My Husband Thought He Would Be Bored on a River Cruise. Here’s What We Actually Loved About Avalon.

Before our first Avalon river cruise, Lloyd was nervous.

He thought he might get bored. River cruising was different from the ocean cruises we knew, and neither of us had experienced this style of travel before.

A month earlier, we had been sailing with his cousins on Carnival Jubilee. When Lloyd mentioned his concerns, his cousin Chuck gave him some simple advice:

“Just go with an open mind. You may really love it.”

As it turns out, Chuck was right.

Arriving Early Helped Us Settle In

We arrived in Budapest two days before our cruise and stayed as part of Avalon’s pre-cruise arrangements. That gave us time to recover from the flight and see a little of the city before boarding the ship.

Our hotel was beside the river, so we could see the different river ships docked nearby—including Avalon. I think seeing them helped Lloyd understand what the experience would actually look like.

On embarkation day, Avalon had a bus waiting to take us from the hotel to the ship. We probably traveled only a couple of blocks, but everyone had luggage, and the riverbank leading down to the ship was steep. That short transfer made a difference.

Avalon employees were waiting when we arrived. They immediately took care of our luggage, welcomed us aboard and checked us in. Someone showed us around the ship while our luggage was being delivered, pointing out the gym, coffee stations, lounges and outdoor areas.

It felt organized, personal and easy from the moment we arrived.

Our Panorama Suite Felt Just Right

Our room was the perfect size for us. We loved the panoramic window, the comfortable sitting area and the way we could open the curtains and watch the river from inside our room. Fresh water was always waiting for us, and our room attendant took wonderful care of everything.

Our cabin was also only two doors away from a small lounge at the back of the ship. That quickly became one of our favorite places.

While I was getting ready, Lloyd could walk down the hall, make coffee or hot chocolate and relax in the lounge. Juices and a few snacks were available, too. From there, we could step outside to sit at the back of the ship, watch the wake or walk upstairs to the open deck.

That little lounge wasn’t something we had considered when choosing our room, but its location was perfect for us.

Sailing Away From Budapest Was Something Special

We remained docked in Budapest until later that evening. When we finally sailed, the city was illuminated around us, including the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Building.

An ocean-cruise sailaway usually has a big, energetic feeling—and I love that. Leaving Budapest had a different kind of energy. Everyone was excited, but it was quieter and more peaceful.

We sat outside at the very back of the ship, even though it was a little cold, and watched Budapest slowly disappear behind us. We had the perfect view of the wake and captured some beautiful photographs.

It was a remarkable way to begin our first river cruise.

The Smaller Ship Made It Easy to Meet People

There were approximately 120 passengers aboard our Avalon ship. Because it was smaller, we continually saw the same people. It didn’t take long to recognize faces and begin having conversations.

Every evening, Avalon hosted happy hour in the main lounge. Couches, chairs and tables gave everyone plenty of room to gather. Guests naturally began introducing themselves, mingling and finding people they enjoyed spending time with.

Dinner created another opportunity to get to know one another. Everyone generally ate around the same time, and a waiter helped us find a table. We weren’t required to return to the same place every evening, but we found a table we liked and sat there often.

Near us were two younger married couples traveling together. Most of the younger passengers appeared to be part of multigenerational family trips, but these couples were traveling on their own.

When I asked what had inspired them to take a river cruise, one of the men explained that they had decided to travel while they could. They weren’t going to wait until retirement.

I loved hearing that.

At our age, we have watched people save their travel dreams for “someday,” only for illness, loss or changing circumstances to prevent those plans. These couples understood that someday isn’t guaranteed. They weren’t waiting to see the world, and I thought that was wonderful.

The Food Was One of the Best Surprises

Everything we ate tasted fresh, and the soups were especially good.

One evening, cream of asparagus soup was on the menu. It was green, and when it arrived, I remember thinking, “I don’t know about this.” Then I stirred in the cream on top and tasted it. It ended up being quite possibly the best soup I have ever eaten. I could have happily ordered it every night.

