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Travelmarvel River Cruises vs Avalon River Cruises

Compare the ships, onboard inclusions, pricing, shore excursions and popularity of river cruising with Travelmarvel River Cruises and Avalon River Cruises, to see which is the better fit for your next journey.
Travelmarvel River Cruises

Travelmarvel River Cruises

433 Reviews

Why should we cruise with Travelmarvel?

We asked Travelmarvel why you should cruise with them, here's what they said...

Holiday memories are not just shaped by the incredible places you visit, but also by the wonderful people you meet along the way. At Travelmarvel, we know that great service is about going above and beyond, and that’s why our staff are regarded as a holiday highlight in their own right.

Travelmarvel holidays offer the perfect combination of all the highlights of the destination with outstanding quality and value for money - you won’t go wrong choosing Travelmavel for your next holiday adventure.

What rivers do Travelmarvel explore?

Africa Asia Australia Canada & Alaska Egypt & Middle East Europe New Zealand South America More...

Travelmarvel snapshot

Total No. CruisesTotal No. River Cruises
107
DeparturesDepartures
1,191
Average cruise lengthAvg. cruise length
16 days
Average cabin price per dayAvg. price per day (by cabin type)
River View
$619
Balcony
$705
Suite
$784
DeparturesNo. of Ships
DeparturesAll-Inclusive Level
All-Inclusive

Our thoughts...

The low down on Travelmarvel from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...

Lesser known, but equally as popular, Travelmarvel, is the sister brand of APT and are positioned as a premium operator. A level down from APT with regards to pricing and trip inclusions, but both share the same past passenger loyalty scheme, and many of our clients prefer to spend a little less, knowing they are still backed by one of Australasia's leading touring and river cruise companies.

With it's roots in coach touring through Australia and New Zealand, Travelmarvel also offer river cruises in Europe and Asia as well as tours and cruises in Canada and around South & Central America. As Platinum Partners of APT & Travelmarvel for read more many years, our advisor team has an in-depth knowledge of Travelmarvel tours and river cruises having experienced travelling with them on many occasions, and would relish the opportunity to help you organise your next holiday with them.

Who are we likely to meet on a Travelmarvel river cruise?

Primarily mature travellers, generally aged 55+, seeking a relaxed, social and premium river cruise with comprehensive inclusions and guided sightseeing.

Do Travelmarvel river cruises suit solo-travellers?

Yes. Solo travellers are welcomed and Travelmarvel regularly promotes selected solo traveller offers.

How inclusive are Travelmarvel's river cruises?

Semi-inclusive to inclusive. Fares include accommodation, all onboard meals, selected drinks with lunch and dinner, sightseeing, transfers, port charges and gratuities, while optional Enhance Your Journey experiences cost extra.

Are there any extras to pay on top of the price shown?

Additional costs include optional Enhance Your Journey excursions, drinks outside meal times and spa treatments.

Do Travelmarvel include shore excursions?

Yes. Guided shore excursions and Travelmarvel Insider Experiences are included, with additional optional Enhance Your Journey experiences available at extra cost.

What types of excusions are available?

A good selection of included sightseeing is provided throughout each itinerary, complemented by optional Enhance Your Journey experiences for those who are looking for more choices.

Are there any onboard activities or entertainment?

Depending on the cruise ship, facilities and activities include lounges and bars, live entertainment, cultural performances, cooking demonstrations, fitness facilities, sun decks, pools or whirlpools and other enrichment activities.

What are the cabins like on Travelmarvel's river ships?

Travelmarvel's European ships offer Window Staterooms, French Balcony Staterooms and larger Owner's Suites, while ships in Asia, Egypt have their own cabin configurations.

Recent Travelmarvel reviews

Douro Cruising with Travelmarvel 0
, Australia, Aug 2026
We had a very enjoyable 7 day cruise along the Douro with Travelmarvel. The scenery was beautiful and the excursions were all interesting and different although travelling by bus for over an hour to get to and from a location did become tiring as the weather was very hot. The ship itself is new and nicely decorated with wonderful, accommodating staff read more and very good food. The included wines varied between excellent and ordinary. Our main criticism is that Travelmarvel seems to be removing or downgrading some services.

I have been on 6 different river cruises with 4 different companies and must say that all except Travelmarvel have provided daily water in your cabin and also provided a refillable bottle to take on excursions. On this trip we were not provided with these essential services. There was no room service and although the tv offered movies to watch you were greeted with a message that the service was unavailable every time you tried. Overall the food was very good but the much anticipated bbq in the middle of the cruise was poorly organized (long wait in line to get access to the buffet) and the food very ordinary!

So, overall a wonderful trip in a beautiful part of the world but we will look to other river cruise companies for future holidays. This was the second trip organized by Hannah Perry and she did a wonderful job. Courteous, professional and efficient, she takes a genuine interest in your trip and does everything possible to ensure a trouble free and enjoyable holiday experience.
Rockies and Alaskan Adventure 0
, VIC, Australia, Aug 2026
The trip was fascinating, though a bit tiring. All arrangements including flights booked by Tracey went perfectly. Much appreciated! The tour all the way to Fairbanks in Alaska is the highlight of the tour. However, the train ride by Rocky Mountaineer was a bit boring, just kept feeding us on the train. They should have a few stops during the day.
Beautiful Duoro Valley 0
, SA, Australia, Jul 2026
The Duoro Valley was spectacular but the actual cruise felt like a coach trip where we used the Travelmarvel Estrela more as a hotel. Of course there was cruising and we passed through some impressive locks, but often excursions would bus us to a winery while the ship continued along the river, returning us to meet it at a different location. Consequently read more I felt that I missed out on a lot of the relaxing river cruising I was looking forward to. The Estrela was quite a new ship, but not very well designed. The bathrooms were minute as was the pool on the sundeck. The dining room and lounge with their very low ceilings need much better sound damping. It was a pleasant trip but did not live up to my expectations. Hannah Perry at Global Journeys handled our booking very well and was always available to answer queries.
A wonderful holiday despite difficult circumstances 1
, NSW, Australia, Jul 2026
We planned and booked this holiday over 12 months ago and were impressed by the quality of service provided by Tracey Standing at Global Journeys. Nothing was too much trouble even when a small war started on our route to Europe threatening to prevent our getting there. Tracey was able to book us alternate flights, taking us around the world the other read more way (via Canada), as a contingency plan then was able to get our money back when we didn't actually need them.

The Travelmarvel cruise was an excellent product too. Their staff were all highly skilled and very effective at working around difficult circumstances. Due to low water levels in the Rhine/Danube river system we were unable to make the full journey on a single ship and ended up traveling on four different ships with buses shuttling us between navigable portions of the rivers. In many ways we probably managed to see more of Europe than we would normally see just from the river. Through the efforts of our Cruise Director Bernadett we covered every one of the locations we were booked to see and there was a sound clear plan and effective control measures every time we had to relocate. (With over 150 passengers that adds up to a lot of cats to herd). I would go on a similar Global Journeys/Travelmarvel trip again in a heartbeat without any concerns about what fate throws at us. (I might wait until it rains again in Europe though.)
Amsterdam to Budapest river cruise 0
, QLD, Australia, Jul 2026
The trip was eventful, because of the river levels we ended up going on 4 ships and 2 nights in a hotel. There was quite a lot of time spent on coaches travelling between ships. Considering the river levels, we both think that Travelmarvel did their best to give everyone as good a time as possible. It was a series of unfortunate events that was handled read more excellently by them. Kayla from Global Journeys was wonderful, she handled the booking efficiently and kept s formed of what was happening every step of the way, 10/10 for Kayla.

Travelmarvel's most popular trips this month...

15 Day European Gems (Travelmarvel)
European Gems

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4,925pp
15 Day European Gems - Budapest to Amsterdam (Travelmarvel)
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12 Day Essential Vietnam and Cambodia (Travelmarvel)
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21 Day European Gems with Paris and Prague (Travelmarvel)
European Gems with Paris and Prague

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21 Day European Gems with Prague and Paris (Travelmarvel)
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Avalon River Cruises

Avalon River Cruises

495 Reviews

Why should we cruise with Avalon?

We asked Avalon why you should cruise with them, here's what they said...

One of our favourite sayings that describes Avalon Waterways is ‘the possibilities are as wide open as the views’. From Europe to the Galapagos and Asia, you can cruise in relaxed luxury with Avalon Waterways, with choices as unique as you. Avalon offers you a range of choices from excursions, dining options, activities that help you tailor your experience.

Just imagine gliding away down the world’s most spectacular rivers, all while enjoying a unique vantage point from your own private oasis. Our floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in our suites read more blur the line between where the world ends, and your suite begins; allowing you to experience the world less seen from the comfort of your bed. This is river cruising from a unique point of view.

What rivers do Avalon explore?

Asia Europe Nile

Avalon snapshot

Total No. CruisesTotal No. River Cruises
193
DeparturesDepartures
3,260
Average cruise lengthAvg. cruise length
12 days
Average cabin price per dayAvg. price per day (by cabin type)
River View
$743
Balcony
$982
Suite
$1,115
DeparturesNo. of Ships
DeparturesAll-Inclusive Level
All-Inclusive

Our thoughts...

The low down on Avalon from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...

