There’s a brand new possibility for touring France’s premier wine area – one you’ll need to attempt

Add Avalon Waterways to the listing of journey firms working journeys via the famed Bordeaux wine area.

The well-known river cruise operator this week will start its first sailings on France’s Garonne and Dordogne rivers, which reduce via the vineyard-filled area recognized for a number of the world’s best-known purple wines.

Going down on Avalon’s 128-passenger Avalon Artistry 2, the seven-night voyages will start and finish within the riverfront metropolis of Bordeaux, the area’s capital, beginning on Tuesday.

Stops on the sailings will embody the river cities of Cadillac-Sur-Garonne, Libourne, Bourg and Blaye, which is able to function leaping off factors for visits to the various wineries within the area but in addition different sights together with historic websites.

“Clearly folks take into consideration Bordeaux and take into consideration the wine, and that is an enormous a part of the expertise. [But] we wished to create one thing that had greater than that,” Avalon president Pam Hoffee stated Sunday throughout a press convention on board Avalon Artistry 2.

The press convention got here throughout an abbreviated, four-night preview of the brand new itinerary for media and journey brokers that included a style of a number of the experiences in retailer for passengers.

As TPG noticed first hand throughout the preview, these included numerous excursions that concerned visits to wineries and wine tastings, from a wine-blending class at a vineyard with knowledgeable vintners to a wine and chocolate tasting at a chateau within the famed Margaux part of the Bordeaux area. However additionally they included non-wine-related excursions to such historic websites as the huge seventeenth century Citadel of Blaye, a UNESCO World Heritage Website.

As is typical for Avalon journeys, the tour selections additionally included lively choices equivalent to a prolonged hike via the vineyards of the Margaux space (beginning on the entrance gate of Chateaux Margaux, one of many world’s greatest recognized wineries) and a motorcycle tour via the vineyards across the historic and wine-focused city of St. Emilion.

In the course of the press convention on board, Hoffee stated Avalon was attempting to do the area in another way than a few of its rivals by providing excursions to uncommon spots such because the seaside city of Arcachon, recognized for its Victorian villas and oyster farms. Vineyard excursions and tasting had been designed to be extra intimate and off-the-beaten-path, she steered.

“We will small family-owned wineries and actually having an immersive expertise,” she stated.

As is all the time the case with Avalon journeys, all of the excursions together with the vineyard excursions and tastings are included within the worth of the cruise.

Initially constructed to sail the Rhine River, the place it has been based mostly since 2013, Avalon Artistry 2 underwent a serious overhaul earlier than being moved to the Bordeaux area. The makeover introduced contemporary decor in public areas, from flooring to furnishings; a revamped sky deck with all-new furnishings; and upgraded web service in addition to different enhancements.

Like all vessels presently within the Avalon fleet, Avalon Artistry 2 is a part of Avalon’s Suite Class of ships, which started debuting in 2011.

The vessels within the collection are recognized for his or her giant numbers of extra-wide cabins referred to as Panorama Suites that supply a extra panoramic view of passing surroundings than the usual rooms you will discover on many different river ships.

Associated: Why I believe Avalon Waterways has the very best cabins in river cruising

Avalon Artistry 2 has 52 of those Panorama Suites, which supply 200 sq. ft of residing house. That is about 30% extra sq. footage than the usual river ship cabin.

Avalon has lengthy touted the Panorama Suites as a key differentiator between its vessels and people of different river traces in Europe that cater to North Individuals. The suites make up practically 80% of the cabins on Avalon’s ships and have a number of uncommon options. Amongst them: floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall panoramic home windows that stretch 11 ft vast and open up 7 ft vast.

Based in 2004, 21-year-old Avalon is understood for a younger fleet of ships with a classy, modern design, and Avalon Artistry 2 is not any exception. Public areas function fashionable furnishings, clear traces and many glass partitions that flood the areas with gentle.

At 361 ft in size, Avalon Artistry 2 is smaller than most of Avalon’s ships, which generally measure about 443 ft in size and maintain as much as 166 passengers. That offers it a very intimate really feel.

Avalon is simply the newest main river line so as to add river cruises via the Bordeaux area. A number of of its largest rivals together with AmaWaterways, Viking and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises have been working within the area for a couple of decade.

Like different river cruise traces that cater to North Individuals, Avalon has grown notably over the previous 20 years. With a number of additions lately, it now has 15 ships in Europe. It additionally operates one ship in Asia on the Mekong River and sells journeys on the Nile in Egypt and the Amazon in South America, too.

Fares for the brand new seven-night Bordeaux area sailings begin at $2,830 per individual.

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