Avalon Artistry II

Avalon Artistry II at a glance

Avalon Artistry II is a river cruise ship operated by Avalon Waterways, sailing itineraries through France. The current sailings on sale with Cruise1st depart from two embarkation cities: Paris and Bordeaux — two of France's most celebrated destinations, each a destination in their own right before you even step aboard.

• Operator: Avalon Waterways
• Sailing regions: Seine River and France
• Departure ports: Paris and Bordeaux, France
• Cabin grades available: Royal Suite S and Deluxe Outside Cabin D
• Up to 7 nights on current sailings

Because all current sailings depart from France, every booking involves an international flight from Australia — which makes it particularly useful that Cruise1st can package your flights, pre- or post-cruise hotel stays, and transfers alongside the cruise itself, as one single holiday.

Cabins on Avalon Artistry II

Avalon Artistry II offers two cabin grades on current Cruise1st sailings, each suited to a different travel style and budget.

The Royal Suite S is the ship's most generous accommodation, at 27.9 m² and designed for two guests. It is 50 per cent larger than the Panorama Suite grade, giving you genuine space to move and unwind — the kind of suite where the room itself is part of the holiday. If you want to explore what each suite layout looks like across the ship's decks, the Avalon Artistry II cabins and deck plans page has the full breakdown.

The Deluxe Outside Cabin D measures 16.0 m² and sleeps two. It features two picture windows that bring in natural river light and frame the passing scenery — a practical, well-priced option that keeps you connected to the landscape throughout the day without the premium of a suite.

Both grades sleep two guests, and our team can talk through which suits your trip when you call.

Where Avalon Artistry II sails

Current sailings on Cruise1st take Avalon Artistry II through two of France's great river corridors — the Seine and the waterways around Bordeaux.

Paris and the Seine: Departures from Le Havre and Paris wind through Normandy and the Seine Valley — a route that pairs the grandeur of Paris with quieter stretches of river lined with orchards, chateaux and coastal towns steeped in history. Explore the full range of river cruises through France to see how Seine sailings compare to other French itineraries.

Bordeaux: Departures from Bordeaux take you into the heart of southwestern France's wine country. The rivers around Bordeaux pass through appellations that are famous the world over, and the city itself rewards an extra night or two on either side of the cruise.

Because every departure is in France, all bookings require a flight from Australia. Cruise1st can arrange the whole journey — flights, hotels and transfers alongside the cruise — as a single Cruise1st Package, so nothing falls through the gaps between bookings.

Why book Avalon Artistry II with Cruise1st

Cruise1st's Best Price Guarantee means you can book with confidence, knowing you're getting a competitive price on every sailing. But the price is only part of it.

Because the cruise sits in the middle of a longer trip from Australia, the practical questions — which flights connect best, whether you need a hotel night in Paris before embarkation, how transfers from the airport to the port are handled — matter as much as the itinerary itself. Our Australian cruise experts, seven days a week are on hand to work through those details before you commit to anything. And through a Cruise1st Package, we bring the flights, the hotels and the transfers together with the cruise fare into one booking, one price, and one point of contact if anything needs to change.

We also help you match the right cabin grade to your circumstances — whether that's the space and comfort of the Royal Suite or the bright river views of the Deluxe Outside Cabin — and make sure the fare inclusions you're comparing are genuinely equivalent before you decide.

Common questions about Avalon Artistry II

Do I need to fly to join Avalon Artistry II?

Yes. All current sailings depart from France — either Paris or Bordeaux — so Australian guests will need to fly to Europe to join the ship. Cruise1st can book your international flights, any hotel nights before or after the cruise, and your port transfers as part of a single Cruise1st Package, so you're not juggling separate bookings across multiple providers.

Which cabin grade is right for me on Avalon Artistry II?

If space and a sense of occasion matter to you, the Royal Suite S at 27.9 m² is the ship's most comfortable option — it's genuinely roomy for two people and is noticeably larger than the next grade down. If you'd rather put the budget into the itinerary itself, the Deluxe Outside Cabin D gives you a bright, river-facing room with two picture windows at 16.0 m². Our team can help you weigh the difference when you call.

How long are the sailings currently available?

The sailings currently on sale through Cruise1st run for up to 7 nights, departing from late September 2026. River cruises of this length are well suited to first-time river cruisers as well as those who want to combine the sailing with a few days in Paris or Bordeaux on either side.

What is Avalon Waterways like as a cruise line?

Avalon Waterways is the operator of Avalon Artistry II and runs a fleet of river cruise ships across Europe and beyond. To get a fuller picture of the line — including its other ships you might be choosing between — visit the Avalon Waterways page on Cruise1st.

Can I see the deck plans for Avalon Artistry II before I book?

Yes. The Avalon Artistry II cabins and deck plans page shows how the two cabin grades are arranged across the ship's decks, which can help you decide between a Royal Suite and a Deluxe Outside Cabin, or choose a preferred position on board.