Avalon Vista Review
-- / 5.0
Editor Rating
SB6262
10+ Cruises • Age 60s
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Additional details
Sail Date: Jul 2018
Cabin: Panorama Suite with French Balcony
We have cruised several times, but this was our first river cruise (sort of). A friend had highly recommended taking a river cruise and when we saw the dates and itinerary for this cruise, we booked within 30 minutes (which is how we ended up with Cabin P319). My ancestry is 94% European so a trip to Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary was exciting. We flew out on Monday, July 30, and landed in Amsterdam on Tuesday, July 31. We were warned 3 days prior that we would not be able to board the Vista in Amsterdam as planned due to low river conditions but they would motor coach us to Cologne, the second stop on our trip, and we would embark at that point. It was a little disappointing at first, but it gave us an extra night in Amsterdam and we enjoyed our time there.
Tony, our cruise director, was fantastic and kept us well-informed all along the way.
Wednesday night at dinner, he let us know that we would not be boarding the Vista in Cologne, but would be motor coaching all day on Thursday between our next two stops (Amsterdam to Cologne to Rudesheim) and we would now be boarding in Rudesheim. It ended up being a VERY LONG day on buses and we finally boarded our ship just before dinner on Thursday evening. The staff greeted us as we boarded the ship. Our cabins were in perfect condition, complete with a welcoming towel animal on the bed.
Cabin Review
Panorama Suite with French Balcony
Cabin P
We had Cabin P319. The layout was nice and roomy. There was plenty of room for our clothes in the cabinets. The bathroom was large; not cramped at all. The design of the room with the large sliding door/window was a nice bonus. The bed faced the window so you could easily lay in bed and enjoy the scenery go by. We cruised one night with the entire door/window opened. The night breeze was nice, but you need to make sure your lights are out before opening the window because the light attracts the flying insects.
Port Reviews
Bratislava
Our least favorite port of call. Not much to see and not as impressive as other stops along our way.
Vienna
Good Tour; We had lunch at Da Capo's Italian and their pizza is GREAT! Beautiful venue off the beaten path.
Vienna
This was a great addition to our trip. The music was fantastic and the venue was beautiful. The performers and musicians added levity to their performance for a wonderful evening. I highly suggest attending a concert in Vienna!
Melk
The Melk Abbey was breathtaking! A must-see.
Passau
Beautiful Cathedral
Regensburg
Cuckoo Clock demonstration only lasts 10 minutes and is very fun and informative. Well worth the air conditioned stop on a hot day! We had lunch across the street at the Historic Sausage Kitchen (Historische Wurstkuche). The food was delicious, but the service was slow due to the crowds. Still a great place to eat and people-watch.
Bamberg
Guided Sightseeing and Old Town Hall tour. Beautiful Bavarian Town. Definitely try the smoked beer at Hecht Schlenterla Rauchbier! Beware of the "reserved" table in the back for the locals.
Wurzburg
Bishop's Residence Tour was very good.
Rudesheim
Very cool place with a great collection of mechanical instruments! Definitely a fun experience mingled with some musical history.
Cologne
Cologne walking tour with Cologne Cathedral visit and local Kolsch beer tasting. Great tour and beautiful cathedral. Our tour guide was fun.
Amsterdam
Canal tour was nice and our boat captain was humorous.
Amsterdam
Windmills, cheese-making, and wooden shoes are all at this location. Perfect way to start our trip in Amsterdam. It was a fun adventure and a great way to experience some of the local culture.
2 Helpful Votes
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