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Fantastic service and experience

Well, speak as you find. I see many poor reviews of Avalon Waterways, but I have to say we have just returned from an Avalon river cruise on the Romantic Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel on Avalon Illumination and it was absolutely fabulous. Our Panorama Suite was roomy and beautifully appointed. Everything from the fresh orchid plant on the dressing table to the comfortable bed reeked quality. The shower room, tiled in marble, was equipped with L'Occitane handwash, body lotion, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. A nice touch was the scent diffuser in a little alcove. At all times the staff ensured the suite was immaculately clean. There are so many things I could say about the Panorama Suite, all good. As to the food, it was top class, a generous buffet breakfast and a short menu including Eggs Benedict and Eggs Florentine were on offer every day. There was a buffet lunch in the Restaurant, which included a roast carved to order and the chef preparing a pasta dish fresh throughout the service. Salads, desserts and home made ice creams of the day. Upstairs in the Panorama lounge a lighter lunch was on offer, including a selection of salads, 2 main dishes, cooked vegetables and sandwiches, plus desserts. In the evening once again there was a choice of eating in the main restaurant or the Panorama lounge. The main restaurant offered a 5 course tasting menu with many choices. As with tasting menus each course was not enormous but given the number of courses more than adequate and all exquisitely presented. If none of the daily main courses were to your taste there were alternatives of beef tenderloin, grilled chicken breast, grilled salmon and the side dish of the day, every day. Free wine (speciality wines of the region with dinner), beer and soft drinks were available during lunch and dinner hours and there was a "Happy hour" between 5.45 and 6.45 every evening. Each evening there was some kind of entertainment after dinner in the Panorama lounge including quizzes, karaoki, a rock band and a classical group. The staff were absolutely lovely. They looked after us and spoiled us. I have to specially mention here Manuel and Ivan who worked in the Panorama lounge. They worked very hard but never stopped smiling! We also made some lovely cruise friends who we will be keeping in touch with. As to the Excursions, there was at least one free one every day, sometimes a choice of two or 3, plus often a paid one. We had some excellent free ones including a visit to a mechanical music museum, coffee tasting, wine tasting and a tour of Amsterdam canals etc. We have travelled all over the world over a period of 50+ years and experienced gourmet food on every continent, plus we are wine afficionados, but this was our first cruise and we were very pleasantly surprised. We will certainly consider another river cruise with Avalon.

Date of experience : June 18, 2024

Fantastic River Cruise With Avalon Waterways

My wife and I have just returned from our first River Cruise (Danube Dreams Westbound) operated by Avalon Waterways. This took us from Budapest in Hungary to Vilshofen in Germany via stops in Bratislava, Vienna, Durnstein, Linz and Passau. We had an excellent experience, thanks to Avalon Waterways and all the Avalon Team on board the ‘Avalon View’. We booked with Avalon, who we hadn’t heard of prior to booking, as a result of a suggestion from Barrhead Travel at the Gyle Edinburgh, who had previously provided us with excellent holiday suggestions. We are both extremely happy that we did. Every aspect of the cruise, from the Lufthansa flights, the airport transfers, the ship, our cabin, the food, the tours and the local guides, was excellent. Every member of the Avalon team we came into contact with was helpful, friendly and very good at their jobs. Our en-suite cabin was air conditioned, extremely clean, comfortable and more spacious than we had expected. Soundproofing was very good, although we did sometimes wake up at night as the ship negotiated a lock. There was a full height picture window which slid open if needed and through which we could watch the world go by during the day, although usually we chose to sit on the top floor ‘sky deck’ for this so we could get the sun. The food, from breakfast, through lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, was all prepared to an extremely high standard and the menus reflected the cuisine of the country we were travelling through. During the eight days we were on the ship, we tried many different dishes, some for the first time, and enjoyed everything we ate (a reflection of the great job done by the Kitchen staff). Some alcoholic drinks (e. g. house wine) and tea/coffee was included and there was a chilled drinks machine we could use to fill water bottles before the onshore tours. Other alcoholic drinks were charged for, although there was a ‘Happy Hour’ every day and special offers were made on different drinks throughout the week. The onshore tours were excellent, very well organized by Avalon and led by very good, knowledgeable and entertaining local guides who communicated with us via a radio based earpiece which made it easy to hear their commentary over any background noise. Based on the past few days, we have no hesitation in recommending Avalon to anyone thinking of booking a River Cruise holiday.

Date of experience : June 25, 2024

The Unriver Cruise Disaster

A company's character is not determined by how it handles day to day operations, but how it handles a crisis. This company fails miserably when Acts of God happen! We are on what was supposed to be a Danube River Cruise from Prague to Budapest...we never sailed at all, even though Viking sailed for the last 3 days. Avalon chose to bus us everywhere. They didn't communicate well at all. Information was withheld and our cruise director, Helmut, would turn and walk away from guests if he didn't want to answer questions. This was my 3rd Globus/Avalon trip but it will be the last. They excel in bus trips but not river trips. They don't know how to handle weather issues.

Date of experience : June 02, 2024

First River Cruise

My husband and I recently took our first river cruise, Romantic Rhine Northbound . We had long thought about taking one of these cruises but we were a little concerned as we had heard from others about their trip with a competition line. Their reviews left a great deal to be desired and made us apprehensive about booking the trip. Our travel agent suggested Avalon as an alternative and could not have been more pleased with the service that we received. The staff could not do enough for us. The trip from beginning to end was perfect. All excursions were well planned with knowledgeable guides. Our cruise director Perla Campailla was the epitome of perfection throughout the trip and she worked diligently to give us the perfect experience from the time we met her in Lucerne, to our reluctant departure in Amsterdam. Captain Peter and his crew were most professional and he was always there on our departures and returns. The room attendant Maria was very polite and professional and our room was always spotless and organized. All the food staff were friendly and attentive to our needs and wants. A special shout-out to our servers Winda and her husband Buhdi who were always cheerful and quick to meet our table’s requirements. There was a tear in our eye on our last day on board and we wish them all well.

Date of experience : May 24, 2024

Incredible crew!

This is my first river cruise, so I had nothing to compare it to. What exceeded any notion I had was how friendly and attentive the entire crew was. I feel I should say the sites were the highlights, but it was the crew that made my trip memorable and exceptional. From Dani, Radu, Bogdan, Feyzi, and Gabriel (the list can go on and on), every moment on board was filled with great food and fun. I was on the Panorama. It was clean and seemed brand new. My bed faced the floor-to-ceiling windows, so I had great views. Ibrahim, the head chef, nailed it with all of our meals.

Date of experience : April 20, 2024

Avalon Provides, Smiles and Delivers

This was a river cruise from Paris to Normandy and back. Avalon proved that they do more than the essential aspects well (food, friendly staff, excellent housekeeping, etc.). We did guided excursions walking and by bicycle. The guides provided by Avalon were friendly and well informed. Other times we walked on our own, and we took the ship's bicycles out. All was as advertised. Excellence in customer service was demonstrated throughout the trip. The water level on the river posed an issue for both the ship's crew and the tour director. They coped, they informed, they offered alternate, equivalent excursions, and they did so without showing how much frustration they must have felt. Throughout all this, they were always approachable. The change to the docking plans meant we had to change a private excursion away from the ship. The crew was very helpful in arranging for our taxi service. That's no big deal in your own country. In another country that uses other phone systems, while speaking other languages - the crew's support was well 'above and beyond'. Ideas for improvement? Include home country on staff name badges. Offer an option to share passenger contact information. Friendships form, and before realizing it, we've parted company. Some coach transfers are lengthy. Be sure a toilet break is available soon after disembarking the bus.