Each evening, Avalon also served wine from the region we were traveling through. That made dinner more interesting because we were tasting wines we probably would never have tried at home. It was another small way the destinations became part of our experience aboard the ship.

At lunchtime, the kitchen served its own freshly made ice cream. Lloyd looked forward to seeing which flavors they had made each afternoon.

The food was excellent at breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had no complaints, and neither did Lloyd, which may be the greater compliment. Although I’m the one who spent years in the catering business, he is actually the pickier eater. He will tell you he isn’t, but he is.

If the food hadn’t been good, Lloyd would have noticed.

The Excursions Offered Choices for Different Travelers

One of my favorite parts of river cruising was stepping off the ship in the heart of historic towns. There was no large cruise terminal or long journey from an industrial port. In many places, we could walk off the ship and begin exploring.

At least one excursion was included each day, and Avalon divided the passengers into smaller groups. We weren’t trying to follow one guide in a crowd of 120 people.

There were also choices for different interests and activity levels. Depending on the destination, active travelers could bicycle or hike. Others could take a traditional walking tour, while a gentle walking group moved at a slower pace.

That flexibility was especially valuable for families traveling with several generations. Everyone could choose the experience and pace that suited them.

Our guides were local to the areas we visited. They spoke excellent English, understood the history and could answer questions without hesitation. They weren’t simply repeating a memorized script; they knew these places.

Avalon also offered optional experiences for an additional cost. In Vienna, guests could attend an evening concert. Lloyd wasn’t interested, so we chose not to go.

We did purchase the optional full-day excursion to Český Krumlov. We were nervous about committing to an excursion lasting approximately eight hours, including the bus ride, but it was beautiful and well worth the day.

I don’t regret choosing it at all.

The Evenings Were Not Stuffy

Avalon offered entertainment in the evenings, too. We could go to the lounge, listen to music and enjoy being together after dinner.

Sometimes local entertainers came aboard. One evening, a friend of our cruise director who lived in the area joined us with his own music setup. He was very talented, but more importantly, he knew how to entertain a room.

We had seen people dancing throughout the cruise, but that particular night, almost everyone came out and participated. The dance floor was busy, the atmosphere was fun and the energy was wonderful.

We weren’t sitting silently in a formal lounge while someone played quiet piano music and everyone acted stuffy. That was definitely not our experience.

The entertainment didn’t try to imitate the large productions found on ocean ships. It was smaller and more personal, just like the ship itself.

Here Is the Honest Part: We Had to Set an Alarm

The one thing Lloyd didn’t especially enjoy was having to set an alarm.

If an excursion departed at 8:30 or 9:00 in the morning, we needed time to get up, dress, eat breakfast and prepare for the day. A river cruise is peaceful, but it isn’t necessarily a sleep-until-noon vacation if you want to participate in the included tours.

You are never required to go. No one is going to be upset if you remain aboard, explore independently or skip a particular outing. We met passengers who rarely left the ship, and that was their choice.

But we had traveled all that way to see these places. Most mornings, we set the alarm.

Travelers should understand that balance before choosing a river cruise. The experience is relaxing, but the itinerary is also focused on the destinations.

River Cruising Had a Different Rhythm

River cruising moves at a slower, quieter pace than ocean cruising.

We could sit outside and watch villages, towns and castles pass by. When we traveled through the river locks, I would head outside with my camera. On colder days, passengers gathered inside the forward lounge, where we could still watch through the large windows on both sides of the ship.

There didn’t need to be constant entertainment. The river itself was part of the experience.

The peaceful moments weren’t empty moments. There was always something outside the window, someone interesting to meet or another destination waiting just ahead.

Lloyd boarded Avalon afraid that he might be bored. By the end of the cruise, he was ready to go again.

I could sit quietly and watch Europe pass by while he found someone new to visit with. We enjoyed the same river cruise in two different ways—and somehow, it suited both of us perfectly.