CroisiEurope vs Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways is often the first alternative to Viking that Australians encounter when researching European river cruises. It has a notable Australian connection it's part of the Globus family of brands, which has a long relationship with Australian travel agents and it has a distinctive product in the 'Suite Ship' concept. But how does Avalon compare to CroisiEurope for Australian travellers? Here's the complete picture.
Company Background
CroisiEurope: Founded 1976, Strasbourg, France. Family-owned, French. Europe's #1 river cruise operator. 50 ships, 170 itineraries, 38 countries.
Avalon Waterways: Founded 2003, part of the Globus family of brands. American in marketing orientation though with a long connection to Australian agents. Approximately 16 ships in Europe.
Price
CroisiEurope: 7-day Danube cruise from approximately €880-€1,200pp twin share. All meals, wine with meals, excursions, and port taxes included.
Avalon: 7-day Danube cruise from approximately AUD$4,000-$5,500pp twin share (2027 estimates). Excursions and meals included; gratuities and premium extras separate.
Avalon is typically 1.5-2x the price of CroisiEurope for comparable itineraries. This is a meaningful difference for Australian travellers on a fixed budget.
The Suite Ship Concept
Avalon's flagship selling point is its 'Suite Ship' design wider cabins with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open to create an 'open-air balcony.' The concept lets passengers experience the river from their cabin.
CroisiEurope's cabins are comfortable and well-appointed, with panoramic windows, but don't have the floor-to-ceiling open-door feature. If having a balcony-style cabin is a priority, Avalon has the advantage. If it isn't and most river cruisers spend most of their time on the sun deck anyway CroisiEurope's cabin quality is entirely comparable.
Ship Size
CroisiEurope: 100-180 passengers per ship.
Avalon: 166 passengers on most Suite Ships.
Similar passenger counts both feel intimate compared to ocean cruises.
What's Included
CroisiEurope
• All meals, wine & beer with meals, excursions, port taxes
• Consistently all-inclusive no surprise bills at checkout
Avalon
• All meals, excursions, port taxes, Wi-Fi
• Wine/beer with dinner included on most sailings verify current policy
• Gratuities are recommended and typically additional
Itinerary Range
CroisiEurope: 170 itineraries across 38 countries including Mekong, Nile, Douro, French canals, and extensive European rivers.
Avalon: Approximately 50 European itineraries plus a small number of worldwide options. Less breadth than CroisiEurope.
Australian Booking Support
CroisiEurope: Dedicated Australian office CroisiEurope Australia (1300 739 652). Book and pay in AUD, local support.
Avalon: Available through Australian travel agents and Avalon's local representation. Good agent network in Australia.
The Verdict
Avalon offers a genuine upgrade in cabin design particularly if having a balcony-style experience matters to you. It also has strong agent support in Australia. But at 1.5-2x the price of CroisiEurope, Australians are paying primarily for the Suite Ship concept.
CroisiEurope offers more itineraries, French-quality cuisine with wine included, and dedicated local support at a price point that lets many Australians upgrade their flights, add a pre-cruise city stay, or simply save money for the next trip.
Book Your 2027 River Cruise with CroisiEurope Australia
CroisiEurope Australia handles all bookings for Australian travellers local support, AUD pricing, no credit card surcharges on Visa or Mastercard.
Phone: 1300 739 652 | Email: contact@croisicruises.com
Website: www.croisieuroperivercruises.com.au | Office: Tweet World Travel, 544 Magill Road, Magill SA 5072
2027 Early Booking is open now. Enquire today.
