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Avalon Waterways Growth Surges Along With
America’s Interest in Small-Ship Cruising 

Scott Nisbet, chief operating officer
Globus family of brands

While you’ll hear many names for it– river cruising, small ship cruising or internal cruising – there’s really just one that best describes it, and that’s ‘growth.’  And that growth is why Avalon Waterways and the Globus family of brands continue to invest in new ships and new itineraries to stay ahead of the curve.

Avalon is investing millions of dollars to ensure a luxury vacation experience for thousands of cruise enthusiasts around the globe, providing them an intimate way to see and experience the villages and cities that rest along the waterways in dozens of countries worldwide.  In 2009, we are embarking on our most aggressive growth to date, offering more than 25 cruise vacations in Europe, China, Egypt and the Galàpagos. 

Traveling on the rivers that weave together the history and lore of villages and countries is not only one of the trendiest means of travel, it’s also the most scenic and experiential way to vacation.  Small-ship cruising provides travelers big benefits including a more intimate experience, the proximity of attractions and hassle-free, all-inclusive style.  Guests don’t have to worry about hidden fees and currency increases.

To meet increased demands for this type of travel, we have created six NEW river cruises for 2009, ranging from 8 to 23 days:

·    Christmas in the Heart of Germany – 8 Days (Frankfurt to Prague)

·    Windmills, Vineyards & Paris – 13 or 14 Days (Paris to Amsterdam/Amsterdam to Paris) Blue Danube to the Black Sea – 14 Days (Vienna to Bucharest/Bucharest to Vienna) European Splendor – 13 Days (Amsterdam to Vienna/Vienna to Amsterdam)

·    North Sea–Black Sea Cruise – 23 Days (Amsterdam to Bucharest/Bucharest to Amsterdam)

·    Fascinating China & Mongolia with Yangtze River Cruise – 18 Days (Shanghai to Beijing)

In addition to developing new river cruise vacations and on the heels of christening the Avalon Scenery in France this spring (a ship Joanie and Tom Ogg experienced first-hand), we’re launching two ships in Europe – the Avalon Affinity and Avalon Creativity – both set to debut in 2009, bringing the European fleet total to eight. 

With the youngest fleet on Europe’s waters, our Avalon ships feature contemporary design, state-of-the art technology and house the largest staterooms, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic sliding glass doors. While our competition favors more traditional interiors, Avalon Waterways’ European fleet has raised the bar on river cruise ship design with vessels that both look and feel like intimate, modern hotels.

Other amenities and features on Avalon’s new ships include: Flat screen televisions, modern bathrooms, large closets, flexible bed design (beds may be configured as two twins or one queen), Egyptian cotton linens, mini-bar, safe, laundry and ironing services, a fully equipped fitness room, library, hair salon and gift shop, as well as a club lounge and large Jacuzzi pool on the Sky Deck. 

And now, our travelers and clients can visit www.avalonwaterways.com/difference to get a virtual tour of the Avalon Scenery before they book a trip with us or in anticipation of their vacation.

While our ships are making waves, quite literally, in small-ship cruising, we know there’s more to a cruise experience than what’s offered on-board.  When our travelers are taken into the heart of the world’s most awe-inspiring destinations, we offer unparalleled access inside key landmarks, with no waiting in lines, to help our travelers relive history through great storytelling.  We also encourage them to explore each port on their own, indulging in their personal passions.

We know our cruisers get great value on their journeys abroad.   With nearly 100 percent of our Avalon Waterways passengers stating that we’ve met or exceeded their expectations, it’s clear that we care about the little things that make a big difference: We serve passengers unlimited complimentary local wine with all on-board dinners and feature regional entertainment, as well as provide the most impressive land programs available, coupled with a ‘best in class’ English-speaking staff that caters to our clients’ desires.  Our travelers also benefit from all-inclusive pricing – expenses that can be both planned and paid in advance of travel.

With more than 200 support staff in the U.S. and Europe and 37 offices worldwide, our Avalon Waterways team is investing in creating enriching travel experiences for small-ship cruisers. 

And, those travelers interested in spending more time on land than water are also in luck.  Through Globus and Cosmos, we offer the best tour vacations worldwide and with our Monograms brand, we help travelers customize vacation packages to every corner of the world.  

With 80 years of experience, we continue to extend our reach and expertise around the world, now uniting travelers with similar interests through specialty vacations, including family travel, food and wine-themed tours, music-oriented journeys, faith-based travel and even holiday excursions. 

At the Globus family of brands, we delight in making experiences possible for travelers that they couldn’t create on their own.  We do this by borrowing local expertise and offering a personal contact on-site to eliminate worries while creating memories to last a lifetime.

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For more information about Avalon Waterways, visit www.avalonwaterways.com or go to www.globusfamily.com.  Interested readers can also book a vacation or request a brochure by calling toll-free 1.877.380.1535.