Avalon’s Newest Suite Ship Sails the Mekong

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Savings of up to $2000 per couple now available

Avalon Waterways has unveiled its first Suite Ship in Asia, the brand new Avalon Siem Reap now sailing the mighty Mekong River through Cambodia and Vietnam.

Catering to no more than 36 guests at a time, the 60m ship is based on Avalon’s revolutionary Suite Ship concept pioneered on the rivers of Europe, but is smaller and designed especially for Asian cruising.

With the ship’s debut, Avalon Waterways is offering savings of up to $2000 per couple on select cruises aboard Avalon Siem Reap during 2015. Other departures are available with savings of $1000 per couple.

Avalon Siem Reap is offered as part of a 12-night itinerary between Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City, Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & The Mekong River. Now priced from $3326* per person twin share on select departures, the itinerary includes three nights in Siem Reap to explore the spectacular temples of Angkor Wat, seven nights cruising the Mekong River and two nights in Ho Chi Minh City.

Built by local craftsmen, Avalon Siem Reap has been designed to reflect the character, symbolism and traditions of the regions through which it sails, while at the same time offering travellers the modern features they expect and enjoy.

Luxurious suite aboard Avalon Siem Reap

Its 18 air-conditioned Avalon Suites are beautifully fitted in contemporary Asian style and offer 23 square metres of living space. Each features Avalon’s signature open-air balcony with floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall panoramic windows that have retractable screen systems and doors that slide open to make the most of the passing scenery.

At 60m, Avalon Siem Reap is the only ship in the industry able to cruise all the way between Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap, avoiding hours of travel by road. When sailing into Ho Chi Minh harbour, Avalon guests are just minutes away from their hotel.

Avalon Siem Reap will be joined later this year by a second new Asian ship, Avalon Myanmar. With a similar size and design, Avalon Myanmar will operate Avalon’s first cruises on the Irrawaddy River, offering a 13-night itinerary from Yangon, Golden Myanmar & The Alluring Irrawaddy.

For full details and bookings see licensed travel agents, visit www.avalonwaterways.com.au or phone 1300 230 234.

*Price includes discount, subject to availability and conditions. Offer applies to select departures and is available until March 24, 2015, or until sold out.

Avalon Waterways 2016 Preview Now on Sale

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Avalon Panorama cruising the Rhine.

Earlybird Savings of 10% on Europe and South East Asia River Cruises

Avalon Waterways has released a preview of its 2016 season of river cruises, offering dozens of its most popular itineraries with a 10 per cent early booking discount.

Now on sale, the 2016 preview includes 30 different itineraries on the great waterways of Europe including the Seine, Rhône, Rhine and Danube, as well as in Asia on the Mekong and Irrawaddy.

All 2016 preview cruises are available with a 10 per cent early booking discount if purchased between now and the release of Avalon’s main 2016 brochure in coming months.

Popular itineraries now on sale for 2016 include:

• A Taste of the Danube – eight days between Budapest and Vienna from $2045* per person twin share (including discount).
• Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches – eight days between Paris and Normandy from $2837 per person twin share.
• Romantic Rhine – eight days between Amsterdam and Basel from $2582* per person twin share.
• Magnificent Europe – 15 days between Budapest and Amsterdam from $5056* per person twin share.

Avalon Waterways operates the most modern fleet of river cruise ships in Europe, with an average age of around three years. Its revolutionary Suite Ships have been designed with Australian travellers in mind and provide 30 per cent more cabin space than the average competitor, with wall-to-wall panoramic windows that slide back to turn the entire suite into an open-air balcony.

For full details and bookings see licensed travel agents, visit www.avalonwaterways.com.au or phone 1300 230 234.

*Prices include 10% discount, subject to availability and conditions. Offer available until the release of the Avalon Waterways 2016 main season brochure.

Avalon Waterways Unveils New Ships in 2015 Asia Brochure

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Avalon Waterways has revealed details of two stylish new ships set to cruise the rivers of South-East Asia from next year, including its first cruises to the incredible ancient temples of Myanmar.

The ships are profiled in Avalon’s newly released 2015 Asia brochure, its first brochure dedicated exclusively to its exotic itineraries on the mighty Mekong, Yangtze and Irrawaddy rivers.

To mark the brochure’s release, Avalon is offering savings of up to $758 per couple on its 2015 World Collection cruises, with a discount of five per cent on all Asia bookings until June 24, 2014.

Avalon’s two new Asian ships will bring the same levels of style and comfort offered aboard its successful Suite Ships in Europe, but in a smaller, more intimate vessel.

Contemporary Asian styled suites

Both 60-metre ships will offer just 18 suites, all fitted in contemporary Asian style with wall-to-wall panoramic windows that slide back to create an open-air balcony.

The first, Avalon Siem Reap, will be deployed on the Mekong River in January and will operate Avalon’s 13-day itinerary between Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap – Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River.

The second, Avalon Myanmar, will cruise on the Irrawaddy River from September in a brand new 14-day itinerary beginning and ending in Yangon – Golden Myanmar & the Alluring Irrawaddy.

Both ships feature a stylish air-conditioned Panorama Lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise the views, a shaded open-air observation lounge on the forward deck and an intimate timber-floored dining room serving fine contemporary cuisine with a mix of western and Asian styles. Other features include a bar, a spa treatment room, a fitness centre and a library.

Avalon’s Myanmar itinerary represents the newest destination in its worldwide selection of river cruises. Priced from $7691 per person twin share (including discount), it begins with two nights in the capital Yangon before flying to Bagan to join the ship and begin a 10-night journey along the Irrawaddy river.

Highlights include sunrise and sunset visits to the renowned temples of Bagan and Mandalay, an opportunity to visit monks and present alms at an ancient monastery at Kya Hnyat, a visit to an elephant camp at Katha, plus dozens of other unforgettable experiences among the villages, traditional workshops, schools, convents, farms and markets of the Irrawaddy valley.

Other itineraries in the Avalon Waterways 2015 Asia brochure include the 13-day Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River (from $4326 per person twin share, including discount), the 11-day Magical China & the Yangtze River (from $4229) and the 15-day Cultural China & Tibet with Yangtze River Cruise (from $5719).

Avalon Waterways’ 2015 World Collection discount of five per cent is available for bookings made by June 24, 2014, and applies to all Asia cruises as well as Amazon and Galápagos cruises.

For full details and bookings see licensed travel agents, visit www.avalonwaterways.com.au or phone 1300 230 234.

*Prices per person twin share, subject to availability and conditions.