Avalon Waterways
Avalon Poetry II
- Cruises
- 19
- From
- $4,100
Ship comparison
Avalon Poetry II vs Inspire
Tauck River Cruises
Inspire
- Cruises
- 20
- From
- —
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Avalon Poetry II is an intimate Avalon Waterways ship carrying 128 passengers, in service since 2013. Inspire is an intimate Tauck River Cruises ship carrying 130 passengers, in service since 2014.
Choose Avalon Poetry II if you want more space per passenger, a more romantic trip or more adventure and nature: it outscores Inspire for romantic (10.0 vs 8.0) and adventure & nature (7.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 15.8 gross tons per passenger (vs 7.7).
Choose Inspire if you want better-rated staterooms: it outscores Avalon Poetry II for staterooms (8.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Avalon Poetry II | Inspire | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Avalon Waterways | Tauck River Cruises |
| Ship size | Intimate | Intimate |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2013 | 2014 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 2,022 | 1,000 |
| Passengers | 128 | 130 |
| Crew | 37 | 39 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 3.5 | 3.3 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 15.8 (better) | 7.7 |
| Decks | 4 | 4 |
| Length | 361 ft | 443 ft |
| Beam | 39 ft | 39 ft |
| Speed | 14 mph | — |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 9 / 10 (better) | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 19 | 20 |
| Upcoming sailings | 351 | 72 |
| Cruise lengths | 7 to 19 nights | 7 to 14 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $4,100 | — |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Avalon Poetry II leads on 5 of the ten, Inspire on 2, with 3 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Avalon Waterways
Avalon Poetry II
There’s both serenity and a measure of adventure when cruising Europe’s famed waterways aboard Avalon Poetry II. Sailing chiefly the Rhône and Saône in France, Avalon Poetry II can glide by centuries-old castles and beautiful landscapes in the afternoon, then make an overnight port call at one of Europe’s overlooked gems.
Highlights
- Wall-to-wall panoramic windows
- Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs
- Panorama bistro
- Expanded fitness center
Sailing now
19 cruises on sale, from $4,100.
Tauck River Cruises
Inspire
Cruising exclusively along the riverscapes of the Rhine and Moselle, ms Inspire lends its name to the new Inspiration class riverboats from Tauck River Cruises. Carrying a maximum of 130 guests, Inspire explores medieval cities from Köln to Strasbourg and wine-growing regions from Cochem to the Alsace.
Highlights
- Brand new ship launched in 2014
- 22 suites and 8 loft cabins
- Open seating & flexible dining times
Sailing now
20 cruises on sale.
Questions
Avalon Poetry II or Inspire?
Which is bigger, Avalon Poetry II or Inspire?
Avalon Poetry II is bigger at 2,022 gross tons, against 1,000 gross tons for Inspire. Avalon Poetry II carries 128 passengers and Inspire carries 130.
Which ship is newer, Avalon Poetry II or Inspire?
Inspire is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2014 against 2013 for Avalon Poetry II.
Which has more space per passenger?
Avalon Poetry II, with 15.8 gross tons per passenger against 7.7 on Inspire. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Inspire, with one crew member for every 3.3 passengers against one for every 3.5 on Avalon Poetry II.
Which is better for families?
Inspire scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 6.5 out of 10, against 6.0 for Avalon Poetry II.
Still deciding?
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