AVALON WATERWAYS CHRISTENS TWO SUITE SHIPS IN DUAL CEREMONY
On Friday, May 11, 2012, Avalon Waterways unveiled and christened not one, but two Suite Ships in Enkhuizen, Holland. Canadian travel industry insider Vanessa Lee acted as godmother to the Avalon Vista, while TRAVELSAVERS’ Nicole Mazza served as the godmother of the Avalon Visionary.
Docked parallel to one another on either side of a beautiful pier in the charming town of Enkhuizen, the christening was witnessed by 150 guests from Canada, the US, Australia and England, as well as local dignitaries and Avalon executives. The event marked the first time that Avalon has celebrated a double christening. The order of this dual christening was determined by coin toss, with the Avalon Visionary winning the honour of leading the ceremony.
Nicole Mazza addressed the crowd first to bless the Avalon Visionary. In her blessing, she said,“May all who sail this new vessel find joy and enrichment on board. May the rivers rise to meet the sky and carry all in comfort and ease. May gentle breezes flow across her bow as she sails the great rivers of Europe. I christen you Avalon Visionary. May God bless you, your passengers and your crew. May there always be a swift current beneath your hull to guide you safely with beauty and grace.”
The Avalon Vista christening followed, with Vanessa Lee saying: “ As we christen this ship, I trust that she will be guided by strong and worthy hands and the steadfast knowledge and skill of her Captain and crew. I hope she will be a true vessel of encouragement and promote harmony, understanding, grace and camaraderie, thereby enriching the lives of those who sail with her. May the men and women who conceived of her, built her and those to whom she is now entrusted be recognized for their work and inspire others. And may she stay on the truest of courses, sail safely to each of her destinations and always be a stellar presence on the rivers of Europe. I name this ship Avalon Vista. May God bless and protect her and all who sail in her for ever more.”
After giving their respective speeches, Lee and Mazza each swung the ropes tethered to bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne while more than 150 guests– including Enkhuizen’s proud Mayor Baas and Visionary and Vista Captains Laskovich and Schoustra ― watched them shatter against the newly-painted exteriors of each vessel.
After the christening, guests were invited aboard the Avalon Vista for a Champagne reception with entertainment from de Swingers and a five-course Captain’s dinner. They were then invited onto two decks of the Avalon Visionary for five elaborate dessert spreads, ranging from cheese and wine offerings and homemade ice cream to such indulgences as chocolate mousse, tiramisu and crème brûlée. An impressive 15-minute fireworks celebration followed, culminating in a sparkling display that featured the names of both ships. The evening ended late with guests dancing to two bands – Back in the Groove and Tanya’s Chill – on board both ships, still docked side-by-side.
The Avalon Visionary and Avalon Vista mark the company’s second and third Suite Ships to be delivered in just 12 months. Post-christening, the Avalon Visionary will introduce Panorama Suites to the Rhine River in 2012, sailing the 8-day Romantic Rhine cruise as well as several Christmastime cruises. The Avalon Vista will sail the 11-day Legendary Danube cruise and 13-day Blue Danube Discovery, as well as the 15-day Magnificent Europe vacation.
For more information, visit www.avalonwaterways.ca, or call 1-800-268-3636.
MORE ABOUT THE SUITE SHIPS
“With two full decks of suites, nothing showcases the best of river cruising like our Suite Ships,” said Patrick Clark managing director of Avalon Waterways. “Each Suite has been thoughtfully designed to enhance the European cruise experience. From bed and bathroom positioning to storage and sound-proof insulation, we provide cruisers a renewed feeling of freedom, space and comfort not found with other cruise lines.”
The suites on these ships feature a seating area adjacent to a Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window. When opened, this 10’ x 7’ floor-to-ceiling window transforms the entire suite into the category’s only Open-Air BalconySM. With a focus on bringing the beauty of Europe inside, Avalon’s Open-Air Balconies can be enjoyed any hour of the day, all year, adding comfort to the overall guest experience.
Inspired by design, every element of Avalon’s on board experience was crafted to entice the five senses. Some enhancements, including flowers in each stateroom and premium L’Occitane products and fragrant sticks are subtle. Other offerings, such as marble bathrooms, Avalon-branded deluxe bedding (Comfort Collection by AvalonSM) and the perfect balance of warm interiors and natural lighting are distinct and unexpected.
Mirroring the on board cruise experience found on all of Avalon’s ships, the Suite Ships also feature a club, main lounge and dining room with sweeping views, hair salon, Sky Deck fun pool and Open-Air Bistro for outdoor, grilled
lunches. In addition, the fitness rooms aboard the Panorama, Visionary and Vista are more expansive, featuring additional equipment and room to renew.
“Like the very rivers we travel, Avalon is continually moving forward, making improvements and embracing the world beyond,” said Clark. “And it’s this approach – our drive to exceed guest expectations by pushing the boundaries of the river cruise experience – that makes us not only the most contemporary cruise line on Europe’s waters, but also the most consistent.”
ABOUT AVALON WATERWAYS
Award-winning Avalon Waterways offers travellers the youngest, most innovative fleet of ships in Europe, China, Egypt and the Galápagos. Our travellers 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 honours. Among them, the river cruise company was voted the No. 2 Best Small-Ship Cruise Line in Travel + Leisure’s 2009 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.
Docked parallel to one another on either side of a beautiful pier in the charming town of Enkhuizen, the christening was witnessed by 150 guests from Canada, the US, Australia and England, as well as local dignitaries and Avalon executives. The event marked the first time that Avalon has celebrated a double christening. The order of this dual christening was determined by coin toss, with the Avalon Visionary winning the honour of leading the ceremony.
