busy as the day wears on. The hour’s drive from the port was no trouble since Riverside Luxury Cruises has two coaches to follow the ships from port to port for the purpose of taking guests on their excursions in comfort and luxury. Nothing could ever have prepared me for the breathtaking beauty that I was met with at Keukenhof. This place is the epitome of spring with the tulips in full bloom spread out before you in jaw-dropping displays, the scent from the hyacinths filling the air and multiple pavilions to visit featuring breathtaking floral exhibitions. There’s much to cover across the 79-acre park. AN UNEXPECTED PLEASURE The next day, things started to take an unexpected turn. Our original itinerary would take us along the Rhine in Germany taking in Cologne, Rudesheim, Mannheim and ending in Basel, Switzerland. However, due to a lack of rainfall in the preceding weeks, the river decided it wasn’t going to play ball. In fact, the water levels on the Rhine were a whopping two metres below their expected level for this time of year, which presents serious problems for a vessel the size of Debussy. Unfortunately, we could travel no further along the Rhine than Cologne. Our excursion to the city would continue as planned, bar some timing tweaks, but the itinerary would have to completely change for the rest of the trip. The crew leapt into action. I cannot praise their organisation highly enough and we were kept informed every step of the way. By the time we’d all returned from our guided tour of the fascinating, historical city of Cologne, there was an entirely new route planned along the stunning Moselle River with amazing new excursions on offer. They’d even worked out how every one of their passengers would get from the cruise’s actual end point to Basel ready for their flights home. How they pulled this off within the time frame, I’ve no idea, I’m still in awe! After all, you can’t argue with Mother Nature and what’s not to love about a magical mystery tour? For me, this was a blessing in disguise. The sights along the Moselle are breathtaking. One early morning standing on the Vista Deck capturing the sights on camera and enjoying the fresh, early breeze was one of the trip’s highlights. It truly is chocolate box Germany at its finest. At this point, we were on our way to the beautiful town of Cochem, where we’d disembark and set off for Eltz Castle, deemed one of the most picturesque castles in Europe, a fairytale in stone. The Eltz family has lived here for 900 years; transporting you back to the Middle Ages with a fabulous treasury and unspoilt surroundings it’s well worth a visit if you get the opportunity. ONBOARD TREATS As if there weren’t enough to enjoy on the ship from an endless array of cocktails served in the elegant Palm Court, to Bistro treats such as the ice cream bar, as well as the spa and swimming pool, the team continued to treat guests with little surprises along the way. As we’d no longer be visiting a vineyard as originally planned, I was excited to participate in the wine-tasting experience led by the ship’s expert sommelier. Since the Moselle’s banks are lined with vineyards, it was a valued part of the local experience to taste the produce. I sampled three divine Reislings and was fascinated to hear about their origins and the local wine-making industry. Another afternoon was spent in the company of the ship’s talented pastry chef, who shared a chocolate souffle masterclass. While I don’t expect my pastry skills will have improved one iota as a result, it was nevertheless a fun experience to watch him work his magic. During the evenings, the ship’s pianist set the atmosphere for relaxed after-dinner cocktails in The Palm Court, or for dancing the night away. The entertainment team will have some cabaret music surprises up their sleeves for you too. I spent a super-fun night playing Liar’s Club, where a panel of crew members shared their definitions of a random word and guests worked together in teams to discern who was being truthful. FINE-DINING Let me assure you, you will never eat so well as you will on board with Riverside Luxury Cruises, in terms of both quality and quantity. Every morning a hot and cold buffet breakfast is served in the Waterside Restaurant, a spread the likes of which I’ve never seen. But if you fancy a lie in, late breakfast snacks are available to grab in the Bistro, or if you don’t feel like leaving your suite at all it can be served to your door. Lunch too took the form of an impressive buffet-style spread, always ready and waiting when it was most needed at the perfect moment before departure or on return from the day’s excursions. One day, upon return from a tiring day of exploring, we were surprised with a spectacular barbecue served on the Vista Deck. Again, the spread was second to none! As you cruise past dreamlike landscapes and iconic cities, the chefs will prepare creations using fresh, local ingredients, inspired by the regions you’re sailing through. The same goes for the wine, which is always local and hand selected by the ship’s sommelier to be the finest available. Dining in the Waterside Restaurant is Michelin-star level, fine-dining fare, a true treat to be savoured. If you so choose, you can indulge in a fivecourse meal every evening and even add a sixth cheese course if you’ve still got room. Special occasions such as your honeymoon, need a special place and The Vintage Room is just that. Available for up to 10 diners, here you can sit in sumptuous armchairs and enjoy a Michelin-star level, seven-course tasting menu accompanied by wine flight, finely tuned to each course. A showcase of innovative culinary excellence, I ate like a queen here. It was a decadent meal and overall experience I’ll never forget, as was the trip as a whole. Scan to view video © Christopher Warren © Christopher Warren HONEYMOON REVIEW 85 BOOK IT! The eight-day cruise, Amsterdam to Basel, in April 2026 starts from €4,560 (approx. £3,900) per person based on two people sharing a Melody suite on a full board basis. Full board includes meals of your choice in all restaurants and bars, excluding dinner in the Atelier where a cover charge of €40 per person applies. Premium All-Inclusive is available at £64 per night/person. A further Shore Excursion Package is also available at £85 per night/person. Find out more at https://riverside-cruises.com
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