My First Time on a River Cruise
Before my river cruise, I will admit - I didn't think it would be for me. Several years before I'd even heard of Riviera Travel, I took a beautiful (yet ill-fated) ocean cruise through the Nordic Fjords on a much larger ship which put me off the idea of cruising in general. But, after months of hearing from my colleagues how great river cruising is and reading reviews from our guests, I decided I had to give it a try - and I'm so glad I did!
Educationals are a perk of working in the travel industry - the opportunity to experience an itinerary that we sell to understand it better and give feedback to ensure each holiday is the best it can be for our guests. At the end of December, myself and a handful of colleagues from across the business embarked on a festive cruise along the Danube to understand more about river cruises and life along this beautiful waterway.
Getting there
From the moment I booked, the communication was fantastic; we got a handy little booklet with all of our travel information, an itinerary and other useful information that answered questions I'd not even thought to ask!
Getting to the airport was very convenient thanks to the door-to-door service (part of Travel Concierge). I was picked up and taken to the airport, meaning I could just sit back and relax totally hassle free.
Find out more about Travel Concierge
After a flight to Budapest, I made my way to the airport meeting point (as told to us in our travel booklet), spotting a few of the tell-tale Riviera-blue luggage tags as I walked. And, as soon as I saw that Riviera Travel clipboard raised high in greeting, I knew I was in good hands.
First Impressions
While I should have been prepared, I'm not sure I fully appreciated how well-designed our ships are until I stepped onboard. The marble floors, rich hardwoods, and the gleaming brass and copper of the lobby offer the perfect introduction. But what struck me most is how airy and spacious it was - you really do feel like you're in a boutique hotel.
My cabin, located on the Emerald (lower) Deck, featured a sumptuously soft bed - very welcome after an afternoon spent travelling. It featured a bright and spacious ensuite bathroom with an inviting rain shower, and a picture window that looked out onto the rugged hills of Buda.
MS William Wordsworth felt completely different from the large cruise ship I'd been on years before. For starters, my cabin was much bigger, which made the experience feel that much more luxurious. However, the main difference on board was the level of service – here, I wasn’t just another face in the crowd. The service was intimate, Purwita and Kim greeted us by name with big smiles every time we entered the restaurant, and, by the end of the cruise, our bartender Galen knew our drink orders by heart. Nothing was too much trouble. Of course, when the guest to crew ratio is just 1:4 – as it is on most of our river cruises - a first-class service is pretty much guaranteed. I very much felt like a welcome guest, instead of just another a face in a crowd of over 5,000, as on mega cruise ships.
Find out more about our river cruise ships
Onshore adventures
After lingering over the buffet breakfast on the first day, I headed to the day's briefing before embarking on a coach tour of Budapest.
What better way to get under the skin of a new city than in the company of a local? "George" (not his real name - he told us proudly that it would be too difficult to pronounce) was the perfect person to guide us through the city. As we drove through Pest, he regaled us with facts on the country's history, religion and culture as well as stories of his childhood in Pest and his life now with his wife and daughters in Buda. Our guides in Bratislava and Vienna were similarly qualified, having lived in their respective cities for decades.
In Budapest and Vienna, we took a coach trip seeing all the major sights, stopping to get out and explore. Even when a visit from the Turkish President in Budapest threatened to ruin our stop at Hero's Square, our tireless driver, Jules, didn't give up - he simply found us a space less than a three-minute walk away. And while we couldn't go onto the square, we were treated to a spectacular military display of soldiers on horseback.
Thanks to our expert guides, I learned lots of trivia about each destination. For example, did you know Bratislava Castle used to be yellow but was painted white in the 1960s as the city's residents thought it would be more eye-catching? Not that it helped us much: the already atmospheric Slovakian capital was obscured by a layer of dense fog, which only added to the anticipation during our tour. As we rounded new, unexplored corners in a quirky land train, the fog slowly unveiled the sights.
Our guide in Vienna also gave us some great food recommendations. If you're ever in the city, look out for Demel, located across the square from the imperial Hofburg Palace. Not only is it a cultural institution with mouth-wateringly flaky pastries, this beautiful café and chocolaterie has a history that's closely linked to the Royal Court.
While almost everyone chose to join the guided tours and excursions, there's also no obligation to even leave the ship. You can stay on board and relax or extend your free time and explore alone. Even during excursions, there were opportunities to separate from the group and do your own thing - it's completely up to you.
