River Cruises: Discovering Active Adventures The Meandering Traveler
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Plus, the colors are cute and match just about any gear you could imagine. But it wasn't only the Active excursions that perplexed us in their inconsistencies. A Discovery excursion to a centuries-old mustard mill in Cochem, Germany was ho hum. It felt like a tourist trap, since nothing about it was local to the area; the mustard seeds and machines to make the mustard weren't even from Germany.
Why travel with Avalon?
In short, you now can be as active as you want when cruising with some river brands — in addition to Avalon, AmaWaterways has added more active options to its ships. When I started writing about cruising more than two decades ago, river sailings were for a sedentary, retiree crowd. But in recent years, some river brands, including Avalon, have been targeting a more active and younger set of vacationers with active outings.
PORT EXCURSION
For fitness coupled with fun, Emerald’s guests can enjoy aqua aerobics in a small pool. AmaWaterways’ largest river vessel, AmaMagna, has a row of spinning bikes outside the ship’s fitness center. So, cruisers “spin away” while watching day-to-day life unfold along the river. When travelers return from an active adventure ashore, they’ll discover that their river vessel often has its own fitness-focused facilities or activities.
Day 7: Frankfurt, Germany
The Changing Face of River Cruising - TravelAge West
The Changing Face of River Cruising.
Posted: Wed, 27 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Though the valley views are amazing, the interior of Reichsburg isn’t too shabby either! The hour or so long tour took us inside the grand halls and well-preserved chambers. This fun excursion combined a leisurely walk through the historic town of Bernkastel and tasting some delicious wines from the region. We strolled through the medieval streets adorned with half-timbered houses, and took in the picturesque beauty of the Moselle River. Bernkastel, Germany, is a charming town in the Moselle Valley that transports visitors to a bygone era.
Guests can also explore independently via e-bike — following their chosen route with the Scenic Tailormade App. Ultra-luxury Crystal River Cruises also carries road bikes for independent guest use or for guided biking shore excursions. One nice perk is that Crystal offers three complimentary guided bike excursions during each seven-night voyage between April and late October; those don’t operate later in the year due to weather-related safety concerns. Not all river cruises offer fitness centers or active itineraries, so if you're looking to stay fit while traveling, pack your own resistance bands. We like these therapy bands, which take up virtually no space in your luggage but provide a surprisingly effective little workout or stretch session.
This, of course, is great news to those seeking active river cruises. Backroads’ thoughtful trip design and unique routes take guests away from busy port and tourist destinations to explore the best biking in the region and immerse them in the local culture. Marking the seventh year of their collaboration, Backroads will also bring their best-in-class adventure tours to Dutch & Belgian waterways with the Backroads River Cruise Bike Trip. Three departures are slated for April 2023, where guests can enjoy the region’s famed tulips, windmills and cuisine as they sail and cycle between Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Bruges, Belgium. Each of its ships stocks 12 Jan Janssen bikes (a popular Dutch brand) for complimentary use.
Unusual opportunities available on cruises range from archery lessons to exploring an underground salt mine. Here's a look at some best-bet lines for river cruisers who like to be on the move. Since 1984, Vacations To Go has helped more than 8 million vacationers save hundreds of millions of dollars on cruises. We can help you find the perfect river cruise at the lowest possible price. Even when you’re not on an excursion, there’s never a dull moment aboard Avalon Waterways as they offer a diverse range of activities to keep everyone engaged and entertained. Whether you’re up for friendly giant chess matches on the skydeck, rejuvenating morning yoga sessions, fun-filled corn hole games, or exciting board and card games, there’s something for every interest.
Given the ease and tempo of most river cruises, it’s no surprise they’re popular with seniors. The "Active" and "Discovery" excursions felt similar in terms of physicality at times as well. There were moments where they both offered local wine tastings and light walks in towns, making it hard to gauge which would be more strenuous than others.
Bike-cruise itineraries offer multiple route options on most days to accommodate cyclists of varying stamina levels, while non-cycling passengers can join other shore tours. Many Europe river cruise lines already provide bicycles for their passengers. Embarking on the Avalon Waterways Active & Discovery River Cruise on the Moselle River is an adventure-packed voyage that will leave you with unforgettable memories. From fun excursions that take you cycling through charming towns to savoring the finest local wines during a vineyard tour, there’s never a dull moment. During the past five years, that EmeraldACTIVE tour program has increased its offerings by more than 50 percent. Those activity managers will help guests scope out individual bike tour routes, if cruisers prefer to head out independently.
In total, the company received 28,971 responses (almost 10,000 of which were from Avalon guests, specifically), about what they most desire in 2023. And while they were generally enjoyable, we noticed some inconsistencies in their level of physical activity.
For the traveler who thrives on motion and action, Avalon has created a broad menu of energetic excursions. You might find yourself on a hike tour in Val D'Enfer, on a biking tour around Vienna, or even on a canoe trip on the Danube. From a climbing trip up to a medieval castle to hiking in the forest, these included excursions pack real get-up-and-go for those who like to do the same. Another thing I like about Avalon’s ships is that, even though they’re the same size as most other river cruise ships in the industry, they accommodate fewer passengers. Our ship could hold only 128 people (and wasn’t even completely full!), so it never felt crowded, even when you were waiting to grab breakfast at the buffet or a burger during one of the Sky Deck BBQs.
We started our Moselle River Cruise in the town of Remich, known as the Pearl of the Moselle. Its picturesque location on the Moselle River captivates visitors (and me!) with its vineyard-dotted charm and colorful houses. Fitness-minded Crystal guests can get their heart rate up with state-of-the-art cardio equipment. We then paddled back upriver to a middle-of-the-river lump of land called Love Island. On my second day on board Avalon Alegria, I signed up for what was billed as a hike through the vineyards lining the Douro near the village of Pinhao. It was a blustery day, and the waves were up on the ocean, offering a show as they crashed over rocky outcroppings along the beach, sending spray skyward.
At least two of these will be full-ship adventures, meaning that everyone on the cruise will be a Backroads enthusiast. Backroads does an excellent job at catering to riders of all skill levels. What will happen, however, is that you too will fall in love with Backroads. Just be sure to ask about what’s offered fitness-wise for any itinerary and ship before booking a river cruise.
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