Avalon to expand ‘suite’ fleet

Cruising with Avalon Waterways is about to get even more “suite”as it unveils two more Suite Ships next year — the Avalon Expression and Avalon Artistry II — bringing the fleet’s Suite Ship class vessels total to five. The five new Suite Ships boast two full decks of suites – 18-square-metre Panorama Suites (293 total) and 27-square-metre Royal Suites (10 total). Each suite on all five of Avalon’s Suite Ships features a large seating area that is perfect for quiet moments alone, while spacious being enough to host a private cocktail party with new friends. It sits adjacent to a Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window. When opened, the floor-to-ceiling window transforms the entire suite into the category’s only Open-Air Balcony. Designed to offer the most stateroom space on any river cruise vessel, these Suite Ships also provide travellers the Sky or Panorama Bistros (for alternative dining), as well as Panorama, Sky and Observation Lounges, featuring plenty of seating and cozy spots to relax and take it all in. In 2013, Avalon’s Suite Ships will offer cruisers five times the options to see and experience Europe – on the Danube, Rhine and Main Rivers – in the comfort of a Panorama or Royal Suite for four days (A Taste of the Danube on the Avalon Panorama) to 15 days (Magnificent Europe on the Avalon Panorama, Avalon Expression, Avalon Vista and Avalon Visionary). Suite Ship itineraries for 2013 include (prices excluding airfare): Tulip Time Cruise, priced from $2,399; Tulips of Northern Holland, from $2,523; Capitals of Central Europe, from $2,368; The Legendary Danube, from $2,162; Blue Danube Discovery, from $2,162; Magnificent Europe, from $4,531; and Romantic Rhine, from $2,296. Outside Europe, Avalon Waterways is also introducing cruisers to new and different ships on the Yangtze River – the Century Paragon (2012) and Century Legend (2013). (http://www.avaloncruiseline.com)