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While we were busy delivering first-rate service to our guests on Avalon Waterways, it seems a few people noticed. We're humbled and happy to share kudos we've received from some of the industry's most respected experts in river cruising, including readers and editors of Cruise Critic, USA Today, Conde Nast, and TravelAge. It seems we've struck the right note with our award-winning Panorama SuitesSM, Open–Air Balconies®, Panorama Windows, exceptional shore excursions, and flexible dining options. But we're not ones to rest on our laurels. Our biggest reward is making our cruise guests feel happy — from the first throw of the bowlines to the last drop of the anchor. That’s the Avalon difference, and it doesn't get much better than that!

    World of Cruising - Wave Awards

    2022 - Favourite River Cruise Line - Finalist

    2021 - Best River Cruise Line - Winner

    2021 - CTN Best Companies - Winner

    2019 - Best River Cruise Line - Winner

    2018 - Best River Cruise Line - Winner

    2018 - Best Transfer Service - Highly Commended, for our Home Pick Up Service

    2017 - Best Transfer Service - Winner, for our Home Pick Up Service

    2017 - Best River Cruise Line - Highly Commended

    Cruise Critic

    Cruise Critic

    2023 - Best Cabins in River Cruising 

    2023 - Best River Cruises for Solo Travelers 

    2019 - Best European River Cruise Line

    2018 - Best River Cruise Line Cabins (Editors' Picks)

    2017 - Best River Cruise Line cabins

    2017 - Best River Cruise Line for active cruisers

    2016 - Best River Cruise Line cabins

    2015 - Best River Cruise Line cabins

    Conde Nast Traveler

    Condé Nast Traveller

    2023 

    • Top 16 Best River Cruise Lines

    2021 

    • Top 10 Best River Cruise Lines

    2020 

    • Top 10 Best River Cruise Lines

    2018 

    • Top 10 Best River Cruise Lines
    • Silver Winner/Cruise Ship: Overall River Cruise Ship (Avalon PanoramaSM)
    • Silver Winner/Cruise Ship: Overall River Cruising (Avalon Waterways)

    2016

      • Top River Cruise line - Finalist

    2015

    • Top River Cruise line - Finalist

    2014

    Top River Cruise line

    2013

    • Top 40 Cruise Ships (Avalon Creativity®)

    2012

    • Top 5 Best River Cruise Lines

    2011

    • Top 5 Best River Cruise Lines

    2010

    • Top Cruise Ships

    2009

    • The Gold List, Avalon Waterways Top 90 Cruise Ships, Avalon Waterways

    2008

    • Top 10 Small-Ship Cruise Line, Reader's Choice awards

    Good Houeskeeping Reader Recommended

    Since December 2018, we've been endorsed by the Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended logo for our panoramic views.

    With over 90 years of knowledge, research and know-how, Good Housekeeping magazine informs family life and is respected as the unrivalled, credible authority on food, beauty, fashion, home and health. 

    From Good Housekeeping's reader panel, 112 readers recommended Avalon for its panoramic views. Some of the comments included:

    • 97% rated the customer service on-board as either very good or excellent.

    • 96% would recommend Avalon to a friend.

    • 91% would happily travel on an Avalon cruise again.

    • 89% said excursions were flexible with free time to wander independently, but that there was no pressure to join an excursion.

    • Feedback included: "my favourite part was the luxurious room with huge window, delicious food and the ambience on-board" and "just fantastic from beginning to end".

    Travel Age West Wave Awards

    2019

    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 10 River Cruise Lines in USA Today's 10Best 2019 readers' choice awards.
    • Avalon Envision® ranked in the top 10 River Cruise Ships in USA Today's 10Best 2019 readers' choice awards.

    2018

    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 10 River Cruise Lines in USA Today's 10Best 2018 readers' choice awards.

    2017

    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 10 River Cruise Lines in USA Today's 10Best 2017 readers' choice awards.

    2015

    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 10 River Cruise Lines in USA Today's 10Best 2015 readers' choice awards.



    Travel + Leisure World's Best

    2019

    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 10 among River Cruises in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2019 readers' survey.

    2013

    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 10 among River Cruises in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2013 readers' survey.

    2011

    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 5 among River Cruises in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2011 readers' survey.

    2010

    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 5 among River Cruises in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2011 readers' survey.

    2009

    • Top 10 Small-Ship Cruise Line - #2

    2007

    • Top 10 Small-Ship Cruise Line

    TTG Awards

    2017 - Best River Cruise Line – Nominated

    2015 - Best River Cruise Line - Finalist

    2014 - Best River Cruise Line - Finalist




Affiliations and Memberships

Sustainable Travel

Avalon is committed to minimizing its impact on the environment and to reducing its dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.

Avalon Traveler Icons: Cambodia Project

Kailyan Mith program Siem Reap; part of the ChildSafe Network Visiting Cambodia can be a life-changing experience. Two things that visitors remember are the amazing archaeological treasures and the Cambodian people. Their warm, friendly personalities truly leave a lasting impression-as do their touching stories. Today, there is no story more important to tell than the growing number of children living in poverty.

Siem Reap, with its proximity to the temples of Angkor, has developed into a major tourism centre in Cambodia. In 2013, Cambodia saw 4.2 million tourists and over half of these visitors arrived through Siem Reap. This recent growth in tourism has brought a good deal of wealth to the city, which has led a growing number of impoverished families to move to the city from surrounding villages in hopes of a better life. Often unprepared and with few employable skills, the hope for economic opportunities has instead increased the number of children, families, and mothers with small babies begging or selling souvenirs to tourists on the streets and around the temples.

To respond to these challenges, Avalon, in partnership with Tourism Cares, is proud to help fund the ChildSafe Network. Initiated by Friends-International, this powerful, proven program enlists the tourism community, both local and international, to support the welfare, advancement, and safety of children.

In Siem Reap, the ChildSafe Network is run by the Friends-International program Kaliyan Mith, which offers a comprehensive range of services and projects. This includes outreach to children and youth living on the streets, providing a safe space for young people through drop-in centres, an educational centre and school re-integration, vocational training and employment for youth and their parents, and the provision of temporary accommodation through a transitional home. The program also includes awareness-raising campaigns where child begging is especially prominent as well as a 24/7 ChildSafe Emergency Hotline.

Avalon is a firm believer in this mission. Education is the key-not only for the children but for all visitors, and we do all we can to ensure that the begging lifestyle is not promoted on our journeys that visit Siem Reap and the rest of Asia.