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Original art in the public areas is by Dutch artist Eelco Maan and cabin paintings were created by another Dutch artist, Sofie Fisher. There are also unexpected flourishes that surprise and delight like the color-coded bathroom towels (brown for me, white for you) so that suite mates don’t get theirs mixed up and an utterly paperless environment onboard. Avalon's Douro cruisetour prices in 2024 started from GBP 2730 (EUR 3180/USD 3450) per person with double occupancy. Avalon Waterways are so passionate about their Suite Ships, they christened this one the Avalon Passion! The ship features free Wi-Fi, a state-of-the-art Fitness Center, an elevator, and a Sky Deck with loungers, a whirlpool, and the Sky...
10 of 1,090 Avalon Waterways Cruise Reviews
Innovation and technology - in 2011, Avalon introduced the Panorama ship - industry's first Suite-class riverboat. 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. In this section, you will find all their ships, itinerary information, complete sailing schedules with dates and prices to compare.
Sails To
Leave the jeans and T-shirts, as well as the opulent evening gowns and tuxes, at home. At dinner, understated cocktail dresses and jackets (sans ties) are appropriate. In 2019, the company introduced the so-called FlexDining on all boats in the fleet. The company's headquarters (as part of the Globus family) are in the USA (Littleton, Colorado).
Royal Suite
Our favorite little spot onboard, the Club Lounge, also is located on the Royal Deck. This area is small but mighty, with beautiful views from the back (aft) of the ship. Many times in my travels I have seen large groups of retirees shuffling through museums listening to a guide through an earpiece. There are also opportunities to do your own thing – you don’t always have to be on an organised activity.
Douro River Cruises Aren't Just About Wine - Cruise Critic
Douro River Cruises Aren't Just About Wine.
Posted: Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Avalon Waterways celebrates christening of Avalon Alegria on Douro River
It’s hard to know where Avalon Panorama SuitesSM end and the view begins! That’s because no other river cruise fleet offers you a view of the world like Avalon Suite Ships®. We’ve transformed ordinary cruise cabins into our one-of-a-kind Open-Air Balcony featuring the only bed with a view in river cruising. Our floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall panoramic windows eliminate the need for a space-wasting balcony, giving you more room to stretch out with 30% more living space than the industry standard.
Special interest cruises
I didn’t realise this previously but most river cruise ships in Europe are the same size. That’s because they need to be able to fit into the locks that they pass through. So, because each company makes their ships just small enough to get through a lock, they’ve all pretty much got the same dimensions. For such a small ship, the 443-foot Avalon View has plenty of dining options. Vegetarian options are offered at every meal as well as vegan and allergy-free selections. In 2024 the company introduced the newbuild boat Avalon Alegria which is deployed year-round on the Douro River in Portugal.
Rooms with a View
Freed from having to set aside space for dedicated outdoor balconies, the 200-square-foot Panorama suites are 15 percent larger than many river ship cabins, allowing room in each for a queen bed, a small couch, table and chair. An innovative slightly curved wall leads to larger-than-expected bathrooms, with lovely marble floors. These are the most common staterooms onboard Illumination and it's no surprise that reaction has been positive.
Check the visa requirements with your travel agent - visas are the client's responsibility. Inaugurated in 2020, the company's "Your Way" program allows Avalon cruise passengers to "chart their own course, at their own pace". Deck plans on Avalon Alegria are smartly laid out, with lovely public spaces as well as some interesting hidden spots that make the ship feel more intimate. The differentiator for Avalon Alegria in Portugal might be the line’s commitment to offering at least one active excursion in every port. This might include biking or hiking and will always be led by the ship’s Adventure Host.
Public gathering spaces have also been maxed out on the 443-foot-long, 37.4-foot-wide ship with four decks. In addition to the ship-long sky deck, there's a large indoor lounge, a smaller indoor lounge and an outdoor covered seating area in the front of the ship, perfect for open-air sightseeing on rainy days. Notably, Avalon View’s 65 Panorama suites are 30 percent larger than the industry standard.
