Have you ever wanted to do something so badly that you always think about it? Well, this is my story on our River Cruise. We finally did it. We went on a European River Cruise on the Rhine River for eight days and seven nights. It's been on my bucket list for the last twenty years. My husband always said they were for old people and just plain wasn't interested. And then, our hair turned gray, and we became old. Also, since we were celebrating our 50th anniversary--I had leverage! Let the planning begin!
How did we like it? Did it meet our expectations? Was it full of old people—walkers, canes, and wheelchairs? Was the food good? I promise to answer these questions and more. And even though, by nature, I am an optimist, I'll tell you the truth. I promise. Remember, though--it's my viewpoint, not necessarily how others feel--at all.
I admit I do see things through rose-colored glasses. It's a massive part of who I am. So, going on a river cruise was highly anticipated. I couldn't wait. I did tons of research and planning. I wanted the best cruise line and was ready to spare no expense. Europe is our favorite travel destination, so we chose to cruise the Rhine. We went through 4 countries--The Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland. Although we had visited them before, we looked forward to seeing some ports we'd never visited. Unfortunately, we sailed right past some that looked inviting. Hmmm, who's steering this boat anyway?
We decided to spend a couple of days in Amsterdam before joining our fellow shipmates on our adventure. Our hotel room had a canal view, so from my perspective, things were already going great before we even embarked. Also, at the end of the cruise, we stayed a few extra days in Switzerland and took a train to Colmar, France, for a day of much-needed shopping. What a city! It was my favorite day of the entire trip. Beauty overload. We will return to Comar and most likely stay for a while!
Back to the boat--once we arrived at the dock, our bags were whisked away, and we were introduced to Andre. He showed us to our room, told us how everything worked, and answered our questions. I'll now do my best to describe the room. However, I will admit to being a complete hotel snob and highly picky, so consider that. Our room was pretty small, and the bathroom was tiny, I mean little! The shower was minuscule. There were nice bath sheets, though, and excellent hair care products. The room was spotless and had a lovely balcony for 2 people; it was wonderful for having early morning coffee, a late-night glass of wine, or just enjoying the fresh air. The ship had great a/c (which is the most important thing to me), plenty of storage with a small dresser, and a nice closet. I tend to be claustrophobic, but I did okay with this room. We weren't in it for a two or three-week trip, which made a difference.
On our first night in, I noticed a few things. I could hear and feel the engine of the longboat running. It didn't really bother me, but it might bother some. Our Wi-Fi on the boat was excellent; we never had any issues. Every evening, while at dinner, our room steward straightened our room up and left an itinerary for the next day. Having a hard copy and the info on our phone's onboard app was excellent. And I loved the housekeeping staff. Everyone was so friendly, and they kept our room tidy, which I absolutely loved. I am a neat freak, I'm a little OCD, but it's something I accept about myself.
The beds in the staterooms are not king-sized; they are bigger than a queen, though, and can be separated upon request. The mattresses are hard and should be pillow-topped for those older folks with arthritis issues. My hips were killing me. And speaking of pillows--not good. I would be tempted to bring my own in the future. Also, the bathroom floor light does not turn off at night. I had to cover it with a towel and shut the door, and I could still see a faint glow. It drove me nuts. Not having a make-up mirror is one of my biggest pet peeves in any hotel room. No make-up mirror, really? Half of your quests are women! Install a small make-up mirror! I brought my own, but it's a sticking point. As an experienced female traveler, I have expectations. Especially when I have spent money on something like a river cruise. Picky? Yes, very. I warned you.
Our first dinner on the ship was good. The dining room can accommodate all the guests, which is really nice. We met some incredible people and made good friends while traveling. One thing that I do need to address is the food. It was good, with local cuisine and some American dishes for the less adventurous. Is the food 5-star? No. It's more 4-star, but it was fine. The crew's service was great, and they tried their hardest to accommodate our every whim. I really appreciated the quality of the service. However, I missed visiting restaurants, eating with locals, trying new foods, and people-watching. It seemed that we were eating on the boat in the morning, noon, and night. I felt compelled to eat on board, especially since we had already paid for the meals. However, after the first couple of days, I was getting tired of that. I wanted the Europeans around me, not my fellow Americans! I was in Europe, surrounded by Americans. It kept messing with my brain. We did sneak out a couple of times for coffee, lunch here and there, and dinner out one evening. That helped me. I really needed my Europeans.
Oh, and one of my favorite items on the ship was the coffee bar on the upper deck. Oh my. I do love a good coffee bar! My husband brought me a cappuccino every morning, and I loved it. The coffee bar was open throughout the day and evening, serving pastries and cookies—a lovely addition to our stay. However, I missed the sense of coffee/cafe culture; it is an essential part of traveling for us—sitting, drinking coffee, watching people, and listening to them talk.
As you can tell--some things for us could have been better, right? And that's okay. What's not so good for some might be fine for others. Keep that in mind while reading this, and remember—I'm picky.
So, what were the guests' ages? Most were in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, with a few in their 40s and 80s. One woman had a walker, and one man had a cane. The excursions also included a leisurely walking group, which was awesome. There was no pressure for the slower crowd. I loved the way all the guests on the cruise were cared for. Everyone was treated with care and respect. We had those on the boat who were mother/daughter or father/son, we had various age groups, etc., and everyone was extremely accommodating.
So, bottom line: Would I do a river cruise again? The answer is maybe.
However, I would do more research and find a European cruise line rather than an American one because I want to be immersed in the culture of the countries I visit. I missed the cafe culture and had to try to find time for that, which was hard to do because the scheduling of the excursions and docking times for walking tours of the port cities were very limiting for me. They usually took place before the shops opened, and the streets were empty. I looked forward to shopping and coffee with the Europeans, not a history lesson and a quick walk through town. I needed more time.
One of my favorite days was cruising the river to see the castles. They were beyond amazing, and the weather couldn't have been better. It was magical. We sat on the top deck in the sunshine, breezes blowing, and castles floating by—what's not to love? I decided right then and there that I needed a castle to renovate. I'm going to have to work on that one. My husband might disagree.
As I thought long and hard about this trip, I realized something. I enjoy planning our adventures. I love researching cities, looking for train routes, finding suitable hotels, and scouting nearby restaurants. Are there trams, trains, and buses that we can take? Should we rent a car? Planning is so much fun, and cruising takes that out of your hands. You show up and follow their itinerary. I will likely plan another river cruise when I'm older and want someone to "do the planning" for me. However, while I enjoy good health, I will plan my own land excursions, walk the towns, shop the shops, and visit all the cafes I can while I still have my health. While I genuinely enjoyed the cruise, it wasn't a perfect fit for me. I am happy that we went. And one day, we most likely will go again.
We discovered a long ago that we aren't truly vacationers. We like adventures. We don't lay around on beaches, reading the days away or relaxing. Nope, not us. We get up early, drink loads of coffee, and hit the streets. We shop, eat, drink even more coffee, walk some more, shop some more, stop for snacks, and repeat. We love to take side excursions (scenic boat rides, water taxis), look for out-of-the-way places, and discover open-air markets. And finding a trinket or two is right up my alley.
So, there you have it—my perception of the ins and outs of river cruising. It was a beautiful, fun, and genuinely fantastic trip. We have many memories, incredible photos, and new friends.
