We’ve always wanted to take a European River Cruise. On this two week cruise, we visited the countries of Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands. Our interests are history, architecture, gardens, food, music, and art. This cruise was perfect for us. We explored beautiful cathedrals, abbeys, castles, small villages, large cities, etc... On the many excursions we we took, our guides were knowledgeable, friendly, very informative, and entertaining. They seemed to very much enjoy teaching us about their homelands. We learned so much! The crew on the ship were excellent. They were available for any questions we had about anything. Katy was fantastic. She held a talk every evening to give us very detailed information of the next day’s excursions and activities. Dining personnel were very conscientious and attentive. They were friendly, always kept our glasses filled and promptly removed dirty dishes. They worked tirelessly to make sure everything was perfect for guests. Our stateroom attendant was friendly, professional, and conscientious in her duties. I would highly recommend this cruise. We hope to to take another Avalon cruise in the future. Read Less

This was my first ever cruise of any kind. It far exceeded my expectations. The ship was beautiful and comfortable. The cabin was tastefully decorated. The French balcony with the floor to ceiling sliding glass doors made the room feel more spacious and made for excellent scenery viewing. The bed was very comfortable. The bathroom was bigger than I expected. The crew and staff were friendly and efficient. The cruise director was joviable, engaging and well organized. I loved the small lounge on the 3rd floor with excellent coffee machine. Any coffee drink I wanted at the push of a button. The meals were excellent with a large variety of choices. The servers were fun to get to know. The city tours and excursions were enjoyable. Sometimes the city guides give more history than I desire. Seeing the city lights as we sailed out of Budapest in the evening was so beautiful! Just spectacular! What a beautiful start to our cruise. Cruising through the Wachau Valley and the Rhine River gorge was so enjoyable with our cruise director giving us some history and pointing out interesting sights along the way. I would love to take another river cruise with Avalon someday. Read Less

The service staff were the best part of the cruise. The food and wine etc were very good. However, I found the sheer numbers of people -148 or thereabouts - quite overwhelming. The ship didn't get past Passau and we were berthed there for 3 days with our 'view' being a stone wall. That's not what I paid for. Why was there no contingency plan? Our river cruise turned into hours of being herded about on coach tours. I believe it was known from the outset that we wouldn't get past Passau. There were too many early rises and way too much walking. The tours, although good, were often too long and the guides too longwinded. i wear hearing aids and found the audio devices totally unsuitable for these. I got a flippant reply when I mentioned this to the TD. The wires and box are cumbersome and annoying when you're managing camera, walking stick, umbrella etc. I had a fall while on an earlier tour before joining the ship, and the after effects eventually precluded me from doing the Prague food and culture walk. When I approached the TD regarding a refund, he refused on the grounds that I'd pre-paid the trip from home. Penalised for being organised and saving him some paperwork. The overall atmosphere was impersonal and regimented. I definitely would not recommend Avalon based on my experience. Read Less

Envision is a new ship very nice. Cabin with confortable beds good bathroom great storage and huge TV. Wifi excellent all time. Cabin staff perfect work. Food was variated and always very good in all meals. Staff in bars and dinning room very nice and quick to serve. Cruise director Maria was really helpful and always present. Captain show up very often kind and with good sense humor. Seems always happy. The cities and places visited along Danube well chosen and all with interesting sites to visit. Very interesting presentation about river locks connecting Danube to Rhine about one hour a professor who came on board. Very interesting at end bought the book he had written about this matter. Did already cruise on Rhine river from Basel to Amsterdam with another company also very good but I really recommend Avalon Envision. Hope soon travel again with them. PS entertainment too much American music in Europe cruise. Read Less

