Avalon's New Mekong River Adventures

Luxury river cruise specialist Avalon Waterways has announced the delivery of a new river cruise ship, the Avalon Angkor, as it launches a dedicated Vietnam, Cambodia & China brochure with a fascinating choice of river cruises and tours in the region.

The new brochure will go on sale on November 24, including a tour of Vietnam & Cambodia with a Mekong river cruise as well as two China tours, including a Yangtze River cruise. Tour and cruise departures are from April 2012 to March 2013.

Due for delivery in 2012, Avalon Angkor (above) has been specially designed to be the first ship in the industry to cruise all the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, avoiding more than 7 hours travelling time by coach. Built by local craftsmen with a colonial design, the boat is the first Avalon vessel to be launched outside of Europe but will feature all the modern amenities the company is renowned for.

Accommodating just 32 guests in 16 deluxe staterooms over two decks with a Sun Deck, this small and intimate ship will feature the standard spacious 172sq ft staterooms as on all Avalon ships. The floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors provide an open-air experience without losing any space in the stateroom and are the best way to enjoy the passing scenery.

All Avalon cruises are fully packaged with flights, transfers, airport taxes, port charges and gratuities, as well as a private door-to-door transfer service (within 75 miles of your chosen international airport), local guided sightseeing and a full board cruise with complimentary wine served at dinner.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out the UK's luxury river cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

No Regional Flight Supplements In 2012 With Avalon

Luxury European river cruise company Avalon Waterways is offering savings of up to £185 per person with no regional flight supplement to pay on 2012 bookings made before September 30.



The river-cruise specialist is offering a range of UK departures from up to 13 airports and an exclusive private door-to-door transfer service is included in the holiday price.



To find out more, visit www.avalonwaterways.com or contact the river-cruise booking experts of The Cruise Line.

Avalon Launches Europe-Wide River-Cruise

Avalon Waterways has launched its longest ever European river cruise itinerary for 2012, the 21-night ‘North Sea to the Black Sea’ cruise from Amsterdam through to Bucharest or vice versa. Sailing through the Netherlands and Germany on the Rhine before joining the Danube through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, the cruise provides an incredible journey to see the many historical, cultural and scenic highlights across Europe.

A broad range of guided sightseeing is included in the cities, towns and famous places along the itinerary, including Cologne, Rudesheim, Miltenberg, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Grein, the Benedictine Abbey at Melk, Vienna and the Heillgenkreuz Monastery. Also included is Budapest, Vukovar, Belgrade and the Iron Gates Gorge. Visits to Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo and the Patriach’s Church, the Ethnographical Museum at Arbanassi, Constanta, and Bucharest’s Parliament Building and National Art Museum are also included.

Prices are from £3,745 per person based on a category E stateroom to include return flights, 21 nights full board cruise accommodation, regional wines and beers served with dinner, 1 night at the Athénée Hilton Palace in Bucharest, guided sightseeing, a private door-to-door home pick-up service, overseas transfers, and the services of a professional cruise director. Stateroom upgrades are available from £880 per person.

Extra nights are available in Amsterdam from £95 per person per night and from £85 per person per night in Bucharest based on a twin share.

For more info, see www.avaloncruises.co.uk or contact one of the river-cruise experts at specialist agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

More Savings With Avalon Waterways

Luxury river cruise specialist Avalon Waterways has increased the number of discounted departures on a selection of its river cruises this summer and autumn with savings of up to £1,400 off per couple. Discounted cruises are now available for departures in July, August and October on itineraries on the Danube and Rhine as well as in Burgundy and Provence.

The 13-day ‘Blue Danube Discovery’ from Budapest to Prague is now priced from £1485 per person with a saving of £1400 per couple for the October 17 departure.

The 11-day ‘Burgundy & Provence’ from Paris to Cote d’Azur or vice versa is priced from £1,865 per person with a saving of £700 per couple, departing from Heathrow on July 25 and 31 and August 8 and 22.

The 14-day ‘Windmills, Vineyards & Paris’ from Paris to Amsterdam or vice versa aboard one of the newest Avalon vessels, Avalon Luminary, is now just £1,915 per person, with a saving of £1000 per couple on August 1 and 13 sailings.

Then there is the 8-day ‘Romantic Rhine’ from Zurich to Amsterdam (or vice versa), now priced from £1,115 per person, with a saving of up to £1000 per couple on July 16, 23 and 30 and October 22.

