A-Rosa & Charitable Travel launch charity running cruise

A-Rosa River Cruises has partnered with tourism social enterprise Charitable Travel to launch a new running cruise holiday in October 2023, setting the challenge of running 10km a day over five days, through some of the Danube River’s most spectacular landscapes and cities.

The ‘Run The River’ charity cruise takes place under the personal guidance of leading UK lifestyle and marathon coach Rory Coleman. Runners will explore Europe with a professional coach to provide encouragement, support and tips as they run.

Specially created running routes will showcase the highlights of cities such as Vienna, Bratislava and Linz including the Danube Bend, (known as the Schloegener Schlinge) and the picturesque Wachau wine valley.

Lucia Rowe, managing director at A-Rosa River Cruises UK & Ireland comments: “This is a product that is very close to my heart, and it is going to be an incredible journey that will enable everyone involved to become a better version of themselves. Whilst running is the focus, it is about so much more than that. It is a lifestyle choice and journey into our better selves that begins from the moment that people book.

“I am particularly delighted to do this in partnership with Melissa Tilling, the CEO of Charitable Travel, who is a keen runner and charity fundraiser herself and whose business is delivering so much for the people who need it most. I’m so excited I will be on this trip also, to support Rory and provide additional guidance from my own personal running journey.”

Melissa Tilling, CEO at Charitable Travel comments: “This ‘Run The River’ adventure is an incredibly innovative concept in thematic river cruising and charity fundraising combined. We have a specific social purpose to support charity fundraising, so this cruise is a perfect fit for our mission and we are delighted to be working on this with Lucia and her team.

“As with all our holidays, ‘Run The River’ has been organised so guests can support their choice of charity, but with the added twist of conquering a great 50 kilometre running challenge whilst cruising in comfort and raising money for a great cause. Having retired from running after my first marathon in London in 2017, ‘Run The River’ has tempted me to get the running shoes back on and beat this goal for charity.”

Rowe adds: “If this inaugural running cruise proves popular, it could become the first in a series of cruises that run across the different rivers that A-Rosa sails on.”

The running cruise holiday departs on October 25, 2023 and is priced from £1099pp. The package includes one night’s pre-cruise B&B accommodation in Engelhartszell, five nights’ on-board A-Rosa Donna on a Premium All-Inclusive basis including all meals and drinks, plus the full ‘Run The River’ programme and pre-cruise coaching and guidance with Rory Coleman. Flights/rail are extra. Visit charitable.travel/run-the-river for more information.

Furthermore, every holiday booked with Charitable Travel includes a 5% donation to each customers chosen charity.