Avalon Waterways hits high note with Storyteller Series
Now in its fifth year, the Storyteller Series returns in 2026 with a range of star-studded sailings that bring icons of entertainment and literature aboard Avalon Waterway's Suite Ships. For travellers who dream of sailing with stars and storytelling with legends, Avalon is rolling out the red carpet for more beloved headliners including in 2026: celebrated actor, author and Avalon Waterways spokesperson Graham McTavish.
'While the world's waterways will always take centre stage with Avalon, when you combine breathtaking scenery with some of the most talented storytellers of our time, you create an experience unlike any other," said Pam Hoffee, president of Avalon Waterways.
"With our Storyteller Series, we've redefined river cruising – offering guests front-row access to their favourite icons, unforgettable encounters and immersive adventures that turn the page on traditional travel."
Rogue on the Rhône: A Legendary Voyage with Graham McTavish (8-Day River Cruise | Lyon to Arles | June 9 – June 16, 2026) – The Rhône River has played host to poets, conquerors and revolutionaries—but never Graham McTavish. Until now! Avalon guests are invited to join the Outlander star, bestselling author, and Avalon Waterways spokesperson for an epic, once-in-a-lifetime adventure, where history, storytelling and adventure collide. Sip, sail and swagger through the heart of Provence and Burgundy, tracing the footsteps of Roman emperors, artistic masters and wine-loving rebels. On this special, Active & Discovery cruise itinerary, guests can expect riveting tales and legendary toasts as McTavish shares behind-the-scenes stories from his life on screen and the page. Prices start from £3864 per person based on double occupancy.
Since its launch, Avalon Waterways' Storyteller Series has welcomed an impressive roster of world-renowned artists, authors, and icons – including Diana Gabaldon, Candace Bushnell, Gillian Flynn, Jen Hatmaker, Christopher Moore, Cheryl Strayed and more.
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Daily Mail
4 hours ago
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Brenda Blethyn is unrecognisable as she ditches iconic Vera look and transforms for new TV show
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The Guardian
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This year, however (with Pontier dead almost a century), Aix is making up for its neglect with a blockbuster exhibition at Musée Granet to accompany the unveiling of Cezanne's studio and the estate bought by the artist's family in 1859. The retrospective will bring together more than 130 works, including still lifes, portraits and landscapes. The paintings were all made in and around the Bastide du Jas de Bouffan, which was a refuge and inspiration for the painter for 40 years. Cezanne's banker father acquired the 18th-century mansion with its farm and 15 hectares (37 acres) from a bankrupt client. Disappointed that his only son had no interest in finance, he still let young Paul use the ground floor grand salon as a workspace. By 2017, however, the house had fallen into disrepair and was closed for a long renovation. Its grand opening is on 28 June, but we grab a sneak preview. Though now in an Aix suburb (20 minutes from the centre, or a few minutes on bus no 8), it's a charming place, three serene storeys in five hectares of verdant grounds, its shutters painted in Aix's signature grey-blue. Inside, projections on the walls of the grand salon recreate the paintings (later chiselled off and sold) young Cezanne made on the walls, including a 'four seasons' fresco. His card players series – one of which set a record in 2011 for the highest price ever paid for a work of art – was painted here, as was an 1866 portrait of Cezanne père reading a newspaper. (The artist and his family never used an accent on the first 'e' of their name: Cézanne seems to have been a later, Parisian invention.) The family later made a studio for Paul on the second floor, and its tall window, higher than the roofline, can be seen from the front. The kitchen and Madame Cezanne's bedroom can also be visited. Daily guided tours of the interior (available in English) will cost from €9.50, but if these sell out, a ticket just for the grounds is still rewarding. For many fans, Cezanne's genius lies in his outdoor works, and they come to life in the extensive gardens. There's the chestnut avenue he painted, the farm buildings and, most evocative for me, the square bassin (pond) that features in dozens of pictures. I'm excited to spot the lion and dolphin statues seen in several canvases, the lions with their bums in the air. (The majestic plane trees and orangery were added by later owners.) After his father died in 1886 and the estate was sold, Cezanne built his atelier in Les Lauves, then a rural area north of Aix, with views to the mountain that had long been his muse, Mont Sainte-Victoire. The 1,000-metre-high limestone ridge can be viewed from many points, including the roof terrace of our hotel, the Escaletto (doubles from €105) on the edge of the old town. It's a 15-minute walk from here to the atelier, up a road now called Avenue Paul Cézanne. The traditional-style house sits on rising ground, with kitchen and living areas on the ground floor; the first floor is one huge, high-ceilinged studio, with a full-height, north-facing window. This was his last workplace, where he painted the Bathers series, one of which is in London's National Gallery. After further renovations next winter, the lower floor will have displays including the artist's coat, palette and satchel. If Aix had mixed feelings about its famous son, those seem to have been mutual. Of the 1,000-plus paintings Cezanne left, just one is of the city: a watercolour of the fountain in Place de la Mairie. However, he made hundreds in the countryside around, including over 80 of Mont Sainte-Victoire. So the best way to find Cezanne's Provence is to get out of Aix. 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Daily Record
a day ago
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