Avalon Waterways remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence, continually expanding its global reach. Varesh Chopra, Managing Director, Avalon Waterways, South Asia and the Middle East, offers key insights into what distinguishes Avalon in the river cruising industry. His perspectives highlight Avalon’s unique approach to river cruising and its strategic focus on strengthening its presence in the dynamic Indian market and beyond.
Avalon Waterways offers exceptional river cruises with unique and innovative features like the large ‘Panorama Suites’, ‘Open-Air Balcony’, and ‘Comfort Collection Beds’ with sweeping views. Avalon Waterways’ commitment to customer preferences includes increased health-focused and sustainability efforts while sailing across the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.
Revolutionising River Cruising
Avalon Waterways has established a strong reputation for pioneering the concept of ‘Relaxed Luxury,’ rooted in the customer-focused and high-quality standards of its family-owned business. This commitment to excellence is consistently reflected in both their onboard services and on-the-land experiences. Varesh further explains how Avalon has perfectly balanced the physical aspects of their ships with the exceptional service provided by their crew. “Just like any other travel experience, there is always the hardware (as in our case, our ships and their features) and the software (our excellent crew and service staff) on board. Around 20 years ago, when we entered the river cruise space brimming with aging ships and outdated experiences, we were determined to infuse fresh perspectives into this unique style of discovering destinations, and we did just that. Avalon has now brought in the most modern fleet of ships, including their award-winning Suite Ships. These innovations have positioned our river cruising concept as unparalleled and difficult to surpass in the industry.”
Delivering Unmatched Luxury
Varesh also highlights the specific features and amenities of Avalon Waterways ships that travellers find most impressive. “Our die-hard cruisers (a fast-growing tribe) find the on-board ambiance fresh and inviting, contemporary and classy, and akin to a boutique hotel-inspired luxury experience. This is accomplished through our young and modern fleet, thoughtful public spaces, as well as the design of the suites—not to mention the views and vistas we allow them to savour from the comfort of their private spaces.
Avalon deliberately builds a lesser number of suites in the same space that others pack in more, and that allows for a more spacious stateroom and a larger bathroom for the guests. Varesh exclaims, “Guests love it. This leads to more space and more relaxation as there are fewer people on board and a more indulgent experience.”
There is a strong sense of pride and confidence when Varesh further mentions, “Our cruisers are always choosers, as we offer ‘Flexible Dining’ options on board, both in terms of timings and dining venues. The food is always fresh and gourmet, prepared by a highly experienced F&B team. There are multiple choices for included sightseeing excursions that suit different tastes, as well as our now-so-popular ‘Active & Discovery’ sailings that offer even more of the active and fun quotient to adventurous guests on board.”
Expanding Global Appeal
Avalon Waterways caters to the diverse needs and expectations of travellers from different regions. Speaking of India and the South Asia market, Varesh explains, “With our rising popularity in this region, we have made a deliberate effort to include more South Asian and Asian crew members on board, who bring a deep understanding of our travellers’ unique needs and preferences. Their insight has been invaluable, helping us provide tailored solutions that resonate with our guests. This approach has successfully attracted not just FITs but also groups, making Avalon Waterways the preferred choice for those seeking to sail, explore, and celebrate together.”
The Rhine, the Danube, and the newly introduced Douro are the most popular among Avalon’s European River selections. On the other side of the globe, Galapagos, Irrawaddy, and the Nile are favourites, too, with discerning guests. Avalon Waterways previously offered river cruises on the Ganges. On this, Varesh especially mentions, “Our Ganges cruises were not in operation for the 2024 sailing season. We are looking forward to the right opportunity and timing to restart, as, post-pandemic, we re-prioritised our plans for the entire portfolio of rivers. Of late, the Indian authorities have been talking a lot about boosting and supporting the river cruising potential on the Indian rivers, and we are currently tuned in to the developments very keenly.”
Pioneering Sustainability
When it comes to river cruising, it is crucial to deploy the “right products” while ensuring that the river ecosystem is always protected. Avalon is charting an ambitious course towards zero emissions and sustainability in every aspect of cruising. Their state-of-the-art fleet of ‘Suite Ships’ and top-of-the-line technology limit energy consumption and emissions. Avalon’s waste and recycling programmes reduce the environmental footprint, save water, and foster a sustainability culture among crew and guests worldwide. “This is just the beginning of what we have planned to protect our planet,” assures Varesh.
India Inclined
Avalon Waterways recently hosted a River Cruise Symposium and a weeklong FAM trip on the River Danube for Indian trade, signifying the importance of the Indian market. For the River Cruise Symposium, they specially flew in a professional and senior Cruise Director who took care of their guests while they cruised on any of the rivers from our European portfolio. Varesh optimistically says, “There cannot be anything better than this—you hear directly from the GM of the ship services, and you do not need any more convincing. This also provides the Cruise Directors an opportunity to understand and appreciate our marker requirements even better and convey the same to our central cruise operations. The three days spent together yielded valuable insights that will significantly enhance the growth of the river cruising market.”
For those who have the opportunity to sail with Avalon Waterways, experiencing it firsthand truly makes all the difference. Varesh emphasises, “Seeing is always believing! Getting aboard Avalon Waterways isn’t a far-fetched dream for any of our supporting agents. The entitlement levels to the FAMs are very exciting and easy. One gets to witness a completely new style of travelling and discover unseen destinations, and that too with the best brand experience on the rivers. It cannot get better than this.”
