Wine River Cruises
Expand your horizons on these marvelous wine-themed river cruises. Learn the differences between an Austrian Grüner Veltliner and a French Sauvignon Blanc. A distinguished wine authority explains how various grape varieties are cultivated, and teaches you what to look for in a good wine. Visit a wine village and taste the wines to test your newfound talent. An adventure Bacchus himself would enjoy!
Burgundy & Provence Wine River Cruise
Paris to Côte d’Azur - August 22 & October 31, 2010
Burgundy and Provence—synonymous with beautiful scenery and fine wines. And on this special departure of our Burgundy & Provence Wine river cruise vacation we've added many extra elements to delight the wine lover! While your onboard crew pampers you, a distinguished wine authority will offer instruction on how to differentiate between a truly great, an average, and an everyday "table wine" and also will describe how various grape varieties are cultivated. Special wine tastings will show you what to look for in a good wine—from color and bouquet to “legs” and finish. Visit the Chardonnay area, home to the popular varietal of the same name and learn about the strict tradition of the Beaujolais Nouveau. A special French dinner, for which each wine has been carefully chosen to complement the dish, will teach you the rules of food and wine pairing, and for the chocolate lover, how about a wine and chocolate pairing experience? An adventure Bacchus himself would enjoy!
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- Wine tasting in Beaune
- Chardonnay excursion
- Onboard Beaujolais Wine Tasting
- Dinner with Food & Wine pairing onboard
- On board Wine & Chocolate Tasting
- Chateauneuf du Pape excursion
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The Legendary Danube Wine River Cruise
Prague to Budapest - October 28, 2010
Wine lovers—this special departure of our popular Danube river cruise is for you! Not only will you gaze in wonder at some of Europe’s most famous historic buildings, strolling through smaller towns and villages along the way, but this unique cruise offers you the chance to learn about and savor some of Europe’s most famous wines. Your cruise is accompanied by a distinguished wine authority who will enhance your vacation experience by introducing you to the wines of Europe and, in particular, to the wines of the region. Your stay in Budapest would not be complete without the chance to learn about Hungary’s famous Tokai wines. Cruise upriver to Austria, where so many of Europe’s delectable wines are produced. Learn about the famous Eis Wein, a sweet dessert wine which gets its name because the grapes are not picked until after the first frost. Sail through the tranquil Wachau Valley, where vineyards cling to the slopes. A visit to a local wine cellar introduces you to the wines of the area. A special dinner is offered one evening, where each dish has been carefully paired with “its” wine. What are the rules of food and wine pairing? Our expert will enlighten you and ask you to join in a lively discussion at the close of the meal. Germany’s famous Riesling wines will be more closely scrutinized—and tasted, of course—so that by the end of this memorable cruise, we hope you’ll return home with happy memories of the sights and sounds and an enriched knowledge of some of Europe’s famous wines.
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- Wine Tasting in Budapest or Prague
- Onboard Sweet wine tasting
- Wine Accademy of Und or Wachau wines excursion from Melk
- Dinner with Food & Wine pairing onboard
- More River Cruise Highlights
Windmills, Vineyards & Paris Wine River Cruise
Paris to Amsterdam - August 1, 2010
Experience France, Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium, and Holland on this fantastic Wine river cruise vacation. See the city's major highlights on a guided tour of Paris and travel between Paris and Metz via TGV high-speed train. Also enjoy guided sightseeing in Trier and Cologne, a canal cruise in Amsterdam, and take pictures of the windmills at famous Kinderdijk. Visit Reichsburg Castle in Cochem and enjoy a wine cellar visit in Bernkastel. Guided sightseeing in Arnhem includes a visit to the Airborne Museum Hartenstein, and you can sample the area’s famous Riesling wines in the pretty wine village of Rüdesheim on this river cruise.
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- Tastings of Moselle wines
- Lectures on Moselle and France wines
- Vineyard visits
- Food and Wine pairing dinner
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Music River Cruises
Let Avalon musically transport you to a symphony of destinations! On our Jazz river cruise, attend the Jazz Festival in Vienne, an annual event on the European and World Jazz scenes. On our Music cruise, local experts provide an overview of European music, and shore excursions include a Strauss concert in Vienna, an organ recital in Melk, and a visit to the Opera House in Bayreuth, home of the Richard Wagner Music Festival. In Salzburg, explore the city of Mozart’s birth as well as the stunning countryside where “the hills are alive with the sound of music!”
Burgundy & Provence Jazz River Cruise
Côte d’Azur to Paris - July 5, 2010
See France at its scenic best on this charming river cruise getaway and attend the Jazz Festival in Vienne, an annual event on the European and World Jazz scenes. Opportunities abound on this grand Jazz river cruise vacation to learn about special music features and to taste the sumptuous wines and local cuisine.
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Magnificent Europe Music River Cruise
Amsterdam to Budapest - October 17, 2010
Europe has produced many of the world’s greatest composers and musicians, and also some of the world’s best-loved folk songs and ballads. Join us on this Music river cruise and let Avalon musically transport you to a symphony of destinations. Our expert will give you an enlightening overview of European music, from classical to contemporary sounds. Enjoy a performance by the Avalon Youth Choir in the Rhine Valley, or visit the Opera House in Bayreuth, home to the annual Richard Wagner Music Festival. A full day excursion to Salzburg lets you admire the city of Mozart’s birth as well as the stunning countryside where “the hills are alive with the sound of music.” An organ recital in Melk, a Strauss concert in Vienna—all this and more is available at no extra cost on this special music cruise.
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President's River Cruise
Join Avalon Waterways' President on a river cruise along Europe's historic Moselle and Rhine Rivers. As a special highlight, enjoy a special excursion to the canal-based city of Bruges, Belgium, referred to as the "Venice of the North." Also, enjoy an exclusive "President's excursion" that is sure to please.
Windmills, Vineyards & Paris River Cruise
Paris to Amsterdam - June 14, 2010
Experience France, Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium, and Holland on this fantastic river cruise vacation. See the city’s major highlights on a guided tour of Paris and travel between Paris and Metz via TGV high-speed train. Also enjoy guided sightseeing in Trier and Cologne, a canal cruise in Amsterdam, and take pictures of the windmills at famous Kinderdijk. Visit Reichsburg Castle in Cochem and enjoy a wine cellar visit in Bernkastel. Guided sightseeing in Arnhem includes a visit to the Airborne Museum Hartenstein, and you can sample the area’s famous Riesling wines in the pretty wine village of Rüdesheim on this European river cruise.
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- Paris: Guided sightseeing
- Rhine Gorge: Cruise through the gorge
- Cologne: Guided sightseeing
- Amsterdam: Canal cruise
- More River Cruise Highlights
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