I was extremely grateful to be invited along on Avalon Waterway’s inaugural Training Charter along the ‘Romantic Rhine’ from Basel to Amsterdam onboard the beautiful Avalon Envision (below).
Being an avid ocean cruiser, I was so excited to finally cruise on a river ship and find out first-hand why my clients love Avalon’s elevated product.
This wasn’t any ordinary Avalon itinerary either. This was the company’s inaugural training charter famil and the first sailing of its kind in the region.
Nearly 100 advisors from across Australasia were onboard the ship for a trade takeover, where we were able to experience a training immersion packed full of Q&A’s with leadership throughout the charter.
We had ample opportunities to learn all about the products, strategies and experience of Avalon first-hand as well as across the wider Globus family of brands.
With the ongoing developments in the Middle East, I flew through Singapore and had a faultless trip, with a little deliberate dog leg over the Middle East area.
Landing in Zurich, I spent the day exploring before heading for a relaxing one-hour train trip to Basel for an overnight stay prior to boarding the ship, allowing me to rest up before the fun began.
In the morning, I took a quick 15-minute Uber from Basel to our dock, which was actually across the Rhine in Huningue in France. Hot tip when river cruising: always check the actual departure dock address, it’s a busy area for docking.
Upon arrival, it was exciting to see a river ship up close. Our cabins were ready. Well-appointed and in true Avalon style, “beds facing the view”, now I can see the attraction in that alone. Resting in bed with a view of a castle outside the window was dreamy.
Avalon’s boutique-inspired Panorama Suites include the industry’s largest and only floor-to-ceiling windows, making that view out of the ship even more striking.
I really noticed the well-sized bathrooms, similar to a hotel more than a cruise ship, and I love a good-sized bathroom when travelling.
Relaxing afternoon drinks in the sun on the top deck were a treat as I got to know the other 90 agents onboard. The GFOB team were so welcoming and so we set off on our ‘Romantic Rhine’ adventure.
Being a cruise nerd, the excitement of going through our first lock on night one was a real treat for me. It’s nice to see that technology hasn’t taken over the tradition and history of the locks, a marvel of engineering.
Even though our first one was at night in the freezing cold, we rugged up with jumpers and beanies to join the crew out the front of the ship to see how it all worked.
My clients always report back how they enjoyed going through the locks and this cruise nerd enjoyed it immensely.
The cities and small towns we enjoyed throughout the seven nights onboard were straight out of a storybook.
My favourite was the charming village of Colmar in France (above), which was like walking through a real-life fairy tale.
A cross between medieval and Renaissance buildings, with tiny streets and beautiful shops, it is the capital of the Alsatian Wine Route. It was the most beautiful village and I really think I could live there.
My second favourite was the city of Strasbourg. Charming canals, narrow cobblestone streets, boutique shops and cafes. Here we enjoyed some traditional French fare for lunch in another fairy tale city.
Each town had its own highlights, available to us as part of Avalon’s wide variety of excursions.
From a beer tasting tour in Heidelberg to the traditional coffee and cute alleyways of Rüdesheim. We even spent an evening exploring and enjoying champagne in Rheinstein Castle, where a family still resides.
I really felt like a princess in medieval times and the way Avalon spoils you with choice definitely helped with that feeling.
We also enjoyed a lot of the ‘Active and Discovery’ programs on offer, which are available on every major European waterway that Avalon sails on.
This included being on an e-bike excursion through the Black Forest. A great adventure, thrilling, yet so worth it for the chance to ride through the beautiful tiny towns and into the wonderful landscape that is the hallmark of this region.
We finished up the day with honey schnapps and black forest cake. An achievement and a great day.
The last few days of our cruise were spent in the larger towns of Koblenz and Cologne, which although full of rich history still had a modern vibe. We blended in with the locals and enjoyed their food and shopping.
We finished the cruise in Amsterdam, enjoying its canals and all its quirkiness. A highlight was visiting Keukenhof Gardens on an Avalon optional excursion.
The gardens are only open for eight weeks of the year so great timing for us. It was just divine with more than 800 varieties of tulips. Such a treat and so much fun tiptoeing through the tulips.
Back in Amsterdam, we took a canal cruise, strolled down the small streets and enjoyed dinner and the passing scenery in this eclectic city.
The food onboard Avalon Waterways was fresh and creative. Each meal in the Panorama dining room was different and we enjoyed the local cuisine of the destinations we were in.
You can even order room service breakfast in bed, a nice way to wake up while passing through the villages outside the cabin window. We also enjoyed afternoon tea and our fabulous tour director would explain the evening ahead and the events of the next day before we joined our fellow cruisers for happy hour and onto dinner.
So, all in all, this ocean cruiser is now a river ship convert. I absolutely loved it all.
From the relaxed pace onboard to the ability to curate your own itinerary with Avalon’s excursions, there is so much on offer…and yet always the option to do nothing at all.
A wonderful way to see Europe.
Avalon Envision & Colmar images courtesy Tim Faircloth Photography
