Avalon Waterways has announced a new, celebrity-hosted Storyteller Series offering travellers the chance to enjoy a Suite Ship sailing with international best-selling authors and story-tellers such Candace Bushnell author of Sex in the City, Diana Gabaldon author of the Outlander novels and Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild.
Gai Tyrrell, Globus family of brands Managing Director Australasia, gives us the inside scoop.
1. It’s a stellar line-up for Avalon’s 2022 Storyteller Series – which do you think will be most appealing to Australian travellers?
Oh that’s a hard one! The line-up of authors is so incredible it’s going to be hard to choose! They are all amazing. Aussies loved the Outlander series, it’s been hugely popular on Netflix and Gone Girl was a hit at the box office – I loved it. Candace Bushnell’s Sex in the City series has a global following now spanning generations, so we’re expecting those cruises to be super popular.
2. What can travellers expect on-board?
A great time! As well as experiencing the best of Avalon’s European river cruising, there’ll be plenty of chances to get to chat with our celebrity hosts and with no more than 166 travellers on each trip, it will be fun and informal. As well as mixing socially, we’ll have book-signings and Q&A sessions with the authors. It’s going to be a lot of fun!
3. What itineraries are on offer as part of the Storyteller Series?
There are a bunch of incredible cruise options. Avalon’s Active & Discovery itineraries on the Danube, Seine and Rhine are part of the Storyteller series, so is our Romantic Rhine itinerary. And in September 2022, there’s a fantastic option when Gillian Flynn the author of Gone Girl will be hosting the Active & Discovery on the Danube, sailing from Budapest to Prague.
4. What are some of the highlights of that trip?
Apart from meeting Gillian and hearing her stories, along the Danube there’s so much history, food & wine, and for those wanting more active options, bike riding, canoeing and other activities are offered. That’s part of the appeal of our Active & Discovery river cruises, they are all about giving people plenty of choice to try new things or do the things they really love. For me, a highlight would be the cafes in Vienna or visiting Wachau Valley, where the scenery is unbelievable. There are so many beautiful vineyards, rolling hills and medieval castles and seeing it all on a trip hosted by Gillian Flynn would be a really fun experience.
5. What advice do you offer people choosing between the Storyteller Series itineraries on the Danube River versus the Rhine?
Tough question! Both rivers showcase some of Europe’s best scenery, with amazing little towns, ancient fortresses, breathtaking scenes as you cruise through gorges with spectacular surrounds. Add to that, great food and wine – and you can’t make a wrong choice! The Danube river cruise starts in Budapest and the scenery is truly unforgettable. One of the great experiences is a guided tour in Vienna of the Habsburg family’s magnificent art collection – they were one of Europe’s longest-reigning dynasties and have one of the world’s largest private art collections.
Cities along the Rhine like Amsterdam in Holland, Strasbourg in France and Basel in Switzerland are modern European cities with big histories and iconic attractions like the Gutenberg Museum, Heidelberg Castle or the fairy-tale towns of Germany’s Black Forest.
So honestly it’s a case of being spoilt for choice, but with the Storyteller Series it might come down to what’s available – these are something really special and sure to book out quickly.
For more information, visit Avalon Waterways’ website.