Nicole Mazza addressed the crowd first to bless the Avalon Visionary. In her blessing, she said,“May all who sail this new vessel find joy and enrichment on board. May the rivers rise to meet the sky and carry all in comfort and ease. May gentle breezes flow across her bow as she sails the great rivers of Europe. I christen you Avalon Visionary. May God bless you, your passengers and your crew. May there always be a swift current beneath your hull to guide you safely with beauty and grace.”
The Avalon Vista christening followed, with Vanessa Lee saying: “ As we christen this ship, I trust that she will be guided by strong and worthy hands and the steadfast knowledge and skill of her Captain and crew. I hope she will be a true vessel of encouragement and promote harmony, understanding, grace and camaraderie, thereby enriching the lives of those who sail with her. May the men and women who conceived of her, built her and those to whom she is now entrusted be recognized for their work and inspire others. And may she stay on the truest of courses, sail safely to each of her destinations and always be a stellar presence on the rivers of Europe. I name this ship Avalon Vista. May God bless and protect her and all who sail in her for ever more.”
After giving their respective speeches, Lee and Mazza each swung the ropes tethered to bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne while more than 150 guests– including Enkhuizen’s proud Mayor Baas and Visionary and Vista Captains Laskovich and Schoustra ― watched them shatter against the newly-painted exteriors of each vessel.
After the christening, guests were invited aboard the Avalon Vista for a Champagne reception with entertainment from de Swingers and a five-course Captain’s dinner. They were then invited onto two decks of the Avalon Visionary for five elaborate dessert spreads, ranging from cheese and wine offerings and homemade ice cream to such indulgences as chocolate mousse, tiramisu and crème brûlée. An impressive 15-minute fireworks celebration followed, culminating in a sparkling display that featured the names of both ships. The evening ended late with guests dancing to two bands – Back in the Groove and Tanya’s Chill – on board both ships, still docked side-by-side.
The Avalon Visionary and Avalon Vista mark the company’s second and third Suite Ships to be delivered in just 12 months. Post-christening, the Avalon Visionary will introduce Panorama Suites to the Rhine River in 2012, sailing the 8-day Romantic Rhine cruise as well as several Christmastime cruises. The Avalon Vista will sail the 11-day Legendary Danube cruise and 13-day Blue Danube Discovery, as well as the 15-day Magnificent Europe vacation.
For more information, visit www.avalonwaterways.ca, or call 1-800-268-3636.
MORE ABOUT THE SUITE SHIPS
“With two full decks of suites, nothing showcases the best of river cruising like our Suite Ships,” said Patrick Clark managing director of Avalon Waterways. “Each Suite has been thoughtfully designed to enhance the European cruise experience. From bed and bathroom positioning to storage and sound-proof insulation, we provide cruisers a renewed feeling of freedom, space and comfort not found with other cruise lines.”
The suites on these ships feature a seating area adjacent to a Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window. When opened, this 10’ x 7’ floor-to-ceiling window transforms the entire suite into the category’s only Open-Air BalconySM. With a focus on bringing the beauty of Europe inside, Avalon’s Open-Air Balconies can be enjoyed any hour of the day, all year, adding comfort to the overall guest experience.
Inspired by design, every element of Avalon’s on board experience was crafted to entice the five senses. Some enhancements, including flowers in each stateroom and premium L’Occitane products and fragrant sticks are subtle. Other offerings, such as marble bathrooms, Avalon-branded deluxe bedding (Comfort Collection by AvalonSM) and the perfect balance of warm interiors and natural lighting are distinct and unexpected.
Mirroring the on board cruise experience found on all of Avalon’s ships, the Suite Ships also feature a club, main lounge and dining room with sweeping views, hair salon, Sky Deck fun pool and Open-Air Bistro for outdoor, grilled
lunches. In addition, the fitness rooms aboard the Panorama, Visionary and Vista are more expansive, featuring additional equipment and room to renew.
“Like the very rivers we travel, Avalon is continually moving forward, making improvements and embracing the world beyond,” said Clark. “And it’s this approach – our drive to exceed guest expectations by pushing the boundaries of the river cruise experience – that makes us not only the most contemporary cruise line on Europe’s waters, but also the most consistent.”
ABOUT AVALON WATERWAYS
Award-winning Avalon Waterways offers travellers the youngest, most innovative fleet of ships in Europe, China, Egypt and the Galápagos. Our travellers 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 honours. Among them, the river cruise company was voted the No. 2 Best Small-Ship Cruise Line in Travel + Leisure’s 2009 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.
2010: Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards – Top 10 Small Ship lines
2010 Tour Operator of the Year (Globus family of brands) – Ensemble Travel Group USA & Canada
2009 and 2010 - 1st Place: Canadian Travel Agents’ Choice Awards - River Cruise Operator
2010- 2nd Place: Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards – Top 5 River Cruises
2010 –Escorted Tour Operator Partner of the Year – vacation.com (Globus family of brands)
2009 - 2nd Place: Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards -Top 10 Small-Ship Cruise Lines
2009 Gold List Condé Nast Traveler
2010 Tour Operator of the Year (Globus family of brands) – Ensemble Travel Group USA & Canada
2009 and 2010 - 1st Place: Canadian Travel Agents’ Choice Awards - River Cruise Operator
2010- 2nd Place: Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards – Top 5 River Cruises
2010 –Escorted Tour Operator Partner of the Year – vacation.com (Globus family of brands)
2009 - 2nd Place: Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards -Top 10 Small-Ship Cruise Lines
2009 Gold List Condé Nast Traveler
Check out In the News for more on the Avalon Vista Christening.
