Avalon Visionary

The 2012-built MS Avalon Visionary cruises on the Danube and Rhine Rivers, with departures from the homeports of Amsterdam and Basel/Zurich.

Avalon Visionary is one of Avalon’s Suite Ships, featuring two decks of suites with Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows.

In 2024, Avalon Waterways began a fleet-wide Suite Ship renovation and refurbishment project. Upgrades included refreshed interior décor and renovations in all public spaces (flooring and furniture), enhanced Starlink Internet connectivity (with a second antenna added on each ship), a redesigned Sky Deck with new furniture, expanded seating in the Observation Lounge, upgraded gym facilities (featuring new Kinesis One machines and more free weights), and the addition of 15 conventional bicycles and 4 e-bikes per ship. The refurbishment was scheduled 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

Avalon Visionary has a total of 65 staterooms (2 Royal Suites, 51 Panorama Suites, and 12 Deluxe Staterooms with non-opening windows) across 6 categories. The ship’s Panorama Suites are 30% larger than the industry standard, offering guests the opportunity to wake up to fresh breezes and picturesque scenery each morning.

Cabin Types, Sizes, Categories (high to low)

• All staterooms include: two twin beds that convert to a queen-size bed, 3-door closets with shelving, private bathroom with glass-door shower, hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers, sofa, coffee table, flat-screen TV, vanity/writing desk, French balcony with floor-to-ceiling sliding door, individual climate control, telephone, minibar, safe, deluxe pillow menu, and complimentary bottled water. Maximum occupancy: 2 guests per cabin.
• 2x Royal Suites (Category R) – Deck 3, size 300 ft² / 28 m².
• Panorama Suites – Category P (Deck 3, x25), A (Deck 2, x17), and B (Deck 2, x8) – size 200 ft² / 18.6 m².
• Deluxe Staterooms – Deck 1, Category D (x6) and E (x6) – size 172 ft² / 16 m².

Shipboard Facilities

Notable onboard amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi and an Internet Corner, a spacious Sky Deck with the Sky Bistro, shaded areas, premium loungers, and a whirlpool. The expanded Fitness Center offers modern workout options.

Dining options include the Visionary Restaurant (main dining room), Panorama Bistro, and the Sky Bistro (al fresco dining). Additional public venues include the Panorama Lounge & Bar (with an outdoor viewing deck), Club Lounge, Library/Internet Corner, Visionary Atrium Lobby, Hair Salon, and Fitness Center. The Sun Deck features the Sky Lounge & Bar, Sky Bistro, shaded seating areas, and a deck games zone.

Avalon Visionary cruise fares include Wi-Fi, room service, guided land tours and excursions (led by certified local guides), port taxes, flights, motorcoach transfers, live evening entertainment (featuring local performers), enrichment lectures, ship tours (“behind-the-scenes”), food and wine tastings, and 24-hour access to premium coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, along with daily replenished bottled water.

Prices for Avalon Visionary cruises are per person, based on double occupancy. These are indicative rates and may vary depending on booking time, special promotions, travel agency discounts, group bookings, or last-minute deals. Avalon Waterways also offers USA flights-inclusive packages with discounted airfare and complimentary airport transfers.

River Cruise Itineraries

Below is the list of Avalon Visionary itineraries as officially announced by Avalon Waterways:

(12-night cruise) “The Rhine and Moselle” – 13-day voyages from Zurich to Amsterdam (Northbound, code WZRA), and the reverse from Amsterdam to Basel (Southbound, code WARZ).

(7-night cruise) “Canals, Vineyards, and Paris” – 10-day voyages from Paris to Amsterdam (Northbound, code WRA), and the reverse from Amsterdam to Paris (Southbound, code WAR). Cruises from Amsterdam end in Remich, followed by bus transfer to Luxembourg or Metz and high-speed train to Paris (includes a 1-night luxury hotel stay). “Cruise-Only” options are available from Remich to Amsterdam (code WRA0) and vice versa (code WARO).

(7-night cruise) “Central European Experience” – 12-day voyages from Paris to Prague (Eastbound, code WRN), and reverse from Prague to Paris (Westbound, code WNR). Eastbound includes a 1-night hotel stay in Paris, TGV train to Metz or Luxembourg, bus transfer to Remich (embarkation), cruise to Nuremberg, and bus transfer to Prague. Westbound includes bus transfer from Prague to Nuremberg (embarkation), cruise to Remich, followed by bus and train travel to Paris (2-night hotel stay). “Cruise-Only” options: Remich to Nuremberg (code WRNO), and reverse (code WNRO).

(7-night cruise) “Jewels of Central Europe” – 17-day voyages from Paris to Budapest (Eastbound, code WRB), and 19-day reverse from Budapest to Paris (Westbound, code WBR). “Cruise-Only” options: Remich to Budapest (code WRBO) and reverse (code WBRO).

(7-night cruise) “Magnificent Europe” – 15-day voyages from Amsterdam to Budapest (Eastbound, code WAB), and the reverse from Budapest to Amsterdam (Westbound, code WBA).

(7-night cruise) “The Blue Danube Discovery” – 13-day voyages from Budapest to Prague (Nuremberg disembarkation, Westbound, code WBN). The reverse itinerary is titled “The Legendary Danube” – 11-day voyages from Prague to Budapest (Eastbound, code WNB, embarkation in Nuremberg). “Cruise-Only” options: Nuremberg to Budapest (code WNBO) and reverse (code WBNO).

The Avalon Visionary boat is the third vessel in Avalon Waterways' "Suite Ship" class. Among her standout features are two full decks of Suite cabins—each with wall-to-wall sliding glass doors and a French Balcony—and spacious, diverse public areas fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows throughout.

Each Avalon Waterways "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 ship features a diesel-electric propulsion system, including a bow-mounted azimuth thruster and a "Silent Drive System," which isolates the engine room from the passenger staterooms to reduce noise and vibration.

The Avalon Visionary was launched on May 11, 2012. Her christening took place in Enkhuizen, Holland, and was officiated by Mrs. Nicole Mazza, Chief Marketing Officer for TRAVELSAVERS—a global network of independent full-service travel agencies. The ceremony was a double christening, shared with sistership Avalon Vista, marking the first such event in the company's history.

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