The 4-day ‘Taste of the Danube’ from Vienna to Budapest costs from £749 per person, with savings of up to £500 per couple on July 16, 23 and 30 and October 22 departures. For a longer itinerary, the 11-day 'Legendary Danube' from Prague to Budapest costs from £1,579 per person with savings of up £1,000 per couple.

All prices include return flights, full board accommodation, regional wines and beers served at dinner, a door-to-door private home pick-up service, guided sightseeing and the services of a professional Cruise Director.

Other discounted itineraries and regional departures are available at a supplement by visiting www.avaloncruises.co.uk or from the UK's specialist cruise agents, The Cruise Line Ltd.

New From Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways has launched its full programme of 2012 river cruises with the announcement of two new ‘suite’ ships, Avalon Visionary and Avalon Vista, both due for delivery in 2012.

Following high demand for the industry’s first ‘suite ship’ Avalon Panorama (launched in May), the new ships will offer the same state-of-the-art sleek design, spacious suites and focus on service as their sister ship. Two full decks of suites; Panorama suites (200 sq ft), Royal Suites (300 sq ft) and deluxe staterooms (172 sq ft) will be available on both new ships.

Continuing to revolutionise river cruising, the suites will feature the same 11ft wall-to-wall panoramic windows that open to create unique ‘open air balconies’, as well as king-sized beds facing the windows, full sized bathrooms and upgrades and enhancements throughout. New for next year, Royal Suite guests will have access to in-room Apple iPads.

Avalon Vista will sail on the 11 day ‘Legendary Danube’ (from £2,199pp), the 13 day ‘Blue Danube Discovery’ (from £2,445pp) and the 15 day ‘Magnificent Europe’ cruise (from £2,749pp). The Visionary will be sailing the 8 day ‘Romantic Rhine’ (from £1,665pp) as well as the new Festive cruises.

New itineraries include the 10 day ‘Paris, Moselle & the Rhine’ (from £2,059pp), 12 day ‘Upper Rhine to the City of Music’ (from £2,519pp), 13 day ‘Rhine & Moselle’ (from £2,599pp) and Jewels of Central Europe (prices from £3,389).

The 2012 programme features 36 river cruise itineraries with prices starting from £999 for ‘A Taste of the Danube’ to the 19 day ‘Danube & Black Sea Coast’ cruise from £3,379pp. Festive cruises to see Europe’s spectacular and atmospheric Christmas markets have been added with four itineraries to choose from in December. Prices lead in at £1,099pp with the ‘Christmas in Alsace & Germany’ from Basel to Frankfurt.

As well as onboard gratuities, a privately chauffeured door-to-door home pick up service (within 75 miles radius of the airport/Eurostar station), port charges and all transfers are included. With a choice of flexible travel arrangements on offer, there is a choice of regional flights and Eurostar options to make the journey as easy as possible.

For more info, visit www.avaloncruises.co.uk or the specialist river-cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Avalon's 2012 Preview

Avalon Waterways has launched its first ever preview brochure with five of its most popular European river cruise itineraries for 2012. The selection includes the ‘Magnificent Europe’ (15 days from £2,489), ‘Burgundy and Provence’ (11 days from £1,999), ‘Romantic Rhine’ (8 days from £1,445), ‘Black Sea Discovery’ (11 days from £2,115) and the ‘Legendary Danube’ (11 days from £1,685) river cruises.

A series of great value early booking offers will be available, including £400 off per couple and free travel insurance for all bookings made before 20 May 2011 as well as half-price upgrade supplements (excluding suites) for bookings made by 30 April. Included in the price for the first time are onboard gratuities for the Cruise Director and crew to provide even better value.

Avalon Waterways’ hassle-free river cruise holidays feature a range of benefits included in the price. As well as onboard gratuities, a privately chauffeured door-to-door home pick-up service, port charges and all transfers are included. With a choice of flexible travel arrangements on offer, there are regional flights and Eurostar options to make the journey as easy as possible. Based on a full-board basis, the fine dining onboard includes a range of international and regional dishes with local wines, beers and soft drinks served on complimentary basis with dinner. Sightseeing with local guides means visitors get the most of shore excursions.

Alan MacLean, Managing Director, commented: “As demand and awareness of luxury river cruising grows, we are receiving more requests for early bookings, some from repeat bookers. By putting on sale our five most popular cruises ahead of the main brochure launch in May, our customers can secure the category of stateroom they want and benefit from the value added early booking offers at the same time.”

