Riverside Luxury Cruises is Europe’s newest and most luxurious river cruise brand offering all-inclusive trips along the Rhine, Rhône, Danube and main rivers. Our deputy managing editor, Kelly Andrews, had the opportunity to experience a Rhine cruise, with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. Read on to find out more about her adventures in The Netherlands and Germany and discover how a relaxing river cruise could be the honeymoon you’ve always dreamed of. EASY ARRIVALS Having made the short flight to Amsterdam, complete with airport transfer, I was welcomed aboard the impressive Debussy by the wonderful team – my first taste of the exceptional treatment I’d receive for the rest of the trip. Glass of Champagne in hand, I was straight away shown to my Riverside Suite by my lovely maid Maria, who showed me the ropes. The suites on board really do set new standards in the world of river cruises. Furnished with the finest materials, refined fabrics, velvet and leather, my opulent suite also featured a king-size bed, walk-in wardrobe and elegant bathroom complete with premium brand toiletries. There’s not a porthole in sight here. Instead, I marvelled at the panoramic window, virtually covering one entire side of my suite, meaning I wouldn’t miss a moment as we cruised serenely along. I was already delighted, but then I discovered the top section of the extraordinary window slides down at the mere touch of a button to transform into my very own balcony to be enjoyed whenever the ship was in port. The luxury was something I could certainly get used to! A few minutes after Maria left me, my very own butler Marko popped in to welcome me and offered to unpack my belongings and assured me he’d be at my beck and call. Indeed, you can message your butler any time via WhatsApp or call with your needs; perhaps you’d like some ice waiting in your room when you return from an excursion on a hot day – no problem. AN AMSTERDAM ADVENTURE AWAITS After settling in, I decided to head out to explore Amsterdam. A short 10-minute walk from the port and I was in the capital’s centre, the oldest part of Amsterdam, so there was plenty of time to wander along its elaborate canal system and take in the showstopping architecture. There’s much to discover in a relatively small area, so I highly recommend exploring on foot with the museum quarter, market squares, countless cafes, the famous Red Light District (should curiosity get the better of you) and the Anne Frank House Museum all within easy reach. Although, prebooking the latter is recommended as it does sell out weeks in advance. I made the most of my time in the city, so it was time for my sore feet to take me back to Debussy in time for dinner. While the Waterside Restaurant usually offers à la carte dining, tonight a hot buffet was laid on due to a very special Signature treat we were to experience as the sun set. Whether you’ve booked the all-inclusive package or not, each river cruise offers a Signature Excursion as standard on which all guests are welcome. Ours was to be a dessert cruise of the 17th-century Amsterdam grachten (canals). With lights shimmering on the water and music courtesy of an accordion player to set the mood, we cruised in comfort with Tattinger flowing and a wealth of decadent, traditional Dutch desserts on offer. Along the way, our guide talked us through the history of the canals as we had the opportunity to admire some of the 1,500plus historical structures lining them, such as the Magere Burg double drawbridge, the 15th-century Mint Tower, once part of the medieval city wall, and the splendid merchant homes hailing from the Dutch Golden Age. We even stopped to pick up some hot, fresh bitterballen. A deepfried, meat-based treat similar to a croquette, I couldn’t get enough of these yummy traditional Dutch snacks, made even better served with the mustard dip. TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS As a new day dawned, I was up bright and early, ready for our first official excursion to Keukenhof Gardens. Each day on board began with a port briefing in the Palm Court Lounge by the delightful guest experience manager, Karolina, who told us about each new location and what to expect. Our Keukenhof guide Burt met us here and we were reminded to bring along the headsets provided in our suites, so we wouldn’t miss a moment of everything he had to tell us about the breathtaking tulips. If seeing the tulips in Amsterdam is as much of a bucket list moment for you as it was for me, Keukenhof in the spring is the place to go. With more than seven million blooms it’s the largest tulip display in the world. In 2026, the gardens will be open from 19th March to 10th May, and I’d highly recommend visiting as early as possible since it gets incredibly Sail away Experience the high life aboard a luxury river cruise along the Rhine 82
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