Wanted to do a river cruise in Europe and found this one specializing in wine tasting. We had never gone on an Avalon or river cruise before. We absolutely loved it. Everything was taken care of. We felt pampered from start to finish. The staff on the ship were superb. The cabin was small but adequate since we spent so little time there. The food and wine were excellent. The activities both on and off the ship were incredible. The guides and entertainers were exceptional. We learned a lot of history, wine and food knowledge, and just had a great time. We had issues with the river being too high so the cruise director had to make a lot of last minute changes. These changes did not have an impact on our experience. We still got to participate in all the excursions that we had signed up for and in fact got access to an excursion that was new (and it was incredible). Communication was exceptional and we knew exactly what was happening and when. Read Less

I have cruised on Avalon before and found them to be a wonderful and relaxing way to travel. I travel as a single. Their staff is very helpful in providing information on things to see and do on your own. You meet other nice travelers from all over the world. You see sites that you would never see unless you got off the beaten bath. Many UNESCO sites that would be missed if you sailed a larger ship. The food and wine are delicious. The staff is friendly and helpful. I chose a French cruise because I was interested in the history and the architecture of that region. The cruise provided both. The tour guides were knowledgeable and were locals who really knew the area. Unfortunately the water was high so we were unable to visit some of the cities that were scheduled. But just another reason to do this very same cruise or another Avalon cruise that incorporates the cities I missed. Read Less

Our expectations for our cruise on the Rhone were high, but to our surprise Avalon exceeded these expectations consistently. The Poetry II provided superb accommodations in the Room 308 Royal Suite. Housekeeping and the wait staff were professional, thorough, and met any request quickly and completely. I would like to single out Jean-Loup Domart, our cruise director. He was professional, entertaining and totally focused on each guest and their comfort and satisfaction with all aspects of the cruise. Specifically, we were astounded by his follow-up on a personal problem that arose. We lost a souvenir hat on the ship and did not realize it until we were in Paris. Jean-Loup took our contact information and said that he would look into it. A month later, I received an email from him saying that the hat was found and he was shipping it to my home. Truly service above and beyond expectations. Jean-Loup represents the guest focus of Avalon and their goal to provide a superb cruise experience from food service, to meaningful and entertaining shore excursions. The typical guestroom is occupied by a couple whose age range is from 40 to 80. Most guests are in their late 60's to early 70's. Most guest are active and energetic and engage in offered activities. It was a diverse crowd form the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Finding a friendly and sometimes entertaining conversation was never an issue and dining companions were diverse and interesting. My wife and I would recommend and Avalon cruise and look forward to future trips on different rivers. Read Less

Firstly a disclaimer this is our first river cruise although we have done a number of cruises on small ships Azamara, Oceana. We embarked in Arle and then went downstream 1 hour to the Camarge. The active excursion by bike was great. Day 2 back to Arle ( where we had independently spent a day) the excursion was great hiking up a limestone mountain and seeing a Van Gogh audiovisual presentation inside a building with images projected onto limestone. Day 3 meandered upstream to Avignon and went to an amazing chocolate factory. So overall the excursions were good to great.. The food was not impressive compared to the other small cruise ships we had been on. One meal the menu offering was a rack of lamb but this turned out to be 2 lamb chops. Several passengers asked the waiter for the rest of their rack of lamb. The cabin we chose the highest level stateroom was nice. Entertainment on board was very limited. One night they had a great group of performers with spanish guitar, and 2 dancers. Read Less

Heard Avalon provided a very good river cruise. Had an excellent cruise director (Gayle Walter) and a very attentive crew. The trip was very organized and comfortable. Delicious food. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. A very relaxing way to see France. Disembarkation & embarkation went very smoothly. The crew had very good communication skills and were also just a lot of fun. My only criticism was the front lounge was far too cold all the time. Someone needed to turn down the air conditioning. We really enjoyed the included walking tours. Although the optional shore excursions are advertised far more effectively. While the hotels were beautiful, it wasn’t too encouraging to have a room at the Carlton in Cannes with a view of pipes and dirty standing water. At the same time the Carlton’s restaurant was terrific. I did not care for the old food caked onto the folding knife provided at the in-room bar. Gross! Seems to be a housekeeping issue. Loved everything about the Paris hotel. Read Less

