Is plain sailing

dash back before crossing the border into Austria.

The next morning provided my undoubted highlight of the trip – a sedate few hours winding through the verdant hillsides of the Wachau Valley.

In 1192 Richard the Lionheart was reportedly imprisoned by Leopold V, Duke of Austria, in the medieval Durnstein Castle, after falling out during the Third Crusade.

Our time in the area, however, was slightly less dramatic.

We simply couldn’t take our eyes off the Wachau, now deemed a Unesco

SUPERB Melk

World Heritage site, with its charming little towns, churches and winelands, which produce some of the finest whites in the world.

Before returning to disembark at Engelhartszell, the final stop of the trip was a fleeting visit to Melk Abbey, a Baroque- era masterpiece towering over the quaint town of Melk. A tour takes in the Marble Hall, the balcony overlooking the river, the magnificent library and the intricate ceiling frescos.

River cruising is certainly one of the most luxurious and restful ways to tick off some of Europe’s most celebrated sites. With the ship docking right in the centre of the cities along this magnificent river, passengers bypass any lengthy transfers to places of interest, making excursions less time- pressured.

The time spent on board, weaving past spectacular scenery along the Danube, provides the much- needed downtime to relax and reboot before the next exciting instalment.

Newmarket Holidays offers an eight- day Classic Danube Explorer round trip from Engelhartszell, Austria, on A- Rosa Donna from £ 1,375 per person. Departs April 11, 2021 and includes premium inclusive drinks package, flights from Gatwick, transfers and based on two sharing. Book by October 31. newmarketholidays. co. uk

SHIP SHAPE

Donna boasts a great bar, pool and accommodation