Cruising Down the Rhine-a 38 Year Old Couples’ Perspective of River Cruising with Avalon Waterways
My husband and I have done our share of ocean cruising with many of the mainstream Ocean Cruise Lines. Being a travel agent, I have sold both ocean and river cruises to my clients, but had never experienced river cruising for myself. To learn more about river cruising to better serve my clients, I decided it was time to venture onto my own river cruise. I’ll be honest, I didn’t quite know what to expect. As a 38 year old Black married couple who traveled the globe, river cruising still seemed brand new. Fortunately, what we found was a mix of relaxation, culture, beuatry and community that has turned a new leaf for us, and made both my husband and I a fan of river cruising.
About Avalon Waterways and the Rhine
We decided to do our first River Cruise on Avalon Waterways. I’ve gotten great feedback from clients about their experiences onboard, and though they would be a great company for my debut river cruise. Avalon has been in the river cruising industry for over 20 years, and the parent organization Globus has been in business since 1928. You can certainly see that they are experts in travel, and their fairly newer entrance to the river cruise market was really demonstrated by how modern everything was, which we really liked.
The Rhine Gorge
Before embafrking on our journey, I had always heard of how magnificent the Rhine Gorge was. Words can’t really describe how magical it is. This area is lined with more than 40 castles and amazing views. Our Avalon cruise director would give us commentary about the areas we were passing for additional context. This was my highlight of the entire trip, it was a surreal and amazing experience, that I recommend everyone indulge in at least once in their life.
What to Expect Onboard
Going into this river cruise, we knew we had to drastically change our cruising expectations from what we were used to with ocean cruising. River cruising is a much more intimate and refined than ocean cruising. We had about 145 passengers onboard, and the vibe was very lowkey and relaxed. You won’t find any casinos or Broadway shows on board, no constant announcements, but you will, and I mean definitely will, meet others from all over the world, enjoy great food, LOTS of wine, and great conversation. While there are no deck parties or clubs, we spent are evenings enjoying local wines, live music, on relaxing on the sky deck.
In terms of service, there was no one that we encountered that would not go above and beyond to make sure all our needs are met. Avalon takes pride in making sure that everyones needs are customized, and fulfilled–down to being able to choose the firmness of your mattress. Small details like providing guests with refillable water bottles are the touches that set Avalon apart.
The Food
The meals spotlighted the areas we were cruising in, so we tried many dishes and wine from the countries we visited. As a self proclaimed foodie, this was also a highlight.
Our Stateroom
One of the absolute highlights of our cruise, was our stateroom, a panorama suite. We had never stayed in a suite quite like this, but it definitely made us a fan to this style of cabin. Instead of a walk out balcony, your room turns into its own balcony with a floor to ceiling doow that slides open. It’s an amazing concept that makes the room feel bigger with access to the outdoor space. Many of our mornings and evening were spent just lounging by the open door enjoying the view of castles, vineyards, villages and more. There was plenty of storage space, with our luggage fitting into our closest and under the bed. The bathroom was also spacious, with a glass door shower, and very modern in design.
The Demographics
River cruising traditionally has attracted an older crowd, but we were not the only younger couple onboard, infact there were several families with teenagers, and a couple of very well behaved preteens on board. The vibe remained calm, and we connected with travelers who had amazing life and travel stories to share. We did notice that we were one of only a couple Black couples, but the atmosphere onboard was welcoming and inclusive
The Ports
Amsterdam, Netherlands
We kicked things off in Amsterdam with its canals, bikes, and that classic Golden Age charm. Avalon included a canal cruise, which was the perfect way to see the city from the water before even setting sail.Cologne, Germany
Cologne was all about the cathedral—it’s massive and impossible to miss. The guided walk took us through the Old Town, and afterwards we grabbed a Kölsch beer like the locals.Rhine Gorge (Scenic Cruising)
Hands down one of my favorite moments. We sat up on the Sky Deck with wine in hand, watching castles and villages roll by. It felt like something straight out of a fairy tale.Rüdesheim, Germany
This little town was so cute. We completed a hike through vineyards to arrived at an amazing view overlooking the city.Mainz / Heidelberg, Germany
Mainz has a cool Gutenberg Museum where we learned about the printing press, but we opted for the excursion to Heidelberg. Walking around the castle ruins and looking over the town was such a romantic highlight.Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg stole my heart. The cathedral is stunning, but La Petite France—with its half-timbered houses and little bridges—was like stepping into a postcard.Breisach, Germany (Black Forest)
This stop was all about the Black Forest. Think cuckoo clocks, Black Forest cake, and those cozy German villages tucked in the hills.Basel, Switzerland
Our journey ended in Basel, a city that’s both artsy and historic. We didn’t have a ton of time here, but it was a great jumping-off point if you want to extend your trip into Switzerland.
Would I Recommend?
Absolutely. River cruising is not for everyone—especially if you are seeking an ocean cruise experience—but if you want a mix of history, culture, relaxation, and ease, it’s worth every penny. As a younger couple, we found it refreshing and eye-opening, and yes, we’d definitely do it again. River cruising is definitely an investment. It’s pricier than a typical ocean cruise, but it includes almost everything—excursions, wine and beer with meals, Wi-Fi, and of course, that intimate, upscale experience. For us, the value was in the immersive travel style and the lack of hidden costs.
o.
