Avalon Waterways Reviews 1,849

I took the Danube River, Budapest to Nuremberg cruise. It was one of the most enjoyable holidays I have had for a long time. There was no stress at all, everything we needed was taken care of, from the moment we boarded the plane Avalon booked to the time we arrived at the departure airport, and in between, it was pure enjoyment. We went to many places, always well organised excursions and attentive crews. I have now booked another cruise with Avalon for next year! Happy days ahead.

The trip up the Mosel and Rhine was peaceful. The food was great, servers were very nice and attentive. Boat was clean. Enjoyed the room.
Mostly visited little towns. Saw castles, churches and wineries. Beautiful country. Unfortunately we typically had to leave ports at noon to keep to the schedule. That meant we spent lots of time on the boat and didn’t get to go into town at night for dinner or entertainment. If you don’t mind eating on the boat every night then you will be alright with this cruise.
One major concern. Had a health emergency while on the boat. Alerted the front desk staff. This was urgent.
No assistance was offered by the staff. No help of any kind.
Had to wait 24 hours for medical care.
Had to walk to a clinic with no aid from the staff. Ended up in an ambulance and taken to the hospital.
The health care I received was good and the doctors and nurses were very kind. Once I put myself in their care, I was taken care of.
Avalon did nothing to help me.

We cruised with Avalon from (Basel) had to leave from Huningue, France and finished (Amsterdam) had to finish in Rotterdam so cruise wasn't quite what was advertised. Firstly can't fault staff. They were great and nothing was too much trouble. Food and drinks were amazing. It was plentiful and varied across the week. Our cabin was kept immaculate and we were on the 2nd level in the middle so had no engine noise. Excursions were okay. With such large groups you didn't really get to see too much due to different fitness levels of the group so we tended to leave the group to enable us to see a bit more. Did some of the active bike tours and they were great.
This was our first cruise and we were excited as per Avalon advertisement to wake up in our window facing bed to a beautiful view. BIG disappointment. Out of the 7 mornings of our cruise we only had 1 one morning waking up to a view. 5 mornings we had another boat next to us which meant your room was like a dark cave (so close you can touch the other boat) and you couldn't leave your curtains open due to privacy issues. The other morning we were against a solid concrete wall. We were told to expect maybe a couple of times this may happen and could have accepted that but not 6 out of the 7 mornings. Not sure if all river boats do this but certainly didn't see other companies eg Viking doing it. Sadly this left a bad impression of our Avalon river cruise and we would be reluctant to use them again.

River cruising is the most relaxing way to travel and Avalon does it so well. The excursions, the staff, the food and dining are all wonderful.

I would have loved to have posted a review of my experience but I won’t get the chance. This review is on customer service and not my actual experience.
Please purchase travel insurance as their policy for cancellation is strict. I had an accident 2 months prior to a sold out sailing, where I needed surgery and rehabilitation. We were only looking to rebook the exact itinerary a few months away but were denied. It is unfortunate because we will not consider them in the future.

I looked at river cruises for at least three years and just couldn’t make a decision to purchase. I think what held me back was the cost for a single person and the worry of would it be like the larger cruises where nobody talks to you.

I finally booked in March for the Romantic Rhine, Basel to Amsterdam . The single supplement waiver was what made the decision for me. I’m actually just finishing my trip now and want to share my thoughts.

I flew to Zurich wondering how the transfer to ship would take place. I spent one night in Zurich and after breakfast Avalon had a representative at the hotel who explained a few things and transferred us to a bus. We entered the ship without ever touching luggage and were greeted by friendly staff. Rooms were ready at 4pm and when I entered mine my luggage was waiting for me.

My room is very comfortable and always clean. The staff are excellent. The excursions are plentiful and there is something for everyone. The food has been good with lots of choices. There was one meal I did not like and I was immediately offered another choice. Apart from breakfast,lunch and dinner there is afternoon tea and happy hour. Water stations are around the ship and the lime mint water is amazing as are the cookies. I’ve made lots of friends with the other passengers and as a single person have never felt awkward.

I think this is a great way to see a lot without the 2000 people who take the larger cruise ships. I will definitely look to book another trip with Avalon. Janette Forbes

We were so taken care of! The food was amazing. Ship excursions we very organized.Would Love to do another trip. This was our first river cruse, Ship was so clean, Crew members all felt like family. Thank You Avalon.

As expected, the ship was immaculate and the crew was extremely professional. They take care of EVERYTHING!
The main difference between our previous cruise with Avalon and this one was the removal of the dress code for dinner. We were surprised/discouraged to see jeans and shorts in the dining room at dinner, when presented with a delightful upscale menu hosted by extremely competent and knowledgeable servers.

The crew, the itinerary and the cruise director were all great

Our river cruise on the Danube Westbound was magnificent! Our room was luxurious with wall to ceiling windows. The staff was exceptional, from the cruise director to housekeeping, everyone was extremely helpful and very friendly. The food was beyond delicious. Entertainment was provided every night from Walz dancing to 60’s music. The tour guides at the various ports were well organized and highly informed.

A very memorable trip!

Beautiful ship, friendly staff, nice rooms. Enjoyed most of the excursions but expected more from dinners. The rest of the meals were good.

Our trip on Avalon was our second trip. We have traveled on the Rhine and Danube rivers with them. Both times the destinations chosen were wonderful. The staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome.

I cannot recommend Avalon any more strongly! Our cruise exceeded EVERY expectation. The staff, the food, the tours, our suite were all absolutely amazing

This was my first river boat cruise. I'm so glad I chose Avalon! I went with a dear friend. We each had our own cabins due to the "solo supplement waiver" for our Rhine River cruise.
Avalon was first class all the way. Lovely, spacious rooms, superior dining and wonderful excursions. We loved the hospitality and thoughtfulness of the crew. Everyone from room attendants to wait staff made the trip memorable. We had so much fun! We were so impressed, we already booked another Avalon River Cruise for 2026!

The staff and especially Cruise Director, Tony, made the entire experience an exceptional journey. Each day, Tony gave us detailed information about disembarkation, tours and ship activities. The waiters and staff consistently greeted us morning, afternoon, and evening with grace, smiles and concern about making our trip one that we will always remember.

Great crew, wonderful accommodations, fantastic food and included tours, and good evening entertainment.

We continue to enjoy Avalon cruises. Don’t think we could ask for a better experience. Boats are always in excellent shape and the food is wonderful.

I’ve never been on a trip that was perfect from start to finish, until now with our Danube Dreams trip in June. Avalon is so well organized and professional. From our booking agent, to our airport transport valet it was just perfect. I adored our table attendant Zorco. All staff were courteous and helpful and went above and beyond to make our cruising experience an enjoyable one

Everything was perfect from housekeeping to the Captain!

This was our fourth Avalon cruise, I believe, and if we’re lucky it will not be our last. We love this particular company, everything about the experience is comfortable, delightful, and fun. The food is always good, the shore excursions are just right, the crew are amazing from start to finish. 100% recommend.