AMADEUS Magazine 2021_Issue 07

A RENDEZ-VOUS WITH THE “QUEEN OF THE NIGHT”

Who‘s still awake when everyone else‘s asleep?

A Bucket-List Europe River Experience

Highlights

2022

Garden art in the Netherlands, classical music on the Rhine and a fireworks display above the Danube…

In the coming year, we are thrilled to be able to offer you spectactular voyages that are truly one of a kind:

Visit the once-in-a-decade Floriade horticultural Expo, that takes place in 2022 and will be featured on all our Rhine cruise departures that stop in Amsterdam between April and October.

Those who opt for our “Danube in Flames” cruise in June 2022 will have the chance to experience an unforgettable fireworks display over the river on a warm summer night in Linz.

If your heart beats for live classical music you should definitely make a note of our music cruise in autumn next year. The AMADEUS Cara will be transformed into a floating concert hall for the entirety of our journey from Amsterdam to Basel, with exclusive performances by topclass guest artists also planned on land.

ONCE-IN-A-DECADE FLORIADE HORTICULTURAL EXPO

Qatari garden.Speaking of sustainability, protecting the environment, climate change and the fact that, by 2050, 68% of the world’s population will live on just 2% of Earth’s urban surface are the defining themes of the exhibition, hence the selection of “Growing Green Cities” as the slogan for the entire event.

SUSTAINABILITY AS A COMMON THEME

Go green in Holland

The Floriade Expo in the Netherlands is one of the most significant garden exhibitions in the world and, between 14 April and 9 October 2022, this world-renowned event will be taking place in Almere, near Amsterdam. Guests on our Classic Rhine Cruises can look forward to visits to the Floriade Expo as part of our excursion programme.

The King’s Day (Koningsdag), football matches featuring their beloved “Oranjes” and the beginning of the Floriade – these are dates that everyone in the Netherlands has marked in their calendars. The royal family and the national football team are mainstays of Dutch culture, true, but being chosen to host Europe’s largest horticultural exhibition, which attracts around two million visitors between April and October, is extremely rare – only once a decade is a city in the Netherlands given the great honour of hosting the Floriade Expo. Almere, a municipality located just 30km outside Amsterdam in the province of Flevoland, has been selected for the 2022 iteration. A green paradise featuring more than 3,000 different plant species is being created on an area of around 60 hectares. You’ll also find numerous walks, show gardens and biotopes, as well as open-air stages and quiet, secluded spots by the water, on the lawns or inside the huge greenhouses that will entice you to enjoy the beauty of nature and relax. What’s more, a ride on the 850-metre-long cable car that floats over the entire grounds, offering breath-taking panoramic views, is an unmissable experience.

Another highlight is the 40 or so country pavilions, spread across the entire area, that offer guests the opportunity to undertake a global garden tour without leaving the venue. Prepare to be amazed by the stunning Indonesian garden, for example, with its airy pagodas and tropical flair; or to meander along spiritual paths in the Indian garden or to learn about the construction of traditional pigeon towers, as well as all there is to know about sustainable life and business in the desert, in the

Exciting projects that deal, among other things, with food production in urban areas, green energy sources and healthy living conditions in large cities exhibit the innovative and creative ways we’ve already found to address these pressing issues that affect our future. The most special aspect is yet to come, though… almost everything conceived and created for the ground-breaking Floriade Expo will be preserved once the event concludes. The plan is to integrate the grounds into an urban expansion area. Whether this will work remains to be seen, but one thing’s quite clear – in the coming years, Amsterdam will once again become one of the most popular and most frequently visited cities in our travel programme. It’ll definitely be worth joining us next year as, once the Expo is over, the unique experience of a guided tour through the grounds will no longer be possible.

Experience the Floriade live with the AMADEUS fleet Excursions to Amsterdam, which include a visit to the Floriade World Horticultural Exhibition, can be booked on all Rhine cruises (“Classic Rhine Cruise”, “Rhine in Flames”, “Three-River Cruise”),departing between 14 April and 9 October 2022. In addition, they are also offered as part of our “Tulip Cruises” through the Netherlands and Belgium.

