PODCAST: Avalon Waterways Interview with River Cruise Ship Director | 2GetawayTravel.com
Howdy I’m Randy your Chief memory architect from the getaway travel and we are here for another episode of Tuesday travel and I’ve got some great friends that I that I’ve met just recently U Meredith who is the inside sales account manager is that right yes for globas
Family of Brands yes yes you’re right all right and then we got Amilia here who is a cruise director for Avalon waterways now I got to just tell you right now if you haven’t checked out my videos on Avalon waterways with my experience of the Invision doing the
Upper denu check it out we’ll link it down below but amazing company and we’re going to learn all about it here today so let’s start off with first how old is Avalon and how did it begin Avalon began 2011 and it’s part of the globous family
Of Brands Globus family of Brands is a company that is familyowned yeah from Switzerland Antonio manat started the family 96 years ago so Globus was coach touring okay and then it evolved to a second brand which is named Cosmos okay Cosmos is budget tours so you get the same beautiful sides is
Just that the hotel will change so small changes the hotels will be a little bit instead of a four star maybe a three star a three star for sure for Cosmos and the Globus kept Four Star Hotel sold downtown in the city center and then in
2011 they opened a new brand which is called Avalon waterways so it’s our sweet ships on European rivers and and she called them sweet ships and I’m going to tell you they are sweet in more ways than one uh we’re going to talk more about that because it I’m going to
Tell you I haven’t done any of the other River Cruises this was the first one I’ve ever done but I am hooked I am a I am a Avalon waterways addict that’s a good way of put it got them got them yeah you you I tell
You y’all threw the lure out there and I bit that sucker and swallow that hook all the way down Can’t Let Go all right so the same guy and the little Robbo that started Globus started this massive company called Avalon waterways which is unbelievable and in 2011 think about
That folks 13 years and now Avalon is on is in how many countries is in 24 countries of Europe is on 11 Rivers for navigation that we have so all of them we are covering all of them and has 77 different itineraries 77 itinerary all right and
This is operated on a fleet of how many ships 16 16 16 ships 15 up until April now in April the 16th we’ll be uh navigating the river dudo in Portugal so it’s by far the newest ship that you can find on the river and it’s our youngest
And it’s also because it’s the smallest river it’s also the smallest ship okay now let’s talk about the size of these ships because I’m sorry guys I do not like cruises because there’s way too many people on them but it’s like hurting cattle yeah no it’s worse than it’s
Worse than hurting cattle it’s absolutely worst that’s I’ve heard of cattle before and I’ve been on a cruise ship before and I’ll I’ll heard cattle any day but uh let me tell you my experience with Avalon waterways the ship that I was on was the Invision yeah all right
How many how many state rooms or cabins was on that you can we have a capacity for Envision and that category of ship which is the largest one that we have 166 passengers 166 passengers yes now on that ship and then there’s the second category just slightly smaller
128 passengers and there’s only one exception which will be the new one on Duro which is 102 okay now 102 10 28 28 and 166 that’s not very many folks in the 166 I think whenever I was on this particular ship I think there was 138 passengers and then crew this is what’s
Amazing guys the ratio correct me if I’m wrong mhm is 3: one yes so for every three passengers there is one staff the service was impeccable uh unbelievable um Kudos Kudos kudos to Avalon for that now let me ask this question on the Avalon ships that do
Let’s say Europe let’s just let’s just because I’m assuming Europe is the hot spot that’s the it is definitely it is of the 77 itineraries is that correct I am talking now just European wise no no but there’s a total of 77 yes how many
Are in Europe 77 other there this is for Europe all Europe all Europe because the others would be in on the Nile in Egypt and there’s makong between Cambodia and Vietnam so we have outside of Europe as well but this is what I’m talking about today is Europe okay now the there’s an
Upper danu lower danu yes there’s the mosul yes help me with the differ s the r r the r did you say the r no um we have the Dan mine Dan Canal we have the mine itself so yeah come 11 now let me ask you this the one I was on the
Upper Dan was extremely picturesque yes is that the most picturesque no all of them are they all they all have something special to themselves they will all have special Villages they will all have Castle areas we’re Castle people if it’s not a church it’s a
Castle if it’s not a castle then it’s a church or was a church and we so that’s what we do churches and castles come on it’s Europe well churches Castle beer wine and and chocolate F we rounded it out and food so yeah CLE areas in in all our
Cruising you will find castles you find castles on the sunand you find castles everywhere in France for example you find Castle area the vajal valley which is on The Dan you’ve been to that one we have the Ryan Gorge which is on the rine
And so on and so on on the Melle as well on the mine as well now now something else that I thought was unique on whenever I was on the cruise was that they have each day they have excursions and the excursions are included now
There are in some in some of the ports that you going into there are some additional C uh excursions that cost extra but it’s minimal I mean not even 10% 90% of our excursions are included and the 10% those are like special interest yes someone that someone will not feel like
Forced to do is some uh there’s one it’s amazing it’s bunkers World War II bunkers uh built by the French by General majino it’s called the majino line and it is nearby Strasburg that is a world two Excursion many people I’m not interested they simply don’t want to
See it I call it a ladies and gentlemen Excursion because we have what I say like the boys will go play World War II in the bunkers and opposite that Excursion at the same time we are running a wine tasting Excursion so on that one so all
The boys who went to play World War II I will have their better house going to do wi this give them options give them options those are the options well and and and there are options and that’s another thing there’s there’s three levels of of
Tourist if I’m if I’m if I’m if I remember correctly and I this see uh classic classic Discovery Discovery and then an active and I’m going to tell you so if you’re the active person and you like hiking and kaying and biking and all
That kind of stuff you can do it yeah if you’re the not so active and you just want to do a a walk through the town at a leisurely Pace with a great informational tour guide then you can do the classic and then the discovery which for instance I can’t remember where we
Were but we were somewhere we went in and we went to an opera house and we listened to uh some Mozart and Vienna we were in Vienna that’s right and so there’s a little bit for everybody but the the one thing that caught me the
Most was like I say on the one I went on there was like 138 people we found ourselves meeting and becoming friends with like little clicks and I’ll call it little clicks because there was three or four couples that we would have breakfast with each morning yeah completely different set of people that
We would meet on the different tours and then at happy hour don’t forget happy hour that’s important yeah uh there would be another three or four different couples that we would always meet and have happy hour with and it may not be the same people that we’re going to have
Dinner with right after a happy hour y so you meet people from everywhere and it is so cool now now you being a cruise director you are basically in charge of making sure that everybody is safe yes having fun yes well fed and and and and doing what
They’re supposed to do yes what else I organize a program so my uh primary job is to organize everything so if we have a visit of Budapest for example so if it’s a classical tour we assume that you never been to Budapest Maybe you have
And you want to see it again so I will organize four coaches and five local guides to take you around the city to show you the city if you don’t want to do that maybe you’ve seen Budapest 15 times and your family and friends haven’t so they really really want to
See the main points and you’ll simply like hiking so I will organize a hiking Excursion for you running at the same time and you will all end up and finish at the same spot at the same time for you to meet again with them that’s cool
Yeah so that’s what we do our tours our excursions go from an average of four to 13 a day so if it’s a classical Cruise you will have four of them you will have the main points you have to see the eiffel tow you have to see going Lisa
First time when you’re in Paris if you’re there more times then you want to see something else something new something that no one else is doing that we do on active and Discovery Cruises okay so we take you to small ports of the ba and pot where we don’t have big
Crowds something special something still French if just an example if you like friends okay and it’s an amazing place by the way I love that tour at Cru so I get very excited about my job I still love it it’s been 11 years by the way so
Yeah we take you to do something extra something special yeah and something more active there you will have 13 excursions a day wow and you can’t tell me that you don’t like any of them no absolutely not you have to be there’s something for everyone yeah there’s something for everyone now big question
Sure do you all have specialty cruises let’s say that that’s a wine lovers Cruise MH we have and are they specific uh specific sailings yes the the specific sailing I’m doing personally one now in April is the culinary it’s the same itinerary you did so it will go from Phils hoffen to
