Just Cruises Plus

Artistry II Panorama Suite

If the trend we’ve seen within our business is representative of the travel industry, the demand for river cruising has taken off.  Many of our clients who have enjoyed ocean travel for years are now looking for new adventures on the European rivers.

So we think it’s timely that Avalon Waterways has ordered two more ships for delivery in 2015,   This is in addition to the 3 already on order for delivery in 2014.

The 2015 ships, Avalon Tranquility II and Avalon Tapestry II,  will be similar to the three ships that are to roll out later this year: the Avalon Poetry II, Avalon Illumination and the Avalon Impression.

Avalon introduced it’s first Suite Ships in 2012 and 2013. The vessels offer three passenger decks with a large central lounge, a cozy Club Lounge, outdoor seating areas and a main restaurant.

Avalon says Suites Ship cabins are among the industry’s roomiest, with 80% being either 200-square-foot Panorama Suites or 300-square-foot Royal Suites.

With the addition of the five vessels on order, Avalon will have 10 Suite Ships in its fleet by the end of 2015, all in Europe. They’ll account for 66% of the line’s European capacity.

Holding 128 to 166 passengers, all five of the new ships are part of Avalon’s new Suite Ships class, which feature suites with what the line is calling open-air balconies — extra-large sliding glass doors with seven-foot openings.

We have found that the these rivers crusies fill up early, so whether your looking at the Rhine, the Danube, Rhone or any of the other picturesque European rivers,  take the “early booking” deals – pricing is not likely to improve and many cruises are sold out a year or more in advance.

– Credit for the information in this article goes to Gene Sloan, USA Today/Cruise Log Blog