So, what happens on an excursion day?

We start with the chance to explore Amsterdam, the city of 400 bridges and 90 islands, in the morning. After a canal boat tour through the historic centre, we take a bus through the modern part of the city and head on to the Floriade grounds. Here, you’ll have just under 4 hours to have a look round the impressive horticultural exhibition.

Tropical flair in the north – the Floriade greenhouse

A new waterfront district, created especially for Floriade.

Country pavilion at the Floriade Townhouses in Amsterdam’s historic city centre Amsterdam is criss-crossed by numerous picturesque canals.

“Growing Green Cities“

The 2022 Floriade Expo

DANUBE IN FLAMES CLASSICAL MUSIC CRUISE

When

An evening spectacular on the water

On 17 June 2022, the skies above the “Beautiful Blue Danube” will be ablaze with colour once again, illuminating the river below. Guests joining us on our “Danube in Flames” cruise from 11 to 18 June 2022 will have the privilege of experiencing this magnificent firework extravaganza from the comfort of our sun deck.

The pandemic has caused the people of Linz to miss out on their beloved festival for the last two years. But, in 2022, the wait will finally be over – “Danube in Flames” is set to make a welcome return. What’s more, for the first time ever, a ship from our AMADEUS fleet will take you right to the heart of the action, giving you the chance to enjoy one of Europe’s most spectacular fireworks displays live in mesmerising colour! This is so much more than just a fireworks display, though. We see it as more of an ‘outdoor multimedia production’, inspired by the old myths and legends of the Danube region. Flares coursing through the night sky await you, blazing along both riverbanks and dancing over the waves to the sound of exquisite waltzes. As a guest on the AMADEUS Silver III, you’ll be treated to a front row

seat at the biggest event in the Upper Austrian capital’s calendar.

A FIREWORK DISPLAY FOR THE AGES, WALTZING OVER THE WAVES

We’ve managed to schedule one of our popular Danube cruises to moor right at the centre of the action on the afternoon of the 17 June 2022 – and within walking distance of the Linz Altstadt! Before everything kicks off in the evening, there will be enough time for you to meander through the idyllic streets, to visit the impressive Lentos Art Museum or to join us for a walk, followed by a chance to sample some world-renowned Linzer Torte. Or you may choose to embark on a guided tour of the Pösslingsberg, the local mountain which offers splendid panoramic views over the whole of Linz and the Danube countryside. Whatever you decide, after dinner it’s time to head out on to the deck, make yourself comfortable on your perfectly positioned lounger and, with a glass of Champagne in hand, marvel at the wonderful acoustic and light show up above. Shortly before midnight, when calm reigns again in the starry sky, and with celebrations in the city still in full

A unique musical experience

Next year, we will once again embark on a musical journey down the Rhine, from Amsterdam to Basel, featuring top-class ensembles and award-winning soloists. Join us from 18 to 25 October 2022 and experience the artists not only live as they play on board, but also at extraordinary concerts on land.

swing, we leave Linz to head north. The AMADEUS Silver III arrives at its destination port of Passau the next morning, bringing your unforgettable Danube adventure to a close.

A once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience “Danube in Flames”

The seven-day “Danube in Flames” cruise begins in Passau, also known as the “Three River City”, on 11 June 2022, and passes through the Wachau and Vienna, before continuing to Budapest and returning to Passau. As the AMADEUS Silver III will moor overnight in the Hungarian capital, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in other excursions to the Puszta or to Esztergom. Further stops are planned in Bratislava and Hainburg. On 17 June, the ship will stay in Linz until shortly before midnight, which is when the “Danube in Lights” fireworks display finishes. We arrive in Passau at around 8:30 am on 18 June.

