River Cruise Newsletter

Dear Reader,

Avalon Waterways, part of the Globus family of brands, has just released its 2010 river cruise itineraries, and with them, some excellent early booking specials.

First, Vacations To Go customers can save $1,000 per couple ($500 per person) off the air-inclusive price, or $500 per couple ($250 per person) off the cruise-only price of certain 2010 itineraries in Europe. Book by September 1, click here for dates and prices.

Save $600 per couple ($300 per person) off the air-inclusive price, or $300 per couple ($150 per person) off the cruise-only price of select 2010 river and small-ship cruises worldwide. Book by September 1, click here for dates and prices.

For a complete list of Avalon's 2010 cruises, click here.

Among Avalon's offerings for 2010 are five brand-new itineraries. Below are a few highlights that you'd see along each route.

A Taste of the Danube -- This 5-day mini-cruise gives travelers a glimpse of the charm and excitement found along the Danube River. The cruise begins in Vienna, Austria and ends in Budapest, Hungary, visiting Melk and Durnstein, both in Austria, along the way.

Paris to Normandy's Landing Beaches -- Beginning and ending in Paris, this 9-day trip takes travelers along the Seine River to towns that inspired artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. From Rouen, take an included excursion to the historic landing beaches of Normandy and other important World War II sites.

Christmastime in Germany & Austria -- Visit some of the largest and oldest Christmas markets in Europe on this 13-day trip. Twinkling lights, hearty foods, sweet treats and handmade Christmas decorations are all part of the festive atmosphere in towns like Nuremburg, Munich and Vienna. You can cruise from Frankfurt to Vienna or the reverse.

Castles on the Rhine to the City of Music -- Beginning in Zurich, Switzerland and ending in Vienna, Austria, this 14-day cruise takes passengers to picturesque villages and towns along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Visits to the La Petite France district in Strasbourg, the ruins of Heidelberg Castle and the Benedictine Abbey in Melk are among the highlights of this trip.

Grand France -- This 17-day trip combines two cruises, one along the Seine River in northern France and one along the Saone and Rhone rivers in central and southern France. Beginning in Paris and ending in Cote d'Azur (or reverse), this itinerary allows travelers to experience a variety of landscapes and cuisines.

Avalon will also debut two brand-new ships in 2010 -- Avalon Felicity and Avalon Luminary. Each vessel will accommodate up to 138 passengers, making them the smallest in the Avalon fleet. Staterooms will be spacious and comfortable -- no stateroom will measure less than 172 square feet, and each will feature river views, many with French balconies. Other in-room amenities include large closets, flat-screen satellite televisions, European-style duvets and Egyptian cotton linens. A whirlpool, fitness center, hair salon, Wi-Fi and elevator are also highlights on these vessels.

Finally, if you're hoping to travel this year, here are some specials still available for 2009 sailings. Click any link below for details.

Save $2,000 per couple ($1,000 per person) off select fall river cruises when you book by September 29. Click here for eligible trips.

Save $1,000 per couple ($500 per person) off select Christmas markets sailings when you book by September 29. Click here for eligible trips.

Save 50% off airfare on select European river cruises when you book by August 4. Click here for a list of trips that qualify.

Here are this week's Top 10 Avalon river and small-ship cruises. All prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability.

1) Tulip Time Cruise 2010, 9 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins and ends in Amsterdam with stops in Antwerp, Ghent and Rotterdam. Save $1,000 per couple off the air-inclusive price or $500 per couple off the cruise-only price. Land/cruise-only starting from $1,649. Departures from March 27, 2010 through April 17, 2010. Book now!

2) Romantic Rhine 2010 (Zurich to Amsterdam), 9 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins in Zurich and ends in Amsterdam with stops in Strasbourg, Rudesheim and Cologne. Save $1,000 per couple off the air-inclusive price or $500 per couple off the cruise-only price. Land/cruise-only starting from $1,949. Departures from April 10, 2010 through October 16, 2010. Book now!

3) Egyptian Splendor 2010, 10 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins and ends in Cairo with stops in Aswan, Edfu and Luxor. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price, or $300 per couple off the cruise-only price. Land/cruise-only starting from $2,161. Departures from January 1, 2010 through December 24, 2010. Book now!

4) Burgundy & Provence 2010 (Côte d'Azur to Paris), 12 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins in Cote d'Azur and ends in Paris with stops in Arles, Avignon and Lyon. Save $1,000 per couple off the air-inclusive price or $500 per couple off the cruise-only price. Land/cruise-only starting from $2,969. Departures from April 11, 2010 through October 24, 2010. Book now!

5) The Blue Danube Discovery 2010 (Budapest to Prague), 14 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins in Budapest and ends in Prague with stops in Vienna, Passau and Nuremberg. Save $1,000 per couple off the air-inclusive price or $500 per couple off the cruise-only price. Land/cruise-only starting from $3,039. Departures from April 4, 2010 through October 24, 2010. Book now!

6) Magnificent Europe 2010 (Amsterdam to Budapest), 16 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins in Amsterdam and ends in Budapest with stops in Cologne, Wurzburg and Nuremberg. Save $1,000 per couple off the air-inclusive price or $500 per couple off the cruise-only price. Land/cruise-only starting from $3,199. Departures from March 27, 2010 through October 16, 2010. Book now!

7) Blue Danube To The Black Sea 2010 (Vienna to Bucharest), 14 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins in Vienna and ends in Bucharest with stops in Kalocsa, Belgrade and Veliko Tarnovo. Save $1,000 per couple off the air-inclusive price or $500 per couple off the cruise-only price. Land/cruise-only starting from $3,539. Departures from May 25, 2010 through September 28, 2010. Book now!

8) Windmill, Vineyards & Paris 2010 (Amsterdam to Paris), 15 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins in Amsterdam and ends in Paris with stops in Gouda, Antwerp and Bernkastel. Save $1,000 per couple off the air-inclusive price or $500 per couple off the cruise-only price. Land/cruise-only starting from $3,739. Departures from April 10, 2010 through September 25, 2010. Book now!

9) Discover The Galapagos & Peru 2010, 14 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins in Lima and ends in Quito with visits to Machu Picchu, Otavalo and San Cristobal Island. Save $600 per couple off the air-inclusive price or $300 per couple off the cruise-only price. Land/cruise-only starting from $4,969. Departures from January 6, 2010 through December 1, 2010. Book now!

10) Jewels Of Central Europe 2010 (Budapest to Paris), 20 days with Avalon Waterways. Begins in Budapest and ends in Paris with stops in Vienna, Regensburg and Bamberg. Save $1,000 per couple off the air-inclusive price or $500 per couple off the cruise-only price. Land/cruise-only starting from $5,449. Departures from May 20, 2010 through September 23, 2010. Book now!

Pacific NW River Cruises (includes Columbia River)

International River Cruises

European River Cruises
Amazon River Cruises
Nile River Cruises
Yangtze River Cruises
Russia River Cruises

Once you've found a river cruise that interests you, call us toll free at 800-510-4002 (US and Canada) and a river cruise specialist will attend to your needs. Customers from the UK, please call toll free 0800 279 8084. All other international customers, please e-mail or call us at +1-713-974-2121.

To search for a river cruise anywhere in the world, click here. To see our worldwide listing of escorted tours, independent tour packages, train tours and safaris, click here. For hotels and resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Europe, Canada and the continental US, click here. For savings of up to 75% on ocean-going cruises, click here.

Please e-mail me your comments, suggestions and questions at alanfox@rivercruise.com and I will respond the same day.

To send one sample copy of this newsletter to a friend, click here.

Sincerely,

R. Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO