Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle

Godmother Meredith Vieira Names Avalon View in Bratislava

by Dori Saltzman / April 13, 2022
Godmother Meredith Vieira Names Avalon View in Bratislava

Meredith Vieira and Avalon Waterways's Pam Hoffee.  Photo: Dori Saltzman. 


Under a bright blue Bratislava sky, next to the sparkling blue Danube, TV personality, journalist and original “The View” co-host Meredith Vieira officially named Avalon Waterway’s newest Suite Ship. As the bottle of Slovakian sparkling wine smashed against the hull, the ship transformed from lot number 02338024 to Avalon View.  

“Such beauty as this magnificent vessel now begins its river journey… May all aboard her travel safely with eyes wide open to the wonders that await… I now christen thee, the Avalon View,” Vieira said before cutting the rope that held the bottle high above the ship’s bow. 

Joining Vieira were Pam Hoffee, the newly named president of Avalon Waterways; Steve Born, chief marketing officer of the Globus family of brands; executives from the Den Breejen shipyard where Avalon View was built; and a contingent of Globus employees, travel advisors, and media from around the world.

“A christening symbolizes a new beginning and 2022 is a new beginning for all of us,” Hoffee said during opening remarks before the crowd moved outside for the breaking of the bottle. “It’s a chance to get back to the world and all of its wonder. A chance to say yes to adventure and life-enhancing memories. We’re thrilled to be here in Bratislava.”

Saying yes, Hoffee added, is what Avalon Waterways is asking travelers to start doing again. “That’s our mantra for 2022. Just say yes to travel, to new ideas, to exploration. That’s really been at the heart of this event.”

Two Year Wait
Originally scheduled to debut in April 2020, Avalon View has been in wet dock for the past two years awaiting its debut.

“The waiting for the two years for everything has been painful in many ways,” Hoffee told Travel Market Report. “But there were good things that came from waiting. It makes everything so much more special once it happens. And there were chances to do things in a different way as we made our plans.”

The scheduled 2020 naming was set to take place in Vienna, but during the pause, Avalon changed direction and chose to hold it in a city they’d never named a ship in before.

“We chose to do it in Bratislava. And, when we were picking the docking location, we picked to have it in the new part of the city, which is symbolic of emerging and something new,” Hoffee added.

Vieira, too, has been waiting for her role as godmother to begin, having been named to the position in 2019. 

Vieira, who is traveling onboard Avalon View for a four-day preview sailing with her daughter and future son-in-law had never been on a cruise before. Neither ocean nor river. 

“My first impression of the ship was it’s beautiful. It’s striking,” she told Travel Market Report.  “It’s very classy and elegant, yet warm.”

After a few days on board, she’s sold on the idea of river cruising and has already started looking into her next sailing.

“I think it’s fabulous,” she said at a small gathering with the media. “It’s so warm and inviting. I love the size of the ship. You feel like you’re part of a family. There’s an intimacy to it that’s really lovely. I use this word immersion a lot, but I really feel like I’m immersed in the culture around me because of the fact that we’re constantly stopping in these wonderful little towns along the way and you have an opportunity to do so many different things.”

The 16th ship in Avalon’s fleet, Avalon View is nearly identical to its fleet mates. The 443-foot, 166-passenger vessel has 83 cabins, 80% of which are Panorama Suites. Unique to Avalon, Panorama Suites feature an 11-foot-wide wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling window with a door that opens a full seven-feet, turning the entire suite into an open-air balcony. 

Avalon View will spend all of its 2022 season on the Danube River offering six- to 22-day itineraries including “Taste of the Danube,” “Danube Symphony,” “Active & Discovery on the Danube,” and “Gone Girl!” (a storyteller sailing with celebrity host, Gillian Flynn).

  18
  0
Related Articles
Why River Cruises Are Money Makers for Travel Advisors
Avalon Waterways Treats Guests to Free Drinks at Happy Hour
How to Close More Sales With New-to-River-Cruise Clients
Avalon Waterways to Debut on Douro with New Ship in 2024
Globus Family of Brands Updates COVID-19 Vaccine Policy
Water Levels on the Rhine Are Expected to Reach Critical Levels This Week
Oceania Cruises Pursues Gradual Innovation with Vista Food & Beverage
Onboard Octantis, Viking Cruises is Hiding an Educational Speakeasy
Viking Cruises' New Octantis Is So Much More than Just a Cruise Ship
Carnival’s New Ship Celebration to Include Largest Shopping Selection in its Fleet

MOST VIEWED

  1. All U.S. Flights Grounded Due to FAA Computer Outage
  2. Delta Air Lines Will Offer Free Wi-Fi Starting on Feb. 1
  3. Norwegian Cruise Line Brings Back COVID-19 Requirements
  4. Here Are the Best Airlines for Flight Delays in North America in 2022
  5. Cruise Lines Return to Traditional Muster Drills
  6. Cruise Ducks: A Cruising Tradition Travel Advisors Should Know About

MOST EMAILED

  1. Forbes Says ‘You Need a Travel Advisor in 2023’
  2. Here Are the Automatic & Suggested Gratuity Policies for Each Major Cruise Line
  3. All U.S. Flights Grounded Due to FAA Computer Outage
  4. Delta Air Lines Will Offer Free Wi-Fi Starting on Feb. 1
  5. Americans Can Still Renew Their Passport Online in 2023
  6. Why Travel Agents Matter More than Ever in 2023
TMR THIS WEEK
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=b033a3da-f598-ed11-9b4d-005056a855ed&Width=350&Height&250

Travel - It’s All About the Experience in 2023

With the pandemic behind us, we’re seeing more travelers going to great lengths and making significant investments to curate once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Read More...
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Lindblad Expeditions Grows Global Sales Team
Lindblad Expeditions Grows Global Sales Team

Lindblad welcomed two cruise industry veterans to its sales team. 

Read...
Explora Journeys Unveils Third Group Travel Program, Names Group Sales Lead
Explora Journeys Unveils Third Group Travel Program, Names Group Sales Lead

Industry veteran Cindi Occhuizzo will lead the line's charter and group sales. 

Read...
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: We Wouldn't Be Here If It Weren't for Travel Advisors
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: We Wouldn't Be Here If It Weren't for Travel Advisors

Regent Seven Seas Cruises' new president Andrea DeMarco is clear on one thing...

Read...
Aman and Cruise Saudi to Build Superyacht
Aman and Cruise Saudi to Build Superyacht

Aman Group is the fifth land-based hospitality company to expand into yacht cruising.

Read...
Scenic Group Appoints Regional Sales Director, Southeast USA
Scenic Group Appoints Regional Sales Director, Southeast USA

Brandon Oscarson's territory will cover nine Southeastern states and the District of Columbia. 

Read...
Oceania Cruises Launches 20th Anniversary Sale
Oceania Cruises Launches 20th Anniversary Sale

Up to $800 in shipboard credit per stateroom is up for grabs on 110 voyages across seven ships. 

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
river cruise 2022
group outlook 2022
lux cruise outlook
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/TzY5jkL3wnI/0.jpg
MasterAdvisor 65: How to Deal with a Client's Travel Disruptions
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News |Tours & Packages |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Well-Being Travel |Training & Events |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy