AVALON ENVISION RIVER CRUISE SHIP REVIEW

In Baz Luhrman’s Romeo & Juliet  (I’m kidding, it’s Shakespeare’s, of course), Juliet asks: ‘What’s in a name?’ Well, Avalon Envision is an appropriate name for an Avalon Waterways’ Suite Ship, and – like many others in the fleet, including Avalon Panorama, Avalon Visionary, Avalon Envision, Avalon Vista, Avalon Imagery II,  and the very recently christened Avalon View  – its name suggests that you’ll be able to enjoy some great views while onboard! Read our exclusive Avalon Envision River Cruise review.

Avalon Waterways Avalon Envsion

Built in 2018,  Avalon Envision  is identical to all her Avalon Waterways Suite Ship sisters, so you needn’t worry about not having the same amenities, choices of dining or entertainment venue, or about any quirky variations in accommodation. Instead, you can enjoy the same excellent standard of service, accommodation, and public spaces throughout the fleet.

Since the very inception of their Suite Ships (so-called, because 80% of accommodation onboard are suites),  Avalon Waterways  have focussed on two priorities – space and views – and  Avalon Envision  is no exception!

Avalon Envision Ship Tour Video

Avalon Waterways  Panorama Suites  are emblematic of this dual focus, where both space and views are entwined together – and in style, to boot! At 200sq ft, there’s not only ample space to enjoy, it’s about 30% more space to enjoy than the industry standard.

What’s also distinctive about Avalon Waterways signature Panorama Suites are their ‘beds with a view’, angled perfectly so that you can face the view itself (rather than a wall), and watch the world without leaving your snuggly Comfort Collection Bed (lined with Egyptian super-combed cotton, and a choice of mattress firmness) – perfect, for when you’re channelling your inner Homer Simpson and enjoying feeling like a big, toasty, cinnamon bun.

Of course, the Panorama Suites aren’t just a bare room with a comfy queen-size bed and a large window – you’ll find that they’re stylishly appointed, and feature a wide variety of amenities, including ample storage with three-door closets and shelves, a seating area to relax, a writing desk and vanity table, a fully-stocked mini bar, and a wide selection of free movie channels and English-speaking TV on the flat-screen TV.

Step in to the luxurious bathroom, where you’ll find marble countertops, a full shower with glass door, reed diffusers, bathrobes and slippers, and premium l’Occitane bath products (and a hairdryer) – but what I’ve always appreciated most is that Avalon Waterways feature two different colour towels in all their bathrooms (regardless of suite/stateroom category), so there’s no confusion as to whose towel is whose!

Panorama Suites make up the vast majority of accommodation, and can be found on both the Sapphire and Royal Decks, but there are also two  Royal Suites  onboard (unsurprisingly found on the Royal Deck). Like the Panorama Suites, they also boast the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows which open to create an Open-Air balcony, and their beds (king-size) are also angled to make the most of such wonderful views (although it’s also worthwhile to remember to ensure the curtains are definitely closed while getting changed – those views work both ways!). However, they are much larger, at 300sq ft, have a larger seating area, an additional flat screen TV (one TV for watching while in bed, another while sitting on the sofa!), and a library.

The bathrooms boast a double sink, a shower with a bench, and a separate enclosed toilet, in addition to the amenities enjoyed in the Panorama Suites.

The 20% of accommodation onboard that’s not suites can be found on the Indigo Deck, the deck that’s about/below water level (and so sometimes referred to as the ‘duckling deck’). The  Deluxe Staterooms , therefore, do not feature floor to ceiling windows, but natural light does come in through the picture windows. At 170sq ft, they’re still a generous size, and feature a fully-stocked mini bar, the same L’Occitane bath products enjoyed by the suites, and spacious three-door closets and shelves offering plenty of storage space.

Views, of course, aren’t just to be admired from the comfort of your stateroom or suite. The restaurant on Sapphire Deck boasts wall-to-wall panoramic views, and the Panorama Lounge above on the Royal Deck is similarly appropriately named. Wherever possible, Avalon Waterways have capitalised on the stunning scenery outside.

