Let me start by explaining river cruises have been the subject of many conversations over recent years in our household. It has been a dream of my Mum’s to take a river cruise for more than a decade. As each other’s travel companions I wasn’t convinced it would be for me. I enjoy an ocean cruise but had a mindset that river cruising might be too sedate and wouldn’t create enough ‘wow’ memories. However, since I started working at Miles Morgan Travels almost two years ago, I have started warming to the idea of a river cruise as I have heard so many good reports from my colleagues and frequent river cruise clients. As fate would have it, just I was starting to consider a river cruise, Mum was in need of a hip replacement and her mobility became extremely limited so, please excuse the puns, but I thought ‘we’d missed the boat’ because while I was now keen to try a river cruise, her mobility issues would suggest her (river) ship had sailed without her!
With this history of river ship saga running over the last few years, when an invite to attend a gathering of some of the best river cruise ships in Europe was extended, it was an opportunity I couldn’t resist. I wanted to see for myself how accessible they really are for people with restricted mobility. Are they worth the money compared to a city break? Would they be suitable for a range of ages? And would I feel the ‘wow’ factor that would leave me with memories to cherish?
The ‘gathering’ of ships was being held in Amsterdam this year, it is arranged by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and offers the agents to not only tour a variety of ships but stay on board too.
Two afternoons were spent listening to expert panels about the huge variety of river cruise itineraries and the future of the industry. We also were surprised by a special guest - Susan Calman. The cruising queen of both sea and river raved about the Christmas Market itineraries. Why visit one European city Christmas market when you can visit several, and then return to the warmth and comfort of your ship, moored in a central location of these iconic Christmas Market cities? The pocket-sized comic had me itching to get back to the Stroud shop to book up for the festive season!
While Susan Calman was the celebrity of the event, the real stars of this event were the ships. My first overnight ship was the Emerald Luna, and she took my breath away. My cabin attendant gave me a tour of my Grand Balcony Suite, and it was one of life’s pinch-me moments.
The ship, the cabin and the food were exceptional, but the standout memory of my night on Luna will be the crew. From the warm, wide welcoming smile of the young woman standing quayside greeting the guests on a grey and drizzly evening, to the thoroughness and kindness of the room attendant who walked me through the features of my suite while my chin was dropping to floor and the restaurant and bar staff who walked around with wide beams across their faces, this while be my abiding memory of the Emeral Cruise Line. It is a classy and beautiful ship, but it was the smile that every crew member wore that will make that experience standout.
Night two was onboard Riviera’s MS Geoffrey Chaucer. At Miles Morgan Travel in Stroud, we have some fiercely loyal Riviera customers so I was expecting great things, and I’m delighted to say Riviera was everything I hoped it would be and more. Again, a beautiful cabin with a gorgeous panorama window and a handy British plug socket, simple things that stand out on stunning ship. I felt at home here and love the Riviera itineraries. I understand their popularity; these stunning ships strike the perfect balance of elegance and ease, if that makes sense. I felt spoilt by the luxury but not overwhelmed by it.
My third night was Avalon’s View, where they were keen to highlight their dedication to inclusive excursions. They always offer the 3 levels of included excursions so no passenger feels left out as they should always find something suitable so they can make the most of the destinations they visit. Its inclusive so people at every level of fitness and interest can find something pitched at the right level for them. Avalon gave me a taste of life in a twin cabin. I shared with my colleague Jade, so I got to experience a twin bed configuration, and am I pleased to say that though you might not have the floor space of a hotel room we managed perfectly well. The other stand-out feature for Avalon is that nearly all their beds face out towards the window. It’s a simple design decision but brilliant!
As well as the overnight experiences, we also toured several other ships including several Miles Morgan Travel favourite operators, such as Riverside, TUI and Amawaterways. There wasn’t one of these floating hotels I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend but in saying that I would want to play match maker and find the right ship and itinerary for the right client because these ships are by no means ‘one-size fits all’.
In conclusion, Mum has had her hip replaced and I have seen the logistics involved in river cruising first hand and I would feel confident in booking our first river cruise. Unlike ocean cruises, these ships are suitable for people with very limited mobility, but they can be made to work for people who are willing and able to attempt some stairs and gangways. While cruise lines pride themselves on quality cuisine I was delighted to see that many of the ships offered a classic menu alongside their more sophisticated-taste offerings.
I am also berating myself for even hesitating about taking a river cruise; stepping aboard instantly feels relaxing, river ships carry less than 200 passengers. While we can enjoy vibrant and interesting ports the ships are all calm and elegant and additionally, I don’t know why I was concerned about getting enough ‘wow’ factor on a river cruise holiday, the ships alone have them aplenty and I haven’t touched on the global rivers they sail, the Rhine, the Danube, the Seine, the Douro, the Mekong, the Nile, the Ganges – the list goes on.
If you’d like to learn more about the magic of river cruising, Karen at Miles at Morgan Stroud is the perfect person to talk to. You can reach her by phone on 01453 377050 or by email at [email protected]
