Sustainability | Avalon Waterways

Lighting the Path to a Better Tomorrow

For nearly a century, the Globus family of brands has shed light on the world’s most fascinating places and people – allowing travellers to bask in their glory, intrigue, and wonder. As we explore ancient pathways, historic hallways, and storied sidewalks of the world around us, we gain deeper knowledge, compassion, and understanding of the world and its people than ever before.

By partnering with like-minded organisations that care for our planet and the people and places we cherish, we’re committed to playing our part in advancing causes through conservation, preservation, and humanitarian partnerships.

While a lighthouse may stand alone, we can come together to light up the world’s exceptional places – and extraordinary faces. Enter the Avalon Waterways® Lighthouse Project – an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe’s greater good. Avalon, along with sister companies Globus and Cosmos, invites our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow for the planet, people, and places we treasure.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

Australia’s unique and much-loved wildlife is disappearing at an alarming rate. With help from donations from across the globe, the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital gives injured wildlife a second chance. One of the world’s largest animal hospitals, in one year, approximately 10,000 animals are brought here for lifesaving treatment, playing a vital role in saving Australia’s native species.

LEARN MORE | DONATE TODAY

PLANET
Keeping the world in its best light

While nothing is more exciting than tracing the paths of historic legends, doing so with the most minimal footprint excites us even more. We make every effort to conserve and preserve in each destination we visit by helping to protect the waterways, wild places, and wildlife by supporting and shining a light on organisations that do the same.

Keeping the Blue Planet Green.

We love caring for the world just as much as we love sharing it with you! By booking an Avalon river cruise, you’re helping us do just that! When you book a cruise with Avalon Waterways, we contribute to environmental organisations that work to improve the health of our planet. Cruise confidently, knowing we’ve made a donation to Trees4Travel - a leading champion of cleaner water and air. Avalon partners with Trees4Travel to purchase a tree to be planted for each guest who travels with us. This is a small way we make a big difference in helping to reduce CO2 from the air, while keeping our commitment to bigger experiences and smaller footprints.

The Forests for the Trees.

While a single tree doesn't make a forest, Avalon believes in the power of people and their effect on the world as a whole. Enjoy the anticipation and excitement of your upcoming adventures, while making a difference in the world we discover together. You may also choose to make a personal donation of your own to Trees4Travel to help make the world even greener!

A Cleaner Planet is the Best Reward.

Avalon Waterways has been honoured by Europe’s Green Award - recognised for our Suite Ships fleet's high safety and environmental standards. This prestigious award is given to river cruise ships based on the environmental impact of engines, fuel consumption, waste and maintenance, pollution prevention, and more.

The planet-focused initiatives we support include:

Trees4Travel
Wildland Firefighter Association
Vital Ground Foundation – Grizzly Bear Recovery*
Wildlife Conservation Network, Lion Recovery Fund
South African Parks Honorary Rangers
*visited on trip

Additionally, we shine a light on the following organisations through a combination of holiday visits and donations:

Monkey Rehabilitation Center, Brazil
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Baby Elephant & Rhino Rescue, Kenya
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, China
National Kiwi Conservation Project, New Zealand
Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Australia
The Kangaroo Sanctuary, Australia
Elephant Nature Park, Thailand

Paws for Cause: Our Promise for Ethical Wildlife Encounters

The Globus family believes the world's four-legged, furry, feathered, and fragile wildlife populations are precious to our planet - and in need of protection. As part of our commitment to the welfare of wildlife worldwide, Globus has adopted the guidelines of World Animal Protection to end the use of wild animals as entertainment. By creating an animal welfare policy, we are committed to protect wild animals by not selling, offering, or promoting venues or activities involving wild animal entertainment, such as rides, bathing, walks, and shows. We will only offer responsible viewing of wild animals in the wild or semi-wild habitats and with a high standard of animal welfare and conservation.

PEOPLE
Helping the communities of the world shine

It’s not just the splendid landscapes and landmarks that make travel so rewarding – it’s the unique people we meet along the way and the cultures they hold dear. We are dedicated to protecting, respecting and supporting the extraordinary communities of the world as well as improving the individual lives within them. The measure of the Lighthouse Project’s success? The megawatt smiles we see along the way.

