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Avalon River Cruises

Avalon River Cruises

Avalon Waterways puts you in the captain’s seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you journey on one of 1,494 cruise departures along the world’s most memorable and mesmerising waterways.
CRUISE DEPARTURES: 1,494
FLEET SIZE: 18
KNOWN FOR: Panorama Suites
455 Reviews (4.7/5)
CRUISE STYLES:
River Cruises
DESTINATIONS:
Asia Europe Nile

Popular Destinations View all Explore the following regions on one of 1,494 river cruises with Avalon

Avalon Asia River Cruises
Asia

19 River Cruises

Avalon Europe River Cruises
Europe

127 River Cruises

Avalon Nile River Cruises
Nile

1 River Cruise

Featured River Cruises View all

8 Days Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City

Operator: Avalon

From 4,543
Save 1,561

9 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Avalon

From 4,423
Save 1,793

6 Days Vienna to Budapest

Operator: Avalon

From 2,597
Save 725

10 Days Cairo to Cairo

Operator: Avalon

From 5,295
Save 408

Cruise Fleet View all Inclusions, itineraries, onboard facilities & deck plans of each Avalon cruise ship.

Avalon Alegria
Ship Class: River Ship

Avalon Waterways brings their luxury style of cruising to the Douro River with their newest vessel, Avalon Alegria. Avalon's award winning fleet offers guests the relaxation and luxury that is expected from Avalon, while still giving...

Avalon Suite Ships
Ship Class: River Ship

Avalon Waterways European suite ships feature one-of-a-kind Panorama Suites have been designed with a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall panoramic sliding window delivering a full balcony experience that's perfect in any weather conditions, in...

Avalon Saigon
Ship Class: River Ship

Embarking on her maiden voyage in the latter half of 2018, the Avalon Saigon is the newest river ship to ply the Mekong. With its colonial charm and modern features, she is specifically designed to offer the best cruise experience in South...

RV Ganges Voyager
Ship Class: River Ship

Explore the rarely traveled Lower Ganges River with Avalon onboard the RV Ganges Voyager I and experience the real India in absolute comfort and style. An enthralling river cruise providing guests with the rare opportunity to explore the...

Avalon River Cruises Reviews View all

4.7
AVG. RATING 4.7 / 5
455 Reviews
5 Star
71%
4 Star
25%
3 Star
2 Star
1 Star
Memorable Rhine river cruise!   0 , QLD, Australia, Apr 2023
For our first river cruise, this didn’t disappoint. Our stateroom was very nice the outlook that we got from the door sliding back all the way was just beautiful. We loved how we got to try the local food that they served on the boat. We would have to say, we enjoyed of the excursion to The Maginot Line the most above any other!
Our first river cruise experience was nothing but AMAZING!   0 , WA, Australia, Dec 2022
We would like to thank Toni our travel advisor at Global Journeys & the rest of the Avalon Tranquility 2 crew for making our holiday cruise getaway a memorable and relaxing experience. From getting in touch with yourself to enquire at first, to sorting out our trip, I couldn’t believe how easy everything was.

Onboard the cruise, EVERY crew member ...read more made sure we are ALWAYS looked after and they even made time decorating our room & making a cake to celebrate my birthday. Every place we went throughout the cruise was remarkable and we also loved the part where we were given ample time to be able to roam around & explore each town/place on our own without having to rush. Overall the experience was delightful and we can hand on heart say it will not be our first & last as we will definitely book with you again in the future.
Christmas Markets     0 , QLD, Australia, Nov 2022
Had snow in Heidelberg which was nice to see. Trip went well, my only issue was that it was actually 3 cruises in one which I was unaware of. First leg to Nuremberg, got to know everyone on board but then 90% of passengers and the tour director disembarked and another lot of people came on board. This meant we were docked in Nuremberg for 3 days which ...read more was really too long. Then a few days later, more people disembarked at Frankfurt and a new lot of people boarded. Did not really give you a chance to get to know everyone on board as people were coming and going, there were only about 17 of the original group who went through to Basel. Would much prefer to have the whole 16 days with the one group of people. Life on board the ship was good, staff were excellent, food & rooms were also excellent. Would have liked to have had some night excursions to see the Christmas Markets in full festive light. Felt some of the excursions were too long and others too short but that could be just a personal thing.
Danube Discovery with Budapest   0 , QLD, Australia, Jul 2022
We had a really great time from the very beginning with excellent service from Rachael in organizing our trip at relatively short notice. The boat looked new and was very clean, the crew were all fabulous and Daniella the Cruise Director was outstanding and always available to give advice and or support the passengers. The only downside was of course ...read more the low water levels in the upper parts of the Danube which prevented us from completing the journey in Nuremburg. This impacted every cruise company. Having said this, Avalon did an outstanding job adjusting the cruise by adding a few more stops along the way and through offering free excursions to compensate for the inconvenience - which in my view was minimal.

