Magnificent Europe by River Cruise
Even though I class myself as a very open-minded traveller (being a travel professional and all that jazz!), river cruising did surprise me. I hadn't fully appreciated the variety of destinations and off-board experiences available, plus the high standards and excellent value for money this offered. But because I had my perceptions turned, I thought I would share with you my experience.
Whilst this is one of the most popular river itineraries, there are many other options you can book, including France and Portugal as well as those in Egypt, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia. There are lots of choices so do get in touch if you fancy a chat.
Places we visited: Travelling in early October, we joined the ship at Rudesheim, one of Germany’s most revered cultural and historic cities. The ship was docked within walking distance of the centre, and after being shown to our cabin, we were offered a choice of excursions, including independent options.
Whilst staying onboard for a wine tasting experience was very appealing, we chose to take the “Gondola” cable car ride to the Germania monument. Gliding above vineyards, it was a pretty grey day; yet we still managed to get a great view of the Rhine below, and the adventure that awaited. We sailed to Miltenberg that night passing Frankfurt during the late evening hours and arrived at Miltenberg around midday.
We were on the Main River, also known as the “Crawling Snake”, smaller and cosier than the Rhine. Waving to a family walking along the river, going through locks (a much-upscaled version and luxurious vessel than that of my childhood canal boat lock experiences) and the slower pace of life really hit home. It was such a magical way to reach these towns and cities, not from a road but from the water, through stunning scenery and in such a relaxed style.
Miltenberg, “The Pearl on the Main” really is a picture book town and probably one of my favourites.
We chose the walk along a 2000-year-old Roman Path through the forest with vineyard views up to Miltenberg castle, overlooking beautiful views. We arrived at our next stop Wurzburg, the capital of “Wine Franconia” the following morning.
Surrounded by vine-clad slopes and church steeples, we could either have taken a visit to the palace, visited a local farm or taken a scenic one hour drive to Rothenburg medieval walled city. We chose the latter and it did not disappoint! A gorgeous, cobbled city and the highlight here was most definitely the Christmas shop – a must if you are ever in the vicinity.
We cruised the last stretch of the River Main and entered the Main Danube canal. Bamberg a “UNESCO world heritage town”, and Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second-largest city. Both fantastic for history lovers, foodies and of course like all of Germany, many fantastic beer delights to sample. After this the treats of the Danube with Vienna and Budapest still awaited!
What was the onboard experience like? We stayed in a beautiful cabin, with both a French and outside balcony. I would highly recommend this option for the panoramic views and fresh air. This ship offered a walking track for outside space with plenty of comfy seating and a heated swimming pool on the sun deck. We travelled in October, so the sun deck seating area was well-equipped with warm blankets as well.
Everything was so well thought of and you could ensure that you made full use of the outside areas, soaking up the stunning surroundings and uninterrupted views. It was incredibly peaceful and relaxing.
Top tip: There are times when going through locks where the sun deck is all collapsed down, and access to the outside of the ship is restricted, but from the onboard lounges or comfort of your cabin you can still take in the lock experience! And not forgetting – the ship was equipped with its own fleet of onboard bicycles. These can be used on your own or on one of the many guided bike tours at each itinerary stop. There was a fitness room and massage/hair salon also available onboard, with other ships offering onboard cinemas.
The Entertainment: Lock hoppers! What are these I hear you ask? The entertainment varies onboard depending on the River Cruise operator: we experienced glass blowing demonstrations, wine-tasting experiences, musical interludes from the onboard musician, and even guest singers. Some of these guests hop on at one lock and hop off at a lock further down the river, hence the name, “Lock Hoppers”. Timing is crucial, as we discovered when we kept one lady guest singer chatting too long, and she had to disappear quite quickly when the crew needed her to hop off!
The food: Whichever luxury river cruise ship you experience, the cuisine is exceptional with locally sourced ingredients and specialities, paired with local wines for lunch and dinner. Most offer an all-inclusive option with all meals and drinks included or have the option of adding a drinks package.
As you can tell, I loved my experience. Not only would this kind of experience be great for solo travellers and couples, but I would also highly recommend this for groups of friends looking for a boutique-style hotel as well. Whether you are a younger age group or travelling as a family, there are various options that you can tailor your itinerary to and have a truly amazing experience.