Some days we sailed for a few hours before docking, so the staff planned a few onboard activities. For example, one day we had a galley tour. It's always fun to see the small galleys on small ships. How they ever manage to turn out so many good meals so quickly is amazing. Other activities were a napkin folding class and a variety of fun quizzes. Since I love to eat, my favorite was an apple strudel making demonstration led by one of the chefs, which was followed by some delicious samples. One evening after dinner, the crew put on a very fun "crew show", which gave us all a good chance to laugh together. Some were quite talented, others were just funny.
The Avalon Tranquility also had a series of guest musicians and expert lecturers. Since the vessel passed through many locks, the guests could board the ship while it was stopped in a lock and disembark at the next lock! How easy. The guest musicians were a classical music group "La Strada" and the "Gunzenheimer Swing Band", a group of VERY senior German men who played some fun swing music. Many joined in the dancing. The guest lecturers included a woman who demonstrated how to make some delicious German cookies while entertaining us with stories of her life as an ex-nun, a presentation about the European Union, and a presentation on changes in Germany over the past 20 years. All were interesting and entertaining.
In summary, the crew on the Avalon Tranquility did an excellent job of making our "Central European Experience" a memorable cruise vacation. I especially loved the large bathrooms and showers, French balconies, and delicious cuisine. The passengers were a mix of Americans, Canadians, British, Australians, and New Zealanders, making for terrific conversation and fun travel companions. Overall, the Avalon Tranquility provides an excellent European river cruise experience.
Avalon Tranquility European River Ship - Profile and Tour
- Avalon Tranquility Overview
- Avalon Tranquility Cabins
- Avalon Tranquility Dining
- Avalon Tranquility Common Areas
- Avalon Tranquility Onboard Activities
Avalon Tranquility Central European Cruise Tour Travel Log - 15 pages describing a cruise tour from Paris to Prague on the Avalon Tranquility
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with discounted cruise accommodation for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
