Avalon Waterways next year will debut Avalon After Dark, an after-hours experience to keep the night alive and the party going.
The river cruise line will feature dedicated entertainment, nighttime port excursions and dinners under the starlit sky. Avalon is emphasizing culinary, with Sky Grill Dinners -- an open-air dining experience -- and a new bar menu with cocktails and mocktails created by mixologist Martin Hudak.
"Sunsets don't need to signal the end of the day's adventure on a river cruise," said Avalon president Pam Hoffee. "Instead, we're keeping the night alive with unforgettable experiences, from moonlit toasts on the Sky Deck to impromptu dance parties and late-night explorations made possible by overnight docking in legendary cities and settings."
The Panorama Lounge will offer more evening entertainment, including live music, trivia, karaoke and "impromptu dance parties," Avalon said.
Another change will be more excursions after dark. Avalon is encouraging "moonlit ports and midnight pubs" so passengers can enjoy European cities after the sun sets.
The river cruise line said it is committing to late-night docking in Budapest, where passengers can visit ruin pubs; Vienna for a classical concert; Amsterdam, where guests can search for speakeasies and jazz clubs; Rudesheim, where a cozy wine tavern is a recommended jaunt; and Avignon, where passengers can dine alfresco.
"We're rewriting the script for river cruising after hours," Hoffee said. "Avalon After Dark promises evenings worth staying up for."