Cruise Planners attends Christening of Avalon Envision by Godmother, Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love in Budapest

From All-inclusive River Cruising to Custom Land Experiences—Avalon Has All Travel Styles Covered

“Never is it more important to travel. I have traveled my entire life,” says Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, and Godmother of the Avalon Envision. “I have never been afraid of the world, but I am afraid of people who are afraid of the world. And if you are a traveler, you are not afraid of the world, which means you are my kind of people.”

No better person to bestow the honorific title of Ship Godmother than someone as passionate toward travel as Gilbert.

In the Spring of 2019, Caitlin Gardner, Cruise Planners Director of Corporate Communications and Digital Strategy, set sail in Europe on Avalon’s newest ship, the Avalon Envision. From customizable excursions to head-turning views flowing about the ship, this river cruise is anything but average.

Greeted with the Essence of Avalon's Legacy of Experience

Welcomed with crisp air and calm skies, Caitlin along with her mother, Liz Murphy, met with their host Kristen Steele, Director of Key Partners with Globus Family of Brands, where they were escorted to the port. Boarding the river cruise, immediate ease surrounded the vessel, and guests were gracefully welcomed with bubbling flutes of champagne. The group of travel industry insiders proceeded eagerly into the lobby. Every direction eyes were drawn to the awe-inspiring panoramic windows filling the space with light and a multitude of the historic hues of Budapest’s architecture. By day they toured the ship, by night they sailed through the Danube River, admiring the remarkable historic buildings passing by. Steele was an excellent and knowledgeable host—giving a 360° tour of Budapest by river cruise, land and bike– she presented the endless possibilities to see Budapest with Avalon. Bicycling is yet another fun perspective to enjoy the city, one of the active excursion options. Whether you prefer walking or biking tours, Avalon is ready to encapsulate your best traveling experience. Caitlin found the best way to see the city was via bike tour – it allowed them to cover more grounds in a reasonable time frame.  

Impeccable Suite Features & Interactive Onboard Activities  

The list of activities and features onboard are limitless – an activity designed for every personality type. Avalon believes no two travelers are alike—so why should everyone be expected to enjoy the same things? Avalon Choice℠ makes it possible for travelers to explore each port according to what intrigues them most. The three choices are designed to experience your cruise your way; Classic, Discovery, and Active. The Classic option offers a local expert ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations and the “must-see” sites. Discovery suggests inspiring and interactive hands-on activities designed to speak to your interests — spend your day immersing yourself in the destination’s unique culture. Active, boasts energetic excursions keeping you in motion and on the go — from a guided jogging tour, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales. Although each option offers selections of excursions each — clients are free to personalize their experience as much or as little as they desire.  

Envisions’ suites offer the ultimate customization. Commitment to contemporary design blended with comfort and luxury on the youngest ship in the fleet totally encapsulates Avalon’s legacy of experience. The 200-square-foot Panorama Suites are more than 30% larger than the industry standard, with Avalon's incomparable window-facing "Beds with a View." Avalon realizes beds are not one-size-fits-all which is why cruisers have a choice of pillows, orthopedic mattresses, high-comfort mattress covers, European-style duvets, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, extra blankets, and bed configuration options. For some guests, comfort comes in the form of connection, which is why Avalon provides free Wi-Fi fleetwide. From fully custom beds to a flat-screen satellite TV, guests enjoy the home-away-from-home feeling throughout their vacation.  

Avalon Envisions’ Infinite Views 

The architecture of the Envision is clearly well thought out and is nothing short of perfection. The main element Avalon pays special attention to is 360° views all throughout the ship. The suites are suitably named the Panorama Suites, featuring wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that transform your living space into a unique open-air balcony. This unique feature offers passengers to seamlessly turn their Suite into an entire balcony-like space blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors. Whether passengers want to enjoy the landscape from the outside viewing sky deck or within the comfort of their bed in their personal suite – they won’t miss out on any of the Danube River’s marvels.  

The main deck offers well-rounded views for everyone to enjoy. Even if a guest opts for a classic stateroom, they have plenty of access to magical panoramic views throughout their vacation. The ship includes enjoyable great spaces such as the Sky Grill, Sky Lounge, Observation Lounge, Panorama Bistro, Panorama Lounge offering extraordinary views wherever they decide to stay.  

A Christening to Remember 

As a passionate advocate of traveling, leaving your comfort zone and meeting new people, which is a popular theme in her famous book Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert embodied an ideal river cruise godmother. Her voyage of self-discovery – and wanderlust inspired her to take risks and travel the world. It’s no surprise that Gilbert gracefully took on the honor to Christen the ship and offer good luck and protection to the Envision for years to come. “I am greedy for experiences and time and flexibility,” Gilbert said, as she christened the Avalon Envision. Avalon and the river cruise experience allows for all travelers to be “greedy.” It was an honor for Cruise Planners to attend and celebrate this memorable Christening and to meet Gilbert personally, following her charming speech. Looking forward, Avalon’s Envision will embark on a series of Danube cruises with itineraries beginning, or ending, in Budapest.  

Charting Your Course with Astounding Avalon Excursions  

Along with Avalon Choice℠, travelers can experience each destination in the style and pace that’s best for them. Aboard the Envision are experts ready to take you on an adventure through your next destination. Naturalists, Cruise Directors, onboard guest lecturers, and local guides bring each destination to life. Avalon’s expertise in each location is backed by the award-winning tour leader, Globus—with more than 90 years of experience in showing the world to world travelers. Rest assured, travelers will enjoy their experience at their own pace, learning what they desire and doing whatever they please. Caitlin and her mom had the opportunity to visit historic landmarks, the Castle and a Church Tour as well as blooming gardens throughout Budapest. 

Sailing on the Envision with Pam Hoffee, COO of Globus family of brands & Managing Director at Avalon Waterways.  

Why you should book with a Cruise Planners travel advisor. 

Cruise Planners sat down with Pam Hoffee, COO of Globus family of brands & Managing Director at Avalon Waterways, talking about why clients should book with a Cruise Planners travel advisor.  

Cruise Planners’ Impression of the Avalon Envision Experience 

From the moment we set foot aboard to every port we visited; our experience was uniquely delightful. Avalon Waterways are experts in the all-inclusive river cruise industry—and they fully deserve that earned recognition. The attention to detail onboard the ship as well as the passengers' experience reveals that no aspect is overlooked. Their 100% customizable experience is definitely something we cheer on. With the ever-evolving industry, the Envision is atop the pedestal. We know our franchise owner’s clients will genuinely love their experience as will the advisors themselves.  

Let Cruise Planners help you plan your next vacation aboard the Avalon Envision