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Avalon Waterways

Panorama Suites: the river cabin reinvented

Part of the Globus family of brands, Avalon Waterways pioneered the Panorama Suite — open-air French balconies running the full width of the room, beds turned to face the view. Active and Discovery excursion programmes plus a strong included-extras bundle make Avalon a perennial favourite for travellers who don't want to sit still.

15
Suite Ships
4
Continents
7-23
Night voyages
2004
Founded
££
Premium river
166
Max guests / Suite Ship
Itineraries

Find a Avalon Waterways voyage

Real itineraries, real prices — sourced live. Use the filter inside the widget for dates and length.

Why book Avalon Waterways

Why a Avalon Waterways voyage?

Six reasons we recommend this line to the right kind of traveller.

Panorama Suites change how river cabins feel

Floor-to-ceiling windows that slide all the way open across one full wall — and the bed turned 90° to face them. Wake up and the view is the whole room. Standard on every Suite Ship Avalon has built since 2011.

Active and Discovery excursions every day

Three excursion tracks per port: Classic (walking/sightseeing), Active (cycling, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding), and Discovery (cooking lessons, behind-scenes craft workshops). All included — choose any combination.

European rivers + Mekong + Galápagos

Same European core (Rhine, Danube, Rhône, Moselle, Douro, Seine) plus the Mekong on AvalonAngkor, and a partnership operation in the Galápagos. The Galápagos product is two small ships — a different experience to Europe river but same Globus group quality.

Globus family means strong logistics

Avalon is part of Globus, one of the largest escorted-tour groups globally. Pre- and post-cruise land extensions are seamless — same-quality hotels, transfers, guides as their land tours. Particularly strong for cruise-plus-land combinations.

The honest version

Might not be for you if…

No cruise line is for everyone. Here's where Avalon Waterways might not fit. We'll point you elsewhere if so.

You want fully all-inclusive drinks

Wine, beer and soft drinks are included at lunch and dinner. Outside meal hours, drinks are paid extras. For full-bar all-inclusive, look at Scenic or Uniworld.

You want very large suites

Panorama Suites are well-designed but still 200 sq ft (river ships are constrained by lock dimensions). For larger river suites, Scenic and Uniworld both offer 300+ sq ft Royal/Owner suites.

You want a vibrant evening scene

River cruising is quiet at night by design. Avalon has a lounge with live piano and the occasional local cultural performance — but no nightclub, no shows. Dinner-and-conversation is the format.

The fleet

Meet the Avalon Waterways ships

Showing by default — use the search inside the panel to switch to other ships in the fleet.

Dining

On board

What you actually do all day

No surprises

What's included in your fare

Every Avalon Waterways fare bakes these in.

All meals

Breakfast, lunch, dinner + Sky Bistro casual venue

Drinks with meals

Wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner

Daily excursions

Classic / Active / Discovery — pick any combination

Bicycle and Nordic walking poles

Loaned on board, no charge

WiFi

Included shipwide

Port-charges and gratuities

Pre-paid gratuities option; port charges always included

Practical

Good to know

FAQ

Quick answers about Avalon Waterways

What's a Panorama Suite?
Avalon's signature cabin design. Floor-to-ceiling windows along one full wall slide all the way open (so the cabin becomes a balcony when moored), and the bed is positioned 90° to the windows so you wake facing the view. Standard on every Suite Ship.
How does Avalon compare to AmaWaterways or Viking?
Similar pricing tier. Avalon's differentiator is the open-balcony Panorama Suite cabin design. AmaWaterways has the twin-balcony AA cabins. Viking is the most conservative in décor but adults-only. We can quote all three for your dates.
Does Avalon offer family departures?
Yes — Avalon runs themed family departures (Active Discovery dates with family-tailored excursions and connecting-cabin availability). Standard departures welcome families but are not specifically family-tilted.
Is the Galápagos product the same Avalon?
Avalon partners with a local Galápagos operator for these voyages — same Globus group quality assurance, but it's a 16-guest yacht experience rather than a 166-guest Suite Ship. Different product, same brand standards.
Loyalty

Ready to sail with Avalon Waterways?

A Travel Designer who knows Avalon Waterways will pick the right ship, the right itinerary, and the right cabin tier for you. No call centres.