Avalon Poetry II

The 2014-built MS Avalon Poetry II ship cruises on Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers. The boat offers voyages departing from homeports Amsterdam (Holland), Prague (Czechia), Budapest (Hungary), Nuremberg (Germany) and Remich (Luxembourg).

In 2024, Avalon Waterways started its Suite Ship fleet renovation/refurbishment project. The upgrades included interiors (decor updates and renovations in all public spaces/flooring, furniture), faster Starlink Internet connectivity (a second antenna added on each boat), Sky Deck (redesign, new furniture), Observation Lounge (more seating), Gym (new Kinesis One machines, more free weights), onboard bicycles (added 15x new conventional plus 4 e-bikes per boat).  The refurbishments were phased for three years - 2024 (Passion, Imagery 2, Poetry 2, Panorama, Vista), 2025 (Artistry 2, Impression, Illumination, Tapestry 2, Tranquility 2) and 2026 (Expression, Visionary).

Cabins

Avalon Poetry II has a total of 65 staterooms (of which 2 Royal Suite, 51 Panorama Suite, 12 with non-opening windows) in 6 grades. Just like her sister Suite Ships, Avalon Artistry II, Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Tranquility II, and Avalon Visionary, the Avalon Poetry II provides two decks of suites with Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows.

Cabins Types, Sizes, Categories (high to low) 

• Amenities in all types of staterooms - 2 twin beds converting to queen-sized, 3-door closets with shelves, private bathroom (glass-door shower, hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers), sofa, coffee table, flat TV, vanity/writing desk, private French balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding door), individual climate control, phone, minibar, safe, deluxe pillow menu, complimentary bottled water. Cabin occupancy - 2 guests in a room.
• Suites - 2x "Royal Suites" (cat S, deck 3, size 300 ft2 / 28 m2), and the "Panorama Suites" - cat P (25x, deck 3), cat A (17x, deck 2) and cat B (8x, deck 2) - all with sizes of 200 ft2 / 18,6 m2.
• Deluxe Staterooms (located on deck 1) - cat D (6x) and cat E (6x) - sizes 172 ft2 / 16 m2.

Shipboard facilities

MS Avalon Poetry 2 onboard amenities include alternative dining in Panorama Bistro, free Wi-Fi access, and complimentary Internet Corner, expanded Fitness Center, spacious Sky Deck with a whirlpool, premium lounge chairs, and al fresco lunch at the Sky Bistro.

Avalon Poetry II restaurants include Poetry (dining room), Panorama Bistro, Sky Bistro (al-fresco). Avalon Poetry 2 also has Panorama Lounge & Bar (observation, with an outside viewing deck), Club Lounge, Library/Internet Corner, Poetry Atrium Lobby, Hair Salon, Fitness, Sun Deck (Sky Lounge & Bar, Sky Bistro, Whirlpool, shaded seating, deck games area).

Avalon Poetry II cruise deals are inclusive of Wi-Fi Internet, room service, all land tours and excursions (by certified local tour guides), port taxes, flights, motorcoach transfers, live evening entertainment (local performers), daily enrichment lectures, Poetry 2 cruise ship tour ("behind-the-scenes"), food and wine tastings, 24-hour premium coffee/tea/hot chocolate, replenished daily bottled water.

Avalon Poetry 2 river cruise prices are per person and based on double occupancy. These are only indicative Avalon river cruise rates. They might be different when you book your Avalon Waterways cruise tour deals, influenced by travel agency promotions, special offers, and discounts, group travel booking or last-minute deals rates. On Avalon Poetry 2 cruises, Avalon Waterways offers USA flights-inclusive deals with discount airfare and complimentary airport transfers.

River Cruise Itineraries

Follows the list of Avalon Poetry 2 itineraries as themes officially announced by the Avalon Waterways line:

(7-nights cruising) "Burgundy and Provence" are 11-day voyages from Paris to Cote d’Azur (Southbound, code WCL), and the reverse from Cote d’Azur to Paris (Northbound, code WLC). This itinerary includes TGV train (high-speed train) travel Paris-Dijon, embarkation on the Poetry 2 ship in Chalon (transfer from Beaune) or Arles (transfer from Cote d’Azur), and also Burgundy wine cruise tours included in the Avalon Waterways Poetry 2 tickets prices.

(Two ships, 14-nights cruising) "Grand France" are 16-day Seine, Saone, and Rhone cruises from Paris to Cote d’Azur (Southbound, code WPL), and the reverse from Cote d’Azur to Paris (Northbound, code WLP). These are "back-to-back" river travel vacation deals combining the Poetry's cruise on Saone and Rhone with the "Paris to Normandy's Landing Beaches" route operated by the Avalon Tapestry 2 ship. These Avalon Waterways deals offer embarkation and disembarkation in Paris, Chalon, and Arles, with included TGV train travel Paris-Dijon or the reverse Dijon-Paris.

(Two ships. 14-nights cruising) "Rhine and Rhone Revealed" are 16-day voyages from Amsterdam to Cote d’Azur (Southbound, code WAL), and the reverse from Cote d’Azur to Amsterdam (Northbound, code WLA). This is another "back-to-back" cruise travel option combining the Poetry's Saone and Rhone cruise with the "Romantic Rhine" itinerary operated by the Avalon Tranquility 2 ship. These travel deals offer disembarkation/embarkation in ports Basel/Zurich, Chalon, and Arles, with included motorcoach transfer Basel-Beaune, or the reverse.

The Avalon Poetry II boat is the 8th vessel in Avalon Waterways "Suite Ship" class. Among the ship's best features are 2 full decks of Suite cabins (each with wall-to-wall sliding windows and French Balcony) and spacious and diverse public venues (each with full-length floor-ceiling windows).

Each Avalon Waterways "Suite Ship" is powered by two Caterpillar Marine diesel engines (model C32 ACERT, total power output 1420 kW / 1930 HP), plus an emergency diesel generator. The ship's propulsion is diesel-electric, with one azimuth thruster (at the bow) and a "Silent Drive System" (separating the ship's engines from passenger staterooms).

Avalon Poetry 2 was launched in 2014 on March 22. It was christened in Dordrecht (Holland) by Drs Katherine Grainger - a British rower, "London Olympic 2012" Gold medalist, also 6-time World Champion and honorary of the "Most Excellent Order of the British Empire" (CBE). The Poetry 2 boat was christened in a joint ceremony - together with the Impression boat.

On August 12, 2016, Katherine Grainger won a silver medal at 2016's Rio Olympic Games, making her the UK's most-awarded Olympic player. Using the occasion, Avalon Waterways awarded her a free cruise.

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