Cruises are having a bit of a heyday with travelers.
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Thanks to advances in cruise vessel technology and design, a rollout of specialized programming aimed at attracting specific types of passengers, and expanded routes around the world, more travelers are interested in checking out cruise deals than ever before. In short, cruises are more specialized and diverse than ever before.
I’ve had my eye on Virgin Voyages for a while—they’re an adults-only cruise line that has a dynamic list of onboard offers, from flash tattoo parlors to daily yoga classes.
But I’ve also had my eye on Avalon Waterways. Avalon Waterways is a luxury cruise line that specializes in river cruises. Having grown up in Saint Louis, Missouri, where the Missouri, Mississippi, and Meramec rivers converge, I’m partial to big, winding rivers. And I’m always hungry for relaxing adventures.
Cue the Avalon Waterways appeal. This river cruise company has been live since 2004, and has carefully curated and refined its offers since then. It’s been recognized consistently as one of the highest-quality river cruise lines in the world—one that has a boutique approach that earns you more dynamic itineraries, more space to roam onboard, and more chances to personalize the journey.
The catch? Avalon Waterways is pricy.
That being said, they have valuable sales live right now for 2027 cruises. (This isn’t a sponsored ad, by the way—I’m actually an Avalon fan.) If you’re looking for river cruises in Europe, here’s how you can save a bit by booking your dream Avalon Waterways cruise.
Avalon Waterways: river cruises in Europe for 2027 with live sales deals
Timeless Rivers of Europe: the Rhine and Seine for Wine Lovers
- Duration: 15 days (Basel to Paris)
- Vessel: Avalon View or Avalon Tapestry II
- Countries: Switzerland, Germany, France, & the Netherlands
- Excursions: Black Forest (Germany), Heidelberg (Germany), and Normandy (France)
- Sale price for a stateroom: $5,802
- Ideal for: Wine-lovers who want a certified sommelier to guide them through Europe’s most delectable bottles. A sommelier will stay with you through the Rhine portion of the cruise. For the Seine, expect delicious wine-and-cheese pairings.
Rhine & Rhône Revealed with 2 Nights in French Riviera (Southbound)
- Duration: 17 days (Amsterdam to French Riviera)
- Vessel: Avalon View or Avalon Poetry II
- Countries: Netherlands, Germany, and France
- Excursions: Heidelberg (Germany), Strasbourg (France), Black Forest (Germany), and the French Riviera (France)
- Sale price for a stateroom: $6,751
- Ideal for: Those who want a more traditional river cruise down the Rhine, along with a more unexpected turn down the Rhone. The Rhône leads you to the French Riviera, a historic and unspoiled stretch of the Mediterranean Sea.
Enchanted Europe for Beer Enthusiasts (Eastbound)
- Duration: 16 days (Basel to Budapest)
- Vessel: Avalon Imagery II
- Countries: Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, and Hungary
- Excursions: Black Forest (Germany) and Munich (Germany)
- Sale price for a stateroom: $7,138
- Ideal for: Beer-lovers who also have a thing for history, especially sites in Germany. You get to explore smaller areas like Bamberg and Regensburg, along with cities like Munich and Cologne. From there, you’ll head further east to beer-loving territory, where you top off your cruise by learning about beer in one of the heaviest beer-drinking countries in the world: Hungary.
The Danube from Germany to Romania
- Duration: 15 days (Vilshofen, Germany to Oltenita, Romania)
- Vessel: Avalon Expression, Avalon Passion, and Avalon Imagery II
- Countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania
- Excursions: Melk-Wachau Valley (Austria), Iron Gates Gorge (border between Serbia and Romania), and Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria)
- Sale price for a stateroom: $7,202
- Ideal for: Travelers who want to explore a broad scope of countries. You’ll get to explore central European hotspots, then branch off into quieter territory. In addition to the Balkans and Eastern Europe, this river cruise also gives you the chance to explore Budapest, dubbed the ‘Pearl of the Danube’.
Grand France (Northbound)
- Duration: 15 days (Arles to Paris)
- Vessel: Avalon Poetry II and Avalon Tapestry II
- Countries: France
- Excursions: (All in France) Tournon and Normandy
- Sale price for a stateroom: $7,302
- Ideal for: Francofiles who want to dig deep into the country’s history and traditions, from wine-making to WWII to fine arts. Expect a balance of intrigue and romance.
Timeless Rivers of Europe: the Rhine and Seine with Swiss Alps, 3 Nights in Lake Como & 1 Night in Lucerne
- Duration: 19 days (Lake Como to Paris)
- Vessel: Avalon View, Avalon Tapestry II, and Avalon Envision
- Countries: Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands
- Excursions: Black Forest (Germany), Heidelberg (Germany), and Normandy (France)
- Sale price for a stateroom: $8,101
- Ideal for: Anyone who wants to check out the impressive lakes of Northern Italy (Lake Como) and the Swiss Alps (Lucerne). Unlike other river cruises in Europe, this cruise includes three nights in Lake Como, one of Europe’s most scenic destinations.
Iconic Rivers of Europe – the Rhine, Main & Danube
- Duration: 22 days (Amsterdam to Oltenita, Romania)
- Vessel: Avalon Impression and Avalon Passion
- Countries: Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania
- Excursions: Iron Gates Gorge (border between Serbia and Romania) and Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria)
- Sale price for a stateroom: $10,544
- Ideal for: Adventurers who want to dig deeper into Europe’s non-Western cultures. You’ll get to experience the Balkans (Croatia, Serbia) and portions of Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Romania), including excursions into picturesque valleys, medieval villages, and ancient sites that you haven’t heard of before. There’s also a great balance between cities and rural experiences.
Iconic Rivers of Europe – the Rhine, Main & Danube with 1 Night in Bucharest and 2 Nights in Transylvania
- Duration: 25 days (Amsterdam to Bucharest)
- Vessel: Avalon Impression and Avalon Passion
- Countries: Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania
- Excursions: Iron Gates Gorge (border between Serbia and Romania) and Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria)
- Sale price for a stateroom: $11,673
- Ideal for: Like the cross-continent cruise above, this Iconic Rivers of Europe pick is ideal for anyone who wants to see Europe’s lesser-explored Balkan and Eastern regions. The main difference is that this cruise includes night stopovers in Bucharest and Transylvania, letting you take on Romania before heading back home.
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