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Thursday 24th May 2012
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  One of Europe’s most legendary rivers awaits on this mesmerizing journey along the Rhine. Enjoy guided sightseeing in Strasbourg, Koblenz, and Cologne, as well as an excursion to Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful stretch of river dotted every mile with castles. Enjoy a canal cruise in splendid Amsterdam, see the legendary Lorelei rock, and visit the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz. Be sure to pack your camera so you can capture the romance and splendor of this magical journey.    Welcome on board Unpack only once as you enjoy a journey of culture, comfort and convenience, right into the heart of your destination on board your River Cruise. River Cruising allows you to enjoy the exceptional and attentive service of highly trained crew, the sumptuous food and fine wines and the relaxed, sociable atmosphere that you have come to expect from ocean cruising, plus so much more. River cruising enables you, the discerning traveller to break down the barriers of landlocked Europe, or the huge land masses of China or Russia and open them up to the world of cruising. The banks of Europe’s waterways for example are home to some of the planet’s most treasured culture-hubs and quaintest villages and you sail into the heart of your destination every time. Be in the middle of the action, instead of seeing it from afar. Whether you are a culture vulture or prefer to watch the world go by as you relax in comfort, then River Cruising is for you. Life on board Whilst River Cruise vessels do not feature huge amounts of on board space, there is ample space and light entertainment to enjoy a relaxed and sociable experience. A River Cruise is much more about destination rather than on board entertainment so expect entertainment to be musicians and games for example. The top deck is normally an open deck, ideal for sitting watching the scenery change by the second, relaxing with a drink and the day and evening away. Dress code River cruising tends to be a much more casual affair than some ocean cruises. Some River Cruises may require a smarter dress code for dinner. The general rule of thumb is smart casual in the evening and practical and comfortable during the day. There is usually a special captain’s dinner at some point during a River Cruise, where most people tend to dress in cocktail dresses for women and jacket and tie for men. There may also be a fancy dress evening along the way but these are completely optional.  Avalon Waterways pride themselves on having the youngest fleet of ships in Europe's rivers - averaging just two years in age, compared to the industry average of seven years. New ships are regularly added to the fleet, offering guests the very latest ship design and innovative technologies, including enhanced soundproofing and the highest standard of features and services. The Avalon Fleet Avalon Visionary - 2012 Avalon Vista - 2012 Avalon Panorma - 2011 Avalon Luminary - 2010 Avalon Felicity - 2010 Avalon Affinity - 2009 Avalon Creativity - 2009 Avalon Scenery - 2008 Avalon Tranquility - 2007 Avalon Imagery - 2007 Avalon Tapestry - 2006     Wherever you are on board, large sweeping windows greet you at every turn, providing the finest views of passing landscape, iconic landmarks and famous cities. Avalon's ships feature huge panoramic windows in all public areas and full floor-to-ceiling panoramic sliding windows creating a French balcony in all staterooms (apart from the Indigo deck). Each ship is beautifully appointed with an elagant and contemporary decor, state-of-the-art facilities and designed so that you can always enjoy the best views. You will find plenty of comfortable seating and cosy spots to relax and take it all in - in the restaurant, club lounge, lobby or Sky Deck. The impressive public areas give you a feeling of space to enjoy your precious time on board. As well as the spaciously designed public areas and staterooms with panoramic windows, you will be amazed at the impressive choice of amenities that will make your cruise so memorable.   Avalon Deluxe Staterooms & Suites include: Comfort Collection by Avalon, featuring premium mattress covers, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens & European style duvets A choice of soft or firm pillows A choice of bed configuration (two twins or one queen) Nightly turn-down service Bedside tables with reading lamps Large floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in most Deluxe Staterooms & Suites French balconies in most Deluxe Staterooms & Suites A fully equiped large private bathroom with full shower and L'Occitane bath products Large three-door wardrobe with shelved storage space Under-bed luggage storage Flat screen satellite TV with film channels Alarm clock Writing desk/dressing table with chair and table Direct-dial telephone Complimentary Wi-Fi access Bathrobes and slippers Hairdryer A minibar with complimentary bottled water Safe Individual climate control Continental breakfast and drinks service available    Panorama & Royal Suites include all the above, plus: Wall-to-wall panoramic window measuring 11-feet wide Wall-to-wall panoramic window opens to transform the living space into a large open-air balcony Open-air balcony with six-person seating area A choice of bed configuration - twins or one queen or one king (Royal Suite only) Deisgner bathroom with full shower, marble countertops, large mirror, night lighting Complimentary use of iPad mobile digital devices (Royal Suites only)      Full panoramic windows with wonderful views provide a scenic backdrop whilst you enjoy an excellent choice of delicious dishes at each meal. Choose to have breakfast when it suits you - early or late - or if continental breakfast in bed sounds appealing, breakfast room service is available. At lunchtime, you can eat outside at the open-air bistro or in the restaurant where a varied lunch buffet with tasty hot and cold options are on offer with complimentary soft drinks. Tea is served mid-afternoon with hot drinks and cakes in the lounge or on the top deck. At dinner, chef inspired regional and classic dishes are prepared using the freshest local ingredients that will tempt your taste buds. Savour the finest quality four-course dinner served with a choice of complimentary regional wines, beers or soft drinks. Avalon Dining Choices Captain's reception with sparkling wine and canapés Special Welcome dinner and five course Farewell dinner Daily Early-Riser or Late-Riser breakfasts Full buffet breakfast with made-to-order egg station Complimentary juices and sparkling wine with breakfast/soft drinks with lunch Open-air bistro on Sky Deck Full buffet lunch with pasta and carving stations Afternoon tea served with tea, coffee and cakes Four course dinners with seasonal cuisine using the freshest local ingredients Complimentary regional wines, beers or soft drinks and coffee or tea with dinners Room service available featuring continental breakfast and drinks Night fare buffet served at 10.30pm Social Hour and Drinks specials in the main lounge Bookable Special Touches Private cocktail parties in Panorama and Avalon Suites All-inclusive drink packages for purchase (alcohol or non-alcohol) Avalon celebration packages  Stateroom Type Cat. E Cat. D Cat. B Cat. A Cat. P Suite Spring / Autumn Sailings 1 Apr '12 1459 1459 1749 1809 1859 2159 15 Apr; 28* Oct '12 1655 1655 1945 2005 2055 2355 22 Apr; 14*, 21^ Oct '12 1769 1769 2059 2119 2169 2469 29* Apr; 7^ Oct '12 1839 1839 2129 2189 2239 2539 13, 20^, 27 May '12 1915 1915 2205 2265 2315 2615 Stateroom Type Cat. E Cat. D Cat. B Cat. A Cat. P Suite Summer Sailings 3^, 10, 17^ Jun '12 1955 1955 2245 2305 2355 2655 24 Jun '12 1929 1929 2219 2279 2329 2629 1^, 8, 15^, 22, 29^ Jul '12 1845 1845 2135 2195 2245 2545 5, 12^, 19 Aug '12 1839 1839 2129 2189 2239 2539 25, 26^ Aug '12 1885 1885 2175 2235 2285 2585 2, 8, 9^, 16, 23^ Sep '12 1955 1955 2245 2305 2355 2655 30 Sep '12 1865 1865 2165 2215 2265 2565 *Denotes which sailing date the price is based on. Price may vary slightly on other dates. ^Denotes sailing on Avalon Visionary, which will require an additional supplement.  To book, check availability or if you have any questions concerning our River Cruises please call one of our specialist cruise consultants. Or if you can't find what you are looking for, we'd be more than happy to put something together for you...   
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.jpg_thumb.jpg "Santorini sunset")
