I’ve been a cruise virgin up until now. I’ll admit the idea of a boat full of people held little appeal for me, and the thought of organized activities, mass buffet meals and hoards of tourists turned me off from cruising. Many friends love the big ocean cruise experience and tell us of wonderful vacations spent at sea, cruising from ports across the world. But this type of travel was not my vibe until I discovered luxury river cruises. Our recent experience gave me fresh perspective.

Experiencing river cruising was an entirely different way of traveling. We cruised along the Rhine River in Germany, leisurely floating between Dusseldörf and Frankfurt with front row views to ancient castles, historic forts and sloped hillsides green with vineyards . This was river cruising in the lap of luxury, and my mind is forever changed.

I realized cruising with Riverside Luxury Cruises is far cry from the stereotype I had conjured. I am a cruise virgin no more.

River Cruising is More My Speed

As it turns out, I do like cruising – just maybe not the big ocean liner type of cruising. Luxury river cruises seem more my speed, I realized as I settled into a comfy lounge chair on the upper deck of Riverside’s 55-stateroom Debussy river cruise vessel. Martini in hand and sunglasses in place, I greatly enjoyed leisurely floating down the historic Rhine River. The sights were spectacular, and our experience was personalized and intimate.

Along this route, we embarked from Dusseldörf and sailed to Cologne, Bonn, Rüdesheim and Frankfurt. Then we turned around and went back to Rüdesheim, and then Koblenz. We disembarked at our original location in Dusseldörf.

The sun was shining, the birds were soaring, and the river was flowing along our route with a seemingly endless parade of sights. Ridiculously picturesque as if posed for postcards, the small German hamlets along the Rhine moved past us at a perfect sightseeing pace. More than 700 photos were taken along this route, so that should provide some insight into the beauty of these scenes. My camera is so chock-full of instagram-worthy shots that it seems hard to decide how best to illustrate our trip.

Why Luxury River Cruising is So Appealing

Granted, my first experience on a river cruise was exceptional. Riverside Luxury Cruises is among the very best of the best when it comes to luxury river cruises. They put emphasis on the word “luxury” for good reason. From what other guests on our cruise said of their past experiences, the service provided by Riverside is next-level compared to other river cruise companies. Since this is my first and only experience, I cannot make a comparison to others. However, I can provide details about our cruise and how wonderfully luxurious it was from start to finish.

Before this trip, I did not fully realize how draining it can be to take charge of travel details when planning for our group of family or friends to visit other countries. Moving from city to city, hotel to hotel, my mind – and laptop – are usually filled with the minutiae of daily activities, schedules, addresses and language translations. It’s been fine, and in some ways I enjoy being in charge of the details,. But sometimes it can be exhausting to hear “Where are we going for dinner tonight?”. Or, “What time do we need to be ready in the morning again?”.  And the ever-popular, “I know I said I wanted to visit XYZ attraction and you already bought the tickets, but now I don’t feel like going”.

With luxury river cruises, those head-aching details are handled by the able crew members. Guests just need to remember the right time time to show up. The rest flows like the river: calm and easy.

Misconceptions About River Cruises

I had some fears about taking luxury river cruises, and these misconceptions were proven untrue. Here’s a few ways that our cruise experience surprised me:

• Fear: Other guests are senior citizens, and we will be uncomfortable spending a week with a bunch of really old people.
• Fact: There were a few passengers who appeared to be in their 70s or 80s, but the majority of the guests where in their 40s – 60s. There were several younger couples, and a family with kids in their 20s.
• Fear: We will be herded like cattle on to tours and bussed around towns, following tour guides holding placards in the air so we don’t get lost.
• Fact: There were several excursions choices per day in each port, and one option was geared for passengers with mobility challenges or needing more guidance. The other options were either walking, hiking or biking tours with varying degrees of activity. We chose the active excursions.
• Fear: We will be stuck eating meals at the same table with the same people every day.
• Fact: The restaurants were open seating, and we could choose to join other guests or dine by ourselves.

• Fear: The cabin will be tiny with a small window and little room to move around.
• Fact: The smallest rooms were nearly 200 square-feet including a walk-in closet, large bathroom – certainly larger than many New York City hotel rooms.
• Fear: The pace will be so slow and boring, and we will go crazy with nothing to do.
• Fact: The pace was slow and relaxing, and we loved it. There was plenty to do, or we could do nothing at all. We enjoyed both ends of the spectrum. One day we walked 17,000 steps, and another day we hardly got up from our lounge chairs.

