Latest news with #AvalonWaterways
The Age
01-07-2025
- The Age
Port guide: Paris, France
This article is part of Traveller's ultimate guide to cruise ports. See all stories. If you're looking to spoil yourself, look no further than this city of love, fashion and all the fine things in life. Who goes there The Seine River is a cruise staple, with AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, CroisiEurope, Riviera Travel, Scenic, Uniworld and Viking among companies operating there. Adventures by Disney, A-Rosa and Tauck are the best options for families. Ships sail downstream as far as Rouen, Caudebec or Le Havre, usually return to Paris, although some operate one-way itineraries. Cruises might be themed on World War II history, Impressionist art or culinary experiences. Some ships now operate in winter too. Sail on in The Seine River wiggles in tight bends through metropolitan Paris and past the greenery of Bois be Boulogne. The urban riverbanks aren't that exciting until you round another big bend. If you're at one of the two main docking locations, you'll get terrific views of the Eiffel Tower rising like a giant exclamation mark, so have your camera at the ready. Berth rites Prepare for confusion, as there are several mooring sites, cruise companies may use more than one, and some are located well out of the city centre. Check your official cruise documents for the correct address. That said, most ships tie up either at Quai Andre Citroen (also called Port de Javel Bas) or Quai de Grenelle in the 15th Arrondissement on the Seine's left bank, both in the centre of Paris. Going ashore You'll certainly want to check out the Eiffel Tower, newly renovated Notre Dame cathedral and one of three key museums: the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay for Impressionists, or Centre Pompidou for modern art (although the latter is about to undergo transformations). Budget downtime on a cafe terrace or in the statue-studded gardens of the Tuileries or Luxembourg. You'll have to pick a neighbourhood to wander as well: either historical Le Marais, bohemian and arty Montmartre or the Latin Quarter, which is dense with museums and cafes.
Sydney Morning Herald
01-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Port guide: Paris, France
This article is part of Traveller's ultimate guide to cruise ports. See all stories. If you're looking to spoil yourself, look no further than this city of love, fashion and all the fine things in life. Who goes there The Seine River is a cruise staple, with AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, CroisiEurope, Riviera Travel, Scenic, Uniworld and Viking among companies operating there. Adventures by Disney, A-Rosa and Tauck are the best options for families. Ships sail downstream as far as Rouen, Caudebec or Le Havre, usually return to Paris, although some operate one-way itineraries. Cruises might be themed on World War II history, Impressionist art or culinary experiences. Some ships now operate in winter too. Sail on in The Seine River wiggles in tight bends through metropolitan Paris and past the greenery of Bois be Boulogne. The urban riverbanks aren't that exciting until you round another big bend. If you're at one of the two main docking locations, you'll get terrific views of the Eiffel Tower rising like a giant exclamation mark, so have your camera at the ready. Berth rites Prepare for confusion, as there are several mooring sites, cruise companies may use more than one, and some are located well out of the city centre. Check your official cruise documents for the correct address. That said, most ships tie up either at Quai Andre Citroen (also called Port de Javel Bas) or Quai de Grenelle in the 15th Arrondissement on the Seine's left bank, both in the centre of Paris. Going ashore You'll certainly want to check out the Eiffel Tower, newly renovated Notre Dame cathedral and one of three key museums: the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay for Impressionists, or Centre Pompidou for modern art (although the latter is about to undergo transformations). Budget downtime on a cafe terrace or in the statue-studded gardens of the Tuileries or Luxembourg. You'll have to pick a neighbourhood to wander as well: either historical Le Marais, bohemian and arty Montmartre or the Latin Quarter, which is dense with museums and cafes.
Travel Weekly
25-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Shorter river cruises were in demand. Now, itineraries are lengthening
Brinley Hineman River cruise passengers have an appetite for longer river cruises these days. I first heard this sentiment from Cory McGillivray, the senior director of sales operations and channel marketing for the Globus family of brands, when he and I sat down for an On the Record Q&A. He said the thirst for longer trips is a departure from pre-pandemic trends, when four- to five-day itineraries were the sweet spot for travelers. What he shared came straight from the traveler's mouth: nearly 50% of the 10,000 Avalon Waterways passengers surveyed by the brand said the ideal length for a river cruise is 10 to 12 days. This discovery prompted the river line to unveil 16 itineraries that stretch longer than a week, from 10 to 15 days. And Avalon president Pam Hoffee said that the pent-up desire for long-haul travel; an increased interest in garnering more mileage out of air costs; and rise in remote work were all contributing factors. "Today's cruisers have a stronger interest - and broader abilities - to make the most of their time away," she said. Other lines are reporting similar interests among their passengers. And I can see why, as it aligns with another uptick in travel style I hear from the brands I cover: immersion. Travelers want to dive deeper into the regions they visit. Riviera Travel said its travelers, especially retirees, solo passengers and repeat guests, are opting for longer itineraries, ranging from 10 to 29 days. This desire to get away for longer is fueled by the rise in airfare costs, making short European getaways less feasible. The lengthy itineraries prove to be a better investment for the traveler, a spokesperson said. The line has observed growing demand for combination cruises, which is two itineraries back-to-back. These sailings range from 15 to 29 days. River cruises that spill over onto land Riviera unveiled "Grand Tours" itineraries, which pairs river cruises with land excursions. These itineraries feature an additional week of travel. For example: A tour that spends six days in Provence, followed by a river cruise on the Seine, disembarking in Paris. AmaWaterways unveiled a similar cruise style this year called "Grand Itineraries," most of which are 14 nights. One example is a two-week tour of the Rhine River and the Dutch canals, with an option to extend the trip even further by tacking on a pre-cruise trip to Amsterdam and Lake Lucerne and a post-cruise extension in Zurich. The brand also enables passengers to build their own combination cruises, giving them a 10% discount on each consecutive sailing. Amadeus River Cruises is also observing this trend, with passengers combining their cruises with a pre- or post-sailing excursion to lengthen their trips. Scenic Group, which includes Scenic Luxury Cruises and Emerald Cruises, offers most of its cruises as eight days. The company has noticed demand for pre- and post-cruise extensions and has launched new options in Portugal and Bavaria. Extra-long river cruises But maybe even two - or three - weeks isn't long enough. Scenic launched six new "Ultimate Journeys" for its passengers, which combines river, ocean and land experiences. These marathon itineraries range from 54 to 85 nights. American Cruise Lines also saw demand for lengthy getaways and launched the longest river cruise available in the U.S. The itinerary was introduced last year as a 61-day cruise. The line will operate a 51-day cruise in 2026, from Charleston, S.C., to Juneau, Ala. American Cruise Lines also operates the longest Mississippi River cruise on the market, a 23-day sailing.
