After 10 big ship cruises we decided to try a river cruise. Avalon go high marks in the reviews and the timing for the Rhine was good. We enjoyed the change to having just 132 people on board! Excellent service and wait staff. This is NOT a suite ship, so the cabin size was not the one that the bed faces the windows and has a larger square footage. But it was clean, compact and neat. It was cramped when someone sat at the desk. The other person had to crawl over the bed to get by.

However, you spend very little time in your room. This is an active vacation! You are in many wonderful ports and they almost all involved a walking tour. There was a briefing each night by the cruise director prior to the days events but it was also on a printed sheet left on your bed by your cabin steward.

Food was excellent. It is buffet for breakfast and lunch but there always a special in the menu that you could choose to have brought to you instead. The only criticism of the dining room was that the flow of the buffet was very awkward. There were two sides the same but met in the middle for the carving station or pasta station or omelet station. Right behind you was a large table that had the toast, breads and soups. It caused a lot of log jams.... They do keep the wine and soft drinks flowing! Never had to ask to have my wine glass refilled! Read more