Sophie, from our Customer Services team in Australia, recently experienced our Avalon Waterways Burgundy & Provence river cruise with Nice extension. Read on to find out more about her experience.
Setting out on an Avalon Waterways river cruise, I got a few confused looks. It’s quite uncommon to see somebody in their 20’s (or even 30’s) on a river cruise. In fact, European immigration let out a little chuckle and said “good luck, I think you’ll be the youngest” when I said I was heading to Nice to join a river cruise!
Here’s what I learnt about river cruising in my 20’s during my time on Avalon’s Burgundy & Provence with Nice cruise:
You can move your way
Each day offers an abundance of choice, from city walking tours to bike rides and hikes. It’s great to be able to be as active as you like. I took advantage of some of the included Active excursions: cycling through the countryside and heart of Avignon; hiking up to a spectacular viewpoint in Viviers; and winding my way through vineyards to the hilltops of Tain L’Hermitage. Without the local knowledge of our Adventure Host, Hristo, there is no way I would have known that these hikes existed, nor would I have experienced some of the most incredible views.
You can tailor your trip to do as much or as little as you want
Some days you may feel like a more leisurely day, taking a city walking tour then heading back to the ship to relax (or take a sneaky afternoon nap). On other days you may wish to get out and experience the destination. I jumped at the chance to head out around Nice to taste the regional specialties with our Local Guide, Marielle. This was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon with some great bites.
Another afternoon we ventured out to Pérouges, a beautifully preserved medieval town where the Three Musketeers was filmed. We weaved our way through the picturesque streets, and the excursion was not complete without tasting a Galette de Pérouges with a glass of cider in a traditional restaurant on the town square.
You’ll consume the best food and drinks
Prepare those elasticated pants because by the end of the cruise, there’s no way you’re escaping without an extra few kilos! The food on offer is phenomenal, from the option to order special breakfast and lunch plates to the four-course dinners each night. You’ll leave wanting to take the chef with you! If that isn’t enough, every afternoon you’ll be able to demolish some cake and sandwiches for afternoon tea. Not only can you dine in the Panorama Dining Room, but if you decide you may have overindulged on cake or want a more intimate dining option, there is always the Panorama Bistro for lunch and dinner. Here you’ll have the same fantastic food in smaller portions where you can help yourself to as much as you’d like.
Your ship is perfectly designed
From the Sky Deck to the Panorama and Club Lounges, there are so many places to relax as you cruise through the stunning countryside. If you’d rather take some time for yourself, you can always stretch out on your bed that faces the view in your Panorama Suite.
If you’re like me and end up overindulging in all the food and drink, you may decide to head to the gym for a workout. It has all the equipment you need to work up a sweat, and chances are you’ll have the place to yourself.
You’re surrounded by the friendliest staff
The icing on the cake is the incredible staff, who are there every day ready for a chat with warm smiles on their faces. From the most wonderful Cruise Director, Mihaela, to the amazing crew working hard behind the scenes, I have no hesitation in saying that the crew are the shining stars on Avalon and make your holiday next level.
In all honesty, river cruising in your 20’s must be one of the most under-experienced ways to travel. I had the best time and without a doubt, I’m already planning my next cruise – I just have to decide where to go next! Take a look at the full range of Avalon Waterways river cruises today.
