River cruise line · 12 ships · sailing 1 regions — Panorama Suites where the bed faces the view.
Premium river cruise line in the Globus Family of Brands, best known for its Suite Ships and their signature Panorama Suites, where beds are turned to face wall-to-wall windows that slide open into an 'Open-Air Balcony'. It sits a notch below the fully all-inclusive ultra-luxury lines but offers some of the largest standard cabins and the widest opening windows on Europe's rivers.
Independent-minded travellers who value in-cabin views, space and flexible excursions over butler-service opulence. The Avalon Choice program (Classic, Discovery and Active options) makes it a good fit for active, curious and first-time river cruisers alike; it is adult-oriented rather than a family brand.
A fleet of near-identical Suite Ships typically carrying about 128-166 guests on Europe's rivers, plus vessels in Southeast Asia and South America. Representative European hulls include Avalon Panorama, Passion, View, Envision, Expression and Impression. Two full decks are given over to Panorama Suites, and the line completed a multi-year fleetwide Suite Ship refresh around 2026.
The standout vessels in the fleet — and the amenities that set them apart.
the original Suite Ship that introduced the Panorama Suite concept
recent evolution of the Suite Ship design
Avalon FlexDining lets guests choose when, where and with whom to eat across the Panorama Dining Room, a casual Bistro, the Sky Grill, the Club Lounge and room service, with picnic lunches to take ashore and breakfast in bed also available.
Low-key and destination-focused: regional musicians and performers brought aboard, enrichment talks and a resident cruise director rather than big production shows, with an emphasis on scenery from the panoramic Sky Deck and lounge.
Primarily an adult experience with no dedicated children's program, though some active Avalon Choice itineraries can suit older kids and multigenerational groups.
Fares include most excursions via Avalon Choice, regional wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi and port charges; premium drinks and gratuities are generally extra, so it is not a fully all-inclusive line.
Regions in Noura's Cruise Navigator, most sailings first. Tap a region for its ports and season.
Avalon Tapestry II · from Paris
Paris, France → Vernon & Giverny, France → Rouen, France → Mâcon, France → Mâcon, France → Paris, France → Chalon-sur-Saone / Dijon, France (embark Rhone-Saone) → Mâcon, France
Avalon Expression · from Budapest
Budapest, Hungary → Budapest, Hungary → Vienna, Austria → Linz, Austria → Linz, Austria → Linz, Austria → Linz, Austria → Passau, Germany
Avalon View · from Basel
Basel, Switzerland → Ludwigshafen (Heidelberg), Germany → Strasbourg, France → Ludwigshafen (Heidelberg), Germany → Rüdesheim, Germany → Ludwigshafen (Heidelberg), Germany → Cologne, Germany → Amsterdam, Netherlands
Avalon Artistry II · from Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France → Mâcon, France → Mâcon, France → Mâcon, France → Libourne & Saint-Émilion → Bordeaux, France → Arcachon, France (excursion) → Bordeaux, France
Noura turns this intelligence into a real itinerary — flights, hotels with perks, and timing dialled in — at no planning cost to you.
Compare Avalon Waterways with other river lines — or read how the tiers differ.
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