River Cruising on Titan's MS Serenade 1

River cruising continues to grow in demand and the Serenade 1, which launched in 2016, is tailored to suit British travellers. All of your fellow guests will be Titan travellers, providing a more intimate and sociable atmosphere on board. River cruising is ideal for visiting lots of different destinations, while taking in stunning scenery and local culture. Heather, Manager at our Yeovil branch shares with us her experience on board.

From the moment I locked my front door, my holiday had started. My Titan Travel chauffeur was waiting to whisk me away to London Heathrow and I couldn’t be more relaxed. From here I boarded my flight to Dusseldorf where a coach awaited me for a 30 minute journey to join my ship in Cologne for my river cruise.

Cabins

Upon arrival, a lovely champagne afternoon tea was waiting for me before I was given the keys to my cabin on the main deck of MS Serenade 1 - Chopin Deck. My journey would take me along the glorious River Rhine. My cabin on board the beautiful MS Serenade 1 was very well equipped and included both a bath and shower. It was also much more spacious than previous river cruise cabins I had stayed in (16sq ft.).

The highlight of my room however was most definitely its stunning floor-to-ceiling sliding doors which opened up onto a French balcony, allowing plenty of light and fresh air into the cabin. The icing on the cake? My suitcase had already been delivered and was ready for me to unpack.

Arnhem

My journey began in Cologne late that afternoon where we enjoyed a delicious 6 course gala dinner as we sailed along the calm and tranquil waters. The food was second-to-none and, to top it off, the level of service received by all staff, was some of the best I have ever encountered.

A river cruise vessel is generally much smaller than an that of an ocean ship so often the experience on board feels a lot more intimate which is a bonus for many. Couple this with ever-changing scenery and for me, you’re onto a winner.

The next morning we arrived in Arnhem, the Netherlands, where we joined a guided tour of the historic city; a major battle site during Second World War. Its beautiful bridge was renamed John Frost Bridge in honour of the British commander who lead the operation. Today, the bridge is lit with a wealth of colours and is a true sight as you journey along the river.

Amsterdam

The next morning, we had glided into the picturesque city of Hoorn. A delightful 17th century city awash with cobbled streets and winding canals, the atmosphere and architecture made me feel though I had stepped back in time. I would definitely re-visit!

Whist on my river cruise journey I found that you’ll often visit a new port each day, sometimes even two! Ideal for those who love a bit of adventure and love discovering new cultures there’s a lot of sightseeing to be had on a river cruise, especially as many dock in the heart of a city or town.

The last stop on my adventure was the charming city of Amsterdam, and we arrived just in time to explore everything this marvellous city has to offer. Leisurely cruising into port was wonderful as it was a great opportunity to take in the beautiful flowers and narrow merchants’ houses which adorn its surrounding canals and rivers. As a relatively flat city, cycling is popular in Amsterdam and I’d recommend keeping an eye out so you don’t walk into them.

Final Thoughts

After a farewell evening dinner, we left the next morning and headed for Schiphol Airport for our British Airways flight back to Heathrow where our chauffeur was waiting to whisk us back to Somerset.

Overall, I had a fantastic trip. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with a river cruise but the whole experience was brilliant. I loved the intimacy and attention-to-detail on board and found myself on many occasions mesmerised by the ever-changing scenery.

Titan’s door-to-door transfers also made the mundane transfer experience so much more personal and relaxing. I felt honoured to have taken part in such a lovely trip and now have lasting memories after visiting such lovely towns and cities; places I otherwise would have never have seen.

I can’t praise Titan’s lovely on board staff enough. They’re real credit to Titan and I would highly recommend experiencing their excellent level of service on board MS Serenade 1 for yourself.

Heather Muir, Manager