1-800-342-0019 Speak to a River Cruise Expert

Illumination

The Illumination's two full decks of suites feature Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows that transform the living space into a unique Open-Air Balcony. Cruise along the legendary Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers, enjoying fresh breezes and enchanting scenery from the comfort of your suite.

    • 443

    • Length
    • 2014

    • Built Year
    • 47

    • Crew
    • 166

    • Pax Capacity
    • 67

    • Suites
  • Blog Image
    Review: Avalon – Romantic Rhine

    By: Linh Nguyen, Senior Travel Consultant I recently spent 8 days on the Rhine River with Avalon Waterways on their Illumination ship. Even though this was not my first river cruise, I can say that I was still absolutely impressed with the whole experience. The ship is modern and comfortable with enough things to do…

  • Blog Image
    Review: Festive Season On The Legendary Danube With Avalon Waterways

    Festive Season on the Legendary Danube with Avalon Waterways is the perfect 10 day river cruise from Prague to Budpest, with tours of iconic sites.

Sailings

Get All the River Operators Offers & More
Sail Date Operator Ship Departs Returns Length Price
Apr 29, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationMunichBudapest8$3,259
May 05, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague11$4,397
May 05, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich9$3,768
May 06, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$4,088
May 06, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich8$3,459
May 11, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationMunichBudapest9$3,877
May 11, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationMunichBudapest8$3,598
May 13, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationMunichBudapest6$2,749
May 13, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationMunichBudapest7$3,028
May 18, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$4,438
May 18, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich8$3,809
May 23, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest10$4,438
May 25, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationMunichBudapest8$3,809
Jun 01, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestAmsterdam16$8,449
Jun 16, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationAmsterdamBudapest15$7,819
Jun 29, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague11$5,147
Jun 29, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich9$4,518
Jun 30, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$4,838
Jun 30, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich8$4,209
Jul 05, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest10$4,738
Jul 07, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationMunichBudapest8$4,109
Jul 13, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague11$5,047
Jul 13, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich9$4,418
Jul 14, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$4,738
Jul 14, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich8$4,109
Jul 19, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest10$4,738
Jul 21, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationMunichBudapest8$4,109
Jul 28, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestAmsterdam16$7,549
Aug 12, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationAmsterdamBudapest15$7,219
Aug 26, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$5,138
Aug 26, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich8$4,509
Aug 31, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest10$5,238
Sep 02, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationMunichBudapest8$4,609
Sep 09, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$4,738
Sep 09, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich8$4,109
Sep 14, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest12$6,598
Sep 16, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationMunichBudapest10$5,969
Sep 25, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestAmsterdam16$8,449
Oct 10, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationAmsterdamBudapest15$7,719
Oct 24, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$4,938
Oct 24, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich8$4,309
Oct 29, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest10$4,738
Oct 31, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationMunichBudapest8$4,109
Nov 07, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestAmsterdam16$7,549
Nov 22, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationAmsterdamZurich10$4,962
Nov 22, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationAmsterdamZurich8$4,009
Dec 06, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationAmsterdamZurich10$4,812
Dec 06, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationAmsterdamZurich8$3,859
Dec 11, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationZurichAmsterdam10$5,129
Dec 13, 2025Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationZurichAmsterdam8$4,109
Apr 07, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$4,719
Apr 07, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestVilshofen8$4,030
Apr 30, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestBucharest10$4,338
Apr 30, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestBucharest12$5,148
May 01, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestBucharest11$4,849
May 01, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestBucharest9$4,039
May 01, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestBucharest8$3,830
May 05, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBucharestAmsterdam26$13,543
May 05, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBucharestBudapest13$5,631
May 05, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBucharestBudapest12$5,332
May 07, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBucharestBudapest11$4,821
May 07, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBucharestBudapest10$4,522
May 07, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBucharestAmsterdam24$12,733
May 08, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBucharestBudapest9$4,313
May 08, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationOltenitaAmsterdam23$12,524
May 16, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestAmsterdam15$7,961
May 30, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationAmsterdamBudapest15$7,961
Jun 12, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague11$5,468
Jun 12, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestVilshofen9$4,779
Jun 13, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$5,119
Jun 13, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestVilshofen8$4,430
Jun 26, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague11$5,368
Jun 26, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestVilshofen9$4,679
Jun 27, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$5,019
Jun 27, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestVilshofen8$4,330
Jul 02, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest10$5,019
Jul 04, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationVilshofenBudapest8$4,330
Jul 11, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestAmsterdam15$7,261
Jul 25, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationAmsterdamAmsterdam8$4,330
Aug 01, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationAmsterdamBudapest15$7,261
Aug 14, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich9$3,842
Aug 14, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestVilshofen7$2,963
Aug 15, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestVilshofen6$2,664
Aug 15, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestMunich8$3,543
Aug 18, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest10$5,319
Aug 20, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationVilshofenBudapest8$4,630
Sep 01, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest12$6,885
Sep 03, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationVilshofenBudapest10$6,196
Sep 12, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestAmsterdam15$7,961
Sep 26, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationAmsterdamBudapest15$7,861
Oct 15, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest10$5,319
Oct 17, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationVilshofenBudapest8$4,630
Oct 24, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$5,219
Oct 24, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestVilshofen8$4,530
Oct 29, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest10$5,119
Oct 31, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationVilshofenBudapest8$4,430
Nov 27, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBudapest10$4,669
Nov 29, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationNurembergBudapest8$3,980
Dec 04, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestBasel19$10,444
Dec 04, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague12$5,688
Dec 04, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestNuremberg10$4,999
Dec 04, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestFrankfurt15$7,913
Dec 06, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestNuremberg8$4,430
Dec 06, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestBasel17$9,875
Dec 06, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestFrankfurt13$7,344
Dec 06, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationBudapestPrague10$5,119
Dec 11, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueBasel12$6,134
Dec 11, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationPragueFrankfurt8$3,603
Dec 13, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationNurembergBasel10$5,445
Dec 13, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationNurembergFrankfurt6$2,914
Dec 18, 2026Avalon WaterwaysIlluminationFrankfurtBasel5$2,406

