The Suite Life of Avalon Waterways River Cruising

The Avalon Visionary docked in Bernkastel, Germany

In my opinion, there is truly no better way to see Europe that via a river cruise. If you think about it, many cities, including the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, were built along the banks of a river. These rivers are the blood flow of a community across the globe. When sailing on a river cruise, you are sailing through the beating heart of both large cities and small storybook towns. You step off your ship directly into the welcoming arms of quaint villages with their bakeries offering heavenly treats, shops offering unique handcrafted goods, and a history that spans hundreds of years.

Some are surprised to learn that there is more than one river cruise company out there. While one company tends to inundate people with their mailings and advertising, that doesn’t mean that they are the best. They all offer similar ship styles, excellent food, included excursions, and great services. But there are still differences from one river cruise company to another. What makes Avalon Waterways my top recommendation for river cruising is their glorious Panorama Suites, which are the standard staterooms onboard their beautiful ships.

An Avalon Waterways Panorama Suite starts with their window. A floor to ceiling, wall to wall, 11 foot wide window that slides open a full 7 feet. While other river cruise companies might offer a balcony on their staterooms, that balcony is very small and takes square footage away from your stateroom. An Avalon Waterways Panorama Suite reclaims that space for your stateroom and with the large window opening, your entire stateroom becomes your balcony. So when you’re sailing past picturesque scenery, you can do so from the comfort and peace of your own suite.

With this incredible unobstructed view before you, you have the option to lie on your cozy bed and watch the world go by because your bed faces the window, not the wall. You also have the option to sit in a chair or on a couch with a table where you can set your glass of regional wine while you gaze at forests, hills, and little towns with children waving as you sail by. At night, heavy curtains cover your large window to give you privacy and keep out the light. Your stateroom also has sound-dampening insulation so you'll only hear what's happening in your own stateroom.

Unlike ocean cruising, river cruising isn’t about the latest and greatest onboard activities like skating rinks and go-carts tracks. River cruising is about the destinations along your journey. However, which company you choose for your river cruise can make all the difference in the world.