Every step of the way on this Danube River Cruise with Avalon was beyond expectations. They managed everything effortlessly (which we all know isn't easy but they brought perfection to managing everything). From meeting us at the airport, transporting us to the hotel, to the ship and at the end, the same process in reverse was flawless. The ship was beautiful, functional and spotless. Cabin attendants were so personable, friendly and efficient. The food service rated the highest of any cruise we've been on--which total seven. Excellent quality, wide variety of choices, everything was fresh, delicious and appealing. Food service personnel = 10+ regarding attention to serving guests, professionalism, personable, courteous. Entertainment was great, lively, fun, so enjoyable to just sit and listen or to join in with dancing, singing, etc. The ports and shore excursions were the best we've experienced in all of our other cruises. The excursion guides elevated the experience because of their expertise, knowledge, personalities, communication skills, etc., etc. Our tour director was absolutely excellent -- an extraordinary personality, professional, knowledgeable, helpful and entertaining on top of everything. We are already looking at another Avalon cruise for 2020 and plan to book it in a few weeks. Read Less

There is so much history in Hungary, Austria, Germany, Czeck Reublc. I have neverbeen on a river cruise. IT was great to see scenery on both sides, experience the locks,have a great cruise director Hendrick,, great meals and entertainment. I enjoyed seeingthe sites of the making of the Sound of Music movie. I also enjoyed the horse farm. It was greatly entertaining. The shore excursions were very educational and entertaining. Hendrick, our cruise director, and all of the crew were very friendly and efficient. Ourmeals were great, including wine, etc. Our french chief did a great job. I have beenon ocean cruises, but this was much more personal. Sitting at different tables formeals helped me to get acquainted with several other passengers which was a plusfor one traveling alone. The music and other entertainment in the lounge was great. My room was wonderful and I had a great view. Read Less

I had cruised with Avalon down the Rhine River 10 years ago, and was very pleased, so I thought I'd stay with the same company down the Danube. I was so lucky to get a double room cabin all to myself, as did my 2 other girlfriends that I was traveling with. The first 5 singles that booked the cruise, did not have to pay the single supplement. Wow, that was a tremendous savings! The cruise was on the Envision, Avalon's brand new ship, and it was gorgeous. It was very quiet, we were midship on the second floor and I never knew anyone was next to, above, or below my cabin. Every single member of the crew, from the bus boy to the captain, were first rate. They went out of their way to make sure you were happy with your cruise. Hendrick, our cruise director, went out of his way to help and guide us 3 ladies, and he seemed to make himself available all the time - when did he sleep? The food was unbelievable - the presentation was amazing and of course it was so delicious - from breakfast to dinner. Wine at lunch and dinner was from the regions we were sailing through. It was a trip to remember - highly recommend it to all! Read Less

As a former travel agent, I have done extensive research and constant certification in many cruise lines and land travel suppliers. Avalon has been at the top of my list for some time. Although it is not the highest end in luxury, it was every bit a luxury experience for my husband and myself. First let me tell you that the staff could not have been more attentive and knowledgeable. They were always at hand to help with any needs or wants. Our Cruise Director was heads above others and she was fun, informative and invested in the experience she gives all clients on board her ship as well as when we were on land. The ship was very well appointed and was comfortable no matter where you were on board. The main lounge had lots of seating and the floor to ceiling windows allowed us to always see where we were while still enjoying lectures, or entertainment. There were a number of areas for gathering and all were clean and comfortable. Always stocked with snacks and coffee and tea bars. Access was easy to all areas. The upper deck was great for relaxing and watching the scenery go by. And we had a great cookout up on the deck. Very fun for all! Our cabin was roomy with great storage in the closet and under the bed. The bathroom was bright and easy to maneuver with the two of us. Now it is not what I would call oversized but my husband and I found it to be comfortable. We had a small sofa with a round table and a comfortable chair. There was also a desk and chair giving us good counter space. The bed was amazing!! Was king size and the most comfortable bed that I have ever slept in. I have trouble with my hips especially after extensive walking during the day, and I never had pain at all in the bed. The floor to ceiling panorama windows were fabulous for viewing although we did not spend a great deal of time in our cabin as there were so many fun people to meet. The dining experience was great! The food and selections were fantastic. The main dining room was inviting and clean and easy to find a table. Breakfast and lunch were buffet style and were loaded with options and great selections. Dinner was a four course meal but you did not have to select all four courses. Was great that you could make your selections. My husband is very much a foodie and he loved each new meal even more than the last. I tend to be a bit picky but found many options and loved everything that I dined on. In the Panorama Lounge, at the same time that meals were served in the dining room, there was always light selections that were every bit as delicious as what was being served in the dining room. Afternoon tea was delightful and always had a wide selection of finger sandwiches, fruit and yummy desserts. In the rear lounge, there was always coffee, tee and a selection of cookies and desserts of the day. The entertainment was exceptional on board the ship. In the evening, there was a piano player that had a great variety of music. He was talented and able to supplement his piano playing with background instrumentation that was recorded. He kept us dancing every night! He also played during lunch and tea time in the Panorama Lounge daily. We had several entertainment opportunities from people brought on board for our pleasure. Several lectures that were informative and fun (especially the beer tasting). We had a Cabaret singer that not only had a powerful singing voice but was hilarious in-between songs. We had two gentlemen come in that were top musicians and each played about 30 different instruments. They were phenomenal and also had a good comedy routine in-between entertaining us with their musical prowess. The shore excursions were great. Informative and historical combined to keep us interested and the locations were amazing. We saw and experienced so much with each excursion. There were excursions included everyday and we also did some that we added on. Each one was different than the next but kept us interested and amazed. Avalon did a great job with each one and we were taken in very comfortable and clean motor coaches to each destination. We were given audio instruments that allowed our guide to speak to us giving us the history and interesting information about the sites we were visiting. Overall we were very happy with the choices that were made. The only enrichment activity that I would have liked would be cooking with the chef or some type of cooking lecture. I have relived all of our experiences everyday since we returned home through the thousand pictures that we took. I look forward to the next river cruise and it will definitely be on Avalon - they did not disappoint in any way! Read Less