Whether it’s Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn or Schumann, it doesn’t matter… the Rhine has inspired many a classical composer to create true masterpieces. On our week-long Classical Music Cruise in October 2022, we will follow in the footsteps of these musical maestros, taking us from the Netherlands, through Germany and on to Switzerland. Accompanying us will be top-class guest artists, such as concert pianist Martin Ivanov, a master student of Austrian pianist Oleg Maisenberg, or organ virtuoso Daniel Maurer. Our everpopular on-board concerts, however, will be kicked off by Amsterdam’s own Dudok Quartet, who will also perform in their home city and in Utrecht.

EXPERIENCE BEETHOVEN IN HIS BIRTHPLACE

Further downstream, in Bonn, we visit the Beethoven House, birthplace of the great composer, a quite fitting setting for Martin Ivanov’s performance. We then detour to Cochem, on the Moselle, for a performance by the Nathan Quartet, four violinists originating from three nations – Romania, Switzerland and Germany. Once back on the Rhine, the quartet joins us for our journey through the Middle Rhine Valley, which is probably

the most beautiful section of the river. Another must-see highlight on this tour is the Stuttgart Symphonic Quartet’s concert performance in the historic setting of Heidelberg Castle. As with all concerts on this cruise, this event is covered on the overall price, which also includes a journey to and from Speyer, as well as a guided tour beforehand. In terms of architecture and cultural history, Strasbourg’s Église SaintThomas is probably the most important church in this beautiful French Rhine city after Strasbourg Cathedral, and it is here where a performance by ‘titular organist’, Daniel Maurer, awaits us on the next day. This honourable title is reserved only for those organists who regularly demonstrate their outstanding virtuosity on an equally outstanding organ. You can look forward to hearing him play on the famous Johann Andreas Silbermann organ that dates from 1741.

HEIDELBERG’S CASTLE BECOMES A CONCERT HALL

As your ship sails onwards to Basel later that afternoon, this journey is brought to an atmospheric close with a farewell concert by the Stuttgart Symphonic Quartet on board.

A melodical journey – our “Classical Music Cruise”

This eight-day voyage, from Amsterdam to Basel, takes place between 18 and 26 October 2022. You will enjoy a total of eight concerts, taking place both on boared and on land. Alongside these musical highlights, unforgettable excursions to Amsterdam, Utrecht, Cologne, Cochem, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Speyer and Strasbourg also await you.

the Danube is in Flames…

Linz’s main square is one of the largest enclosed squares in Austria.

A toast to unforgettable moments.

Heidelberg castle at sunset

The Nathan Quartet Église Saint-Thomas in Strasbourg

a Rendez-vous

with the “Queen of the Night”

Who‘s still awake when everyone else‘s asleep?

The AMADEUS Queen docks in Vienna before dawn

Breakfast for 158 guests?

Who’s still awake when the last guests have turned in? We

Does the crew actually sleep on board?

This question, asked surprisingly often by cruise newbies, makes Vitria smile. Outside, the illuminated Krems waterfront passes by the large restaurant windows and a church clock on shore chimes eleven, but she’s hard at work moving chairs, changing tablecloths, arranging flowers, folding napkins, polishing cutlery and setting 158 cups, plates and glasses. “This cruise is almost fully booked, so it’s often midnight before we’ve got everything ready for breakfast,” she says, explaining the

hustle and bustle in the restaurant. What happens then? “Sometimes, the waiters and waitresses meet for a quick chat in the crew mess before heading to bed, which is on board, of course,” she laughs.

One deck up, it’ll probably take Putra, the ever jovial bar manager, a little longer to finish his shift in the Panorama Lounge. “We stay until the last glass runs dry. That can sometimes take a while, but there’s never a dull moment – and, besides, we can lie in in the morning,”

explains the bubbly Indonesian, who’s been travelling Europe’s rivers with AMADEUS fleet for seven years now. Not only can he pre-empt almost every wish of his passengers, he also knows each and every little vibration of his ship.

