OverSixty April 2023 Digital

ISSUE 4 | APRIL 2023 | OVERSIXTY.COM.AU 36 TRAVEL Australians love cruising Europe’s waterways – so what’s new for 2023 and beyond? Taking to the river JOANNA HALL CRUISING I t’s a sublime European summer morn- ing as your river ship quietly slips into its mooring. You watch the proceedings while sipping on a freshly brewed latté and con- template the day’s schedule; exploring a medieval village with a private guide in the morning, a spot of wine tasting in the coun- tryside after lunch, and in the evening, a gala dinner featuring locally sourced gourmet food and entertainment. "is is how a typical day can shape up on a river cruise, an e$ort- less way to travel which has appealed to Aus- tralian travellers for decades. “As people have come back to travelling, river cruising has returned to popularity very swiftly,” says Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Managing Director Aus- tralasia, Joel Katz. “"ey are conscious of the fact that travel can become complicated and di#cult, particularly in recent years, somany have looked to river cruising so they can trav- el more easily and with assistance on hand.” Besides only unpacking once and enjoy- ing a waterside suite with an ever-changing view, manymodern river ships have facilities comparable to their high-seas cruise coun- terparts, from spacious accommodations to multiple dining venues and onboard pools. “New ships and new itineraries are also on the horizon, so we’re seeing a lot more choice in what’s on o$er,” says Katz. Here’s what’s new with some of the key operators. AVALON WATERWAYS Avalon Waterways debuts on the Douro Riv- er in 2024, with a brand new itinerary and a dedicated new Suite Ship, Avalon Alegria . "e 8-day Vida Portugal, Vineyards & Villages itinerary is a round-trip from Porto cruising through some of Portugal’s most stunning landscapes. Along the way, guests will enjoy a guided tour of Peso da Régua and Freixo de Numão, sample local produce including olive oil and wine, and visit historical spots including Vila Nova de Foz Côa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Avalon Alegria will car- ry 102 guests in 14 deluxe staterooms and 37 Panorama Suites, featuring wall-to-wall and %oor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that transformthe living space intoaunique open- air balcony (www.avalonwaterways.com.au ). EMERALD CRUISES Emerald has continued to expand its popular EmeraldACTIVE programof activities, which include cycling, hiking, vineyard walking, kayaking, and onboard yoga and aqua aer- obics hosted by a dedicated onboard Activ- ity Manager. Most of its European Star-Ships have bicycles for use free of charge, while every suite or stateroom is equipped with walking sticks for hiking. Additionally in 2023 Emerald has two new family-friendly cruises suitable for kids 10 years and older travelling with parents or grandparents. One is an 8-Day Danube River Cruise with child-friendly ac- tivities including a day at the Vienna Prater amusement park along with a ride on the Gi- ant Ferris Wheel, an archery lesson at Schal- laburg Castle, and a geocaching tour in Pas- sau. "e other is an 8-Day Rhine River Cruise which includes a geocaching tour of Heidel- berg, canoeing on the Rhine, and a visit to the medieval Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg (www.emeraldcruises.com.au) . SCENIC Scenic has new Danube itineraries for 2023 and 2024. Its 10-day Danube in Depth cruise from Munich to Budapest (or the reverse) o$ers a slower-paced version of this popu- lar river cruise, with the river ship docking in port every evening for evening activities and exploring ashore. Guests will also enjoy more daytime cruising, and overnight stays in Nuremberg, Vienna and Budapest. Also new for Scenic is an 8-day Charming Castles & Vineyards of the Rhine &Moselle itinerary, with six departures between May and Sep- tember, and the option to extend your trip with a Switzerland land and rail journey. And if food is your passion, celebrity chef Gabri- el Gate will be hosting an exclusive Taste of Southern France river cruise in June, explor- ing the gastronomy of France with cooking demonstrations and local chefs and cooking onboard (www.scenic.com.au) . TRAVELMARVEL Travelmarvel has three new ships which launched in 2020 and 2021, Polaris , Capella and Vega , all of which feature a special two- and-a-half-deck design allowing maximum access to the ship’s Sun Deck while cruising Europe’s major rivers. Other features include a cosy rooftop bar, a lovely terrace garden, a heated whirlpool, a putting green, a walking track, and a new concept casual dining and social area tucked away at the rear of the ship called McGeary’s Bar (www.travelmarvel. com.au) . UNIWORLD Uniworld has two 10-day Mystery Cruises in June and July 2023, o$ering river cruise fans the opportunity to go on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday where almost every detail will be a surprise. "e June departure is a round-trip from Amsterdam, and July is from Nice to Lyon. Uniworld says France is also trending in 2023, so it’s allowing guests to combine its popular itineraries here to create a spectac- ular 21-night journey. "e Ultimate France cruise o$ers the best of each region; Paris and the Normandy coast in the north, vine- yard-rich Bordeaux in the southwest and the sun-drenched Mediterranean delights of Burgundy and Provence. Besides touring glamorous capital cities and ancient villages, you’ll also visit the Palace of the Popes in Av- ignon, go wine-tasting in Bordeaux, explore medieval Viviers, and enjoy the famed farm- ers’ market in Lyon (www.uniworld.com ). VIKING RIVER CRUISES Viking has a new 15-day Lyon, Provence & "e Rhineland itinerary from Amsterdam to Avignon (or the reverse) starting in April 2023. "is in-depth cruise combines two of Viking’s most popular itineraries exploring the Rhine River and France’s Rhône River, with many highlights including the spectac- ular scenery of the Middle Rhine, a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site, and in France, Avignon’s Palace of the Popes and the capital of French gastronomy, Lyon. Also due to popular de- mand, Viking has additional departures for its 10-day Portugal’s River of Gold itinerary in November and December, and for its 8-day Lyon & Provence itinerary in November 2023 (www.vikingcruises.com.au ). Clockwise from above: Germany’s Cochem Reichsburg Castle with Scenic; Paris with Viking; Avalon Alegria ; Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest CRUISING