We wanted to see these destinations with ease and had heard good reviews about Avalon.. With a River Cruise there is no packing and unpacking (and digging for lost items in there 'somewhere'). No finding numerous hotels along the way and trooping around tired trying to find a place to eat at night. We could sit back and relax and be taken care of.... The food was delicious! The tours were interesting and informative. Our Cruise Dir. took care of all the concerns for everyone so it was stress free. We did stay additional time pre cruise in Lucerne and after in Amsterdam which I would recommend. It gives you time to leisurely adjust to the time change and makes the trip much more enjoyable at the beginning and gives you time to see additional things around Amsterdam at the end. We have good friends that are currently on this same cruise after seeing our pictures and hearing how much we loved it. They are in Lucerne as I write this, and starting the cruise tomorrow. We would love to do it all again!!
The ship is small enough to get around easily. The staff are so attentive. Everyone is friendly and helpful. The rooms were always clean and tidy and a joy to return to after a busy day. They stress 'clean hands' with hand sanitizers in various locations which keeps everyone healthy. The dining is unbelievable. There were so many good things to try and everything was delicious. The dinners at night were top notch with selections for each course and always several standbys like steak or salmon or chicken to fall back on. Dinner lasted until 9 or so. As a result we only went for the evening entertainment on two nights which was fun. We were usually tired and wanting to prepare for the next excursion the following day. The excursions were all so interesting. Everyone was broken down into smaller groups with headsets which made it easy to take in the sights and you not having to be right by the tour guide. Loved all ports and would recommend the optional excursions. Just riding through the countryside going to some of the destinations was wonderful: small quaint towns, farms, vineyards, rolling hills in the Black Forrest, picturesque castles, fields in bloom, a step into a very peaceful way of life. Your blood pressure will definitely lower...Do go!
Great cabin...loved how the windows opened all across and bed looked out onto river. It was like relaxing on one big open air balcony and watching the beautiful Rhine scenery go by.