AVALON WATERWAYS CHRISTENS THE AVALON LUMINARY:

THE COMPANY’S 10^th SHIP IN EUROPE IN SIX YEARS

LITTLETON, Colorado – August 2, 2010 – On Friday, Avalon Waterways unveiled and christened the Avalon Luminary in Hoorn, a Netherlands fishing village.  Kristi Jones, president of Virtuoso, a worldwide network of upscale travel agencies, served as the ship’s godmother.

Jones blessed the ship on July 30 with the following words, “May all who sail upon these rivers be transformed by the meeting of water, sky and history.  May this vessel reflect the joy of travelers sharing a timeless journey.  For the song of the river ends not at her banks but in the hearts of those who have traveled her.  I christen this ship Avalon Luminary.  May God bless her captain and crew and keep them safe.  May the heavens smile upon all who sail with her.  May she always enjoy clear skies and calm waters.”

After reciting the christening speech, Jones cut the rope tethered to a bottle of Champagne.  The Avalon Luminary’s 39 crew members cheered from the ship’s sky deck as the bottle shattered against the vessel’s newly painted exterior.  Also in attendance were Dr. Thomas Ritter CEO of Seehandlung, the financing company for the Avalon Luminary, the ship’s captain Michael Hoffman, as well as Patrick Clark and Burghart Lell of Avalon Waterways.

The Avalon Luminary marks the company’s tenth new ship in Europe since 2004.  Post-christening, the new vessel set sail on its sold-out inaugural Romantic Rhine cruise.   This year, the Luminary will also sail Avalon’s holiday cruises: Christmas in the Heart of Germany, Christmastime in Germany & Austria and Christmastime on the Danube.  Ninety-two (92) percent of the new ship’s berths have been filled through the end of the year.

In 2011, the Avalon Luminary will sail more than 10 European itineraries, including: Tulip Time Cruise, Central European Experience, Magnificent Europe, The Blue Danube Discovery, The Legendary Danube, Windmills, Vineyards & Paris and a wine-themed cruise on the Rhine and Moselle rivers.

The Avalon Luminary

Arriving from the Den Breejen Shipyard in Holland, the delivery of the Avalon Luminary – setting sail less than 15 months after the inaugural cruises of sister ships the Avalon Felicity (May 2010), Avalon Creativity (August 2009) and Avalon Affinity (May 2009) – once again underscores Avalon Waterways’ position as the fastest-growing river cruise company in the world, offering travelers the youngest fleet of ships in Europe.

Year after year, thanks to the continuous feedback and encouragement of our travelers, Cruise Directors and travel agent partners, Avalon Waterways has unveiled new ships, amenities and experiences that set the standard in river cruising.

“Inspired by design, our ships are crafted to entice all five senses,” said Patrick Clark, managing director of Avalon Waterways.  “Some enhancements, including deluxe woven carpeting, bathrobes and slippers and premium L’Occitane products in our staterooms are subtle.  Other offerings, such as Avalon-branded premium bedding, large staterooms and a perfect balance of warm interiors with natural lighting and panoramic views are distinctive and unexpected.  Combined, all elements provide travelers with a unique feeling of space, freedom and comfort not found with any other cruise line.”

A modern ship for today’s cruiser, the Avalon Luminary features 65 staterooms and four Junior Suites.  Like the rest of Avalon’s European fleet, the ship’s staterooms measure 172-square feet – the largest on Europe’s rivers – and 90 percent boast floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic sliding glass doors.  The Luminary’s Junior Suites are a spacious 258-square feet. 

Other amenities and features on the Luminary include: Flat screen televisions, modern bathrooms, large closets, Comfort Collection by Avalon premium bed suite, mini-bar, safe, laundry and ironing services, a fully equipped fitness room, library, hair salon and gift shop, as well as a club lounge and Jacuzzi pool on the Sky Deck.  Open-air dining is also available at lunch each day on this new ship, thanks to the Luminary’s Sky Deck grill.

Visit www.avalonwaterways.com/difference to get a virtual tour, complete with 360-degree views, of the Avalon Luminary’s sister ship, the Avalon Scenery. 

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About Kristi Jones

As the President of Virtuoso, Kristi Jones oversees the upscale travel agency network’s national team of executive vice presidents, who in turn manage Virtuoso’s corporate offices in Fort Worth, Seattle and New York.  Before assuming the role of president and directing all the company’s operations, Jones developed Virtuoso’s consumer publications, direct mail campaigns, Web site and Internet marketing initiatives, advertising and public relations. She also directed the creation of Virtuoso’s international division, now encompassing South America, Australia and New Zealand.  After joining Virtuoso in 1988, the former publisher of Club Corp’s Private Clubs magazine created Virtuoso’s first flagship consumer publication, Voyage, the first consumer travel publication dedicated to the promotion of travel offers personalized with the identities of individual member travel agencies and consultants. Since then, Jones has added six titles to the company’s publishing roster – each directed to a specific client segment in Virtuoso’s database.  Jones has received Travel Agent Magazine’s “Most Powerful Women In Travel” appointment for four consecutive years, 1999-2002. 

About Avalon Waterways

Award-winning Avalon Waterways offers travelers the youngest, most innovative fleet of ships in Europe, China, Egypt and the Galápagos.  Our travelers have inspired us to utilize more than 80 years of travel expertise to design the best river cruise experience possible.  We’ve taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better—down to the last detail.  Our views are panoramic and spaces large and inviting; comfort is king and dining both personal and flexible.  And, thanks to our partnership with Globus, our itineraries are legendary.  By design, Avalon cruisers are privy to all-inclusive access to a destination, including guided sightseeing in every port, VIP entry into key destinations and unparalleled cultural immersion and storytelling thanks to highly skilled Cruise and Tour Directors.  In addition to countless trade accolades, Avalon Waterways has garnered some of the industry's most prestigious honors: Among them, the river cruise company was voted the No. 2 Best River Cruise Line in Travel + Leisure’s 2010 World’s Best Awards, chosen as the “Best Value in River Cruising” by Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel and featured in Condé Nast Traveler's 2009 Gold List.   Avalon Waterways is part of the Globus family of brands.

Consumers can book an Avalon Waterways vacation or request brochures by visiting a preferred travel agent or by calling the following toll free number: 1.877.380.1535.  For more information, please visit www.avalonwaterways.com.  Travel agents can request Avalon Waterways brochures by calling toll free 1.800.221.0090 or visiting www.globusfamilypartner.com.