The view and the flexibility
River Cruises Avalon Waterways
Avalon turned the river cabin around — the bed faces a glass wall that slides seven feet open. Add more touring choice than most rivals and a fare in the middle of the market, and you have our pick for travellers who care most about the room.
- 80%of staterooms are Panorama Suites
- 7 ftwindow opening in Europe (9 ft on the Mekong)
- 200sq ft Panorama Suite
- 28included tour options, at most, per cruise
Best for Travellers who want the river in view from the pillow and the freedom to plan each day.
- Ship sizeAbout 150 on average
- DrinksMeals, plus a daily Happy Hour
- GratuitiesExtra
- ExcursionsUp to 28 included options
- FamiliesAges 8 and up
- SoloAsk us
Overview
Turn the bed around
Most river cabins put the bed against the side wall and the window behind your head. Avalon thought that was backwards.
On its trademarked Suite Ships, the bed faces outward. The whole outer wall is floor-to-ceiling glass that slides open about seven feet in Europe and nine on the Mekong — Avalon calls it the Open-Air Balcony. Panorama Suites fill two full decks and make up about 80% of staterooms.
Avalon belongs to the Globus family of brands, a Swiss, family-owned group whose story starts in 1928. Its European Suite Ships average about 150 guests, with a guest-to-crew ratio of roughly 3:1, and the fleet was refreshed for 2026 with new interiors, updated gyms and free Starlink Wi-Fi in Europe.
Cruise Critic's 2025 awards voted Avalon Best River Cruise Line and #1 for Cabins, per Avalon. That's a cruiser vote, not a lab test — though the cabin result matches what we'd expect.
The honest fit
Is Avalon your line?
- the view from the room matters more to you than a step-out balcony
- you want to choose each day's tour — classic, active or discovery — rather than follow one plan
- you like a drink at the natural times: wine at meals, bubbles at breakfast, spirits at Happy Hour
- you want suite-sized space at a mid-market fare — sample 2026 prices sit close to AmaWaterways'
- you're adding a land tour — Globus guides and pre- and post-cruise packages are part of the family
- you never want to see a tip envelope — Scenic and Tauck fold gratuities in
- dining is the priority — Avalon has no specialty restaurant, while AmaWaterways includes a Chef's Table dinner
- you want the widest calendar — Viking runs several times as many ships
- you need a wheelchair-accessible cabin — we couldn't find any listed, so confirm before booking
- you want an actual balcony chair outside — the Open-Air Balcony is an opening wall, not a terrace
Where it sails
Avalon’s rivers, on one map
Tap a river to see what Avalon does there and when it sails. Every lit pin is a stop on Avalon’s published itineraries; open any river on our Cruise Atlas for the full port-by-port card.
Several Suite Ships, Avalon Visionary among them, plus Christmas Markets sailings between Budapest and Nuremberg.
Seven-night Amsterdam–Basel sailings, and Dutch waterways cruises on ships such as Avalon Envision.
Usually sailed as part of a longer Danube–Rhine route on ships like Avalon Expression.
Covered by Avalon Imagery II alongside the Rhine, Main and Danube.
Avalon Tapestry II runs Paris to Normandy.
Avalon Alegria, the newest Suite Ship, was built for Portugal's Douro.
Avalon Artistry II sails the Bordeaux region.
Avalon Saigon carries just 36 guests, with a window wall that opens wide.
Egypt sailings use the chartered MS Farah rather than a Suite Ship.
Peru's Amazon on the chartered Delfin III, plus a Galápagos yacht — neither is a Suite Ship.
What it costs
Avalon’s published fares, river by river
Every Avalon lead fare in our seven river guides, as the line published it. Filter by river, sort by fare or by night, and tap a river for its full guide.
- DanubeBalkan Discovery, 9 days Budapest–Bucharest$4,460≈ $558 a night
$4,460 pp (was $5,210), 4 Jun 2027 departure, as published 21 Oct 2026
- DanubeDanube Dreams Eastbound, 8 days Vilshofen–Budapest$4,551≈ $650 a night
$4,551 pp (reduced $4,301), 19 Nov 2027 departure, as published 21 Oct 2026
- RhineThe Rhine & Moselle Northbound, 11 days Basel–Amsterdam$5,309≈ $531 a night
from $5,309 pp for the 17 Jul 2027 departure, as published 21 Oct 2026
- SeineParis to Normandy, 8 days Paris round trip$4,076≈ $582 a night
$4,076 pp for the 2 Nov 2027 departure, as published 21 Oct 2026
- Rhône & SaôneBurgundy & Provence Southbound, 8 days Lyon–Arles$3,976≈ $568 a night
$3,976 pp for the 26 Oct 2027 departure, as published 21 Oct 2026
- DouroVida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro, 8 days Porto round trip$4,426≈ $632 a night
$4,426 pp double occupancy for the 27 Oct 2027 departure, as published 21 Oct 2026
- NileTaste of Egypt, 10 days Cairo–Cairo (MS Farah), intra-vacation air included$5,199≈ $578 a night
$5,199 pp; $4,949 for the 6 May 2027 departure, as published 22 Oct 2026
- MekongFascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River (Southbound), 13 days Siem Reap–Ho Chi Minh City, air within the trip and taxes included$7,324≈ $610 a night
$7,324 pp double occupancy for the 9 Aug 2027 departure, as published 22 Oct 2026
Lead fares per person as each line published them; the line under each bar keeps the line’s own wording. “A night” is our arithmetic: the lead fare divided by the trip’s nights (days minus one, hotel nights included where the package has them), before taxes and port charges. Your dates will price differently. That’s the job we do for free.
The ships
The Suite Ship
Avalon's European fleet shares one layout, built around the suite rather than the lounge.
The Avalon Suite Ship
About 15 Suite Ships sail Europe, the newest being Avalon Alegria on the Douro (102 guests, christened March 2024). Two full decks are Panorama Suites. Above them, a Sky Deck Avalon calls nearly the size of a football field carries a grill, a whirlpool, a walking track and a shaded Tech Terrace.
Open-Air Balcony
A wall-to-wall glass panel that slides open about seven feet in Europe. No step-out space — the whole room becomes the balcony instead.
River-facing beds
Every Comfort Collection bed faces the window, not a wall. The first thing you see in the morning is the riverbank.
Club Lounge
A 24-hour lounge with free cappuccinos, lattes, teas and snacks, plus books and board games.
Adventure Host
An onboard host who leads workouts and helps guests explore on the free bikes and e-bikes during time ashore.
| Ship or class | River | Guests | Debut | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon Alegria | Douro | 102 | 2024 | Newest Suite Ship; 15th in Europe |
| Avalon Envision | Rhine, Dutch waterways | — | — | European Suite Ships average about 150 guests |
| Avalon Expression | Danube, Main, Rhine | — | — | |
| Avalon Imagery II | Danube, Moselle, Rhine, Main | — | — | |
| Avalon Visionary | Danube | — | — | |
| Avalon Tapestry II | Seine | — | — | Paris to Normandy |
| Avalon Artistry II | Bordeaux rivers | — | — | |
| Avalon Saigon | Mekong | 36 | — | 18 Panorama Suites; windows open about 9 ft |
| MS Farah | Nile | — | — | Chartered for Avalon's Egypt programme |
The Avalon difference
Avalon Choice and FlexDining
The window is half of Avalon's case. The other half is choice.
Avalon Choice gives each port three styles of included touring — Classic sightseeing, Active outings such as hiking or cycling, and Discovery experiences built around local food and culture. Itineraries list up to 28 included options, and Active & Discovery sailings average about 22.
FlexDining carries the idea to the table. There are no fixed seatings — dinner in the Panorama Dining Room, lighter plates in the Panorama Bistro, grilled food on the Sky Deck, afternoon tea, and a free picnic lunch to take ashore.
Plan two or three tours a sailing in advance and leave the rest open. Spare free afternoons are where the bikes and the open window earn their keep.
The fare
What’s in the price, and what isn’t
All meals with FlexDining
Every meal across several venues, plus afternoon tea and picnic lunches for days ashore.
SourceWine, beer and soft drinks with meals
Served at lunch and dinner, with sparkling wine at breakfast.
SourceDaily Happy Hour
Select beer, wine, spirits and cocktails in the Panorama Lounge, plus welcome and farewell cocktails.