On the Rhone and the Saone in France. No big noisy cities, just quaint towns and villages, interesting experiences, and pastoral views. Avalon's ships have the most spacious staterooms with plenty of storage and deluxe bathrooms. The crew and cruise director were all outstanding - so friendly and helpful. A very relaxing atmosphere. Love the excursions where you actually DO something - visit to an olive farm to see how olive oil is made, then sampling a variety of different olive oils; visit to vineyards and a chateau winery with a wine tasting; onboard cheese and mustard tasting. Onboard entertainment of modern flamenco group was so much fun. I would recommend this cruise to anyone who is tired of seeing big cities with lots of monuments and statues and wants to see the real places where people live and work. I especially love that there are so many choices of excursions - something for everyone. Read Less

I chose this cruise because of the interactive events, Bike Riding, hiking, wine tasting in a cave, wine tasting and hiking, wine tasting and bike riding, helicopter ride over the South of France visiting the enchanting port cities along the Rhone River. Also because of the ship size there was an intimate # of guests on the cruise. I met some really incredible people I know call friends. The off ship excursions were wonderful. Experiencing activities that I would not have access to with out being on this marvelous cruise. Bike Riding to the Salt Marshes and viewing the Birds in the Sanctuary there. Bike riding to Pont du Gard then wine tasting, Kayaking and canoeing was so refreshing! Visiting the Chateau Montmfia, taking a tour of their facilities and seeing the surrounding countryside was magical. Hiking up Le Hermitage and more wine tasting, Chateau Pont de nuef and more wine tasting, Hiking into an underground cave and more wine tasting!! Having the opportunity to paint in the Van Gogh style in a studio in Arles was as if i was channeling my inner child. Traveling through the locks on the Rhone with our Captain was a remarkable feat! The food on the ship was delicious and there was always a varied selection. The service was outstanding, the staff would not let you lift a finger. They say to our every need. They were all very friendly and genuine. Our cabin was very comfortable and had full sliding windows so we could enjoy the view while sailing. Our room was always put in order and the beds turned down when we wished to retire. For these reasons and many more I would go again and highly recommend Avalon Cruises. Thank you for such a memorable visit!! Read Less

Our friends that are wine connoisseurs wanted to tour region. We wanted to see Monaco but this trip did not end up there as the brochure stated when we booked. We enjoyed all the stops and seeing so many wonderful places., especially the small, quaint little towns and unusual things like "Garden of Eden," organ concert in cathedral, wine tasting in a chateau, etc..... We also liked the French Balcony with views of the towns and countryside, however, it seemed that half the time we were double and triple docked with NO view. Did not like that part 'Wish river portion was longer. The ship was nice, we had talks every evening, outlining activities, etc, - those could have been shorter. It would be nice if tips were just part of the price. It is such an hassle/ordeal to worry about that at end of trip. Some companies include tips in price - much better. Read Less

We love river cruising and some friends had recently toured with Avalon and raved about it, so we decided to try this cruise. We were not disappointed. The tour itself was well organized and included a nice variety of things to see and do. Local guides were above average, and our tour director was fantastic! It was her last cruise with Avalon and she will certainly leave them poorer for her absence. She was on top of everything and was always friendly and helpful, even supervising the final bus trip to the airport. The entire staff on board was excellent, quick to help in any way needed. We really enjoyed the small size of this ship. Due to a number of single rooms being sold, we only had 113 guests on this ship, and it was so lovely to be in such a small group. The food was great and we appreciated that while there were many courses from which we could choose, the portions were a reasonable size so one could order according to your appetite and not waste food you couldn't eat. My only complaint (and it is a very small one) is with the optional food tour in Lyon. We went several places but most of our sampling was of sweets. We would have enjoyed more cheese and bread or other choices that were not sugar treats. Read Less

We travel to Europe twice a year and have taken a number of river boat cruises. This particular cruise seemed interesting so we booked it. The side trip to Monaco for several days was very pleasant and we took 2 of the recommended bus tours both of which were excellent. The staff on the Poetry II were friendly and attentive. The dining room serving staff were particularly pleasant, very attentive to all needs and never let our wine glasses get empty. Our cruise director kept us informed daily with port information, tours and accessory places to see. he was exceptionally good. The bar staff, particularly at happy hour, were quite good, worked fast and always had a smile for the patrons. The duration of the offered tours was excellent; none of them were too long and care was always taken to be sure we arrived back at the boat for lunch or dinner. Very pleasant cruise all around. Read Less

We were very pleased with Avalon when we cruised with Avalon 2 years ago. We knew we would want to travel with Avalon again. Everyone from hotel personnel to all ship personnel were so helpful, pleasant and made the experience special. The cruise director, Tony was available and very personable. We enjoyed the excursions, the guides were exceptional. A real bonus was meeting new friends. We liked the mustard and cheese tasting. Seemed like on other cruise there was more entertainment and programs about the area. We would recommend that people consider , be encouraged to allow a day or two before embarking. We had a very long day of flying, 4 legs, so our first day we were so tired we missed some of the information shared. We would recommend Avalon and this cruise. It all began with our excellent travel agent, Nancy Warner. She was always helpful, assisting with our questions. Read Less

We met two other couples in Monaco and traveled together after meeting on a previous sail throughout Tahiti. We selected Avalon because of the stops, the amenities and the reviews of other cruisers. We were not disappointed. We were thrilled with the itinerary, the excursions and the surprise entertainment. We felt Tony, our cruise director, really made an effort to get to know us and extended us great hospitality. We especially enjoyed the walking tours included in the cruise. We found the local guided to be knowledgeable, friendly and spoke English well. They always had a fun nugget to share that stayed with us after our departure. The one excursion we thought was lacking was the trip to Chateneau de Pape. Perhaps we expected too much but would have preferred more time to taste in the village. We thought the winery we were taken to was subpar and while the hostess was sweet, she really didn’t take the time to explain the wine, how is ages and what to look for in the young wines we were tasting. It would have been nice to actually taste a bottle ready to drink to compare the differences. A lite snack would have been nice too, even if the excursion cost more. We would have liked a guided yoga or mediation session on deck to begin each day. We especially enjoyed the barbecue lunch on deck, lots of fun and tasty. All the food was prepared to our specifications and was great quality. It was especially nice to have wine available at lunch and dinner as well. Overall the crew was very helpful, friendly and we felt like they really made us feel like home. Thank you. Read Less

We wanted to tour Southern France. This was a wine cruise and we sampled the local wines, visited small villages and enjoyed The French countryside. We flew to Monaco and spent a day there at the Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel. We were then bussed to Arles to embark on our cruise. The Poetry II is a smaller ship than other Avalon River ships. It was clean, and beautifully designed. Everything was so well organized. Our beautiful cruise director, Gayle Walters did an outstanding job keeping us informed of the next day’s activities and organizing everything. The walking tours were excellent. The guides did a wonderful job of teaching us local history, making sure we walked in the shade ( it was 95 to 100 degrees every day). Food aboard the ship was lovely and as an added bonus we had a wine expert aboard who educated us about the local wines, which we enjoyed immensely. Upon disembarkation, we boarded the TGV and headed to Paris for two nights. Our hotel, the Intercontinental, Paris Le Grand was opulent to say the least. This was our second Avalon cruise and we continue to be great Avalon fans. The crew on the ship were amazing, in particular, our Hungarian waiter, Axlos, saw to our every need. Read Less

The region is of great interest to me. The culinary and wine experience was an important reason for my selecting this cruise. I have been on the Danube cruise and am aware of the excellent service provided by Avalon. The food was well planned and executed with a lot of choices. The fruits and veggies were fresh. The main courses were inspired by local cuisine. The desserts were also delicious . The wine selections were very well done concentrating on local wines. The Rhone region is well known for their wines . A nice feature of the cruise was that we had an on board sommelier for a few days. He gave us an excellent review of wines from the region and provided very useful general information on various wines. The wine tours were great as well especially the Beaujolais tour. The cruise director did an outstanding job considering the fact that she had to coordinate several activities and schedules for various people. Lastly the tours of the small towns as well as Lyon was very well done Read Less

We thoroughly enjoyed this cruise. It is our 4th with Avalon and they did not disappoint. The ship was well appointed and our cabin was roomy enough for the two of us. Food choices were many and we took advantage of ordering many items we had never eaten before, such as escargots! The crew did a good job and at times appeared to be a new crew with regard to time working together, but no hitches. Our only feedback is we really wanted more port time and at times felt hurried to get back to the bus instead of spending time soaking up more of the lovely towns, especially Beaunne. The transfer in Dijon to the TGV to Paris was very disorganized especially for those never traveling in Europe by train. However, we all made it to Paris! The temperatures during this cruise were well above normal with days reaching in the high 90's. Avalon provided lots of bottled water to keep everyone hydrated while out and about on excursions. We would definitely take another Avalon river cruise. Read Less

I've seen very little of France and this cruise offered important historical sites such as Arles and Avignon. I'd also never been on a riverboat cruise and I wanted to "test" it out.... and it passed, as I am likely to try another Avalon cruise in France and/or The Netherlands-Belgium cruise. I had spent several days in Paris on my own prior to going the group at the Carlton in Cannes, and I met a couple at my hotel in Paris who'd just been on an Avalon cruise and raved about it. The cabin was comfortable and, since I'm interested in "small-space" design, very efficiently and thoughtfully designed, with excellent storage. The excursions into the historical sites really made the trip for me, as I love history and art/architecture (I just wish the church of St Trophime in Arles had been accessible for viewing when I was there, but as a Sunday service was ongoing, it was not appropriate to go in and take pictures.) All the great Roman remains were just fantastic to view.... I recall studying some of them in college, especially Pont du Gard. I loved the small medieval towns we walked through, and the tour guides were very thorough in their commentary and answered questions as they came up The food on the cruise was always great, with varied selections. As a non-drinker, there was only one time when I felt pressured for not ordering a drink in the lounge. The crew were always friendly and helpful. Some of the "sidebar" visits by regional locals were very informative, such as the cheese tasting (and the opportunity to get some great local mustards). The cruise director also made sure everyone knew what was going on and what to expect, and patiently answered all of our questions. She even made sure we made it onto our respective buses once we arrived at the train station in Paris, in order to get us to the hotel for our final stay in Paris. Read Less

This was our second cruise on the Rhone/Seine with Avalon. A great experience, great food and all on board were very accommodating. This was a Jazz themed cruise so we had plenty of different musicians on board. Including the Gypsy Kings one night. Every day we were in a different port and given a well planned tour at each stop. In addition there were optional tours to some very interesting places. The dinning room tables are set up to encourage meeting new people. In fact we met some wonderful people that we connected with and will be sure to stay in contact with. Our Cruise Director was very personable, informative and totally on top of things. The entire crew was ultra polite and could not be more accommodating, including the Captain. This was our third River cruise and would highly recommend Avalon and France for a great vacation experience. Love Southern France Read Less

The price was great and we had never been on a river cruise. The food was great and the wine was plentiful. The shore excursions were informative and just long enough. The jazz groups each stop were great. The staff was wonderful. Very attentive and personable. Our cruise director did a great job of keeping us informed and, when the train to Paris was on strike, arranged bus transportation. We were also impressed with Pretrip information packet we received that covered everything we needed to know before the trip. We also scheduled transfers from Nice to Monaco and from Paris to CDG Airport and they were on time. We also enjoyed having time in Monte Carlo at the beginning and Paris at the end of the cruise. We should add that we really like that so much is included in the price (excursions in each stop and drinks with each meal, etc). This is not the case on ocean cruises. We definitely plan to take another river cruise probably on the Danube. Read Less

Everything about this cruise surpassed my expectations. Once we arrived in Cannes at the Carlton our worries were over. We were informed and escorted through every phase of our itinerary. When we arrived on our ship we were made to feel at home by everyone on the ship. From our guest room to the professionalism of our crew it was a pleasurable and relaxed atmosphere everyday. They always went out of their way to accommodate our needs. It was our first cruise and we will treasure the experience the rest of our lives. The food and drink were always above par and we did not want to leave the ship at the end of our stay! Ha!. We especially enjoyed the walking tours and the guides were knowledgeable and helpful. All the little extra thoughtful planning that went into every excursion was so appreciated. We felt well cared for all the way. Cannot thank you all enough for the trip of a lifetime. Read Less

We chose Avalon based on experiences from other friends and relatives. They all rave about how good Avalon cruises are- and we agree! The port stops were excellent. We even had a special organ recital at a beautiful cathedral in France. The tour guides are so good. They use the portable audio sets and ear buds which work perfectly. Guides were excellent from the local area and really know the history of their towns. The tour group sizes are reasonable and transportation was comfortable and always organized. The cruise director was so good. He was informative and always on top of every detail. The pre and post hotels were excellent. The hotel in Paris had a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower from our balcony. The service and food was the best. I can’t imagine any river cruise better than Avalon. I would do this same cruise all over again! Read Less

