Avalon Panorama Review

5.0 / 5.0
92 reviews
See all photos
Editor Rating
5.0
Excellent
Overall
Carol Sottili
Contributor

As new ships flood the burgeoning river-cruise market, each one-upping the other with better bells and more whistles, the what-will-they-think-of-next game is in full swing. Avalon Waterways' entry into the competition is 164-passenger Avalon Panorama, whose "Panorama Suite" innovation is brilliant in its simplicity.

In developing the new design, Avalon Waterways, part of the Globus family of brands, faced the obstacles that all ships plying the rivers of Europe must conquer. That is, the company wanted to provide passengers with balconies and more public open space onboard, while concurrently dealing with European river constraints. (Think varying water levels, low bridges, narrow locks and tiny docks.)

So, how did Avalon Panorama rise to the challenge? Magnificently. Each Panorama Suite features an 11-foot-wide, seven-foot-tall wall of glass that can slide to reveal a gaping, almost magical open-air expanse. When the doors are opened, take my word, you'll feel as if the entire cabin was outdoors.

Freed from having to set aside space for dedicated outdoor balconies, the 200-square-foot Panorama Suites are 15 percent larger than many river ship cabins, allowing room in each for a queen bed, a small couch, table and chair. It's no surprise that reaction has been positive.

Public gathering spaces have also been maxed out on the 443-foot-long, 37.4-foot-wide ship with four decks. In addition to the shiplong sky deck, there's a large indoor lounge, a smaller indoor club lounge and an outdoor covered seating area in the front of the ship, perfect for open-air sightseeing on rainy days.

Interior design is contemporary chic, with lots of dark espresso woods highlighted with colorful modern art and deep orange rugs and furniture. Think Scandinavian rather than French Provincial. A French influence can be felt, however, in the high-quality L'Occitane bath products -- which sport a delicious lemon verbena scent -- and the fine wines, such as a full-bodied Cotes de Roussillon from the south of France.

The mostly Eastern European staff was generally efficient and pleasant, although not all spoke fluent English. Knowledgeable, English-speaking local guides led shore excursions (at least one daily excursion was included), and the excursions were enhanced with the use of wireless headsets.

While the ship markets almost exclusively to passengers from the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, it retains some not-so-welcome European influences, including 220-volt outlets, mostly German-speaking TV channels and the euro as ship currency, which, because it is strong against the dollar, means higher gratuity and drink costs. But, those are minor complaints.

A recent five-night preview cruise on the Rhine and Moselle rivers was a nice taste of what passengers will experience on Panorama's usual 14-night sailings between Amsterdam and Budapest. (Shorter Christmas market cruises will also be offered.) The ship docks at a different place each day and cruises mostly at night, with daytime sailings confined to exceptionally scenic portions of the journey. Included morning walking tours instantly familiarize passengers with the typically small towns, and within a few hours, it's easy to feel a real affinity for each village's markets, churches and riverfront walking paths. The leisurely rhythm of the region's slower pace of life is impossible to resist, and in just a few days, drinking an afternoon beverage among the regulars at the local Biergarten or buying a hunk of fresh farm cheese from a market stand becomes second nature.

About

Passengers: 164
Crew: 47
Passenger to Crew: 3.49:1
Launched: 2011
Shore Excursions: 131

Fellow Passengers

The ship, with its 14-night Magnificent Europe itinerary between Budapest and Amsterdam (except for shorter Christmas market sailings), appeals to retired Americans and Canadians, with an average age of about 60. The ship has also been heavily marketed in Australia and New Zealand, whose citizens tend to take longer vacations when visiting Europe. About 50 percent of Panorama's existing bookings are Australians, which may skew the average age lower, as Avalon's passengers are typically only about 25 percent Australian.

Avalon Panorama Dress Code

Country-club casual is the order of the day. Leave the jeans and T-shirts, as well as the opulent evening gowns and tuxes, at home. At dinner, understated cocktail dresses and jackets (sans ties) are appropriate. Bring good walking shoes.

Find an Avalon Panorama Cruise from $1,882

Any Month

More about Avalon Panorama

Where does Avalon Panorama sail from?

Avalon Panorama departs from Amsterdam, Basel, Vienna, Frankfurt, and Prague

How much does it cost to go on Avalon Panorama?

Cruises on Avalon Panorama start from $1,882 per person.
Avalon Panorama Cruiser Reviews

Great Time with a Hardworking Crew

We only missed 1 night aboard Panorama and that was in a beautiful hotel the last night in Basel, with all of our food comped.Read More
User Avatar
CRay8323

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 63s

Superlative first time river cruise experience with Avalon

Avalon has an ‘Active’ excursion leader and as such appeals to a slightly younger crowd.Read More
User Avatar
Balooney

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 60s

Christmas Market experience

Avalon did an amazing job to make sure their guests were well cared for and accommodated and still provided all the tours.Read More
User Avatar
Ivana McGrail

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 54s

Rhine Cruise - Amsterdam to Basel

We were impressed with the customer focussed organisation and service provided by Avalon and its members of staff.Read More
User Avatar
Copona

oneFirst Time Cruiser

Age 60s

Avalon Waterways Fleet
Avalon Imagery II

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.