Wine and a foxtrotting fine time down the Rhine
Given I speak German, am a cruise stalwart and have been having Latin and ballroom dance lessons for some years, this TUI ‘Dancing Down The Rhine’ River Cruise couldn’t have been more tailored for me if I had been christened Taylor Tailor, and worked as a tuxedo maker for Burton’s.
Yet despite this obvious ‘suitability’… ahem… I know I would have still enjoyed it immensely if none of these had applied, as this was a fantastic experience that will live long in the memory.
Having been on some of the UK’s biggest seafaring cruise ships, it did cross my mind beforehand how this would compare, given as the full width of a river ship can be traversed in a good ten strides or so.
But as we approached the
TUI Maya River Boat, sitting resplendent in its Frankfurt berth on the Main river, I just knew this was going to be something special for other reasons.
The ship is fitted out to the same TUI/Marella Cruises highquality specifications as its bigger sea sisters, with gleaming metal, sparkling glass, luxurious carpets, glossy-lacquered timber and other high-end fittings, oozing quality and class wherever your sea... sorry, riverlegs take you.
Our Deck 2 Superior French Balcony cabin was elegant and luxurious and, as with all Maya’s rooms, came with air-conditioning, hairdryer, flatscreen Smart TV, safe, Molton Brown toiletries and tea and coffee making facilities. All rooms are on the outside of the ship, with either a porthole, floor-to-ceiling window or French balcony. Ours came with a king-size bed, which can be made into two singles, along with a large dressing table and a lounge chair with a drinks table and a fridge, and our shower room/toilet was modern and stylish with plenty of room.
As any sea cruise holidaymaker will tell you, finding your way on board can be quite daunting, and that after a week – usually on departure day – you’ve finally found your bearings.
Not so here. With two bars, two restaurants, a Wellness Centre, an expansive top deck and the Observatory show lounge as the main attractions over the ship’s four levels, you’ve found your feet within half an hour – and that’s the essence of why this cruise was different and special: intimacy.
Forget thousands of faces, some you might not see more than once on your cruise, here was an opportunity to get to know your fellow shipmates, and I witnessed friendships for life blossom over the course of our six-day adventure.
And not once did I feel at a loss for something to do. We downloaded the TUI navigator app to our phones which kept us informed of all the activities on board, be they quizzes, dance lessons, sporting activities to enjoy should we not be on an excursion or just strolling ourselves around the town we shipped up at.
Speaking of excursions, included in the price for each person is a £120 (prorata) per week trip allocation, which meant that a good proportion of our time was spent in the company of a qualified German guide speaking the usual impeccable English. Guests are able to choose which trips they would delicious meals and excellent regional wines included with lunch and dinner, and guests currently have the option to choose between an all-inclusive package for the rest of your drinks, or half board-plus (all tips included) and so pay as you go for your tipples throughout your cruise.
Entertainment was varied with a local oompah band, British comedian (and Peter Kaye
tribute act) Lee Lard flown in for our pleasure, along with resident musicians/artistes, an amazing interactive quiz and a sensational Silent Disco – select one of two tracks on your personal discolight headsets and do your thing, oblivious to the silence in the room as you dance!
PORTS AND TRIPS
We embarked in Frankfurt on the Main river, sailing into the Rhine
and then our wonderful journey began. Our trip took us to marvellous German cities and towns, each with its own identity combining both traditional and more modern architecture.
The pretty town of Rüdesheim was our first port of call, and we enjoyed an excursion on the Winzerexpress road train to see some of the amazing expanse of vines producing the famed Riesling grapes, before taking in the quaint and eccentric Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet museum. Here was an amazing array of musical machines from years gone by and, for me, was a
real trip highlight. Boppard was the afternoon port of call, and en route afforded us an amazing opportunity to sit on the top deck, wrapped in provided TUI blankets (this was November after all!), to witness the marvel of the many beautiful castles overlooking us as we sailed up the tranquil waters of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley.
It was then onto the bustling city of Cologne and its magnificent twin-spired cathedral, before moving up to our northernmost port in Düsseldorf, where the flat landscape lends itself to beer rather than wine production, so it was only polite to have a glass or three of Altbier – the locally produced dark ales – in this elegant city.
We then made our way back down the Rhine taking in the former West German capital of Bonn, with its presidential palaces, thousand-year-old churches, museums and the birthplace house of famous son Ludwig von Beethoven. Koblenz, where the Rhine meets the Moselle at the impressive Deutsches Eck, was our penultimate destination. Here visitors can take the cable car (seasonal) over the Rhine for impressive views over the city, or stroll around the city centre with an amazing array of shops.
And finally, with a longer day back in Frankfurt than on our arrival day, we were also able to take in this beautiful major city – nicknamed Manhattan due to its futuristic skyline, with timber buildings and museums hosting artworks by Van Gogh, Monet and Rembrandt.
So what else can I tell you? Staff wear masks at all times and guests are asked to do so when moving around the ship. There is a vigorous cleaning regime and guests’ temperatures are taken daily, usually on arriving for breakfast.
No pool here folks understandably, but the Wellness Centre has a sauna and jacuzzi to relax in. Just book a slot at reception.
European plugs so adapters needed, euros is the currency and, well, the rest is up to you.
If you didn’t bring a smile with you, you’ll certainly be leaving with one following this amazing and relaxing riverboat experience.
Musical machine museum was a real trip highlight