“The captain has just throttled back the engine,” he says, pointing the quiet clinking of bottles on the shelf behind him out to us. “You should go up to the sundeck, we’re approaching a lock.”

He’s right, of course! When we step outside into the cool night air a little later, the glaring lights of the Altenwörth lock are already looming into view in front of the bow. For Captain Michail Savin and his crew, this moment requires their utmost concentration, as they have to manoeuvre our 135-metre-long and almost 12-metre-wide colossus through two giant steel gates into the narrow lock chamber… as quietly as possible! After all, we don’t want to wake the guests, do we?

CRACKLING RADIOS AND SCREECHING SEAGULLS

The only noise now is coming from the countless seagulls, watching us from the lock wall, and they just won’t stop screeching. A few minutes later, and barely 16m deeper, the manoeuvre has been completed. Over the radio, the lockkeeper asks us where we’re heading and wishes us a safe onward journey. Then, the crackling of the radio equipment dies down and the screeching seagulls fall silent. Only the gentle lapping of the Danube waves can be heard on the bridge now. “One advantage of travelling through the locks at night is the short waiting times. If you come during the day, bottlenecks in front of the gates can develop quickly and last for hours – it’s just like rush hour on the road,” explains Captain Savin. We ask him why it’s so much quieter on the river at night. “That’s because many cargo ship captains don’t have the expensive permits required for sailing at night, meaning they have to drop anchor as soon as it gets dark,” explains the Romanian, who never wanted to be anything other than a sailor and has actually worked on the water all his professional life. He is joined on duty on the AMADEUS Queen that night by his young colleague, Captain Niko Schor, who also grew up on the Romanian

stretch of the Danube. There are always three skippers on every trip – when one’s asleep, the other two are awake, which is a setup familiar from the flight decks on long-haul flights. Between them they have GPS, two radars, four experienced eyes and six high-tech cameras. “With all this at our disposal, we don’t miss anything floating on the water at night,” Schor asserts.

AFTER THE LOCK IS ALSO BEFORE THE LOCK…

We haven’t felt this safe for a while, but we’re not that tired either, even though it’s already gone 2am! The two captains advise us to pass by the galley, where there’s always fresh coffee on the go, upon which we leave them to get on with their work. After the Altenwörth lock, on the descent into the Danube valley, comes the Greifenstein lock and the brightly lit façade of the castle of the same name high above the river.

Captain Mihail Savin navigating AMADEUS Queen during the night

While waitress Vitria sets the table for breakfast, bar manager Putra looks after those guests that are still awake.

spent a night on the AMADEUS Queen as she pressed on along the Danube to find out…

It’s got to be done!

VISIT THE FLOATING BAKERY each other, on the baking tray. “Hands off! No tasting allowed!” he calls after us with a laugh as we leave him and penetrate a little deeper into the ship’s belly a little later on.

The galley is easy to find at this time of night, you simply have to follow your nose! A few short hours ago, the grand gala dinner was conjured up in this small space. Now, the ovens are running hot again. Starting at 1am, around 20 loaves of fresh bread and 300 rolls for breakfast are baked. A total of 8 different varieties are prepared, but they all have the same tempting aroma. We get the chance to speak to baker Putu, a cheerful and friendly Balinese man, as he places each skilfully hand-shaped pastry piece, all the same size and the same distance from

We pass the crew’s sleeping quarters and recreation rooms (confirming that Vitria wasn’t spinning us a yarn!) and head for the engine room, where chief engineer Simion Stelian is watching over the two 1,000 horsepower engines and, with headphones, clipboard and torch at the ready, is checking all the display panels.

