Avalon Waterways Info wanted.

[AWED23]

I am aware that Avalon is new, owned by GLOBUS, marketed only in the North American market....But any who have sailed it....Do you reccommend it?...How do they compare with Dielmann? Any comments by cruisers with experience with Avalon are appreciated...My concern is with quality, not price....Thanks all!

[gdayhoff]

We did the Xmas Market river cruise last December with Avalon/Globus.we have been on many ocean cruises but this was our first river cruise so I can't compare it with other river cruises. We picked it because when we do land tours we normally go with Globus.Thought the ship, crew, and service were great.Very enjoyable cruise and would go with them again .Don't think you would be disappointed if you with with them.

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[unberwoob]

We did Avalon's Budapest to Prague itinerary in 04 and just got back from their Budapest to the Black Sea cruise. I highly recommend them. They are a bit more upscale now than two years ago. Ships are all new and great, crew is very friendly, and the food good. We have also cruised with Uniworld, and they are good as well.

Avalon does not just market in North America. There were quite a few people from Australia, New Zeland, and even a couple from South Africa.

[steamboats]

AWED23,

 

I haven´t cruised Avalon but as far as I know Avalon is only plying the English speaking market, mainly the US (plus Canada, Australia, New Zealand). Deilmann is a very upscale German cruise company. On some cruises (those promoted in the US) you will find more US citizens than Germans / Austrians / Swiss. On other cruises you will find more German speaking passengers. Of course all announcements and tours are in German and English. I´d say that Deilmann is much more upscale than any US cruise company. The dress code is more formal (you need a jacket and a tie for dinner), food is first class (5stars, 10 cooks who worked all over the world in the best 5star hotels) and up to 9 courses. Service is really perfect (dining room staff is mainly Hungarian). All US cruise companies promote the more casual way of cruising. Food is more adapted to the needs of the mainly US passengers.

 

There is no good or bad company. It all depends on what you prefer and what your definition of luxury is. If you need an internet access or a laundry check the US companies, for excellent food and service check Deilmann. Compare all the amenities offered by the various companies and decide which one you´re needing.

 

As for Deilmann read my review linked in my signature.

 

steamboats

[bigreckster]

We cruised on the Avalon Poetry last summer from Amsterdam to Budapest, our first river cruise after about 30 ocean cruises. We chose the line because of its new boats and also because they offered a larger jr. suite accomodation which we felt was worth the additional cost. Food was good, wine included at dinner, tours were very well done and the service aboard was excellent. Travellers were mostly Americans with a number of Aussies and N. Zealanders also. We felt they did a very good job of organization and wouldn't hesitate to travel with Avalon again in the future. As has been pointed out on these boards before, be advised that river cruising is totally different than being on a large ocean cruise ship...different pace, no shows or casino or pool, etc. But it is the best way to get "up close and personal" in your visits to so many wonderful stops in such a short period of time. As Steamboat said, the dress is casual (no formal wear or dressy clothes needed other than perhaps at the Capt.s dinner evening) as opposed to some of the European based lines which are more formal and the food is geared toward American tastes. Hope you'll try a river cruise in the near future!