Avalon Waterways
River cruise company owned by the Globus family of brands
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Avalon Waterways is a river cruise company owned by the Globus family of brands and offers cruises in Europe, China, Southeast Asia, South America, India and the Galápagos Islands.[1] The company became a member of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) in August 2009.[2]
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Travel, Tourism, River cruise company, Cruise line |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Lugano, Switzerland and Littleton, Colorado |
| Products | River cruises |
| Parent | Globus family of brands |
History and ship design
Avalon Waterways started operations in 2004 with just one initial ship, called Avalon Artistry. The following year, the company added the Avalon Poetry to its fleet.[3]
As of 2019, the company operates ships on the Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Rhone, Seine and Saône in Europe;[3] The Mekong River in Southeast Asia,[4][5] as well as on the Yangtze (in China), the Ganges (in India) and the Amazon River (in Peru).[3]
Avalon Waterways has earned river cruise operator awards including "Best European river line" in 2019.[6]
Fleet
Since its launch in 2004, Avalon Waterways has christened 23 new ships in Europe and three new ships in Southeast Asia.[7][8][9][10][11]
| Ship | Entered service | Length | Staterooms | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon View | 2022 | 443 ft (135 m) | 83 | 166 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Envision | 2019 | 443 ft (135 m) | 83 | 166 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Imagery II | 2016 | 361 ft (110 m) | 64 | 128 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 52, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Passion | 2016 | 443 ft (135 m) | 83 | 166 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Tranquility II | 2015 (March) | 361 ft (110 m). | 64 | 128 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 52, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Tapestry II | 2015 (March) | 443 ft (135 m). | 83 | 166 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Poetry II | 2014 | 443 ft (135 m). | 83 | 166 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Illumination | 2014 | 443 ft (135 m). | 83 | 166 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.[12] |
| Avalon Impression | 2014 | 443 ft (135 m). | 83 | 166 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites.[13] |
| Avalon Expression | 2013 | 443 ft (135 m). | 83 | 166 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 67, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Artistry II | 2013 | 361 ft (110 m). | 64 | 128 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 52, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Visionary | 2012 | 361 ft (110 m). | 64 | 128 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 52, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Vista | 2012 | 443 ft (135 m). | 83 | 166 | Owned. Europe. "Suite Ship" with 66, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Panorama | 2011 | 443 ft (135 m). | 83 | 166 | Owned. Europe. First "Suite Ship" with 66, 200-square-foot (19 m2) suites. |
| Avalon Luminary | 2010 | 361 ft (110 m). | 69 | 138 | Retired from fleet in 2019. |
| Avalon Felicity | 2010 | 361 ft (110 m). | 69 | 138 | Retired from fleet in 2019. |
| Avalon Affinity | 2009 | 361 ft (110 m). | 69 | 138 | Retired from fleet in 2019. |
| Avalon Creativity | 2009 | 361 ft. | 70 | 140 | Retired from fleet in 2019. |
| Avalon Scenery | 2008 | 361 ft (110 m). | 69 | 138 | Retired from fleet in 2018. |
| Avalon Imagery | 2007 | 443 ft (135 m). | 85 | 170 | Retired from fleet in 2012. |
| Avalon Tranquility | 2007 | 443 ft (135 m). | 85 | 170 | Retired from fleet in 2012. |
| Avalon Tapestry | 2006 | 443 ft (135 m). | 82 | 164 | Retired from fleet in 2011. |
| Avalon Poetry | 2005 | 426 ft (130 m). | 88 | 174 | Retired from fleet in 2010. |
| Avalon Artistry | 2004 | 426 ft (130 m). | 89 | 176 | Retired from fleet in 2010. |
| Avalon Angkor | 2012 | 131 ft (40 m). | 16 | 32 | Retired from fleet in 2015. |
| Avalon Saigon | 2017 (September) | 200 ft (61 m). | 18 | 36 | Owned. SE Asia. All rooms are 245-square-foot suites. |
| Avalon Siem Reap | 2015 (January) | 200 ft (61 m). | 18 | 36 | Retired from fleet in 2020. |
| Avalon Myanmar | 2015 (September) | 200 ft (61 m). | 18 | 36 | Owned. SE Asia. All rooms are 245-square-foot suites. |
| Century Legend | 2013 | 465 ft (142 m). | 196 | 392 | Chartered from Century Cruises. China. |
| Century Paragon | 2013 | 465 ft (142 m). | 196 | 392 | Chartered from Century Cruises. China. |
| Isabella II | 2000 | 166 ft (51 m). | 21 | 42 | Chartered. Galápagos Islands. |
| Aria | 2011 | 147 ft (45 m). | 16 | 32 | Chartered. South America (Amazon). |
| Ganges Voyager | 2015 | 185 ft (56 m). | 28 | 56 | Chartered. India (Ganges). |
Special interest cruises
Godmothers
Godmothers of its ships in Europe have included TV personality Meredith Vieira,[16] Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert,[17] Outlander author Diana Gabaldon,[18] singer/songwriter Jann Arden,[19] 1,000 Places to See Before You Die author Patricia Schultz[20] and U.S. Women's National Team coach Jill Ellis.[21]
