In my recent river cruise adventure, there were kayaks, bikes, and hikes - just like in yours.

PortugalI was paddling hard against the current when it hit me: river cruising has really changed. I found myself in this kayak - looking silly in a wet suit and soaking wet from the passing rains, but enjoying myself - as part of a half-day program from a new river cruise ship on the Douro, Avalon Waterways' Avalon Alegria.

This is the kind of entertainment you may never have seen on river cruise schedules.

When I started writing about cruising more than two decades ago, river travel was designed for sedentary retirees. But in recent years, some river brands, including Avalon, have begun targeting a more active and younger audience of active vacationers.

As I see on a four-day trial voyage aboard Avalon Alegria, tapes of which will begin with paying passengers this week, it is now possible to have a much more active river cruise experience than just a few years ago.

Cruise brands adding more active options for river cruises - Avalon is leading this trend - is part of offering a wide range of options on their trips, including both active and inactive excursions.

In the present ...continue reading

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