The people-focused organisations we support include:

Landmine Design
Rural Aid
Pathways Project

Additionally, we shine a light on the following organisations through a combination of holiday visits and donations:

Local orphanage, Cambodia
Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity
KOTO Hospitality Training Center, Vietnam
Local school English class, Cambodia
Local school, Tanzania
Indigenous Amazon communities (via lodge stays), Ecuador and Peru
Home visits, Peru
Ladli Child Vocational Program, India

PLACES
Reflecting on the past; Brightening the future

The parks, palaces, museums and monuments we enjoy today are the result of previous generations passionately committed to preservation. By way of the Lighthouse Project, we aim to pay it forward – staying light years ahead of preservation – so that future generations can enjoy the same glorious places to relax, renew and reflect..

While every one of our destinations is precious to us, here are some of the sights and attractions we have supported – many of which we also visit on trip:

National Civil Rights Museum, Tennessee*
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho*
Yosemite National Park, Nevada, California*
Squamish Lil’Wat Centre, British Columbia*
USS Arizona Memorial, Hawaii*

Additionally, Avalon Waterways’ team members take pride in being active participants in the travel community, spearheading and participating in dozens of volunteer programs and events.

World War II Memorial Museum, Louisiana
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, New Mexico*
Alaska Native American Heritage Center, Alaska*
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site, Alberta*
Museum of the Cherokee Indian, North Carolina*
*visited on trip

Navigating the Way to a Brighter Future on the World's Waterways

As a part of our Lighthouse Project, Avalon Waterways has undertaken an ambitious mission to lead the way in sustainable operation and practices. Part of our mission to preserve the precious environment river cruising affords travellers.

This commitment extends to every aspect of cruising. From how we power and propel our fleet of Suite Ships to the care and attention we give to environmentally friendly practices onboard. Not to mention the many causes we support. All to ensure that we're helping to make tomorrow on these incredible rivers as special as the experiences they gift us today.

Creating a Sustainable Tomorrow

Avalon is charting an ambitious course toward zero emissions and sustainability in every aspect of cruising. Our state-of-the-art fleet of Suite Ships and top-of-the-line technology limit energy, consumption and emissions. Plus, Avalon’s waste and recycling programs reduce our environmental footprint, save water and foster a sustainability culture among crew and guests worldwide. Even better? This is just the beginning of what we have planned to protect our beautiful Mother Earth, and her fans.

TODAY, AVALON HAS:

Eliminated single-use plastics onboard our ships and at operations offices, worldwide
Reduced paper waste by 80% onboard by favouring digital communications
Invested in local farmers to secure locally produced foods, reducing food miles while supporting local economies
Installed LED lighting throughout ships, fleet-wide
Worked with dozens of ports to use shore energy while docked
Committed to using shore power while docked wherever it is available, allowing us to turn off engines and reduce emissions
Signed an agreement with the river cruise trade union providing heightened employment standards and protection of our crew. No other river cruise line has made this commitment to their team.

TOMORROW, AVALON PLEDGES TO:

Pilot a program to use bio-fuel, aiming to reduce total carbon emissions by 50%
Utilise electric bow thrusters to further reduce emissions
Reduce paper waste further – to less than 1%
Partner with more destinations to generate sustainable electricity, while docked
Unveil the first, fully electric river cruise vessel by 2027

Region

Country

Rivers

Vessels

Before You Book

Before You Travel

Meet Avalon

The Cruising Experience

Avalon Cares

Lighting the Path to a Better Tomorrow

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

PLANET Keeping the world in its best light

Keeping the Blue Planet Green.

The Forests for the Trees.

A Cleaner Planet is the Best Reward.

The planet-focused initiatives we support include:

Additionally, we shine a light on the following organisations through a combination of holiday visits and donations:

Paws for Cause: Our Promise for Ethical Wildlife Encounters

PEOPLE Helping the communities of the world shine

PLACES Reflecting on the past; Brightening the future

Navigating the Way to a Brighter Future on the World's Waterways

Creating a Sustainable Tomorrow

TODAY, AVALON HAS:

TOMORROW, AVALON PLEDGES TO:

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

PLANET
Keeping the world in its best light

PEOPLE
Helping the communities of the world shine

PLACES
Reflecting on the past; Brightening the future