AVALON CELEBRATES 10 YEARS WITH SAVINGS

Avalon Waterways will celebrate 10 years next year with cruises on five continents, 340 guaranteed Europe departures, 50,000 berths and 42 itineraries. In Europe, Avalon Waterways offers such popular eight-day itineraries as Burgundy & Provence, The Legendary Danube and Romantic Rhine, as well as 15-day Magnificent Europe – ideal for first-time river cruisers. For more experienced European travellers, Avalon has a list of off-the-beaten path choices such as the nine-day Austrian Highlights & Bavaria, 10- or 12-day Capitals of Central Europe and 13-day Highlights of Germany. The company also provides travellers a “taste”of river cruising with four- and five-day Danube cruises. Beyond Europe, Avalon features a plethora of choices including a new From the Inca Empire to the Peruvian Amazon sailing. On this 11-day cruise and tour itinerary, cruisers will enjoy the only five-star luxury experience on the Amazon, Yarapa, Yanalipa and Ucayali Rivers aboard the MV Aria. Built in 2011, the Aria provides an intimate cruise experience, with just 16 suites measuring 22.5 square metres and carrying a total of 32 passengers and 24 cruise ship staff, including a Cruise Director and four naturalists. For this new South America itinerary, travellers arrive in Lima for VIP sightseeing including the Larco Museum before flying to Cusco to enjoy the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. On Day 7, they will fly to Iquitos to board the Aria and will enjoy three nights aboard the ship. To meet demand for unique and exotic cruises in Southeast Asia, Avalon Waterways is also offering travellers a 14-day Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River itinerary aboard the Avalon Angkor. Also available are Yangtze River, Nile River and Galapagos Islands cruises. “Small ship cruising has really taken off with Canadians,”says Stéphanie Bishop of Avalon Waterways. “People love the intimacy, the fact that we can dock in the heart of things – including the fact that their cabin is never more than a short stroll away.”Those booking a select 2014 Avalon Waterways Europe vacation by June 25 will save $500 p.p. ($250 off all other 2014 Europe cruises). Book a 2014 Avalon Waterways’ vacation to Egypt, Asia or South America will receive $150 p.p. savings. (http://www.avalonwaterways.ca)