The food was excellent and we really enjoyed just sitting on the deck or in the cabin, and taking in the beautiful sites as we sailed along the Danube. We are not cruise junkies, but this exceeded our expectations and if we do take another trip, it will certainly be with Avalon.
Great river cruise - Amsterdam to Budapest with Avalon   2 , NSW, Australia, Jul 2022
We went on this river cruise last month and it was amazing. We had previously booked a shorter Basel-Amsterdam cruise with Hannah for May 2020, but alas it was cancelled along with everyone else's! She was so helpful at that time we decided to re-book this longer cruise with her as well, now that covid restrictions had eased. Although we had to have ...read more some itinerary variations and a ship change due low river levels, the whole trip didn’t disappoint.

Avalon were fantastic in the circumstances, especially due to the hard work of our awesome Cruise Director Tony Jenkins. He showed such care and concern for the guests and even danced and sang in Welsh for us! A true treasure. Seeing the castles along the Rhine Gorge and our tours of Rudesheim, Rothenburg and Regensburg were highlights for us. We have done a lot of ocean cruises, but this was our first river cruise. After this experience it won't be our last!
Great time on the rivers and cities   1 , NC, United States, May 2022
Thanks Georgie. You guided me through the booking process, and we ended up with a wonderful trip. Saw lots of beautiful places and met great people on the ship. The Crew went absolutely out on their way to ensure we were satisfied all the way. Hopefully we'll soon be able to book with go with Global Journeys again. Thanks again.
Travel Alive again     0 , VIC, Australia, May 2022
We recently completed a wonderful Amsterdam to Budapest cruise with Avalon along the Rhine, Maine and Danube rivers. Like many, this trip had been deferred, with credit, for two or more years. We soon began to realise how much we were again enjoying our experience of travel. A sense of normality returned and we gained a renewed love of such scenic and ...read more historic beauty as the castles along the Rhine and later in the Wachau Valley on the Danube.

The cities in Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary were alive and well with tourists beginning to return in numbers. A bubble of joy and happiness radiated on the faces of travellers and locals from the various cultures seemed delighted to welcome us to their environs. Covid precautions were sensibly in place but did not hamper the joie-de-vivre in our hearts. It felt so good to be ‘travel-alive‘ again.
Romantic Rhine river cruise   3 , QLD, Australia, Oct 2019
Absolutely brilliant, the cabins were spacious with plenty of storage space to unpack. The staff were amazing, the food was excellent. There were onshore activities that you could participate in or you could just sit back and relax on board. Would recommend to anyone.
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The Avalon River Cruise Experience Choose to travel with Avalon on your next adventure!

It's All About Your Outlook
It's All About Your Outlook

No other fleet of river cruise offers you a view of the world like Avalon Suite Ships, featuring Avalon Panorama Suites. Thirty percent larger than the industry standard, they’re actually river cruising’s only Open-Air Balcony - with nothing between you and the view.

While other river cruise cabins are designed with beds against a wall for a view of another wall, our Comfort Collection beds actually face the view with the widest-opening, wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in river cruising.

Think of it as a view with a room!

Included Luxury
Included Luxury

From meticulous millwork to hand applied finishes, Avalon's ships are thoughtfully designed and appointed with quality materials. Each Avalon Suite Ship was created with customer comfort as a priority.

Every well-appointed Deluxe Stateroom or Suite is a spacious refuge of inviting home-away-from-home features. Delight in a large private bathroom with full shower with glass door and premium L'Occitane bath products; quality robes and slippers; luxurious Comfort Collection Beds with premium mattress covers, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, European-style duvets; soft or firm pillows; ample closet space and under-bed storage; fully stocked minibars with complimentary bottled water; and flatscreen televisions with a movie channel and selection of films.

