BURBANK, Calif., April 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Adventures by
Disney, a leader in guided group travel worldwide, today
announced the introduction of its first-ever river cruising
itineraries. Sailing with AmaWaterways, the travel industry's
premier luxury river cruise line, Adventures by Disney river
cruises offer a new way for families to experience the heart of
Europe in a way that is active,
immersive and easy. Four sailings along the Danube River in the
summer of 2016, as well as one holiday themed sailing in
December 2016, will give adventurous
travelers the opportunity to experience iconic locations and hidden
gems in eight destinations across four countries – Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
Combining the award-winning service and luxury of AmaWaterways
with the proven family travel expertise of Adventures by Disney,
this new style of vacationing will deliver an unmatched experience
that is immersive, all-inclusive and hassle-free. The Adventures by
Disney river cruise departures will take guests off the beaten path
in search of the culture, art and unique stories intrinsic to each
European city and town visited. From revisiting scenes from the
movie "The Sound of Music" in Salzburg and exploring Devin Castle in
Bratislava to taking a traditional
Austrian folk dancing lesson in Melk, the opportunities for
exploration are seemingly endless.
River cruises also offer maximum port time in each city,
arriving at dawn and departing late night. That means more time for
travelers to discover the destination through guided activities and
individual exploration for a completely tailored and customizable
vacation experience. Eight Adventures by Disney Adventure Guides on
each sailing add to the already renowned crew of AmaWaterways,
creating an unprecedented level of support for guests. It's a
degree of service unique to Disney, with guides serving as hosts in
each destination and onboard the ship. Local experts will also be
on hand at each port to bring the authentic culture to life for
visiting guests.
"Celebrating 10 years in the family tourism industry, Adventures
by Disney is always looking for new ways to deliver extraordinary
vacation experiences that are both memorable and effortless for our
guests," said Ken Potrock, senior
vice president of Adventures by Disney. "Recognizing the untapped
potential and broadening appeal of the river cruising market, we
worked with AmaWaterways to provide families with an immersive,
personalized experience unlike anything we've presented
before."
River Cruising on the Newest Vessel from
AmaWaterways
Adventures by Disney guests will sail aboard the all-new,
170-passenger AmaViola, a river cruise ship that is being
custom built by AmaWaterways with families in mind. New
family-friendly design elements include specific room
configurations, including six sets of connecting staterooms, as
well as some rooms and suites that accommodate three- and
four-person families, and other unique details that lend themselves
to luxury family vacations. Shipboard spaces are being reimagined
to provide for specially designed activities geared towards kids,
teens and adults. The small size of the river cruising vessel
allows for an intimate and deeply immersive cruising experience,
ensuring guests' needs are not only met but exceeded.
"We are so very excited to bring the beauty of river cruising to
the family market through these special sailings with Adventures by
Disney," said Kristin Karst,
co-owner and executive vice president of AmaWaterways. "River
cruising presents a terrific opportunity for immersion into the
sights, history and culture of the world's most magical
destinations. We look forward to working together with Adventures
by Disney to offer innovative experiences that help families create
unforgettable memories."
Shipboard activities will offer something for everyone. Adults
can enjoy wine tasting, music, dancing and an onboard fitness
center, along with some of the finest cuisine and service
available. Special Adventures by Disney activities for Junior
Adventurers include activity nights, movies, karaoke, relay
games, life-size chess lessons, video games and more. Teens will
also find activities and themed nights created specifically for
them.
Joining an existing line-up of more than 30 other guided group
vacations to destinations on six continents, river cruising is a
natural extension for Adventures by Disney, a brand known for
providing exceptional service and hands-on, active experiences that
appeal to travelers of all ages. The new Adventures by
Disney river cruising departures are designed to meet the
needs and interests of all participating family members – allowing
grandparents, parents and children alike to make memories that will
last a lifetime.
