For 2019, Avalon Waterways has packaged Ganges River cruises
in several itineraries.
For the cruise portion, guests board the 56-passenger Ganges
Voyager for a six-day, roundtrip cruise from Kolkata.
The cruise heads north from Kolkata to visit Kalna, where
passengers will take a rickshaw ride to the historic terracotta temple complex,
and smaller villages where they will observe brass-making, saree weaving and
idol making. Avalon will also offer a visit to a farmer’s home and to a rescue
shelter for cows, in addition to the region’s stately sites, such as the Hare
Krishna center in Mayapur.
The Ganges Voyager is an all-suite vessel with
accommodations ranging from the 260-square-foot deluxe suite to the
400-square-foot Maharaja suite. There is air conditioning throughout, a lounge
and bar, a restaurant, gym, two spa treatment rooms and a partially shaded
observation deck.
Avalon joins a handful of other river cruise companies and
tour operators that have begun offering Ganges River cruises in recent years.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection launched its Ganges program in 2016,
and G Adventures started selling Ganges cruises in 2015.