Pleasant Surprise: Avalon Waterways' Avalon Visionary

Avalon Visionary Avalon Waterways
At a Glance	By the Numbers
• Lifestyle: Premium • Launched: 2012	• Passengers: 128 • Crew: 37
Take a Bow (What to Like)	Pain in the Aft (What to Dislike)
• Overall Comfortable Design and Layout • Best Median-Level Cabin Configuration • Surprisingly Good Guest Musicians	• Lack of U.S.-Style 110-Volt Electrical Outlets • Few Dining Alternatives, Room Service • Hair Salon Instead of Spa Facility
Overall Ship Score Design Accommodations Activities Dining Entertainment Service	Who Should Book • River cruisers seeking well-designed, affordable accommodations. Who Should Skip • Travelers looking for a larger selection of onboard activity and dining options.

Design

Among Avalon Waterways' Suite Ships, the Avalon Visionary is one of the river cruise line's shorter varieties in length. Even so, it features the same great design with a smaller more intimate capacity.

Like most riverboats, the main public venues are positioned towards the front of the ship on three decks offset by four decks of primarily staterooms and suites behind. The central atrium stairs divide the mezzanine levels where the asymmetrical reception area sports a modern curvy layout sandwiched between two promenade ship entries.

In front is the wonderful Panorama Lounge observation space that is nicely delineated with a warm red and stone decor, an expansive dance floor, as well as filled with uninterrupted sightlines. Wraparound windows are impressively seldom separated by structural supports.

The Observation Lounge, (i.e. outdoor deck), is more difficult to see from with exposed mooring equipment at the bow. The mostly plain Sky Deck, however, is perfect for al fresco views without any blockades. The overall greatest design efforts went into the accommodations.

Accommodations

Entry-level Avalon Deluxe Staterooms are pretty standard, but median Panorama Suites (better described as staterooms) are expertly outfitted. Of course, the ship's two Royal Suites are even bigger, but the average ones are plenty great with beds that pleasantly face, with a slight angle, towards the French balcony.

While it's somewhat unfortunate to see a true veranda missing, the full floor-to-ceiling window segments do a marvelous job opening the room for an al fresco experience.

It's nice to have a mini-bar and good storage, but it's also curious that the latter is reduced some by the main air conditioning vent placed at and behind the desk surface. Also less than ideal is the presence of only 220-volt electrical outlets with no U.S.-style 110-volt ones nor any USB charging ports.

Still, by the time you make it to the bathroom, all is made right again by the best-configured variety on a riverboat.

The extra size afforded in the bedroom allows for a shower with space to comfortably maneuver inside as well as that outside to dry without contending with the toilet. Thankfully, there is also plenty of room to pop a squat on said throne and also use the sink basin.

Fans of luxury line Silversea Cruises will appreciate the use of the same brown natural stone surfaces. Another welcome touch is a handsome lit alcove above the toilet with a wick and reservoir air freshener.

Activities

Most river cruise time is spent ashore touring rather than doing much onboard. Given its smaller size, there are fewer activity choices anyways. Even augmenting the complimentary shore excursions are bicycles that can be freely checked out to ride into town.

Otherwise, there is the occasional lecture to attend on the ship, or there are a few deck games to play on the Sky Deck including checkers and chess.

The whirlpool is on the same upper deck, which is a nice extra. There is also a hair salon to purchase services from, but that's instead of any spa facilities for massages, which are more desirable. Meanwhile, for those looking to stay in shape onboard, a small fitness center with a treadmill, ellipticals and free weights is available. Plus, sightseers will definitely appreciate the forward and aft observation lounges.

Dining

Food is found mostly in the main restaurant onboard and comes with a decent amount of choices for a singular-dining-room operation. Breakfasts and lunches are available buffet-style and featuring cooked-to-order omelets in the morning and pastas midday, as well as premade options like scrambled eggs and bacon or meatloaf and risotto.

Always-available scrambled eggs would be more accessible if they weren't already premixed with fillings, however.

Light lunches of mostly the same fare are also available in the Panorama Bistro, sans carving station and the cooked-to-order items.

Dinners are fully served with usually four courses of an appetizer, soup, entree and dessert. A special dinner may expand to five or feature international cuisine via buffet. Flavor profiles are always very good, and plates are well garnished and presented.

An alternative bistro dinner is available on several evenings as well featuring a dozen small tapas servings. The concept is nice, but the delivery is missing some polish with wines not being properly poured to match. The convenience of room service would also be helpful beyond just continental breakfasts, which incur a surcharge.

Entertainment

Admittedly, entertainment is not generally a highlight of river cruises. The only house entertainer is a resident pianist who is good, but the surprise actually came in the form of the guest musicians brought onboard.

They are of a much higher caliber than seen on other vessels, making them worth seeking out and listening to on more than one occasion. Even one of the navigational officers sat in with a visiting band.

You still can't expect lavish production shows here, but the performances are quite talented for their scope. Additionally, a library of free classic and current on-demand movies are ready to be pulled up in passenger cabins.

Service

Service wise, the Avalon Visionary impressed with expert cruise director Isabel and hotel director Jerry. Both were shining examples of how their positions should be run. The crew followed their example well.

Our room stewardess playfully posed a towel-animal elephant wearing my sunglasses.

More inconsistent was the dining staff, save for a handful of standout servers. Some more training is definitely in order here to improve upon what is an already outstanding base product.

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