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Melanie Peacock from our Rolleston Branch will be the first to admit she is an Ocean cruise addict and has cruised worldwide. She loves Cruising so much she was not sure how River Cruising would compare, but now she can't get enough of it! Read on to hear all about her River Cruising experiences with her husband and as a solo traveller.
River cruising had been on my mind for a while, especially after having experienced a few ocean cruises with my husband. We decided it was finally time to see what all the hype was about and booked a river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel.
The check-in process was effortless, and we were soon on board exploring the ship's restaurants, bars, and main lounge. The ship even had an aromatic herb garden, and we were told that the chef liked to use fresh herbs in the cooking. We booked a window cabin that was surprisingly spacious and luxurious, with plenty of storage space and a lovely bathroom.
Our cruise director gave us a brief about what to expect on our journey, and each night we received a newsletter with the following day's program and information on the next destination. We had already chosen a few shore excursions and pre-booked them to avoid disappointment.
Before the cruise, we spent a couple of nights in Amsterdam, where we visited the Anne Frank House. I pre-booked an organised tour knowing we would get prioritised entry and thank goodness I did as the wait to get in was 3 hrs for everyone else! Having the two extra nights before our cruise gave us the option to relax for our first evening onboard and we got to
know the Barman. The shore excursions on the cruise were well-run, with local guides who provided first-hand information and exciting stories about local legends and lore. The Brew Haus tour in Cologne was a highlight, and we also loved shopping in the centre of the "Old Town."
Marksburg Castle was another was another must-see, and we were guided right through the castle, which was the only castle not destroyed or damaged in the Rhine Valley due to its strong fortifications. In Speyer, we decided to visit Heidelberg, a beautiful quaint little city. The food in Germany was surprisingly good, with generous servings, but we did find that the locals were not so keen to share their English-speaking skills. It’s a good idea to brush up and learn a little of the language, the locals really appreciate your effort even if it’s just some simple polite phrases.
In Strasbourg, we opted for a walking tour that was a blend of French and German, the local guide was very knowledgeable. Our last stop before the end of the cruise was in Breisach, where we opted for the Black Forest tour. Highly recommend this option as it takes you to a fabulous village where you can experience how to make a Black Forest Cake and is the best place to purchase a genuine Cuckoo Clock.
We both enjoyed the luxury of river cruising and the attention to detail that was unobtrusively put in place. The atmosphere was more relaxed than a large ocean cruise ship, and we got to meet some wonderful fellow cruisers from around the world that we still keep in touch with to this day. We were hooked and soon booked another!
Our next river cruise was from Budapest to Passau, finishing up with a stopover in Prague. We opted for a panoramic balcony cabin, which made a big difference to our cruise experience. We spent many moments leaning over the balcony railing to view the tiny villages as we sailed by and enjoyed the fresh air as we did so.
One of the highlights for us was cruising through Budapest in the evening with all the government buildings, hotels, and castles lit up with twinkling reflections across the river. It was very romantic! We recommend taking a guided tour as most descriptions and signs are in Hungarian and very few translations. If you can – go for a wander along the waterfront and across the historic Chain Bridge.
We also opted for a tour of the famous Lazar Stud Farm, where we were entertained with a fantastic horse show and an amazingly delicious hearty Hungarian feast! In Bratislava we chose a city tour, with its numerous universities we learnt it boasts one of the youngest populations and is one of the youngest capital cities in the world. The city is relatively small and easy to navigate so a walking tour was perfect.
In Vienna, we went on a city tour that included a visit to the magnificent Schoenbrunn Palace. After the tour, we stopped by a local bakery for some mouth-watering apple strudel. The palace tour was a highlight of our trip, and we wished we could spend another day exploring it. Make sure to hike up to the top of the grounds to capture some great shots of the palace.
Our next destination was Wachau, famous for its wines and home to one of the oldest operating schools in the world, established before 1385. The Danube's picturesque views make it an excellent location for cycling along the river.
We visited Grein for a walking tour of the oldest operational theatre, with some of the original rooms and artwork still on display. Our next stop was Mauthausen, where we discovered one of Austria's largest and most brutal concentration camps. It was a sobering and sombre experience that made us reflect on the horrific crimes the prisoners endured.
We had a choice of either taking the Sound of Music tour or visiting the medieval village of Cesky Krumlov, which we opted for and was probably our favourite stop on the cruise. It felt like a fairy tale with a massive castle, village square, cobbled streets, and quaint medieval-style businesses and shops. Make sure to indulge in a leisurely lunch at the village square. Our last stop was Passau, where we disembarked and headed to Prague.
Our last river cruise was in Vietnam, which was an entirely different experience from a European river cruise. For this trip, I left my husband behind and travelled Solo. The ship's maximum capacity was only 32 passengers, making it a more intimate experience.
There was only one restaurant option, but the food was incredible, and there was even a spa onboard. The staff were a mix of Cambodian and Vietnamese, and there was a bar on the top deck with plenty of seating. I loved the fact that we could pull up anywhere along the river and explore interesting historic sites or local villages.
The cruise was not as luxurious as a European river cruise, but it was more intrepid, authentic, and educational. We used local guides in some places and had the cruise director or other staff as our guides in others. Visiting a local school and taking part in a lesson was a highlight, as was watching people in action making their crafts during our visits to local villages.
The shopping opportunities were great. We took some pens and books for the local children whenever we stopped, which were always gratefully received. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed both cruises, which were similar in style, service, and experience. The staff were attentive and friendly, and the cruise directors were always willing to help.
We loved meeting people from all around the world and keeping in touch with some of them to this day. We highly recommend river cruising and although I still love ocean cruising I am eagerly awaiting my next opportunity to go on another river cruise.