Published online by Cruise Critic
Sailing on Avalon Waterway’s new river cruise ship, Avalon Myanmar, was an incredible experience from start to finish. The ship and crew were excellent, but the excursions — into some of the more remote and unspoiled locations in the world — made it extraordinary. A standout was our visit to a schoolhouse on the tiny Irrawaddy River island Kyun Daw. Here, the kids (roughly ages 4 to 11) were amazed to see Westerners, a true rarity in villages like these. While we visited, they sang, posed for photos, smiled, laughed and joked, and the cruise passengers returned the favor, singing songs like “I’m a Little Teapot.” My cheeks literally hurt from smiling so hard for so long. The experience was touching, entertaining and completely humbling. — Colleen McDaniel, Managing Editor of Cruise Critic