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Avalon waterways river cruise deals.

Avalon Waterways River Cruises is a river cruise line that has been offering a special, destination-intensive focus to river cruising for over 80 years. You can expect top-notch amenities, incredible destinations, delicious and diverse dining options (both on board and on land), and a truly delightful experience each time you step on one of Avalon Waterways River Cruises' award-winning ships. View our best Avalon Waterways river cruise specials below.

Avalon Waterways is currently our only preferred river cruise line offering cruises on the Mississippi River. They are also offering a set of new suite ships that offer the largest staterooms in river cruising. Experience all of these wonderful amenities on a sailing in Europe, Asia, Egypt, North America or South America. Find a cruise deal for an Avalon Waterways cruise to get your vacation started now!

Take advantage of limited-time offers and special deals

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Avalon Waterways: up to FREE Airfare*

Avalon Waterways Europe Sale: Bonus Savings

Avalon Waterways: Guided Tours, Fine Dining...

Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises from $2,049*

Avalon Waterways Galapagos cruises

Avalon Waterways Southeast Asia river cruises from $2,739*

Avalon Waterways Africa cruises

Avalon Waterways Asia cruises from $6,207*

Avalon Waterways Vietnam and Cambodia cruises

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Avalon Waterways River Cruise Deals

Browse our latest deals with Avalon Waterways and book your place on-board for an amazing price, with an excellent collection of deals available with this river cruise line.

With this excellent collection of deals on Avalon Waterways river cruises, you can benefit from a range of fantastic savings and great incentives when you book your next Avalon voyage with us, no matter where you are hoping to travel.

View 2024 Avalon Waterways River Cruises   View 2025 Avalon Waterways River Cruises

Filter by search

Showing 25 out of 1260 cruises.

featured cruise

The Legendary Danube

Sailing Date : 31 Oct 2024

Call now for the best flight inclusive prices!

Gratuities and a choice of daily excursions are included

Avalon Panorama Suites are thirty percent larger than the industry standard

Was £3677pp

Fly Cruise From £1583pp

German Grandeur (Eastbound)

Sailing Date : 25 Oct 2024

Danube, Rhine

Was £4037pp

Fly Cruise From £1717pp

Active & Discovery in Holland & Belgium

Sailing Date : 06 Jun 2025

Was £1999pp

Fly Cruise From £1919pp

Active & Discovery on the Danube (Westbound)

Sailing Date : 11 Jun 2025

Active & Discovery on the Rhine (Southbound)

Sailing Date : 14 Jun 2025

Active & Discovery on the Danube from Serbia to Romania

Sailing Date : 06 Sep 2024

Was £3067pp

Cruise Only From £2944pp

Paris to Normandy

Sailing Date : 10 Sep 2024

Was £4352pp

Cruise Only From £4177pp

Burgundy & Provence (Southbound)

Rhone, Saone

Was £3352pp

Cruise Only From £3217pp

Magnificent Rivers of Europe

Sailing Date : 11 Sep 2024

Was £5772pp

Cruise Only From £5541pp

Mekong Discovery (Southbound)

Sailing Date : 12 Sep 2024

Was £3629pp

Cruise Only From £3483pp

Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River (Southbound)

Was £4949pp

Cruise Only From £4751pp

The Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam (Southbound)

Was £6456pp

Cruise Only From £6197pp

A Taste of the Danube (Eastbound)

Sailing Date : 13 Sep 2024

Was £1700pp

Cruise Only From £1632pp

Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River (Northbound)

Sailing Date : 16 Sep 2024

Was £4999pp

Cruise Only From £4799pp

Romantic Rhine (Southbound)

Sailing Date : 17 Sep 2024

Was £3102pp

Cruise Only From £2977pp

Sailing Date : 18 Sep 2024

Was £5452pp

Cruise Only From £5233pp

Active & Discovery on the Moselle

Was £2827pp

Cruise Only From £2713pp

Mekong Discovery (Northbound)

Sailing Date : 19 Sep 2024

The Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam (Northbound)

Was £6595pp

Cruise Only From £6331pp

Sailing Date : 21 Sep 2024

Was £2953pp

Cruise Only From £2834pp

Danube Dreams (Westbound)

Was £3752pp

Cruise Only From £3601pp

Danube Dreams (Eastbound)

Sailing Date : 23 Sep 2024

Was £1800pp

Cruise Only From £1728pp

Magnificent Europe

Sailing Date : 26 Sep 2024

Was £4925pp

Cruise Only From £4728pp

Was £3799pp

Cruise Only From £3647pp

Was £5119pp

Cruise Only From £4914pp

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Discounts & Deals

With our terrific discounts, you'll save even more off Avalon's low prices. Below is a comprehensive list of Avalon deals, available on trips to destinations around the world. Click any link to view eligible itineraries.