Date of experience : April 16, 2024

Wonderful Rhine River cruise

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'. 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. The excursions were well organised and the guides were very interesting and knowledgeable. Airport transfer all went smoothly too. The cabins were great and well looked after by the staff. I can't recommend this cruise highly enough.

Date of experience : April 13, 2024

Reply from Avalon Waterways

We appreciate your time sharing your comments following your cruise, our guests' feedback is of utmost importance to ensure our service standards at all times.Your very kind comments will be shared with all involved in making your holiday special.

The Taste of the Nile river cruise was…

The Taste of the Nile river cruise was a great vacation to Egypt that we took the last week of October, 2023. Accomodations, our Egyptologist, our private security guides and the daily itinerary for the 10 day trip were top notch. Our riverboat MS Farah from staff to accomodations were a 10 out of 10. All in all, a great trip for any Egypt history buffs. Would highly recommend.

Date of experience : October 26, 2023

AVALON EXPRESSION 5 STARS

I was recently on the Avalon Expression Rhine tour. I can only say it was over the top. Every detail was looked after. The cruise director Isvan was amazing with helping in any situation. The overview given by him each day was helpful, interesting and injected with such humour we were constantly laughing. He was always present to address any concerns. Having many food allergies I had no problems and the food and wait staff were amazing. I was so impressed that a meeting was held with the kitchen staff on the first day to go over dietary concerns. The food was delicious and the meal presentation in the evening was photograph worthy. Dharma was amazing and made sure every course was perfect and safe for me to eat. The ship was spotless, modern, well appointed and up to date. Our rooms were well set up with no small detail missing, right down to very high end shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The friendliness of the staff rubbed off on those on the cruise contributing to the making of many new friends. The excursions were well run, interesting and informative. I would just like to say thankyou to every single person that made my holiday such a fun and amazing one that I will never forget. You all deserve 5 stars. Trish O. Canada

Date of experience : May 07, 2024

Wonderful trip on Avalon Envision

We loved everything about this Riverboat cruise on the Danube! It was five-star all the way. The crew was fantastic and they went out of their way to take care of everyone. The meals, happy hours and snacks were exceptional and at perfect times to accommodate everyone. The self-serve coffee stations were available all the time and an added bonus. We really enjoyed the choice of many excursions, most included in the cost. We will look forward to another Avalon cruise sometime in the future.

Date of experience : September 09, 2023

A great family vacation

Excellent service, great excursions, wonderful meals, and educational wine talks. The staff adapted to river conditions (river level too high for ship to make last stop) in a way that didn't feel like we missed out. This was our second Avalon cruise and we invited our adult sons and their partners, all of whom also had a great time.

Date of experience : October 24, 2023

First experience river cruising was wonderful.

The crew made our first experience river cruising a wonderful vacation. The food and beverage were top notch as were the state rooms and common areas. The excursions were well organized and informative. Our only complaint would be that the embarkation instructions were very vague. Upon arriving at the port, the building was locked and there was no signage or instructions that we should proceed on a long walk around to the back of the building to find the ship. There were many other travellers with the same issue.

Date of experience : September 29, 2023

Second cruise with Avalon number 1 in our book!

This was our second river cruise with Avalon and everything was just as we expected being top notch on friendliness, cleanliness, organized every day with excursions, and wonderful food.The cabin stewards were always on top of our cabin every time we left. The servers at the happy hour and meals were outstanding, especially Fabi, if you ever have on a river cruise.

Date of experience : July 07, 2023

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

We booked an Egyptian cruise with Avalon months ago that included airport transfers, but we did not book our flights through them. Ten days before departure we had to change our arrival flight because of a cancellation by EgyptAir and we are now arriving at 2am. Avalon was able to work through the early morning transfer issues and went out of their way to provide transportation to the hotel. We are excited about the cruise and experiencing Avalon.

Date of experience : December 05, 2023

My son and I loved the room

My son and I loved the room - the decor was beautiful and we could watch castles pass by from our comfy beds. Helmut our cruise director and all the staff from the captain to the cleaning staff were friendly and helpful. Food was delicious and fellow guests were nice. We did most of the adventure activities but my one suggestion would be to have more excursion options that might be a little off the beaten path.

Date of experience : August 06, 2023

The trip was wonderful

The trip was wonderful; from a staff that was attentive, efficient and they made EVERY effort to know your name and to accommodate our needs. Tours were spot on and the ship`s size was comfortable which made our journey excellent. We enjoyed all the little extras that gave us a pampered feeling.

We have travelled with Avalon before…

We have travelled with Avalon before and we were not disappointed with either tour. From the moment we booked this tour until we got home the attentiveness of everyone is amazing. I loved your Avalon Go App, where we could choose all our optional excursions ahead of time. Every excursion was well explained along with the cost and the time of day it would happen, morning, afternoon, evening, or even all day. Our Cruise Director, Katie (?) was so informative and a very pleasant lady, a lot of fun. We had some issues with our flights, but that was Air Canada’s issue, not Avalon. We would definitely consider Avalon again.

Date of experience : September 07, 2023

From favorite cruise line to Never Again!!!

My first Avalon cruise/land tour to Vietnam/Cambodia was the best experience of my 80 plus cruises. We recently took the Avalon Egypt/Jordan cruise/land tour and it was the polar opposite. Most sites were awesome but the tour needed a guide in addition to the Egyptologist, who didn’t look out for the safety/best interests of the guests. I submitted a detailed review of Egypt and Jordan but have not yet heard back.

Date of experience : November 03, 2023

My wife and I received an offer of free…

My wife and I received an offer of free cruise and air tickets in return for attending their promotional in the Detroit area. We attended on July 12, 2023, Conf. # TS181. Upon leaving we were told that we did not qualify because we arrived late, were older than 72 years of age, and did not meet the income requirements. None of these requirements were stated on the invitation. If this is the way the company works, I certainly cannot recommend it.

Date of experience : July 12, 2023

Evening happy hour

Great meals, good local cuisine. Nice variety of tour options. Could improve on evening entertainment. We tended to back to our rooms after dinner as there was not much going on. Maybe an evening happy hour would get people out.

Date of experience : September 23, 2023

What to expect with Avalon Waterways

I take you through all the details of an Avalon Waterways river cruise ship – the rooms, the food, the bar, the activities, and more!

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

Updated: February 2, 2023

Not all river cruises are created equal. This is what I realise as I float down the Danube onboard the Avalon Impression.

In my previous story, I confessed that this was my first time on a European river cruise – and that my expectations and preconceptions had been all wrong.

I realised that there is much more flexibility than I thought, more variety than I imagined, and more authenticity than I expected.

But, as I say, not all river cruises are the same. There are two things that make this trip a little unlike others.

The first is the ship itself – because Avalon Waterways has some differences in its layout, style, and service.

