River cruise line AmaWaterways has announced two all-new French itineraries and a partnership with one of England’s top vineyards for a wine-themed cruise on the Danube.
The line’s 2021 season will include more than 60 Celebration of Wine cruises through Europe with wine experts, sommeliers and vineyard owners who will present lectures and tastings to complement the included shore excursions.
The pair of new itineraries will showcase the epicurean traditions and historic sights of Normandy and, for the first time, take passengers to vineyards in the Burgundy region. On the seven-night Impressions of the Seine & Paris sailing guests will sample the rich chocolate, cheese, apple-based Calvados and local cider from the region. The cruise from Paris to Le Havre, or in reverse, will also include visits to gardens immortalised by Impressionist painters and free time to cycle along bike paths beside the Seine.
Marking AmaWaterways first entrance into the famous French winegrowing region is the week-long Essence of Burgundy & Provence cruise showcasing traditional wine and cuisine and including a visit to the French culinary capital of Lyon.
This year the leading English Wine producer Chapel Down will join the line-up of hosts from America. The representative from the vineyard in Tenterden, Kent, will be on the Melodies of the Danube cruise from Budapest departing on 13 November and sailing through Austria’s UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley wine-producing region. Chapel Down is a supplier to prestigious outlets in the UK, including Harrods and Selfridges, as well as being an official wine supplier to 10 Downing Street.
The hosts bring hand-selected wines on board to serve during special meals, tastings or seminars that are all included in the price of the cruise. Some wines come from the expert’s own winery and other selections are sourced from wineries located along the river cruise itinerary.
Kristin Karst, AmaWaterways’ Executive Vice president and Co-founder, said:
“As demand continues to grow for our wine-themed sailings, we are happy to welcome back some very popular wine hosts and also very excited to introduce engaging new hosts, like those from Chapel Down. Our intimate Celebration of Wine river cruises provide an added dimension to the river cruise experience as guests are able to explore both New World and Old World varietals through the lens of an esteemed wine expert while travelling through Europe’s most renowned wine regions.”
Jamie Loizou, AmaWaterways’ UK Managing Director, added:
“While on board, our knowledgeable wine hosts take our guests on a journey between the Old World and the New World of winemaking. Through wine tastings, exclusive vineyard tours and wine-paired dinners, our guests are completely immersed into the fascinating world of wine. We are very excited to have Chapel Down join us this year and to share these one-of-a-kind epicurean experiences with our guests.”
Known as the ‘River Cruise Queen’, Jeannine Williamson is an award-winning travel writer, cruise expert and our cruise correspondent, who has clocked up thousands of nautical miles.
Photographs courtesy of AmaWaterways
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