Avalon Artistry II

Sailing the rivers of France on Avalon Artistry II

Avalon Artistry II carries guests through the waterways of France under the flag of Avalon Waterways, one of the most established names in river cruising. She departs from Paris, making her a natural starting point for a wider France holiday — the city alone gives guests days of galleries, cuisine and riverside walking before the ship even leaves the dock. The sailing currently on sale is a seven-night round-trip, returning guests to Paris at the end of the voyage.

As a river ship, Avalon Artistry II is built for the kind of immersive, unhurried travel that ocean ships cannot replicate: docking in the heart of a town rather than a container port, waking up in a different village each morning, and watching the landscape change from a seat at the window or a private balcony. The scale is intimate, the pace is deliberate, and France — its chateaux, vineyards and medieval towns — is exactly the right country for it.

Cabins on Avalon Artistry II

Avalon Artistry II offers six cabin grades across two families. Two outside grades give a comfortable, well-appointed base for the journey. The four balcony grades step things up considerably: each comes with marble bathroom countertops, double sinks and L’Occitane products, a six-person sitting area with sofa and coffee table, and a wall-to-wall panoramic window opening onto a private open-air balcony — so the river scenery is always within reach without leaving your cabin. The Avalon Artistry II cabins and deck plans page has every grade laid out in full, which is the right place to compare them and choose.

Planning the trip to France

Paris is a destination most Australian guests will fly to, and CruiseAway puts the entire journey together on a single booking: return flights, accommodation in Paris before and after the cruise, airport and port transfers, and the river sailing itself. That is what a DreamAway Package does — one conversation, one booking, one holiday. Our cruise experts know the Avalon Waterways product well and can help match the right cabin grade and fare inclusions to your circumstances.

Avalon Waterways river ships by river

Avalon Waterways operates a fleet of river ships across Europe and beyond. Here is how the fleet divides by waterway, so you can compare programmes if France is not the right fit — or simply see what else the line offers.

The ships that sail the Danube River, Europe

• Avalon Expression
• Avalon Imagery II
• Avalon Impression
• Avalon Passion
• Avalon Illumination
• Avalon Visionary

The ships that sail the Rhine River, Europe

• Avalon Tranquility II
• Avalon Panorama
• Avalon View
• Avalon Vista

The ships that sail the Rhone River, Europe

• Avalon Poetry II

The ships that sail South East Asia

• Avalon Saigon

The ships that sail France — including Avalon Artistry II

• Avalon Tapestry II
• Avalon Artistry II (this ship)

The full picture of what Avalon Waterways is like to sail with — their approach to guiding, inclusions and shore excursions — is on the Avalon Waterways cruise line page.

Why book Avalon Artistry II with CruiseAway

CruiseAway’s Best Price Guarantee applies to Avalon Artistry II sailings, so if you find the same fare cheaper elsewhere, we’ll match it. Our cruise experts specialise in river cruise fares and know which cabin grade makes sense for different budgets and travel styles. And because getting to France from Australia means flights, likely a Paris hotel night or two and port transfers, our DreamAway Packages pull all of that into one booking — so there is nothing left to arrange separately.

Questions about sailing France on Avalon Artistry II

Does the cruise start and end in Paris?

Yes — the sailing currently on sale is a round-trip departing and returning to Paris, so guests can extend their stay in the city before or after the river portion without any complicated logistics.

How many cabin grades are available, and what is the main difference between them?

There are six grades in total. The two outside cabins are well-appointed river-view rooms; the four balcony grades add private open-air balconies, panoramic wall-to-wall windows, six-person sitting areas and marble bathrooms with double sinks. The cabins and deck plans page has the full breakdown of each grade.

Can CruiseAway arrange flights and accommodation alongside the cruise?

Yes — that is exactly what a DreamAway Package covers. Because Avalon Artistry II sails from Paris, most Australian guests need return flights, at least one hotel night in the city and transfers between the airport and the ship. CruiseAway puts all of that on the same booking, shaped to what suits you.

Is Avalon Artistry II the only Avalon Waterways ship sailing France?

No — Avalon Tapestry II also sails France. If the available dates or itinerary on Artistry II don’t quite fit, Tapestry II is worth comparing. For programmes on other European rivers — the Danube, Rhine or Rhone — there are further Avalon ships, listed in the fleet section above.

How long is the sailing?

The sailing currently on sale is seven nights, departing from and returning to Paris. That gives a full week on the French waterways, with time in Paris either side if you book a DreamAway Package.