Adventures by Disney Announces First-Ever River Cruising Itineraries

Disney's Guided Group Travel Experts Sail with AmaWaterways to Create Innovative New Style of Family Vacationing

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Apr 14, 2015, 11:06 ET

BURBANK, Calif., April 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Adventures by Disney, a leader in guided group travel worldwide, today announced the introduction of its first-ever river cruising itineraries. Sailing with AmaWaterways, the travel industry's premier luxury river cruise line, Adventures by Disney river cruises offer a new way for families to experience the heart of Europe in a way that is active, immersive and easy. Four sailings along the Danube River in the summer of 2016, as well as one holiday themed sailing in December 2016, will give adventurous travelers the opportunity to experience iconic locations and hidden gems in eight destinations across four countries – Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.

Adventures by Disney announced the introduction of its first-ever river cruising itineraries. Sailing with AmaWaterways, Adventures by Disney river cruises offer a new way for families to experience the heart of Europe in a way that is active, immersive and easy. Five sailings along the Danube River in 2016 will give adventurous travelers the opportunity to experience iconic locations in eight destinations across four countries - Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. (Chloe Rice, photographer)

Combining the award-winning service and luxury of AmaWaterways with the proven family travel expertise of Adventures by Disney, this new style of vacationing will deliver an unmatched experience that is immersive, all-inclusive and hassle-free. The Adventures by Disney river cruise departures will take guests off the beaten path in search of the culture, art and unique stories intrinsic to each European city and town visited. From revisiting scenes from the movie "The Sound of Music" in Salzburg and exploring Devin Castle in Bratislava to taking a traditional Austrian folk dancing lesson in Melk, the opportunities for exploration are seemingly endless.

River cruises also offer maximum port time in each city, arriving at dawn and departing late night. That means more time for travelers to discover the destination through guided activities and individual exploration for a completely tailored and customizable vacation experience. Eight Adventures by Disney Adventure Guides on each sailing add to the already renowned crew of AmaWaterways, creating an unprecedented level of support for guests. It's a degree of service unique to Disney, with guides serving as hosts in each destination and onboard the ship. Local experts will also be on hand at each port to bring the authentic culture to life for visiting guests.

"Celebrating 10 years in the family tourism industry, Adventures by Disney is always looking for new ways to deliver extraordinary vacation experiences that are both memorable and effortless for our guests," said Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Adventures by Disney. "Recognizing the untapped potential and broadening appeal of the river cruising market, we worked with AmaWaterways to provide families with an immersive, personalized experience unlike anything we've presented before."

River Cruising on the Newest Vessel from AmaWaterways

Adventures by Disney guests will sail aboard the all-new, 170-passenger AmaViola, a river cruise ship that is being custom built by AmaWaterways with families in mind. New family-friendly design elements include specific room configurations, including six sets of connecting staterooms, as well as some rooms and suites that accommodate three- and four-person families, and other unique details that lend themselves to luxury family vacations. Shipboard spaces are being reimagined to provide for specially designed activities geared towards kids, teens and adults. The small size of the river cruising vessel allows for an intimate and deeply immersive cruising experience, ensuring guests' needs are not only met but exceeded.

"We are so very excited to bring the beauty of river cruising to the family market through these special sailings with Adventures by Disney," said Kristin Karst, co-owner and executive vice president of AmaWaterways. "River cruising presents a terrific opportunity for immersion into the sights, history and culture of the world's most magical destinations. We look forward to working together with Adventures by Disney to offer innovative experiences that help families create unforgettable memories."

Shipboard activities will offer something for everyone. Adults can enjoy wine tasting, music, dancing and an onboard fitness center, along with some of the finest cuisine and service available. Special Adventures by Disney activities for Junior Adventurers include activity nights, movies, karaoke, relay games, life-size chess lessons, video games and more. Teens will also find activities and themed nights created specifically for them.

Joining an existing line-up of more than 30 other guided group vacations to destinations on six continents, river cruising is a natural extension for Adventures by Disney, a brand known for providing exceptional service and hands-on, active experiences that appeal to travelers of all ages. The new Adventures by Disney river cruising departures are designed to meet the needs and interests of all participating family members – allowing grandparents, parents and children alike to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Adventures by Disney exclusive sailings will take place July 7-14, July 14-21, July 21-28 and July 28 – Aug. 4, 2016. Highlights of the 8-day/7-night adventures include:

Tour of Mirabell Gardens and adventures through a salt mine (Austria)
Nighttime Illuminations Cruise (Budapest)
Horse show at Lazar Equestrian Park (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)
Walk along the tree tops at a unique outdoor adventure center in Kopfing (Germany)
Oktoberfest event at a local brewery (Germany)
Themed meals and culinary activities, such as interactive goulash and strudel making
Biking in every port

The special holiday themed sailing, departing Dec. 22, 2016, will also include visits to the renowned Christmas markets in Budapest and Vienna, a Vienna Boys Choir Christmas performance in the Hofburg Palace Chapel and a special holiday menu lunch.

Guests looking for even greater immersion into local culture can add an Adventures by Disney 3-day/2-night pre- or post-stay experience in Prague, Czech Republic, that includes a variety of active experiences, such as a cultural immersion tour of Prague with a local guide, dinner at Folklore Garden with traditional music and dance, a Prague river cruise featuring monuments and architectural highlights, a guided walking tour of the charming medieval UNESCO World Heritage site Cesky Krumlov, and more.

For more details and to book reservations, call 1-800-543-0865 or contact a travel agent.

About Adventures by Disney
Launched in 2005, Adventures by Disney provides immersive, hassle-free and unforgettable group guided family vacation experiences to destinations in Europe, North America, South America, South Africa, Asia and Australia. Adventurers traveling with Adventures by Disney receive exceptional service while taking part in extraordinary and customized experiences at locations including: the South African plains, the great cities of Europe, Costa Rica's rich rainforest, the ruins of Pompeii and Machu Picchu, Australia's Outback, the Great Wall of China and some of America's most iconic destinations, from big cities to big sky country and beyond.

Over the past ten years, Adventures by Disney has been recognized by numerous travel organizations for its excellence in family tourism. Adventures by Disney was recently named North America's Leading Tour Operator at the 2014 World Travel Awards, and was previously named the World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator in the 2012, 2010 and 2009 World Travel Awards. Adventures by Disney was also ranked No 1 among Tour Operators and Safari Outfitters for Families in 2011 by Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards.

Offering Disney-trained Adventure Guides on each trip, engaging activities, VIP experiences and personal touches throughout, Adventures by Disney vacations are crafted to excite and delight everyone. Visit AdventuresByDisney.com, call 1-800-543-0865 or contact a travel agent to learn more.

About AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways offers award-winning river cruises around the world, including Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa. The company has received numerous honors and accolades over the years, including Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards, Cruise Critic's Editors' Pick Award and an overall 4-Star Plus rating in the inaugural Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe. AmaWaterways' European fleet includes AmaStella (2016), AmaViola (2016), AmaVista (2015), AmaSerena (2015), AmaReina (2014), AmaSonata (2014), AmaPrima (2013), AmaCerto (2012), AmaVerde (2011), AmaBella (2010), AmaLyra (2009), AmaDolce (2009), AmaCello (2008), AmaDante (2008), AmaLegro (2007) and the AmaDagio (2006). The company's "The Exotics" division features AmaPura (2014) on the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar, AmaVida (2013) on the Douro River in Portugal, AmaLotus (2011) and AmaDara (2015) on the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia, and the Zambezi Queen (2009) on the Chobe in Botswana.