Find out more about onshore experiences
Free Time
Of course, there is plenty of time to explore at leisure built into every itinerary. On our six-day cruise, we had most of the day in Bratislava and Vienna after our guided tours and a whole afternoon and evening in Budapest. I spent most of mine exploring the Christmas markets.
My favourite destination for Christmas shopping was Vienna. There are many markets throughout the city, but I explored Christmas World at the City Hall, the Christmas Market at Stephansplatz and Christmas Village on Maria Theresien-Platz. They were wonderful places to buy a few last-minute Christmas presents. On display were intricately painted baubles, wooden ornaments, pottery, thick slippers and socks, and unusual liquors - I brought a delicious berry liqueur after stopping on a whim for a sample as well as a garlic grater plate I’ve yet to use as more than a decoration!
Instead of going back to the ship for lunch, I ate in the market. There was a wealth of comfort food on offer, including soup in a bread bowl, Belgium fries, waffles, gingerbread, chocolates best enjoyed with an (almost) mandatory mug of hot punch, Glühwein (mulled wine) or hot chocolate.
If shopping isn't your thing, you can still explore these incredible cities at leisure. During the day's briefing, your Cruise Director will give you insider tips on what to see, do and eat while you're there - allowing you to pick your own adventure. I even spoke to a few guests who booked additional experiences with the help of our friendly Customer Service team and our expert Cruise Concierge, Stan. One couple chose to learn the Viennese Waltz in a private dance class while another booked tickets to see the Hofburg's Spanish Riding School in action – both brilliantly authentic experiences to have in Vienna.
Sailing
When Riviera Travel started offering river cruises, we knew sailing was part of the experience. On every itinerary, we endeavour to sail through the most scenic parts of the river's course during the day - so you never miss the best bits - and standing on the Sun Deck as we sailed out of Budapest, I couldn't help but celebrate that decision.
A few adventurous guests and I stood at the bow of the ship as we began our journey out of Budapest on our second day. The views from the water were worth braving the chilly temperatures for. We passed under the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and the Margaret Bridge and saw the iconic Parliament Building from the water, which - in my opinion - is the only way to fully appreciate this monumental building.
I returned to that same spot three nights later as we sailed back from Vienna to Budapest. After a day exploring the festive markets in Vienna and gorging myself at the Captain's dinner, I once again braved the cold at the suggestion of our Cruise Concierge Stan. I watched as the ship turned and made its way to a lock shortly downstream. This marvellous feat of engineering works like the little locks of an English canal on a grand, industrial scale. Myself and a small crowd watched in awe as the crew navigated into a thin channel and slowly lowered our ship.
The banks of the Danube are home to many vineyards, castles, monasteries and a lot of natural beauty. As we continued sailing back to Budapest the next morning, I watched the riverbanks drifting by from the comfort of the panoramic lounge and bar as I waited to see the Esztergom Basilica and the Danube Bend. While I chatted with fellow explorers and enjoyed a hot chocolate, others were reading the onboard newspaper (created especially for MS William Wordsworth every morning) or playing board games. The lounge was a popular spot to settle during time spent sailing and in the evening.
Evenings on board
From entertainment designed to deepen your understanding of your chosen destination to fun evenings put on by the crew, there's usually something going on in the lounge in the evening.
On the second night, Stan, the Concierge transformed into a quiz master during a raucous music quiz that had the dance floor packed. The evening ended with Stan leading a train of people through the lounge and out into the lobby to Kylie's 'Locomotion'. The next night, the 'almost talented' (their words, not mine) crew put on performances that included a short story, singing and plenty of dancing. Even I, who am hearing impaired and rhythmically challenged (the latter is not a medical diagnosis, just an observation), left with a little wiggle in my step that night.
As part of the cultural experiences on board, we enjoyed a delicious Captain's Dinner followed by a magical display of talent from a local string quartet, ending with none other than Strauss's Blue Danube. And, during sailing, I watched our talented chefs demonstrate how to make the perfect stollen while explaining the history and cultural significance of the cake-like fruit bread.
Find out more about our onboard activities
I found this festive cruise a really enjoyable way to celebrate the season. However, I have to say that what made the experience one to remember was the fantastic crew on board MS William Wordsworth, including our Riviera Cruise Director, Irena, and Cruise Concierge, Stan.