The second is that I’m on an ‘ Active & Discovery ‘ itinerary – a relatively new idea from Avalon that is aimed at a broader market than the traditional river cruiser. That’s why I was invited to try the trip myself so I could tell you more about it.

If you haven’t read my first story about my overall impression of this river cruise from Budapest to Linz, I would recommend you check it out.

 Because now I want to go into some of the specifics of an Avalon Waterways ship and an Active & Discovery itinerary, to help you get a better impression of what it’s like to be on the Avalon Impression (see what I did there – pretty clunky, right?).

First let’s talk about the ship overall. I didn’t realise this previously but most river cruise ships in Europe are the same size. That’s because they need to be able to fit into the locks that they pass through. So, because each company makes their ships just small enough to get through a lock, they’ve all pretty much got the same dimensions.

This means it’s what you do with the same space that sets the ships apart. Let me paint you a picture of how Avalon does its ships.

An Avalon ship is 135 metres long and has three interior levels and a deck. You can get an amazing 3D look at the whole thing with this virtual reality tour from Avalon:

The bottom level has technical stuff at the front and guest rooms at the rear. These rooms have windows but not the full length ones that can be opened on the other two levels.

The second level has the dining room and kitchen at the front and rooms at the rear.

The third level has outdoor seating at the very front, then the lounge and bar, with the concierge in the middle, with rooms at the rear, and a club lounge at the very back.

And then the deck has a bit of space at the front, then the captain’s bridge, with some outdoor seating behind that, and then the majority of the space is lounge chairs and some other spaces to relax.

Having never been inside a river cruise ship before, I had not previously given the interior design too much thought. But, because we occasionally docked alongside other ships and had to walk through them to shore, I came to realise there’s a big variety in how they look.

It gave me a real appreciation of the Avalon ships, which aim to be comfortable and casual (you are on holiday, after all) but are still stylish.

It is clear that thought had gone into every detail, like in the lounge where there were tables to play cards, pairs of plush seats for couples that didn’t want company, or large open couch areas for groups – all a bit different but all cohesive in their style. Simple but classy.

Meanwhile, as I pass through other ships, I see one that looks like it should be the setting for an Agatha Christie novel, while the interior design of another looks like a dictator’s mausoleum!

(I guess everyone has different tastes and so these ships cater to them… but they’re not my style, I’m afraid.)

Let’s look now at the bedrooms, which are one of the biggest selling points of the Avalon ships. I am in one of the Panorama Suites, which most of the rooms on the ship are (65 of them out of 83). So that’s what I’ll focus on.

The first thing you notice is the bed, which is facing the window. It seems so obvious that you would want to look at the view from your bed, but most river cruise ships don’t do this, they have their beds facing a side wall.

The other thing that is really special is the window, which runs the full length and height of the wall and opens two-thirds of the way across.

Avalon calls this an ‘Open-Air Balcony’, which basically means that it feels as if you’re on a balcony if you sit inside and open up your window the whole way.

While this is clearly marketing talk, I do agree that it’s the best way to design the room because, if you were to have an actual balcony, the room would have to be much smaller because the ship can’t be built any wider.

Aside from the bed and the window, there’s a small couch and table, a desk, a TV with news channels and free on-demand movies, two wardrobes, and a large bathroom with a shower.

All in all, a very comfortable space that I wish I could have spent even more time in!

It’s also worth mentioning that it was cleaned twice a day and that was done discreetly while you were at meals.  

Speaking of meals, the food on the cruise was one of my highlights and it’s definitely an element of the trip that shouldn’t be understated.

If you’ve ever been on an ocean cruise and still have traumatic memories of huge crowds of people fighting for the large buffets of mass-produced food trays, don’t worry, this is the complete opposite.

The main meal each day is the dinner, which is a sit-down four-course meal. (This is included in the price for everyone). There is a menu with choices for the entree, soup, main dish, and dessert… and it’s all the quality you would expect at a top restaurant in the city you are near.

In fact, that’s one of the aims – to make it seem like you are in a local restaurant. The menu is based on where the ship is at the moment, with regional ingredients used to make regional dishes.

When we’re still in Hungary one evening, I have Hortobagyi Palacsinta (Hungarian pancakes with minced pork) for my entree, Palocleves (Hungarian lamb chowder) for my soup, and braised beef cheek as my main. (Other options included a Karfiol Levels cauliflower soup, Turos Csusza noodles, and Fogas Korhely sea bass fillet.)

Lunch is slightly more relaxed because, with the activities, not everyone has time for a long meal. So it’s generally served as a buffet but with the chefs on hand to slice meat and serve some special dishes.

Twice during the cruise, there is also a BBQ on the deck as an option for lunch and I really enjoying sitting outside with my steak and salad.

Breakfast is also a buffet meal with a good selection of hot and cold options, with local influences but also the standard food you would expect at any international hotel chain.

Another impressive aspect of the meals is that beer and wine is free during lunch and dinner. And they’re not shy about topping up your glass!

I probably drink a bit more than I really should’ve because each night there are different wines on offer that come from the local regions and, in such a famous wine-producing area of Europe, it seems a waste not to taste them all!

Seeing as we’re talking about drinking now, let me tell you a bit about the bar on the Avalon Impression.

Again, if you have bad memories from ocean cruises, don’t worry. There are no drinks packages on the Avalon ships and this is not a booze cruise (frankly, there’s just too much to see and do on the trip to waste your time with a hangover!).

But that doesn’t mean people don’t want to unwind with a drink in the evening and that’s how it’s designed.

The bar is in the large lounge area at the front of the ship where people tend to gather and where the daily ship briefings are given. It’s there for those who want it but it is not a focal point of the common area.

Each night there is a happy hour before dinner (which also coincides with the ship briefing), where the drinks are half price. It’s a great way to do things – you can have a cheap cocktail or glass of wine while you listen to the information.

The standard prices for the drinks are about €4.5 for a pint of beer, €5 for a glass of wine, and €8 for a gin and tonic. It makes the half-price happy hour very affordable!

After dinner, if you’re like me and you’ve had a fair amount of wine during the meal, all you may want is another glass or two as you continue your conversations before you go to bed.

This Avalon cruise from Budapest to Linz is no ordinary cruise. It’s called an ‘Active & Discovery’ trip and I want to quickly explain what each of those things mean.

There’s often a perception that European river cruises are quite boring because there’s not much to do. Well, the ‘active’ part of this trip defies that notion. Each day there are included activities that get the blood pumping (obviously you can choose whether you want to do them or not).

For instance, one day I join an excursion that goes cycling through the Wachau Valley in Austria. This cultural landscape is actually a World Heritage Site because of the rolling hills of vineyards and quaint villages that lie within it.

It’s a beautiful part of Austria that follows the course of the Danube River and that’s what we do on our bikes.

As we go past vines, old churches, and pretty town squares, our local guides tell us the stories of the region. But beyond that we also see some incredible landscapes while appreciating the challenge of the exercise as well.

Another day I join a group of passengers for a hike up to the top of a hill, along a dirt path and through the forest, to an incredible viewpoint.

From here we have an amazing view of a hairpin curve of the river, the blue sky shining above the green trees running down to the shore, and our ship sailing through the water to meet us at the bottom of the hill when we walk back down.

