- Headquarters
- Littleton, Colorado
- Founded
- 2004
- Fleet
- 16 Suite Ships plus chartered exotic vessels
- Loyalty
- Journeys Club
Avalon Waterways is the river arm of the Globus family of brands, and its signature decision is spatial: in a Panorama Suite the bed faces the window wall rather than the corridor, so the view is the first thing a guest sees.
About Avalon Waterways
The fleet is built around the Suite Ship concept. Panorama Suites run to roughly 18 to 19 square metres with eleven-foot-wide sliding glass doors that convert the entire cabin front into an open-air balcony — larger than the standard river cabin and considerably brighter.
Avalon Choice is the operational differentiator. Rather than a single included walking tour, most ports offer three tracks: Classic sightseeing, Active options such as cycling, hiking or kayaking, and Discovery experiences built around food, craft or local hosts.
The Globus parentage shows in the land side. Pre- and post-cruise extensions are operated in-house by an escorted-touring company with a century of experience, so a Danube cruise extends into Prague or Transylvania without changing supplier.
Ships carry 128 to 166 guests, dining is open-seating with a single main restaurant plus a smaller Panorama Bistro, and there is no formal night. The line is less food-led than AmaWaterways and less standardised than Viking, sitting between the two on price.
Fleet
8 published ship profiles — more coverage rolling out.
Launched 2011
Avalon Panorama
The ship that launched the Suite Ship concept — Panorama Suites with eleven-foot window walls and beds facing the view.
Launched 2012
Avalon Visionary
A shorter Suite Ship at 128 guests — the same Panorama Suites on a hull sized for tighter European waterways.
Launched 2013
Avalon Artistry II
A lower-Danube Suite Ship running Budapest to the Iron Gates and the Danube Delta.
Launched 2013
Avalon Expression
A full-length Suite Ship on the Rhine, Main and Danube corridor with the class's standard 166-guest layout.
Launched 2019
Avalon Envision
The lead ship of the current generation — reworked public rooms, a Sky Bistro and an Adventure Center for active excursions.
Launched 2020
Avalon View
A current-generation Suite Ship on the Rhine and Danube with the full Avalon Choice excursion programme.
Launched 2016
Avalon Passion
A Rhine Suite Ship with Panorama Suites throughout the upper decks and a whirlpool on the sun deck.
Launched 2016
Avalon Imagery II
A French-waters Suite Ship working the Seine and Rhône with wine-led Discovery excursions.
Ship Classes
Compare the Avalon Waterways fleet at a glance — classes, ship highlights, and who each is best suited to.
Showing 2 of 2 classes
| Class | Introduced | Tonnage | Capacity | Ships | Highlight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon Envision Class | 2018 | ~3,000 GT | 150–166 guests | Avalon Envision, Avalon View, Avalon Passion, Avalon Imagery II | The current Suite Ship generation — refreshed interiors, an expanded Sky Bistro and the full Avalon Choice excursion programme. | — |
| Avalon Panorama Suite Ship Class | 2011 | ~2,900 GT | 128–166 guests | Avalon Panorama, Avalon Visionary, Avalon Artistry II, Avalon Expression | The original Suite Ships — Panorama Suites with eleven-foot window walls and beds turned to face the view. | — |
Ship class · 2011
Avalon Panorama Suite Ship Class
The original Suite Ships — Panorama Suites with eleven-foot window walls and beds turned to face the view.
View classShip class · 2018
Avalon Envision Class
The current Suite Ship generation — refreshed interiors, an expanded Sky Bistro and the full Avalon Choice excursion programme.
View classOnboard Experiences
Suite enclaves, fare tiers, and signature onboard products.
Loyalty Programme — Journeys Club
Journeys Club spans the whole Globus family, so a Globus coach tour and an Avalon river cruise both earn recognition in the same programme.
Members receive a percentage discount on subsequent bookings that increases with the number of completed trips, plus advance access to new itinerary launches and occasional members-only departures.
Destinations
European sailings cover the Rhine, Main, Danube, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Saône, Douro and the Dutch waterways.
Outside Europe, Avalon works the Mekong on a purpose-built vessel and offers Galápagos and Amazon programmes through the wider Globus network.
Book direct
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