Avalon Waterways Christens Two Suite Ships in One Ceremony

On Saturday, March 22, 2014, Avalon Waterways unveiled and christened two Suite Ships in Dordrecht, Holland. Olympic Gold medal-winning rower and author Katharine J. Grainger served as the godmother of the Avalon Poetry II, while J. Mara DelliPriscoli, president of Travel Learning Connection, acted as godmother to the Avalon Impression.
 
Docked parallel to one another in the North Holland marina of Dordrecht, 175 guests gathered to witness two godmothers bless two Suite Ships. The Avalon Poetry II was christened first. 

After reciting their respective speeches, Grainger and DelliPriscoli swung blue, red and white ribbon (signifying the Dutch flag) tethered to two separate bottles of Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne while guests – including Impression and Poetry II Captains Rolin Van Lakerveld and Laslo Frey, as well as key executives from Avalon offices worldwide, ship builders, travel agents and media from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States – watched them shatter against the newly painted exteriors of each vessel. 
 

After the christening, guests were invited aboard the Avalon Poetry II for a Champagne reception, followed by a six-course Captain’s dinner. These new ships, along with a third Avalon vessel – the Avalon Illumination, scheduled to be unveiled in June (courtesy of godmother and Australian celebrity Deborah Hutton) - will bring the fleet’s Suite Ship total to eight (adding nearly 10 percent more capacity to aid in Avalon’s exponential growth).

Post-christening, the Avalon Impression will sail five itineraries: Tulip Time Cruise (eight days, starting at $2,099), Capitals of Central Europe (10 or 12 days, starting at $3,318), The Legendary Danube (11 days, starting at $3,608) and Magnificent Europe (15 days, starting at $4,447). The Avalon Poetry II will sail seven itineraries: Tulip Time Cruise (eight days, priced from $2,099), Tulips of Northern Holland (8 days, priced from $2,488), Windmills, Vineyards & Paris (10 days, priced from $3,379), The Legendary Danube (11 days, priced from $3,608), Central European Experience (12 days, priced from $4,128), The Blue Danube Discovery (13 days, priced from $4,428) and Jewels of Central Europe (17 days, priced from $6,587).

For more information, visit www.avalonwaterways.com.