• Save up to $4,000 per couple on Europe sailings with a special bonus offer. Prices shown reflect discount. Expires September 9. Click here .
• Save up to $3,000 per couple on Europe departures. Prices shown reflect discount. Expires September 9. Click here .
• Save up to $4,000 per couple on cruises worldwide. Prices shown reflect discount. Expires September 9. Click here .
• Receive free prepaid gratuities on the cruise portion of Active & Discovery sailings (a value of up to $878 per couple depending on the itinerary). This is combinable with most offers. Click here .
• Travel with Avalon Waterways and receive a Welcome Back Credit of $100 to $250 per person after your trip. The credit can be applied toward a subsequent trip with Avalon or its sister brands Globus and Cosmos. Click here .

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Avalon Waterways

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Avalon Waterways fleet

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This is CruiseMapper's page that reviews and lists all Avalon Waterways river cruise ship itineraries, destinations, and ports of departure. We have all Avalon riverboat schedules (sail calendar with dates and prices PP). Another feature is the Avalon Waterways ships tracking service integrated into each page. This feature shows on a map the ship's location now (current position on the river).

The Avalon Waterways cruise company was founded in 2004 and is a brand name owned by Group Voyagers Inc (also known simply as "Globus family of brands" and "Globus Travel Group").

The company's headquarters (as part of the Globus family) are in the USA (Littleton, Colorado). Avalon's current President is Pam Hoffee (promoted from Managing Director in May 2022). Other company executives include Scott Nisbet (CEO-Chief Executive Officer), Steve Born (CMO-Chief Marketing Officer), Camille Olivere (CSO-Chief Sales Officer).

Avalon River Cruises

The premium travel brand and river cruise line Avalon Waterways (avalonwaterways.com) offers exceptional personalized services, with experience in guided vacations and cruising itineraries of over 80 years. Avalon travel experts are constantly thinking of their passengers and always put them first.

The company uses small ships, and their guests do receive personalized service in absolutely no crowd. Avalon makes it easy to enjoy the beauty of destinations, as they include guided sightseeing tours and shore excursions in the basic fares.

All Avalon riverboats feature a quiet propulsion system and outside accommodations - among the largest of the river fleets. Avalon staterooms are relaxing and comfortable, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors, satellite TV, hotel-quality beds, bathrooms with full-sized showers, and even private balconies. The expansive sun decks, modern fitness equipment, and beauty salons are another extra.

Each Avalon Waterways ship features a relaxing Main Lounge with exciting panoramic river views, an intimate dining room, and Internet workstation area. Complimentary regional wines, soft drinks, and beer are offered during dinner and lunch. Expert tour directors present educational background: language, culture, even China art lessons, a specialist Egyptologist, lectures on wildlife and natural history of the Galapagos Islands - a plus for all Avalon inquisitive passengers.

Avalon riverboats

The Avalon cruise company became known worldwide with its unprecedented fleet expansion (see in the itinerary section / at least one new ship per year). The reason for so many newbuilds is Avalon's parent company Globus Group. Founded in 1928, the Globus group of companies manages over 30 businesses in the fields of tourism and aviation, offering annually over 10000 departures on over 300 unique itineraries.

This makes Globus one of the world's largest cruisetour agencies with operations in nearly 70 countries on 6 continents and servicing over 0,5 million passengers annually with a huge variety of escorted tours, all kinds of river cruise packages, and also selling independent travel package deals.

