The Blue Danube With Riviera Travel

Sally Jones, Sales Consultant at our Lymington travel agents, enjoyed a Danube River cruise with Riviera Travel. She visited destinations such as Budapest, Salzburg and Vienna on a magical trip that she would recommend to all her customers.

Destination: The Blue Danube River Cruise
Operator/Host: Riviera Travel
Airline: British Airways
Accommodation
(Hotel names/Ship name): Emily Bronte
Duration: 7 nights

Flight

I flew direct from London Heathrow to Budapest. The flight was only two and a half hours so it went very quickly. The seats were very comfortable with plenty of legroom.

Upon arrival, I collected my luggage and handed it straight to our Riviera transfer coach. It was waiting for me in our cabin when we arrived on board.

Accommodation

I was very impressed with my cabin on board Emily Bronte; it was a Ruby Suite on the middle deck. The décor and furniture was of a very high standard and it came with a large double bed and very spacious bathroom with shower. There were French doors, so you could sit in your cabin watching the world go by.

Tea and coffee facilities were available in the cabin and were stocked up on a daily basis.  

The ship also featured a large restaurant where we had breakfast, lunch and dinner; a beautiful lounge, which is open throughout the day and hoists the entertainment in the evening; a spacious sun deck, which includes a small pool and plenty of sun loungers or chairs and a bistro, which was open for lunch and dinner. This is smaller than the main restaurant and has a different menu – it is a must-try.

What Was Included?

·        Guided tours in Vienna, Salzburg or Linz, Budapest and Bratislava

·        Visits to Estergom, Durnstein and entrance to Melk Abbey

·        All meals including the evening meal when I arrived. As I did the walking tour in Salzburg, Riviera did provide a packed lunch

·        Live classical quarter recital on board

·        Hungarian folklore show on board

·        Complimentary tea and coffee and Wi-Fi onboard

Trip Highlights

Visiting and seeing Austria – Salzburg and Vienna were absolutely amazing. Sailing on the Danube through Austria was breathtaking and the scenery was definitely one of the highlights.

If you get the opportunity, the Spanish Riding School in Vienna is well worth a visit.

Budapest offers so much;a three-night extension would be well worth doing, if you have the chance.

Recommendations

I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone; it is a wonderful way to see various cities and stunning scenery. The ship is docked very close by so, apart from the Salzburg excursion, there were no long coach journeys to get to places. The dress code is informal so you didn't have to dress up for dinner unless you wanted to.

Additional Comments

The ship is only has four decks. It does have a lift but, even if you have walking difficulties, it is easy to get around.

The staff on board were wonderful and the service is very high; nothing was too much of a problem.The drinks were very reasonably priced and Riviera offers a drinks package.  

There is entertainment on board in the evening. This is low key and includes things like a pianist, music quiz, the special treat of having a classical quartet perform and a Hungarian folklore show.

Take comfortable walking shoes. On all tours, they offer different levels of walking so, if you do have difficulties or you don't want to walk too far, there are still great options to choose from.

The onboard currency is the Euro. You can register your debit or credit card at the start of your cruise or pay in cash at the end.

Each afternoon there is a brief talk explaining the next day’s tours, what time you will be leaving and going into detail about the tour.  

If possible, to get the best views and cabin, I would always suggest booking deck two or three and having the French window cabins/suites.

Must see? Vienna Cathedral
Must do? Salzburg excursion
Must try? The Bistro restaurant on board

If you would like to enjoy a river cruise like this, whether it’s your first or a regular option, the team can use their expertise to help you find the ideal itinerary. Visit your local branch today; we have travel agents in Colchester, Norwich, Ipswich, Felixstowe, Bury St. Edmunds and across the south coast.