ONBOARD THE AVALON CREATIVITY -- At the rate at which Avalon Waterways is pumping out new, virtually identical river cruise ships, it wasn't immediately clear how the Avalon Creativity would stand out from rest of the Avalon pack.
But the Creativity's recent christening cruise in the Netherlands, from Amsterdam to Volendam and back, gave me an opportunity to sample a new and impressively pleasant feature for Avalon river cruise ships: an outdoor grill and seating area.
Suitable for up to 40 people (passengers will have to make reservations when the sailings are full), a casual, grilled lunch will be served in a shaded, patio-style seating area on the Sky Deck, weather permitting.
It's a great alternative to the restaurant dining. Once I tucked into my meal here, I quickly realized what a shame it is not to dine al fresco when gliding along Europe's rivers; it just seems like such an obvious fit for river cruising.
The grill concept was introduced this spring on the Creativity's sister ship, the Avalon Affinity, which launched in May.
During the christening cruise, one lunch was served in the sky deck restaurant, with the menu consisting of grilled sausages and steak, corn on the cob, baked potatoes and a salad bar. For dessert, there were ice cream sundaes. Wine, beer, iced tea and water were also available.
Open and airy
Elsewhere on the ship, the lobby of the Creativity (and the Affinity, as the deck plans of the two ships are identical) is much more open and airy than is traditional on a river cruise ship, with a large, round skylight above. The room opens up to a business center; couches off to one side guide passengers seamlessly into the well-lighted lounge. It makes coming onboard a brighter, more social experience than on other ships.
The cabins remind me of contemporary business hotel rooms, comfortable and functional at the same time. I'm also a big fan of the river cruise bedding wars, which have resulted in each new ship upping the one before it in terms of thread counts and mattress comfort, and the Creativity is no exception.
The bathroom is probably my favorite feature of the cabin: impressively large, with slate tiles, sleek cabinets, a comfortable standing shower and ample storage space.
I toured the full spectrum of cabins, from the lower deck cabins that have smaller windows, to the upper two decks, where all the cabins have floor-to-ceiling sliding windows. The two 258-square-foot suites onboard, complete with sitting areas and large bathrooms, were impressive. But, honestly, there isn't a bad cabin in the house.