Avalon Waterways Ship to be Christened by Australian Celebrity Deborah Hutton in 2014

On the heels of unveiling plans for three more Suites Ships for 2014, Avalon Waterways (www.avalonwaterways.com) has chosen Deborah Hutton, Australian celebrity and television host, to christen the Avalon Illumination next year.

Of her godmother duties, Hutton said, "I couldn't be more delighted to be 'godmother' of such a magnificent ship. Avalon is known for offering a premium experience and I'm very much looking forward to spending time enjoying a world class holiday aboard the Avalon Illumination."

A former international model, Hutton has enjoyed a high-profile career as a television host on a range of top-rated programs. She is currently the host of Australia's popular "Foxtel Movie Show." In addition, in 2012, Hutton founded "Balance by Deborah Hutton," an online community designed to provide women practical advice to help them maintain balance in their lives. She has also served as a brand ambassador for iconic Australian companies like Qantas.

Hutton will christen the Avalon Illumination in an international ceremony that will take place in June 2014. Christening plans are also underway for the Avalon Poetry II and Avalon Impression for 2014 (details will be unveiled later this year).

MORE ABOUT THE SUITE SHIPS
"With two full decks of suites, nothing showcases the best of river cruising like our Suite Ships," said Patrick Clark managing director of Avalon Waterways. "Each Suite has been thoughtfully designed to enhance the European cruise experience. From bed and bathroom positioning to storage and sound-proof insulation, we provide cruisers a renewed feeling of freedom, space and comfort not found with other cruise lines."

Each suite on all eight Suite Ships features the industry's only Open-Air Balcony®, providing travelers a combination of the largest windows available with a sliding glass door that opens wide at 7-feet, plus a spacious seating area. With a focus on bringing the beauty of Europe inside, Avalon's Open-Air Balconies can be enjoyed any hour of the day, year round, adding considerable comfort to the overall guest experience without taking space away from the room.

Mirroring the on board cruise experience found on all of Avalon's ships, the Suite Ships also feature a club, main lounge and dining room with sweeping views, hair salon, Sky Deck whirlpool and Open-Air Bistro for outdoor, grilled lunches. In addition, the fitness rooms aboard the these ships are more expansive, featuring additional equipment and room to renew.

ABOUT AVALON WATERWAYS
Award-winning Avalon Waterways offers travelers the youngest, most innovative fleet of ships in Europe, China, Southeast Asia, Egypt, the United States and the Galápagos. Our travelers have inspired us to utilize nearly 85 years of travel expertise to design the best river cruise experience possible. We've taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better-down to the last detail. Our views are panoramic and spaces large and inviting; comfort is king and dining both personal and flexible. And, thanks to our partnership with Globus, our itineraries are legendary. By design, Avalon cruisers are privy to all-inclusive access to a destination, including guided sightseeing in every port, VIP entry into key destinations and unparalleled cultural immersion and storytelling thanks to highly skilled Cruise and Tour Directors. In addition to countless trade accolades, Avalon Waterways has garnered some of the industry's most prestigious honors: Among them, the river cruise company was voted the Best River Cruise Line in 2010 by Cruise Critic editors, among the top 5 river cruise lines in Travel + Leisure's 2011 and 2012 World's Best Awards and Condė Nast Traveler's 2011 and 2012 Reader's Choice Awards; the river cruse line was also chosen as the "Best Value in River Cruising" by Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel. Avalon Waterways is part of the Globus family of brands.

Consumers can book an Avalon Waterways vacation or request brochures by visiting a preferred travel agent or by calling the following toll free number: 1.877.380.1535. For more information, please visit www.avalonwaterways.com or "Like" us on Facebook.