The trip was great. We were on the Budapest to Amsterdam 2 week cruise in a category A cabin. Avalon Waterways looked after us very well and the accommodations were very good. We had 140 tourists on board and there were 47 staff to serve us and operate the boat.

Our suite was roomy. There were hanging lockers and drawers to hold all of our stuff. We emptied out our suitcases and they fit under the bed, out of the way. Unlike a bus tour, we didn't have to pack again until the last day. The room had its own bathroom with a sink, toilet and shower. The outer wall was floor to ceiling windows, one third of which slid open.

The boat was very long (443 ft) and had a large dining room, lounges in the front and back, and a deck with canopies for the whole length of the top. I got lots of exercise because we were only allowed to smoke in the stern. The canopies, railings and deck furniture were collapsible for going under low bridges (high water). The captain's command bridge would go down using hydraulics when we were approaching low bridges. This happened quite frequently. Read more