Innovations in river cruising this year
Modern day cruisers are looking for new in-depth experiences and river cruising is the most sought-after way to travel around the world. As it allows travellers to explore the heart of a destination while cruising along its rivers- this genre is fanning t
Spearheading the way is Avalon Waterways, part of the Globus family of brands, and to make it more appealing for the discerning traveller to choose river cruising, in 2015 sailing season, Avalon provides cruisers the opportunity to sail on one of its 10 new Suite Ships in Europe.
“We’re just built differently,” explains Patrick Clark, Managing Director of Avalon Waterways. “Our smallest room fleet-wide is 172-squarefeet. That’s a very important differentiator when you consider others in the industry have rooms as small as 135-squarefeet… And now our signature Panorama Suite is an unparalleled space that offers cruisers the chance to see the river’s changing landscapes from the comfort of their bed: The only beds in the industry that face the windows.”
This “suite” experience provided by Avalon gives travelers two full decks of 200and 300-square-foot staterooms, each with their own Open-Air Balcony.
Furthermore, with Avalon Choice, for every meal, cruisers have the ability to choose from a multitude of dining experiences throughout each day, from special culinary events to a la carte dining – and multiple venues on board and off. In addition, Avalon’s Culture & Cruise program provides travellers such onboard activities as beer and wine tasting, demonstrations by local artisans and talks by local experts about the areas through which they’re travelling. Local, on-ship entertainers give guests the opportunity to gain a full appreciation of each region and culture. Off ship, travellers are invited to experience the world’s “Local Favorites” – those under-theradar scenes and stories that provide travellers memorable local connections.
“River cruising offers an unparalleled experience when compared to any other way of travelling, including Ocean Cruising. Cruising along the waterways that weave together the history and charm of quaint villages and towns, is already the most scenic way to enjoy the destination and we are taking this experiential style of travelling to another level with our new innovations in 2015.” says Varesh Chopra, Regional Director, Globus Family of brands South Asia & Middle East.
Keeping up with the tradition of enhancing knowledge among agents, this year, Avalon Waterways has announced the introduction of ‘Avalon Waterways Specialist Program’. The Specialist Program consists of six modules which the agents can access online and learn more about River Cruising and Avalon Waterways. Upon successful completion, the agents will qualify for a host of perks and benefits, including special promotional discounts and opportunity to travel on Avalon Waterways. “For agencies looking at exploring newer styles to travel around Europe and the world, the tools and information imparted in this program will provide our trade partners with the requisite expertise to sell this exciting way of travelling among their clients,” concludes Varesh.