Avalon Waterways
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Company type | Private |
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Industry | Travel, Tourism, River cruise company, Cruise line |
Founded | 2004 |
Headquarters | Lugano, Switzerland and Littleton, Colorado |
Products | River cruises |
Parent | Globus 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
Avalon Waterways started operations in 2004 with just one ship first 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 Cabins in River Cruising” [6][7] and "Best in European Cruising" in 2019 [6]
Fleet
Since its launch in 2004, Avalon Waterways has christened 23 new ships in Europe and three new ships in SE Asia.[8][9][10][11][12] For the 2019 cruising season, for the first time, Avalon Waterways entire fleet is comprised of the company's signature Suite Ships.[13]
Ship | Entered service | Length | Staterooms | Passengers | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | Owned. Europe. 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 | Owned. SE Asia. All rooms are 245-square-foot suites. |
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. China. |
Century Paragon | 2013 | 465 ft (142 m). | 196 | 392 | Chartered. 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 | 147 ft (45 m). | 28 | 56 | Chartered. India (Ganges). |
Special Interest Cruises
Avalon has offered a range of special interest cruises including culinary, beer and Christmas-themed itineraries.[14][15]
Godmothers
Throughout its history, Avalon Waterways has invited some notable godmothers to christen its Suite Ships in Europe, including Eat, Pray, Love Author Elizabeth Gilbert,[16] Outlander Author Diana Gabaldon,[17] Singer/Songwriter Jann Arden,[18] 1,000 Places to See Before You Die Author Patricia Schultz[19] and U.S. Women’s National Team Coach Jill Ellis.[20]
References
- ^ "New Kid on the River," Vacation Agent Magazine
- ^ "Avalon Waterways Joins CLIA," CLIA Press Room
- ^ a b c "The Evolution Of Avalon". TravelPulse. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ “The Ship That Sails to Yesterday: Exploring Myanmar’s Hidden Corners,” “Smarter Travel,” Marcy 25, 2016, https://www.smartertravel.com/2016/03/25/the-ship-that-sails-to-yesterday-exploring-myanmars-hidden-corners/
- ^ “8 Reasons to Skip Thailand & Head to Myanmar Instead,” “Vogue,” May 11, 2017, http://www.vogue.com/article/why-to-visit-myanmar-instead-of-thailand/
- ^ a b “Why River Line Avalon Waterways Has the Best Cabin Design in Europe,” “USA Today,” March 26, 2015, https://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2015/03/26/avalon-panorama-suite-cabin/70474284/ Cite error: The named reference ":1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ “The Rhine River is an Unexpected – and Amazing – Destination,” “Travel+Leisure,” June 22, 2017, http://www.travelandleisure.com/cruises/avalon-cruise-rhine-and-mosel-rivers/
- ^ "The River Cruise Boom: Cruising through Europe," Miami Herald
- ^ "New Avalon Waterways ship christened in Europe". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Judy Bailey christens Rhine cruise ship". Stuff. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Avalon Waterways plans two new ships for 2016". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Avalon sailing a third river ship in Southeast Asia: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Avalon Waterways Fleet to be All Suite Ships by 2019," USA Today
- ^ “Avalon Waterways Adds Christmas Cruises,” “USA Today,” April 19, 2017, https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2017/04/19/avalon-waterways-adds-christmas-cruises/100638896/
- ^ “The Ultimate Vacation for Beer Lovers,” “Travel+Leisure,” April 14, 2016, http://www.travelandleisure.com/cruises/river-cruises/beer-themed-cruise/
- ^ “EAT PRAY LOVE Your Way Down the Danube with Elizabeth Gilbert,” “Newsweek,” April 23, 2019, https://www.newsweek.com/elizabeth-gilbert-river-cruise-1402013
- ^ “International Best-Selling Author Diana Gabaldon Named Godmother of Avalon’s Newest Suite Ship,” “Cruise Weekly,” November 5, 2014, http://cruiseweekly.com.au/news/international-best-selling-author-diana-gabaldon-named-godmother-of-avalons-newest-suite-ship/21358
- ^ “Avalon Waterways Names Jann Arden Godmother of Avalon Tranquility II,” “River Cruise Advisory,” November 17, 2014, http://www.rivercruiseadvisor.com/2014/11/avalon-waterways-names-jann-arden-godmother-avalon-tranquility-ii/
- ^ "Avalon Expression christened by Patricia Shultz | All Things Cruise". allthingscruise.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ “New Avalon Waterways Ship Christened in Europe,” “USA Today,” April 13, 2016, https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2016/04/13/avalon-passion-cruise-christening/82970660/
External links
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