There are also opportunities to do your own thing – you don’t always have to be on an organised activity. For instance, we’re in Vienna for two days and I borrow one of the ships bikes, as you can do at any time for free.

I take the bike for the whole day and go cycling through the city centre, all the way to Schonbrunn Palace , where I tie it up and go inside this incredible residence of the Habsburgs.

In some ways, this is more activity than I’ve had in recent weeks and I enjoy the chance to get my body moving so much. Then again, I am eating and drinking so much, I’m sure I’m not losing any weight!

The ‘discovery’ part of the cruise also involves activities that you can choose to go on, and they aim to offer more in-depth experiences that show you a different side of the places that you’re visiting.

For instance, when we’re in Budapest , I go on a caving tour that takes us on paths underneath the ground to see the formations created by thermal waters.

At the same time, other passengers go on a Retro tour, where they drive around in a Trabant car to visit some of the sites in the city that remain from the Soviet days.

In Vienna, there’s a morning tour that shows us a slice of local life – the public transport, markets, residences. And there’s also the opportunity to go on a tour of an old absinthe shop to learn about the history of the drink and do some tastings.

There’s a very special experience one evening when we go to Clam Castle, a historic home on a hilltop near where we’ve moored for the night in Austria. Here, the castle’s owner, the count, shows us his home and hosts us for some drinks.

And on one of the last nights of the cruise, there’s a pub crawl through Linz with some local guys that is also a good cultural tour of one of Austria’s main cities.

Many times in my travels I have seen large groups of retirees shuffling through museums listening to a guide through an earpiece. Most of the time, these were cruise excursions. Nothing we did on this trip even came close to that.

Now, I have no fear in giving a balanced review and I would want to share with you any criticism I have about the ship or the itinerary. The problem is, I honestly don’t really have any.

I thought my room was so comfortable and I always loved being in it. I enjoyed the food, the wine, and the coffee. The onboard staff were really lovely, and it was nice to mingle with other passengers. I always felt safe and the captain was excellent.

The only slight comment I would have is about the excursions. While some of the excursions were the highlights of my trip, I did find some to be better than others. However, I think this was more about my expectations.

There were times when I had something in my head, and the activity turned out to be a bit different. If I had known better, I probably would have chosen a different option. There were certainly plenty of other things I could’ve done instead.

So, if you are going to do an Active & Discovery trip yourself, my only piece of advice would be to ask a few more questions about what the excursions involve, to make sure the one you choose is what you expect it to be.

And, finally, the other thing to talk about is the price – and this is a big thing (and a big price).

European river cruises are generally not cheap and I think this is probably one of the reason why they have traditionally been popular with older people. But that’s not the full story.

This Avalon Active and Discovery Cruise is 9 days long and costs about US$4500 per person. That means for a couple, the cruise is costing $1000 a day.

In some ways, there is good value here. You are getting very comfortable accommodation, transport, an included activity each day, three meals, lots of wine – not to mention the convenience and comfort that comes with the cruise.

On the other hand, if you were to plan your own trip from Hungary and Austria, you would be able to find the same level of luxury for less than $1000 a day.

There is good news, though. The figure I am quoting is the standard price for the cruise – but it’s actually often quite cheaper. If you aren’t travelling in peak season, you will normally find a better price. And there are also quite often really good deals advertised that include free flights or upgrades.

So, my advice is to be aware that there is a large cost to a trip like this but, if you want to come on the cruise, you can save a lot of money with some clever timing!

As I wrap up, I realise that I haven’t mentioned things like the free wifi, the free coffee and biscuits available 24 hours a day, and the friendly staff who you get to know quite well by the end of the trip.

All of these small things add to the experience I’ve just described and I don’t think I need to tell you much more about them. Hopefully you’ve already got the idea that the Avalon ships are full of little details that are designed to make your cruise experience as enjoyable as possible.

They certainly made my cruise better than I could have imagined. This was my first time on a European river cruise and I didn’t quite know what to expect and was worried I wouldn’t enjoy it. In the end, I loved it, and I think it was this ship and the unique itinerary that made it so great!

10 thoughts on “What to expect with Avalon Waterways”

We did Budapest to Amsterdam on Avalon Visionary 24 May to 8 th June 2023 Everything was superb ship, staff, meals with cruise director Valentin a master at his job. My only disappointment was the sound of music optional excursion wasn’t as much as l expected it was more about Salzburg Have recommended Avalon to friends as they followed my fb tour photos

I appreciated this article, because we will have our first Avalon Cruise, and first ever river cruise in Europe in April 2024. Your description of daily events, meals, etc… gave me some insight on what to expect. Thank you for your thoughtful reporting!

We will be on the Avalon Tulip cruise in April 2024. Really looking forward to that.

Thank you Michael for your in depth review. My wife and I will be cruising with Avalon in October ’24 on the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel. Our first ever European holiday (we’re from the land Downunder) I wanted to book with a quality cruise company. Reviews such as yours make me very comfortable that I have made the correct decision.

Thank you! We will be taking the Danube Dream cruise in April 2024 and this was very helpful. My first time in Europe and first River Cruise as well

Hi Leslie…we are too!

We will be doing the Seine River cruise in October which is also our first time in Europe. I did a lot of research before I chose Avalon and your review confirms that we made a good choice.

I have been on several Avalon river cruises and noted that your $1000/day price per couple doesn’t mention that this is the cost of ONLY the room you stay in. The cruise itself is an additional $4000+/-,add gratuities, port charges, and airfare (which isn’t always included) and trip insurance. You are looking at a significantly higher cost. I noted that the trip cost isn’t mentioned anywhere online or in their brochures. Only cabin cost. I feel more transparency is needed by Avalon without having to call them.

I have taken both Avalon and Viking Cruise. I love them both. One thing I loved about Viking was the drink package. While I don’t over indulge, I did find it very convenient. Coming back from an excursion, my wife and I would take a right turn when boarding and visit the bar for a cocktail. We would catchup with others doing the same thing. Without the drink package I go back to my cabin and head back out for dinner. While I could take it or leave it, I prefer to take the drink package when available. The idea of “This is not a booze cruise” falls short for me. On vacation, I am looking for convenience. That being said, I will be cruising again on Avalon in a few weeks.

I went on my first trip to Europe via a river cruise on Tranquility II. If I never go on another trip, I will know that I had the best cruise of my life and will be satisfied that I took the cruise with Avalon. The accommodations were wonderful, the food and drinks were top notch, but the crew made the whole trip as memorable and awesome as it was. The Amsterdam to Brussels trip was a dream with captivating architecture and informative tours about the areas we were in. I LOVED MY TRIP! I will have the best memories of a lifetime because I took this river cruise. Hats off to the people who make all this possible at Avalon.

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Why I still think Avalon Waterways has the best cabins in river cruising

Editor's Note

It's all about the view.

As I write this, I am propped up in bed on Avalon Waterways' new Avalon Alegria, marveling at the stunning landscape passing by just a few feet beyond my toes.

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.

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It's a view I wouldn't have if I were lounging in bed on most other river ships in Europe — at least, if I had my back to the headboard.

Unlike on Avalon Alegria, the beds in cabins on most river ships in Europe face sideways to an interior wall. It's unusual for cabins on river ships in Europe to be configured so that the beds face the view.

It's a little thing that makes all the difference.