Avalon's river cruise deals relate to the following regions/destinations and countries

• Europe (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Holland, Hungary, France, Germany, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Portugal/Douro River)
• North American (USA) Waterways (Mississippi River)
• Asia (China/Yangtze, and Cambodia and Vietnam/Mekong Delta)
• Africa (Egypt - Nile River and Lake Nasser)
• South America (the Galapagos Islands, Amazon River)

Innovation and technology - in 2011, Avalon introduced the Panorama ship - industry's first Suite-class riverboat. On Avalon's "suite ships", ~80% of all staterooms are in Suite categories, sized 1/3 larger than the industry's average, with slide-opening wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows, window-facing beds for a unique river cruising experience. Another design feature is the SDS "Silent Drive System" (providing quieter and smoother navigation), contemporary interior decor, surprisingly spacious public areas (fitted with plenty of woodwork, polished metal and glass), designer lighting, contemporary artworks.

All-Inclusive deals - all shore excursions and guided tours, food and beverages (including a locally-sourced selection of wines and 24hr tea/coffee/cake/cookies self-service station) and the superior service are included in the cruise fares. The onboard experience also features

• premium (5-star hotel room) amenities - premium bedding, complimentary WiFi access, Sky Deck (Jacuzzi, premium loungers), Hair Salon, Fitness, well-stocked library. Guest in the Royal Suite category can also enjoy in-suite complimentary iPads.
• cuisine / food - an open-seating dining, buffet-style breakfast, lunch buffets (2 hot dishes, soups, salads, various bread, and dessert choices), 4-course dinners, complimentary wine with lunch and dinner, 5-course welcome dinners and "chef tastings". These are non-smoking ships, with the exception of those sailing in China and Egypt.
• shipboard entertainment - stylish bars and lounges, after dinner piano music and classy performances by local musicians, special events, movie nights, beer and wine tastings, a great onboard enrichment program (by lectures focused on the itinerary/region), expert tour directors.

Company's clientele/customers are generally well-travelled, 55+ aged, mostly English speaking. The majority of passengers are retired Americans (~60%), Australians (~25%), also from Canada (~10%) and UK (~5%). Hotel staff consists of mostly Eastern Europeans. Shipbuilding company is Neptun Werft. Parent company's website is GlobusAndCosmos.com

The following YouTube video reviews the Avalon Waterways Asia cruises - Vietnam (Mekong River) itineraries.

The following video reviews Avalon's "Suite Ships" cabins.

In 2019, the Avalon fleet left four 138-passenger riverboats - the sisterships Affinity , Felicity , Luminary and Creativity . These vessels are currently chartered by "Gate 1 Travel".

Inaugurated in 2020, the company's "Your Way" program allows Avalon cruise passengers to "chart their own course, at their own pace".

• Globus (escorted tour vacation) with hotel accommodations, sightseeing, Tour Director, certified Local Guides, transportation and coach driver.
• Monograms (independent vacation package) with hotel accommodations, sightseeing and on-site Local Host services.
• Avalon Waterways land extension package with expert-guided sightseeing.

The "Avalon Choice" menu (offered on every cruisetour itinerary) allows choosing from a wide variety of price-included excursions grouped as:

• DISCOVERY - interactive activities specifically designed to cater to passengers' interests (cooking classes, painting workshops, etc).
• ACTIVE - guided trips (jogging tours, hiking, biking, paddling) along the destinations
• CLASSIC - local expert-guided tours themed on the port's/destination's history, culture, architecture

The AvalonGO App helps customers to independently explore all itinerary destinations, providing detailed daily scheduled activities, itinerary information, nearby attractions, maps, travel directions, local dining (cafes, bars, restaurants) and entertainment options.

In 2022, the company introduced the sustainability "Lighthouse Project" (Planet-People-Places) aiming to protect waterways and wildlife and to promote organizations that support sustainability, communities and environmental preservation. As part of this project, in the period 2022-2024, the company planned to reduce its paper waste to ~1% (by replacing paper use with interactive digital technologies), to start using biofuel for bunkering, to reduce by 50% its total CO emissions, to install electric bow thrusters (on all older boats). As of 2022, Avalon already eliminated (shipboard and ashore) single-use plastics, reduced by 95% paper waste, invested in farmers (to secure locally-produced food and beverages and support local economies), installed LED lighting fleetwide), increased using shore power (while the boats are berthed) to further reduce pollution.

