Recognized for its Suite Ship® designs, personalized cruise itineraries and a host of choices for experiences onboard and on shore, Avalon Waterways is showing travelers the world’s great rivers in a whole new way.
Suite Designs
The crowning jewel within Avalon’s fleet of 16 Suite Ships is its uniquely designed Panorama SuiteSM. Boasting the widest-opening, wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in river cruising, Panorama Suites are designed with the view in mind, providing river cruising’s only Open-Air Balcony®. Trading the typical faux balconies of other lines, Avalon offers cabin space that’s 30% larger than the industry standard, and positions its beds to face the window. Avalon prides itself on offering the widest suite views in river cruising.
Avalon Alegria
Avalon recently expanded its portfolio of 12 rivers and 20-plus countries with an inaugural sailing on Portugal’s Douro River. The company’s newest Suite Ship, Avalon Alegria, made its debut with the brand-new itinerary, Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro. While the Douro is known for its bountiful vineyards, cellars and wines, Avalon’s itinerary also immerses guests in the art, architecture, natural beauty and cultural traditions of Portugal with its Avalon Choice included excursions. The spacious Alegria is a 262-foot-long ship with 14 deluxe staterooms and two full decks featuring 37 Panorama Suites and a comfortable capacity of just 102 passengers. Like the rest of Avalon’s European fleet, Alegria features the superior performance of Starlink Wi-Fi, and the addition of a Sky Deck swimming pool.
Hello to Bordeaux
Avalon enthusiasts are anticipating the cruise operator’s foray into the Bordeaux wine region with new cruises on France’s Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Avalon’s 2025 unveiling of Bonjour Bordeaux will offer extended itineraries that combine Bordeaux with other rivers in France and extend into Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands and more.
Avalon Choice® Inclusions
With its seemingly endless selection of included Avalon Choice excursions and experiences, the line offers award-winning ways for guests to see the world their way. Avalon guests enjoy a wealth of cruise styles, including exciting Special Interest Cruises for enthusiasts to dive into their passion for wine, cuisine, history, music and more alongside Masters of Wine, history experts and culinary instructors for hands-on experiences. Active & Discovery itineraries offer the classic excursions travelers love, along with ample opportunities to pedal, paddle, paint and ponder with included Active & Discovery excursions for every fitness level and level of interest in local cultures.
Avalon offers a variety of included excursions, with many active options.
Credit: 2024 Avalon WaterwaysNew Horizons for 2025
Based on more than 16,600 responses to Avalon’s recent “Wish List” survey of past cruisers, cruisers now want longer, more in-depth getaways. So, for 2025, Avalon is offering a boatload of new cruises that set sail for 10-plus days. Of particular interest are new 10-day itineraries on the popular Rhine and Danube rivers, as well as in Holland and Belgium, all debuting next year.
Full Steam Ahead
Avalon continues its award-winning industry partnerships with a commitment to elevating the cruise experience for travel advisors and their clients. With ever-evolving tools packed into the user-friendly Travel Advisor Portal, Avalon makes it easier than ever for advisors to seamlessly share itineraries with clients, access personalized marketing tools customized for their brand, and gain brand expertise in cruise and tour features via GFOB University.