Great staff and knowledgeable... - Very well thought out ship of space and still be "simple elegant" style - Cruise director "Tony" was awesome - Food was well matched to the region along with wines - each of the offered activities where well planned and informative Very enjoyable trip, great opportunists to see the region with out lots of travel time moving from hotel to hotel - Avalon is a "first class" run business at a great price value. These River Boats are great for adult family getaways with activities provided along with time to reconnect with family members. If traveling alone or with couples the staff does a great job of having everyone feel welcome. Anyone looking at these trips need to remember to book in advance as trips sell out quickly. Traveling on river ships, allows a great way to see the the true European Cities and experience the culture. Be sure to arrange these trips with a travel agent who truly understands River Ships - they are a wealth of additional information. Read Less

We were so impressed with our first cruise on the Rhine with Avalon, the service and the ships were superb. We always wanted to visit the South of France and this was an opportunity to do so in luxury. The Poetry II was a newer ship and the staterooms were a little larger and the bathroom was beautiful. The outside wall is literally glass from ceiling to floor. The glass doors open as well. The dining was comparable to any 5 star restaurant. You had an option at breakfast and lunch to have a light meal or buffet. Dinner was sit down 4 course meal with a selection of 4 entrees and a vegetarian option. The service was excellent, staff very professional and our stateroom was always clean. We enjoyed all the included shore excursions and the optional ones that we took were well worth the small charge. The ports were excellent and enjoyed exploring them. We are looking forward to another Avalon experience. Read Less

This was our fourth Avalon Cruise and we were not dissappointed. We previously did the Danube from Prague to Budapest, The Rhine from Basel to Amsterdam and the Seinne from Paris to Normandy. Our cruise director Barbara was great and very informative! Daily excursions were enjoyed. We did 5 optional excursions-3 wine tasting-“fairy tale castle-Lyon culonary walk and versailles The Gypsy Kings performed one evening. The Fairmont in Monte Carlo was in a great location close to the Casino and shopping. The TGV train to Paris was seamless and easy. Luggage was trucked and waiting in our room .The only negative for the trip was the Intercontinental hotel in Paris. The hotel exterior was covered with scafolding and under construction. It was unseasonably hot in Paris and the air conditioning non existent even after 4 visits from maintenance. We spent 4 extra days in Paris and tranferred to the Le Clef Eiffel and were very happy there. We will travel with Avalon again. Read Less

We always wanted to visit the Wine Cointry and the tasting experience and the Relaxing experience being on the Vessel The Food was always a delight and the service was impeccable the choices for Breakfast and Lunch where perfect for the day and the room service was excellent and I have always found the Shower especially nice as it is a walk-in and so large I can turn around without bumping into the walls and the products for hair and skin are always a highlight during the Shower the Towels always smell sweet and clean The upper deck provides a Great place to view all the surrounding country side and a place to visit with others just the thought of have a Glass of the special Wines available and the view brings back memories that we will always have and then the Special Events in the afternoon and evening always provide just that little change.and it allows you time to reflect on All the Wonderful parts of the Adventure of sailing on Avalon Cruise Lines Last of the Items is I Think being able to pay for the Tips before is one of the Best you offer and you can always give that extra and not have to worry about the Currency Exchange Read Less

First night hotel in Monte Carlo then a four hour coach ride the following day to pick up our ship in Arles, in fact it took over 5 hours because of a crash on the motorway! Ships crew were there to welcome us on board and as we were late dinner was delayed but we had no time to shower and change! Cabin excellent and liked the position of the bed facing the window, nice to lie in bed and watch the world go by. Cabin furniture a bit dark and dated compared to more contemporary designs on other river cruises we have travelled. Spotlessly clean and the cabin steward was very helpful when I complained that the pillow was too soft, she managed to find me a firm one. Food and wine excellent, service attentive. Relaxed dining experience and not rushed in any way. On board entertainment good, enjoyed the local foods sample bought on board at Viviers. Daily pre dinner talk of the next day activities and port of call always informative. Service excellent, everyone very friendly and professional and eager to make the trip a memorable experience for us. Shore excursions guides were all knowledgeable and made the excursions very interesting and fun. Shore excursions about the right length of time. Read Less