SourceAvalon Choice excursions
Up to 28 included options per itinerary across Classic, Active and Discovery styles.
SourceStarlink Wi-Fi and coffee
Free Starlink Wi-Fi on European Suite Ships, and 24-hour specialty coffee and tea in the Club Lounge.
SourceDrinks outside the included times
Anything beyond meals, breakfast bubbles and Happy Hour is extra.
SourceSpa, laundry and some special excursions
Salon and spa treatments, laundry and a few special tours cost extra.
Source
Inclusions differ by itinerary and market, and lines revise them. We confirm exactly what’s in your fare when we price it.
Cabins
Which suite to book
Avalon publishes three main categories, and the cheapest of them is the only one without the opening wall. That makes this an easy decision for most people.
Best value
Panorama Suite
The Open-Air Balcony and the river-facing bed, about 30% larger than a typical river cabin per Avalon. This is the Avalon experience — the default for nearly everyone.
The splurge
Royal Suite
Typically two per European ship. A king bed, a living area, a second sliding panoramic door, double sinks and a separate half-bath. Worth it for a long sailing or a special occasion.
Skip unless…
Deluxe Stateroom
Lower-deck cabins with a high fixed window rather than the opening wall. Roomy for the price, but the view is the reason to sail Avalon — step up if you can.
Smart alternative
Panorama Suite on the Mekong
Avalon Saigon has just 18 Panorama Suites and windows that open about 9 feet. If Southeast Asia is on your list, this is the widest opening Avalon builds.
Before you book
The honest downsides
- 01
Tips and off-hours drinks are still on you.
The bar pours at meals and Happy Hour, not around the clock, and gratuities sit outside the fare. If you'd rather pay one number and never sign a bill, Scenic or Tauck will price that more cleanly.
- 02
There's no specialty restaurant.
The food is flexible — four venues, picnics, a vegetarian and vegan menu at every meal — though no Chef's Table equivalent. If dinner is the highlight of your trip, AmaWaterways is the stronger pick.
- 03
Accessibility is a question to ask first.
Avalon's ship and stateroom pages don't list wheelchair-accessible cabins, and river ships can involve stairs and steep gangways in port. Call before you commit if anyone in your party uses a wheelchair or walker. Children 8 and up are welcome, though there's no youth programme.
Compared
Avalon against the alternatives
Avalon's beds face a seven-foot opening window and you choose from several tours per port; Viking gives you a real step-out Veranda and many more ships and dates. The better room against the bigger calendar.
Read our Viking reviewSample 2026 fares land close together. Ama has the Chef's Table, single cabins and family sailings; Avalon has the view and Happy Hour spirits. Choose by table versus window.
Read our AmaWaterways reviewScenic bundles more into a higher fare. Avalon is a notch below on inclusions and, in our view, at least level on the cabin — the value pick if you don't mind tipping separately.
Read our Scenic reviewBoth modern, both mid-priced, both with window walls rather than terraces. Emerald folds gratuities and transfers into the fare and publishes a lead price from $2,633; Avalon leans towards the suite and the touring choice. Decide on cabin layout versus fare structure.
Read our Emerald reviewHead to head
Avalon against any other line
Pick a rival and the table rewrites itself. Every cell comes from the same checked facts as our reviews; the fare row is the lowest lead fare in our nine river guides.
| This reviewAvalon | Viking | |
|---|---|---|
| In one line | Beds that face the river through a window that opens about 7 feet, and up to 28 tour options to choose from. | Adults-only calm, one ship design and a tour in every port: the predictable first booking. |
| Ship size | About 150 on average | 190 guests per Longship |
| Drinks | With meals, plus a daily Happy Hour | With lunch and dinner |
| Gratuities | Extra | Extra (about $20 pp a night suggested) |
| Excursions | Up to 28 included options | One guided tour per port |
| Families | Ages 8 and up, per Cruise Critic | 18 and over only |
| Solo travellers | Ask us | Ask us |
| Lowest fare in our river guides | $3,976 | $1,999 |
Before you book
Five questions to settle before you book Avalon
The answers separate two sailings that look the same on paper. Tick the ones you care about and we’ll answer them for your dates.
