Avalon Waterways has announced new ships, new itineraries and new destinations in its 2016 season of river cruises, including two new cruises on the rivers and canals of Belgium.
From next year, Avalon will cruise into Belgium on the Meuse River, travelling as far as the picturesque city of Namur in the French-speaking region of Wallonia.
The two Belgian itineraries have been released today with Avalon’s 2016 brochure, taking advantage of Avalon’s smaller Suite Ships to visit towns and waterways that are out of reach to larger vessels.
To mark the launch of the new program, Avalon Waterways is offering earlybird discounts of up to 15 per cent off its 2016 river cruises in France and up to 10 per cent off all other 2016 European river cruises (valid to June 30, 2015, or until sold out).
Avalon has also announced a further two new Suite Ships to be launched in 2016, giving it a total of 12 Suite Ships in an overall European fleet of 16 modern vessels. The new ships, Avalon Passion and Avalon Imagery II, will join the most modern river cruise fleet in Europe with an average age of just over three years.
Avalon Waterways Managing Director Australasia Stewart Williams said the new ships and Belgian itineraries were a reflection of Avalon’s innovation over recent years.
“Avalon Waterways revolutionised river cruising with the launch of its first Suite Ship in 2011, giving passengers more space, better views and a contemporary style,” Mr Williams said. “The concept has been a huge success, particularly among Australians, so we’re expanding it further and introducing new destinations in response.”
Avalon’s stylish Suite Ships offer 30 per cent more cabin space than the industry average, with wall-to-wall panoramic windows that draw back to provide an open-air balcony or close to create an intimate lounge area with ever-changing views.
Their clever suite design means beds have been turned to face the views instead of the wall in front, while their smaller capacity allows a more intimate and uncrowded style of travel.
Avalon’s new Belgian itineraries begin in April 2016:
Essential Holland and Belgium – an eight-day itinerary beginning in Amsterdam, visiting Rotterdam and the windmills of Kinderdijk before travelling to the grandest cities in Belgium including Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels. From $2990* per person twin share (including earlybird discount).
Enchanting Belgium – a nine-day itinerary beginning in Amsterdam, visiting Belgian highlights including the medieval city of Ghent, the battlefields of Ypres, the historic port city of Antwerp and the picturesque riverside city of Namur. From $3096* per person twin share (including earlybird discount).
Avalon’s 2016 season will offer more destinations than ever before, with a choice of 48 different itineraries on the great waterways of Europe including the Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône and Meuse rivers.
French river cruises are priced from $2688* per person twin share (including 15 per cent discount) for the eight-day Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches.
Other European river cruises are priced from $2045* per person twin share (including 10 per cent discount) for the eight-day A Taste of the Danube between Vienna and Budapest.
The 2016 program also includes a choice of 11 itineraries outside Europe, including on the Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia, the Irrawaddy in Myanmar, the Amazon in Peru, the Yangtze in China and among the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador.
Until June 30, 2015, earlybird savings of up to 10 per cent are also available on all 2016 river cruises on the Mekong and Irrawaddy rivers, now priced from $4502* per person twin share for the 13-day Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & The Mekong River.
For full details and bookings see licensed travel agents, visit www.avalonwaterways.com.au or phone 1300 230 234.
*Prices include discount, subject to availability and conditions. Available until June 30, 2015, or until sold out. Discounts of 10 per cent or 15 per cent are applied to the lead-in prices (cabin category E in Europe and cabin category B in South-East Asia) and regular cabin upgrade prices apply.
SOURCE Avalon Waterways