Review of Avalon River Cruises- Romantic Rhine River Cruise

1/23/2018 11:07:17 AM Link |  | Add comment

We began our 8 day river cruise in Basel, Switzerland.  We boarded the ship Visionary on Sunday which holds approximately 120 passengers.  As we came aboard, the entire crew stood in a line to greet all of us. 

            The ship was designed with a contemporary flare.  My stateroom, a Category P was gorgeously decorated.  There were floor to ceiling windows which opened about 6 ft.  This allowed an airy feel as if it were a balcony cabin.  Our bed was a Tempurpedic with a plush comforter and pillows.  After an active day of touring, it was a blissful place to sleep.  Our room also contained a flat screen TV, sofa, desk and chair.  TheWi-Fi was free depending on how far from service we cruised.

            All dinners were 5 courses with complimentary beverages.  A choice of Red, White or Rose wine was available. Each portion was average as not to make you feel overindulged while eating.  The food was especially delicious.  Breakfast was buffet style with an Early Bird, Full and Late breakfast schedule.  The buffet selection was extensive and diverse.  The Chef was always on hand to answer any questions or to be of service.  The Lunch service was also buffet style with just as impressive a selection as the breakfast service.

            The boat crew was exceptional!  They were always helpful, answered any questions and needs that we had.  Our cabin was cleaned several times throughout the day, which really impressed us.

            All of our sightseeing tours were well-organized and amazing!  We split into 4 groups.  Each group had their own guide.  Each of us had a headset to easily hear the guide explain the sights we were seeing.  On our cruise we stopped in the cities of Rudesheimer, Mainz and Cologne.  We arrived in Cologne at Midnight and a few of us took advantage of seeing the lights of the city.  What a completely different experience than in the light of day!  We were able to capture some breathtaking photos. 

            When we arrived at Strasbourg, there were some optional excursions for wine tasting.  We ended our cruise on Sunday in Amsterdam.  We were offered an optional tour of the Van Gough museum.

            River cruising is growing in popularity throughout the tourism industry and we can certainly see why!  It is so convenient to have your belongings in one place as you travel without having to pack up and haul your things from one hotel to another.  Not to mention the convenience of stepping off the boat and walking right into the city.  This was a fantastic vacation and everyone in our group had a wonderful time.  We highly recommend this to anyone interested in a unique travel experience in Europe.