In December 2023, Avalon Waterways signed a multi-year charter deal with Arosa Cruises for two boats ( Affinity/Alea and Creativity/Clea ) starting operations for Arosa in April 2024.

Avalon Waterways cruise price Inclusions

All meals onboard are included in your fares (meals at breakfast, lunch, dinner). Also included are:

• Captain's welcome and farewell parties (sparkling wine, canapes)
• Welcome Aboard dinner, Farewell dinner
• (daily) Afternoon Tea, Night Fare (served at 10:30 pm)
• Local destination chef dinner
• Meals and complimentary drinks (daily) - breakfast (sparkling wine-juices, made-to-order egg station), lunch (soft drinks), dinner (regional wines, beer, soda, choice of appetizers-entrees-desserts-cheese).
• Staterooms amenities - 2 twin beds that convert to queen-size, 3-door ample closets (shelved), 1 private bathroom (with glass-door separation shower), a hairdryer, complimentary bathrobes and slippers, 2-seater sofa, coffee table, smart TV (satellite), a vanity desk, individual room climate control, direct-dial phone, mini-fridge, personal safe, deluxe pillow menu (soft/hard), 1,5L complimentary bottled water. Standard occupancy in all staterooms is 2 guests.
• Other features - panoramic windows, contemporary design of public spaces, headsets (shore tours), premium coffees-cappuccinos-lattes, coffee self-serve station, a lounge for premium spirits, modern fitness center, premium bedding (BedsSM), luxury bath amenities (L'Occitane), early- and late-riser breakfast, full buffet breakfast, Alfresco lunches (Sky Bistro), regional food recipes, 4-course dinners (open seating), English-speaking crew, non-smoking environment, large modern bathrooms (showers are with sliding glass doors), flat TVs (satellite), 3-door closets. Alternative dinners with regional specialties are served at the Panorama Bistro (on the newest "Suite Ships"), complimentary maps and Nordic walking sticks (on tours).

Avalon Waterways cruise prices also Include city tours and excursions (with a local guide), but these visits and their features are subject to change (a substitute will be offered). All Avalon cruise rates in our articles are per passenger (double occupancy, airfare not included). On some of the Avalon cruises, mid-vacation flights are required.

Avalon river cruises Europe, Asia, USA hotel package deals

Note: Avalon river cruise deals are also inclusive of premium hotel stays (included in the ticket's price).

• Avalon Waterways Europe hotel deals - Vienna (InterContinental), Budapest (InterContinental), Prague (InterContinental or Hilton), Paris (Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe, and Pullman Paris Montparnasse), Cote d'Azur (Fairmont Monte Carlo), Munich (Sofitel Munich Bayerpost), Cote d'Azur (Fairmont Monte Carlo), Bucharest (Athenee Palace Hilton).
• Avalon Waterways Asia hotel deals - Thailand/Bangkok (InterContinental Bangkok), Cambodia/Siem Reap (Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa), Vietnam/Ho Chi Minh City (InterContinental Asiana Saigon). Avalon hotel partnerships in China/Tibet - Shanghai (Fairmont Peace), Xian (Hilton), Beijing (Fairmont), Chengdu (Shangri-La Hotel), Lijiang (Crowne Plaza), Lhasa (Sheraton - Four Points).
• Avalon Waterways USA hotel deals - Chicago (Palmer House Hilton), Springfield (Hilton), Nashville (Opryland Hotel), Memphis (The Peabody Memphis) and New Orleans (Hilton New Orleans Riverside).
• Avalon Waterways Amazon River (Peru, South America) hotel deals - Lima (Casa Andina Miraflores), Sacred Valley (Casa Andina Sacred Valley), Machu Picchu (Sumaq Hotel) and Cusco (Casa Andina Cusco).
• Avalon Waterways Galapagos Islands (Ecuador, South America) hotel deals - Quito (Swissotel Quito), Galapagos (Finch Bay Hotel).
• Avalon Waterways Egypt (Nile River) tours and hotel deals - Cairo (Oberoi Mena House, and Fairmont Heliopolis), Alexandria (Helnan Palestine). For Avalon's Nile cruises currently is chartered the ship MS Farah .