For more info, see www.avaloncruises.co.uk or contact the UK's river-cruise experts of The Cruise Line Ltd.

AVALON WATERWAYS LAUNCHES FIRST PREVIEW BROCHURE FOR 2012

Avalon Waterways has launched its first ever preview brochure with five of its most popular European river cruise itineraries for 2012. The selection includes the ‘Magnificent Europe’ (15 days from £2489), ‘Burgundy and Provence’ (11 days from £1999), ‘Romantic Rhine’ (8 days from £1445), ‘Black Sea Discovery’ (11 days from £2115) and the ‘Legendary Danube’ (11 days from £1685) river cruises.

A series of great value early booking offers will be available on 2012 cruises including £400 off per couple and free travel insurance for all bookings made before 20 May 2011 as well as half price upgrade supplements (excluding suites) for bookings made by 30 April. Included in the price for the first time are onboard gratuities for the Cruise Director and crew to provide even better value.

Avalon Waterways’ hassle-free river cruise holidays feature a range of benefits included in the price. As well as onboard gratuities, a privately chauffeured door-to-door home pick up service, port charges and all transfers are included. With a choice of flexible travel arrangements on offer, there is a choice of regional flights and Eurostar options to make the journey as easy as possible. Based on a full board basis, the fine dining onboard includes a range of international and regional dishes with local wines, beers and soft drinks served on complimentary basis with dinner. Sightseeing with local guides with individual audio sets means visitors get the most of shore excursions.

For further information visit http://www.avaloncruises.co.uk/ or The Cruise Line

Up to £900 off per couple on 2011 River Cruises

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Luxury river cruise specialist Avalon Waterways is offering savings of up to £900 per couple on selected European river cruises during 2011.

Those wanting to enjoy the delights of the River Danube can choose from the 11-day ‘Legendary Danube’ or 13-day ‘Blue Danube Discovery,’ both offering £900 off per couple. The shorter itinerary of the 4-day ‘A Taste of the Danube’ has been discounted by £400 per couple on select dates throughout April, May and November. Even further east is the 13-day ‘Blue Danube to the Black Sea’ on March 30 and April 9 departures, saving £900 per couple.

Discounted river cruises in France include the 11-day ‘Burgundy & Provence’ river cruise or the 8-day ‘Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches' with £750 per couple to be saved on both on select April and May departures. Longer itineraries on Europe’s waterways include the 15-day ‘Magnificent Europe’ and 13-day ‘European Splendour,’ both offering £900 off per couple.

For more information, visit http://www.avaloncruises.co.uk/ or check with the cruise specialist agents of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Avalon Launches Spring Discounts

By guest blogger Steve Newman

AvalonWaterways, the USA-based luxury river cruise company which launched its UK operation last year, has announced a range of discounts on its 2011 spring departures of up to £450 per person.

Operating the youngest, quietest and most spacious fleet of ships currently on Europe’s rivers, which include the Rhine, Moselle, Rhone, Main, Danube and Seine, Avalon kicks off the spring discounting by offering £450 off its April 10 sailing of the popular 11-day ‘Legendary Danube’ cruise from Prague to Budapest on the 5-star MS Tapestry, now priced from £1509 per person (reduced from £1959), to include return flights, full board with complimentary regional wine, beer or soft drinks with dinner and free door-to-home pick-up within a 75-mile radius of the chosen UK departure airport.

Still on the Danube, a discount of £450 is also offered on the 13-day ‘Blue Danube Discovery’ departing on May 6 from Budapest to Prague on Avalon Tranquility now priced at £1845 (reduced from £2295).

Discounts of £325 are also available on the 11-day ‘Burgundy & Provence’ route departing from Paris to the Cote d’Azur on Avalon Scenery and the 8-day ‘Romantic Rhine’ departing from Zurich to Amsterdam on Avalon Felicity, both on April 24.

Other itineraries available with discounts include the 13-day ‘Blue Danube to the Black Sea’, the 15-day ‘Magnificent Europe’ and the 13-day ‘European Splendour’.

For further information on the range of itineraries available, visit http://www.avaloncruises.co.uk/ or call the river-cruise specialist agents of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 088 6677.

Up to £900 saving at The Cruise Show with Avalon

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Here's another great offer to start the week - you can save up to £900 per couple when you book an Avalon river-cruise during the Cruise Show.