Avalon Waterways have been cruising the rivers of Europe and Asia since 2004 and its parent company was founded in Switzerland nearly a century ago. Avalon's modern luxury river ships, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, are a firm favourite amongst our past clients, and some of their itineraries are our biggest sellers. Avalon don't usually include Fly Offers with their cruise fare, so you'll need to book flights separately, but consequently their prices are cheaper than other luxury all-inclusive operators - and they offer some great Earlybird discounts too if you get in early. As part of the Globus Family group of Brands, you can also read more secure further discounts the next time you decide to travel by coach with either Globus or Cosmos.

Who are we likely to meet on a Avalon river cruise?

Travellers seeking relaxed river cruising with flexible dining, included sightseeing and a choice of classic, active and immersive experiences. Solo travellers are also well catered for.

Do Avalon river cruises suit solo-travellers?

Yes. Around 10% of Avalon guests travel solo, and Avalon regularly waives single supplements on selected European and Southeast Asia sailings.

How inclusive are Avalon's river cruises?

Inclusive. Fares include accommodation, all onboard meals, a substantial choice of shore excursions, WiFi, selected alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, fitness activities and onboard entertainment.

Are there any extras to pay on top of the price shown?

Gratuities for the onboard crew are included in the cruise fare for Aussies and Kiwis, but not for North Americans. Optional excursions and activities, laundry, premium food and beverages outside the included offering and transfers will cost extra.

Do Avalon include shore excursions?

Yes. Avalon Choice excursions are included, with sightseeing led by certified local guides and options spanning Classic, Active and Discovery experiences.

What types of excusions are available?

Avalon offers Classic, Active and Discovery excursions, with up to 28 included choices on some itineraries and an average of around 22 on Active & Discovery cruises. Complimentary bikes and e-bikes are also available for independent exploration.

Are there any onboard activities or entertainment?

Included onboard activities and facilities include live music, trivia, themed events, movies, fitness centres, yoga and stretching classes, an Adventure Host, lounges, a library, Sky Deck areas and whirlpools or plunge pools on selected ships.

What are the cabins like on Avalon's river ships?

All staterooms are exterior-facing. Around 80% are Panorama Suites, featuring wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling Open-Air Balconies and beds positioned to face the river views. Deluxe Staterooms and larger suites are also available, depending on the ship.

Recent Avalon reviews

Things didn’t go according to plan 0
, Australia, Aug 2026
Unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to do this trip due to severe drought and Danube water levels dropping so low no cruise ships could sail anywhere. I was afraid that Avalon would claim force majeure and not offer any compensation at all. To give them their due they offered refund for the cruise portion of the trip if I chose to do the trip and read more just use ships at three different locations as hotels and coach everywhere to maintain our on land itinerary. This wasn’t appealing at all given that I’ve just finished a coach tour with Trafalgar, so I’ve opted for a full refund instead. Tracey was great to deal with from initial booking to the very end handling cancellation and refund. I would be delighted to book another tour with both Avalon and Global Journeys in the future. Thank you Tracey!
River Cruise through South of France 0
, ON, Canada, Oct 2025
We greatly enjoyed our river cruise. The staff on Poetry II were top-notch. We thank those who were especially helpful, like Matheus in reception, Marya in the dining room, and Carmen in housekeeping. Some really went out of their way to help me when I got sick during the cruise, such as Adrian who was super-accommodating in adjusting local tour arrangements, read more and Margarida who diligently served me a special medicinal drink using a very effective Portuguese recipe. This was a very positive experience and we look forward to joining another Avalon river cruise in the not too distant future.
The river of gold 0
, New Zealand, Oct 2025
Absolutely loved the cruise. Lovely new ship with great room and bathroom. Staff were fantastic - without fail friendly and helpful. Food was really good with plenty of variety, choice and local dishes. Really appreciated "compulsory happiness hour" with generous free drinks. This in contrast to another cruise line who I found over advertised and read more underdelivered. Ditto the included excursions - not just one ("not another dreary war memorial!") but a choice of three. Great dilemma to have. Good crowd - and never heard a complaint!
Avalon River Cruise 1
, Australia, Sep 2025
The ship, the crew, the food, the Cruise Director were fantastic. Interaction with the Global team was also first class and happy to recommend you to our friends. xox
Best Vacation EVER 1
, IL, United States, Aug 2025
Perfect from start to finish. Globus covered all the details needed to start this fantastic journey. Avalon picked up right with Globus finished up. Our trip was perfect from the moment we met our transfer ride at the airport, to meeting our cruise director Carlos at the hotel, to getting on the boat and all the excursions. Everything was planned read more so well - even when our schedule had to be changed due to water levels on the Danube River. The excursions were fantastic, but the best part of the trip were the friendships we made. It was a sad to say good bye to our new friends the last evening aboard. Looking forward to working with Global Journeys on our next adventure.

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4,309pp