A Ship as Gorgeous as the Scenery

As far as river vessels go, the Debussy was very elegant is comparison to others we observed along our route. Riverside has built its reputation on taking luxury to the next level, and we could see this throughout the ship.

Riverside is owned by luxury hotelier Seaside Collection, with a total of five boats (three on the water right now.) The parent company owns high end resorts in Spain, Germany and others. With this background, this family-run business has a different sensibility about delivering a high level of service. Everything about the interiors and experiences on the boat were beautifully executed, right down to the rounded glass elevator in the boat’s center.

The public spaces were adorned with rich fabrics, plush furniture and interesting fixtures. In the main lounge where the bar and entertainment area are located, the ceiling was mostly glass for viewing the scenery and sky beyond. During the day, the light poured in and the room was bright and airy. In the evening, the night sky and reflections gave the room a clubby feel that was sophisticated and elegant.

On the upper deck, the outside spaces were spotless, with real potted plants and flowers, comfy deck chairs and sofas with pillows and blankets for the occasional chill.

Sights Along the Rhine River

We’d always been intrigued by the beauty of Germany’s Rhine Valley, and this seemed the ideal way to explore this historic area. Our cruise on the Debussy included a nice mix of bigger cities whose names we recognized, and smaller hamlets so charming to learn about.

Dusseldörf

We enjoyed two full nights in Dusseldörf the day before and day after our cruise, and we fell in love with this stylish city. Not sure of the cruise schedule and worried about potential flight delays, I booked us to arrive in Dusseldörf a full day early. We decamped a little jetlagged to our hotel, and the staff at the Breidenbacher Hof, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property, welcomed us like cherished old friends.

This was the ideal way to begin our adventure, and the Breidenbacher Hof is the true definition of luxury accommodations. Our room was spectacular, as were all the public spaces in the hotel. As you might expect from an historic German luxury hotel, the service and attention to detail were impeccable.

Dusseldörf itself is an interesting and vibrant city, full of glamour and charm. All the major fashion brands have large retail stores here, and the food scene is elevated. Even the beer and pretzels here are better, and we loved wandering through the vendor stalls at the Carlsplatz outdoor food market.

Cologne

As were so many cities in Germany, Cologne suffered from devastating bombings during WWII. The famous cathedral here was spared, as the story goes, to give the Allied Forces a recognizable point on the horizon to orient themselves. It’s a good thing the Cologne Cathedral is still intact, because it is truly a thing of beauty and highly worth the visit. The tired tourist adage “if you’ve seen one cathedral you’ve seen them all” absolutely does not apply here.

If you enjoy drinking beer, then you must try the clear and crisp taste of Cologne’s iconic Kolsch lager. There are quite a few brew houses dedicated to serving this delicious local favorite, best enjoyed on tap while cheering on the city’s celebrated football team.

 

Bonn

Birthplace of Beethoven, Bonn is very proud of this fact. There are statues, art and plaques dotting the historic downtown to mark his talent and ascension to becoming one of the world’s most successful composers and performers. We visited his birthplace and childhood home, which is now a museum housing collections from his life. Deaf from the age of 28, Beethoven composed some of his symphonies and musical works during this time. He used vibrations and tools to help him “hear” the notes, and many of these items are on display. Also on display is a collection of his handwritten music, letters, violins and keyboards he played throughout his life.

Bonn is a beautiful college town, and many important buildings were somehow spared from the WWII bombings. Although more than 30% of the city was destroyed, buildings like the Bonner Münster, City Hall and others are still standing from the 1500s and earlier. Bonn is walkable and full of public art, including many sculptures dedicated to Beethoven. The streets and plazas are full of life and color, and we enjoyed exploring the nooks and crannies of this highlight along the Rhine Valley.

Rudesheim

A charming little hamlet known for its wineries, Rudesheim was so nice the cruise had to stop here twice. We loved tasting the local wines, exploring the vineyards that crawl up the steep slopes, and learning about the regional specialty, Riesling. Not popular in our household because of a mistaken impression it is a sweet wine, German Reisling from this area is actually dry with notes of stone fruit, citrus and florals. More than a few glasses of Riesling were enjoyed in Rudesheim and aboard the Debussy after we learned of its actual identity.

