In the last 10 years, river cruising has grown by a crazy 250% making waves in the travel industry and proving that when it comes to bodies of water and ships, bigger is not always better.
To celebrate the perks of river cruising, Avalon Waterways have put together a list of their top 8 reasons to go river cruising.
1. Size is seismic. It matters
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Avalon Waterways’ floating “
And, while fellow passenger numbers are low, Avalon’s onboard crew ratio is high. In fact, on every ship, the average guest-to-crew ratio is 3:1.
“Our guests know that it’s possible to cruise without a crowd, explore new cultures with ease and sail in intimate settings,” Managing director of Avalon Waterways Pam Hoffee said.
2. See not sea
On a river cruise, travellers are not at sea. Instead, river cruises wind and bend through the heart of fascinating countries providing a panoramic view of the Old World.
Always within a few feet of shore, on a river vessel, travellers pass clifftop castles, hillside vineyards, ancient villages, and capital cities. Every day – and night – travellers have quick and easy access to ports-of-call.
3. A focus on “to-do’s,” not crowds and queues
River cruise itineraries are destination-focused, with local guides who help travellers experience – and connect with – the world around them.
Most river cruise itineraries also sail off-the-beaten-path, visiting small fairytale villages, quaint town squares and family-owned wineries, bakeries and restaurants, along the way.
Further, queues are not news on the world’s rivers. Avalon Waterways’ excursions typically accommodate no more than 30 guests at a time, providing every traveller
4. Fresh air and perspectives
This wall of glass converts into an Open-Air Balcony, but that’s not all. No Avalon Waterways ship has interior-only cabins. Instead, every Deluxe Stateroom and Panorama Suite offer guests natural light and most feature beds facing the views for which river cruising is famous.
Public spaces also provide guests room to move and views galore. And, Avalon’s Suite Ship Sky Decks run the length and width of each vessel with wide-open spaces, fresh air, and lounge chairs aplenty.
5. Warm “welcomes” along the way
Avalon’s “give back” mentality extends to the purchase of local produce, wines, beers, and even bread, further connecting guests to people, places, and culture.
6. Charting a new course in sustainability
The vibrant and beautiful natural surroundings of the world’s rivers are a benefit of river cruising.
And, it is up to river cruise companies to preserve the precious environment and limit our footprint. As a result, Avalon Waterways has taken great strides to improve monitoring and measurement to reduce our environmental impact, to save water, to limit waste and to foster a sustainability culture among our crew and guests.
7. Ship-Shape Suite Ships
The world has changed, but what remains certain is Avalon Waterways’ commitment to guest safety, comfort and peace-of-mind.
Avalon’s new Avalon Assurance program ensures that the cleanliness of all operations exceeds today’s standards from start-to-finish.
The river cruise operator’s new Avalon Assurance program currently features seven major categories and protocols that span across guest experience touch-points – all of which are being shared, explored, reviewed and renewed, accordingly.
Details can be found at avalonwaterways.com.au//why-avalon/avalon-assurance.
8. Not everything in the world goes as planned…
“Avalon Waterways understands that our value and our service is measured by what we do when things go wrong even more than when everything runs as planned,” said Hoffee.
“We are there for our guests, offering refunds for missed services, alternative sightseeing or the opportunity to re-book and try again another time. We are a long-term business, prepared to tackle short-term obstacles. Our hope is that travellers choose to explore the world with us time and time again.”