Avalon Waterways is witnessing a swell in river cruise sales for 2013. In fact, cruise sales for Mekong River cruises to Vietnam and Cambodia are up more than 150 percent for 2013. China cruises on the Yangtze for next year are up nearly 90 percent.

“As more travelers adopt river cruising as their preferred travel style, they want to broaden their experiences,” said Patrick Clark, managing director of Avalon Waterways.

Next year, Avalon is partnering with Century Cruises to use its two new ships -- Century Paragon, built this year, and Century Legend, which will be introduced in 2013. “With help from Century Cruises, we are providing our travelers the most personalized, VIP experience available on the Yangtze River,” said Clark. “Limiting Avalon travelers to 20 people on each Century ship, we are providing them exclusive perks as well as Small Group Discovery excursions in each city.”

Avalon travelers will eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in the VIP restaurant on the Sun Deck, and also will get complimentary wine, coffee and tea. They will also have reserved seating for evening entertainment. Avalon passengers will be offered private excursions in China’s less-visited cities such as Chengdu, home to the Giant Panda Research Base, and Lining’s medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Century Paragon and Century Legend feature a state-of-the-art propulsion system that decreases emissions as well as a pillar-less, multi-function lounge for unobstructed views, a large indoor swimming pool and staterooms with more than 300 square feet of living space, including private balconies.

In Southeast Asia, Avalon is offering Mekong River cruises on the new Avalon Angkor, which entered service this year. The vessel has 16 staterooms and can cruise all the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, eliminating seven hours of drive-time on land for travelers, Clark said.

Designed and constructed by traditional craftsmen, the Avalon Angkor has a colonial décor hand-finished in brass and teak. Avalon Deluxe Staterooms measure 172 square feet and open to the outside with floor-to-ceiling, sliding glass doors with louvers.

Avalon’s 2013 Asia cruises include the 11-day “Magical China & the Yangtze River” priced from $2,729, land and cruise only; the 15-day “Cultural China & Tibet with Yangtze River Cruise” priced from $3,569; the 15-day “Enchanting China & the Yangtze River” priced from $3,629; and the 14-day “Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River” priced from $3,269.

For more information on river cruises, visit Sell River Cruises.