Avalon introduces short-term European cruises for 2020

In 2020, Avalon Waterways will be the only river cruise company offering a choice of four, five, or six-day river cruise itineraries comprising A Taste of the Rhine, Heart of Germany and A Taste of the Danube.

Three itineraries

Priced from $2,586 CAD, (all prices exclude airfare), the new A Taste of the Rhine is a five-day cruise featuring immersive opportunities to explore must-see sites along the Rhine River including: a culinary walk through Amsterdam, a guided tour of Cologne, a wine-tasting in Boppard, free time in Rudesheim and of course, cruising through the picturesque, castle-dotted Rhine Gorge.

Formerly a Christmas markets cruise, the new six-day Heart of Germany will be offered year-round in 2020. 

Priced from $2,743 CAD, this itinerary features stops along the Main River and Main-Danube Canal including a guided walk through a picturesque Bavarian village, time in Würzburg with its towering fortress and Baroque Bishop’s residence, enjoying Bavarian wines in Kitzingen, partaking in an onboard beer-tasting near Volkach, and taking in the sites of Bamberg, a Bavarian oasis built on seven hills. The cruise concludes in Nuremberg.

Priced from just $1,449 CAD, the four-day A Taste of the Danube has become a very popular itinerary for first-time river cruisers and time-starved travellers alike, with visits to Budapest, Bratislava, Melk and Dürnstein. The cruise ends in Vienna.

The "Your Way" program

For travellers looking to add on time on land in popular European destinations, Avalon Waterways is introducing three Your Way options in 2020: 

• An Avalon Waterways land extension
• A Monograms independent vacation package 
• A Globus escorted touring vacation

“With our new Your Way program, we’re making it easier for travellers to extend their river cruise vacation with land itineraries that are perfectly suited to their preferences and budget,” said Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways. “In addition, with our exclusive onboard Avalon Choice feature on every itinerary, our guests have their pick of the widest array of included excursions, from classic sightseeing to immersive discoveries and active adventures.”

All cruise itineraries – short and long – sail on Avalon Waterways’ signature Suite Ships which provide guest two full decks of 200-square-foot, one-of-a-kind Panorama Suites featuring the industry’s only open-air balconies and beds with competitive views.

On now, agents can get involved in The Suite Life Sales Event: Book a select 2020 Europe river cruise and your clients will receive a $499 per person airfare credit from select Canadian gateways, and enjoy savings of $1,200 per couple.