Avalon v Amaway

3 couples in their mid60s, pretty active, are looking to take our first river cruise this August or October. Thoughts on which month is preferable? Does it make a difference if we do Prague - Budapest or is the reverse better? These seem to be fairly comparable boats/amenities, but i am not sure. Open to other suggestions. Thanks so much for any advice.:)

You may find the choice cabins already booked on these two wonderful lines. August can be very HOT and there could be snow in Prague in Oct. Check with the lines to see what is available. Personally, I would opt for mid to late Sept.

Pat

We picked Avalon over AMA or other choices because they had the (somewhat odd) itinerary we wanted, and Avalon has fridges in the cabins, which we really are interested in. Also like the layour of the cabins with the large picture window that opens -and the bed faces out!

There's a sticky at the top of this forum with lots of good information for beginning river cruisers. If you search this forum you'll find many threads that discuss a particular cruise line or compare one to another.

That said, my personal research led me to AMA Waterways because all reports indicated that they are the equal of most other lines but have the best food of any. Our Rhine cruise proved this out, and we are booked for a second (and planning a third).

You may find the choice cabins already booked on these two wonderful lines. August can be very HOT and there could be snow in Prague in Oct. Check with the lines to see what is available. Personally, I would opt for mid to late Sept.

Pat

August is not really hot, one or two or even three days in the eighties does not qualify as hot in my book. But there will be a lot more tourists than in October.

We were on the AMA Prima in May cruising from Budapest to Prague. Lovely ship (and the rooms had mini-fridges). We liked our first cruise so much, we're going on AMA again next Sept. (2015) on the Douro. Every aspect of AMA met our expectations and more. We splurged on the double balcony and loved sitting out there while cruising. Doubt if it matters which direction you travel. We spent extra days (on our own) in both Budapest and Prague. Stayed in the Marriott right on the Danube (another splurge) and the views were wonderful!

Thank you so much to those who responded to my query. We still have some choices and decisions to make, so I will continue my research.

There's a sticky at the top of this forum with lots of good information for beginning river cruisers. If you search this forum you'll find many threads that discuss a particular cruise line or compare one to another.

 

That said, my personal research led me to AMA Waterways because all reports indicated that they are the equal of most other lines but have the best food of any. Our Rhine cruise proved this out, and we are booked for a second (and planning a third).

DW and I have never taken a river cruise but thinking of one in 2015. Prague-Budapest. Or Paris-Prague. DW and I have taken a few deep water cruises on Princess and Celebrity. We are active young 60's and enjoyed the variety of activites, and food options.

I am lactose intolerant, and hate cheese:eek:

On river cruises will I be able to request no cheese or no dairy entrees? Or is the menu limited?

What activites are usually offered when cruising?

I get bored easily.

:(

Just off AMA and I can't say enough good things. The staff was excellent. The food was wonderful. The mix of passengers was older to middle aged. There was a young man about 12 traveling with his mum so he got the youngest on board. The Rhine is impressive. I am already planning my next AMA river cruise. We both loved it!!

KingOfCool - You should be able to let your river cruise company know that you are lactose intolerant and they should be able to work with you. Breakfast and lunch are normally buffets plus the option to order off the menu for lunch on some lines. Dinner on most lines include always available options (chicken breast, steak, salmon) and then 2-3 other entree choices. There are not as many options as on an ocean cruise, due to the very small kitchen.

Most river cruise lines offer 1 or 2 included excursions a day. Some lines offer optional ones, some have a choice of included ones. This really depends on the itinerary that you take. On the Rhine - most of the included excursions were a walking tour of the Old Town area, maybe admission to a church or museum, and then often free time to explore afterwards. It was rare to have to take a bus. On some of the Danube itineraries, you take a bus somewhere for the excursion. It really depends on what city you are docked in.

River cruising is much more laid back than ocean cruising. Read a lot of the posts on this board that show trip reports to get an idea of what is available to you. There are also a lot of posts that compare ocean cruising to river cruising. Read these as well. Post specific questions here as well.

YoungDubFan,

Thank you!

I will check out the resources you have recommended.

Regards, and safe travels,

King

Just off AMA and I can't say enough good things. The staff was excellent. The food was wonderful. The mix of passengers was older to middle aged. There was a young man about 12 traveling with his mum so he got the youngest on board. The Rhine is impressive. I am already planning my next AMA river cruise. We both loved it!!

GnRTravel,

Which cruise intenery did you do?

Regards, and safe travels,

King

King, we did Nuremberg to Amsterdam. The Main and Rhine. Beautiful cruising past many castles. Lots of great German towns and included tours. Could have started in Prague for 2 nights land. Wish we would have come in early everyone onboard who did Prague loved it.

