Avalon Artistry II

There are just a handful of cabins (12 to be exact) on this mostly-suite ship. Those cabins are on the Indigo Deck, right at the waterline, with high-placed “garden unit” windows that have a view right at the waterline. They’re comfortably appointed, and have particularly spacious showers stocked with L’Occitane bath amenities. Unlike Panorama Suites, beds are traditionally aligned, but it’s worth noting the views can generally only be seen when standing. Mattress or pillows too soft or too firm? Let the staff know and they can swap them out.

Most of the accommodations on the ship are the 200 square foot Panorama Suites on the Sapphire and Royal Decks. These suites are custom designed for the “face the view” orientation of the beds. The dividing wall between the bathroom and the bedroom is angled just slightly, which orients the bed just perfectly and gives a few more inches of room to the shower.

There’s also a fair amount of closet space (bags stow under the bed), and ample seating with a coffee table for enjoying the open-air balcony when the french windows are open. For devices, there are power ports, but on one side of the bed it’s USB-A only—no additional port for standard plugs. The room also comes equipped with a minibar, and multichannel TV with a good selection of English language and international channels.

Like most river ships, Avalon Artistry II is not well-suited for passengers with limited mobility. There is an elevator onboard, but EU regulations prohibit it from being accessible from the top or bottom decks. Docking facilities also vary, and many ramps used to embark and disembark may not meet minimum requirements for users of mobility devices.

Passengers with disabilities should contact Avalon Waterways prior to booking to ensure their needs can be accommodated onboard.

Avalon Waterways can accommodate service dogs (but not emotional support animals) with advance notice.

Avalon Waterways does food particularly well. Most meals are served in the dining room, which focuses on making the entirety of the room visible to diners on the opposite side (most cruise lines have a divider in the middle of the room).

Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style, with hot dishes available to order from the waitstaff. Lunches and dinners often have a theme such as Asian or local cuisine, or a local specialty that is prominently featured on the buffet or à la carte menu.

Dinners are served in courses, and offer a permanent selection of international favorites (you can always order grilled steak, salmon, or chicken) and a rotating nightly menu of local cuisine. In Bordeaux, that meant dishes such as the city’s eponymous Bordelaise sauce served on steaks, local oysters, and French regional favorites like pot-au-feu, daube, and coq au vin. Avalon Waterways also sources a fine selection of local and international wines to go along with dinners.

There are significant vegetarian options at every meal, some even tempting enough for non-vegetarians (we particularly liked the wild mushroom bourguignon).

On gala evenings, cuisine is elevated (think lobster!), and the dessert options are changed up a bit. One evening we enjoyed a build-your-own-crêpe buffet for dessert, with the crêpes coming hot off a griddle throughout the after-dinner service. Avalon Waterways is also well-known for their after-dinner cart of cordials and digestifs.

Weather permitting, there’s al fresco dining available on the sun deck, and diners with lighter appetites at any meal period can enjoy lighter options in the Panorama Lounge.

Wine, beer, and soft drinks are complimentary with lunch and dinner, and sparkling wine is complimentary at breakfast. The Panorama Lounge & Bar is open throughout the day for other drinks, including an international selection of spirits, liqueurs, and cordials. Each evening, there’s a happy hour here offering house beer, wine, cocktails, and a special cocktail of the day. In the evenings and during happy hour, drinks come with canapés and glass carafes filled with peanuts, wasabi peas, or other bar snacks.

The Club Lounge at the stern of the ship is open throughout the day and has a beWell water dispenser with still, sparkling, and flavored waters, an espresso machine and light snacks like cookies or pastries.

Shore excursions are largely included in the fare, and come in three flavors: Active, Discovery, and Classic. Active excursions might be a hike or bike of a destination, Discovery excursions are meant to be in-depth and immersive, while Classic excursions are the tried-and-true sightseeing trips, often with free time for independent wandering. A highlight among the classic excursions is a full-day visit to Arcachon Bay, a seaside town popular with French holidaymakers, to stroll along the boardwalk, enjoy an included roast chicken lunch, and do a bit of shopping at the town’s boutiques and gourmet shops.

At some ports, there are premium excursions available, like a wine blending workshop, pastry class, or visit to the cognac maker Rémy Martin.

Onboard, there’s typically local entertainment welcomed onboard during the evenings, and on one of the daytime cruises between ports, there’s an afternoon demonstration of how to make the canelé, the distinctively bell-shaped pastry with a crunchy-chewy exterior and fluffy vanilla-scented middle that originates from Bordeaux.

There’s a small fitness room on the ship’s lowest deck, that would honestly be a bit of a squeeze if used by more than one person at a time. More attractive are the bikes available from the Adventure Host, or the yoga mats and fitness bands that can be used on the sun deck. The Adventure host can also lend FitBit trackers, walking sticks, or kayaks.

It’s worth noting that there’s a good amount of walking on many of the tours, particularly the Active tours, but there’s also a walking track on the sun deck for those who feel so inclined. There’s also a whirlpool on the SkyDeck.

The ship does not offer a spa or salon, but passengers who wish to have these services can contact the concierge for recommendations or bookings in one of the ports.