Having perfected their goal of maximising space and views onboard their Suite Ships back in 2011 with the very first of the class –  Avalon Panorama  – Avalon Waterways have in recent years increasingly turned their attention to flexibility and personalisation. It’s not just about the physical space onboard, it’s the space to enjoy different options, and make the most of your river cruise holiday.

Avalon FlexDining  – introduced in the last few years – is a refreshing approach that blends flexibility and personalisation, and makes the most of the physical spaces onboard the river ship, underpinned by Avalon’s belief that ‘cruisers can be choosers’; that, as no two travellers are alike, neither should their cruise experiences be. With Avalon FlexDining, restrictive dining times and seating options are removed, giving you the freedom not only to choose  when  to eat (rather than rushing to get ready for the dinner service), but  where  onboard you can eat.

Of course, there’s the  Panorama Restaurant , which will remain the heart of dining onboard, from a la carte breakfast and a buffet lunch through to elegant four-course dinners, but there’s flexibility and open seating, rather than set times and seats.

But light bites and a less formal tasting menu are also on offer to be enjoyed in the  Panorama Bistro , towards the fore of the ship as part of the Panorama Lounge.

You can dine al fresco at the  Sky Grill , up on the Sky Deck with nothing but views around you for arguably the ultimate in picturesque dining. However, wherever you decide to eat onboard, you’ll savour fresh, local ingredients, and can even indulge (guilt-free!) in healthier options with  Avalon Fresh , a culinary collaboration with Austrian brothers Leo and Karl Wrenkh who are at the forefront of the healthy-dining movement, creating dishes that are as full of flavour as they are goodness for your body, all from local ingredients fresh from local farms and suppliers.

This naturally leads us to another area that Avalon Waterways have increasingly focussed on: wellness.

Beyond the gym found on the Indigo Deck (now an almost ubiquitous feature on river ships), Avalon Waterways have an Avalon  Adventure Host  who will help you make the most of all the possible adventures you could have ashore, whether on bikes, canoes, kayaks or with walking sticks, whether on an independent exploration (with maps) or on an excursion.

On the Sky Deck onboard Avalon Envision you can find the Sky Lounge, Sky Grill, Sun Loungers and Chairs, Deck Game Area and the Navigational Bridge. The next deck down is the Royal Deck showcasing the Royal Suites, Panorama Suites, Panorama Lounge, Observation Lounge, Reception and Club Lounge. Below this deck is Sapphire Deck, where you’ll find the Dining Room and more Panorama Suites. The last deck is Indigo Deck, where the Deluxe Staterooms are located along with the fitness centre.

View Avalon Envision Deck Plans

Here, personalisation really comes to the fore, as Avalon Waterways offer excellently curated shoreside experiences to really engage you with the destinations visited, but not just from an ‘active’ point of view. With  AvalonChoice , in addition to  ‘Active’ excursions  with your Adventure Host, you could choose instead  Classic  or  Discovery  excursions, the former led by expert Local Guides who’ll take you up close and personal with iconic places and ‘must-see’ landmarks, while Discovery excursions offer engaging experiences from painting like Van Gogh (well, I’m sure we can dream – actual artistic skill not included or guaranteed), or getting hands-on in a kitchen to whip up a local recipe. For guests who prefer to explore independently, they’ve also developed the  AvalonGO  app, where you can find all the local information at your fingertips.

It was a great opportunity to be back onboard an Avalon Waterways ship, having previously cruised along the Rhine with Rachel for the  christening of  Avalon Poetry II   and even visiting a  shipyard to view two Avalon ships  in different stages of being built. While Avalon found the perfect mixture of space and views back in 2011 with the original Suite Ship,  Avalon Panorama , they’ve instead continued to innovate with onboard and shoreside experiences with the Avalon FlexDining, Adventure Hosts, and AvalonChoice, ensuring that their quality is ever-evolving to offer guests excellent experiences.

AVALON WATERWAYS PHOTO GALLERY

Avalon Envision  cruises the classic upper Danube from Germany to Hungary, and offers a range of different itineraries from bitesize 4-day cruises (which can be extended with a night or two in Budapest or Vienna), to 8-day cruises, including a special interest Jewish Heritage itinerary, and an ‘Active & Discovery’ cruise.

View all Avalon Envision River Cruise Itineraries

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