Short & Suite: Avalon Caters New River Cruise Trend

LITTLETON, Colorado – March 19, 2019 – There was a time when Americans took an average of 20 vacation days per year. That time has passed. In fact, according to a recent Global Travel Insights survey, 80 percent (80%) of North American travelers planned trips of seven days or less in 2018. In 2020, Avalon Waterways is the only river cruise company offering time-starved travelers or those wanting to dip their toes in river cruise waters for the first time a choice of 4-, 5- and 6-day river cruise itineraries: NEW!A Taste of the Rhine, NEW! Heart of Germany and A Taste of the Danube.

 

Priced from $1,999, NEW! A Taste of the Rhine is a 5-day cruise featuring immersive opportunities to explore must-see sites along the Rhine River including: Taking a culinary walk through Amsterdam, enjoying a guided tour of Cologne, participating in wine-tasting in Boppard, spending free time in Rudesheim and of course, cruising through the picturesque, castle-dotted Rhine Gorge.

 

Formerly a featured Christmas cruise, the NEW! 6-day Heart of Germany is making an appearance year-round in 2020. Priced from $2,099, this itinerary features stops along the Main River and Main-Danube Canal including a guided hike through a picturesque Bavarian village, spending time in Würzburg with its towering fortress and Baroque Bishop’s residence; enjoying Bavarian wines in Itzingen, 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 $1,099, 4-day A Taste of the Danube has become a very popular itinerary for first-time river cruisers and time-starved travelers alike, with time spent in Budapest, Bratislava, Melk and Dürnstein. The cruise ends in Vienna.

 

For those travelers who are just testing the river cruise-waters but want to add-on time on land in popular European destinations, Avalon Waterways is introducing three Your Way options for 2020: 1) An Avalon Waterways land extension; 2) A Monograms independent vacation package or 3) A Globus escorted touring vacation.

 

“With our new Your Way program, we’re making it easier for travelers to extend their river cruise vacation with land itineraries that are perfectly suited to their preferences and budget,” said Hoffee.  “In addition, with our exclusive onboard Avalon Choice menu on each and every river cruise 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 facing the incredible views for which river cruising is famous.

 

The Suite Life Sales Event: Book a 2020 Europe cruise early and receive $299 air and SAVE $1,000 per couple on select sailings.

 

 

ABOUT AVALON WATERWAYS

Travelers wanting to see the world need only cruise down its legendary rivers. For those interested in seeing more of the world, there’s Avalon Waterways®. Our entire fleet of Suite Ships® feature one-of-a-kind Panorama Suites^SM, with the widest opening windows in river cruising, the industry’s only Open-Air Balcony^SM and beds facing the incredible views. Beyond our wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows is a world waiting to be explored – Your Way – with customizable vacation options, from start to finish.

 

Whether travelers want to enjoy a guided walking tour of one of Europe’s great cities, join a cooking class or paddle a canoe, our Avalon Choice® selections of Classic, Discovery and Active excursions offer a wide range of possibilities. When they prefer to explore on their own, we can help with all the recommendations, information and gear travelers need with our Adventure Center and AvalonGO mobile app.  And when it’s time to refuel, Avalon’s FlexDining® program gives guests the choices they crave.

 

With Avalon Waterways, the possibilities are as wide open as the views. For more information, visit www.avalonwaterways.com; travel agents can visit www.globusfamilypartner.com.