I was lucky enough to attended the CLIA River Cruise conference in Amsterdam and visited 11 ships while there. Before this, I had never been on or even seen a river cruise and it was really interesting to see how different each ship was and helped me to improve my knowledge on which I will now recommend - there are so many options, ranging from family friendly cruises with adjoining cabins to solo cruise offers with no single supplements.
We flew from Bristol, taking just an hour's flight to reach Amsterdam and then a short transfer to the cruise terminal - with Amsterdam being so close, it is very easy to also travel by Eurostar, which plenty of cruise companies offer within the package instead of flights.
During our ship visits, one of the cruises that stood out for me was Riviera - this is also the cruise that I had sold the most of previously and is definitely one that I will be recommending in the future too! I went on the MS Geoffrey Chaucer, which tends to sail on the Rhine and occasionally the Moselle. As you step on board, it feels very luxurious with chandeliers, marble floors and the crew there to welcome you with a drink. We headed into the observation lounge at the front of the ship which was surrounded by windows and had plenty of seats - here you’ll find the bar as well as relaxed entertainment in the evenings, typically from musicians or dancers.
We heard about the ship from the captain and then began our own tour. I didn’t expect there to be so many facilities for a cruise that only has 88 cabins, however I found that there is plenty to do while sailing or in the evening once you return. As you walk out of the lounge, there is the on-board boutique shop, selling a range of items from bags and scarves to postcards and souvenirs. There is also a small gym, spa treatments and a hairdresser that also offers manicures and pedicures at an extra charge. On the top deck is a small golf area, a circular pool, and lots of chairs & sunbeds.
As we moved on to visit the cabins, I was impressed by how spacious they were as well as having 3 pin plug sockets. We saw many variations of cabins, with both double and twin bed layouts (with there being plenty of room between the beds!) The lower deck cabins had a window at the top rather than a balcony - they were still as bright and around the same size as the other cabin types.
While we didn’t have the chance to eat on this ship, we did visit the main restaurant and from previous feedback I have received, they are excellent when catering for allergies and specific dietary requirements. During the mornings, there is a buffet breakfast, with lunch being available to order from the menu as well as a buffet with salads.
In the evenings, there is a 4-course meal. There is also the option to dine in the Riverview Kitchen - this can be booked for no extra charge while you are on board and is a lot smaller, with an open kitchen layout. In this restaurant, the chefs prepare locally inspired dishes. It is surrounded by panoramic windows and when the weather is good in the evening, they may be fully opened onto the terrace.
I have found Riviera to be one of the most reasonable for solo prices, with some sailings purely for solo travelers.
During our 2 nights there, I had the chance to stay on both APT Polaris and AMA Serena, both in a French balcony cabin however we did have tours of all of the ships and got to see each cabin type. These ships were both very impressive too, with the highlight of APT being how friendly the crew were and the evening entertainment. My highlight on AMA was having a balcony that we could step out onto and sit down as well as the restaurant being accommodating to our dietary requirements and quick considering how many people were dining at the time!
If you are looking for advice or to book your river cruise, pop into our Cheltenham shop to see me or send an email to me: [email protected]!