In addition, we boast countless amenities like complimentary access to Wi-Fi, local specialty dishes, regional wines and beers, a fitness centre, hair salon and more. Read more>

Over 85 years In Travel
Over 85 years In Travel

Avalon Waterways is one of the most reputable cruise operators on the waterways today. Family owned, the Globus Family have more than 85 years of experience planning itineraries and guiding holidays around the world.

You can book with confidence knowing that we have a 97% customer satisfaction rating and international recognition for our ships and service offerings. In 2004, excited by the promise of river cruising that (at the time) was characterized by older ships, limited space and land excursions that operated as an afterthought, Avalon Waterways was established to create a different kind of river cruise experience - one that would embrace and celebrate everything special about the travel style.

Explore More Explore more Your guide to travelling with Avalon River Cruises

Earn Qantas Points with Globus Family of Brands

19 April, 2022

Earn Qantas Points with Globus Family of Brands

The Globus Family of Brands has announced an exciting new partnership with Qantas meaning that when you book a tour or river cruise with one of their brands you will now be eligible to earn Qantas Points as well. For tours booked with Globus and Cosmos, you will earn you one Qantas point per...

Your Avalon Adventure is up to You

29 April, 2019

Your Avalon Adventure is up to You

If life is an adventure, shouldn’t your river cruise be one too? Avalon Waterways believe that there are more ways than one to explore destinations. That’s why your Avalon Adventure Host is ready with activities and excursions that speak to your preferences and pace to explore each locale your...

Active Discovery River Cruises with Avalon Waterways

24 September, 2018

Active Discovery River Cruises with Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways gives travellers more options to get hands on and actively discover the regions they visit. The Active Discovery collection of European river cruises is crafted to offer guests more ways to engage with the world around them and is full of interactive activities and adventures....

Magnificent Europe River Cruise with Avalon Waterways

15 August, 2018

Magnificent Europe River Cruise with Avalon Waterways

Currently the most popular river cruise itinerary with Global Journeys is Avalon Waterways’ 15 Day Magnificent Europe voyage. This itinerary encompasses the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers and showcases the regions they twist and turn through. Some of the highlights along the way include a...

Avalon River Cruise FAQ's Frequently asked questions for those considering travelling with Avalon River Cruises

Can I book directly with Avalon Waterways?

Yes you can, or you can book directly with Global Journeys, and save on the retail price with our online exclusive discounts, as well as receiving the best advice on all of your travel plans from your dedicated award winning travel advisor!

When can I expect to get my travel documents & itinerary?

Travel documents, including your paper tickets or e-ticket itineraries and other information, are posted by Global Journeys approximately two to three weeks prior to departure from Australia, provided full payment has been received.

Will I be travelling with people from other countries?

Avalon Waterways is an international company. As such, you will be travelling with like-minded cruise enthusiasts from countries as diverse as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as Europe and Asia regions.

Do you accept travellers who need special assistance?

Any disability requiring special attention should be reported to Global Journeys at the time the reservation is made. Avalon Waterways will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the special needs of disabled tour participants, but is not responsible in the event it is unable to do so, nor is it responsible for any denial of services by carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other independent suppliers. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to a tour member for walking, dining, and getting on and off motorcoaches and other transportation vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified companion must accompany travellers who need such assistance.

On river cruises we do not have elevators that go to every level of the ship. Most doors to cabins, staterooms and restrooms are not wide enough to allow access by standard wheelchairs and other doorways may be fitted with coamings. For safety reasons travellers in wheelchairs cannot be carried on ramps in ports.

How old does a child have to be to travel with Avalon Waterways?

An adult must accompany travellers who are less than 18 years old on the tour departure date. We do not accept children under the age of 8.

What is SafetyNet Protection?

Avalon Waterways is dedicated to ensuring your trip is worry and hassle free, even when booking. Should you be uncertain what your commitments will be leading up to your departure, Avalon Waterways offer an optional SafetyNet Protection policy for an additional fee. Read more here.

How much luggage can I bring?

