Adventures by Disney Expands European River Cruise for 2020
by Jessica Montevago
Adventures by Disney, through its partnership with AmaWaterways, will introduce Rhone sailings in 2020. Photo: Adventures by Disney.
As river cruising becomes an increasingly popular vacation choice, Adventures by Disney is expanding its river cruise options in Europe. The tour operator will introduce voyages along the Rhone River, beginning in 2020.
Sailing with AmaWaterways, the six trips through southern France join a slate of 27 overall departures planned for next year, including journeys along the Danube, Rhine, and Seine rivers. Ten of those will be dedicated adult-only departures, double the number from the year prior.
The new Rhone voyages will sail aboard the 144-passenger AmaCello, and the seven-night itinerary will sail through the region of Provence for the first time, including stops in Lyon, Tournon, Avignon and Arles.
Activities include kayaking beneath the famous 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard; traveling by steam train along the Gorges du Doux; and a demonstration in the art of silk-weaving in Lyon. Historical tours visit Palais des Papes, the Roman ruins of Lyon and Nimes, and the 12th-century Abbaye de Senanque.
Foodies can immerse themselves in the region’s world-famous cuisine through a private truffle-hunting experience and tasting; cheese- and jam-making at a goat farm; and a tasting experience at a family-owned olive oil farm near Les Baux-de-Provence. Guests will also enjoy curated tastings featuring Rhone Valley wines, chocolate and more.
Upsell with new Short Escape itineraries
Travel advisors will have the option to add two-night guided group itineraries, starting in 2020, to their clients’ European river cruises. Adventures by Disney will launch three new Short Escape itineraries in Paris, Amsterdam, and Budapest, which can be added to river cruise vacations or booked as standalone trips.
The “Paris Short Escape” can be added to Seine and Rhone sailings. It takes guests to the Eiffel Tower, where they will dine at the structure’s first floor. Other activities include a private walking culinary tour; and a bucket-list visit to the Louvre Museum, which features a local expert guide and a special art detective activity for junior adventurers.
To complete the Rhine River sailings’ four-country journey, the “Amsterdam Short Escape” can be added as a post-cruise stay. This itinerary is composed of a number of hands-on activities, like a painting workshop following a visit to the Van Gogh Museum; and a tile glazing activity at an earthenware factory; as well as a stop to see the quintessential Dutch windmills in Kinderdijk; and a canal cruise.
The “Budapest Short Escape” can be added to Danube River sailings as the perfect land complement to the “Central European” tour by water. The itinerary combines enriching cultural excursions. Guests will indulge in homestyle Hungarian cuisine at a historic bistro; ride in a tuk-tuk (motorized rickshaw); revel in a performance at the Budapest Opera House; and visit the city’s must-see locales, such as Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church.
Bookings are open.
