TRAVELCruise ship tours: Avalon Waterways' Avalon MyanmarAvalon MyanmarAvalon Waterwaysavalon myanmarGene Sloan, USA TODAYLined with forests, rice fields, betel nut trees and small villages, the northern segment of the Irrawaddy River often takes on a mysterious, misty quality at sunset.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe hub of the Avalon Myanmar's public spaces is the comfortable indoor lounge, located on Deck 2.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAir conditioned and lined with panoramic windows, the Avalon Myanmar's indoor lounge is located near the front of the vessel.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Avalon Myanmar's indoor lounge features stylish, contemporary furnishings with local teak wood accents.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYSeating in the Avalon Myanmar's indoor lounge looks out over panoramic, wall-to-wall windows.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe interior lounge is home to the Avalon Myanmar's bar, a popular gathering place for passengers in the evenings.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLocal spirits including the Myanmar-made Grand Royal whisky are available throughout the day at no extra charge.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAn outoor walkway lines one side of the Avalon Myanmar's second deck.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Avalon Myanmar also offers an open-air lounge area on Deck 2 just in front of the indoor lounge.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Avalon Myanmar's open-air deck features comfortable lounge chairs overlooking the front of the vessel.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYRattan furniture is arranged in seating areas on the open-air deck.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe top deck of the Avalon Myanmar features a sun deck with cushioned lounge chairs.Avalon WaterwaysSmall and maneuverable, the Avalon Myanmar glides right up to the shoreline to tie up to stake knocked into the ground when visiting local villages.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYSparsely populated, the northern section of the Irrawaddy River often reveals such serene sights as lone fisherman floating on calm water.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Avalon Myanmar's teak-lined reception area.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA lovely teak wood stairway connects the Avalon Myanmar's three decks.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLocated at the front of Deck 3, the bridge of the Avalon Myanmar is open to visits from passengers.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Avalon Myanmar has a single dining room that can accommodate all of the ship's passengers in one seating.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYFlexible seating in the dining room can be configured into tables for two, four or more.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLike other public spaces on the Avalon Myanmar, the dining room has wall-to-wall windows offering spectacular views of the passing river.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAn action station in the Avalon Myanmar dining room offers cooked-to-order omelettes and pancakes at breakfast.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA buffet at the middle of the dining room is filled with both Western and Asian items at breakfast, lunch and dinner.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Avalon Myanmar has two spa treatment rooms and sails with two masseuses.Avalon WaterwaysThe Avalon Myanmar has a fitness room with a running machine and elliptical trainer.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe fitness area is located on Deck 3 near the ship's two spa treatment rooms.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe fitness rooms has a small assortment of free weights.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAvalon Myanmar has 18 cabins spread over two decks.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAvalon Myanmar cabins are unusually large for river ships in Southeast Asia at 245 square feet.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLike Avalon river ships in Europe, the Avalon Myanmar has wall-to-wall glass windows that slide open wide to create a balcony effect.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYEach Avalon Myanmar cabin has a buily-in desk area.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAn electrical outlet and light switch is located at the side of the desk in Avalon Myanmar cabins.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCabins have large built-in storage closets.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYOne side of the closets in cabins have room for hanging clothes, shelves for shoes and plush robes for use during the voyage.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA second closet area in Avalon Myanmar cabins has shelves for storage.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYPersonal safes big enough to hold a laptop are located in cabin closets.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCabins on the Avalon Myanmar feature spacious, contemporary bathrooms with marble-topped sinks.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCabin bathrooms on the Avalon Myanmar have large walk-in showers with Kohler fixtures.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCabin bathrooms feature upscale L'Occitane soaps and shampoo in bulk-size containers.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYL'Occitane vanity kits and shower caps are in a basket next to the sink.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYWhile tap water on the Avalon Myanmar is filtered, Avalon provides bottled water for drinking and to use when brushing teeth.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAvalon Myanmar cabins have versatile electrical outlets that can accept both U.S.-style and European plugs.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA seating area in Avalon Myanmar cabins includes a small sofa, table and chair.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYMiniature refrigerators in cabins are stocked with bottled water, sodas and local Myanmar beer that are complimentary and restocked daily.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA hallway to Avalon Myanmar cabins.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLocally carved teak wood provides the accents on the Avalon Myanmar.Avalon WaterwaysAvalon MyanmarAvalon WaterwaysDepending on the landing spot, Avalon Myanmar passengers sometimes are shuttled to shore via local wooden boats.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYStops along the Irrawaddy River include small villages with colorful local markets.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAvalon Myanmar crew members give alms to Buddist monks during a stop at the Irrawaddy River town of Katha.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAmong the stops during an Avalon Myanmar voyage on the Irrawaddy is a forest camp where elephants are used to carry logs.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAvalon Waterways passengers occasionally board a local bus for transport to a site away from the river bank.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYBefore heading to the Avalon Myanmar, passengers spend two nights in Burma's main city, Yangon, visiting such iconic sites as the 325-foot-tall Shwedagon Pagoda.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAvalon Waterways uses a private chartered plane to fly passengers from Yangon to the town of Bhamo, where the cruise on the Avalon Myanmar begins.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAvalon MyanmarAvalon WaterwaysAvalon MyanmarAvalon WaterwaysUnveiled in October 2015, the 36-passenger Avalon Myanmar was specially designed to sail in the shallow water that occurs on the Irrawaddy River in northern Myanmar.Gene Sloan, USA TODAY