Prague to Budapest with Avalon in July this year, 2nd cruise with Avalon, and looking to book another, love the large stateroom(both decks) size and layout, having a fridge is a must for us, a lot of lines don't have them in the staterooms. CD's were both brilliant, food great, can't fault this company.

Had 5 nights pre cruise in Prague (would have been happy with 4) also 4 nights post cruise in Budapest (could have been 5) this is a personal choice. Prague was great, Budapest was stunning and we want to go back.

Prague to Budapest with Avalon in July this year, 2nd cruise with Avalon, and looking to book another, love the large stateroom(both decks) size and layout, having a fridge is a must for us, a lot of lines don't have them in the staterooms. CD's were both brilliant, food great, can't fault this company.

Had 5 nights pre cruise in Prague (would have been happy with 4) also 4 nights post cruise in Budapest (could have been 5) this is a personal choice. Prague was great, Budapest was stunning and we want to go back.

Thanks peterdkiwi,

That's exactly what we would do pre/post cruise.

How were the all inclusive sightseeing? We enjoy cultural and museum hopping. Would you recommend taking their guided escorted tours as

and, at each stop is their more time to do some independent exploring afternoon/evening before the riverboat moves on to next stop?

Regards, and safe travels,

King

DW and I have never taken a river cruise but thinking of one in 2015. Prague-Budapest. Or Paris-Prague. DW and I have taken a few deep water cruises on Princess and Celebrity. We are active young 60's and enjoyed the variety of activites, and food options.

I am lactose intolerant, and hate cheese:eek:

On river cruises will I be able to request no cheese or no dairy entrees? Or is the menu limited?

What activites are usually offered when cruising?

I get bored easily.

 

:(

Kingofcool1947: I should raise a red flag about your last sentence. River cruising is not for everybody. We enjoy Princess and Celebrity. We loved our first river cruise and have several more planned, but some posters come back and say that it was BORING. You will find almost none of the types of entertainment that characterize an ocean cruise or a Las Vegas vacation -- no "Broadway" shows, no casino, no ships photographers, no dance lessons, not even bingo or art auctions. You WILL find a relaxing atmosphere, delightful scenery sliding by during daytime cruising, historic and charming villages and towns, the opportunity to meet interesting well-traveled fellow cruisers [or you may say you were stuck with the same 140 dull people for a week!]. Go back and look at the videos on some river cruise line websites with these points in mind, and try to envision whether you would find this boring -- yours is the only opinion that counts!

King

Avalon free tours are good, sometimes we would start walking tours with them, and then break away and do our own thing. They are happy for you to do this provided you tell the guide. They also provide details to get back to ship and phone numbers. There is often free afternoons or evening when in port you can just wander on and off the ship and explore on your own. Just love it that way.

Peter

peterdkiwi,

Thanks!

DW and I enjoying independently wandering around ports of call on our own. So, maybe we take an Acalon morning escorted tour, then go off on our own if location and time allows.

Regards, and safe travels.

King

We cruised with Avalon 4 times and then experienced AMA and never looked back. You can pull up all of my reviews and read the details if you are so inclined. They are very detailed.

We are just back from AMA cruise #4 and have 4 and 5 booked. What we prefer about AMA:

- Much better quality food and wine

- Warm and engaging staff and crew that provide exceptional service versus professional and competent on Avalon

- Erlebnis specialty dining

- Attention to detail

- Decor that is warm and inviting, similar to high end boutique hotel; Avalon was more generic from ship to ship, more like a Marriott

- Younger demographic

- More variety of excursions, including active tours and culinary tours

- EXCEPTIONAL cruise managers on every one of our cruises. On Avalon, they were very competent and hard working but without the warmth and energy of those we have experienced on AMA

We have cruised with most major lines - Uniworld (x3), Scenic (x2), AMA (x1), Viking (x1) and Avalon (x1).

Our AMA experience was less than stellar. Our CD was probably the 2nd weakest we have had (weakest was on one of our Scenic cruises - and yet our best was on the other Scenic cruise!!) and the food was good but not memorable.

Our most recent cruise was with Avalon. We were prepared for "less" as the price point was "less" than any of the competition. However - there was nothing "less" about our cruise. We found the food great - the staff warm and engaged.

We usually travel Aquarium class - so can't speak to the higher end cabins. But, we were quite happy with our cabin on Avalon. We actually sprung for a (French) balcony on our AMA cruise - and figured we wouldn't bother to do it again.

If details are important to you, compare both lines in the areas that matter most to you. Look closely at itinerary. If you do get bored easily - then look at the included and optional excursions.

Enjoy!!

Fran

Hi Fran,

Thanks on your comparison of the river cruise lines you've sailed with. It would be DW and I first river cruise as we've been on only 4 deep water cruises. We are 60. SIL and hubby swear by Viking and have only cruised Viking. No other.

On your Viking cruise, in your opinion, what was the level of luxury, quality of food, included shore excursions, and service compared to the other river cruise lines you've sailed on? How would you rate Viking compared to the others you've sailed with?

