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Where the Best View is Also the Best-Rated.

Avalon Waterways doesn’t just win awards – we define what award-winning means. With Suite Ships featuring two full decks of Panorama Suites that feature the widest-opening windows in river cruising and beds that face the view, it’s no wonder Cruise Critic named us #1 for Cabins and cruisers voted us the #1 River Cruise Line. We aren’t settling for better. We’re reimagining what it means to be the best.

    Cruise Critic

    Cruise Critic serves the largest cruise community in the world with an audience of over six million travel enthusiasts. From its annual Editors’ Pick, Best in Class, and Cruisers’ Choice awards, Cruise Critic has consistently recognised Avalon's elevated river cruise experiences for more than a decade!  

    • #1 Top Cruisers’ Choice Cruise Line (River Category) (2024)
    • Best Cabins (River Category) (2024)
    • #1 Best River Cruise Line by Cruisers (2024)
    • Top-Rated River Cruise Line by Cruisers (2023)
    • Editor’s Pick Best Cabins in River Cruising (2024 and 2023)
    • Editors’ Pick Best for Solo Travelers in River Cruising (2024)
    • Editors’ Pick Best Shore Excursions

    Condé Nast Traveler

    As part of the global media company reaching millions of enthusiast readers, Condé Nast Traveler has earned 25 National Magazine Awards as a trusted and authoritative source for those seeking travel excellence. The revered luxury lifestyle magazine has recognized Avalon Waterways for excellence as well! 

    • Top 10 Best River Cruise Lines

    USA Today Readers’ Choice 

    Each year, USA Today invites its readers to vote on their best travel experiences. Being recognized by travelers is a true honor, as we consider our guests to be the best judge of the excellence we strive for on every Globus tour and Avalon cruise.

    • No. 1 Best River Cruise Line (2025)
    • No. 1 Best River Cruise Ship (2025)

    Travel + Leisure World’s Best

    Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards are considered the travel industry’s most trusted rankings thanks to hundreds of thousands of votes cast by insightful readers with shout-outs to their best recent travel experiences.

    • Top 5 World’s Best Readers’ Survey River Cruises (2024)
    • Top 10 World’s Best Readers’ Survey River Cruises (2024)
    • Top 10 Small-Ship Cruise Line
    • Top River Cruising for Families
    • Best River Cruise Line - Asia Pacific

    Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended

    Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended

    Since December 2018, we've been endorsed by the Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended logo for our Panorama Suites. With over 90 years of knowledge, research and know-how, Good Housekeeping magazine informs family life and is respected as the unrivalled, credible authority on food, beauty, fashion, home and health. From Good Housekeeping's reader panel, 150 readers, surveyed in 2023, recommended Avalon for its panoramic views.

    Out of the 150 readers surveyed:

    • 95% would recommend Avalon Waterways to friends and family
    • 91% would happily travel with Avalon again
    • 91% said the bed was comfortable

    Feedback included:

    • "Helpful and friendly staff with everything from boarding to entertainment to facilities"
    • "High-quality dining experiences featuring locally inspired cuisine and a variety of culinary options, catering to diverse tastes"
    • “I was surprised by the amount of room there was to put everything away, so the room wasn't cluttered. The room was serviced very regularly so like staying in a five-star hotel.  It was great so wake up to a different view each day”
    • “I would recommend Avalon Waterways to my friends and family. It was an amazing time, and I will be looking to book again in the future”

    Wave Awards

    2022 - Favourite River Cruise Line -Shortlisted

    2022 - Favourite River Cruise Line - Finalist

    2021 - Best River Cruise Line - Winner

    2021 - CTN Best Companies - Winner

    2019 - Best River Cruise Line - Winner

    2018 - Best River Cruise Line - Winner

    2018 - Best Transfer Service - Highly Commended, for our Home Pick Up Service

    2017 - Best Transfer Service - Winner, for our Home Pick Up Service

    2017 - Best River Cruise Line - Highly Commended

In Good Company

The Globus family of brands is a proud member of the following associations.