Avalon Waterways has unveiled new seasonal excursions for 2027 designed to inspire travellers to consider where they go and when – created to take place during specific times of the year.
From fleeting blooms and harvest traditions to time-honoured rituals shaped by local life, Avalon’s newest excursions are timed to deliver a more immersive, more personal way to enjoy each destination in ways that don’t exist year-round.
“Where you go matters. When you go can change the experience entirely,” Avalon Waterways president Pam Hoffee. “Our new seasonal excursions connect our guests more deeply – and authentically – to the places they’re exploring. These are experiences that exist for a moment, and that’s exactly the point.”
Avalon’s new seasonal excursions are designed around each destination – unlocking only here and only now moments that are fleeting, local and connected to time and place.
Highlights from the new 2027 lineup include:
- Harvest summer’s sweetest moments in the South of France with hands-on apricot picking and tastings
- Wander fields of purple in bloom with lavender visits and distillery experiences timed to the season
- Step into autumn in Normandy with apple picking and cider tastings as orchard life comes alive
- Cook what the season calls for with hands-on culinary classes featuring fresh, regional ingredients from local markets
- Pick, taste & enjoy summer with strawberry harvest experiences that celebrate the season
- Discover the art of distillation through flower picking and essential oil workshops rooted in tradition
- Experience harvest traditions across Europe with vineyard visits and farming practices shaped by generations
As no two travellers are alike, Avalon’s new seasonal experiences build on its signature approach to shore excursions, offering freedom to experience it your way with choices in every destination. Through Avalon Choice Excursions, guests can explore each port in different ways – whether that means Classic sightseeing, Active exploration or deeper cultural Discovery. Seasonal experiences add another layer to that choice, offering time-sensitive moments that complement how each traveller wants to experience a place, at specific times of the year.
The introduction of seasonal excursions comes as traveller preferences continue to shift toward more intentional, cooler and less crowded travel. In fact, 75 per cent of 10,000 Avalon cruisers say they prefer to travel outside peak months, a trend already reflected in booking patterns. In 2025, Avalon saw off-season sailings grow 18 per cent year-over-year, driven in part by expanded capacity in late autumn and early winter.
“Travellers are realising that shifting when they go doesn’t compromise the experience. Instead, timing can enhance it,” Hoffee added. “With fewer crowds, cooler temperatures and in some cases, more value, we’re opening the door to different experiences year-round. The introduction of seasonal excursions takes that concept even further.”
Avalon’s approach to seasonal travel is grounded in the small ship cruise company’s broader philosophy that perfectly timed, perfectly sized design creates better experiences for guests. With Suite Ships intentionally sized for fewer guests and more space, and itineraries built to invite both guided discovery and independent exploration, Avalon creates an environment where moments can be experienced more fully, in every season.
