All Things Avalon

[dolllover]

We traveled on one of Avalons older boats and to any newbies trying out Avalon for the first time try to book a newer vessel. It was the Luminary and the issue with noise kept us up all night and I can handle a lot of noise. It was grating on the nerves and unfortunately Avalon couldn't do anything about it. Their newer boats look really nice so I'm looking to book one of those in the future if the itenerary and price is what I'm looking for. 

[Daisi]

Hi Dollover,  I think all the "older" ships are now retired, and the fleet is now all the new "Panorama Suite Ships".  We were on one of these last year, and even though we were only about 4 cabins from the back, there was no engine noise, and we were going upstream.  I saw a video on YouTube showing them building the new ships, and there is a fair amount of insulation in them...we couldn't even hear people talking in the neighbouring rooms or in the hall.

 

Hopefully your next trip will be a lot quieter.

[TMLAalum]

Just finished our first European river cruise- with Avalon. We were postively impressed, especially with the decision of this cruiseline to use local tour guides in each port. We had some of the best we've ever had considering that for our ocean cruises we book private tours nearly 90% of the time after much research on Cruise Critic.

 

We booked aquarium deck cabin which was tight, but the storage was excellent. I felt the dining choices were varied and well-prepared. The only problem I found was that dinner finished @9, and that after touring during the day and having an early departure for tours the next day, we often went to bed by 10 on a full tummy.

 

I would highly recommend Avalon. In Vienna we needed to walk thru a Uniworld ship- the decor was jarring compared to Avalon's.

 

Sign me an Avalonian!

[Daisi]

23 minutes ago, TMLAalum said:

The only problem I found was that dinner finished @9, and that after touring during the day and having an early departure for tours the next day, we often went to bed by 10 on a full tummy.I

 

We took our tour in the spring, so often would walk the top deck after dinner to wear some of it off!  Glad you enjoyed it, we are planning our 2nd one for 2021.

[Playtennis]

TMLA,

Glad to see your positive remark about Avalon's excursions!  We too are ocean cruisers taking our first River Cruise and have done lots of private tours.

Our cruise takes us to Caudebec, France and from there we want to ensure we get a great tour of the D-Day beaches in Normandie.  Since we dock in Caudebec and it's about 1 ½ hours away from the sites it looks like we may need to take a ship's excursion.  Any thoughts to that or suggestions for private tours?

Thanks (or should I say Merci!)

Keith

[NorthWildwood]

I took this Avalon River cruise in August.  All of the ship excursions were wonderful.  Normandy beach tour was the best.  Yes it was a ride on the bus, but a lot of history was shared along the way.

 

Have a wonderful time.

[Playtennis]

NorthWildwood

Wow! Speedy reply...THANKS!

Good to hear about the excursion.  I've researched a lot of different tour groups and even DIYing it.  Because of needing to take the long bus ride and not really knowing what time we would need to be back at the ship the choice was almost made for us.  I just talked to a friend who took a 7 day tour of the D-Day Beaches area and he said that there are 3 places to stop that are must-see are listed on the excursion sample.

BTW - As a Philly born & raised guy Wildwood was one of our favorite places to go as a teen. Loved the beaches AND the females who were on it! 🙂🙄. I remember once spending weekend there where 10 of us roomed in the attic of a big house...the heat didn't matter because of the beverage of choice for us that we consumed vigorously!

k 

[YoungDubFan]

I did Paris to Normandy with Avalon a few years ago and wrote an extensive trip report afterwards. I took the included tour to the Normandy beaches. We rode the buses to Arronmanches and had free time and lunch. We stopped at Pont d’Hoc and then went to the Cemetery and Omaha beach. Avalon had 3 separate groups: Americans who went to Omaha Beach, Canadians who went to Juno beach, and other nationalities, but I don’t know if they went to a specific beach. When we were at the cemetery, we were each given a rose to lay on.a grave. Avalon handled everything with class. It was a great day. We had plenty of free time at each location.  

[franski]

On 11/16/2019 at 9:40 AM, Playtennis said:

Our cruise takes us to Caudebec, France and from there we want to ensure we get a great tour of the D-Day beaches in Normandie.  Since we dock in Caudebec and it's about 1 ½ hours away from the sites it looks like we may need to take a ship's excursion.  Any thoughts to that or suggestions for private tours?

We did Paris/Normandy with Avalon 2 years ago... We had done the Seine previously (our 1st river cruise) with Uniworld a number of years ago - and wanted to revisit the river.  Avalon allowed us to sail the same river, but have a different experience.

 

For the day in Normandy, there were 3 options.  All were full day tours - and included lunch.  One group went to the American sites, one group went to the Canadian/British sites - and the 3rd option was a tour to Bayeux to see the tapestries - and then to a distillery in Calvados to see how they made the apple brandy. 

 

My DH went on the Canadian/British tour.  We had been to the beaches before, so I went to see the tapestries, then onto the distillery.   

