What is river cruising all about? - Simone's experience with APT
Iglu Cruise's managing director, Simone Clarke, who's a seasoned ocean cruiser, experienced her first river cruise recently. If you're interested in learning what river cruising is all about, and what you can expect when you embark on a river cruise, here's what she has to say about her experience aboard AmaReina with APT and AmaWaterways...
"We have thousands of incredible river cruises on Iglu Cruise – offering an even wider choice of destinations and cruise holidays worldwide. As with anything we offer, I was keen to experience and gain an understanding of what river cruising is all about. With that in mind, I was fortunate enough to spend two nights aboard AmaReina, travelling from Budapest to Vienna. I've been on quite a few ocean cruise holidays previously, ranging from small six-star ships to some of the biggest cruise ships in the world."
What was the cabin like?
"On AmaReina, I enjoyed a lovely cabin with both a French balcony and a small outside balcony. It was very comfortable and compact, with lots of storage and an iMac TV; this could be used as a computer, so you could take advantage of the free Wi-Fi onboard!"
What about the ship, AmaReina?
"AmaReina is a five-star river cruise ship carrying under 200 guests with a crew of approximately 50 people. The facilities onboard were fairly typical for a river cruise ship; the lower deck was home to the restaurant, a small fitness room, a massage room, and a specialty dining restaurant offering a delicious tasting menu. The upper deck featured a large lounge with a bar, where you could eat light snacks throughout the day, and it offered some musical entertainment in the evenings, and also featured a small shop and the reception area.
"Upstairs, there was a large, very luxurious sun terrace with sofas, deck chairs, covered areas, and a bar. This ship was extra special, though, as it even had a small plunge pool with a swim-up bar! The crew was all fantastic, with very personal service."
How was the cruise itself?
"I was on the very start of a 14-night cruise, which eventually ended up in Amsterdam. Ports were a mixture of larger cities (some of which we docked at overnight) and smaller, scenic ports. The cruise line includes all excursions for the price, which were a mix of city tours and activities further afield. For the city tour I went on, virtually the whole ship attended; meanwhile, there was a choice of several more specialist excursions the following day for smaller groups.
"My itinerary for the two days I was onboard was as follows:
"Day One: I would arrive in Budapest and embark to enjoy a light lunch in the lounge onboard; this included soup, sandwiches, and cakes. Then, I would have some free time to explore Budapest. During this time, I visited the market. There was a pre-dinner welcome at 6:00, followed by dinner at 7:30. We enjoyed a delicious tasting menu in the specialty dining venue before embarking on an evening cruise along the Danube at 9:00. I enjoyed this from the sun deck with a nice glass of wine! Then, headed down to the lounge for a drink and to listen to the pianist providing the evening's entertainment.
"Day two: This would start with breakfast, and then I would disembark for a city tour of Budapest. This included a tour of the opera house and was a mix of coach travel and walking. After this, I headed back onboard for a much-needed lunch, which was washed down with local wine. The afternoon was spent sailing down the Danube and relaxing in the sunshine. Many enjoyed the views from their cabin, with several cruisers opting to have a nap or watch the latest movies (which were freely available in the cabin). This was also a great time to find out more information about the different excursion options available over the next few days. That evening, there was a lovely welcome cocktail party from the captain and the whole crew after dinner.
"Day Three: Today started with a lazy morning sailing, which included the first two locks of the trip. We arrived in Vienna after lunch and then disembarked to enjoy a city tour. The evening was going to be spent having an earlier dinner and then an (optional) private trip to the opera house for a recital. I sadly had to fly home and missed this!
"Following on from this, those who stayed on board had a choice of optional excursions in Vienna and the surrounding areas throughout the morning. Then, they would continue sailing to the next port in the afternoon."
What was the atmosphere like?
"There was a relaxed atmosphere onboard; people did get changed for dinner and the evening entertainment, but it was very casual. As there were fewer than 200 people on board, everyone dined at the same time and tended to sit together on a variety of table sizes.
"The people onboard were from all over the world, well-travelled, and enjoyed exploring the destinations, as well as relaxing between ports. As river cruise ships are small, it's quite social and friendly – certainly not a formal affair!"
The verdict?
"River cruise ships are much smaller than ocean cruise ships; this one had around 190 passengers onboard! Due to this, they have the feeling of a small, boutique, floating hotel with a restaurant, lounge bar, and sun terrace. The pace was a good mix of exploration and tours, followed by relaxing cruising down the river, and the views were sensational in the cities and truly beautiful in between. There isn't a huge amount to do onboard, though, as the emphasis is on relaxation and enjoying the view as you enjoy music and drinks. The age group onboard tended to be 55+ and a mix of singles, couples, and groups of friends. These ships don't really cater to families.
"If you've cruised on a smaller cruise ship and enjoy a relaxing onboard atmosphere while wanting to explore further afield, then this is the perfect choice for you. Many of the people on my cruise had enjoyed cruise packages with tours with Seabourn, Cunard, and Azamara before – just to name a few. In my short time, I enjoyed fine wine and food, explored two cities, and took a gentle cruise along the river; I came back feeling very relaxed."
Book your next river-bound adventure with Iglu Cruise today
If you're interested in embarking on one of the river cruises available, you'll find the latest river cruise deals right here. Iglu Cruise is also home to last-minute offers, luxury sailings, all-inclusive packages, and so much more. You're certain to find a holiday to suit your preferences among our cruise deals. For more travel inspiration and information on river cruising, check out the following blogs from the Iglu Cruise creative team: