River line Avalon is latest to expand in France

Avalon Waterways on Tuesday announced plans to nearly double its capacity in France, joining a growing list of river lines that are expanding in the country.

The Colorado-based company says it will have four ships on French waterways in 2015, up from two this year, as it adds a vessel on both the Seine and Rhone rivers.

Joining the 140-passenger Avalon Creativity on the Seine will be the soon-to-debut, 128-passenger Avalon Tapestry II. Joining the 138-passenger Avalon Scenery on the Rhone will be the just-unveiled, 128-passenger Avalon Poetry II.

Christened earlier this year, the Avalon Poetry II currently is sailing on Dutch waterways and the Danube.

Avalon also announced plans for a new 14-day itinerary for 2015 that combines a Rhine sailing and a Rhone sailing.

Also expanding rapidly in France is Viking River Cruises, which christened three new ships on the Rhone in March. Viking this year also has a new ship sailing out of Bordeaux, France on the Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde rivers.

Also growing in France is Uniworld, which last month christened a new vessel on the Rhone and plans new cruises out of Bordeaux for 2015.

Both of the new Avalon vessels making their debuts in France in 2015 will feature the company's new Suite Ship configuration that includes a large number of cabins with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that open 7 feet wide. For a look at the cabins and other spaces on an Avalon Suite Ship, click through the carousel below.