We chose Avalon since we had sailed the Rhine with them 10 years ago and had a wonderful experience. We chose this Blue Danube cruise because it was 2 nights in Budapest, over night in Vienna and 2 nights in Prague. We had a first class experience again! Everything was phenomenal from the cabin to the food to the excursions we picked. We highly recommend all the excursions that have to do with food and wine both afternoon tours for tastings and evening tours for dinners and folk shows. We also ordered a basic Anniversary celebration package and it was wonderful. We had a special table in the dining room with 6 guests (folks we had met on the cruise). Our guests received beautiful invitations, our table was decorated, we had champagne and a cake and then our cabin as also decorated and we had champagne, flowers, candy and fruit in the cabin. All of which made this anniversary especially memorable. Avalon also came through with a free excursion to Salzburg and a free lunch in Regensberg when they were forced to change our itinerary due to low water on the Danube that prevented us from getting to Nuremberg. The speed with which they changed arrangements for 150 people some of whom were flying out of Nuremberg was amazing. None of the passengers could have asked for better customer service. Should we chose to do another river cruise it will definitely be on Avalon. Read Less

We had done the Rhine river cruise last year and wanted to do another in a different part of Europe. This trip from Budapest to Nuremberg and via bus to Prague, did not disappoint, the ship and staff were excellent and could not have been better. We booked our own air travel to and from the cruise and getting to the hotel in Budapest and the airport in Prague were not difficult. The Cruise Director was at the Hotel in Budapest to greet us with information about our stay; his orientation briefing was excellent as was his service for the entire trip. The on-shore excursions were led by great tour guides that provided an insight to the sights in a detailed and complete manner. The tour guide for most of the excursions in Budapest, Oliver, was entertaining, knowledgeable, and above all, friendly! Another of particular distinction was Michael, who gave us an insight to the Weltenburg Abbey's design and history in a detailed manner without making is boring. The hotels that Avalon selected in Budapest and Prague were exceptional! Both were very well appointed with full service restaurants and bars. The rooms were superior or deluxe and had all of the amenities one would expect. We are looking forward to our next trip with Avalon! Read Less

