Day 1
After arriving at London Heathrow, I met the rest of the agents travelling on our trip, including our host the wonderful Lloyd from Riviera Travel. Once we arrived at Dusseldorf Airport, we walked out to the waiting coach, where the driver helped us with our luggage and after a short 45 minute transfer, we were stepping off the coach and walking to meet the ship, the luxury 5* Geoffrey Chaucer. The staff were on hand to take our luggage from the coach to the ship, we walked into a classy boutique reception with Chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, reception staff were on hand to check us in and issue key cards for our cabin, other staff appeared to show us to our awaiting cabins where we had enough time to freshen up and then go straight into dinner. We were presented with a lovely menu of 3-courses starting with a salad buffet then a choice of main course and pudding or cheese, wine, soft drinks, or beer were also offered in an unlimited supply. Once dinner service had finished, we went into the lounge bar for an amazing cocktail of the day followed by several G&T's.
First thoughts of this ship while sipping my G&T based on staff I had met, service and facilities felt like I was sailing on the Harrods of the river cruises and they certainly deserve the 5* rating. I took some time to look around the ship, stopping into the small boutique gift shop - selling jewellery, sunhats and souvenirs of the ship and on the lower deck, a gym and separate Spa offering massages, pedicures, manicures and hairdressing. On the Sundeck there is comfy lounges and chairs complete with a smoking section should anyone need it, allowing you to enjoy the breathtaking views and sunshine. We were then even treated to a tour of the wheelhouse by the waiting captain and his first officer, explaining how they navigate and sail the river and encounter locks which control the ships flow and water levels. Then it was time to turn in stopping at the coffee station which is open 24 hours a day supplying coffee, hot chocolate, hot water for tea, complete with the most mouthwatering coconut and chocolate chip cookies, then back to my cabin to unpack and get a good night's rest.
Day 2
After waking up from sleeping in the world's comfiest bed, I had an amazing power shower, then dressed and headed for breakfast. Food on this ship is not something you need to worry about as at breakfast there was everything and then some. Choose from cereal, toast, cake, eggs benedict, omelettes made to order, a full cooked breakfast, or request eggs to your preference, a choice of tea or coffee, juices and water, always served by cheerful friendly smiling staff, who can’t do enough but do make every guest feel special and appreciated. We then had time to explore the ship and take time to chill out on the top deck while the ship passed through a lock - a must see. Cruising along the Rhine seeing such breathtaking scenery, so lush and green everywhere you look, it’s like stepping into another world with fairytale castles and vineyards dotted along the Rhine.
We then docked in the afternoon to get off the ship in Cochem and go on one of the organised included guided walking tours with the wonderful Bianca who guided us around a mix of medieval churches, lovely old German hotels with amazing architecture, with some buildings dating back to the 1700's! Extra things to do after the tour finished, we went along to a local bar to sample a glass of the local wine and then walked up to the chairlift cable car which whisks you up to the top of the Rhine Gorge to a viewing platform to have the most stunning views of the Rhine and Cochem. After the chairlift back down and a 15 minute walk later, we were back on the ship and greeted with a pre-dinner drink, before showering and getting ready for dinner. The food on this ship has been unbelievable, lots of choice of freshly cooked food from Fish to stake to Osso Bucco and duck and to finish it off, the most mouthwatering pistachio ice cream. We were lucky enough to get a reservation to eat out in the a la carte Riverview Restaurant where they prepared the food in front of you with an open kitchen seeing the chef busy just like in MasterChef!
Day 3
The ship departed Cochem early morning, after a fabulous breakfast, we ventured outside and spent the morning cruising along the Rhine to arrive early afternoon into stunning medieval town of Traben-Trarbech, we also had lunch today in the Riverview Restaurant. We were lucky enough to have a ship day today, I went to try the spa out and had a fantastic manicure, leaving my hands so soft. Some guests this afternoon decided to get off and have the 50 minute transfer to do a walking tour of Trier followed by some free time of the city, we stayed on board as it was a very hot day and played crazy golf and some of us used the pool to cool off on the top deck and chilled out. We ate in the main buffet restaurant tonight with part buffet and waiter service with a live cooking station, followed by a pub quiz and finished the evening off with another cocktail of the day before retiring to bed.
Day 4
We all met up for breakfast at 8am and off the ship early at 9am sun creamed up into another medieval looking town, complete with a ruined castle and scenic cobbled streets off in every direction with houses getting more crooked as you walk round the streets. As we walked round the streets, we found cafes and restaurants spilled out onto the pavements, we discovered it was the perfect place to shop, sightsee and people watch. We even spotted the whole area was mapped out as offering access to the Nordic walking park, complete with a map of meeting points for guided city tours. There was even a little land train offering tours by road round the surrounding villages for 7 Euros. Coaches then met us at 12:30pm taking us back to the ship and dropped us back in time to go into lunch, with a delicious BLT Sandwich and glass of white wine. Afterwards, instead of puddings, the ship hosted an ice cream social in reception so you could choose the ice cream and toppings off your choice. I diverted away and went back to the spa to have a pedicure done.