The Age
20-06-2025
- The Age
Port guide: Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany
This article is part of Traveller's ultimate guide to cruise ports. See all stories. This once dull financial capital is Germany's most overlooked city but is lively, cultured, and has buzzing neighbourhoods and great dining and shopping scenes. Who goes there A-Rosa, Avalon Waterways, Emerald Cruises, Riviera Travel, Scenic, Uniworld and Viking are among companies that sail the Main River. Itineraries are varied, with some concentrating on the Main between Frankfurt and Nuremberg, and others sailing longer journeys onto the Rhine and Danube which are connected by the Main River and Main-Danube Canal. Cruises also run in winter during the Christmas-market season. Sail on in Your ship sails right into downtown Frankfurt, marked by the small skyscrapers of the business district. If you're heading downstream, you'll first pass Gerbermuhle set amid greenery and chestnut trees on the port side. Goethe stayed at this former summer residence of a Frankfurt banker (now a hotel) for a month in 1815 and fell in love with Marianne von Willemer, whom he immortalised in poetry. Berth rites Ships dock at several locations along Untermainkai or occasionally at Osthafen depending on the cruise line. There are no terminals, with passengers disembarking onto quays and promenades. Untermainkai is a convenient location, with the old-town centre a 20-minute walk, and lively Sachsenhausen district located just across the river. Going ashore The medieval core, almost all recreated after World War II bombing, centres on the red sandstone cathedral and buzzy Romerberg Square. The Gothic city hall is worth a squizz. Goethe House was the birthplace of Germany's most famous writer and, even if you aren't literary, is a fine showcase of middle-class, 18th-century living. If you're a fan of views, head to the observation deck atop Commerzbank Tower. Frankfurt is leafy, but the best park might be 19th-century botanical Palmengarten, which often hosts summer concerts. Save some time to plunder the shops. Pedestrian Zeil is upmarket, Hauptwache mid-range, and Goethestrasse packs in some fine antiques.
Sydney Morning Herald
20-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Port guide: Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany
This article is part of Traveller's ultimate guide to cruise ports. See all stories. This once dull financial capital is Germany's most overlooked city but is lively, cultured, and has buzzing neighbourhoods and great dining and shopping scenes. Who goes there A-Rosa, Avalon Waterways, Emerald Cruises, Riviera Travel, Scenic, Uniworld and Viking are among companies that sail the Main River. Itineraries are varied, with some concentrating on the Main between Frankfurt and Nuremberg, and others sailing longer journeys onto the Rhine and Danube which are connected by the Main River and Main-Danube Canal. Cruises also run in winter during the Christmas-market season. Sail on in Your ship sails right into downtown Frankfurt, marked by the small skyscrapers of the business district. If you're heading downstream, you'll first pass Gerbermuhle set amid greenery and chestnut trees on the port side. Goethe stayed at this former summer residence of a Frankfurt banker (now a hotel) for a month in 1815 and fell in love with Marianne von Willemer, whom he immortalised in poetry. Berth rites Ships dock at several locations along Untermainkai or occasionally at Osthafen depending on the cruise line. There are no terminals, with passengers disembarking onto quays and promenades. Untermainkai is a convenient location, with the old-town centre a 20-minute walk, and lively Sachsenhausen district located just across the river. Going ashore The medieval core, almost all recreated after World War II bombing, centres on the red sandstone cathedral and buzzy Romerberg Square. The Gothic city hall is worth a squizz. Goethe House was the birthplace of Germany's most famous writer and, even if you aren't literary, is a fine showcase of middle-class, 18th-century living. If you're a fan of views, head to the observation deck atop Commerzbank Tower. Frankfurt is leafy, but the best park might be 19th-century botanical Palmengarten, which often hosts summer concerts. Save some time to plunder the shops. Pedestrian Zeil is upmarket, Hauptwache mid-range, and Goethestrasse packs in some fine antiques.
