Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways
Company typePrivate
IndustryTravel, Tourism, River cruise company, Cruise line
Founded2004
HeadquartersLugano, Switzerland and Littleton, Colorado
ProductsRiver cruises
ParentGlobus family of brands

Avalon Waterways is a river cruise company owned by the Globus family of brands and offers cruises in Europe, China, Southeast Asia, South America, India and the Galápagos Islands.[1] The company became a member of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) in August 2009.[2]

History and ship design

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Avalon Waterways started operations in 2004 with just one initial ship, called Avalon Artistry. The following year, the company added the Avalon Poetry to its fleet.[3]

As of 2019, the company operates ships on the Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Rhone, Seine and Saone in Europe;[3] The Mekong River in Southeast Asia,[4][5] as well as on the Yangtze (in China), the Ganges (in India) and the Amazon River (in Peru).[3]

Avalon Waterways has earned river cruise operator awards including "Best European river line" in 2019.[6]

Fleet

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Since its launch in 2004, Avalon Waterways has christened 23 new ships in Europe and three new ships in Southeast Asia.[7][8][9][10][11]

Ship Entered service Length Staterooms Passengers Notes
Avalon View 2022 443 ft (135 m) 83 166 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Envision 2019 443 ft (135 m) 83 166 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Imagery II 2016 361 ft (110 m) 64 128 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 52, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Passion 2016 443 ft (135 m) 83 166 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Tranquility II 2015 (March) 361 ft (110 m). 64 128 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 52, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Tapestry II 2015 (March) 443 ft (135 m). 83 166 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Poetry II 2014 443 ft (135 m). 83 166 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Illumination 2014 361 ft (110 m). 64 128 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 52, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Impression 2014 361 ft (110 m). 83 166 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Expression 2013 443 ft (135 m). 83 166 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Artistry II 2013 443 ft (135 m). 64 128 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 52, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Visionary 2012 361 ft (110 m). 64 128 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 52, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Vista 2012 443 ft (135 m). 83 166 Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 66, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Panorama 2011 443 ft (135 m). 83 166 Owned. Europe. First "Suite Ship" with 66, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.
Avalon Luminary 2010 361 ft (110 m). 69 138 Retired from fleet in 2019.
Avalon Felicity 2010 361 ft (110 m). 69 138 Retired from fleet in 2019.
Avalon Affinity 2009 361 ft (110 m). 69 138 Retired from fleet in 2019.
Avalon Creativity 2009 361 ft. 70 140 Retired from fleet in 2019.
Avalon Scenery 2008 361 ft (110 m). 69 138 Retired from fleet in 2018.
Avalon Imagery 2007 443 ft (135 m). 85 170 Retired from fleet in 2012.
Avalon Tranquility 2007 443 ft (135 m). 85 170 Retired from fleet in 2012.
Avalon Tapestry 2006 443 ft (135 m). 82 164 Retired from fleet in 2011.
Avalon Poetry 2005 426 ft (130 m). 88 174 Retired from fleet in 2010.
Avalon Artistry 2004 426 ft (130 m). 89 176 Retired from fleet in 2010.
Avalon Angkor 2012 131 ft (40 m). 16 32 Retired from fleet in 2015.
Avalon Saigon 2017 (September) 200 ft (61 m). 18 36 Owned. SE Asia. All rooms are 245-square-foot suites.
Avalon Siem Reap 2015 (January) 200 ft (61 m). 18 36 Retired from fleet in 2020.
Avalon Myanmar 2015 (September) 200 ft (61 m). 18 36 Owned. SE Asia. All rooms are 245-square-foot suites.
Century Legend 2013 465 ft (142 m). 196 392 Chartered from Century Cruises. China.
Century Paragon 2013 465 ft (142 m). 196 392 Chartered from Century Cruises. China.
Isabella II 2000 166 ft (51 m). 21 42 Chartered. Galápagos Islands.
Aria 2011 147 ft (45 m). 16 32 Chartered. South America (Amazon).
Ganges Voyager 2015 185 ft (56 m). 28 56 Chartered. India (Ganges).

Special interest cruises

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Avalon has offered a range of special interest cruises including culinary-, beer- and Christmas-themed itineraries.[12][13]

Godmothers

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Godmothers of its ships in Europe have included TV personality Meredith Vieira,[14] Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert,[15] Outlander author Diana Gabaldon,[16] singer/songwriter Jann Arden,[17] 1,000 Places to See Before You Die author Patricia Schultz[18] and U.S. Women’s National Team coach Jill Ellis.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "New Kid on the River," Vacation Agent Magazine
  2. ^ ""Avalon Waterways Joins CLIA," CLIA Press Room". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
  3. ^ a b c "The Evolution Of Avalon". TravelPulse. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  4. ^ “The Ship That Sails to Yesterday: Exploring Myanmar’s Hidden Corners,” Smarter Travel, March 25, 2016.
  5. ^ “8 Reasons to Skip Thailand & Head to Myanmar Instead,” Vogue, May 11, 2017.
  6. ^ "The River Cruise Boom: Cruising through Europe," Miami Herald
  7. ^ "New Avalon Waterways ship christened in Europe". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  8. ^ "Judy Bailey christens Rhine cruise ship". Stuff. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  9. ^ "Avalon Waterways plans two new ships for 2016". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  10. ^ "Avalon sailing a third river ship in Southeast Asia: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  11. ^ “Avalon Waterways Adds Christmas Cruises,” USA Today, April 19, 2017.
  12. ^ “The Ultimate Vacation for Beer Lovers,” Travel+Leisure, April 14, 2016.
  13. ^ "Taking in the Avalon View," "Porthole", April 28, 2022.
  14. ^ “Eat Pray Love Your Way Down the Danube with Elizabeth Gilbert,” Newsweek, April 23, 2019.
  15. ^ “International Best-Selling Author Diana Gabaldon Named Godmother of Avalon’s Newest Suite Ship,” Cruise Weekly, November 5, 2014.
  16. ^ “Avalon Waterways Names Jann Arden Godmother of Avalon Tranquility II,” River Cruise Advisory, November 17, 2014.
  17. ^ "Avalon Expression christened by Patricia Shultz | All Things Cruise". allthingscruise.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  18. ^ “New Avalon Waterways Ship Christened in Europe,” USA Today, April 13, 2016.
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