Just home from Avalon Active and Discovery Cruise

[Kenster]

We just got home from Avalon's Active and Discovery on the Danube: Linz to Budapest.  This was our fourth Avalon in five years and, though it was the shortest one at nine days, it was a great trip.  Avalon's unique "Active and Discovery" cruises offer a variety of physical activities to meet all levels of interest.   Biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, etc, as well as classic excursions such as walking tours of towns, wine tastings, etc.  Something for everyone. 

We were on the Avalon Impression "Suite Ship" in one of the standard size cabins with a French Balcony.  On Avalon, even the standard size cabins are 200 square feet.  The deck one "aquarium class" cabins are 180 square feet so even those are quite a bit larger than many other cruise lines.

The food was outstanding, as were the wine choices.  Unlimited wine and beer are included at lunch and dinner.  Service was great in the dining room and the lounge. 

Weather was unseasonably warm- mid to upper 80s during the day, but that was 10 degrees cooler than at home in southeast Texas so it wasn't too bad.  HINT:  always check the long range forecasts for all stops of the cruise BEFORE you pack.  We had a lot of people on board who went by the generic "average temperatures" they found on Google.  And they packed for cool weather.  We packed shorts and lightweight shirts for daytime activities.  In fact, we were able to pack light enough to do the trip with only carry on size bags. 

Even with the heat we had no issues with water levels and there was never a mention of it by the captain or cruise director.  I wasn't too worried about it.  Avalon has some of the youngest ships in the fleet with a very shallow draft that allows them to get up and down the river while other cruise lines are busing passengers between ships. 

 

It was a great cruise and we're looking forward to number five in the near future. 

Edited September 5, 2019 by Kenster
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[Host Jazzbeau]

Young ships doesn't mean shallow draft.  Viking's newest ships have a very deep draft.  Avalon's ships have a shallow draft because they were designed that way.

[robertmartha]

Kenster

 

Would love to hear about the active excursions - ones you did and others that were available to guests.

Have you sailed on any other river cruise lines - as a comparison to Avalon?

Hearing a lot of positives about them recently....

 

Thanks

Bob

[Kenster]

3 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Young ships doesn't mean shallow draft.  Viking's newest ships have a very deep draft.  Avalon's ships have a shallow draft because they were designed that way.

Well, true.  Let's just say, then, that Avalon made a much wiser choice as evidenced by the huge numbers of Viking ships maroon by last year's low water levels vs the number of Avalon ships that were affected. 

[Kenster]

2 hours ago, robertmartha said:

Kenster

 

Would love to hear about the active excursions - ones you did and others that were available to guests.

Have you sailed on any other river cruise lines - as a comparison to Avalon?

Hearing a lot of positives about them recently....

 

Thanks

Bob

Bob, here are some of the "active" excursions. All included at no additional cost.

1.  Guided bike tour to farm region. Visit a local farm

2.  Paddle a canoe along the Danube

3. Guided bike tour from Spits to Krems.

4. Guided bike tour. Highlights of Vienna.

5.  Guided jogging tour. Highlights of Vienna

6.  Hike up steep hill to a castle 1000 feet above the river.

7.  Canoe excursion along Danube near Visegrad.

8.  Guided bike tour of Budapest

 

We have not sailed with any line except for Avalon.  We were so pleased with our first one that we just keep booking them.  They don't advertise nearly as much as Viking, at least in North America.  They are very well known in New Zealand and Australia, though.   A big selling point, for us, is that Avalon rarely has been affected by low water conditions that keep other ships from sailing.  Three of our four cruises have been in times where the low rivers had forced most other  cruise lines to bus passengers between ships because the ships were unable to travel up or down the river.  Last year, we met Viking pax in ports who were on their third ship, as well as others whose ship had not moved in several days and were bused for hours each day to and from the sites they were suppose to visit, coming back to  the ship every night in the same spot.  Our ships just sailed on through without incident.  This is not to say that Avalon ships have never been affected by low water, just that it is much rarer due to the shallow draft of their ships. 

Give them a good look before you decide.

Edited September 6, 2019 by Kenster
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[Host Jazzbeau]

44 minutes ago, Kenster said:

Well, true.  Let's just say, then, that Avalon made a much wiser choice as evidenced by the huge numbers of Viking ships maroon by last year's low water levels vs the number of Avalon ships that were affected. 

 

That was my point [perhaps stated less clearly than your post]

[notamermaid]

Thank you for the review, Kenster.

Good to hear something about this relatively new type of cruises by Avalon. You say it was nine days, how many nights did you sleep on the ship?

Would you say you stayed longer in one place and "immersed yourself deeper" into a port than on the standard cruises?

 

notamermaid

 

[Kenster]

12 hours ago, notamermaid said:

Thank you for the review, Kenster.

Good to hear something about this relatively new type of cruises by Avalon. You say it was nine days, how many nights did you sleep on the ship?

Would you say you stayed longer in one place and "immersed yourself deeper" into a port than on the standard cruises?

 

notamermaid

 

We were onboard for seven nights.  One night in a hotel in Budapest at the end, but it was part of the cruise, not an extension.   Larger cities like Vienna, Amsterdam, etc, may get a day and a half or two days, depending on the cruise. Smaller ports may get a few hours, or dock in the afternoon and not leave until morning, giving you a free evening in "town." 

Personally, my bride and I prefer the cruising days over the port stops.  Nothing like sitting on the sundeck and watching the world go by as you cruise down the river.  It really doesn't matter too much where the ship docks and we do not necessarily choose a cruise by it's ports of call. 

[10smom]

We just did the Avalon Romantic Rhine Northbound.  While it was not an "Active and Discovery" cruise, we were very pleased with the active options.

 

We had an Adventure Host aboard who did exercise classes -- at least once a day, sometimes several a day.  Yoga, stretching, Core, resistance bands, etc.

 

He also did bike rides (using the bikes on the ship) and hikes in some ports.  I think there are 16 bikes on board which you can use when docked. One bike ride was a 14 mile ride in Breisach -- nice ride out of town through some vineyards.   This trip was announced before dinner the day before and soon had a waiting list. He also did a ride in Strasbourg which we did not go on since we had already booked the Maginot Line excursion.  He led the active excursion hikes that are included with the cruise (Hike up Philosopher's Way in Heidelberg was great).

 

We also paid for the optional 13 mile bike ride through the North Amsterdam countryside.

[Host Jazzbeau]

4 hours ago, Kenster said:

 

Personally, my bride and I prefer the cruising days over the port stops.  Nothing like sitting on the sundeck and watching the world go by as you cruise down the river.  It really doesn't matter too much where the ship docks and we do not necessarily choose a cruise by it's ports of call. 

 

You might prefer barge cruising, then.  As I understand it, you get lots of time cruising down the river.