If some water level problems occur, or any technical problems, Avalon Waterways may operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to change the entire cruise tour program. Check the visa requirements with your travel agent - visas are the client's responsibility.

(new) Avalon Waterways FlexDining program

In 2019, the company introduced the so-called FlexDining on all boats in the fleet.

• Dining is open seating / not fixed at all shipboard venues.
• FlexDining allows passengers to enjoy more dining time flexibility at all onboard breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
• At all the ship's dining venues (Main Restaurant, Panorama Bistro, Sky Grill) were added healthy food options with the new "Avalon Fresh" menu (introduced in 2017). The "Avalon Fresh" dining option is a partnership between Avalon Waterways and the German chefs Leo and Karl Wrenkh. The new menu offers healthy food made with freshest ingredients from local farms and suppliers,
• In the restaurants fleetwide were added more 2-top tables for couples.
• At Sky Deck (Sun Deck) was added bar service plus night snacks (upon request).
• Complimentary picnic lunches are provided on all shore excursions and tours in ports of call.

Avalon's FlexDining allows all passengers to choose dining venue and times, an alfresco lunch (Sky Grill), less formal Panorama Bistro, 4-course dinner in the dining room restaurant.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, Avalon Waterways suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all riverboats) canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through late-July 2021.

Operations were planned to resume on October 1, 2020, but the fleet's pause was eventually extended through 2021 July (Europe and Asia).

All affected Avalon river cruise and cruisetour bookings received a full (100%) monetary refund, including on prepurchased through Avalon Waterways packages and services.

Itinerary of Avalon Waterways

Here are the shortcuts to all the Avalon Waterways river cruise line ships. The company operates a young fleet of mostly European riverboats aimed at North American, Australian and New Zealand passengers in their 50s or older. Avalon river cruises deals as itineraries and destinations extend to Egypt’s Nile River and China’s Yangtze River - from Hong Kong and Tibet to Ulaanbaatar. Avalon Waterways also operate the Galapagos Islands destination. In this section, you will find all their ships, itinerary information, complete sailing schedules with dates and prices to compare.

As an alternative to owning river cruise ships, Avalon leases them. The company partners with shipowner companies with operational ships in a particular destination and brand one or more boats as "Avalon Waterways". These boats are usually chartered for up to 5 years, with the option the company to refurbish them or give them back to the owner. This way Avalon easily maintains one of the youngest and most modern fleets on this market.

In the list below, the newest Avalon "Suite Ships" are starred (*). All "Suite Ships" are scheduled to sail on Danube, Main and Rhine river cruises in Europe.

In 2019, the Avalon fleet left the 138-passenger riverboats/sisterships Affinity , Felicity , Luminary and Creativity . These vessels are currently chartered by "Gate 1 Travel".

• Avalon Angkor (2012) - Mekong River - Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia. Since 2015 the ship operates as "Angkor Pandaw".
• Avalon Artistry 2 (2013*) - Rhine River - Holland, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Switzerland
• Avalon Envision (2019) - Danube River - Danube River - Holland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia
• Avalon Expression (2013*) - Danube River - The Holland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, Slovakia
• Avalon Illumination (2014*) - the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers - Holland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey
• Avalon Imagery (2016*) - the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers
• Avalon Impression (2014*) - Danube River - Holland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia
• Avalon Myanmar (2015) - Irrawaddy river - Burma
• Avalon Panorama (2011*) - the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers - The Holland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia
• Avalon Passion (2016*) - the Danube, Main, Rhine, Holland, Black Sea
• Avalon Poetry 2 (2014*) - the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers - Holland, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland
• Avalon Siem Reap (2015) - Mekong River - Cambodia and Vietnam
• Avalon Tapestry 2 (2015*) - France (on Seine River leaving from Paris)
• Avalon Tranquility 2 (2015*) - Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers
• Avalon View (2020*) - Rhine and Danube
• Avalon Visionary (2012*) - Danube and Rhine Rivers - Holland, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland
• Avalon Vista (2012*) - the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers - The Holland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia
• Century Legend and Century Paragon offer the Yangtze River cruises in China. Both ships are privately-owned and operated by Viking under a charter. These riverboats are also chartered by other major European lines, like AmaWaterways , Viking and Uniworld .
• American Queen steamboat (1996-launched) offers Mississippi River cruises in the USA. The riverboat is operated under charter - via a partnership with the "American Queen Steamboat Company".
• Aria houseboat (2010-launched) offers Amazon River cruises in Peru (South America). The boat is chartered from Aqua Expeditions.
• Kasr Ibrim (1997-launched) offers Lake Nasser cruises on the Nile River in Egypt. The ship is operated under a charter.
• Sonesta St George (2011-launched) offers Nile River) cruises in Egypt, and is also operated under a charter.
• Avalon Alegria (2024-launched) offers Douro River cruises in Portugal and is chartered from DouroAzul.

