- Avalon Waterways has increased its capacity for French river cruises.
- The Bonjour Bordeaux: Chateaux, Wineries & Charming Villages itinerary is now one of the top six most popular river cruises for Australians.
- There are also two new French voyages.
With its rolling vineyards, fine fare, and charming cobblestoned towns, it’s not difficult to understand why regional France is fast becoming one of our favourite destinations.
Avalon Waterways last year launched its Bonjour Bordeaux: Chateaux, Wineries & Charming Villages itinerary in response to the growing demand from Australians to visit the region.
The company last year surveyed around 16,000 cruisers globally, who said France was their number one destination to visit.
And while the cruise line already had two other ships sailing, the capacity for 2025 has increased to 50 itineraries, with the addition of the Avalon Artistry II on a new route for the line.
The Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, typically known for their barging, is Avalon Waterways’ new territory, with the cruise line offering a week-long Bordeaux itinerary that can also be combined with other river cruises, or pre-or-post cruising city stays.
Within 12 months, this new voyage lept to the sixth most popular sailing for Australians and is almost sold out for 2025 and 2026.
“I think the popularity of France ranges from a mixture of things. It’s the food, the culture, the history, and I think the Olympics gave it a huge lift as well. It’s just all of those things rolled into one,” said Chris Fundell, Head Of Marketing – Asia Pacific at Globus, the parent company of Avalon Waterways.
“The culture and the history are big, especially for Australians like the history around the occupation through the wars like the 100-year war. There are interesting elements to the country so there is something for everyone.”
The itinerary and the extensions
The eight-day cruise starts and ends in Bordeaux with visits to Cadillac-sur-Garonne, Cussac Fort Médoc, Blaye, Bourg and Libourne.
The itinerary can be extended for two- and three-week cruising options, including three new itineraries –French Masterpiece: Paris, Normandy & Bordeaux; France, Uncorked: The Rhône, the Seine & Bordeaux and Vineyards, Châteaux & Bordeaux.
The cruise line is pushing through a two-day extension of Paris to be added to the cruise, which includes a hotel stay at a five-star property, as well as options to visit the city’s icons and experiences like the Moulin Rouge.
The extension also includes the express train ticket from Paris to Bordeaux as well.
“For myself, knowing the flight routes into Paris, Australians don’t want to fly in and then go immediately on the ship. By staying those extra two nights in Paris, it amplifies the actual cruise itself.
“And if you book before April 18, 2025, you will get this Paris pre-cruise extension free for itineraries in 2025 and 2026.”
How Australians are booking
Fundell said that booking lead times are returning to pre-COVID levels.
“It’s now going back to more traditional booking times. Australians are booking further in advance – around nine months out.
“Airlines are different now, so good airfares come out at different times of the year. What we’re finding are not so heavy peaks and troughs, like we have seen before. We have more consistency throughout the year of bookings coming in.”
He also said for the Australian and New Zealand market, the average age of an Avalon Waterways cruiser is dropping primarily because of the active itineraries the line offers.
“While some of our competitors might have adventure guides as well, we have pioneered the space, but we also have entire itineraries which are dedicated just to active activities like kayaking, biking, and hiking mixed in with obviously the food and culture,” he said.
“This has been a big draw card for the local market, but also the reason why the average age of the Avalon Waterways cruiser is a lot younger than our competitors.”
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