Ship Information


  • Maiden Voyage: 2014
  • Length: 443
  • Passenger Capacity: 166
  • Normal Crew Size: 47
  • Staterooms: 83
  • Suites: 67

Dining

Early Riser Coffee, 6 a.m. Start your day right with self-service coffee, hot water, croissants, cookies, and assorted finger foods. Breakfast Buffet, 7 a.m.-8:30 a.m.
Enjoy a tempting selection of breads, cereals, fruits, cold cuts and cheeses, smoked salmon, pastries, yogurts, and juices. Hot items such as eggs, sausage, and bacon vary daily.

*Buffet breakfast items are conveniently color coded on all Avalon Waterways river cruise ships to indicate foods that are low calorie, low fat/low calorie, high fiber, low cholesterol, and high energy

Lunch Buffet, 12:30 p.m. Select from intriguing appetizers, hearty soups, hot dishes, homemade breads, cold cuts and cheeses, salads, and delectable desserts. Afternoon Tea, 4 p.m. Take a mid-day break with coffee or tea and cake or cookies served in the lounge or on the top deck. Dinner, 7:30 p.m.
Dine elegantly with a sit-down meal served in a single sitting. The chef will delight you with gourmet selections and the perfect, complimentary wines (complimentary beer or soft drinks also available). Menus typically feature an appetizer, soup, entree, dessert, and coffee or tea. 

Note: Meal times may vary depending on cruise schedule.

Age Restrictions

Travelers who are less than 18 years old on the departure date must be accompanied by an adult throughout the duration of the vacation. We do not accept children less than 8 years old on any Avalon Waterways vacations. If a child will be traveling with adults other than the parents or with only one parent, it is recommended that a notarized letter be written by the parents or non-traveling parent granting authorization to travel, including the dates of travel.

Tipping

Gratuities on board and on land are not included in the cruise price. Tipping is a personal way to show your satisfaction for good service and is always appreciated. It is recommended that tips be paid in cash.

Cabins

Category E
Square Footage: 172

Category E

Staterooms have comfort collection beds, deluxe beds with memory foam mattress toppers, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, European-style duvets, choice of soft or firm pillows, extra blankets, choice of bed configuration, nightly turn-down service, bedside tables with reading lamps, hair dryer, L'Occitane bath amenities, spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage, easy under-bed luggage storage, flat screen satellite TV with movie channels, alarm clock, direct-dial telephone, bathrobes & slippers, well-stocked minibar, complimentary bottled water, in-room safe, individual climate control, elegant, contemporary design throughout, and a large mirror in bathroom. Located on Indigo Deck Forward.




Category D
Square Footage: 172

Category D

Staterooms have comfort collection beds, deluxe beds with memory foam mattress toppers, egyptian super-combed cotton linens, European-style duvets, choice of soft or firm pillows, extra blankets, choice of bed configuration, nightly turn-down service, bedside tables with reading lamps, hair dryer, L'Occitane bath amenities, spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage, easy under-bed luggage storage, flat screen satellite TV with movie channels, alarm clock, direct-dial telephone, bathrobes & slippers, well-stocked minibar, complimentary bottled water, in-room safe, individual climate control, elegant, contemporary design throughout, and a large mirror in bathroom. Located on Indigo Deck Aft.