As I've written about several times over the years at other publications, Avalon Waterways has my favorite river cruise cabins in Europe, in large part because the beds are configured to face the view in most of them.

It's not just the view-facing beds in Avalon cabins that win my adoration. It's the use of an almost complete wall of glass along the view-side of many Avalon rooms to frame the passing scenery.

Related: Why a Douro River cruise may be the ultimate friends group getaway

While not every cabin on Avalon vessels in Europe is configured this way, a large portion are. Avalon calls these view-facing cabins with walls of glass Panorama Suites, and they can make up roughly 80% of the cabins on many of the line's vessels.

It's been a key differentiator for Avalon since the cabins began rolling out in 2011. That was the year Avalon unveiled its first Suite Ship, as the line calls vessels with such cabins. The line now operates 16 such vessels in Europe and Asia.

Glass walls instead of balconies

One of the big differences between the Panorama Suites on Avalon's Suite Ships and the cabins on the river ships of some competitors is that they don't have balconies. That allows the entire wall facing the outside to be turned into one big glass panel.

On most Avalon ships, these glass panels measure an astounding 11 feet wide.

What's more, the glass wall can slide open sideways to create a 7-foot-wide opening for fresh air. (Don't worry; you won't fall out when it's open. There is a secondary glass wall that rises up partway with a railing at its top to create a safety barrier.)

Related: 9 best river cruises in Europe

As I am seeing on Avalon Alegria and have seen when sailing many other Avalon vessels, the Panorama Suites typically have small seating areas next to the walls of glass. When the glass wall is slid open, you have the feeling of being on a balcony even though it's not a balcony, as you can sit in the seating area at the edge of the now-open wall.

It's an "open-air" balcony, as Avalon calls it.

It's the highlight feature of a cabin type that is perfect in just about every way. At 200 square feet, Panorama Suites are larger than most standard cabins on European river ships. They're modern and stylish, too. They have comfy beds and elegant bathrooms with spacious showers.

Adding balconies to cabins on river ships isn't easy. The narrowness of the locks on European rivers means that river ships must be built to be very narrow — too narrow to have cabins that are both spacious enough to be comfortable and have balconies at their ends.

Still, many river lines design their river ships with balconies attached to cabins despite such limitations, as they believe it's what customers want. They do it by stealing space away from the interior parts of cabins.

The result is often cabins that have balconies but feel tight on the inside.

In designing its Panorama Suites on river ships without balconies but with stellar views through walls of glass, Avalon has bucked the trend in river cruise cabin design — and in just the right way.

Cabins with balconies are all the rage in cruising, of course, and cruisers think that's what they want. But when you're river cruising, what really matters is the view. You want to see the scenery of the river bank as it rolls by, preferably from the comfort of your bed.

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.

TPG's Gene Sloan is reporting live this week from a preview sailing aboard Avalon Alegria, Avalon Waterways' first vessel on Portugal's Douro River. Visit his author's page at TPG for all his dispatches.

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13 Surprising Things to Love About River Cruising: the Avalon Danube Review

August 14, 2019

The Avalon River Cruise Review: from Budapest to Linz Via Vienna along the Danube

Disclosure: I experienced this cruise as part of a paid partnership with iAmbassador and Avalon Waterways. As usual though, my honesty is shared here without any limitations in the hope that it helps your own trip.

I’m on the ship, on the Danube and I can’t hear a thing. Stretched out on the bed, one wall has become a window, thrown wide open to ooze in the summer from floor to ceiling with a light, tingling breeze. The slow ripples of the river cruise past, soft and supple, a soulful slinking procession of jade.

This morning, I was swimming in that water. Or was that the day before?

Swim, cycle, kayak, hike. The Danube has nowhere to hide when it comes to activities on this Avalon Active & Discovery River Cruise. And with state rooms that replace one wall for a window and a glass-themed design that always look outwards, every part of the ship looks out at the Danube.

From Budapest to Vienna to Linz – The Avalon River Cruise

From the moment I pull back the curtains in the morning to the moment I close them at night, the Danube is mine, all mine. From Budapest to Vienna, Linz and back again, she has wowed me with her beauty and her guile.

And she’s come as a great surprise. When I accepted this project, I wasn’t sure how much I’d enjoy a European river cruise. (That’s Brit polite for I hoped it wouldn’t be too bad.)

Now that I’ve finished. I’m on a mission to recruit everyone I know to the river cruising cause:  I LOVED the concept behind the Avalon Waterways Active & Discovery Cruise.

Why? Because of these thirteen surprising features on their journey.

• Check out these  fantastic cruise packing tips here.  

13 Surprising Things to Love: The Avalon River Cruise Review

The Incredible Views from the Room

The rooms pack in a wow factor right from the start. Unique among cruise companies, the bed faces the window and the window takes up nearly a whole wall. The space saved by scrapping the traditional river cruise balcony means that a table and two chairs and a desk fit in easily too.

The whole room is a balcony, only one with better privacy than the real ones could offer.

Real balconies offer views of your neighbour’s towels and drying swimwear. With these rooms, it’s just you and the mighty Danube.

The Open Spaces: Meet and Mingle or Hide Away

Many cruises force passengers to dine together and the group excursions are always large.

Avalon have switched things around a little, for the introverted, or fans of a little peace and quiet. Either description works for me.

Dining tables can be split into two, four, eight or more and table reservations bypass the need for a scrum at the door.  Careful design of the shared areas mixes mingling and privacy, even down to creating a large and small coffee area.

Interestingly, they’ve found that dining patterns change during the course of the cruise. At the start, people sit separately. By the end, they’re friends and people stop reserving tables. It’s just happened at a more natural kind of pace.

Is this your first time?

Note! This was my first river cruise through Europe. Read the comparisons from people like Cacinda at Points and Travel for how Avalon compares to the other big names in the business.

Freedom of Movement (!)

Nothing fills me with horror quite as much as the thought of queuing to get off a boat. Lay the blame at early exposure to Kate Winslet and Titanic, if you will, but I like to feel free and move when I can.

Obviously, while the ships cruises along, it makes sense to stay on it.

But once it’s stopped (moored? Anchored?) Avalon has just a short walkway to dry land and there’s no need to queue to get out. Or back on. The ship uses room card technology that lets you tap in and out.

The itinerary means that cruise time is fairly limited, so most of the time you can come and go at will. Avalon also have a fleet of sixteen bicycles at the ready, as well as an Adventure Host, so in addition to the multitude of excursions on offer, you can just do your own thing too.

Oh yes. No enforced evening meetings. Hurrah! Some places make you sit through an announcement of the next day’s activities every single night. Lots of passengers love them. For me, they’re excruciating. Happily, Avalon doesn’t insist you sit through them and it’s easy enough to find the information on the printout in your room, the screens in the lobby and the free app on your phone.

No Sea Means No Sea Sickness

The heading makes it sound obvious. But it still took me by surprise.

Through my youth, I had no trouble on the waves. As I grow older, if the waves are choppy or the room confined, it’s easy to feel hot and bothered.

My seasickness has never been bad enough to stop me going on the water, but it’s there at the back of my mind. I carry travel sickness pills, sit at the back of a boat and stare, quasi-religiously, at the horizon.

On small ship cruises, I’ve been fine. Just felt a little “jet lagged” the whole time.

