Avalon Impression

The 2014-built MS Avalon Impression sails on the Danube River, with departures from homeports including Amsterdam, Passau, Nuremberg, Prague, and Budapest.

Avalon Impression debuted in 2014 as one of Avalon’s Suite Ships. This elegant vessel features two full decks of Panorama Suites, each with panoramic wall-to-wall windows that transform the living space into an Open-Air Balcony.

In 2024, Avalon Waterways launched a fleet-wide Suite Ship renovation project. Upgrades included refreshed interiors (decor updates and renovations across all public areas, flooring, and furniture), improved Starlink Internet (with a second antenna added to each vessel), redesigned Sky Deck (with new furniture), expanded seating in the Observation Lounge, enhanced Fitness Center (with new Kinesis One machines and more free weights), and additional onboard bicycles (15 new conventional bikes and 4 e-bikes per ship). The refurbishments are phased over three years—2024 (Passion, Imagery 2, Poetry 2, Panorama, Vista), 2025 (Artistry 2, Impression, Illumination, Tapestry 2, Tranquility 2), and 2026 (Expression, Visionary).

Cabins

The Panorama Suites on MS Avalon Impression offer a spacious 200 ft² of living area, over 30% larger than the industry standard, allowing guests to wake up to beautiful riverside scenery.

Avalon Impression has a total of 84 staterooms, including 2 Royal Suites, 66 Panorama Suites, and 16 Deluxe Staterooms with non-opening windows, divided into 6 categories.

Cabin Types, Sizes, Categories (from highest to lowest):

• All staterooms feature: two twin beds convertible to a queen, 3-door closet with shelves, private bathroom (glass-door shower, hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers), sofa, coffee table, flat-screen TV, vanity/writing desk, private French Balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding door), individual climate control, phone, minibar, safe, deluxe pillow menu, and complimentary bottled water. Maximum occupancy is two guests per cabin.
• 2x Royal Suites (RS) – Deck 3, 300 ft² / 28 m²
• Panorama Suites – Category P (x33, Deck 3), A (x23, Deck 2), B (x9, Deck 2) – 200 ft² / 18.6 m²
• Deluxe Staterooms – Category D (x10, Deck 1), E (x6, Deck 1) – 172 ft² / 16 m²

Shipboard Facilities

Notable onboard amenities include alternative dining in the Panorama Bistro, light al fresco lunches at the Sky Bistro, an expanded Fitness Center, and a spacious Sky Deck with whirlpool and premium lounge chairs. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship.

Dining venues include the Impression Dining Room, Panorama Bistro, and Sky Bistro (al fresco). Other public spaces include the Panorama Lounge & Bar (with an outside viewing deck), Club Lounge, Library/Internet Corner, Impression Atrium Lobby, Hair Salon, Fitness Center, and Sun Deck (Sky Lounge & Bar, Sky Bistro, Whirlpool, shaded seating, and games area).

Avalon Impression cruise packages are all-inclusive and feature complimentary Wi-Fi, room service, guided land tours and excursions (led by certified local guides), port taxes, flights, motorcoach transfers, live entertainment by local performers, daily enrichment lectures, ship tours, food and wine tastings, 24-hour premium coffee, tea, and hot chocolate service, and bottled water replenished daily.

Prices are listed per person based on double occupancy. Rates are indicative and may vary depending on booking channel, travel agency promotions, group rates, last-minute deals, and seasonal offers. Avalon Impression cruises often include USA flights with discounted airfare and free airport transfers.

River Cruise Itineraries

Below is a list of officially announced Avalon Impression itineraries by Avalon Waterways:

(7-night cruise) "Tulip Time Cruise" – 8-day spring-themed voyages through Belgium and Holland, roundtrip from Amsterdam (code WAA).

(7-night cruise) "Magnificent Europe" – 15-day itineraries between Amsterdam and Budapest (Eastbound, code WAB; Westbound, code WBA).

(7-night cruise) “The Blue Danube Discovery” – 13-day voyages from Budapest to Prague (disembark in Nuremberg, Westbound, code WBN). The reverse route, “The Legendary Danube,” features an 11-day itinerary from Prague to Budapest (Eastbound, code WNB, embark in Nuremberg). “Cruising-Only” options include Nuremberg to Budapest (code WNBO) and vice versa (code WBNO).

(7-night cruise) "Capitals of Central Europe" – 10-day Danube voyages between Prague and Budapest (Eastbound, code WPB; Westbound, code WBP), including bus transfers between Prague and Passau and a visit to Bratislava. “Cruising-Only” options from Passau to Budapest are also available (code WPBO, excluding Prague hotel stay).

Impression is the sixth vessel in Avalon’s “Suite Ship” class. Among the ship’s standout features are two full decks of Suite cabins—each outfitted with wall-to-wall sliding glass windows and French Balconies—as well as spacious and diverse public areas, all featuring floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views.

Each Avalon “Suite Ship” is powered by two Caterpillar Marine diesel engines (model C32 ACERT) with a combined output of 1420 kW / 1930 HP, along with an emergency diesel generator. The vessel uses diesel-electric propulsion, featuring one azimuth thruster at the bow and a “Silent Drive System” that isolates the engines from the passenger accommodations to reduce noise and vibration.

The Impression riverboat was launched on March 22, 2014. It was christened in Dordrecht (Holland) by Mara DelliPriscoli, President of "Travel Learning"—a nonprofit organization that hosts Educational Travel Conferences and seminars for travel professionals, including tour operators, planners, suppliers, and destination market analysts. Impression was christened in a joint ceremony with the Poetry 2.

Note: You can view CruiseMapper's complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.