Adventures by Disney exclusive sailings will take place
July 7-14, July 14-21, July
21-28 and July 28 –
Aug. 4, 2016. Highlights of the
8-day/7-night adventures include:
- Tour of Mirabell Gardens and adventures through a salt mine
(Austria)
- Nighttime Illuminations Cruise (Budapest)
- Horse show at Lazar Equestrian Park (Hungary)
- Medieval activities at Devin Castle in Bratislava (Slovakia)
- Private marionette performance and strudel making demo at
Schonbrunn Palace (Austria)
- Falconry show at Hohenwerfen castle (Austria)
- Walk along the tree tops at a unique outdoor adventure center
in Kopfing (Germany)
- Oktoberfest event at a local
brewery (Germany)
- Themed meals and culinary activities, such as interactive
goulash and strudel making
- Biking in every port
The special holiday themed sailing, departing Dec. 22, 2016, will also include visits to the
renowned Christmas markets in Budapest and Vienna, a Vienna Boys Choir Christmas
performance in the Hofburg Palace Chapel and a special holiday menu
lunch.
Guests looking for even greater immersion into local culture can
add an Adventures by Disney 3-day/2-night pre- or post-stay
experience in Prague, Czech
Republic, that includes a variety of active experiences,
such as a cultural immersion tour of Prague with a local guide, dinner at Folklore
Garden with traditional music and dance, a Prague river cruise featuring monuments and
architectural highlights, a guided walking tour of the charming
medieval UNESCO World Heritage site Cesky Krumlov, and more.
For more details and to book reservations, call 1-800-543-0865
or contact a travel agent.
About Adventures by Disney
Launched in 2005,
Adventures by Disney provides immersive, hassle-free and
unforgettable group guided family vacation experiences to
destinations in Europe,
North America, South America, South
Africa, Asia and
Australia. Adventurers traveling
with Adventures by Disney receive exceptional service while taking
part in extraordinary and customized experiences at locations
including: the South African plains, the great cities of
Europe, Costa Rica's rich rainforest, the ruins of
Pompeii and Machu Picchu, Australia's Outback, the Great Wall of
China and some of America's most
iconic destinations, from big cities to big sky country and
beyond.
Over the past ten years, Adventures by Disney has been
recognized by numerous travel organizations for its excellence in
family tourism. Adventures by Disney was recently named
North America's Leading Tour
Operator at the 2014 World Travel Awards, and was previously named
the World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator in the 2012, 2010 and 2009
World Travel Awards. Adventures by Disney was also ranked No 1
among Tour Operators and Safari Outfitters for Families in 2011 by
Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards.
Offering Disney-trained Adventure Guides on each trip, engaging
activities, VIP experiences and personal touches throughout,
Adventures by Disney vacations are crafted to excite and delight
everyone. Visit AdventuresByDisney.com, call 1-800-543-0865 or
contact a travel agent to learn more.
About AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways offers award-winning
river cruises around the world, including Europe, Southeast
Asia and Africa. The
company has received numerous honors and accolades over the years,
including Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards, Cruise Critic's
Editors' Pick Award and an overall 4-Star Plus rating in the
inaugural Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe. AmaWaterways' European fleet includes
AmaStella (2016), AmaViola (2016), AmaVista
(2015), AmaSerena (2015), AmaReina (2014),
AmaSonata (2014), AmaPrima (2013), AmaCerto
(2012), AmaVerde (2011), AmaBella (2010),
AmaLyra (2009), AmaDolce (2009), AmaCello
(2008), AmaDante (2008), AmaLegro (2007) and the
AmaDagio (2006). The company's "The Exotics" division
features AmaPura (2014) on the Ayeyarwady River in
Myanmar, AmaVida (2013) on
the Douro River in Portugal,
AmaLotus (2011) and AmaDara (2015) on the Mekong in
Vietnam and Cambodia, and the Zambezi Queen (2009)
on the Chobe in Botswana.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150414/198476
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150414/198484
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SOURCE Adventures by Disney