I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to go to CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) a River Cruise conference held in Amsterdam. Here I had the opportunity to tour & stay on the beautiful ship Riverside Debussy. The ship is absolutely stunning from the minute you walk into the main foyer you can see that it is just amazing. This doesn't change throughout the whole ship.
There are just 55 suites on the Debussy over 3 decks. The ship was built in 2018 so very new & is obvious whilst looking around. There are 3 restaurants onboard. On Seahorse deck 2 there is The Waterside restaurant for breakfast & lunch in The Marketplace (buffet) or Dinner in the open seating area.
Then on Riverside on deck 3 is Bistro for the late riser's breakfast. Open during the day & dinner. Here there is homemade pastries, waffles, burgers & sandwiches but I had to sample a very delicious ice-cream with my special coffee. This Bistro transforms to a tapas restaurant in the evenings. If you really want to try a more intimate dining experience, there is The Vintage Room on deck 3. This is for 10 guests only - with reservation. On deck 4 is The Vista Grill and here we were very lucky to have chef prepare some lovely Alfresco dining while the sun was shining... BBQ style.
While having our tour we had the opportunity to look at the onboard gym & the beautiful indoor pool & spa area. The pool has a fabulous vista out the back of the ship so always an amazing view whilst on river no matter what the weather. After the tour we headed to our suites (All rooms on board are all suite grade and above.) I couldn't believe that our suite was a leading suite. It was amazing... 23m2 of pure luxury.
Two very comfortable twin beds (King-size also available) facing out towards the floor to ceiling window which opens half-way down with just a flick of a switch. I had the great idea to lie in bed & watch the beautiful scenery whilst sipping the champagne supplied by Riverside. The bathroom was just stunning; double vanity, walk-in rain shower, a comfy gown & slippers to relax in, there was everything you needed & more. Not only the usual large tv, fully stocked fridge, hairdryer, safe, but also a shoe-horn & sewing kit. Every detail thought of.
After we got ready, we very excitedly went for our evening meal. What a fantastic experience, 5 courses from an extensive menu & this excelled my expectations. Every guest has Butler service with Riverside.
The evening continued with a laid-back cocktail in the glass-roofed Palm Court lounge whilst we listened to a few songs beautifully sung by the resident singer & her pianist accompanist. What a truly lovely experience. Would I go on River Cruise with Riverside... Absolutely yes, I would in a blink of an eye. Loved every minute!