On a river cruise, there’s none of that. It is (forgive me) plain sailing. A smooth journey, without the sideways rocking about.

When you head through the locks, it’s probably a good idea to head to the top deck if you feel claustrophobic. But other than that, it’s a breeze.

The Fascination of Locks

Speaking of locks – it’s geekily amazing to see such brilliant engineering in action! I’d seen plenty on the canals in Britain, but the ones that make up the navigation of the Danube are built on a completely different scale.

Without the wild waves of the sea, river cruise ships can let their hair down. If the ships don’t need to plan for pitch and yaw, crick and craw, then rooms can be far more “normal.” Cupboards and drawers don’t need to be clipped shut and bathroom doors can open properly.

The Panoramic Suites on the Avalon Impression measure 200 square feet. The Deluxe Staterooms measure 172 square feet and don’t have the floor to ceiling window.

In total, the Avalon Impression has 83 cabins: 65 panoramic suites and 16 deluxe state rooms.

A Cultural Dining Extravaganza

Another confession: I expected the food to be bland, international, standard fare.

Not bad food. But good either and certainly not in touch with the local area – and for me, combining food and travel seems half the point of going somewhere.

Every single menu, every single day delved deep into the character of the city or small town we were in.

In Visegrád, for example, Hortobagyi palacsinta and turós csusza graced the menu (that’s Hungarian pancakes and savoury noodles, in case you were wondering.)

Plus, for anyone interested, a hamburger and chips were always available on request.

Some nice touches >> Beer and wine are complimentary at lunch and dinner. Continental room service breakfast is also complimentary. A full cocktail bar operates, with happy hour each day too.

Although all meals are included, you can also dine off the boat as well without any complicated rearrangements. Lunchtime switched to a sundeck BBQ when the weather behaved, adding a splash of variation.

Both large and small lounges offered self-service tea and coffee throughout the day (and night, I suppose. But I was making the most of my time to be able to sleep!)

On that note, early and late riser breakfast sittings also added to the flexibility of the setup.

Quality Excursions with Local Guides and Sustainable Practices

A triad of myths busted:

1 – Cruise ships never benefit the locals

2 – Crowded walking tours (past shops owned by the cruise companies) are all that’s on offer

3 – It’s all unsustainable

The view from the room wowed me. The excursions look a little longer for their importance to seep in. They were incredible.

From VIP access to classical sights in Vienna to swimming in solitude in the Danube to discovering craft beer made by the last three remaining monks in a hidden village I’d never have found, the excursions brought the area alive.

Avalon pledge to work with local companies wherever they go, and they meant it. Even though the ship carries its own bikes, they use local bike tours when they’re in town.

Some excursions ran with one person (jogging around Vienna at dawn. Not me, you won’t be surprised to hear.) Others took virtually the whole ship (wine and beer tasting in the hills surrounding Vienna at a local Heuriger or tavern.)

Some excursions carried an additional fee, which complicated things a little, and each had different booking deadlines. But there is a Cruise Director on hand all the time to help you manage your choices and provide information.

Suitable for All Ages – Except for the Very Young

So who will you be travelling with? Mainly Americans, with around one third European and perhaps ten percent from elsewhere in the world. Age? Anywhere from thirteen to ninety.

The cruise included solo travellers, couples, extended families and, of course, groups like us (around 10 travel bloggers, half of whom I knew well already, while the others were new to me.)

It looks ideal for “intergenerational travel,” which typically means children, parents and grandparents. Light excursions, lifts (elevators) and talks on board the ship mean that those with reduced mobility can still enjoy the trip. And the wide variety of active excursions allow those with more energy to blow off steam.

Families can still spend plenty of time together, with opportunities to escape as well. And arguments can be sidestepped with the prearranged excursions and someone else in charge of time keeping ;-)

A New Appreciation of History and Geography

Just like walking a city on foot reveals a better grasp of a place than hiding on the subway, so, too, does a river cruise illuminate the connections between neighbouring countries in a way that flying from city to city never could.

Getting Off the Beaten Track

Have you ever heard of Grein? Of Visegrad? The Engelhartszell-Schlögen Oxbow?

I certainly hadn’t until they popped up on this itinerary. I disembarked expecting a pleasant stroll through a pretty place.

What I found instead, amazed.

At Visegrád, I took to the Danube on a kayak and then plunged into the cool. Other passengers entered into battle in a medieval Knights Tournament in the Lower Castle.

At Spitz, I joined a cycle tour, heading through the stunning wine Wachau Valley with a stop off at Dürnstein with is blue Stiftskirche and apricot-fuelled sweets. Grein revealed the oldest theatre in Austria and Mauthausen revelaed the 9 th century St Florian Monastery with an organ recital that gave me the chills.

Even in the big cities that I already knew and loved, Avalon uncovered something new. In Budapest, a fleet of retro trabants whisked us through the ruin pubs and off to the monument graveyard and home of Stalin’s boots.

Vienna crammed in classical sights with a dawn walk and breakfast, followed by a leisurely afternoon learning how to make strudel and schnitzel.

It’s my job to track down the unusual, the brilliant and the interesting in a destination and I know the people and tools and tricks to help me do it in half the time. But finding all of these would have taken so long if I’d been trying to do it myself. Here, Avalon did it all for me.

Feeling Active and Lazy at the Same Time

Ooh, this is a good one. You can be active and lazy at the same time and it’s utterly brilliant.

First, up the active part. The excursions include active components like cycling, hiking, running, swimming and kayaking. There is an onboard Activity Instructor who runs yoga session in the morning and keep fit in the afternoon. Bikes are available to hire (for free) on land and light bites are available for meals instead of the full shebang.

Now, what about the laze?

Well, for starters, all the logistics are taken care of. Accommodation, travel and where to eat, on and off the ship if you wish. Airport transfers are sorted. Luggage transfer likewise. Turndown service, cleaning, planning your itinerary.

Heck, Avalon even have an app that you can access offline for when you’re wandering around on your own. And printed maps for each place in which the ship stops.

Sports equipment appears on demand, including helmets, plus refreshing drinks when you return to the ship.

Done, done and done, allowing you to laze in your room, soaking up that incredible view.

Sustainably Minded

I’ve been writing about sustainable tourism since the dawn of blogging here on Inside the Travel Lab. And I approach it in a pragmatic way, thrilled to see progress rather than furious at imperfections.

And Avalon are indeed sustainably minded. Next year, they will introduce refillable bottles to replace plastic. They work regularly to reduce paper waste by moving information to email and apps.

As I mentioned before, they work closely with locals in terms of tour operators and food produce. Staff come from across the EU. Ships are fuel efficient and the sewage recycling system discharges only clean water into the river (staff swim in it after all, as well as guests.)

A Perfect Night in Budapest

It’s not just the cruise set up, Avalon organise hotels as well. As any seasoned traveller knows, things can easily go wrong. For that reason, the first night involves a city hotel so that any stragglers can still join the ship the next day.

We stayed at the Hilton Budapest, right opposite the Fisherman’s Bastion on Buda Hill. Frankly, the perfect view to start a visit to the city.

So, was everything perfect?

Of course not. But honestly, this was one of the best trips I’ve been on in a very, very long time. Yes, it was part of a paid work project but then, most of them are!