Museum of Mechanical Instruments

There were two other highlights from our tours of this sweet little town. The first sounds odd and too cheesy for us to withstand, but the Museum of Mechanical Instruments was surprisingly interesting and a really fun local museum experience inside a historic family home. The collection of instruments is astounding, and if we did doubt our interest in this subject this museum changed our minds. It’s almost unfathomable to think an artisan handmade these moving mechanical instruments, many of which still play music. The collection here is mind boggling.

Wineries in Rudesheim

Another highlight in Rudesheim was the ebike tour we enjoyed from dockside through hillsides, wineries and  back roads. There is even a convent where the nuns make wine. Nearly three hours of riding through the breathtaking countryside left us a little famished, and of course our guide came prepared. Out of what seemed a backpack with a bottomless pit, she pulled sausages, sliced fresh veggies, cheeses, fruits and crackers. And of course….bottles of Riesling. We sat at picnic tables in the vineyards and enjoyed some German bites before heading back to the boat.

Frankfurt

The largest of Rhine-front cities we visited on our journey, Frankfurt was not as exciting as some of the smaller destinations. A corporate center with skyscrapers and many banks, the city is bustling with busy professionals. Even so, there are several interesting attractions within this city worth visiting.

Although the original buildings were largely destroyed in the war, this area of Germany is famous for its half-timbered building architecture. City leaders in Frankfurt rebuilt the main square of town exactly to match the original buildings, and the result is quite beautiful. We enjoyed a walking tour of the area, learning more about the history of Frankfurt and its original inhabitants.

The Städel Museum of Art hosts an impression collection worth seeing. The collection boasts everything from the Old Masters in the 14th century through to the present. The architecture of the building and spaces is impressive, and the rooftop here provides unparalleled views of the Rhine with the city skyline beyond.

Koblenz

Koblenz enjoys a unique position at the intersection of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, and it was one of our favorite cities to visit along this cruise route. Charming and old-fashioned in some ways, Koblenz has found a way to blend its historic heritage with modern times in a respectful combination.  The historic downtown is not large, so it is easily walkable and fun to explore.

One of our favorite excursions was just outside of Koblenz. It was also one of the few times we boarded a bus, bound for a tour of Marksburg Castle. Still largely intact after some 800 years, the Castle is extensive and offers a very interesting guided tour of its rooms. Decorated with many of the original furnishings, the castle is an impressive view back in history. It sits atop a cliff overlooking the Rhine, and we could easily see why these castles held such an important role in the history of this area.

Details About Luxury River Cruises with Riverside

Food

The meals on board the Debussy are included in the price of your cruise, as is most alcohol. The options were generous and spectacular, and not just because of the abundance of choices. The chef on board trained in Michelin-star restaurants, and all meals are prepared fresh on the ship each day. Even the pastry chef created her gorgeous concoctions on board. Croissants, breads, cakes and more were all served fresh from the oven.

At breakfast and lunch, the Marketplace buffets were offered complete with a chef station. Omelettes, pancakes, pastas and meats were prepared a la minute while you waited. A printed menu was also available tableside if you wanted the kitchen to prepare your dish of choice, delivered directly to you.

The dinner menus changed daily and were extensive, paired with wines chosen especially for the day by the on-board sommelier. Ingredients were fresh and brought in from our ports of call. No meals are prepared in advance or cooked in mass quantity like a catered event. I enjoyed a delicious filet mignon, prepared medium-rare just as I like it and served with potatoes and fresh vegetables. Seafood was another specialty of the kitchen, and these dishes were cooked perfectly with gorgeous plates and accompaniments.

It’s definitely true that a cruise guest can easily eat to their heart’s content. Food is available 24-hours, and room service is also included.

Service

Overall service is an area where our experience was exceptional. The staff on board the Debussy were each so well trained, so attentive, so friendly. By the end of the week we felt we knew each one well. Dining was just like a nice restaurant with incredible service, from the first cup of coffee in the morning to the nightcap in the bar after dinner.

Every effort was taken by the adept crew on the Riverside Luxury Cruises’ Debussy to make each guest feel special. The team quickly learned our names, and greeted us each time with a smile. There is one crew member per suite, and the boat held 55 suites. That is a lot of people dedicated to our enjoyment, and their good natures seemed genuine.

Booking with Luxury River Cruises with Riverside

Riverside offers many variations on river cruising, including 7 nights on Rhine River like we experienced. The company also cruises on the Danube, Rhone, Moselle and Saone Rivers. Unlike some others, Riverside offers more variability of number of nights on board, with options for three to eleven days, depending on your desired length. Among these options, there are many different routes offered with various ports and destinations along the way. View more details on the Riverside Cruises website.