Relax... and let the world come to you
WHAT holiday could be more gloriously relaxing than gliding down a great waterway on a river-cruise ship, perched on the sundeck with a gin and tonic in hand, and a welcome breeze gently ruffling your hair?
River ships slice through the most sublime scenery dotted with Rapunzel-style castles, lush vineyards, halftimbered houses and rainbow-hued villages, providing an ever-changing succession of picturebook views.
And spending relaxing downtime on board taking in the delightful views is only one part of the pleasure.
Each day is enriched by guided coach and walking excursions, providing an insightful ride through Europe’s culture, architecture and history, as the ship moors in the very heart of enticing cities and towns alongng the way.
It’s like a stringg of city breaks – but withoutthout the hassles of getting from A to B. Explorations ashore are oftenn included in the price (along with food and many drinks), so you won’t have to worry about additional costs. And all the while you’ll be transported along on a fabulous floatingg hotel, carrying up to 170 passengersgers in considerable style.tyle.
The decor willl be stylishly modern throughout, with an abundance of space and natural light.
You can also expect to be sumptuously wined and dined in a choice of venues, and entertained with enr enriching talks and musica musical performa performances. River-cruis River-cruising is the fastest-g fastest-growing area of travel, with 188 vessels plying the waterways this year. And there’s a wealth of choice, from the great rivers that lace through Europe, to the War And Peace world of Russia, or even India or China. But the Rhine and Danube remain the big ones – and a great introduction to this indulgent way of seeing the world.
STRUDEL ON THE DANUBE
HISTORY’S footprints are all over this 1,777-mile river – more olive green than the proverbial blue – which has long connected cultures across ten different countries.
Starting your cruise in Budapest? Then prepare for Europe’s most spectacular river-cruise welcome. As dusk falls, lights illuminate the neo-Gothic parliament building, and other landmarks such as Fisherman’s Bastion and St Stephen’s Basilica are bathed in a golden glow reflected by the Danube itself.
Ancient abbeys, beautiful palaces and historic landmarks pepper the onward journey, so be sure to have your camera handy.
Vienna, officially the world’s nicest city, offers the splendours of the Hapsburg palaces, the exquisite balletic moves of the Lipizzaner stallions at the famous Spanish Riding School, and melt-in-the-mouth strudels in ornate coffee houses.
Austria’s fertile Wachau Valley is dotted with church spires and castle turrets. And 18th Century Melk Abbey, perched high above the river, is a stunning confection of gold-leaf walls and fabulous frescoes on the ceilings.
From Passau you might visit Cesky Krumlov, the Czech pearl of Renaissance architecture, or take a tuneful tour to Salzburg for the hillsides that inspired The Sound Of Music – and Mozart, too.
CASTLES ON THE RHINE
THE glorious Rhine brings gourmet tastings of wine, cheese and beer, guided walks around cobbled streets lined with half-timbered buildings – and a parade of fabulous castles.
Start with Rembrandt’s home and the hiding place of Anne Frank in the tulip capital of Amsterdam. Then sail onwards past windmills until you come in sight of Cologne’s magnificent Gothic cathedral, housing the golden shrine of the Three Kings.
Koblenz is the gateway to the spectacular 40-mile Rhine Gorge, home to a stunning succession of magical castles, vineyards and half-timbered villages. Be on deck as your captain deftly swings you around the Lorelei Rock!
Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Instrument Museum is a highlight at Rudesheim. And lofty Heidelberg Castle, where the daughter of King James I of England was a teenage bride, is within easy reach of the city of Mannheim.
A tour coach will also waft you into the Black Forest, a storybook world of cuckoo clocks, gateaux and historic farmsteads.
With head-turners all the way, these majestic rivers are sure to ignite a lasting passion for this culturally enriching style of cruising.