The Avalon View Sets Sail On The Danube With Meredith Vieira As Godmother

Avalon Waterways has launched its 16th panorama suites river ship with U.S. broadcaster Meredith Vieira on hand as the ship’s godmother, offering a blessing for the luxury ship now known as the Avalon View.

Avalon View’s Christening Was Delayed By Pandemic

The christening and ship launch was two years in the making, delayed by the pandemic that put cruising on hold for more than a year. But the delay didn’t dampen the enthusiasm at the April 12, 2022 event. Under a brilliant blue sky, there was more than a bit of fashion, glamour and excitement in Bratislava, Slovakia, for the ceremony.

At the christening ceremony, Vieira, who had never cruised before, offered this blessing for the ship;

“Today we thank those with a vision of what could be and the hands to craft it so. Such beauty as this magnificent vessel now begins its river journey. Around every bend lies a new sight to behold, a new experience to savor, a new friend with whom to share it. May all aboard her travel safely with eyes wide open to the wonders that await. And what a fitting name: I now christen thee, the Avalon View. Take a little time to enjoy it.”

When Vieira cut the rope that caused a bottle of Slovakian sparkling wine to crash against the top deck, the crowd of crew and invited guests cheered and party music filled the air. At that point, the name was official; the Avalon View, an appropriate name for the godmother, who once was a host on the U.S. talk show “The View.”

Also an appropriate name given that Avalon touts the views from its panorama suites and says it has the only staterooms with beds facing the water through its open air balconies.

Avalon’s Large Panorama Suites Offer Indoor-Outdoor Experience

That open-air design is a key part of the allure of this ship. The panorama suites, about 200 square feet, top the industry average for river cruising of 150 square feet. But what makes it special is the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that open nearly all the way to the fresh air, creating an indoor-outdoor living experience.

A small table and chair and sofa bench  create an inviting space to watch the world go by. With the open windows you can hear the water moving and feel the fresh air, sensations that elevate the cruising experience.

The 443-foot long vessel holds 166 passengers with most of the cabins being the panorama suites. The sleek contemporary design features comfortable common spaces like the Club and Panorama lounges, and an elegant dining room.

The top deck has a whirlpool, covered seating, and space for grilling when the weather cooperates.

Avalon’s Attention To Detail Is Clear

Several things stand out about Avalon Waterways and its newest ship.

First, the attention to detail is noteworthy. Small things can make a difference and Avalon shows that it is, indeed, paying attention.

There are two colors of towels in the bathrooms. It’s a small thing but nice to know which towels you are using when sharing a stateroom.

Because Avalon’s focus has been the beds with a view, the small table in front of the windows easily drops down if it’s blocking the scenery. And the mattresses can be flipped, or outfitted with toppers to offer four different levels of firmness. (Mine was delightful just as it was offered.)

The Club lounge has coffee and water stations that are beyond the norm. Some of my fellow travelers were enamored of the hot chocolate that came out of the coffee machine, while others were trying the machines that offered many varieties of herb-infused and flavored water like grapefruit, cucumber mint or green tea and ginseng.

Another small thing: I had no need on this trip but I appreciated the sign in the dining room offering to lend travelers reading glasses, if they had forgotten or lost their own.

Active And Discovery Excursion Choices

Additionally, Avalon has been expanding is choices for excursions, including more active and discovery options, and those are included on this Danube itinerary as well. The variety means that cruisers of all ages could be satisfied, making it easy for multi-generational travel groups to find activities to please everyone.

For example, on this short, inaugural cruise, each day guests were offered an option of a classic, active, or discovery excursion. The active options included hiking and bicycling, some strenuous, others a bit more moderate. In Vienna, I was tempted by the “Vienna on Two Wheels”, a three-hour bicycle tour, but my fascination with the Lipizzaner Stallions won out.

I missed a ride on the giant Vienna Ferris Wheel, but was transfixed by my time visiting the horse stables and learning about the history of these fabled dancing stallions. Others chose the discovery option, which meant they took a cooking class, starting with a coffeehouse visit and ending with a wine tasting to accompany lunch.

There are lots of options to please lots of different interests and style of travelers.

Avalon Expands Active And Discovery Choices

Avalon started Active and Discovery cruises on the Danube in 2017, but has since expanded the numbers of offerings on every European waterway it sails. In 2022, the company is offering six Active and Discovery itineraries with 47 departure dates.

“Untethered and full of opportunities to infuse interests and passions into each cruise, our active and discovery vacations feature extraordinary – included – activities that give travelers the choices they crave,” says Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways. “On these one-of-a-kind cruises, every day, travelers can choose from a selection of included ‘active,’ ‘discovery’ and ‘classic’ excursions. In fact, the average number of Avalon Choice excursions on these cruises is 22, giving our guests countless opportunities to customize their getaway.”

New active and discovery options for 2022 are on the Moselle and Seine Rivers, joining those already in place in Holland and Belgium, and on the Rhone, Rhine and Danube Rivers. Among the active options are spelunking, kayaking, paddle boarding and canoeing, in addition to bicycling and hiking. Examples of discovery excursions include learning to make Chantilly cream at Chantilly Castle, painting classes, or participating in a reenactment of the Roman games.

“Priced from $2,549, our active and discovery vacations include more excursions – at the same cost – as other river cruise itineraries,” Hoffee said in a news release. ”They are the perfect choice for travelers who have a diverse set of interests; those who want to customize their vacation; those returning to a river for a new experience and multi-generational travelers with different passions and pace levels. There’s nothing else like them on Europe’s rivers.”

Steve Born, chief marketing officer of Globus, which operates Avalon Waterways, said in an interview that people have started prioritizing travel and that a pent-up demand exists after nearly two years of lock down.

“I think there’s an appreciation for time better spent” “There’s no guarantee on tomorrow, we’ve had a two-year lesson in that.”

And that bodes well for travel in general and river cruising in particular, he said, especially when a broader audience experiences cruising with more active options.

“River cruising outside of Avalon is seen as a traditional experience, a passive experience…you’re just looking at things,” he said, noting that Avalon offers an alternative, with seven different cruises built around active and discovery excursions.  “In a one-week cruise, there are 28 different excursion choices. The port explodes with options….What happens each day becomes like a little vacation all on its own.”