What to know before you go

• While great for intergenerational travel, there is a cut off age for children. Over 8s only and, to be honest, it may be better suited to over 10 or 12.
• There is a jacuzzi on the sundeck and small gym on board but no big pool (unless you count the river.)
• Most of the excursions were stand out, once-in-a-lifetime brilliant, but a few were sketchy, mainly due to the conduct of the local guides. As I understand it, Avalon review their tours regularly and will already be addressing this.
• Um, that’s about it.

From cruise sceptic to European cruise fanatic in one single trip.

Rivers of Europe: here I come!

Ready to delve deeper?

Find the full specs about this Avalon Waterways Cruise here.

More Travel Tips

• The ultimate holiday packing list plus printable
• The complete pre-trip checklist to make sure you don’t forget a thing
• 13 surprising things to love about river cruising
• What is the Discovery Princess really like? Check out the Discovery Princess High Tech Review here.

1 thought on “13 Surprising Things to Love About River Cruising: the Avalon Danube Review”

Thanks for the River Cruise info, it’s on my bucket list!

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7 Night European River Cruise on The Moselle With Avalon Waterways – Expert Review

Explore the stunning Moselle River with Avalon Waterways on the Imagery II during an 8-day active and discovery cruise. Enjoy guided hikes and bike tours, wine tastings, and cultural experiences while cruising through picturesque towns and charming villages. Read our expert review for more details.

Europe is one of my favorite destinations in the world. I love the history, culture, art, music, food, wine, and the plethora of outdoor activities. But, while we often travel to Europe and have explored cities, villages, towns, and hidden gems of many countries by land and sea, this time around, I wanted to experience traveling entirely differently. So, I brought my husband along for an 8-day, 7-night active, and discovery Moselle European River cruise with Avalon Waterways in May 2022. Our trip on the Avalon Imagery II started in Luxembourg and ended in Frankfurt, Germany. Throughout our time, we explored ancient fortresses and wine and dined in beautiful vineyard towns. We also enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors and spent several days hiking on the hillsides and running and biking along the river.

Our overall experience aboard the Avalon Imagery II was fantastic. The service we received was terrific, and the level of attentiveness the staff demonstrated made our trip both relaxing and enjoyable. Every single staff member we encountered on the journey, from the servers in the restaurants to the housekeepers to our fantastic trip conductor, exuded excitement, attentiveness, and true love of their job.

Day 1 – We Begin Our European River Cruise on The Moselle 

After a long travel day, we arrived in Luxembourg (one of the easiest and smallest airports in Europe), met our driver, and headed to the ship, docked in Remich. The town is small compared to others in the area and is home to around 3,000 citizens, making up the border between Luxembourg and Germany. However, once you walk a few blocks from the river, you’ll start to notice the town’s character and underrated charm. Remich is filled with small markets, social events celebrating culture, and many nature parks and vineyards.

We arrived at the boat around 11 am, and although our room was not yet ready, the crew onboard the Avalon Imagery II welcomed us with drinks and appetizers. They hurried to prepare our room and allowed us to check in early. One of my favorite parts of the trip was staying in our beautiful Panomara Suite, which gave us a gorgeous floor-to-ceiling view of the river and the towns we were slowly moving by. In addition, I was impressed with the size of the bathroom, the quality of the amenities, and twice-daily housekeeping. We spent a relaxing first evening getting to know the staff and catching up with fellow travelers. After that, we could not wait for our European Moselle river cruise to begin.

Day 2 – Exploring Luxembourg

On the first full day of our Avalon river cruises trip, we took a guided excursion to explore the city of Luxembourg, which has been on my list of places to visit for many years. I’ve always known it to be a tiny country with a lot to offer, from unspoiled hiking trails to fairy-tale castles and proximity to many beautiful European cities. We walked through charming town squares, explored small shops and cafes, and took in the magnificent scenery.

We returned to the ship to enjoy another gourmet meal and sample delicious local wines while the boat sailed. That evening we opted for a walking tour of Trier, a town known as Germany’s oldest city, which houses the landmark Porta Nigra , a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 2nd century as a magnificent Roman gate. Other treasures we witnessed were the Trier Cathedral treasury which houses St. Andrew’s altar, and the “Holy Nail” reportedly used during Christ’s crucifixion. We also walked through the market square, where we explored more historical medieval attractions, local living, and city center culture.

The town of Tier was one of the stops where I wished we’d had more time. The central squares come alive in the evening and nighttime, with local musicians, beer gardens (biergartens), and tourists and locals enjoying the carefree summer nights. Unfortunately, the town center was about 20 minutes from where our boat was docked for the night, and we were not confident we would find a taxi service if we stayed out too late. This is one challenging thing about European river cruises… you can never predict where they will dock overnight.

Day 3 – Lovely Bernkastel

On the morning of our third day, we found ourselves in another charming town, Bernkastel.

We opted to get active and signed up for a short hiking adventure that took us up to the castle. After burning a few calories, we spent some time exploring the quaint streets of Bernkastel and enjoying a quick beer in the square. The town is filled with half-timbered houses built centuries ago, so wandering around through cobblestones streets and historical landmarks was thoroughly enjoyable. Taking a European river cruise allowed us to see so many different towns and villages we would have otherwise missed.

That evening we docked in Traven-Trarbach and headed out with our group for a fun, wine-tasting adventure. We toured a local winery and cellar and learned much about the region’s traditions and wine production. It was the perfect way to end a lovely day.

Day 4 – Biking The Moselle and Reichsburg Cochem Castle

The following morning, we were up early again for a fun-filled 27 km (16.7 miles) biking excursion along the Moselle river. While we chose the ‘Active’ category for our activity, the bike ride with our adventure host was not overly challenging (although you should be comfortable riding in varying terrain). The tour took about 3 hours, and we feel like we truly saw the best of what this region had to offer. Passing charming villages, quaint towns, and miles of rolling hills covered in vineyards, we felt like we were stepping back in time. At the end of the ride, we hopped on a ferry, crossed the river, and met up with our boat.

That afternoon our European river cruise sailed to Cochem, one of our favorite stops on this trip. Taking in the sheer beauty of this gorgeous town and the postcard views you get from the water was an experience I will never forget. The city is surrounded by steep vineyards and is the center of the area’s wine trade. If you wander the town long enough, you will find many businesses offering daily tastings. We visited the Reichsburg Cochem  Castle  with a group tour and then walked back down to explore and wander the cobbled streets on our own.

Day 5 – Off The Beaten Path

About 79 miles from Frankfurt lies the idyllic town of Koblenz. This gorgeous waterfront city allows visitors to see incredible 17th and 18th-century architecture. The Mittelrheim Museum is where you’ll see Romanticism-era paintings that helped the nearby Rhiné Valley become so famous. You can also visit the vibrant Basilica of St. Kastor, hop on the ferry, and chairlift to Festung Ehrenbreitstein, a massive fortress overlooking the Rhine.

We opted to spend the day exploring the region on tour. At our first stop, we visited an old underground quarry where we learned about the people who worked here for centuries. We then stopped at the magnificent Maria Laach Abbey , where once again, we wished we had more time. The Benedictine abbey was built in the 11th-12th centuries and was initially called Laach Abbey (Lake Abbey). During WWII, the monastery was embroiled in controversy for collaborating with the Nazi regime.