The Avalon Impression, part of Avalon's prestigious Suite Ships fleet, boasts spacious Panorama Suites on two decks, enhanced by wall-to-wall, panoramic windows offering guests the luxury of waking up to stunning views from their Comfort... Cabins are located on decks 1 through 3, as are the main activity areas. The Royal Deck (Deck 3) is where you’ll find the Panorama Lounge, the hub of the ship most days and evenings. Here, you’ll have port talks, evening cocktails (there’s a happy hour every night from 5 to 6, where drinks are included), dancing and entertainment. Having never been inside a river cruise ship before, I had not previously given the interior design too much thought. But, because we occasionally docked alongside other ships and had to walk through them to shore, I came to realise there’s a big variety in how they look.
The Avalon Panorama led the way as the first of its kind in the industry to feature two full decks of Panorama Suites complete with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows. The Avalon Visionary, part of Avalon's Suite Ships, boasts Panorama Suites with panoramic windows, creating the unique Open-Air Balcony experience. These 200 square feet suites are 30% larger than standard, featuring beds with views for... Avalon Alegria’s best feature might be its cabins, which are large by industry standards and have beds that face the water. The ship’s 37 Panorama Suites have floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to 7-feet wide, essentially making the whole room a balcony. This innovation makes the rooms feel incredibly special and spacious.
In 2023, the ship will expand into the Upper Danube with itineraries that include Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. A couple of itineraries on the Rhine and Main are also in the works, which will bring in Switzerland and France. Avalon View was scheduled to sail its first itinerary in April of 2020 but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its christening cruise on the Danube from Vienna to Budapest didn’t take place until April 12, 2022. Godmother Meredith Viera, broadcast journalist, game show host and original moderator of TV’s The View, officiated. Inspired by Dutch interior designer Liane van Leeuwen, Avalon View has a definite design sense – contemporary and elegant, anchored by a warm mix of light and dark woods and accented by rich taupe, brown, blue and cream decor.
In addition to the Storyteller cruise, Avalon View is also sailing on a plethora of special interest itineraries including Christmas markets, culinary and wine cruises, and “Active & Discovery” departures. The latter features physically active shore excursions involving activities like kayaking, biking, hiking, canoeing and e-bicycling. Next year, Active & Discovery itineraries, launched in 2017, will account for one-fourth of the fleet’s departures from May through October. The ship’s Adventure Host assists with active excursions and activities. The Avalon Vista's two decks of Panorama Suites, featuring expansive panoramic windows offer stunning views right from your Comfort Collection bed. Each suites spacious design allows for private entertaining or tranquil relaxation and...
Guests will appreciate both the variety and the availability of Portuguese dishes at all meals. As I wrap up, I realise that I haven’t mentioned things like the free wifi, the free coffee and biscuits available 24 hours a day, and the friendly staff who you get to know quite well by the end of the trip. On the other hand, if you were to plan your own trip from Hungary and Austria, you would be able to find the same level of luxury for less than $1000 a day. This Avalon Active and Discovery Cruise is 9 days long and costs about US$4500 per person. So, if you are going to do an Active & Discovery trip yourself, my only piece of advice would be to ask a few more questions about what the excursions involve, to make sure the one you choose is what you expect it to be. While some of the excursions were the highlights of my trip, I did find some to be better than others.
The Avalon Envision sets the benchmark in relaxed luxury cruising, with its Panorama Suites offering unparalleled river views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests enjoy modern amenities like complimentary Wi-Fi, a state-of-the-art... Avalon Alegria was built to feel like an Avalon Waterways ship, something that can be difficult in the region because of ship building and operating requirements. It’s the line’s first ship sailing the Douro River, but will feel really familiar to cruisers who have been on other Avalon ships. The ship provides everything a cruiser would want for a comfortable, upscale journey though one of Europe’s most scenic river valleys. You are getting very comfortable accommodation, transport, an included activity each day, three meals, lots of wine – not to mention the convenience and comfort that comes with the cruise.
European river cruises are generally not cheap and I think this is probably one of the reason why they have traditionally been popular with older people. I thought my room was so comfortable and I always loved being in it. The onboard staff were really lovely, and it was nice to mingle with other passengers. There are no drinks packages on the Avalon ships and this is not a booze cruise (frankly, there’s just too much to see and do on the trip to waste your time with a hangover!). This is what I realise as I float down the Danube onboard the Avalon Impression.
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