Digital Marketing Executive, Charli May, recently experienced the world of river cruising for the first time. Here is part one of her experience on board Amadeus Silver III.
Joining her two award-winning sister ships, the Amadeus Silver III launched back in April to much anticipation. Promising modern elegance, excellent service and a five-star ambient river cruising experience, she offers guests all the luxury of the best hotels with the added bonus of waking up in a different town every day.
Back in September, I was lucky enough to spend some time on board the Silver III with four of my colleagues, as she sailed the Rhine from Basel to Amsterdam. As my first experience of river cruising, or in fact any type of cruising, I was completely blown away by how spacious the ship felt. At 135m in length, with four decks and hosting around 160 guests in total, there were plenty of public spaces which felt cosy and intimate, without invading your privacy. All announcements on board are made in English, French and Dutch, with crew and cruise directors speaking almost any language imaginable between them. This made everyone feel welcome and comfortable that they were catered for.
Day 1
After arriving into Frankfurt Hann airport, which is small but an easy and unfussy experience, we travelled by private transfer to meet the ship in Rüdesheim. Joining just in time for lunch, we settled briefly into our glorious 284 square feet suites and then into the plush and elegant restaurant on the Strauss Deck. With panoramic views of the stunning Rhine scenery, glittering chandeliers and subtle décor, the restaurant is already a feast for the eyes before your food arrives. All the food on board is beautifully presented and service was run with military-like precision throughout.
The Sun Deck provided the perfect setting to enjoy leisurely cruising through the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine and all her historic castles. Commentary was provided throughout this area by the fantastic cruise director, giving a small insight into the history and legends behind each building, culminating in a cocktails and musical celebration as we turned past the famous Lorelei Rock. After a very scenic three-hour sailing, we arrived in the city of Koblenz for a guided shore excursion. Koblenz is a beautiful and peaceful city surrounded by picturesque vineyards and full of medieval buildings and modern sculptures. It’s well worth a trip.
Day 2
After a morning of scenic sailing along the Mosel River, we experienced the German tradition of Frühschoppen. This involved a very lively and lederhosen-clad crew serving fresh pretzels, beer and weisswurst - the perfect 11am snack. The afternoon was spent on a city tour of Cochem and its magnificent Reichsburg. Ending in a trip to the Heieronimi Cellars for a Riesling wine tasting, the day’s events set us up nicely for that evening’s dinner. The dinner again was a four-course feast, with plenty of choice and all dietary requirements catered for. The evening entertainment was a very lively music and dance quiz. Extra points were given for every dance performed – needless to say, we didn’t rank well in this.
Be sure to check back soon for part two of Charli’s journey along one of Europe’s most popular waterways. In the meantime, if you are inspired to book a Rhine river cruise with Amadeus or any of our other operating partners, contact our friendly team today.
