Welcome to our guide to Avalon Waterways, where we will explore their ships and main destinations. The fleet has 20 ships, but most features are the same, including Panorama Suites, dining rooms, and fitness centers. This makes choosing a cruise easier based on price and itinerary. Avalon is also very popular in Europe, with cruises also in Egypt and the Galápagos, but, as you will see, they don’t operate in North America.
Before we move on, remember that you can always reach out to Famvia by clicking the Request a Quote button. It’s completely free to contact us, and booking through us never costs you a penny more. In fact, our travel advisors often have access to exclusive offers and special promotions you won’t find elsewhere. As river cruise specialists with years of experience working alongside brands like AmaWaterways, American Cruise Lines, Viking, and more, we’d be delighted to guide you in planning your journey with Avalon Waterways.
Avalon Waterways Ships
Good news: not much changes between the twenty Avalon Waterways cruise ships. The ones operating in Europe are mostly the same, except for the new Avalon Alegria, which operates in Portugal and is the only Avalon Waterways ship in Europe with a swimming pool. All other European cruises have a whirlpool only.
Other differences may come in the size of the vessels. If a ship operating in Europe is smaller than another, it will simply have fewer staterooms or a smaller top deck. Amenities are the same across all ships, and they all have the iconic Panorama Suites and a Main Dining Room.
We will now list all their ships by location and highlight any special features to look out for.
Europe
- Avalon Alegria (Douro River only, 262ft, pool)
- Avalon Artistry II (361ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Envision (443ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Expression (443ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Illumination (443ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Imagery II (361ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Impression (443ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Panorama (443ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Passion (443ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Poetry II (361ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Tapestry II (361ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Tranquility II (361ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon View (443ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Visionary (361ft, whirlpool)
- Avalon Vista (443ft, whirlpool)
Asia
- Avalon Saigon (Mekong River only, 195ft, 18 staterooms, Spa, no whirlpool)
South America
- Delfin III (Peru's Amazon only, 183ft, 9 staterooms, small spa, plunge pool)
- MS Infinity (Galápagos Islands only, 161ft, 8 staterooms, whirlpool)
- Treasure of Galapagos (Galápagos Islands only, 102ft, 8 staterooms, whirlpool)
Egypt
- MS Farah (Nile River only, 236ft, 51 staterooms, pool, all staterooms have a french balcony)
Avalon Waterways Destinations
Avalon Waterways has a huge presence across the globe, and is a top tier choice if you want to explore niche destinations like the Nile and the Galápagos Islands. They also have a big presence in Europe. In fact, that’s where the cruise line started, and more than half of their current cruise ships are dedicated to the most popular rivers in Europe.
Here are some of their most popular destinations:
Europe
- Douro (1 itinerary that lasts 8 days)
- Rivers of France (7 itineraries ranging from 7 to 22 days)
- Waterways of Holland & Belgium (5 itineraries ranging from 8 to 15 days)
- Upper Danube (6 itineraries ranging from 6 to 10 days)
- Lower Danube (3 itineraries ranging from 8 to 15 days)
- Rhine & Moselle (5 itineraries ranging from 8 to 15 days)
- Multi-River Cruises (7 itineraries ranging from 9 to 23 days)
Egypt
- Nile River (2 itineraries that range from 10 to 14 days)
Asia
- Mekong River (2 itineraries that range from 8 to 13 days)
South America
- Amazon River (1 itinerary that lasts 11 days)
- Galapagos Islands (2 itineraries that range from 8 to 15 days)
The Main Destinations of Avalon Waterways
Galapagos Islands
- Starting Price: usually around $14,800 per guest.
Avalon Waterways explores the Galápagos Islands unlike any other cruise line, with two small ships that have only eight staterooms each. This means each ship carries no more than 40 passengers, which is impressive when you stop to think about it.
Itineraries include one-way trips from Lima to Quito and round-trip cruises from Quito. The Galápagos Islands are among the most beautiful places on Earth, home to an incredible variety of wildlife including penguins, sea lions, lizards, owls, and giant tortoises. This cruise is perfect for travelers who want to focus on wildlife viewing and excursions through forests and beaches.
The Nile
- Starting Price: usually around $4,600 per guest.
If there’s one river in the world I’d choose to cruise, it would be the Nile. Just look at how much history that place holds! Avalon Waterways offers two different itineraries: A Taste of Egypt, a 10-day cruise that starts and ends in Cairo, and A Taste of Egypt with Jordan, which is basically the same trip with an added country, lasting 14 days. This cruise includes tours in Cairo, visits to the Sphinx of Giza, the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, and much more.
Another great perk is that Avalon Waterways sails the Nile with the MS Farah, an amazing ship featuring French balconies in every stateroom and even a swimming pool, which is rare for Avalon.
Europe
- Starting Price: usually around $2,450 per guest.
Avalon Waterways is huge when it comes to Europe cruises. Most of their ships operate in this region, including the new Avalon Alegria, the only Avalon cruise operating in Europe that features a swimming pool (all others have a whirlpool on the sky deck). Highlights include the new Douro itineraries with the Avalon Alegria, and cruises in Danube and the Rhine. In fact, the Danube has a staggering 92 cruises, while the Rhine has 95 for you to choose from.
Some great itineraries include a Christmas Cruise across the Rhine that lasts for 5 days and starts at $2,500, a 8-Day Paris to Normandy roundabout cruise that starts at $4,400 and a multi-river, 22-Day cruise that sails the Rhine, Main & Danube for $13,000.
Special Interest River Cruises
Avalon Waterways also does something very cool in the industry: cruises based on specific passions and themes. These special cruises range from those focused on nature to culinary sailings and even itineraries centered around the historic aspects of a destination. There are even Storyteller Cruises that share behind-the-scenes stories about your favorite books, songs, movies, and more.
Here are some special cruises offered by Avalon Waterways:
- Active & Discovery Cruises
- Storyteller Cruises
- Wine Lovers Cruises
- Beer Enthusiasts Cruises
- Culinary Experience Cruises
- Festive Season Cruises
- Christmastime Cruises
- European History Cruises
- Music and Jazz Cruises
- Garden & Nature Cruises
Why book Avalon Waterways with us?
At Famvia, we’re true experts when it comes to river cruising. Our team has crafted detailed guides and reviews covering a wide range of cruise lines, from Viking and A-Rosa to American Cruise Lines, AmaWaterways and more. We're also one of the few sources with an early guide ready for Celebrity River Cruises, set to debut in 2027.
Our expertise extends well beyond river cruising. We’ve worked closely for years with some of the world’s most prestigious luxury cruise lines, including Silversea, Seabourn, Explora Journeys, and others. This deep knowledge of luxury travel makes us especially well-equipped to help you plan the perfect Avalon Waterways experience.
Ready to get started? Just click the Request a Quote button and send us a message. It’s completely free to reach out, and booking through us doesn’t cost a thing. In fact, you may even unlock exclusive deals available only through our travel advisors. Let us help you choose the right itinerary, ship, and sailing so you can enjoy the river cruise of a lifetime with Avalon Waterways.