The go-ahead Avalon Waterways is offering visitors to the Cruise Show at Birmingham’s NEC, an exclusive range of special offers worth up to £450 per person on select 2011 cruises (listed below).

Cruise Show Saving per couple:

Mar 20, European Splendour £900
Mar 30, Blue Danube to the Black Sea £900
Apr 9, Blue Danube to the Black Sea £900
Apr 10, The Legendary Danube £900
Apr 18, Blue Danube Discovery £900
Apr 24, Burgundy & Provence £650
Apr 24, Romantic Rhine £650
May 6, Blue Danube Discovery £900
Nov 2, Magnificent Europe £900
Nov 14, Blue Danube Discovery £900

Don’t forget, all other 2011 Avalon cruises are offered with a saving of £300 per couple.

For more great deals on Avalon Cruises, check out top specialist agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

You can also find more at The Cruise Show at Birmingham NEC on October 16-17 and at London's Olympia next March (26-27).

River Cruise Prize Draw at The Cruise Show

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Visitors to the Avalon Waterways stand (C12) at the Daily Telegraph’s Cruise Show taking place at Birmingham’s NEC from October 16-17 will be able to take advantage of an exclusive Cruise Show booking offer, special offers as well as enter a cruise holiday prize draw.

By booking at the Cruise Show, visitors can enjoy significant savings on their holiday. Not only that, they can enter an exciting prize draw to win an 8-day ‘Tulip Time’ cruise for two, worth more than £2,800. Avalon’s brand new cruise highlights the wide open spaces of Holland and Belgium with the pretty windmills of Kinderdijk, the medieval centre of Ghent and the dazzling displays of colourful tulips at the Keukenhof Gardens.

City sightseeing includes Antwerp’s superb architecture, the cosmopolitan city port of Rotterdam and the famous canals of Amsterdam. The prize includes chauffeur-driven transfers to and from home to the nearest UK airport (within a 75-mile radius), return flights and transfers, full board accommodation and complimentary soft drinks, wine or beer served with dinner.

The Avalon team, including knowledgeable cruise director Mark Wismeijer, will be on hand to tell visitors about their sleek and young fleet of ships with luxurious facilities and spacious staterooms, sized at 172sq ft each, as well as the highest levels of personalised service, fine dining and other creature comforts.

Would-be river cruisers can learn more about Avalon’s carefully-planned itineraries, with included excursions to get the most out of visiting Europe’s fascinating cities, famous landmarks and beautiful landscapes.

With state-of-the-art technology and design, these small and intimate ships are specially designed to provide the most relaxing environment to enjoy the passing scenery. Visitors will also hear about the two new ships which have been launched this year, the Avalon Felicity and Avalon Luminary (above).

Mark Wismeijer will be taking part in a panel discussion on river cruising on Saturday 16 October at 4pm in Cruise Theatre One. With cruise expert Steve Read acting as moderator, cruise executives from a number of river cruise companies will be taking a closer look at discovering the world by river. They will be joined by well known cruising journalist Jane Archer.

For further information or to request a brochure, ring Avalon Waterways on 0800 668 1802 or look up www.avaloncruises.co.uk/show.

Dont forget to check out the full details on the Cruise Show venues at Birmingham in October (16-17) and London next March (26-27).

First 'All Suite Ship'

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Avalon Waterways is to introduce the very first ‘All Suite Ship’ – the Avalon Panorama – in May 2011.

Featuring in the company’s new European River Cruise brochure (Mar-Nov 2011), the Panorama is the first of its kind in the industry. Offering two full decks of suites with wall-to-wall sliding panoramic windows (above) that are 50% wider than the industry standard, the Panorama Suites are 200sq ft (30% larger than the industry standard) while the Royal Suites will measure an astonishing 300sq ft and feature a king-size bed, full size designer bathroom and separate toilet.

The Panorama will operate the 15-day ‘Magnificent Europe’ cruise (Amsterdam to Budapest and reverse) from May to November 2011, priced from £2,249 in a Panorama Suite and from £4,022 in a Royal Suite; and on the 13-day 'Blue Danube Discovery' (from Budapest to Prague) on 14 November, priced from £1,949 and £2836 .

Cruises offered as ‘no fly’ options and which operate in conjunction with Eurostar departures from London’s St. Pancras or Ebbsfleet include the 8-day ‘Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches’ and the 11-day ‘Burgundy & Provence.’