In 2019, Avalon Waterways added 6 new options, including the company's first "Ganges River Cruise" in India. With the new itineraries are also introduced all-suite newbuild riverboats (with open-air, floor-ceiling balconies) and new shore excursions and onboard activities.

Avalon Waterways itinerary options are categorized into 3 classifications (CLASSIC, ACTIVE, DISCOVERY) allowing customers to tailor their cruise according to personal preferences, special interests, and activity level. The DISCOVERY programs target specific interests (like painting workshops and cooking classes) themed on the region's culture. ACTIVE programs target more energetic passengers and include options like guided jogging tours, cycling, hiking, paddling. CLASSIC programs are based on lectures (history- and culture-themed) and walking tours guided by professional local experts.

Douro River cruise itinerary (Avalon Alegria)

In 2024 the company introduced the newbuild boat Avalon Alegria which is deployed year-round on the Douro River in Portugal. Departures are from Lisbon , with land travel/bus transfers to Oporto/Leixoes . Avalon Alegria has scheduled two different itineraries - a classic 7-day roundtrip cruise from Oporto (visiting Regua, Pocinho, Aregos) and a 10-day cruisetour itinerary inclusive of three nights (hotel stay) in Lisbon.

With the Alegria ship, Avalon Waterways offers the new 10-day itinerary "Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along The Douro". This cruisetour combines 38x shore excursions - Classic (scheduled/complimentary) and Discovery and Active (optional/at extra cost). Land tours include guided activities like bike rides, food and wine tastings, cooking (baking traditional Portuguese pastries), visiting privately owned farms, and sampling local foods. At a craft class (led by a professional painter) tourists can create Portugal's traditional blue-and-white azulejo tiles.

The next table shows the Douro cruise itinerary's destinations.

Avalon's Douro cruisetour prices in 2024 started from GBP 2730 (EUR 3180/USD 3450) per person with double occupancy.

Avalon river cruise tracker

Our Avalon cruise ship tracker is a function integrated into all Avalon river cruise review pages. At page-bottom on each page, you'll find a map with the boat's current location (AIS position). All the real-time tracking data is provided by VesselFinder. It's all about convenience - you will find where is your Avalon Waterways ship cruising today and right now along its current itinerary - in real-time!

Enjoy the luxury travel cruising on your Avalon Waterways vacations!

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All river passenger shipping line companies and their fleets are listed there.

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5 little things I wish every cruise line would copy from Avalon Waterways

Editor's Note

To deliver a great experience, cruise lines have to get the big things right. For instance, they need to design ships that flow well and have venues that excite their customers, and they need to build enticing itineraries. They need to deliver great service.

But they have to get the little things right, too.

Indeed, it's the little things that can make all the difference between a good and a great cruise experience.

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I was reminded of that this past week while on board a preview sailing for Avalon Alegria , the newest vessel from river cruise line Avalon Waterways.

As I've seen time and again on Avalon sailings over the past two decades, it's a brand that gets a lot of little things right — in ways that I wish more cruise lines would copy.

Surprisingly, most of the things that I've listed below have not been copied widely by other lines, even though Avalon implemented some of them quite a few years ago.

Here are five little things that Avalon does that I'd love to see spread to other cruise brands.

Beds facing the view

If there is one thing that really sets Avalon apart from most of its competitors, it is this: The beds in most cabins on its ships face the view.

It's not just the view-facing beds that make Avalon cabins special. It's the use of an almost complete glass wall along the view side of many of the rooms to frame the passing scenery.

