Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways is the river cruise brand of the Globus family of brands, the Swiss family-owned travel group that traces its start to 1928 on Lake Lugano and also runs the Globus and Cosmos tour brands. Avalon began sailing in 2004 with one ship, Avalon Artistry, added Avalon Poetry in 2005, and joined Cruise Lines International Association in 2009. Its North American office is in Denver, Colorado.
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About Avalon Waterways
Since 2011 every new European ship has been a Suite Ship, built around 200-square-foot Panorama Suites whose floor-to-ceiling windows open across the room and whose beds face the river. The fleet now has 15 Suite Ships in Europe, from Avalon Panorama of 2011 to Avalon Alegria, which opened the line's Douro program in 2024, plus Avalon Saigon on the Mekong. On rivers and seas its own ships do not reach, Avalon charters other operators' vessels, currently in Peru's Amazon, the Galápagos and on the Nile.
Fares include wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, a nightly happy hour, Starlink Wi-Fi and an average of 22 included excursions under its Avalon Choice program, with classic, active and discovery options. Dining is open seating, and bikes and e-bikes are carried for use ashore.
What Avalon Waterways is known for
Avalon Waterways is best known for its Panorama Suites, which the line says are more than 30 percent larger than the industry standard, and for a European fleet it describes as the youngest on the rivers. Trade awards have followed: Wikipedia records a 2019 award as best European river line, TravelAge West named Avalon Saigon best new river cruise ship in 2019, and the line says its whole European fleet holds Green Award status. Its main selling points are open-seating dining, a choice of excursion styles and drinks included at meals.
There are trade-offs. The Panorama Suites trade a true step-out balcony for windows that slide open, and the lowest-deck Deluxe Staterooms are much smaller (172 square feet on Avalon Envision). Most of the European ships have a Sky Deck whirlpool but no pool; Avalon Alegria, from 2024, was the first with one. Outside Europe and the Mekong the line sells cruises on chartered ships run by other companies, and its website lists no loyalty program for past guests.
Who it's for
River · riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days
- Couples
- History and culture
- Adventure seekers
- Solo travelers
Avalon suits couples and older travelers who want a modern, mid-sized river ship, a large standard cabin with a wide view, and a mix of guided and active excursions. Travelers who like to choose between classic tours, hikes and bike rides will find the Avalon Choice program useful, and solo travelers sometimes find sailings with the single supplement waived. Its range of themed departures, from wine and jazz to WWII history, suits people who want a focus for their trip.
Families with young children, travelers who want a pool or nightlife, and anyone who insists on a walk-out balcony may prefer other lines. Guests who value a loyalty program or a ship operated by the same company everywhere they travel should also note that Avalon has no published rewards scheme and charters its ships in Egypt, Peru and the Galápagos.
Cruising solo on Avalon Waterways
Avalon has no cabins designed for one, but it waives the single supplement on most Europe departures and some Mekong sailings, so a solo traveler who books early can often have a Deluxe Stateroom or Panorama Suite at the per-person fare. The line says about 10 percent of its guests travel solo. Open-seating dinners with shared tables for six, small-group excursions and Adventure Hosts on board give solo guests easy ways to meet others on ships of up to 166 guests.
- Single supplement
- Avalon waives the single supplement for Deluxe Staterooms and Panorama Suites on most Europe departures and on select Mekong sailings, including select 2027 departures; these rooms are limited and sold first come, first served. On other departures solo guests pay a single supplement.