New for this edition is the possibility to book ‘cruise only,’ thus affording additional flexibility pre or post-cruise. Also new is the ability to pre-purchase a drinks package (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) which complements the existing free regional wine, beer or soft drinks served with dinner.

All holidays include a free door-to-door home pick-up service within a 75 mile radius of the chosen airport or Eurostar station. Prices in the new brochure start from £999 per person based on the 4-day ‘Taste of the Danube’ from Vienna to Budapest on board Avalon Tapestry departing on 16 October from London Heathrow or from a range of UK airports at a supplement.

For further information on the full range of itineraries available or to request a brochure, visit http://www.avaloncruises.co.uk/.

Avalon will also be exhibiting at the must-see Cruise Show in Birmingham in October.

More River-Cruise Choice

It seems river cruises are definitely the flavour of the month. No sooner do I detail the great advantages of this option compared to their big-ship, ocean-going brethren, than a new operation arrives dedicated to river cruising.

US-based Avalon Waterways is now available to a UK audience for the first time, bringing another array of high-quality riverboats to the attention (and availability) of an interested public. A new British office, website and countrywide marketing, highlight their drive to broaden their passenger base - and make river-cruising even more popular.

To start with, Avalon boast one of the youngest fleets in Europe, with eight boats dating back no longer than 2004 and two more due to come on line in 2010. They feature six main European rivers (Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Main, Rhone and Seine), as well as a range of themed cruises, and their newest six are powered by a state of the art, pod-propulsion, Silent Drive System. Two of their vessels, Avalon Poetry and Artistry, feature aft navigational bridges, which earned them an innovative design award as they allowed for more spacious public rooms and a Sky Deck.

Since their inauguration in 2004, Avalon have earned an enviable reputation for outstanding service, cuisine and onboard style, as well as featuring an attractive array of itineraries from 4-15 days (although most are in the 10-12 day range).

It's no wonder UK Managing Director Alan MacLean says: “Having become the most recognised and fastest growing river cruise brand in the world, we are delighted to launch our first class product on to the UK Market. River cruising is definitely bucking the trend in the recent economic downturn, being enjoyed by a largely recession-proof sector of the population who are prepared to pay for the highest level of quality and service.”

Their staterooms are currently the largest available on European rivers, from 172sq ft for standard rooms to a massive (by river-cruise standards) 258sq ft for suites. Virtually all have floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with French balconies, affording panoramic views of the areas they cruise through. They are also superbly appointed, with state-of-the-art amenities and décor, such as flatscreen satellite TVs, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens and individual climate control.

Their high-class cuisine is prepared by an impressive range of chefs, who include classic dishes and regional specialities, while the full board arrangement includes complimentary regional wine with dinner, taking advantage of the numerous classic varieties to be found close to Europe’s principal rivers.

Importantly, most excursions are also included, with personal headsets provided for all guided tours ashore. To add to the first class experience, Avalon offers complimentary round-trip door-to-home pick-up service in chauffeur-driven executive cars within 75 miles of the chosen international departure airport or Eurostar station.

If all that doesn't tempt you, then wait for the prices, which are all extremely value-conscious, especially for continental Europe (try getting four-star full-board accommodation in Germany, France or Austria for £160 a day!):

Prices for 2010 start from £915 for the five day ‘Taste of the Danube’ cruise on board Avalon Tapestry. Other itineraries include the ‘Legendary Danube’ (Prague-Budapest, 10 days from £1635), ‘Danube & Black Sea Coast’ (Prague-Bucharest, 13 days from £2949), ‘Romantic Rhine’ (Basel-Amsterdam, 8 days from £1369), ‘Burgundy & Provence’ (Cote d’Azur-Paris, 11 days from £1669), ‘European Splendour’ (Vienna-Amsterdam, 13 days from £1789) and the ‘Central European Experience’ (Paris-Prague, 12 days from £1955).

For music and wine connoisseurs there is also a range of themed cruises on specific departures such as the Burgundy & Provence Wine cruise or the Magnificent Europe Music Cruise with shore excursions to include a Strauss concert in Vienna, an organ recital in Melk and a visit to the Opera House in Bayreuth.

Interested yet? It certainly gets my attention, and the Danube & Black Sea Coast would definitely be my idea of a memorable trip. Now, where's their phone number...........!