10,000 ON-BOARD SAFETY STEPS

It’s not long now until the planned docking manoeuvre in Vienna, so it‘s high time to pay a visit to Vlad Rasu, who, as night receptionist, always offers his passengers a friendly ear, or, if they need it, help and advice, extra blankets or hot tea. The fact that he regularly covers around 10,000 steps on 18 floors during every single shift has nothing to do with catering for the guests’ extra needs, however. In fact, every hour on the hour he has to complete a prescribed security patrol throughout the ship. There are stations dotted around the

vessel, all marked with small, circular symbols. Some are hidden, behind the bow thruster, for example, some are clearly visible to those in the know, such as the ones by the indoor pool in the AMADEUS Club or in the gym. Nevertheless, all must be scanned along the way. This is essential for safety on board. “It’s also great for my physical fitness,” Vlad explains with a twinkle in his eye, as we join him on his last patrol of the night.

Before it’s finally time for us to go to bed, we quickly stop by the dining hall for an early-bird breakfast. “Did you

sleep well?” asks the person at the table next to us. “No, we didn’t get a wink of sleep all night. We had quite a thrilling rendez-vous with the Queen,” we reply, finally able to treat ourselves to one of the crispy croissants Putu was adamant we shouldn’t touch just hours before…

Night-time receptionist Vlad Rasu

The ship’s delightfully fresh breakfast buffet

Baker Putu delivers delectable delights, hot from the oven

Master of over 2,000 horsepower –chief engineer Simion Stelian

”Hands off! No tasting allowed!”

A night on the Danube

Land Ahoy!

New shore excursions you won‘t want to miss

“Streams flow and rivers never rest” – having devoted our lives to Europe’s waterways, this ancient proverb is both our incentive and our mantra and yet another reason why we have taken the initiative and used this year as an opportunity to revise and expand our excursion programme for you. Whether it’s a stroll through a market or museum, a beer tasting trip or a visit to France’s beautiful Côte Fleurie, from 2022 onwards, our land programme will be even more varied, eventful and immersive.

The company founder, Dr Wolfgang Lueftner, has personally tested each of our new packages in advance – read on as he reveals his favourites.

The “Molen de Adriaan” in Haarlem – still operational today

Art the Vivre in France Bon appétit in Provence

“The world-famous wineries, the lively hustle and bustle of the local farmers’ markets, the incomparable flavour of a tarte aux pommes fresh from the oven with a café au lait… for me, as a foodlover I always take great pleasure in travelling with our ships on the Rhône and Saône, living the life of Reilly in Southern France, and embracing this very special art de vivre to the fullest extent.”

WHY DOGS ARE BETTER AT FINDING TRUFFLES

“Quite by chance, I happened upon Grignan on one of my overland tours a few years ago. Since then, I haven’t been able to get this picture-perfect village, home of Madame de Sévigné, and its magnificent Renaissance castle out of my mind. I later discovered that it’s also considered the ‘home of the black truffle’. Indeed, at a famous truffle farm in Grignan, I learned a great deal about cultivation, harvesting and differences in quality, and was able to experience first-hand that dogs are better at finding truffles than pigs! I’m thrilled that you’ll be able to pay this farm a visit from April

Typically Provençal… lavender fields as far as the eye can see Mmm, c’est bon, ça… a delicious apple tart Grignan, home of the black truffle

France’s Magnificent North From the Seine to the Atlantic

2022 and indulge in their delicious and valuable truffles. Bon courage et bon appétit!”

“Our second French cruise, leading from Paris to the mouth of the Seine, then into the Atlantic and back to the ‘City of Lights’, is no less enjoyable. Indeed, we have added a panoramic cruise along Normandy’s Côte Fleurie in the north of France to the range of tours we offer. As you travel from Le Havre to Trouville, you will pass some of France’s most beautiful Belle Époque seaside resorts and have the opportunity to stop off at fashionable Deauville, where you can stroll along the promenade lined with luxury boutiques. I recommend that you walk down to the beach, however, where you’ll find cabanas sporting the names of such famous guests as Bette Davies or Marlene Dietrich.

”IN THE LIQUEUR KING’S “

The next day, we offer the chance to visit the seaside resort of Fécamp in Département de la Seine-Maritime, renowned for its steep alabaster coastline and its history as the ‘City of Dukes’. My absolute favourite local palace is the Palais Bénédictine, built in the 19th century as the residence and production facility of liqueur king Alexandre Le Grand. Among other things, it houses an old monastic library, a key collection, medieval painting galleries and exhibition spaces for contemporary art.

