Avalon Waterways is making its best-selling European river cruises harder to say no to, with return international airfares included and cruise-only savings running into the thousands on select 2027 sailings of Magnificent Europe and Romantic Rhine. Book before 30 October 2026, and the flight, one of the highest costs of getting to Europe, is off the table.
The flight to Europe has always been the sting in the tail of a European river cruise. Guess what? Avalon Waterways has just removed it.
The luxury river cruise line has launched limited-time offers on select 2026 and 2027 departures. Depending on the sailing, travellers can take advantage of included return international airfares through the Fly Free offer or enjoy cruise-only savings.
For your clients who’ve been putting off a European river cruise because of airfare costs, this is the moment to bring it back to the table.
The Fly Free offer at a glance
- Return international airfares included on select Magnificent Europe and Romantic Rhine departures
- Complimentary transfers included with every Fly Free booking
- Cruise-only savings of up to $3,200 per person on select 2027 Magnificent Europe departures and reverse itineraries
- Cruise-only savings of up to $2,500 per person on select 2027 Romantic Rhine departures and reverse itineraries
- Included Avalon Choice excursions across Classic, Active and Discovery styles
- Bookings must be made between 15 July and 30 October 2026, subject to cruise and cabin availability
Availability is limited to selected departures and cabin categories, so it’s worth getting clients’ preferred dates locked in early.
Magnificent Europe: from the Rhine to the Danube
Magnificent Europe is Avalon’s flagship itinerary, a 15-day journey between Amsterdam and Budapest across four countries: The Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Hungary.
Along the way, guests call at Cologne, Rüdesheim, Würzburg, Volkach, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Melk, Vienna and Budapest, taking in the Rhine Gorge’s castle-lined cliffs, a wine-town stop in Rüdesheim, the Benedictine Abbey at Melk, and the Wachau Valley.
It’s the one for clients who want the greatest hits in a single trip: storybook villages along the Rhine, the grand, imperial capitals lining the Danube, and everything in between. With the Fly Free offer applied, it’s also one of the more accessible ways to see all three rivers in one booking.
Romantic Rhine: Europe’s most legendary river
Romantic Rhine is the shorter, equally atmospheric alternative: 8 days and 7 nights from Amsterdam to Basel, through the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland.
The route calls at Amsterdam, Cologne, Rüdesheim, Ludwigshafen, Strasbourg, Breisach, and Basel. Highlights include Cologne’s Gothic cathedral and Old Town, the same Rhine Gorge scenery as Magnificent Europe, Strasbourg’s astronomical clock and La Petite France district, and Breisach, gateway to Germany’s Black Forest.
Departures run across the second half of 2026 and 2027, with some sailings offering additional savings on top of the Fly Free offer, so it’s worth checking specific dates against current pricing before quoting.
Why Avalon Waterways?
Beyond the offer, Magnificent Europe and Romantic Rhine remain two of Avalon’s best-selling itineraries for good reason.
- Panorama Suites: Avalon’s signature staterooms feature the line’s industry-first Open-Air Balcony design, with more space to stretch out and Comfort Collection beds facing the view.
- Fewer passengers, more personal service: smaller ships mean a more personal onboard experience than clients get on ocean cruising.
- Avalon Choice excursions: a choice of Classic, Active and Discovery-style included excursions in every port, so clients can build the trip around how they actually like to travel.
- Modern, award-winning Suite Ships: designed to maximise views of Europe’s rivers and landscapes, inside and out.
It’s a combination that’s kept both itineraries in high demand well before this offer landed, and the included flights only sharpen the deal.
Ready to book?
The Fly Free offer applies to bookings made between 15 July and 30 October 2026 for selected 2027 Magnificent Europe and Romantic Rhine departures.
With savings tied to specific dates and cabin categories, and limited availability across both itineraries, it’s a strong reason to reach out to clients who’ve had a European river cruise on their wish list.
Access sales tools, current pricing, and make bookings via the Travel Agent Portal.
This article is brought to you by Avalon Waterways.
