Skip to Main Content

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 [$panoramasuites], [$openairbalconies], 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!

Text here

And text here

    Travel + Leisure World’s Best

    2023
    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 10 among River Cruises in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2023 readers’ survey
    2021
    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 10 among River Cruises in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2021 readers’ survey
    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
    • Top River Cruising for Families
    2010
    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 5 among River Cruises in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2011 readers’ survey
    2009
    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 10 Small-Ship Cruise Line
    2007
    • Avalon Waterways ranked in the top 10 Small-Ship Cruise Line

    Travel Age West Wave Awards

    2023
    • Best New River Cruise Ship, Avalon View® 
    2021
    • Best Pandemic Community Response by a River Cruise Line, Editor’s Pick, Avalon Waterways
    • Most Creative New Virtual Programming by a River Cruise Line, Editor’s Pick, Avalon Waterways
    • Most Anticipated New River Cruise Ship, Editor’s Pick, Avalon View®, Avalon Waterways
    2020
    • Best Suites in River Cruising
    • Editor’s Pick, River Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction
    • Editor’s Pick, River Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support
    • Editor’s Pick, Best New Ship (River Cruise)
    • Editor’s Pick, Best Onboard Dining (River Cruise)
    • Editor’s Pick, Best River Cruise Line for Families
    2019
    • Editor’s Pick, River Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support, Avalon Waterways
    • Editor’s Pick, River Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Avalon Waterways
    • Editor’s Pick, Best New Ship (River Cruise), Avalon Saigon, Avalon Waterways
    • Editor’s Pick, Best Onboard Dining (River Cruise), Avalon Waterways
    • Editor’s Pick, Best Suites, River Cruise, Avalon Waterways
    • Editor’s Pick, Best River Cruise Line for Families, Avalon Waterways
    2011
    • Best New River Cruise Ship (Avalon LuminarySM)
    2009
    • Best New River Cruise Ship (Avalon ScenerySM)

    More Kudos & Awards

    Recommend Magazine
    • 2023—Readers’ Choice Award, Best River Cruise Overall (Bronze) Avalon Waterways
    • 2022—Readers’ Choice Award, Best River Cruise Itineraries (Bronze) Avalon Waterways
    • 2021—Readers’ Choice Award, Best River Cruise Itineraries (Silver) Avalon Waterways
    • 2020—Readers’ Choice Award, Best Overall River Cruise (Bronze) Avalon Waterways
    • 2019—Readers’ Choice Award, Best Overall River Cruise Itinerary (Silver) Avalon Waterways
    Cruise Passenger Readers’ Choice
    • 2020—Best Luxury River Cruise Line
    • 2019—Best Luxury River Cruise Line
    AFAR Travel Guide
    • 2019—Best River Cruise, Finalist, Avalon Waterways
    Big7Travel
    • 2019—Featured, 7 Intimate European Cruises for your Bucket List, Avalon, The Heart of Germany; Tulip Time Cruise
    National Geographic
    • 2017—21 Best Cruises in the World, Irrawaddy River (Avalon MyanmarSM)
    Riverboatratings.com
    • 2017-2018—Best On Europe’s Rivers Award, The Best Designed Staterooms on the Rivers
    Cruise Report
    • 2017—Best River Cruise Accommodations, Avalon VistaSM, Panorama Suite
    • 2017—Best Panorama Lounge, Avalon VistaSM
    Money Magazine
    • 2017—Best River Cruise Lines (Gold) (Avalon Waterways)
    • 2017—Best in Travel (Avalon Waterways)
    U.S. News & World Report
    • 2016—Top River Cruise (Avalon Waterways, Vietnam, Cambodia & The Mekong River)
    Sherman’s Travel (Smart Luxury Travel)
    • 2016—The 9 Best River Cruise Ships in Europe (Avalon Tapestry IISM)
    • 2011—Best River Ship Debut (Avalon PanoramaSM)
    Travel Weekly
    • 2011—Best River Cruise Ship (Avalon PanoramaSM)
    • 2010—Best River Cruise Ship (Avalon ScenerySM)

Cruise Critic



    Cruise Critic

    2023
    • Editors’ Pick Best Cabins in River Cruising   
    • Editors’ Pick Best River Cruises for Solo Travelers 
    2019
    • Cruisers’ Choice Award Top European River Cruise Ship Line
    • Editors’ Pick Best Shore Excursions
    • Cruisers’ Choice Award Top 10 River Cruise Ships: Avalon Imagery II®, Avalon Expression®, Avalon Poetry II®, Avalon Tapestry II®, Avalon Luminary®
    2018
    • Best Cabins in River Cruising
    2017
    • Editors’ Pick Best Cabins in River Cruising
    2016
    • Editors’ Pick Best Cabins in River Cruising
    2015
    • Editors’ Pick Best Cabins in River Cruising
    2010
    • Best River Cruise Line
    • Editors’ Pick Best Cabins in River Cruising

    Conde Nast Traveler

    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
    • Finalist: Top River Cruises
    2015
    • Finalist: Top River Ships
    2014
    • Top River Cruise Lines
    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

    USA Today

    2024
    • Top 5 Best River Cruise Lines
    2023
    • No. 1 Best River Cruise Line
    • No. 1 Best River Cruise Ship – Avalon Envision®
    2022
    • No. 1 Best River Cruise Line
    • No. 1 Best River Cruise Ship – Avalon Envision®
    2021
    • No. 1 Best River Cruise Ship – Avalon Envision®
    • Voted 10 Best River Cruise Ship – Avalon Tranquility II®
    • Voted 10 Best River Cruise Line – Avalon Waterways
    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.

AFFILIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

Avalon Waterways is a proud member of the following associations.