Sunday, April 21, 2024

Why I still think Avalon Waterways has the best river cruise cabins

avalon cruise reviews

As new ships flood the burgeoning river-cruise market, each one-upping the other with better bells and more whistles, the what-will-they-think-of-next game is in full swing. Avalon Waterways' entry into the competition is 164-passenger Avalon Panorama, whose "Panorama Suite" innovation is brilliant in its simplicity. It's been a key differentiator for Avalon since the cabins began rolling out in 2011.

Avalon waterways went out of their way to accommodate our early morning arrival.

But the variety of itineraries offered broadens that age range. The company’s Active & Discovery Cruises are popular for multigenerational travel and its Storyteller Cruises that feature celebrity hosts drawing in many first-time river cruisers. This was my fourth cruise with Avalon and everything was excellent. The crew, the excursions and the ship were all outstanding.

Avalon Waterways Cruise Reviews

Cabins have angled walls that allow for beds to face the room’s windows so guests can lay back in bed and enjoy the view. We went on the Romantic Rhine River cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, and it was absolutely fantastic. Such a lovely ship and great service from the majority of the crew, particularly the Cruise Director and Maitre D'.

avalon cruise reviews

Fellow Passengers

Dinner in the main dining room is a four-course à la carte experience, featuring regional and local specialties. Alternatively, there’s the Panorama Bistro, located in a sequestered area of the lounge, that serves smaller portions, tapas-style. Complimentary beer and wine flow at lunch and dinner. Avalon Waterways is one of the few river cruise lines in Europe to offer room service.

Avalon Visionary Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - Cruise Critic

Avalon Visionary Cruise: Expert Review ( .

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:42:34 GMT [source]

Avalon cruises include onboard dining in the cost of the cruise. The main dining room serves a full breakfast buffet each morning and four-course dinners every evening. Guests can choose from several options at each meal, including a creative selection of vegetarian dishes. Menus include a mix of local dishes and American classics. River cruise types include classic European river cruises, active itineraries, holiday season cruises, and cruises focused on interests including cuisine, wine, photography, gardens and nature, and history. Typical itineraries range from eight to 16 days, but there are also options for shorter four- to six-day trips and sailings of three weeks or longer.

Guests have two years to book a vacation using their credit with Avalon Waterways, Globus, or Cosmos. Avalon Waterways has received a slew of awards and accolades, including being named a top river cruise line by Conde Nast Traveler, USA Today, and Travel + Leisure. It has a Cruise Critic user ranking of 4.7 out of 5 and rates 4.7 out 5 on TravelStride. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active. We even had to change ships mid cruise, due to high water levels, it was pretty much flawless. It did take longer than expected to get to our new ship, but it was because our Captain had to try and find the safest place for us to board, the waters were crazy!

Avalon Vista Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - Cruise Critic

Avalon Vista Cruise: Expert Review ( .

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:42:33 GMT [source]

A recent five-night preview cruise on the Rhine and Moselle rivers was a nice taste of what passengers will experience on Panorama's usual 14-night sailings between Amsterdam and Budapest. (Shorter Christmas market cruises will also be offered.) The ship docks at a different place each day and cruises mostly at night, with daytime sailings confined to exceptionally scenic portions of the journey. Included morning walking tours instantly familiarize passengers with the typically small towns, and within a few hours, it's easy to feel a real affinity for each village's markets, churches and riverfront walking paths. Avalon Waterways is a river cruise company with itineraries on some of the world’s most well-known rivers and the cities on their banks. Excursions and activities onboard and off the company’s 14 ships immerse passengers in the local culture and cuisine and include options like guided walking tours, canoe trips, and cooking classes. Onboard the Avalon View, guests can choose between casual buffets or four-course dinners with wine before dancing the night away to live music from a local band or DJ.

The Avalon View is operated by Avalon Waterways, a nearly 20-year-old river cruise line based in Lugano, Switzerland, and Littleton, Colorado. The line’s fleet is comprised of a dozen ships sailing around the world on rivers including the Rhine, Rhone, Danube, and Nile. As on almost every river cruise in Europe, it’s open seating in the dining room for lunch and dinner. In 2017, Avalon will introduce Avalon Fresh, a new concept to feature new menu items whipped up by award-winning Austrian chef brothers, Karl and Leo Wrenkh.

Europe Rivers

Each Panorama Suite features an 11-foot-wide, seven-foot-tall wall of glass that can slide to reveal a gaping, almost magical open-air expanse. When the doors are opened, take my word, you'll feel as if the entire cabin was outdoors. On that count, Avalon's Panorama Suites, with their view-facing beds and walls of glass, have delivered mightily since they first began debuting in 2011. Cabins with balconies are all the rage in cruising, of course, and cruisers think that's what they want.

We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. The 102-passenger river vessel is sailing up Portugal's famously lovely Douro Valley, and I'm being treated to an ever-moving scene of rolling hills, vineyards and centuries-old towns. There are several hand sanitizing stations on board as well as electrostatic and UV disinfection systems. Avalon Waterways requires guests and crew to be vaccinated against COVID-19, though beginning March 1, 2023 this will no longer be a requirement. The ship’s full-sized bathrooms are sleek and stylish and come stocked with L’Occitane products. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.

The excursions were well organised and the guides were very interesting and knowledgeable. The cabins were great and well looked after by the staff. Gratuities are not included for tour and cruise directors, local guides, drivers and crew members like cabin attendants. Since in 2004, Colorado-based Avalon Waterways cruises some of the world’s most beautiful rivers. Avalon’s 22 river ships cruise the rivers of Europe, Asia, Egypt and Peru.

We asked if the ship was full as you didn't feel cramped or crowded, and it was! There was a lovely relaxed atmosphere on the boat, you could wear what you wanted at all times and no pressure to do anything. We really appreciated the company not trying to fleece us for every penny while on the cruise, as has happened on other cruises.

It has two full decks of Avalon’s signature Panorama Suites, which create an unforgettable indoor/outdoor sailing experience. These suites feature wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling sliding windows. Each includes a seating area with an adjustable-height table, a large desk and a choice of mattress toppers to adjust the bed’s firmness.

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