I was lucky enough to travel to Budapest and Vienna in November with APT. It was going to be my first time on a River cruise so I had no idea what to expect.
We flew from London Heathrow where check-in and security went very smoothly with no queuing at all. We touched down in Budapest in the late afternoon where we met our transfer guide in arrivals. After a short transfer, we met the cruise in the most picturesque location next to the famous Chain bridge with views of Gellert Hill across the river.
We embarked on to Travelmarvel Vega and my first impression was WOW! The lobby area was so modern and we were greeted with smiles from the friendliest staff who checked us in very efficiently and even took our luggage to our cabins for us.
I was taken to my French Balcony Cabin where I was lucky enough to be staying for the 3-night duration. Once again, another wow moment. I could not believe how spacious and how beautifully decorated the cabin was.
It featured an en-suite bathroom, personal climate control, and great storage with room to push my suitcase under the queen-sized bed with plush linen. It also had a TV, safe, mini-fridge, blackout blinds and electronic windows that slide down to form a French balcony which provided amazing views of the city from the river.
Then it was time to experience our first of many 4-course evening meals. There are a couple of choices on each course to choose from. However, if you don't want any of these options, they always have alternatives offered every night. There is always something amazing to enjoy eating. Breakfast is buffet style, but they also cooked fresh omelettes at a station right in front of you.
You could choose between a buffet-style lunch in the true north lounge, a light pub meal in the Irish-style pub or you could indulge in a 4-course lunch in the main restaurant. All the food onboard was outstanding and there were so many options.
The next morning, we were up early to go on a bus tour of Budapest. The guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and very entertaining. We stopped off at Heroes' Square to see the iconic Millennium Monument with statues featuring the Seven chieftains of the Magyars and other important Hungarian national leaders. We then visited Buda castle and Fisherman’s bastion which provided stunning views over the whole of Budapest. We enjoyed some Hungarian apple strudel before returning to the boat to set off for Vienna.
We sailed down the Danube all afternoon and through the night. After wrapping up warm and grabbing a hot chocolate, the majority of the guests took full advantage of the sun deck to take in the beautiful scenery. The captain was more than happy for us to take a look at the bridge and even sit in his chair! We passed through a lock as we approached Vienna which was amazing to see.
It was my first time in Vienna, and it did not disappoint. We were taken around the city by another fabulous guide who showed us St. Stephens Cathedral, the Hofburg palace and the famous opera house. We then spent the afternoon at leisure where I visited the gorgeous Christmas markets. Hundreds of small market stalls were brimming with authentic food, gluhwein and trinkets to buy.
Back on board that evening, we enjoyed some relaxing live music after dinner and even a little bit of dancing before bed.
At breakfast the next morning, to my amazement the waiter remembered that I only drank Oat milk with my coffee after only serving me once previously. The attention to detail and the superb customer service of all the staff on board Vega was second to none and it really made the experience extra special.
It was our last day and before our afternoon flight, we visited Schönbrunn palace and had a tour around the gardens and palace itself. The exquisite rooms from the time of Maria Theresa were truly breathtaking and the gardens were vast and beautifully kept. We had lunch at a lovely authentic Viennese restaurant on the palace grounds before our transfer picked us up for our flight home.
The whole trip from start to finish was magical and every detail was taken care of, so I didn’t need to worry about a thing. I would highly recommend APT to anyone looking for a luxury cruise and I can’t wait to travel with them again one day.