Porterage for one suitcase on tour is included in the tour price. Due to limited coach capacity and keeping within the guidelines of Occupation Health and safety, we strongly recommend that this single bag should have dimensions not exceeding 76x53x28cm (30"x 21"x 11") and weight not exceeding 22 kg (50 lbs). We do understand that slight variations to these dimensions will occur and provided the variations are only slight, luggage will be accepted.

Due to limited space on luggage racks in the coach, carry-on bags should not exceed the dimensions of 30x28x14cm (12"x11"x6"). For safety reasons, wheeled carry-on bags are not suitable as hand luggage on motorcoaches and minibuses as these bags can cause damage to persons and property if it falls from the overhead compartments for any reason. A carry-on bag and a handbag will be suitable inside the coach

Optional Excursions?

You can pre purchase selected optional excursions for your river cruise between 90 and 10 days prior to departure, on departures which have been placed onto a 'Definite Departure' status. Details will be provided by your Global JOurneys Travel Advisor.

What is the bed configuration on an Avalon river cruise?

European vessels can be configured as either one bed or two separate beds. Unless specified, the default will be two separate beds pushed together with separate bedding. If your preference is for one bed or two separate beds apart, please request this at time of enquiry. Triple bedding is not available.

Am I expected to pay gratuities?

Gratuities to the Cruise Director and crew on board are included in the cruise price. Tips to your Local Guides on optional excursions are not inlcuded in the cruise price. Tipping is a way to show your satisfaction for good service and is always appreciated but not expected. If you were to tip your Local Guides it is recommended that tips be paid in cash.

Do I need to bring an electricity adaptor?

Electricity on board our Avalon Waterways ships is 220v which requires a European Adaptor. You will need an adaptor or converter to use in your stateroom.

How do I make purchases on the cruise?

A cashless system operates on the ships so all purchases and shipboard services are credited to your account. At the end of the cruise you will receive your account which can be paid with cash, credit cards or paid in traveller's cheques (there is a processing fee). Traveller's cheques are not accepted on the Nile, on Lake Nasser nor in Southeast Asia. Personal cheques are not accepted. On the Mekong only cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted for payment.

What beverages are included?

WWine, beer and soft drinks are included with dinner & lunch on Avalon Europe river cruises, as well as on the Mekong and Ganges rivers. At other times, such beverages are available for an additional charge. Coffee and tea are available free of charge throughout the day from the self service coffee stations.

What meals should I expect?

All meals on board are prepared by accomplished chefs and consist of local food adjusted to suit the tastes of international passengers. There is a full buffet breakfast, and in Europe a buffet lunch including choice of soups and main courses with appetizer, salad or sandwich, and dessert. On the Yangtze, Mekong and Irrawaddy, a mix of Western and local dishes are offered; in the Galápagos, you'll be able to taste some Ecuadorian specialties.

Are laundry facilities available?

Laundry service is available on board for a modest fee. Price lists will be available in your stateroom. Please note that clothes cannot be dry cleaned on board. For safety reasons, we ask that you do not iron clothing in your cabin. For a small fee, the on board laundry service is available to iron clothing. Laundry facilities are not available on the Galapagos cruise.

Is there a dress code?

Dress aboard and on shore is casual. Please bring comfortable walking shoes for sightseeing. Dinner attire is casual - open-neck shirts, pants, dresses. Coats and ties may be worn. The Captain's Welcome and Farewell Dinners are dressy, but not formal. On the Mekong and Irrawaddy coats and ties are not recommended due to the warm humid climate.

Pre & Post Accommodation

You can add pre/post tour accommodation to your reservation inconjunction with Avalon. This price will include breakfast. Please note that hotels are subject to change but by booking your pre accommodation with Avalon this ensures that if the meeting location changes Avalon we will try to change your pre accommodation to the same hotel. On the rare occasion that there is no availability then alternative accommodation will be reserved at a hotel of equivalent standard. If this does occur than the transfer between the hotels will be at Avalon's expense.

Transfers

Transfers from the meeting location to the ship on embarkation day is included in the river cruise price. Airport transfers can be added your reservation as long as they link in with the start/end dates of your tour or with pre/post tour accommodation booked with us. Avalon's Airport transfer service is from $49 per person one way.

Terms & Conditions All the boring small print. We recommend you read them, as no one likes surprises!