Courtesy of Avalon Waterways.
There has been an annual 10 percent increase in passengers for river cruises in the last five years, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. To keep up with the demand, Avalon Waterways is introducing new ships, offering more sailings and new itineraries in Europe.
Ships
Two new ships, Avalon Vista and Avalon Visionary, were christened in May and will be joined by Avalon Expression and Avalon Artistry II in 2013, sailing the Danube, Rhine and Main Rivers in Europe. All of these new ships are deemed Suite Ships, meaning that they have two full decks of panorama suites. These suites offer cruisers a floor to ceiling window that acts as a sliding glass door that when opened turns your entire cabin into a balcony.
Itineraries
With the addition of these ships, Avalon has added four new itineraries that show cruisers a new part of Europe or hone in on a specific area in Europe.
Capitals of Central Europe – Highlighting the cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, this itinerary is offered in both 10- and 12-day options. Along the way the cruise stops at some smaller towns and cities that surround those capitals.- Tulips of Northern Holland – This 8-day itinerary was created as a result of the popularity of the Tulip Time cruises. On this itinerary cruisers travel from Amsterdam to Friesland, Enkhuizen and Rotterdam to take in the beautiful farm land, windmills and vibrant Dutch tulips.
- Austrian Highlights & Bavaria – This cruise takes passengers on a 9-day journey through the small towns in Bavaria like Melk, Durnstein and Oberammergau, which is famous for putting on a passion play every ten years. This cruise also stops in Vienna and Munich.
- Highlights of Germany – From Munich to Basel, this cruise will take you to castles, offer you the finest beers and allow you to see some of the best preserved medieval cities in the world. The 13-day itinerary is comprehensive in its exploration of one of Europe’s major countries.
In addition to these new itineraries, Avalon is offering a culinary theme for two of its itineraries next year. The Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches and Grand France itineraries will have a local chef on board preparing the regions’ specialties while sharing his expertise with the passengers.
Is a European River Cruise in your future?
The Cruise Web, Inc.
reply@cruiseweb.com
1-800-377-9383