Category B
Square Footage: 200

Category B

Panorama Suites feature comfort collection beds, deluxe beds with memory foam mattress toppers, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, European-style duvets, choice of bed configuration, nightly turn-down service, bedside tables with reading lamps, hair dryer, L'Occitane bath amenities, spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage, easy under-bed luggage storage, flat screen satellite TV with movie channels, wall-to-wall panoramic window with open-air Balcony, open-air balcony with full 6-person seating area, full shower with glass door, well-stocked minibar, writing desk, and a coffee table. Located on Sapphire Deck Aft.




Category A
Square Footage: 200

Category A

Panorama Suites feature comfort collection beds, deluxe beds with memory foam mattress toppers, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, European-style duvets, choice of bed configuration, nightly turn-down service, bedside tables with reading lamps, hair dryer, L'Occitane bath amenities, spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage, easy under-bed luggage storage, flat screen satellite TV with movie channels, wall-to-wall panoramic window with open-air Balcony, open-air balcony with full 6-person seating area, full shower with glass door, well-stocked minibar, writing desk, and a coffee table. Located on Sapphire Deck Forward.




Category P
Square Footage: 200

Category P

Panorama Suites feature comfort collection beds, deluxe beds with memory foam mattress toppers, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, European-style duvets, choice of bed configuration, nightly turn-down service, bedside tables with reading lamps, hair dryer, L'Occitane bath amenities, spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage, easy under-bed luggage storage, flat screen satellite TV with movie channels, wall-to-wall panoramic window with open-air Balcony, open-air balcony with full 6-person seating area, full shower with glass door, well-stocked minibar, writing desk, and a coffee table. Located on Royal Deck.




Category Royal Suite
Square Footage: 300

Category Royal Suite

Suites include Comfort Collection Beds, Deluxe beds with memory foam mattress toppers, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, European-style duvets, Choice of bed configuration, Nightly turn-down service, bedside tables with reading lamps, Hair dryer, L'Occitane bath amenities, Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage, Easy under-bed luggage storage, Flatscreen satellite TV with movie channels, Alarm clock, Direct-dial telephone, Bathrobes & slippers, Well-stocked minibar, Complimentary bottled water, In-room safe individual climate control, Marble countertops in bathroom, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Complimentary use of iPad mobile digital devices, Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air Balcony, Open-Air Balcony with full 6-person seating area, Full shower with glass door, Writing desk, Vanity, Sofa, Coffee table, and Double sinks. Located on Royal Deck.




Life on Board

Recreation

Dining Room

When it comes to dining, you'll savor your destination in more ways than one. Professional chefs will delight your taste buds with regional specialties as well as Western favorites. Located on the Sapphire Deck.

Recreation

Panorama Bistro

An alternate dining experience with regional specialties and lighter fare in the Panorama Bistro. Located on the Royal Deck.

Recreation

Sky Bistro

Why not sit outside and enjoy your lunch while watching the passing scenery. Located on the Sky Deck.

Recreation

Observation Lounge

Enjoy onboard lectures, activities & nightly entertainment with any outside viewing area. Located on the Royal Deck.

Recreation

Panorama Lounge

Sit back and relax meeting new friends while having a drink at the lounge. Located on the Royal Deck.

Recreation

Sky Deck

Relax at the Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs and a shade system or have fun at the game area. Located on the Sky Deck.

Recreation

Fitness Center

The Fitness Center is well equipped so you can stick to your fitness program while on vacation. Take advantage of state-of-the-art cardio equipment while enjoying the view of unforgettable passing landscapes. Located on the Indigo Deck.

Recreation

Salon

Of course you want to look your best on vacation, there is a salon for all your hair and manicure needs. Located on the Royal Deck.

Recreation

Whirlpool

The whirlpool is the perfect place to unwind after an exciting day of sightseeing. Located on the Sky Deck.

Illumination Customer Reviews

Ratings based off 74 reviews about Illumination - currently showing 5 reviews with comments only
MM
Mirna

We had a wonderful time and are very grateful to our agent for her professional assistance

PM
Paul
Reviewed on Aug 18, 2024

I can not say enough to praise the hospitality and professional service aboard the Avalon Illumination! Everyone was so helpful and engaging from our tour guide to our housekeeper. the food and food service staff were equally amazing!

AM
Arlene
Reviewed on May 28, 2022

Don't be afraid to try the active excursions. They were amazing and they were honest if they felt a guest wouldn't be comfortable with the level of difficulty.

JM
James

The overall dining experience was ok, not great

JD
Joseph

We enjoyed the Avalon Magnificent Europe River Cruise very much. It was everything we expected and more. The crew and staff on the ship were outstanding.



AffordableTours.com BBB Business Review

Better Business Bureau

AffordableTours.com is a proud recipient of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) awards 2006-2024 with A+ Rating.

It Pays To Refer! Earn Up To $200!

It's simple: Sign up your friends, family, and anyone to us and when they book you will receive an American Express gift card worth up to $200 in the mail for simply referring.

Read More

Get discounts by Email!