Avalon Waterways Welcomes Travelers to a Different Kind of Cruise & Encourages Them to "Cruise Different"

Award-winning Avalon Waterways is inviting travelers to discover and experience a different kind of cruise for 2012 travel. A cruise where every morning, travelers awaken to a new world. A cruise where they are delivered right into the heart of cities, villages and cultures. A cruise that brings travelers sweeping views every moment of every day. One that's all-inclusive. In other words, Avalon Waterways is welcoming travelers on board the small ship cruise boom to live the benefits of river cruising.

According to Avalon Waterways, the dramatic surge in river cruise bookings in the last seven years is being fueled by the new generation of river cruise operators.

"Excited by the promise of river cruising, we entered the market (in 2004) determined to embrace and celebrate everything special about the experience," said Patrick Clark, managing director of Avalon Waterways. "With the launch of our very first ship, our design innovations such as floor-to-ceiling windows and French balconies to boutique hotel-style amenities and Suite Ships, have helped make river cruising through Europe one of the most popular travel styles today."

With 100 percent of its staterooms facing outside, and 90 percent with floor-to-ceiling windows – plus Open-Air Balconies and bistros, window-filled dining rooms and lounges – the team at Avalon Waterways says the unparalleled views that greet travelers traversing Europe's intimate waterways is a big reason behind the rise in river cruising.

"On average, our river cruise ships are a mere 30 feet from shore where ancient castles, small villages, vineyards and towering mountains float by," said Clark. "The views are endless."

And, while providing travelers uncompromised views is important, Clark says there's even more to the river cruise experience than new, modern ships and breathtaking scenery. According to Clark, a great benefit of river cruising is the fact that cruisers are delivered right to the heart of the town squares and city centers on their itinerary.

"Thanks to the ship's proximity to must-see sightseeing and must-experience storytelling, we help our travelers get to know the people and places along their cruise," said Clark. "We're not talking about an hour or two in each place. Instead, in most destinations, our travelers have an entire day to take it all in. And, we don't just drop them off, we have hand-picked local guides in each destination to guide them through the sights and sounds."

Finally, river cruising with Avalon affords travelers an all-inclusive way to experience Europe, Africa, Asia and the Galapagos Islands.

"All-inclusive is not something cruisers – or their pocketbooks – tend to associate with the word cruise," said Clark. "With Avalon, on-shore excursions complete with transportation, VIP access and local guides are included. Premium dining options, plus wine and beer with dinner and sparkling wine at breakfast, are included. Wi-fi, destination guide books, port lectures and on board entertainment are also included in the price of an Avalon vacation."

Deal Alert: For even more value, currently, Avalon is offering travelers up to $1,300 off (per couple) select cruises. Click here for details.

For more information and insight into the differences between ocean and small ship cruising and the unparalleled experience Avalon Waterways delivers travelers, view this video. And, for details on Avalon Waterways' new ships and 2012 vacations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Galapagos Islands, visit www.avalonwaterways.com. Follow Avalon Waterways on Facebook at www.facebook.com/avalonwaterways.


ABOUT AVALON WATERWAYS

Award-winning Avalon Waterways offers travelers the youngest, most innovative fleet of ships in Europe, China, Southeast Asia, Egypt and the Galápagos. Our travelers have inspired us to utilize more than 80 years of travel expertise to design the best river cruise experience possible. We've taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better-down to the last detail. Our views are panoramic and spaces large and inviting; comfort is king and dining both personal and flexible. And, thanks to our partnership with Globus, our itineraries are legendary. By design, Avalon cruisers are privy to all-inclusive access to a destination, including guided sightseeing in every port, VIP entry into key destinations and unparalleled cultural immersion and storytelling thanks to highly skilled Cruise and Tour Directors. In addition to countless trade accolades, Avalon Waterways has garnered some of the industry's most prestigious honors: Among them, the river cruise company was voted the Best River Cruise Line in 2010 by Cruise Critic editors, picked the No. 2 Best Small-Ship Cruise Line in Travel + Leisure's 2010 World's Best Awards, chosen as the "Best Value in River Cruising" by Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel and featured in Condé Nast Traveler's 2009 Gold List. Avalon Waterways is part of the Globus family of brands.

Consumers can book an Avalon Waterways vacation or request brochures by visiting a preferred travel agent or by calling the following toll free number: 1.877.380.1535. For more information, please visit www.avalonwaterways.com.