We will have an extension to Prague so you can add extra two days in Prague with program uh it will be a foodie Cruise you know it’s culinary so on the ship and outside of the ship we’ll have our chef and chefs coming on we’ll have workshops we go through six countries so
We can teach you different cuisines in countries and when we are docked we go outside to different venues where again we have lectures workshops and so on and if you didn’t well if you did not do well we don’t for you to eat your own can you eat somebody else’s if they did
Well you should yeah I’ll try theirs we’re talking about specialy Cruise there but let me tell yall something though that I felt very very unique when we were on the cruise is that they sourc their their their their ingredients when they come into Port they’re sourcing their ingredients right there from the
Local farmers yes and so what they’re bringing on and then not only that but the chef on the ship is preparing local favorites yes that pertain to the area that you’re in we try to keep it as authentic as possible oh you you did I
Mean you home run on that one for sure the the food quality is unbelievable it’s it’s it’s Farm to Table basically uh same thing with the wines they get the local wines they get the local beers they do everything and and and there’s now correct me if I’m wrong on the name
I think it was called the lighthouse mhm for the Eco part project yes so they for for you eco-friendly people I’m going to tell you Avalon is all over it I guess it’s the global family brands or they just AV no it’s all of us all right so the whole
It’s it’s called The Lighthouse project and it’s they’re they’re making everything eco-friendly they’re doing I mean for instance in the rooms excuse me not rooms the sweet yes the sweets and I’m going to tell you right now Panorama Suite you got to get if if you can’t afford the
Royal site Panorama sweet’s the way to go and in there bottled water glass bottle refilled twice a day twice a day yeah no they Avalon does it right I mean there’s no doubt about it no plastic flowers no PL no no we got a beautiful flower arrangement it was
Gorgeous or kids in every room yeah and all throughout the ship is a or real flowers which is being delivered to us constantly wow yeah attention to detail is unmatched it is it is and and the the staff I was amazed at how fast they turn those those stateroom Suites uh I mean
They turned them quick yeah um it it was it was it was the most Pleasant I said this to a friend of mine at breakfast this morning I have a hard time relaxing when I go on vacation per se because that’s what I do is vacation so I’m always
Criticized Ing and critiquing everything around me MH Avalon nobody gets a 100 but they got a 99 what was the one huh we need there’s always something you can improve we need to know what was the one there’s always something you can improve we make it
Better okay we you’ll come back on my truth yeah we’ll talk about that yeah CU in my in my eyes nobody has gotten to the 100 yet because if you get to the 100 then something new happens and you’ve got to improve upon that there’s you’re going to always be improving but
A 999 out of 100 pretty damn good yeah um all right now something I want to find out because if I the we have this this culinary cruise that you were talking about I’m assuming you’ll have a wine lovers Cruise of course a beer tasting have beer tasting Cru of course
We have history cruises hsbg family War I World War I uh meet the Royals you can all right guys we are going to be putting together some little small groups to taste the culinary the wines the beers we’re going to put these together and we’re going to all travel
Together we’re going to have some fun so you guys get ready be checking the website at to geta awaytravel.com because we’re going to have some unique opportunities out there with Avalon waterways coming up here shortly so you’re going to want to subscribe to this channel for sure because that way
You’ll stay in touch with everything that we have going on and you’re going to get to meet cool friends like we have that get to take us on Amazing Adventures and create amazing experiences that last a l time so thank you ladies for taking the time for
Coming to come over meeting with me today thank you for coming all the way across the pond I mean we appreciate it I had to buy cowboy boots so I had to come you you got s some boots four up theirs o she needed to stuff that
Luggage and luggage so she could carry all her Goods help okay now I asked Iris on a previous video if she had an opportunity to have any of our our good Texas beer you’re a wine lover have you tried any of our Texas wines yet no they keep
Giving me Margaritas oh and I love them she well we’re going to make sure you get some Texas wine before you go home I’ll be happy too all right well thank you guys hey you guys stay tuned we got another video coming up right over here
Join Randy Otts, esteemed owner of a premier travel agency in Texas, as he delves into the enchanting world of Avalon Waterways in this captivating podcast episode. In an exclusive interview with an Avalon River Cruise Director, Randy uncovers the rich history and unique offerings that set Avalon apart in the realm of European river cruises.
