Avalon Waterways
River Cruising
Avalon is the river cruise line I recommend when clients want space and scenery without the stuffiness. Those Panorama Suites with beds facing the water genuinely change how you experience a river cruise — you wake up to castles drifting by. They keep guest counts low at around 150, so the 3:1 guest-to-crew ratio means you're never competing for attention.
Avalon Waterways redefined what a river cruise cabin could be when they introduced their Panorama Suites — 200-square-foot staterooms with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that slide open to create an open-air balcony. The beds face the water rather than the walls, a seemingly simple design choice that fundamentally changes the onboard experience. It is a signature touch that no other river cruise line has replicated at scale, and it remains the single biggest reason travellers choose Avalon over competitors.
The fleet of purpose-built Suite Ships carries roughly 150 guests each, which is notably fewer than the 190-passenger standard on competing European river vessels. That lower density translates into a more relaxed atmosphere, better service ratios, and less crowding on included excursions. A fleet-wide refresh programme running through 2026 is bringing updated decor, redesigned Sky Decks, expanded fitness facilities, and improved Starlink connectivity across the entire European fleet.
Onboard dining leans into regional flavours, with menus shifting to reflect each stretch of river — expect Alsatian tarte flambée on the Rhine, duck confit along the Dordogne, and local wines poured with every dinner. The Panorama Bistro on Suite Ships offers an intimate alternative dining venue, while the Sky Bistro serves alfresco lunches on the top deck. Avalon’s AvalonGO programme lets guests choose between classic guided tours, active excursions like cycling and hiking, and independent discovery options with curated local recommendations.
Avalon’s strongest itineraries run along Europe’s Rhine, Danube, and Seine, with the Romantic Rhine and Paris to Normandy routes consistently ranking as bestsellers. The line also operates on the Douro, Rhône, and Saône, the Dutch and Belgian Waterways, and further afield on the Mekong. For 2026, a new “Avalon After Dark” programme adds moonlit city outings and evening entertainment, while France has emerged as the company’s fastest-growing market, driven by wine-focused Bordeaux sailings.
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