In addition, made from a blend of 27 different herbs and spices, the famous Bénédictine liqueur is still brewed here

to this day. The ‘Black Monk’, a special bottling of this brew, the recipe for which dates back to the Benedictine period, is only available on site and makes a great holiday souvenir. Beware, though… at 43% proof, the alcohol content of this beverage is sure to blow your unwitting recipient away!”

The approx. 4½ hour “Excursion to Grignan with truffle farm and tasting” can be booked on all „Treasures of Burgundy & Provence“cruises and is offered from Châteauneuf-du-Rhône.

The wildly romantic Côte d’Albâtre

Excursions to the “Côte Fleurie” (approx. 4 hours) and to “Fécamp and the Palais Bénédictine” (approx. 3½ hours) can be booked on all „“La Belle France – Paris and Normandy” cruises and are offered from Le Havre.

The Palais Bénedictine in Fécamp

From the Rhine to the Danube

The “Main” in the Middle…

“On two dates next year, we’ll be travelling across Germany from west to east. The cruise will start in Cologne, Germany’s fourth largest city, and end in Passau*, known affectionately as the ‘city on the three rivers’. Almost in the middle is Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where the gabled half-timbered houses and medieval alleyways are well worth a visit as part of our guided city tour.”

WHERE IT’S ALWAYS CHRISTMAS

“In addition to the St. Jakobskirche, with its magnificent Holy Blood altarpiece by Würzburg wood carver Tilman Riemenschneider, and the Christmas

Village within the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Museum, where the festive spirit prevails all year round, another landmark never fails to captivate me… the Plönlein (Little Square by the Fountain) marks the entrance to the Spitalviertel district. The view of Rothenburg’s alleyways, houses and city towers is so beautiful and so romantic from this spot that it even served as the inspiration for Walt Disney’s illustrators as a motif for Pinocchio (1940)”

Delectable Dutch and Belgian Delights

Flavours of the North

“We also have some exciting news to report about our traditional Tulip Cruises to and from Amsterdam, which we will be offering again in spring 2022. Or perhaps I should say ‘we have some delicious news’… Why? Well, the theme of both tours is essentially food and drink. In Ghent, a visit to a renowned chocolatier awaits you and, as the proof of the pudding is in the eating, you’ll not only learn everything there is to know about the fine art of chocolate and praline making, you’ll also be able to have a cheeky nibble through their homemade assortment. Following this sweet kick-off to our tour, we move on

to a traditional brewery, where we show you how beer is produced and invite you to sample some famous Belgian beers, known to be among the best in the world.”

BLOSSOMS, BEER AND CHEESE

“What would a visit to Rotterdam be without travelling through Europe’s largest seaport? Simply unimaginable for someone like me! This is why I’m very pleased to announce that we’ll be able to offer this highlight in the future. Afterwards, we’ll visit the Rotterdam market hall, where you can peruse the 100+ stalls selling fish, meat, fruit,

vegetables and flowers from across the globe. When I go there, I always stock up on their special local cheeses. Delicious!”

The Plönlein –Rothenburg’s “Little Square by the Fountain”

Cologne cathedral, just as famous as the city’s carnival

The Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Village, where it’s Christmas all year round

The approx. 4½-hour “Excursion to Rothenburg ob der Tauber” can be booked on all “Rhine and Danube Symphony” Cruises and is offered from Würzburg.

* In September 2022, this cruise will also be offered once in the opposite direction, so from Passau to Cologne.

The Rotterdam skyline Ghent, provincial capital of East Flanders and Belgium’s second most populous city

The “Belgian chocolate and beer tasting” (approx. 2½ hours) and “Rotterdam harbour and market tour” (approx. 3½ hours) excursions can be booked on all “Tulip Cruises” and are offered from Ghent / Rotterdam respectively.