 

Fran

[Playtennis]

YoungDubFan,

Thank you for that report about visiting Normandy.  It has solidified our choice!  (a question about this at the end of this post)

Fran (aka Franski),

Thank you for filling me in on the choices you had.  I'm assuming that ours will be about the same....hopefully.

For both of you - as experienced Avalon cruisers - I know we will get notification as to when we can book excursions (about 90 days before travel) but is there a time of day that the 'starting gun' for sign-ups is shot?  Is there any difference of when you can sign up based upon the different levels of suites? 

Thank you again!

Keith

[YoungDubFan]

Keith - from my experience everyone can sign up at the same time. Very few of the excursions sell out and if you want you can wait to book once on the ship. I have heard some say that if they book and pre-pay for an excursion, it will go even if it would normally be cancelled due to low interest. I don’t know if this is the case however. I had prebooked and paid for Versailles for my trip but that was cancelled due to the flooding that was occurring and changes to our itinerary. I had my refund from Avalon before I returned home. 

[JVilleGal]

Don’t remember advance sign up. Everyone gets to go.

[s35flyer]

On our cruise signing up in advance, which we did, is not an issue at all.  People were signing up the night before after the happy hour briefing on the next days activities/choices. 

[Daisi]

We did the Rhine last year, and I signed us up for the tours in December (sailed in May).  I figured we would be going anyway, and this way I paid in Canadian $$ and not Euros.  All tours (as far as I know) were also available to be signed up for on board, however you paid by Euros.  I don't think any tours were cancelled, and some of our groups were only about 8 people (took the slow walkers so I could take pics at my leisure.....when we were on the regular ones, you only got to take pics when they stopped to explain something).  I will say we didn't miss out on anything but possibly some free time after the tours going on the slow walker groups, in fact for the tour in Koblenz (I believe)  there is a building with a man's head carved in it...we were the only group to actually see it in action with the eyes moving.

[franski]

4 hours ago, Playtennis said:

For both of you - as experienced Avalon cruisers - I know we will get notification as to when we can book excursions (about 90 days before travel) but is there a time of day that the 'starting gun' for sign-ups is shot?  Is there any difference of when you can sign up based upon the different levels of suites? 

Thank you again!

Keith

Keith -

The options in Normandy were all included excursions...  so, you did not have to make a decision until the day before.  Everyone got to go.  

True optionals will be available on the "My Avalon" portal about 3 months before you sail.  But, again, you don't have to decide until you board.  It is very seldom that an optional tour will be sold out.    It would be more common that it would be cancelled due to lack of interest.

That being said, we pre-booked an optional tour to Zaanse Schans when we did the Flanders Fields tour.  There were only about 10 of us on the tour - but they did not cancel as they had that number confirmed - and so had pre-booked the guide.  The Avalon Rep at the hotel said they usually don't cancel if tours are pre-booked.   But, don't know how real that is.

Category of rooms does not play into bookings.  We almost always travel Aquarium class - and have never had an issue with booking, or had an optional fill up to the point we couldn't go.

On our Paris/Normandy cruise, we did our own thing in Rouen, and back in Paris --> as we had already done the general "included tours" in both places.  

 

Fran

[Playtennis]

11 hours ago, franski said:

Keith -

The options in Normandy were all included excursions...  so, you did not have to make a decision until the day before.  Everyone got to go.  

True optionals will be available on the "My Avalon" portal about 3 months before you sail.  But, again, you don't have to decide until you board.  It is very seldom that an optional tour will be sold out.    It would be more common that it would be cancelled due to lack of interest.

Fran

I guess it's my experience of ocean cruising.  There is a constant "book earliest" mentality that I've become hooked on.  (Actually it wasn't too much of a hook as I like to plan early.) So that I don't have sleepless nights we will most likely book our excursions before we board.  

Thanks to all for the advise!

k

 

[suntan]

As I continue my research into my May 2020 "Tulip Time" river cruise I have some questions for those experienced with Avalon.

 

1. Are there set dinner times on Avalon as on ocean cruises?  On ocean cruises dinner times are usually 6pm and 8pm.  If there are two dinner times are you able to choose the time you want?

2) Embarkation Day - while I am planning on sightseeing in Amsterdam the day before the cruise and the morning of the cruise, are you able to board whenever you want prior to the 3pm embarkation time?  

3) Embarkation Day Optional Excursion - I see on our cruise on embarkation day there is an optional excursion to Zaanse Schans.  Are these embarkation excursions done in the morning or the afternoon?  I'm planning on doing a walking tour in the morning.

 

Thanks,

Sue

[JVilleGal]

Question 1 - there is One dinner seating for passengers I believe it is at 7pm and dinner is served one course at a time. After passengers eat the crew gets to eat. Much much different than ocean cruising.

# 2 you can board when ever you want AFTER 3pm but not before. The crew has made the ship ready and prior to loading luggage gets a couple hours in Amsterdam prior to guests arrival. You will not be able to board early as no one is really there other than a few crew.

