Home Travel News

Elevated River Cruising: First look at the brand new Avalon View

Avalon Waterways is christening its fourteenth Suite Ship, Avalon View, in Europe this week. Onboard the inaugural cruise is a 100-strong gathering of global media (including Karryon) and trade partners featuring an Australian senior leadership contingent from Flight Centre, Helloworld, Ignite, Tour Radar and Phil Hoffman Travel.

Avalon Waterways is christening its fourteenth Suite Ship, Avalon View, in Europe this week. Onboard the inaugural cruise is a 100-strong gathering of global media (including Karryon) and trade partners featuring an Australian senior leadership contingent from Flight Centre, Helloworld, Ignite, Tour Radar and Phil Hoffman Travel.

The inaugural celebration cruise sees the five-day, four-night journey depart from Vienna and cruise downstream along the famous Danube to Budapest, Hungary, via Bratislava in Slovakia.

The ship’s godmother, Meredith Vieira, is a 15-time Emmy Award-winning host, executive producer and well-known anchor in the U.S and will lead the celebrations and the christening ceremony in Bratislava Slovakia.

Initially, the ship planned to debut in 2020 when it was first finished, but the Champagne had to be put on ice until now due to the pandemic.

Not surprisingly, the level of excitement from everyone onboard for the Christening and the return of travel is palpable.

AvalonView 1
The Avalon View prepares for the Christening event in Bratislava. Pic: Matt Leedham

Thankfully too, cruising restrictions related to COVID are now minimal, which should also take away any stress travellers may be feeling before booking.

How minimal? All passengers are required to do now is simply take a (free) RAT test in their cabin once they first board – conducted by a member of the Avalon team, plus only wear a face mask when they are at the buffet section in the restaurant. And that’s it.

It’s anticipated that these restrictions will be removed long before the start of the European summer and the peak river cruise season.

So what’s it like onboard the new Avalon View?

Panorama001
Panorama003
The Panorama Lounge and bar

The overall ship experience remains true to the Avalon brand promise of ‘relaxed luxury’ across the entire fleet.

All fourteen of Avalon’s ships have been designed to the same spec to ensure a consistent experience whichever ship travellers choose to sail on.

This would explain why 30 per cent of Avalon cruisers are repeat clients who typically choose a different river each time but value Avalon’s market-leading ship experience.

The understated Dutch design has a contemporary style and colour palette with a mix of light and dark woods, accented by rich taupe, brown and red décor in public spaces and touches of blue throughout the Suite Ship’s Suites and Deluxe Staterooms.

The aesthetic is classy and, like all good design, enhances your enjoyment without trying too hard.

ClubLounge006
Club Lounge001
Avalon View Club Lounge which is accessible to all passengers

When it comes to taking in the endless views, ‘Panorama’ is the universally defining word here, given the vast amount of floor to ceiling glass used on the ship and the spectacular views it creates wherever you are on the vessel.

And it does make a huge difference. With the changing vistas and light Europe’s waterways are famous for, It’s like starring in your masterpiece and heaven for snapping photo memories.

Avalon Waterways’ open-air balconies in their ‘Panorama Suites’ feature wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that open 11-feet wide in Europe and 14-feet wide in Southeast Asia.

Bathroom PanoramaSuite001
Panorama Suite bathrooms

They’re more expansive than any other balconies in the river cruise industry and blur the lines between the outside and, in a while, forming a comfortable and spacious seating area without compromising any room space.

Dining 003
Dining in the Panorama Lounge

Each suite is spacious, well-equipped and private with uber comfy suite beds also facing the window to give the sweetest views. The suites also feature their own climate-controlled ‘air’ and even sound dampening walls to cancel any unwanted neighbourly noise.

All of the food and wine you’ll enjoy onboard uses the freshest local ingredients, inspired by the regions you’re cruising through. You can also choose the onboard dining venue that suits your mood – from a breezy al fresco lunch at the Sky Grill to an elegant four-course dinner in the glass-walled dining room.

What about the experiences on offer?

Avalon Active Discovery Kayaking 1 Copy Copy

Chief Marketing Officer for Avalon Waterways Steve Born says that cruising is “moving from passive to active,” with today’s luxury travellers seeking the best use of their time to immerse themselves in a destination and connect on a deeper level with experiences and the locals they meet.

Avalon Choice offers the most comprehensive array of included excursions (up to 28 of them) in river cruising: From classic sightseeing to immersive discoveries and active adventures, with a daily morning choice included in the price and optional afternoon or evening activities an extra.

Cruising into the heart and soul of European cities is one of the main drawcards for river cruising. Why? Simply because it allows travellers to get right to the heart of the action, traffic and hassle-free to enjoy more time and enriching adventures in the destinations they visit.

Avalon Active Discovery Biking 5 Copy Copy

In the post-pandemic era of travel, the fact that Avalon offers smaller cruises of between only 128 and 166 passengers across all their ships, coupled with a redefined all-inclusive offering will be a big drawcard for travellers wanting a more boutique experience with a wide range of choices to best suit their needs.

Beginning now through the 2022 cruise season, the new 443-foot, 166-passenger Avalon View will sail the Danube River on several itineraries, including Taste of the Danube, Danube Symphony, Active & Discovery on the Danube and Gone Girl! (a storyteller series cruise with celebrity U.S host Gillian Flynn).

Head over to avalonwaterways.com.au to find out more.