A world beyond.
Hassle-free planning, regional Tour Directors & Local Guides, Handpicked hotels and inclusions, seamless transportation, VIP access, and rare Local Favourites that go beyond the guidebook. 

 

Adventure is knocking.
Turn “never thought I would” into “glad I did” with a budget-friendly tour that includes all the essentials plus a great mix of included excursions and free time. 

 

Cruising Elevated.
Cruise on Suite Ships with the widest stateroom views from your window-facing bed. Relaxed luxury flows throughout the ship in every detail plus personalise with Classic, Active, and Discovery excursions.

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Set sail on Avalon Waterways’ Storyteller cruises

Looking for an epic adventure? Look no further than our Storyteller Series of Suite Ship sailings. Hosted by celebrity authors, actors, artists and musicians, these cruises are the perfect intertwining of facts, fiction and fun. Scenic ports, riveting plots, rich history, and intriguing mystery converge on the world’s most celebrated rivers as you get the inside stories on your favourite books, songs, movies and more. While you immerse yourself in the legendary settings of yesterday, you’ll also have the opportunity to get up close and personal to the artistic legends of today. From special meet-and-greets to intimate lectures and performances, our Storyteller Series cruises are beyond words.

SET SAIL ON THE RHINE WITH GRAHAM MCTAVISH

Set sail on a cruise that paints a thousand words with celebrity host and storyteller Graham McTavish! This 8-day, Active & Discovery itinerary – part of our special Storyteller Series of cruises – will transport you through craggy cliffs and under storied medieval castles, along quaint, cobblestone villages and through the lofty landscapes of Switzerland, France, Germany and Holland on the Rhine River, where every hour is story time!

 

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CHEERS TO 50 YEARS WITH JEN HATMAKER

Here’s a cruise to write home about! Join Jen Hatmaker on an 8-day, Active & Discovery in Holland & Belgium sailing for her 50th birthday! That’s right! Jen is embarking on the first page of her 50th chapter while sailing the waters of Holland and Belgium and you – and just 150 fellow friends – are invited to sail along and celebrate away with her! On this trip of a lifetime, you’ll spend your days gliding through the canals of Amsterdam, biking past Holland’s postcard-perfect windmills, walking through Rotterdam’s modern architecture; sampling sweet treats in Brussels and tagging the streets of Ghent along with your favorite Storyteller, Jen Hatmaker. This intimate holiday takes the idea of “Me Camp“ to a whole new level!

 

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DISAPPEAR ON A MAGICAL SAILING WITH DIANA GABALDON

Bound to be the most memorable trip of 2024 (or a lifetime), author of the No. 1 New York Times-bestselling OUTLANDER series, Diana Gabaldon, is personally hosting a Storyteller cruise with Avalon Waterways on the Danube River in 2024. It’s your once-in-a-lifetime chance to sail with a small group of fellow fans and get exclusive OUTLANDER insights, with your favourite author… for a whole week of page-turning time travel!

 

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STORYTELLERS PAST:

The Storied Seine River with Candace Bushnell

In 2022, fans of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda sailed the Seine River from Paris to Le Havre with stylish storyteller Candace Bushnell. This celebrated author dished the secrets of the Lipstick Jungle, Rules of Being a Girl, and Sex in the City in style while sharing a love affair with storybook scenery of France on an Avalon Suite Ship. 

STORYTELLERS PAST: 

Gone Sailing with Gillian Flynn

Mystery lovers followed the clues to cruise with best-selling author Gillian Flynn – known for her runaway hits – Gone Girl, Sharp Objects, and Dark Places. Avalon guests were privy to the art of the mystery with inside secrets to crafting chilling tales and twisted characters that keep the pages turning and eyes glued to the screen from the edge of our seats. Indeed, we were spellbound by the stories shared by Gillian Flynn as we sailed the Danube’s dramatic cliffs and storied landscapes on a “Killer Queen” cruise!

STORYTELLERS PAST: 

Suite Sailing Down the Legendary Danube with Cheryl Strayed

Avalon guests recently accepted the invitation to pin, plot and plan a sweet, Suite Ship sailing from Budapest to Deggendorf with best-selling author and hit podcaster, Cheryl Strayed. Her gracious smile and generous sharing of the writer’s process was a delight to fans who joined her on the Danube River through Slovakia, Austria, and Germany with the encouragement to stay “Wild” while enjoying the “Tiny Beautiful Things” we’re “Brave Enough” to explore!

STORYTELLERS PAST: 

A Riot on the Rhine with Christopher Moore

We jest you not when we say that a recent Avalon Waterways cruise on the Rhine River was filled with jocularity and joy, thanks to our special guest storyteller, Christopher Moore. Cruising enthusiasts and enthusiasts of his satirical wit within the pages of “Lamb: the Gospel According to Biff” cruised along the legendary Rhine from Basel to Amsterdam for the laugh-inducing and thought-provoking humor of the renowned satirist and comic author. 

STORYTELLRS PAST:

A Suite Ship Sailing with Sister Hazel

Avalon really rocked the boat with a recent Rhine River cruise designed for fans of one our favourite bands, Sister Hazel! Hazelnuts showed up en force to share music and memories from Mainz to Amsterdam, while the award-winning Florida-based alternative rock band played on. Voices, spirits, and glasses were raised to the live performances of “All for You,” “Champagne High,” and “Happy” with the irresistible rhythm and rhymes of sensational Sister Hazel. 

View our 2024 Ultimate
River Cruising Guide