Avalon Waterways Cruises

On an Avalon Waterways vacation, you can discover the destination your way through a wide range of enriching activities and excursions.

Also, our customers can take advantage of our fantastic limited-time deals on Avalon cruises. To see all current offers, click here.

The company will introduce a brand-new itinerary this year, The Best of the Rhine. This 5-day cruise passes through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, where picturesque castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water, and visits popular cities like Strasbourg, France, home to the charming La Petite France district, and Breisach, Germany, gateway to the Black Forest.

Next year, Avalon will debut new Douro River cruises in Portugal. Visit hillside vineyards, medieval castles and historic villages on the brand-new Avalon Alegria Suite Ship. Like Avalon's other Suite Ships in Europe, most of the accommodations are 200-square-foot Panorama Suites with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that slide open, essentially turning your room into one huge veranda.

The upfront rate for Avalon's Europe cruises includes a river-view stateroom, onboard meals, Wi-Fi access, guided sightseeing, sparkling wine at breakfast and soft drinks and regional beer and wine at lunch and dinner. And also starting this year, complimentary beer, wine and spirits -- along with a featured cocktail of the day -- will be served during a happy hour on board each night of the cruise.

The company's exclusive Avalon Choice program gives travelers their pick of a variety of included excursions on every itinerary. You have the flexibility to spend each day in port as you wish, choosing from complimentary Classic, Active and Discovery options.

On "Classic" excursions, learn about each destination's history and traditions with local experts on 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 Europe 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 engaging and immersive shore outings. These can include energetic excursions, like hiking or biking, as well as interactive discoveries such as composing your own waltz, participating in a cocktail workshop or meeting an apple farmer and exploring the family's orchards.