Cancer survivor Zoe is our Avalon Rhine river cruise winner – but she’ll miss her 13 grandchildren

• The winner of our European River Cruise of a Lifetime: Reflections on the Rhine for Two + Airfares competition has been announced.
• Zoe George from Queensland can’t wait to embark on the unforgettable sailing with her husband.
• After the unexpected passing of her brother and a battle with cancer, Zoe and her husband feel they couldn’t deserve this getaway more.

Zoe George from Queensland, the winner of our European River Cruise of a Lifetime competition, can’t wait to start her unforgettable Reflections on the Rhine river cruise with Avalon Waterways, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for her.

She’ll embark on a 10-day luxury river cruise with her husband – a journey valued at $22,420, including return flights worth up to $5000.

Zoe will cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, taking in four countries: the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland. Highlights of the itinerary include a scenic canal cruise in Amsterdam, time in the breathtaking Black Forest region of Germany and wine tasting in Rüdesheim.

Zoe was shocked when she found out she was the winner. As an avid lover of cruises, she revealed that she actually has been on a river cruise before, 13 years ago for her 50th birthday. She sailed from Budapest to Amsterdam with APT during the Christmas markets, saying it was fantastic.

She shared that she and her husband had thought, “We’ll never do this again”, believing it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as it felt too expensive to ever repeat. They thought that would be their only chance to enjoy a European river cruise— until Zoe won the competition.

The win means a lot to Zoe, who shared that she’s been navigating the grief of losing her brother. On top of this unexpected loss, both Zoe and her husband have recently been battling cancer diagnoses, which they’ve overcome. Zoe said that, of course, her husband would be joining her on this cruise: “He wouldn’t let me go without him!”. We’re so glad that this incredible prize is going to such a well-deserving couple.

When asked what she was most looking forward to on her cruise, she said “the whole thing”. From the food to the rooms and the little luxuries on board, Zoe can’t wait to embark. She’s also never been to Switzerland before, and said that she can’t wait to wake up in different villages and loves that she only has to unpack once, while getting to go to so many great places.

Zoe did say that she will miss her grandchildren when she’s on her cruise— she has 13 and loves spending time with them. However, she is also excited to have a well-deserved holiday, and I reminded her that she can still FaceTime her grandchildren while she’s sailing down the Rhine.