At 3.30pm we were shown around some other cabins by Annette the Riviera cruise director, she even allowed us to access the bikes stored on the top deck and was kind enough to have them brought onto the shore so 4 of us went off on a cycle ride up to the bridge across the Rhine and then back down the other side, is was then time to head back to the ship for coffee and a rest before dinner. Speaking to the Restaurant staff, housekeeping staff, front of house managers and restaurant managers, everyone was genuinely pleased to see us and smiling and happy, all staff eager to make sure you have everything you need! We had time to shower change and met up for dinner in the restaurant after the pre-dinner cocktail of the day. After dinner, we headed in the lounge for a 70's music night with Artur the resident Music director and DJ, followed by a short talk from our cruise director Annette & Jorge advising what would be available the following day in Koblenz & Boppard
Day 5
Early Breakfast this morning at 8am as we had a scheduled 9am departure for the guided tour, as it was already hitting 28 degrees the group decided to split up and half went on the guided tour and I went with the other half as we decided to do our own walking tour and caught the cable car up to the German Fortress and museum overlooking Koblenz, it cost us 19 Euros each for the Cable car ride and entrance, leaving us plenty of time to get photos and see the stunning views of Koblenz and the Rhine & Moselle rivers below us. We then headed back to the ship for 12.30pm and meeting the rest of our party some who had done the walking tour, we all went into lunch in the a la carte Riverview restaurant as the ship was leaving Koblenz at 1.30pm and we had to be in the lounge by 2.30pm to attend the short talk about what to expect in Boppard.
We arrived at 4pm in Boppard, and as it had been so hot, I decided to stay on board and get some rest and retired to my cabin for a short afternoon nap as I had been struggling with the heat and decided 29 degrees was too hot for me to do a 2nd walking tour in the blazing hot sun. We then met up at 6pm to have a pre-dinner drink, the cocktail of the day - Passionfruit Mojito, then into the main restaurant for the Italian night having carpaccio of beef followed by Ossobuco and tiramisu for pudding! Then onto the lounge for coffee and ‘Name that tune’ challenge with Jorge and Artur (we lost!) Then several gin and tonics later off to bed to sleep in the worlds comfiest bed again!
Day 6
Up early for breakfast today at 8am every choice you could think of available from eggs benedict to yoghurt & fresh fruit or a full cooked breakfast, even omelettes made to order or pancakes. I had muesli with yoghurt and fruit then scrambled eggs and bacon followed by lots of freshly brewed coffee. We then met everyone outside on the top deck all sun creamed up to watch the sun coming up over the gorge as we cruised along the Rhine and Moselle river, it was so quiet, I have never seen so many little towns and hamlets all looking like they have been frozen in time each one with a more impressive castle than the last, dotted along the water’s edge, the scenery was truly breathtaking! Great use has been made of the complimentary refillable water bottle left in each cabin and yours to keep and take home afterwards.
After a lovely lunch at 12:30pm of salads and pork escalope with mashed potato and vegetables and more wine from the region, we needed a water refill as the outside temperature had reached 33 degrees. We boarded the land train jam packed with guests for the 5 minute journey into Rüdesheim. We did have time to look round the local shops and town centre, a mixture of shops restaurants and the German Christmas shop which caused much excitement among our party, we did manage to stay cool by going down into an authentic wine cellar that looked like we had stepped back in time it was carved into the rock where we sampled a glass of the local wine.
Then onto a few souvenir shops before ambling back to the ship stopping for more local beer and fruit squash which was quite reasonably priced at 36 euros for 6 of us! We arrived back at the ship at 4pm just in time to be greeted with a cool drink by the restaurant staff in reception. The next 2 hours were free time to get glammed up for the smart casual Gala Evening- with seven courses ranging from mushroom soup with Foie gras to scallops, fillet of beef wellington and a dreamy raspberry mouse all complimented by, you guessed it, more local wines from the region. I was also very lucky before dinner to be shown round the sister ship the MS George Eliot which was berthed behind us in Rüdesheim. This cruise ship was launched in 2019 and had only 70 cabins with 132 passengers and was identical inside to our ship, and only thing missing was a gym.
Day 7
After a slight lie in this morning, we all met for a late breakfast and then went into the lounge for the briefing from Annette about disembarkation the following day. Annette our cruise director advised we would need to be packed and out of the cabins early the following day by 9am with luggage left outside the cabin door with the colour corresponding with our collection time from the ship the following day. As our flight was due to leave late afternoon the following day, we were also able to have lunch on board with guest having Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham departures - all these airport transfers were not leaving the ship till 3pm the following day. We then had free time to relax with a coffee while I tried to re pack my suitcase before lunch, making sure I had the correct colour label on my suitcase for the collection the following morning.
One thing I will say is the ships staff have been absolutely fantastic , nothing has been too much trouble and always delivered service with a smile and so happy to help with the smallest of requests. This afternoon we left the ship and took a 1.5 hour walking tour off Cologne with a local Riviera Tour guide to learn all about historical pre and post war history and learn about the rebuilding of Cologne. When the tour had finished, we had some free time for sightseeing and shopping and to explore this great city and made our own way back to the cruise ship by 6pm. Showered and changed we headed down to the lounge bar for a pre-dinner cocktail and then a final A la carte dining at the Riverview restaurant for sumptuous dinner of Salmon, Steak & Chocolate pudding. Finishing off the evening with a chocolate demonstration from Lindt chocolates complete with a tasting, then a cheeky G&T before retiring to bed.
Day 8
After breakfast, I checked out and paid for tips for the crew on my card at reception (you could leave as little or as much as you were comfortable with). After we spent some time relaxing in the lounge, we went back to the restaurant for our last lunch on board before having some free time before we were collected from the ship, as we watched cases being loaded onto the waiting coaches it was time to say our good byes to the wonderful staff and for the last time I stepped off the floating 5* hotel which had been my home away from home for the last 7 days and with a tear in my eye I boarded the waiting coach to make the short transfer back to the airport for the short flight home.
All I can say after a week of complete luxury, if you want to travel and see the Rhine and Moselle rivers on a floating 5* hotel where your every need is catered for, Riviera is the one for you. On board a ship which can only be linked to the Harrods of the Rhine, with amazing staff, great food and 5* service. Everything on board was effortless only leaving you to decide where to sit, what to view as the breathtaking scenery rolled by and what to choose to eat as the food choices on board rivalled any 5* hotel. The staff made everyone feel so at home you just didn’t want to leave!
