Choice of excursion to Black Forest or visit to Freiburg or bike with your Adventure Host
Guided tour, visit to La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host
Choice of visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, cable-car ride to the Niederwald Monument in Rüdesheim, or a hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host; scenic cruising through the Rhine Gorge; time at leisure in Boppard
Choice of guided tour in Frankfurt, or guided tour in Seligenstadt
"The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lovely with great views."
They’ve been recognized by major travel publications for their pioneering adventure travel expertise that spans back to their founding in 1979.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule
Highlights
Visit the Abbey of Hautvilliers where the monk Dom Perignon first made Champagne
Visit to the world famous cellars of Moet and Chandon for a tour and tasting
Visits to small family-run vineyards
Visit Meaux and Coulomniers, one of the centres of Brie cheese
Visit the magnificent Chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte
Themes
Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, Sailing, National Parks, High Adventure, Small Ship Cruise
What travelers are saying
"I have travelled with ROW numerous times, including four trips on the Rogue River. Every trip has been wonderful and every person associated with ROW has been nice, knowledgeable, professional and fun. The Rogue is a great river and the trip is an excellent one for two people or a large group—and I have done both. I’ve taken both of my kids, one time each, and have organized groups of colleagues twice; most recently in 2019 when 14 of us gathered. The guides at ROW are great and help to make the trip very enjoyable. The scenery, lodging and the wonderful outdoors including warm air and refreshing water, make for a wonderful escape from the everyday routine. The fact that this trip offers beds and indoor plumbing is a nice benefit and allows those who have an aversion to camping a chance to see the wilderness. I have recommended ROW and the Rogue trip more times than I can count and my group has already reserved our trip for 2021. What are you waiting for?"
Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks
What travelers are saying
"I am a 12 time traveler with Grand Circle and OAT. But maybe no more. They are impossible to reach by phone without waiting for hours. I even tired their emergency phone number and was on hold for hours. What if I had been stranded in a foreign country? They cancelled my Eastern Europe to Black Sea Cruise in Sept 2021 and cited "covid" or "civil unrest" issues. Baloney. They cancelled because they did not sell out the cruise and lied about it to me. I know because I went with Viking during the same month with no excuses like Grand Circle gave me. Add to that they promised me a $1,000 credit on my next trip- which was to Antarctica in December. The invoice they sent me showed the credit- and 1 month later a new invoice arrived with the credit removed. Why? Another lie? Something is really wrong here with the company now and I would suggest be very careful with bookings as they are not the same company I traveled with for the past 12 years."
See fascinating Bordeaux’s highlights, including the Place des Quinconces
Visit Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Discover Blaye
Enjoy a wine country tour featuring several wine-tasting opportunities
Themes
Cultural, Culinary & Wine, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise
What travelers are saying
"Most of the people on this 17-day river cruise was quite elderly and infirm. Therefore the complimentary excursions were painfully slow walking. Local guides mostly told stories of their own upbringing and the conflicts they lived through. There was not much history on any of the excursions; and none of the buildings we saw gave us an opportunity to go inside, even the paid excursions. The accommodations were excellent, except that we paid for the best veranda but could not sit on our veranda because for the first 5 days our ship was packed tight next to another Viking ship. Food was good, except for dinners which were quite mediocre and never captured the flavor of the local foods."
Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Transformative
What travelers are saying
"This was second trip with Sage, first trip was Paris and they let me book hotel, this trip to Rome they would not book unless I used their hotels and non were ADA accessiable formy electric wheelchair. The second hotel I could not even shower and Sage Travel nevver paid for it, I had to pay hotel at end of stay. So I double payed for the hotel. DO NOT LET THEM BOOK YOUR HOTELS. 30 years travel I find Hilton always has the best ADA rooms."
Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Transformative
What travelers are saying
"It took us two days, four airports to get to the start of our tour and then additional four days to get our luggage. We spent most of days shopping for essentials rather than enjoying our holiday. I had paid £8,000 for this holiday.
1) Travelshere tried to take money out my account twice. I had to contact my bank to get the transaction number to prove to them that I had paid.
2) Three weeks before departure they completely changed our flights ( presumably they got a cheaper deal)
3) Sent to us to wrong terminal for our flight, had to rush over to the right terminal
4) Madrid was snowed under, so the flights were delayed and there was no way we were going to make the connection, so they split the group. The main group was sent direct to destination from London and two couple with Indian names were sent to Madrid, knowing well that they were not going to make the connection.
5) The guide went with the main group and we were left to organise our way to the destination.
6) After four airports, endless queuing and two days we got to our destination ( so we lost two days holidays and the excursion), minus the luggage. No glutton free meals, so my wife traveled long distance without any food.
7) It took five days to get our luggage, so we spent most our spare time shopping for essentials in foreign land with limited local language skills. No help from any one.
8) When I complained, I got this terse letter while I am on holidays. Unfortunately, I can’t copy and paste this letter, which would have conveyed their attitude to whole mess.
There were so many issues that I can’t list all of them.
Needless to say I shared my experience of this company with my family, friends, work colleagues and fellow travelers."
"We had a wonderful time on the Panache with an awesome crew who anticipates every wish you may ever have. Thank you so much, Paul, Andy, Holly (your food was delicious!), André, Perrine and Agata. We will never forget the trip with you!"
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France River Cruises 50 Plus Trips & Packages Reviews
H
Hazel
Sep 2017
Written on
A knowledgeable, interesting and friendly local guide
Travelsphere never let us down. Over the past 15 or so years we have travelled with them 8 or 9 times, on short breaks to Paris and Germany, and longer ones to Canad...