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Our only quibble is the lack of drawer storage and, with the four smallest, the tight space around the beds. There’s often a perception that European river cruises are quite boring because there’s not much to do. Each day there are included activities that get the blood pumping (obviously you can choose whether you want to do them or not). 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.
Avalon Waterways News: River Cruise Line Christens New Ship in Portugal - Cruise Critic
Avalon Waterways News: River Cruise Line Christens New Ship in Portugal.
Posted: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Avalon Waterways
The Avalon Expression offers an elegant river cruise experience, with its spacious Panorama Suites and unique Open-Air Balcony concept. Guests enjoy amenities such as a Fitness Center, complimentary Wi-Fi, and the serene Sky Deck with... Avalon Alegria, a dazzling addition to the Douro River, offers an intimate cruising experience with just 102 passengers.
Avalon Waterways Cruise Reviews
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. 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. 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. 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. The mostly Eastern European staff was generally efficient and pleasant, although not all spoke fluent English.
Special interest cruises
When you retreat to your suite, you’ll never miss a moment of the ever-changing views. So dream on before you drift off in a bed with the dreamiest views in river cruising. The Avalon Tapestry II offers a unique river cruising experience with its Panorama Suites, featuring wall-to-wall, panoramic windows for an Open-Air Balcony feel. These suites, 30% larger than the norm, include Comfort Collection beds...
With the new itineraries are also introduced all-suite newbuild riverboats (with open-air, floor-ceiling balconies) and new shore excursions and onboard activities. As an alternative to owning river cruise ships, Avalon leases them. The company partners with shipowner companies with operational ships in a particular destination and brand one or more boats as "Avalon Waterways".
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Avalon Waterways introduces Active & Discovery river cruises 2021
The average age for cruisers on Avalon Alegria starts in the mid- to high-50s, but it’s not uncommon for younger or older guests to sail. 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 ‘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. 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.
Avalon View Itineraries Focus on the Danube
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. The ship, which cruises the Danube River, attracts travelers from North America, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Passengers tend to be retired (or in the 60-plus bracket), and well-traveled. Due to the COVID pandemic, Avalon Waterways suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all riverboats) canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through late-July 2021. If some water level problems occur, or any technical problems, Avalon Waterways may operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to change the entire cruise tour program.
Where does Avalon View sail from?
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. 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.
These boats are usually chartered for up to 5 years, with the option the company to refurbish them or give them back to the owner. This way Avalon easily maintains one of the youngest and most modern fleets on this market. The company uses small ships, and their guests do receive personalized service in absolutely no crowd. Avalon makes it easy to enjoy the beauty of destinations, as they include guided sightseeing tours and shore excursions in the basic fares. An elevator runs from Deck 1 to Deck 3, but the ship doesn’t have any accessible cabins. Douro River cruises, like other Europe river cruises, can be difficult for those with mobility issues, as cobblestone streets and sidewalks, uneven surfaces and a surplus of staircases abound.
It has lots of comfortable seating (including a great swing chair), unobstructed views and even misters for when it gets hot. The best spots onboard include the Club Lounge and outdoor space of the Observation Lounge. The Club Lounge is located all the way at the back (aft) of the ship, and its 270-degree views allow you to watch the wake and scenery – with a coffee station just steps away. 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.
Departures are from Lisbon, with land travel/bus transfers to Oporto/Leixoes. Avalon Alegria has scheduled two different itineraries - a classic 7-day roundtrip cruise from Oporto (visiting Regua, Pocinho, Aregos) and a 10-day cruisetour itinerary inclusive of three nights (hotel stay) in Lisbon. Avalon Waterways itinerary options are categorized into 3 classifications (CLASSIC, ACTIVE, DISCOVERY) allowing customers to tailor their cruise according to personal preferences, special interests, and activity level. The DISCOVERY programs target specific interests (like painting workshops and cooking classes) themed on the region's culture.
Even bigger are the two 300-square-foot Royal suites, which amp things up with a sizable seating area, a pair of open-air windows, twin sinks in the bathroom, and a separate toilet for visitors. The ship’s 16 staterooms, on the Indigo deck, are 172 square feet and have two windows that don’t open. Best yet, the bed – with four firmness choices – faces the window.
Excursions on every itinerary include classic, discovery and active options, as many as four a day and all of them complimentary. “Classic” involves a guided tour of iconic and historic sites, “discovery” explores local culture through cooking classes and painting workshops, and “active” offers an energetic way to experience the destination. In 2019, Avalon Waterways added 6 new options, including the company's first "Ganges River Cruise" in India.
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. But that doesn’t mean people don’t want to unwind with a drink in the evening and that’s how it’s designed. 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.
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