AVALON Waterways is continuing to compete in an increasingly tight river cruise market by making marginal gains in areas such as onboard environment and ship design, the line’s president Pam Hoffee revealed to Cruise Weekly. Since introducing its current generation of ‘Suite Ships’ in 2011, Avalon has chosen to tweak...
AVALON Waterways is continuing to compete in an increasingly tight river cruise market by making marginal gains in areas such as onboard environment and ship design, the line’s president Pam Hoffee revealed to Cruise Weekly.
Since introducing its current generation of ‘Suite Ships’ in 2011, Avalon has chosen to tweak its design rather than innovate wholesale, Hoffee explained.
One of these changes – removing the pianist from their ships’ lounges – was brought about by the Australian office, in an effort to reinvigorate the demographic on board.
“They said ‘they kind of drive people out of the lounge more than bring them in’, and that it was a very old-fashioned type of environment to have,” the Avalon head explained.
“We made the decision to be bold – let’s not have something that every other river cruise line has,” Hoffee said.
This has been swapped out for once-per-week entertainment brought in from one of the ports the ship has visited.
Avalon’s Suite Ship also introduced the open-air balcony concept: a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling window that slides open to turn the entire stateroom into a balcony.
“Not having an exterior balcony is another example of a bold decision that was a concern when we did it,” Hoffee explained.
“It’s a compromise to have that extra balcony, you’re taking interior space from the room, so we came up with this other design that allows you to create a balcony when you want it.” MS
Pictured: Avalon Envision.
