Cruisin' Into 2022 Sale: Receive Free Pre-Paid Gratuities on Avalon 2022 Europe Cruises.*
booking window: November 24, 2021 through December 1, 2021
travel window: January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022
THE WORLD
MISSES YOU
And Avalon Can Take You There
Travel Advisement
Due to conditions related to COVID-19, the Austrian and Bavarian governments have announced lock-downs and Christmas Market closures that will affect select Avalon Waterways cruises to the regions. Due to these closures, Avalon Waterways will be cancelling all Danube and Main-Danube itineraries between now and the end of the year. Avalon will be in direct contact with all affected guests and their travel advisors to offer a range of options to reschedule affected cruises. Communications with affected guests will be done in order of upcoming departure dates.
Travel Updates & Policies
Review travel policies, open countries and operations relating to the Coronavirus. International travel returns, including flexible booking and travel options.
Read more >
Cruise Deals
Fly Free (plus save $1000 per couple) from select U.S. cities on select 2022 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises.*
booking window: April 20, 2021 through January 3, 2022
travel window: March 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022
The World Wants You to Come Back
It’s finally time to reunite and rekindle your travel romance! Time to move on from melancholy and enjoy moving experiences that take you along ancient cobblestone alleyways, on alluring waterways and on top of mystical, craggy hilltops overlooking incredible landscapes and landmarks. To give a warm, welcoming hug to new people and places, cultures, customs and cuisines. And wrap your arms around wonderment, curiosity and intrigue.
It's All About
Your Outlook
Changing your outlook can be a great thing. For Avalon, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Our entire fleet of Suite Ships® in Europe and Southeast Asia features incomparable Panorama SuitesSM with the widest windows in river cruising that transform your suite into our signature Open Air BalconySM. While other river cruise ships stick your bed against one wall only to face another wall, we’ve turned that idea on its head. With beds that actually face your wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, you’ll stretch out to the widest views in river cruising. So, go ahead, open wide and say, “Aaaahhh!”
CRUISE "CRITIC"? WE PREFER
CRUISE "COMPLIMENT"
(And thank you, by the way)
Cruise Critic named Avalon’s staterooms the best in the business, and yes, we’re blushing a bit. But it’s only because we’ve taken such pride in bringing you river cruising’s only Open-Air Balcony stateroom design, featuring beds with a view. Rest easy (literally) as you enjoy bigger views, more space and 24/7 access to open-air cruising. With Avalon, the views are as wide open as the possibilities.
Introducing Storyteller Series
Interested in turning the page on the classic river cruise? Transport yourself through time and tales with revered raconteurs on Avalon Waterways' NEW Storyteller Series of Suite Ship sailings along the Rhine, Danube and Seine Rivers in 2021 and 2022.
These celebrity-hosted European river cruises invite travel enthusiasts, like you, to meet legends in legendary landscapes. To sail past cliffside castles while uncovering cliff-hangers in the company of award-winning artists. And capture insider narratives outside the pages of novels, scripts and song lyrics.
Add to the storytelling tapestry of your life when you join Avalon Waterways – and your favorite chart-topping troubadour – for a "once upon a river" experience through Europe's vineyard-clad vistas and storybook settings.
Legends & Legendary Rivers
Disappear on a Magical Rhine Sailing with Diana Gabaldon
International bestselling author of Outlander novels
Sail the Storied Seine River with Candace Bushnell
International bestselling author of the Sex in the City anthology
Suite Sailing Down the Legendary Danube with Cheryl Strayed
International bestselling author of Wild
Come Sail Away on the Danube with Gillian Flynn
International bestselling author of Gone Girl
Make Memories on the Rhine with Christopher Moore
International bestselling comic fantasy novelist
Sweet Tunes on the Rhine with Edwin McCain
Billboard-topping singer-songwriter
The Adventure is Up to You
We travel to see new things, do new things, and break away from life as we know it. Active & Discovery cruises are packed with excursions and activities not found on ordinary river cruises. Whether you have an explorer’s heart or you’re a lover of art, Avalon invites you to join us for extraordinary experiences on the Danube, Rhine, Rhône, Moselle and Seine Rivers as well as the waterways of Holland & Belgium.
No two travelers are alike and one sight does not fit all. On an Active & Discovery sailing, you can enjoy dozens of included exploration choices on every itinerary, personalized to pique your passions and customized to cure your curiosities. Discover local culture, cuisine, and everything in-between. Explore by boat, bike, or hike. Warm-up on a kayak or chill over a glass of wine. With us, you’re invited to enjoy the Old World in new ways.
So, go ahead, pick up a paintbrush, a paddle, or the perfect vintage. The possibilities are as wide open as the views.
Exploration in Motion
On an Avalon cruise, every day is an adventure and every adventure is up to you. If you prefer to dive into destinations, grab an oar or a pair of handle bars to kayak, canoe or bike through vineyard-clad valleys. Drink-in the scenery after a hike to Count Dracula’s medieval prison or breathe-in the beauty of flora and fauna in a forest. You can even turn viewing into doing by customizing your activities with help from your Avalon Adventure Host. The world is yours to discover your way and at your pace.
Engaging Experiences
Explore with hands-on discoveries of local cultures, cuisine, and customs by rolling up your sleeves in a French cooking class in Lyon, or a Dutch painting class in Amsterdam. Explore the chocolate museum in Cologne, and visit the fragrant lavender fields of Provence. Take a walking tour of Budapest while learning Hungarian phrases, meet an Austrian count in his castle, and mimic the strokes of Van Gogh in a workshop in Arles. Your interests, your passions, your way!
The Mighty
Mekong River
A journey with Avalon Waterways® along the legendary rivers of Asia is an unforgettable fusion of distinctive sights, colorful cultures, and ancient traditions. Inspired by cruisers, our ships and itineraries stand out from the crowd. And because bigger isn't always better, we focus on intimate experiences with personalized service. Cruise with a maximum of 36 guests on our award-winning Avalon Suite Ships® in Southeast Asia and just 56 passengers on the Ganges Voyager in India. Cruise in comfort and get closer to the must-see sights and the unique stories and welcoming people on the Mekong and Ganges Rivers to experience local culture, cuisine, and traditions in Vietnam, Cambodia, and India. An expert Cruise Director and expert Local Guides accompany you throughout your adventure, with seamless logistics and inside tips only locals know. So, come discover the magic of Asia—and the Avalon advantage.
See What People Are Saying
Voted Best Cabins in River Cruising by 
“ There are cruise ships that sail various destinations and then there are cruise ships built specifically for destinations. ”
-Gina Kramer, Cruise Critic Editor
“The piece de resistance in the cabin, however, is the lack of a balcony. Not having an actual carved out balcony is just one of the things that Avalon does marvelously. Suites all boast an 11-foot floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door/window that opens 7-feet wide, which essentially makes your entire room a balcony. Pop a chair in front of the railing or lay in bed (which faces the water) for the view of your life and fresh air on your skin.”
-Elizabeth, Porthole Magazine
“...Taking a cruise on the Danube at Christmas time (all the Christmas markets are magical) was truly the trip of a lifetime. It was life changing and saved me. The smile on my face won't go away and neither will all the wonderful memories I take with me and the newfound friends I have. I'll cherish this trip forever.”
-Mimi, Avalon Waterways Passenger
From the Avalon Waterways Travel Blog
As you plan, or just dream about your next vacation, we invite you to get inspired by the Avalon travel blog showcasing news, tips, and stories! Plus, you can read articles where Avalon Waterways and Avalon ships have been featured in the news. Every great traveler has someone on the inside who knows all of the best kept secrets about their travel destinations. Let us be your inside source!