In the afternoon, we explored the town of Koblenz and took in some of the beautiful architecture along the river. This city is a great place to begin boat rides. Explore the area along the Moselle, including Cochem, Mainz, and even Cologne. You also don’t want to miss out on one of the newest attractions in town, the Koblenz Cable car that takes travelers on an exciting aerial journey to Ehrenbreitstein castle. This town was another favorite stop on our Moselle European river cruise.

Day 6 -St. Hildegard Abbey,  Wine and Sweets

The next morning, we enjoyed a beautiful scenic ride along the river. We passed more castles than can count and relaxed on the ship for a few hours. Then we spent our afternoon exploring colorful Ruedesheim, a lovely little winemaking town on the Rhine river. While an excursion with transfers was available, we opted to walk up to Hildegard-Weg , the magnificent Benedictine Abbey on the hill. We learned that at St. Hildegard Abbey, the nuns operate an award-winning winery known for the “Best of the Riesling.” We then met up with our group for a wine tasting experience before walking back through the vineyards to town.

First, we tasted traditional Ruedesheim coffee then visited the Siegfried Mechanical Music Museum. Finally, it was time to explore the city by tasting local food and beer.

Day 7 – Frankfurt and Frankenstein’s Castle 

We explored a bit of the international town of Frankfurt on our last day, and this small city did not disappoint. In the 1950s, Frankfurt was rebuilt from the ruins following the bombings of World War II. Today, you’ll see the vibrant city thriving better than ever. Frankfurt is considered a world business and transportation hub. Its fine opera, ballet, and world-class museums continue to amaze visitors worldwide. We also took a tour of the Frankenstein Castle (Burg Frankenstein). The castle is thought to have inspired Mary Shelley’s famous novel . We ended our trip by walking around the Old Town and viewing houses dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries and sights like St. Paul’s Cathedral, 13th-century Town Hall, and a gothic customs tower.

We ended our Moselle European river cruise with a delicious breakfast before heading back to the airport and on to Phoenix.

Taking Avalon Waterways allowed us to explore a new corner of Europe differently. If there were any negatives to our trip, they were slight and didn’t affect our overall experience. First, we found the activities director to be a bit confusing. We were unsure of her role, and her participation in some activities felt disorganized. We also thought our Frankenstein Castle tour was the least interesting compared to other excursions. It was too long, and there was not much to actually see there as the castle was largely destroyed. Most of the other travelers we spoke to on this excursion also seemed exceedingly bored.

Other than a few hiccups, I highly recommend taking a river cruise with Avalon Waterways. The Panorama Suites on the Avalon Imagery II ship are lovely and nicely appointed. The floor-to-ceiling windows truly bring the outside in. Finally, I believe the Avalon river cruises staff is their “secret sauce.” Their attentiveness and attention to detail were beyond 5 stars!

A luxury travel agent can help you find off the beaten path adventures like this one!

About the Ship and Panorama Suites: Avalon River Cruises

The Avalon Imagery II ship was built in 2016. However, unlike other ships of similar age, Imagery II has not started showing her age yet. Passengers can choose from two full decks of Panorama Suites. These suites feature Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows creating a unique Open-Air style Balcony. The Panorama Suites are 200 square feet, around 30% larger than the industry standard. Cabins are configured, so the beds face the floor-to-ceiling windows, which is a huge bonus.

Onboard amenities include:

• Complimentary Wi-Fi access
• A small yet functional Fitness Center
• Alternative light dining options in the Panorama Bistro
• An expansive Sky Deck with a whirlpool, premium shaded lounge chairs and deck games.

Configuration:

Fifty 200-square-foot Panorama Suites

Two 300-square-foot Royal Suites

Twelve standard cabins that are 172 square feet and have picture windows. We do not recommend booking these as you lose out on the experience of taking in the scenery while sailing.

Be sure to properly pack for your next cruise adventure! Additionally, if ocean cruises are more your style, consider looking at our list of the 8 best luxury cruise lines for ocean cruises. 

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Cruise Tour Guide Argues Why European River Cruising Isn’t Just ‘An Activity for Retirees'

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Though ocean cruises and river cruises are both "cruises," they couldn't be further apart in vibes (generally speaking). Ocean liners are basically big floating party islands where shore excursions are fun but optional, whereas river cruises are primarily about stopping and exploring all the cool places along the way. However, river cruises also tend to attract a "senior" demographic, and that's hurt their favor a little with younger travelers who would otherwise enjoy that experience.

Travel agent Mx. Darling normally prefers the big party cruises, especially Virgin Voyages, and always thought that going on a European river cruise was "an activity for retirees." After trying a river cruise with their mom, though, they've completely turned their opinion around, and now argue that other cruisers should consider doing the same!

Mx. Darling (aka  @mxdarlingadventures ) fully admits that river cruising is nothing like ocean cruising - and that's a good thing! Despite feeling apprehensive about not fitting the "river cruise demographic," they compromised for the sake of taking a trip with their mom, and ultimately discovered that while, yes, their fellow cruisers did skew older, that didn't stop them from having an exciting experience. If anything, it was actually quite freeing! 

Related: Cruise Experts List Common 'Sea Day' Mistakes They Wish People Would Stop Making

The pair traveled seven nights on the Avalon Expression down the Rhine River from Switzerland to Germany to France and then to the Netherlands, where they finally ended the trip in Amsterdam. Each day brought them to a new destination, and that's where the cruise's laid-back style really shined. 

"One of the most unique things about river cruising is that Avalon includes multiple excursions in every place, which means you have a ton of freedom," Mx. Darling explained. In their caption, they clarified that while some of these excursions are meant for older "gentle walkers," Avalon also offers hiking and biking excursions to cater to everyone, including the younger, more energetic crowd. 

And even then, river cruisers have freedom outside of the official excursions. "In most of these places, the ships are so small, they dock right in town or at most a 10-minute walk away," Mx. Darling said. With no tender boat rides to catch and no massive piers to race down, Darling and their mom had total freedom to explore, whether that meant joining an all-day excursion, exploring their destination off on their own, or doing a little bit of both! While technically you have this freedom with ocean cruises, too, this river cruise seemed way more laid-back and less rushed about it!

Popular European River Cruises

If you primarily enjoy cruising for the excitement and appeal of big cruise ships , then a river cruise probably isn't the right vibe for you. If you like the idea of exploring quaint European destinations on a more laid-back trip, though, don't let not fitting into a "typical" demographic scare you off. The focal point of a river cruise is the on-shore excursion, and you can pretty much customize that part to suit your style!

As Mx. Darling said, they traveled with Avalon Waterways , which offers a pretty wide lineup of trip itineraries, including cruises along the Danube River, trips through Portugal and the Balkans, and even a seasonal Christmas market cruise. One company I'm a bit more familiar with is Viking River Cruises , which, in addition to a vast array of European river trips, also offers river cruises on the Nile , the Mississippi, and the Mekong in Vietnam. 

If you really want to branch out more, Travel + Leisure has a great guide highlighting the 15 best European river cruises - there's even a family-oriented Disney river cruise. Don't let the "retiree" stereotype discourage you- there's a right river cruise out there for everyone!

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