These are very basic questions to river cruising:

What do most passengers do in the evening aboard ship? :confused:

Socialize in the public areas? Or just retire to their cabin? Go on top deck to view the passing scenery (after dark?). :)

We are open to itineriary and time of year. But thinking Prague-Budapest or Paris-? 8-10 days?

Regards and safe travels,

King

We cruised with Avalon 4 times and then experienced AMA and never looked back. You can pull up all of my reviews and read the details if you are so inclined. They are very detailed.

 

We are just back from AMA cruise #4 and have 4 and 5 booked. What we prefer about AMA:

 

- Much better quality food and wine

- Warm and engaging staff and crew that provide exceptional service versus professional and competent on Avalon

- Erlebnis specialty dining

- Attention to detail

- Decor that is warm and inviting, similar to high end boutique hotel; Avalon was more generic from ship to ship, more like a Marriott

- Younger demographic

- More variety of excursions, including active tours and culinary tours

- EXCEPTIONAL cruise managers on every one of our cruises. On Avalon, they were very competent and hard working but without the warmth and energy of those we have experienced on AMA

Thank you caviargal,

I will check out your past reviews.

Regsrds and safe travels,

King

 

These are very basic questions to river cruising:

What do most passengers do in the evening aboard ship? :confused:

Socialize in the public areas? Or just retire to their cabin? Go on top deck to view the passing scenery (after dark?). :)

 

We are open to itineriary and time of year. But thinking Prague-Budapest or Paris-? 8-10 days?

 

In my experience, about 1/2 of the passengers retire after dinner and the others will attend whatever entertainment is offered or socialize in the lounge. If we are in port overnight, we will sometimes change and head into town for a stroll or to visit a local pub, etc.

On NYE in Vienna several years ago, we spent time on deck at midnight to watch the spectacular fireworks display. In Budapest, we went to the top deck to enjoy the gorgeous scenery of our night cruise.

We have done 8 river cruises and Budapest to Prague was our favorite. We are just back from Paris and the south of France and enjoyed it overall but it was not our favorite of the itineraries we have done so far.

On Avalon, I turned in my room key when leaving on a tour, and when I got back the receptionist handed it back to me without me even saying my name, she then addressed me by name and welcomed me back. Every time I passed through the lobby she addressed me by name. We loved our Avalon cruises, the fridges in the rooms, the staterooms with the French Balconies. We actually prefer those, they add space to the stateroom that you can use when the weather is not so good.

Hi Fran,

 

Thanks on your comparison of the river cruise lines you've sailed with. It would be DW and I first river cruise as we've been on only 4 deep water cruises. We are 60. SIL and hubby swear by Viking and have only cruised Viking. No other.

 

On your Viking cruise, in your opinion, what was the level of luxury, quality of food, included shore excursions, and service compared to the other river cruise lines you've sailed on? How would you rate Viking compared to the others you've sailed with?

 

These are very basic questions to river cruising:

What do most passengers do in the evening aboard ship? :confused:

Socialize in the public areas? Or just retire to their cabin? Go on top deck to view the passing scenery (after dark?). :)

 

We are open to itineriary and time of year. But thinking Prague-Budapest or Paris-? 8-10 days?

 

Regards and safe travels,

 

King

Hi King -

I didn't find our Viking cruise to be the most luxurious of our river cruises - but they don't market themselves that way. They offer a solid product at a competitive price - and I feel they deliver that. We thought their staff was very good. By the 2nd night in, all I had to do was stop at the desk on my way to bed - and the night receptionist called me by name - remembered my room number - and confirmed my wake-up call time. Quite impressive, actually.

Uniworld is quite luxurious - but the price point reflects that. Scenic offers an all-inclusive package with some really nice extras --> you need to look at their prices and itineraries closely, as some packages are more competitively priced than others. We did Budapest to Nuremberg with them last year --> and their price point was the best. When you added in the trip to Prague, the price jumped. We had done this itinerary before (our AMA cruise) so chose not to go to Prague - opting for extra time in Nuremberg.

I think that Caviargal is "spot on" with her thoughts on after dinner entertainment. Bear in mind that dinner often isn't over until 9ish so anyone who normally goes to bed early would probably be ready to retire after dinner is over. If you travel on a line that has an all-inclusive (including bar) then people may stay up a bit longer. We found that there was a good crowd on our last Scenic cruise - and we stayed up later than we usually do.

Itinerary is quite subjective - it depends on what interests you. We LOVE Budapest - so anything that begins or ends there is a bonus for us. We are going back to Prague next year --> it is an amazing place.

We did south of France this past June... and I now understand the allure of the French Riviera. We went over a few days early and spent some extra time in Nice. I could happily buy a vacation home there... if the lottery win ever materializes....:D

Fran