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Voted Best. By the People Who Know Best.

River cruising has never felt like this. A bed that faces the view. An Open-Air Balcony that puts you on the river, not just beside it. Days that go exactly where your curiosity leads through vineyards, into local culture, along streets that still feel like a secret. And evenings that somehow become the part of the trip you talk about most. Avalon was designed to feel different. And it does.

That difference has been recognized time and again. Cruise Critic editors named us Best River Cruise Line. Cruise Critic cruisers did the same. And with a 96% guest satisfaction and more than a million guests over two decades, we’ve created a better cruise experience. By design. Welcome aboard.

  • Recognized Across the Board

    Rated #1 by the People on Board 

    USA Today. Travel + Leisure. Condé Nast Traveler. Year after year, the most respected names in travel keep arriving at the same conclusion. And then there’s Cruise Critic – the gold standard for cruiser opinions – where editors and cruisers alike voted Avalon #1 Best River Cruise Line. Every award reflects a choice someone made, a trip someone took and an experience that delivered. A reputation earned one guest at a time. That’s the one that matters most.

  • Two Decades on the River

    A Century in the Making 

    Avalon launched in 2004 – but the families behind it have been getting travel right since 1928. Swiss family-owned, the Globus family of brands has spent nearly a century building something that can’t be acquired or rushed: a reputation. When Avalon came to the river, it inherited that foundation and the belief that travel done right changes people. Every Suite Ship, excursion and Avalon crew member reflect values established long before our first sailing.

  • With You Every Step of the Way

    From the First Call to the Final Day 

    Great travel begins the moment you reach out – with a question, a dream or a date on the calendar. That first conversation with your Avalon Vacation Planner sets the tone for everything that follows. A team that listens. Flexible booking that makes it easy to say yes. And once you’re aboard, a crew that anticipates what you need before you think to ask. It’s a level of care and attention that stays with you from start to finish. That’s what guest-first feels like when it’s done right.

  • 96% Guest Satisfaction

    A Reputation That Speaks for Itself

    The most meaningful measure of a great river cruise comes from those who've experienced it. With a 96% guest satisfaction rating, Avalon continues to earn the confidence of those who expect more from their time on the river. It's a reputation built on thoughtful details, exceptional experiences, and over two decades of putting guests at the heart of every journey.

  • One Million Reasons

    And Counting 

    More than a million guests have trusted Avalon with the trips that matter most – anniversaries, retirements, bucket lists, once-in-a-lifetime moments on the world’s most storied waterways. They chose us because someone they trusted told them to. They came back because the experience earned it. Over two decades, one million times and counting. 

  • Travel Advisors Know Best

    They Recommend Avalon

    Travel Advisors stake their reputation on every recommendation they make. They’ve compared every river cruise line, heard every pitch and lived with the consequences of every call. When they consistently point their best clients toward Avalon – and they do – it’s a professional verdict, earned through years of watching Avalon deliver.


A Real Person

Every call.
Every question.
Every step.


From your first inquiry to the moment you’re home, a certified Avalon Waterways Vacation Planner is with you. These are real humans who know your trip, know the destination and are genuinely invested in making it extraordinary.

  • Gabriel

    Dream Vacation:
    New Zealand

    What is your favorite part of being a Vacation Planner?
    Sharing the excitement and anticipation of guests who are looking forward to new adventures. It makes my day to hear about their trip when they return home.  

  • Leslie

    Dream Vacation:
    Peru

    What is your favorite part of being a Vacation Planner?
    Getting to know our guests and their travel dreams to find the perfect vacation for them. I love hearing all about their experiences, sometimes with an email photo or postcard!

  • Olivia

    Dream Vacation:
    Paris

    What is your favorite part of being a Vacation Planner?
    Helping to make vacation plans simple and easy to understand. I love taking the pressure off our guests to create stress-free vacations that go beyond their expectations.

  • Brett

    Dream Vacation:
    Canada

    What is your favorite part of being a Vacation Planner?
    Hearing about our guests’ past travel experiences to give them the best ideas for where to travel next. I feel like I really get to know people by sharing our travel stories. 

  • Ursula

    Dream Vacation:
    Ireland

    What is your favorite part of being a Vacation Planner?
    What could be better than talking about travel all day? The best part is listening to our guests and making it easy, so they can just look forward to their vacation. 

  • Stephen

    Dream Vacation:
    Alaska

    What is your favorite part of being a Vacation Planner?
    Hearing the excitement in our guests’ voices when the plans all come together. I truly enjoy putting all the pieces together for the best vacation experience.