Do come in… the Kunsthistorisches

Museum Vienna

More rooms than Buckingham Palace –St. Emmeran castle in Regensburg

Exploring the Danube

Highlights in Three Countries

FAMOUS ARTWORKS IN THE AUSTRIAN CAPITAL

“As a proud Austrian, I feel a particularly close connection with the Danube. This is also due to the fact that the AMADEUS fleet success story actually began on the stretch of river between Passau and Budapest. To this day, the varied landscapes and historic cities never cease to amaze me, and my team and I are always discovering new destinations dotted along the Danube that we take great pleasure in sharing with you. One of these is the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. With works by Rubens, Tintoretto, Vermeer and, of course, the largest Bruegel collection in the world, this is a must-see for every art lover.

Guests booked on our ‘Classic Danube Cruise’ can look forward to two brand new excursions – from Regensburg, we embark on a visit to Thurn Castle and Taxis. Larger than London’s Buckingham Palace, Thurn Castle’s marble grand staircase in the south wing never fails to amaze all those who see it. After the tour, we walk over to the castle brewery, where we round everything off with pretzels and beer.

The Little Carpathia Wine Route, near Bratislava, stretches over a total of 100 km, leading through one of the most beautiful and varied landscapes in all of Slovakia, and is the region’s worst-kept open secret. On the way,

we take in wineries whose history goes back to the time of the Celts and Romans. In a rustic wine cellar, we have the opportunity to sample some of the most classic drops and learn even more about regional traditions.”

The Rhine from all Sides Experience

the Wonders of this Beautiful River

HAARLEM’S HOFJES AND THE CAPITAL OF THE BLACK FOREST

The approx. 4-hour “Visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum” excursion can be booked on all “Danube Rhapsody” cruises and is offered from Vienna. The “Excursion to Thurn Castle and Taxis, plus brewery and tasting” (approx. 3½ hours) and the “Little Carpathia Wine Route” excursion (approx. 4½ hours) can both be booked on all “Classic Danube Cruises” aand are offered from Vienna and Bratislava respectively.

“Castles, vineyards, wine growing villages… the Rhine has an incredible amount to offer along its 1,250 km length. What fascinate me, though, are the towns and villages, located a little away from the river banks, that exude a charm all of their own. The Dutch town of Haarlem – one of the new destinations added for the 2022 season – is one such place. On one hand, you can definitely still feel the medieval vibe here today, but, on the other, at every turn you can also feel just how modern and cosmopolitan this former trading centre between the Nordsee Canal and the Haarlemermeer Ringvaart has become. Such an extremely inspiring mix, which is also reflected in their famous 14th century

courtyards, locally known as Hofjes.”

“Another new destination on the schedule from 2022 is Freiburg im Breisgau, located in Baden-Württemberg, south west Germany. The ‘capital of the Black Forest’ is simply enchanting with its mix of urban charm, magnificent architecture and an incomparable countryside experience. Being so close to the French border, a stroll through the historic market square is proof enough that the locals also have that certain savoir-vivre about them. Every day, farmers, gardeners, artisans and traders of all kinds sell their wares on the area surrounding around the world-famous minster. The food available varies according to the season and ranges

from asparagus in spring to strawberries in summer, mushrooms in autumn and chestnuts in winter.”

Market time in Freiburg Beauty on the Moselle – Bernkastel-Kues Haarlem’s Hofjes

The excursions to Haarlem (approx. 4 hours) and to Freiburg incl. visit to the minster market (approx. 4 hours) can be booked on all “Classic Rhine Cruises” and are offered from Utrecht and Strasbourg.

Captain or cook?

The most important role on AMADEUS ships is hotly contested. But George Pereira, our chef on board the AMADEUS Queen, prefers to avoid heated debates. In this interview, he reveals that hot goulash soups and wafer-thin breaded schnitzel are much more to his taste…

Rivertalk

George, you spent a long time on the world’s oceans before joining AMADEUS fleet in 2010. How does the kitchen on an ocean liner differ from that of a river ship?

