryside does what the French countryside has done exceptionally well for centuries: show off without seeming to make the slightest effort.
The eight-day Romantic Rhine, meanwhile, runs from Amsterdam to Basel, visiting the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland. Cologne’s cathedral, the castles of the Rhine Gorge, and Strasbourg’s historic streets offer scenery that can make even the most enthusiastic photographer run out of storage space.
Avalon details both itineraries on its website for the 2027 season, but you should always check individual excursions and operating arrangements against your chosen departure.
The ship is part of the story
River cruising’s great trick is deceptively simple: unpack once, then let the landscape change while your wardrobe stays put. No daily suitcase negotiations, and considerably less wrestling with European railway platforms.
Avalon’s Suite Ships build on that appeal with Panorama Suites featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and beds facing the passing scenery. Onboard dining draws on regional flavours, while its Classic, Active and Discovery excursion options cater to travellers whose idea of a perfect afternoon might involve anything from a guided heritage walk to something rather more energetic.
That breadth is central to the television appearance. River cruising is sometimes portrayed as a holiday devoted entirely to sitting down and looking out. Avalon wants to show there’s plenty to do once the gangway goes down.
Johanna Raeder, Head of Marketing APAC for the Globus family of brands, said the format could help travellers reconsider the way they explore Europe.
“Travellers from Australia and New Zealand are realising that river cruising, where you unpack once, and wake up each day in a new, fascinating city or town is an incredibly rewarding way to travel,” she said.
Beretta was similarly enthusiastic in comments supplied for the programme announcement.
“From the exceptional excursions, dining options with regionally inspired cuisine and the beautifully designed ship, I was completely blown away by the experience.”
A television premiere with a booking incentive
This is more than a handsome postcard for the small screen. For travel advisers, the programme provides a timely talking point with clients considering Europe in 2027. Watching a ship glide past a vineyard is one thing; understanding which itinerary and shore experiences best suit a traveller is where professional advice earns its keep.
To mark the premiere, Avalon says customers booking a 2027 Romantic Rhine or Burgundy & Provence cruise between 10 and 30 October 2026 can receive one complimentary pre- or post-cruise hotel night. The company says the offer can be combined with current promotions, subject to terms and conditions. The promotional code is P2P. Travellers and advisers should confirm eligibility, availability and the precise hotel-night arrangements before booking.
Ports to Paradise is scheduled for 7 pm AEDT on Saturday 10 October on Channel 7, with viewing also promoted through 7plus; audiences should check local listings.
For Avalon, the calculation is straightforward. Europe has always looked appealing on a postcard. Put it on a television screen, add Mark Beretta and a ship that moves the view along, and the next question may well be: where do we book?
Further information: Avalon Waterways Australia and its current cruise offers.
By: Sandra Jones – © 2026.
Read Time: 4 minutes.
Author Bio:
Sandra has spent a working lifetime quietly rescuing journeys, one itinerary, one anxious caller, one impossible connection at a time. Years at Australia’s finest travel agencies taught her the art of calm: how to find a flight in a fog of cancellations, soothe a traveller when luggage wanders, and turn nine frantic days in Europe into something resembling sense. Qualified, seasoned, and endlessly patient, she learned that good travel advice is part logistics and part listening.
But the storyteller in her was always waiting its turn. Writing offered a new map, a way to turn experience into reflection, detail into delight. At EGT Media, Sandra now writes the truths only insiders know: the mishaps, the laughter, the grace found between gates and goodbyes. She reminds us that travel, for all its fuss, is still one of life’s better ideas.