This meant that while propped up in my bed on Avalon Alegria — which is based on Portugal's famously scenic Douro River — I could watch an ever-moving landscape of rolling hills, vineyards and centuries-old towns without ever turning my head.

This has been a defining feature of Avalon since it unveiled its first "panorama suites" specifically built with view-facing beds and giant glass walls on ships in 2011. Every one of Avalon's 16 vessels now has them.

It's such a wonderful innovation — traditionally, most beds in cruise cabins face sideways to an interior wall — that I wrote an entire story on why I still think Avalon has the best cabins in river cruising .

Yours-and-mine towels

Is that wet towel on the bathroom hook yours or your companions? If you're as grossed out as I am about accidentally using somebody else's already-used towel, you'll love this second little unusual thing that Avalon does in its cabins. It stocks each bathroom with "yours-and-mine" bath and hand towels in two colors: white and brown.

The idea is that you claim one of the colors, your plus-one takes the other, and you never mix up your towels again.

Related: Avalon Waterways is known for offering active outings

If you're in the camp that feels like the bathroom best practice is to discard towels after just one use, this doesn't matter, of course. But for the increasing numbers of eco-conscious among us who hang our towels up for multiple reuses, it cleverly solves the problem of towel mixup.

Every time I see it on an Avalon ship, it makes me smile.

A breakfast tower of superfoods

Bio linseeds, we're told, support a healthy heart and reduce the risk of a stroke. Basil seeds assist in reducing inflammation. Wolfberries help strengthen our immune system.

You can get all three of these superfoods, as well as several others, including sunflower seeds and chia seeds, each morning at the breakfast buffet on Avalon ships. They appear on a "tower of superfoods" that is usually near an array of fresh fruit, smoothies and other healthful breakfast options, accompanied by a sign that explains their health value.

It's part of a health-minded approach to dining at Avalon that also includes locally sourced items for the ship's daily menus and lists of 14 different potential allergens in dishes — including peanuts, gluten, crustaceans and lupines — that appear prominently on menus.

Additionally, the line's Avalon Fresh program brings a focus on artfully crafted salads, high-protein plates, and vegetarian and vegan specialties to the menus found on board.

Conversation starters in the lounge

Struggling to come up with a topic to discuss with those strangers sitting across from you in the lounge? Struggle no more. Avalon ships now have prompts to help you get chatty.

As I saw on Avalon Alegria, coffee tables throughout lounges have little plexiglass trays holding cards with conversation starters written on their backs. Pick one up, and you have a ready-made topic to break the ice.

"Where would you volunteer if you had a free day tomorrow?" asked one of the cards I turned over while sitting with a group of strangers of both old and new friends in the lounge last week on Avalon Alegria.

I know my answer. What's yours? Next time we're on a ship together, let's discuss.

Spacious showers

Finding oneself jammed into a not-quite-big-enough shower is a hazard of cruising. Space on ships comes at a premium, and many cruise ship bathrooms (and cabins) are relatively small.

However, Avalon long ago figured out a nifty trick to steal a little more space for the showers in its cabin bathrooms without taking away too much from the space available for the rest of the room. It angles one of the walls in its standard cabin bathrooms outward just enough to create a wider space for the shower.

The wall that is angled outward is the one shared with the bedroom area, and the angling cuts into the space available on the side of the bed in the bedroom area farthest from the door. It's a reallocation of space that really isn't noticeable to someone on the bedroom side of the wall.

The angling on the bathroom side, though, makes a big difference. The showers feel spacious.

Bottom line

The above list isn't all encompassing. I included five of my favorite little things that Avalon does on its ships. But the list could as easily have had several additional items. I love the way Avalon offers four mattress firmness options for its cabin beds, for instance — an unusual option made possible by using mattresses with different firmless levels on their tops and bottoms combined with different mattress toppers.

Avalon also has club lounges on its ships with complimentary espresso drinks and snacks that are open to all, not just elite customers. In one of my favorite little touches for an older demographic such as me (I'm just turning 55), the line keeps reading glasses at the entrance to its dining room for people who need a little magnification to read the dinner menu.

To sum up, Avalon Waterways does many little things that make for a better cruise experience, from positioning the beds in cabins to face the view to offering superfoods on the side in its dining room at breakfast. Other cruise lines might want to take notice.

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