On rivers you have less space and fewer colleagues. So you have to be a team player! On the other hand, we don’t have to deal with the swell of the waves and can use better, freshly purchased ingredients.

You have Indian and Portuguese roots, perfected your skills in the best hotels in the United Arab Emirates, and have visited every single continent. Has this influenced the way you cook?

Absolutely! I’m a huge fan of modern fusion cuisine. One of my favourite things to do is to take specialities from

the regions we visit and add a slight Asian twist.

How do you deal with your guests’ culinary preferences? Different nationalities must like different things?

You bet! Americans like crispy bacon for breakfast. Brits will only eat soft ham and Germans insist on smoked salmon and muesli. We’ve also had to accommodate a lot more special requests in recent years, from guests of all nationalities. But that’s no problem for us. Multiple menu choices are always offered during lunch and dinner and special requests or dietary restrictions are rarely a challenge.

What is your favourite route? Amsterdam to Budapest. Experiencing the major cities along the river and tasting what they have to offer never ceases to fascinate me.

Do you have any favourite restaurants along the way?

Actually, I tend to have favourite dishes. A fiery goulash soup in Hungary or an extremely thin schnitzel coated in delicious breadcrumbs in Vienna –simply heavenly!

Where should guests go for a great gourmet experience when they leave the ship?

The markets in Passau and Linz and Vienna’s Naschmarkt. I often go there myself for spontaneous shopping sessions among the regional and

seasonal produce. I also enjoy chatting with the stall holders. Over the years we have almost become friends.

Head Chef George Pereira

Gourmet-Cuisine à la George Pereira Fine Dining on board the AMADEUS fleet

Welcome to the AMADEUS family

Hundreds of destinations, thousands of river kilometers and endless possibilities: if, after your cruise, you develop a taste for these things and can’t get enough of our relaxed river cruises, then the AMADEUS CRUISER CLUB is the perfect option for you! If you travel with us regularly, you will be rewarded with manifold advantages as from your second cruise.

The club membership level is determined by the number of cruises taken with us.

AMADEUS CRUISER CLUB

Club membership costs nothing apart from a few minutes of your time while you fill out the attached postcard or apply online www.lueftnercruises.com/club.

Your AMADEUS CLUB advantages at a glance

Levels

Annual Bonus** Welcome Bonus*

Invitation to the exclusive ACC-Cocktail

AMADEUS CRUISER CLUB: after 1 st cruise

Cruise 2 € 30,– € 30,–

Cruise 3 € 30,–

AMADEUS CRUISER CLUB-STAR Status: after 3rd cruise

Cruise 4 € 50,– € 50,–

Cruise 5 € 50,–

Cruise 6 € 50,–

Cruise 7 € 50,–

AMADEUS CRUISER CLUB-GOLD Status: after 7th cruise

Cruise 8 € 100,– € 100,–

Cruise 9 and more € 100,–

Free cabin upgrade to the next category***

Invitation to the Captain’s Table during the Captain‘s Gala Dinner

Free spa treatment (1 hour)

Invitation to exclusive AMADEUS events

* Welcome Bonus: can only be used as credit on board; valid for 5 years from date of issue

** Annual bonus: can only be used as credit on board; is sent annually and valid for the respective cruise season

*** Subject to availability at commencement of journey

Registration and information about the AMADEUS CRUISER CLUB: club@amadeus-cruiserclub.com www.lueftner-cruises.com/club

Add something special to our next edition

Have you spent relaxing but exhilarating days on board an AMADEUS vessel, with lots of exciting discoveries and inspiring experiences?

If so, why not inform us about your last cruise and help us with our next AMADEUS MAGAZINE. Inform us which excursion you liked the best, tell us about somewhere special you discovered that you would would recommend or supply the best snapshot of your journey we are looking forward to receiving your contribution.

Please mail us at magazin@lueftner-cruises.com