# 3 I can’t speak to the Optional excursion you need to call Avalon. We spent 3 days in Amsterdam prior to our cruise and took a taxi to the boat about 3pm.

 

Loved our sailing, it was wonder!  

[Daisi]

1 hour ago, suntan said:

As I continue my research into my May 2020 "Tulip Time" river cruise I have some questions for those experienced with Avalon.

2) Embarkation Day - while I am planning on sightseeing in Amsterdam the day before the cruise and the morning of the cruise, are you able to board whenever you want prior to the 3pm embarkation time?  

3) Embarkation Day Optional Excursion - I see on our cruise on embarkation day there is an optional excursion to Zaanse Schans.  Are these embarkation excursions done in the morning or the afternoon?  I'm planning on doing a walking tour in the morning.

 

Thanks,

Sue

 

Hi Sue, 

 

As JVille said, there is one set time to eat.  

 

However, our cruise last year, we were able to come on board around 11:00, and although the room wasn't ready (which we didn't expect it to be), they did take our luggage, and invite us into the lounge to help ourselves to a light lunch & a drink.  Since it was lunch time, the drink was free.  Very nice welcome, and a great way to start the cruise.

 

Your tour to Zaanse Schans will probably be an afternoon tour, you will find out more closer to your sailing time.  Once the options to pre-book are up on MyAvalon, it (if I remember correctly) will state the time.  We had the choice for either Zaanse Schans or Keukenhof (which we did) and it left around 1:00.  

 

Enjyou your cruise, you've chosen a great line!

[txsprmom]

We did Zaanse Schans and  Keukenhof the day before boarding with an independent tour.  Keukenhof is NOT to be missed!!  We boarded the ship mid morning then took off to enjoy Kings Day celebrations.  Looks like Kings Day is April 27, 2020.  If that happens to be when you are in Amsterdam, do some research so you are prepared.  Great fun but it is very crowded and a lot of things are not running/closed.  It was a bit chilly in spring when we were in Amsterdam but as we continued on down towards Budapest it became warmer and warmer.  The dinners, most nights, are the entertainment.  Most nights it was at least 1 1/2 hours from start to finish.  A few nights they did have local entertainment come onboard which was great fun.  We loved our Avalon adventure!

[suntan]

Thank you for your responses to my questions.  Our sailing date is May 6, 2020.  We can choose our optional excursions in Feb 2020.  I will definitely be going to the Keukenhof gardens.  I'm looking forward to the local entertainment that comes on board.  

 

 

Edited November 23, 2019 by suntan

[NKS50]

We first sailed Avalon Nov 2018 on the Danube, and loved it..  great experience.

First question- does anyone have the recipe for the mustard soup?  We sampled this while sailing the Wachau Valley and would like to prepare it here.  

Second question-  we are booked again on a Rhine cruise at the beginning of May, beginning in Amsterdam.  We arrive at 8:00 am, the day of the sailing.  Will the Keukenhoff Gardens tour be available sometime that day?  If so, can we put our luggage on the ship for safekeeping?  We are very excited to sail again and appreciate any info you can give us.

[s35flyer]

We did the Rhine Amsterdam- Basel last April 20 or so.  We stayed at the Avalon hotel, they came and boarded us at around 10am.  We had lunch on the boat, then did the keukenhoff that afternoon leaving on buses around 1pm.  Then back to the boat, dinner, and the boat left Amsterdam the next the morning.  Keukenhoff is not to be missed.  So I think your good to go.

Edited November 27, 2019 by s35flyer

[NKS50]

Thanks for the response.  I hope the timing works for us.  We are not doing an Avalon pre-stay, so we would not connect with an Avalon hotel.  Since we have transfers with Avalon in Amsterdam, maybe the arrangements will be to our advantage...

thanks again.

[Daisi]

We di the Rhine cruise last year, stayed in our own hotel.  We had pre-booked the optional Keukenhoff tour, which occurred in the afternoon, so we took a taxi to our ship and arrived around 11:00ish.  They greeted us, took our cases up and stored them for us, and invited us to enjoy the light lunch that was prepared in the lounge.  When the tour was called, we boarded the bus and off we went.  When we arrived back, we were escorted to our rooms, and had time to settle in before the muster.  I am sure if you contact Avalon (they have a contact either through their website or face book page) they will let you know if you can drop your luggage off once you arrive.  The day we arrived in Amsterdam, we dropped our luggage off at the hotel around 8:00, took the tram into town, and walked until around 3:00.  We had heard that walking was good to avoid jet lag, and as we were up for almost 40 hrs I can tell you it worked for us.  Stayed up as long as we could to make it close to a regular bed-time on Amsterdam time, and slept straight through.  Next day we were fine and adjusted to "local" time.

 

We lucked out with the last weekend that Keukenhoff was open, and it was something to see.  So glad we chose it over some of the other optional tours.  I hope you have as much luck, and enjoy your cruise.

Edited November 27, 2019 by Daisi