Cruising with Avalon Waterways

On an Avalon Waterways vacation, you can discover the destination your way through a wide range of enriching activities and excursions that are included in the upfront price. From hikes through French vineyards and painting classes in Amsterdam to walking tours of charming, medieval towns in Germany, it's easy to customize your cruise to match your interests and sightseeing pace.

Right now, our customers can take advantage of this incredible offer:

Enjoy huge savings of 50% on the cruise portion of select 2022 and 2023 trips. Book by September 23.

Here are some additional money-saving offers:

Save up to $2,800 per couple off the cruise price of 2023 Europe sailings, and receive free prepaid gratuities. Plus, get air rates starting at $599 per person from select gateways. Book by September 30.

Save up to $4,000 per couple on departures in 2022, 2023 and 2024 in Europe, Egypt, South America and other destinations. Also, get free prepaid gratuities on 2022 and 2023 Europe cruises. Book by September 30.

The Avalon Choice program gives travelers their pick of a wide variety of included excursions on every itinerary. This way, you have the flexibility to spend each day in port as you wish.

On "Classic" excursions with local experts, learn about the destination's history and traditions during walking tours and visits to museums, cathedrals, castles or archaeological sites. Meanwhile, Avalon's "Discovery" experiences are more interactive: Join a cooking class in Lyon or sample wines in the Mosel Valley, for example.

On organized "Active" excursions, you can pedal along the cycling paths of Budapest or canoe through the gorges of the Ardeche River, a tributary of the Rhone. Adventure Hosts on European departures also can provide suggestions, maps, bicycles and Nordic walking sticks to those who wish to explore on their own.

Avalon's Active & Discovery itineraries provide even more immersive ways to take in the sights at every port of call with energetic shore outings. These can include hiking, biking, canoeing and jogging excursions.

For example, on Active & Discovery on the Seine, you might sample French delicacies on a food tour of Paris, kayak in Rouen or visit the World War II landing beaches of Normandy. Active & Discovery on the Moselle offers a choice of 21 different excursions such as a canoe trip, a wine tasting in Bernkastel and visits to Reichsburg and Frankenstein castles.

Last year, Avalon launched their Storyteller Series, a collection of cruises featuring celebrity hosts. This year's guest speakers include Christopher Moore, comedic author of the best-selling novels Lamb and Noir, and Gillian Flynn, author of thriller novels Gone Girl, Sharp Objects and Dark Places.

Most of the accommodations aboard Avalon's Suite Ships in Europe are 200-square-foot Panorama Suites. These have wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that slide open, essentially turning your room into one huge veranda.