TORONTO — Two new apps from sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos offer insider info on sightseeing, shopping, dining and getting around the host destination.

Each app is free and available for all itineraries except Avalon cruises in Southeast Asia and India and four Cosmos itineraries to remote areas.

The Cosmos app has been available since June of this year and the Avalon app will be launched on Aug. 29.

“With Cosmos we build in a lot of free time allowing clients to explore on their own, so this was a natural evolution of the services we provide,” says Stéphanie Bishop of the Globus family of brands.

In 2019 Avalon is making changes to several of its European itineraries to allow more time in port, and more overnight stops, she adds, noting that the app “is packed with ideas for maximizing time ashore.”