From their inception to present-day innovations, explore the evolution of Avalon’s unparalleled cruise experiences. Discover what makes Avalon’s European river cruises a class apart, as Randy and our guest discuss the meticulously crafted itineraries, luxurious accommodations, and personalized service that define the Avalon experience.
But that’s not all – buckle up as Randy delves into the exciting realm of new and specialty cruises offered by Avalon Waterways. From hidden gems along the Danube to the picturesque landscapes of the Rhine, uncover the myriad of destinations awaiting eager travelers.
Whether you’re a seasoned cruise enthusiast or a curious traveler seeking your next adventure, this podcast offers invaluable insights into the world of river cruising. Tune in as Randy Otts takes you on a journey through the wonders of Avalon Waterways – where every moment becomes a cherished memory on the waterways of Europe.
🔔Ready to discover Europe? Subscribe to 2 Getaway Travel for Your Dream Vacation: https://www.youtube.com/@2GetawayTravel/
✅ Stay Connected With Us.
👉Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2GetawayTravel
👉Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2getawaytravel/
👉Website: https://www.2getawaytravel.com
✅ For Business Inquiries: sales@2getawaytravel.com
☎️ Leave us a call at 832-224-322 OR 832-482-2388
=============================
✅ Recommended Playlists
👉Need 2 Getaway
👉European Travel
✅ Other Videos You Might Be Interested In Watching:
👉 LINZ AUSTRIA AVALON WATERWAYS REVIEW
👉Avalon Waterways River Cruise Review
👉Avalon Waterways Danube Dreams River Cruise – Day 2: Passau, Germany
👉Avalon Waterways River Cruise Ybss Austria Review Day 4
=============================
✅ About 2 Getaway Travel
2 Getaway Travel – an Experiential Travel Agency, that specializes in Beach Vacations to Mexico, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and Florida. Ski trips to the most popular ski vacation resorts in North America and Europe; Tours of Ireland and Scotland, the UK, France, Italy, Eastern Europe, Greece, and the Holy Lands; Destination Weddings throughout the Caribbean. Honeymoons anywhere in the world.
Due to our longstanding relationships with many top-rated all-inclusive hotel chains, we can get you the most for your money, often beating out prices you would find for the same places on the internet.
Contact us at: (832) 482-2388 or visit us at: http://bit.ly/2LJghFV.
For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:
📩 Email: sales@2getawaytravel.com
🔔Dive into experiential travel, explore all-inclusive packages, and discover family vacation ideas to create unforgettable memories. Join us: https://t.ly/R5S4
=================================
#cruiseship #cruise #cruisereview #avalonwaterways #avalon #podcast #podcasts #podcastinterview #rivercruise #rivercruises #europetravel #luxuryvacations #luxurylifestyle #luxurylife #getaway #getaways #vacation #vacations #travelagent #travelagency #travelvlog #travelblogger #danube #danuberiver #rhineriver #germany #germanytravelvlog #germanytravel #waterway #waterways #rhinerivercruise #traveladvisor #europeantravel #europeanhistory #europeantour
Disclaimer: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that we provide, we may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting our channel to continue providing free content each week.
Copyright Notice: This video and my YouTube channel contain dialog, music, and images that are the property of 2 Getaway Travel. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to my Youtube Channel is provided.
© 2 Getaway Travel