Avalon Waterways Introduces the Envision, Its Next-Generation River Cruise Ship

Best of all, the beds on the Avalon Envision face the window, so you can lie in bed with the windows open and watch Europe float by.

The 443-foot, 166-passenger Avalon Envision. Courtesy of Avalon Waterways

BUDAPEST, Hungary—The tradition of christening a ship goes back centuries, and it’s meant to invite good fortune. Often, a “godmother” blesses and officially names the vessel before smashing a bottle of champagne or wine against the ship’s bow to christen it.  For the Avalon Envision, the newest river cruise ship from Avalon Waterways, that godmother was Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the best-selling book, “Eat, Pray, Love.” Gilbert recently christened the Avalon Envision on a warm, sunny day in Budapest.

Avalon chose Gilbert as godmother because she embodied the transformative travel experiences that the company hopes to provide their guests, said Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways.