Something different!

Last week I was invited to spend the evening on board the Avalon Creativity river cruise vessel. This is only my second River experience since the River cruise convention in 2013. On arrival in Paris we were treated to a guided tour of the city. It was a beautiful sunny (but brisk) spring morning in Paris, perfect for seeing all the famous sights .

Built in 2009 the Creativity carries a maximum of just 140 guests plus 39 staff on board this luxury ship over its 4 decks (Including the roof top terrace). Although relatively small numbers on board the ship didn’t seem small at all. The staterooms are all 15% larger than those in similar classes.

Our cabin on the 3rd deck was a 172sqft Avalon Deluxe Stateroom (Cat. A, B, P), and it was a lovely size. I loved the lay out of the cabin. There were two full wardrobes  with ample storage space for if you were on a long River cruise, and bathroom room facilities’ were clean cut and although a little small as you would expect on any cruise probably not much different to that you find on a ocean liner. There were two large bottles of mineral water waiting for us plus plush robes and slippers. But the focal point for me had to be the huge French balcony we had it was beautiful and lovely to open up wide on a day in dock to see your port of call for the day.

Complete Features inlcuded

During our visit we also got to view the other two cabins on offer on the Creativity, both of equal standards and high quality. The suite much larger at 285 sqft boasts a larger bathroom and the layout slight different with the huge French balcony at the foot of the bed so you wake to the panoramic view in the morning, A definite wow factor for me. Also we saw a example of the outside deluxe which in size was no different to our cabin but these were on the lower decks and didn’t have the balconies. These all had the small top window at water level.

After we had settled in we were given a tour of the ship which covered the roof top decks, whirl pools, panoramic lounge, small gym, salon, main reception and club lounge where you can get complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cookies and muffins.

Ship Amenities

• Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows
• Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs
• Sky Deck with shade awnings
• Sky Deck whirlpool
• Non-smoking interior
• Elevator
• Elegant, contemporary design
• Outside viewing deck
• Headsets for all guided shore excursions in Europe
• Friendly, English-speaking crew
• Sightseeing with Certified Local Guides
• Cruise Director
• Onboard lectures, activities & nightly entertainment
• Revolutionary engineering
• Room service for Continental breakfast & beverages (service fee applies)
• Internet Corner
• Fitness Center
• Hair salon (manicures available)
• Lounges and upscale bar serving premium spirits
• Self-serve beverage station with complimentary tea, hot chocolate & premium coffees
• Onboard movie nights
• Avalon Choice cruising experience
• Behind-the-scenes ship tour
• Choice of Leisurely, Traditional or Independent sightseeing options
• Use of Nordic walking sticks
• Local Favorites onboard experiences with local chefs, entertainers, artisans & experts
• English-speaking TV channels with over 100 free movie options
• Onboard assistance is available to recommend, reserve and further personalize your cruise
• Sky Deck game area
• Complimentary Wi-Fi access
• Well-stocked library
• Fresh fruit available throughout the day
• Selection of Local Favorites to bring the customs, cultures, and tastes of your destination to life

Dining on the ship was all done In the same area on the 2 deck. The feel the restaurant is  quaint. The staff were very attentive. Lunch was buffet were you are always given the choice of two mains, a vegetarian option, a pasta dish and a carved meat plus salad soup and dessert.

Our evening on board was formal and I was a little disappoint that more didn’t make as much of a effort as we did. With a high amount of guests from USA, Canada and Australia their idea of dress code was a lot more relaxed than what I would have planned for. We enjoyed our evening meal where wine and beer were included, our only criticism would have been we would have like slight more on the plate the portions were a little small, but what we did have was lovely quality food.

Our evening was finished with a relaxing evening in the main bar/lounge. A much more sedate ambiance to what we would usually be used to on the ocean liners but it was still a enjoyable evening. The staff were fantastic  up until the last guest left and even brought us warm snacks last on into the night. A lovely day and evening had by all. Thank you Avalon.

If you would like more details on cruising with Avalon or any other River cruise please call me directly on 0330 303 8260 or email me at [email protected]

Marie x