Getting Ready for My Rhine River Cruise Adventure
- Alicia at Evening Star Travel
- Nov 14
- 3 min read
Hosted by ACTA and Avalon Waterways
This month I’m thrilled to be setting off on a new river cruise experience – the ACTA River Cruise Summit aboard Avalon Waterways!
I'm so excited to have been selected to attend the ACTA /Avalon River Cruise Summit this year. During the cruise, I’ll be connecting with fellow Canadian travel advisors, learning from river cruise experts, and sailing the beautiful Rhine River just as the festive season begins.
My Journey Is About To Begin: Preparing for the Rhine
I’ll be flying from Canada to Switzerland, where I’ll spend a short time in Zurich before heading to Basel to board the Avalon Panorama. From there, our journey takes us along the Rhine River, with stops in Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, and Colmar.
You can get an early glimpse of the adventure in my latest YouTube video, where I share my excitement about attending the Summit and what I’m looking forward to.
Packing Tips for my Rhine River Cruise
Packing for a river cruise is a little different than packing for an ocean cruise or land vacation. The ships are smaller, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the focus is really on exploring.
In my Packing for a River Cruise video, I walk through what I’m bringing and why. You can watch it here:
Here are a few of my must-have items for late November travel in Europe:
Layering pieces – lightweight sweaters and tops that mix and match easily
A waterproof trench coat – perfect for chilly mornings on deck
Comfortable walking shoes – essential for those cobblestone streets
A heated vest – my personal travel MVP for this time of year
A small crossbody purse – great for daily excursions
Packing light makes such a difference on river cruises – storage is cozy, and laundry service onboard means you can easily refresh items if needed.
Why I’m So Excited About the ACTA River Cruise Summit
The ACTA River Cruise Summit brings together Canadian travel advisors for a hands-on learning experience aboard a real sailing. We’ll attend onboard sessions with cruise line executives, tour the ship, and experience excursions first-hand so we can better guide our clients in choosing the perfect itinerary.
For me, it’s also about seeing the little details that make Avalon Waterways unique — from their signature Panorama Suites to their relaxed onboard atmosphere.
Follow Along On My Avalon River Cruise
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be sharing short daily videos, photos, and reflections from the cruise. You can follow along here on the blog, or join me on:
What’s Next For My Rhine River Adventure
Next week, I’ll be sharing my embarkation day story, plus some first impressions from onboard the Avalon ship and the beautiful Rhine River towns we’ll visit.
And when you are ready to start planning your own amazing river cruise adventure - don't hesitate to reach out to start planning.
To book your next dream vacation - when the time is right to travel - reach out to me through email at Alicia@EveningStarTravel.ca, or by calling 587 772 2525. I am located in Sherwood Park, Alberta (a suburb of Edmonton), and am a Travel Advisor specializing in River Cruising, Beach Escapes, and Custom Vacations. I am the owner/operator of Evening Star Travel, and I book travel for clients all across Canada.
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