- Meeting other solo guests
- Avalon's solo page suggests joining a table for six with other guests at dinner (or asking for a table for two) and points to small-group excursions, onboard Adventure Hosts and special-interest cruises as ways to meet people; it lists no solo-only gatherings.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 4.2/5
- Dining
- 4/5
- Entertainment
- 3/5
- Service
- 4/5
- Pools & decks
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 19 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Avalon Waterways sails
Ships
Best rated
#23.8 ★Avalon View2022 · 166 guests · Rhine · RhôneAvalon View is the newest of Avalon Waterways' 135-meter Suite Ships, entering service in 2022 with 166 guests. Like Avalon Envision she has the FlexDining layout, with a…#33.8 ★MS Infinity2025 · 20 guests · GalápagosMS Infinity is a small expedition yacht in the Galápagos Islands that Avalon Waterways charters for its Galápagos programs. She carries 20 guests in eight staterooms and two…Every ship
- Avalon Alegria2024 · 102 guests3.8/5
- Avalon View2022 · 166 guests3.8/5
- MS Infinity2025 · 20 guests3.8/5
- Avalon Artistry II2013 · 128 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Envision2019 · 166 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Expression2013 · 166 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Illumination2014 · 166 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Imagery II2016 · 128 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Impression2014 · 166 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Panorama2011 · 166 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Passion2016 · 166 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Poetry II2014 · 128 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Saigon2018 · 36 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Tapestry II2015 · 128 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Tranquility II2015 · 128 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Visionary2012 · 128 guests3.7/5
- Avalon Vista2012 · 166 guests3.7/5
- Delfin III20153.7/5
- MS Farah20113.7/5
Where to fly in
- Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)7 Avalon Waterways ships sail from Budapest, Hungary5 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)4 Avalon Waterways ships sail from Amsterdam, Netherlands10 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)2 Avalon Waterways ships sail from Paris, France21 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)1 Avalon Waterways ship sails from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam3 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS)1 Avalon Waterways ship sails from Lyon, France2 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO)1 Avalon Waterways ship sails from Porto, Portugal1 lounge on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Avalon Waterways known for?
Avalon Waterways is best known for its Panorama Suites, which the line says are more than 30 percent larger than the industry standard, and for a European fleet it describes as the youngest on the rivers. Trade awards have followed: Wikipedia records a 2019 award as best European river line, TravelAge West named Avalon Saigon best new river cruise ship in 2019, and the line says its whole European fleet holds Green Award status. Its main selling points are open-seating dining, a choice of excursion styles and drinks included at meals.
Who is Avalon Waterways best for?
Avalon suits couples and older travelers who want a modern, mid-sized river ship, a large standard cabin with a wide view, and a mix of guided and active excursions. Travelers who like to choose between classic tours, hikes and bike rides will find the Avalon Choice program useful, and solo travelers sometimes find sailings with the single supplement waived. Its range of themed departures, from wine and jazz to WWII history, suits people who want a focus for their trip.
Is Avalon Waterways good for solo travellers?
Avalon has no cabins designed for one, but it waives the single supplement on most Europe departures and some Mekong sailings, so a solo traveler who books early can often have a Deluxe Stateroom or Panorama Suite at the per-person fare. The line says about 10 percent of its guests travel solo. Open-seating dinners with shared tables for six, small-group excursions and Adventure Hosts on board give solo guests easy ways to meet others on ships of up to 166 guests.
Where does Avalon Waterways sail?
Avalon Waterways's ships in service sail Rhine (14 ships), Danube (11 ships), Seine (4 ships), Rhône (4 ships), South America (1 ship), Galápagos (1 ship), Douro (1 ship), Nile (1 ship) and Mekong (1 ship).
How is Avalon Waterways rated?
Avalon Waterways's fleet averages 3.7 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 19 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Avalon Alegria at 3.8.
How many ships does Avalon Waterways have?
Avalon Waterways has 19 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Avalon Alegria, Avalon Artistry II, Avalon Envision, Avalon Expression, Avalon Illumination, Avalon Imagery II, Avalon Impression and Avalon Panorama, and 11 more.
Who owns Avalon Waterways?
Avalon Waterways is part of Globus family of brands.
Where is Avalon Waterways based?
Avalon Waterways is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, United States. It has operated since 2004.
Cruising with children
Avalon can suit an older child who enjoys exploring towns with the family. Consider how much guided sightseeing your child wants, rather than choosing solely by the cabin or river.
Read the Avalon Waterways family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
Thinking about a drinks package on Avalon Waterways? Enter the price the line quotes and what you'd pay for a drink on board. If your fare already includes drinks, you can skip this one.
Avalon Waterways includes house wine with lunch and dinner. Avalon Waterways ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A typical drink you'd buy on board.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
6drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 5.8 drinks at $13. Over 7 days that's $525, or 41 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $70 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $455
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Avalon Waterways and its ships
- What a glass of house wine costs on cruise lines, and which ones pour it free
From $9 on Royal Caribbean to $14 on MSC, and free on 25 lines. The prices behind Cruise Frog's drinks package calculator.
Cruise lines
- Avalon Waterways waives the single supplement on most of Europe. Here is what solo cruisers get for it
No solo cabins, but a Panorama Suite to yourself at the per-person fare on most European departures. A solo traveler's guide to Avalon Waterways.
Cruise lines
- 5 things Avalon Waterways does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of Avalon Waterways, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
Cruise lines