AmaWaterways – Seine
Time to relax and enjoy From the Danube to the Mekong, Katrina Smith discovers river cruising
I
d iscovered river cruising back in 2017. We boarded our ship in Vienna and sailed along the Danube for 7 nights, finishing with 2 nights in Prague. It was a wonderful experience. The landscape is constantly changing, as you sail past towns, castles on hilltops, small villages and wonderful countryside. Passau was a firm favourite town on this cruise. Here you can spend your day exploring charming cobblestone streets and enjoying an organ concert before sampling traditional Bavarian beer. River cruise ships are smaller than their ocean counterparts, the ship I was on carried just 130 guests. The accommodation ranged from standard cabins to loft cabins and suites. We had a loft cabin which afforded great views, and separate sleeping space. I would most certainly recommend it. River cruises tend to dock in a new town every day. Excursions are organised for each destination, but you can always do your own thing if you prefer. There is something for everyone to enjoy. From wine tastings, to gastronomy or classical music. You can hop off to enjoy local
restaurants in the evening or stay onboard to enjoy the fabulous food served on ship. The Danube and the Seine top the list for European river cruises, however more exotic locations are becoming sought after too, such as the Mekong or the Yangtse, and my personal favourite, yet to be “ticked-off” my bucket list – The Nile. Asia is becoming more and more popular as a river cruise destination. The Mekong passes through 6 countries with exotic landscapes of immense natural beauty, connecting cities and ancient civilisations. From Vietnam with its vibrant history to the spiritual Cambodia. You can visit floating markets, see colourful wildlife and enjoy cooking demonstrations and meet local people. Where else could you take a walk to a hill top pagoda and monastery and meet the resident novice monks and receive a blessing. Then finish off your day with a cocktail on the sundeck of your river cruise ship against the backdrop of Phnom Penh’s lights. Now to plan my next river cruise…… 01403 887 190 www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/katrina.smith
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