Danube River Cruises
As Europe's second-longest river and a vital means of transportation for 2,000 years, the Danube is the only major European river to flow from the west to the east.
Just as the great cities of the world arose along the great rivers of Europe, so did the gentle hills and humble villages that you’ll encounter on an Avalon European river cruise. From the rich heritage of Budapest to the rare haunts of Bucharest, and from the castles of Germany to the classics of Vienna, the treasures of the Danube River beckon to us. And while we may follow the Danube, Rhine, Seine, Saone, Moselle, and Main Rivers, you need only follow your passions to experience your cruise your way. From active pursuits on a bike or a hike in Burgundy to a new discovery in a painting class in Amsterdam or the beloved classic sights in Paris — how you experience an Avalon European river cruise is up to you. Your captain, cruise director, and caring crew deliver relaxed luxury from start to finish.
As Europe's second-longest river and a vital means of transportation for 2,000 years, the Danube is the only major European river to flow from the west to the east.
Flowing from the Swiss Alps to Holland's North Sea, the Rhine is perhaps most famous for its legendary Lorelei rock and the imposing medieval castles that line its banks.
Quaint, quiet, & quintessentially German, the Main winds leisurely through the country's most stunning areas, passing hilltop castles & storybook medieval villages alike.
Flowing through France, Luxembourg, and Germany, the Moselle River is known for the excellent wines produced along its banks as well as for its picturesque medieval castles.
An important inland trade and transportation route since Greek times, the Rhône River flows south to the Mediterranean, winding through the orchards and vineyards of the fertile Rhône Valley.
The Saône River-its name derived from the Gallic river goddess, Souconna-flows from northeastern France to join the Rhône River in Lyon. The Saône passes through the picturesque wine-making landscapes of Burgundy and Beaujolais.
The Seine rises just northwest of Dijon and flows in northwesterly through Paris before emptying into the English Channel at Le Havre. It's one of Europe's great historic rivers and since the early Middle Ages has been considered the river of Paris.
Avalon puts the “you” in “unique” with special interest themed river cruises that are suited to your passions and pursuits. Appreciate a fine wine or hearty ale? Do you love gardens and nature? Our WWII or Habsburg & Royalty cruises provide the epic page-turner you’ve been looking for!
Everyone travels to see new things, but many travel to do new things as well. Avalon offers activities for travellers with varying interests and for all energy and fitness levels. From action-packed experiences and interactive discoveries, to traditional sightseeing, you can tailor a vacation to suit your interests and pace.
If you’re ready to turn the page on the classic river cruise, we have some exciting news for you! Now, you can transport yourself through time and tales with revered raconteurs on Avalon Waterways' NEW Storyteller Series of Suite Ship sailings. These celebrity-hosted European river cruises invite travel enthusiasts, like you, to meet legends in legendary landscapes. To sail past cliffside castles while uncovering cliff-hangers. And capture insider narratives outside the pages of novels, scripts or song lyrics.
How will you explore Europe with Suite views of its sweetest rivers? Wind through whimsical windmills on the waterways of Holland? Mosey along the Moselle through France’s most picturesque pastoral landscapes? Find La vie en rose and historic heroes on the Seine from the City of Light to the beaches of Normandy? Taste the flavours and feast your eyes in France from Lyon to Burgundy on the Rhone and Saone? Capture the castles and lose yourself in the vineyards of Germany on the Rhine and Main Rivers? Discover the splendour of the legendary Danube through Austria, Hungary, and the bewitching Balkans? Whichever river you choose to cruise aboard an Avalon Suite Ship, you’ll never want to explore Europe any other way! Start dreaming with a spin on our Europe river map and chart your course on maps of the Rhine, Danube, Seine, or anywhere Avalon flows!