River Adagio Review

4.0 / 5.0
8 reviews
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Editor Rating
4.0
Very Good
Overall
Chris Gray Faust
Executive Editor, U.S.

Consider it the Elderhostel of the waterways. For more than 30 years, Grand Circle Cruise Line, a division of Grand Circle Travel, has specialized in delivering river cruises that emphasize learning, among comfortable circumstances, to its extremely loyal clientele.

Part of the Boston-based company's fleet of 5 European river ships, River Adagio -- and its sister, River Aria -- is currently the largest and, although it launched back in 2003, the newest. Built specifically to navigate the locks and canals that lead the Danube into the Black Sea, the ship can usually be found on routes between Constanta, Romania, and Budapest, Hungary, as well as the upper stretches of the river through Slovakia, Austria and southern Germany.

Traversing the former Eastern bloc countries that make up the Lower Danube can be a sobering experience. Yet on River Adagio, program directors hired from these countries do a yeoman's job of helping passengers make sense of what they are seeing. Daily handouts, lectures, documentaries and port talks supplement the city walks and bus tours that are included in the cruise price, and on our trip, guides didn't shy away from questions about controversial topics. Grand Circle also features at least one home-hosted meal during its river cruises, and most also take travelers to see projects that are sponsored by its charitable arm, the Grand Circle Foundation. You won't leave this cruise without one or more interactions with locals, who give you a firsthand view on what the fall of communism has meant to them personally.

And while the ship lacks the bells and whistles that have become standard on newer river ships, that's OK with the clientele, who consider value the driving factor behind their GCT brand loyalty. We did notice several passengers checking out with interest the newer vessels from Uniworld and Tauck that joined us on the river. But when people heard that our ship completed the journey to Constanta through lower-than-average water levels, many commented on the skill of the captain and crew.

The cabins, which feature stationary pull-down twin beds that seem quaint when compared to other lines with hotel-style rooms, are comfortable enough, as are the lounge and other public areas. Because every room on the ship is the same size -- even cabins with balconies have the same square footage as standard staterooms -- there's an egalitarian feel to the experience (and from the sounds you hear walking down the hallways, you know that everyone is coping with perhaps the noisiest marine toilet in existence).

That homogeneity extends to the ship's passengers, who seem startlingly similar in background and sensibilities. Born out of the AARP in 1958, Grand Circle Travel restricts its voyages to mature Americans and draws primarily from those in the upper age brackets. (While a handful of passengers are in their 50's and 60's, ship staff say that 70 is the norm. Despite this bias toward those moving into their Golden Years, the trip itself contains a fair amount of walking, often over difficult cobblestone streets. Active, inquisitive and well-traveled, most Grand Circle customers are up to the task -- and, by the end of one cruise or land tour sponsored by the company, have already made plans to book their next.

Pros

Strong emphasis on education and culture, with home-hosted lunches, visits to local charities and local guides.

Cons

Cabins have fixed twin beds; clientele is on older side.

Bottom Line

Offering value and enrichment instead of the most up-to-date amenities, River Adagio is a good choice for older cruisers who want to be immersed in the places they visit.

About

Passengers: 162
Crew: 38
Passenger to Crew: 4.26:1
Launched: 2003

Fellow Passengers

Originally founded as the travel arm of the AARP, GCT has maintained a strong reputation among that type of clientele, despite ownership changes in 1985. The loyalty that the company engenders is downright astounding in a time of increased competition for travel dollars: on a recent Eastern Europe cruise, 118 of the 152 passengers were Inner Circle members, meaning they had taken at least three trips and cruises with Grand Circle or OAT -- Overseas Adventures Travel, part of the same company.

As mentioned previously, the average age of a River Adagio passenger is 70, plus or minus a decade. It's a well-traveled bunch, albeit one that enjoys the convenience of group tours. Grand Circle has a roommate service that matches singles, making the line a good choice for widows or widowers or those who have spouses that don't like to or can't travel. Pre- and post-trips, as well as the open-seating and daily city tours, encourage mingling; on our trip, the cruise staff even put out a signup sheet for bridge.

Grand Circle River Adagio Dress Code

As with most river cruises, the ship eschews formal nights, and sports coats are not required, although the older clientele means that you don't see many jeans or T-shirts at the dinner table. Most women wear casual slacks and dressy tops. You'll want comfortable walking shoes for touring, as many towns have cobblestone streets. Women won't need heels.

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Grand Circle River Adagio Cruiser Reviews

The cruise is good but beware of your air arrangements

Some friends suggested this cruise and since I had never river cruised before I thought I give it a shot. The cruise staff was exceptional and made the trip delightful.Read More
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lilybaby99

oneFirst Time Cruiser

Age 70s

Wonderful

There are no reserved tables, but we were told to be first to enter the dining room and we would easily be able to snare one of the two tables for 4.at least breakfast and dinner, one or two of them at a time.Read More
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Christine747

few6-10 Cruises

Age 70s

A great cruise for those who like history and culture!

River Adagio, from Budapest to the Black Sea, Aug 18-30, 2017 The River Adagio is an older ship, but kept in very good shape.Read More
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Panorama_Sue

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 60s

August, 2013 cruise on the Grand Circle River Adagio

We love cruising but always felt the port cities did not give us an adequate representation of each country; therefore, we decided to try a European river cruise.Read More
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mekasa

many10+ Cruises

Age 70s

Grand Circle Cruise Line Fleet
River Harmony

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