Why trust this page
The Seabound standard
Sources, read at the source
Every fare, berth and timetable here was checked on October 21, 2026, at the line, port or hotel wherever they publish it. Where they don’t, we name the source we used, or say nothing is published.
Paid placements
No line or hotel pays to appear here or to rank higher. Affiliate links are labelled, and they never decide what we recommend.
Advisors, not a booking engine
A Seabound Journeys advisor reads your brief, compares the lines for your dates and answers you personally. CLIA-affiliated, Florida Seller of Travel ST15578.
Before you board
Arrive a night early, somewhere worth it
Many of these cities put the ship close to the centre, though a few, such as Bucharest, mean a road transfer to the ship. A night or two ahead absorbs a delayed overnight flight and gives you the city before the ship does. Here are hotels to consider in Avalon’s main embarkation cities.
Hotel and tour links go to Booking.com and Viator; Seabound Journeys may earn a commission at no cost to you. Your line’s included excursions stay with the line. Affiliate disclosure. Prefer us to book the nights with your cruise? Say so in your brief below.
Our verdict
Book it for the room
Avalon's case starts at the pillow. The Panorama Suite is the most distinctive standard cabin on Europe's rivers in our view, and Avalon Choice lets you build each port around your own pace.
The trade-offs are clear and fair. Tips are extra, the bar keeps hours, and there's no tasting-menu restaurant. Check accessibility before anything else if it applies to you.
Pick your river first, then confirm the ship has two full decks of Panorama Suites for your dates. Book one, and leave the Deluxe Stateroom for someone who doesn't care about the view.
- Usually the same fare as booking direct, and our advice costs you nothing.
- We compare Avalon against the other lines for your dates, not just one brochure.
- Pre- and post-cruise hotels, flights and transfers can go into the same plan.
Your river brief
Tell us the trip. We’ll find the sailing.
Your brief is in.
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Want to talk sooner? Book a free 30-minute call.
Journey further.
Prefer to browse fares yourself? Compare river cruise fares Via CruiseDirect · Affiliate link
Quick answers
Avalon river cruise questions
What is Avalon's Open-Air Balcony?
A wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling glass panel that slides open about seven feet in Europe and nine on the Mekong. The bed faces it, so the whole suite opens to the river. There's no separate step-out balcony.
How big are Avalon's suites?
Panorama Suites are about 200 sq ft and make up roughly 80% of staterooms. Royal Suites are about 300 sq ft, and lower-deck Deluxe Staterooms are about 172 sq ft with a fixed window.
What's included on an Avalon river cruise?
All meals, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, sparkling wine at breakfast, a daily Happy Hour with spirits, Avalon Choice excursions, bikes and e-bikes, and Starlink Wi-Fi in Europe. Gratuities, drinks outside those times, spa and laundry are extra.
Does Avalon include gratuities?
No. Gratuities are paid on top of the fare. Budget for them when comparing Avalon with lines that bundle tips into a higher price.
Can children sail with Avalon?
Children 8 and older are welcome, according to Cruise Critic, though Avalon has no formal youth programme. Families wanting kid-focused sailings should look at AmaWaterways' Adventures by Disney departures.
Is Avalon wheelchair accessible?
We couldn't find wheelchair-accessible staterooms listed on Avalon's ship or stateroom pages. River ships can involve stairs and steep gangways in port, so call Avalon or ask us to confirm for your specific ship before booking.
How we checked this page 15 sources
We checked the line’s own pages and the trade press on October 22, 2026. Where they disagreed, we used the more conservative figure or named the source. Nothing here is paid for, and Booking.com, Viator and CruiseDirect never see a page before it’s published.
- Avalon Waterways — homepage
- Avalon — Suite Ships
- Avalon — Explore Our Suite Ships
- Avalon — Staterooms
- Avalon — Better by Design
- Avalon — Excursions (Avalon Choice)
- Avalon — Drinks
- Avalon — Dining (FlexDining)
- Avalon — Amenities
- Avalon — Suite fleet
- Avalon — Our History & Our Future
- Avalon — In the News
- Cruise Critic — Avalon Waterways cruises and inclusions
- Cruise Critic — AmaWaterways vs. Avalon Waterways
- Cruise Critic — River Cruising Keeps Expanding Even as Europe's Rivers Run Low (Oct 15 2026)
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