Friends took this cruise last year and raved! They went above and beyond adding freebies when high water caused us to miss 2 ports. Avalon did not miss a beat. They offered a free concert and choice of excursions. They refunded anyone who had paid for the excursions. Our only disappointment was that we couldn’t take advantage of their generosity as we gad booked a private tour thinking it would be free time. Not Avalon’s fault, and after a horrible experience on a Baltic cruise where they canceled 3 out if 5 ports with ni compensation or substitutes, this was remarkable. The food was great. The chef met with anyone with special needs or restrictions when we boarded. Every dish was safe for-those who had allergies! This is a relaxing cruise- port intensive and busy during the day and leisurely in the evenings. There were performers from the local area, wine and schnapps tasting, captain ‘s welcome and gala farewell dinner. The buffets were plentiful and delicious. There were 2 cookouts on the skydeck. They need to better organize these as the lines were too long, but this is a new ship and I predict they will figure it out! The rooms were well appointed and the panoramic windows facing the bed were super! Our stewards were efficient and provided excellent service- we hardly saw them but every request was fulfilled! The nice thing about river cruises is that basic tours are included in each port. One guide was better than the next! One nice experience was top service from a front desk employee. The high water on the river changed our schedule and we went to Saltzberg and Linz on what turned out to be a holiday. My husband only wanted a Linzer torte ftom Linz, but alas, the bakeries were all closed. He mentioned it to the woman at the desk, and Surprise, when we returned to our cabin the next night, there was an entire torte with plates and flatware!! Shout out to Dayana for making this vacation fantasy a reality ! Precruise hotel was Prague Hilton. Great hotel, but the old town Hilton and Intercontinental were better located. Budapest was last minute swap to the Sofitel instead of the Intercontinental. Location next to the Chain Bridge was perfect, but not having the rooms available until later in the day was inconvenient. Avalon brought passengers for 50+ rooms and it would have been nice if they had rooms earlier. Breakfast at both hotels was amazing. We cannot wait to plan our next Avalon cruise Read Less

Wanted to go on a relaxing and upscale Riverboat Cruise and this was Not my first one. I was really disappointed in the service and the staff. The food presentation was very nice but the food was not great. The Service from the dining room was really below par. Not at all what I expected. They were taking our dishes before we were even finished with our food. G-d help you if you were a few minutes later than others at a table. They rushed you out and even told you the others were almost done. What does that have to do with your dining? A majority of the staff, including the Hotel Manager and Dining room manager were wearing so much cologne that the trail followed them all the time. I have an allergy to perfumes and they were asked not wear it and after the request was made, they wore more. They were totally inconsiderate!!!! Made my trip a living hell.! I do not understand why people working in close quarters with the public have to wear fragrances and so much of it. It really is a pollutant. The ship was a new one and was pretty and well laid out. A shame the Customer Relations was So Poor. Also, I thought the included tours were really minimal. I guess thats how they get you to spend more for additional excursions. Avalon , I was told was upscale. I think Not. Last time I went on AMA and thought they did a much better job. The added entertainment on board was pretty bad also. They used the lounge for yoga, so you really could not relax during the classes. Read Less

Going Places Travel agent Judy Bakanec suggested it. We did this for our 50th wedding anniversary coming up in June. We liked having the AvalonGo app to keep us up to date on any changes to flights and schedules. The ship was new, spotless, and had everything we needed, the perfect size to feel at home and well-taken care of. The staff was friendly and completely professional. We teamed up with 3 other couples for meals and shore excursions, making the experience even more meaningful. We will definitely recommend Avalon Cruises and book another one, The only thing that would have made the cruise better would have been if Globus had us actually visit sites and not just see sites. Most days were rainy with temperatures in the low 40s Fahrenheit. Too many Globus classic excursions consisted of bus or walking tours around squares and not actually going inside places escorted. Read Less

We wanted to try Avalon after experiencing other river cruise operators. Overall, it was a relaxing cruise experience. Beautiful scenary and well organized. Great ship board cuisine. The variety and quality of food at all three meals were consistently outstanding. Overall service was very good, but after dinner coffee service was a bit inconsistent. Very smooth sailing, even though little day time cruising. Day tours were just adequate. Should improve embarkation experience - lenthy wait for room availability. Definitely need to improve communication on disembarkation transportation. We booked air travel directly through Globus, which resulted in an extended and inconventient air travel to the city starting the cruise and there was a lack of clarity and inconsistent written communication on disembarkation transportation to departure airport. Globus travel agent support prior to trip was below expectations for the costs for this 'luxury' cruise. We would have booked our own travel and transportation. This should not have been an issue and dampened our enthusiasm to return cruise with Avalon or to recommend them given the highly competitive landscape. Read Less