AmaWaterways and Adventures by Disney are collaborating to offer families with kids a cultural and historical immersion in Europe like no other.
By Michelle Rae Uy
Cruise the Danube and explore Europe’s off the beaten path. (Courtesy AmaWaterways)
Having an assortment of kid-friendly activities and all the cultural and historical immersion that your family is looking for in a family vacation is easier said than done. Planning alone demands time parents simply do not have plus there’s a lot of research to be done, especially when it’s your family’s first time to visit a destination.
One good way to avoid the hassle and simply have a fantastic experience is to have a trusted family travel expert get together some options for you, based on your preferences.
Another great way is to book an expertly pre-planned guided family vacation designed by Adventures by Disney, a guided group travel company that combines the convenience of being on a guided tour with the magic and excellent service of Disney. And this year, it’s launching its very own river cruise itineraries, which are geared toward adventurous families looking to immerse in the local cultures and history of Europe.
River Cruising with AmaWaterways and Adventures by Disney
Family in Budapest. (Courtesy AmaWaterways)
This year, Adventures by Disney, a Disney-owned travel company offering a plethora of exciting itineraries in more than 25 destinations all over the world, and premier luxury river cruise line, AmaWaterways, are collaborating to add another exciting family-friendly itinerary to their respective line-ups – Adventures by Disney’s first-ever river cruise!
With the idea of taking families off the beaten path in Europe in mind, Adventures by Disney and AmaWaterways will take families with kids cruising along the Danube River to showcase the very heart of Europe across four countries – Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary – all-inclusive, with all the family-friendly amenities, and of course, with that famous Disney magic.
Four 8-day/7-night exclusive sailings are scheduled for the summer of 2016 and one holiday-themed sailing for December 2016 aboard AmaWaterways’ newest 170-passenger ship, AmaViola.
River Cruise Features
There’s biking in every port when you sail with Adventures by Disney. (Courtesy AmaWaterways)
This is family cruising at its best! Families are guaranteed excellence, with each sailing featuring knowledgeable guides who will serve as hosts both onboard and in every destination, local experts in each destination to provide authentic cultural experiences, and award-winning AmaWaterways service.
On board, connecting staterooms are available for large and multi-generational families while three- and four-person families can enjoy the comfort of the ship’s standard rooms and suites. Between ports, parents can rest easy with all the top-notch onboard offerings – for adults, wine tasting, music and dancing, onboard fitness center, and fine dining; for kids and teens, especially-designed activities so there’s never a dull moment like activities nights, movies, karaoke, video and relay games, themed nights, and even life-sized chess lessons!
Finally, in port cities, guests are offered maximum time to accommodate guided planned activities as well as individual explorations so families can have the best of both worlds!
Cruising Highlights
There are also culinary activities. (Courtesy AmaWaterways)
The highlights of the summer sailings include:
- Tour of Mirabell Gardens and through a salt mine in Austria
- Nighttime Illustrations Cruise in Budapest
- Lazar Equestrian Park horse show in 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
- Unique outdoor adventure in Kopfing, Germany
- Oktoberfest event at a local brewery in Germany
- Themed meals and culinary activities
- Biking in every port
The special holiday-themed sailing, on the other hand, includes Christmas markets visits in Budapest and Vienna, a Vienna Boys Choir Christmas performance in the Hofburg Palace Chapel and a holiday lunch.
(MORE: 5 Fabulous Disney Cruises for Families)
And if that’s not enough, families looking to extend the fun and festivities can add a 3-day/2-night cultural immersion in Prague so they can experience firsthand the local culture of Czech Republic’s historic capital. This additional itinerary includes a cultural immersion tour of the city with a local guide, dinner and traditional Czech entertainment at Folklore Garden, an architectural river cruise, and a guided walking tour of Ceský Krumlov, a medieval town designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Sailings
Adventures by Disney river cruise summer sailings are scheduled on July 7 – 14, July 14 – 21, July 21 – 28, July 28 – August 4, 2016 while the holiday-themed sailing is departing on December 22, 2016. Prices start at $4,319 per child and $4,539 per adult.
Michelle Rae Uy contributed this to MiniTime. She is a travel writer based in Los Angeles and MiniTime’s Head of Content, who spends her free time on adventures and film photography.
