If you ask me right now my favorite way to string several destinations into a necklace of a journey, I would say without batting an eyelash, “River cruising.”
It will give you a gem of a vacation.
It’s as smooth as the Danube, relaxing as a gentle massage, picturesque as Austrian cakes and a Hans Christian Andersen storybook. (Though Danish, Hans Christian Andersen, of The Emperor’s New Clothes’ fame, once lived in Bratislava — one of the stops in a Danube River cruise.)
I joined AmaWaterways’ “Melodies of the Danube” cruise during the Holy Week break, and found it a symphony of the sights and sounds of many charming European towns and cities, many of them like gems hidden in a velvet-lined jewel box. North Star International Travel represents AmaWaterways in the Philippines, and North Star president Norma Cacho said she has always been amazed by its “personalized service.”
We boarded our ship, the AmaSerena, in Budapest and from there were transported to many enchanting places not on the radar of many tourists — Durnstein, Weissenkirchen, Grein and Linz in Austria; Cesky Krumlov in Czech Republic; Passau and Vilshofen in Germany. We even had a walking tour of “hidden Vienna.”
The tour was jumpstarted by a magical Illuminations Cruise along the Danube in Budapest — it was as if diamonds were strung around Budapest’s historic Parliament building and fairytale castles.
Indeed the river cruise, as Capt. Cristian Creteanu promised during our first night on board, would bring us a wave of “new memories.”
Durnstein and the Wachau Valley simply took my breath away — I could have used a tank of oxygen as I gasped in wonder at the landscape unfolding in front of me.
Durnstein is a pretty little Baroque town that meanders up a gentle slope. Once you reach the top of the slope, you behold a living canvas of lakes, hills, flowers and sky.
Passau is the Venice of Germany, with its onion domes, palaces by the river resembling palazzos by the canal, and narrow alleys. Passau’s St. Stephen’s Basilica, where we heard Easter Mass, has the most beautiful nave I’ve ever laid my eyes on.
Cesky Krumlov is a mini-Prague, but more quaint. (A more detailed description of the facets of these destinations in a future article. Abangan.)
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Cruise manager Frederico Martinez explains why a river cruise is a must-try. “By acting as a floating luxury hotel, there is no packing and unpacking so we are able to almost double the amount of leisure time guests can enjoy in each destination and given the small size of river cruise ships compared to ocean vessels, we have unique opportunities to really personalize the onboard service and the ways our guests may choose to experience each area we visit.”
There are only about 150 passengers on a river cruise, compared to thousands on an ocean cruise.
Rico, whom female passengers swear is a Hugh-Jackman lookalike, adds, “Food and wine have become such critical parts of the way travelers expect to experience a country or city so it is important that we continue to propose a diversity of culinary experiences on our ships and during our tours.”
All passengers have their turn at a Chef’s Table, a fine-dine food and wine experience at a glass-walled specialty restaurant of the ship. We were welcomed with a pretty concoction of sheep yoghurt with lemon, pomegranate, feta cheese, Parmesan, flowers and kiwi; followed by Scandinavian salmon and scallops with a choice of honey mustard, yakitori, Sriracha sauces for appetizers; a choice of laksa or halibut with tobiko caviar for soup; cheddar chili sorbet; a palette of aged beef brisket, lamb rack, corn souffle and handmade ravioli for main course. Last but not the least, for dessert we had Warm Baileys almond souffle or a cheese board.
No wonder biking tours are offered on the cruise!
“Wellness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle during vacations are also gaining more importance. This is reflected in the popularity of our wine theme cruises, healthy menu choices as well as our active hiking and biking tours,” Rico points out.
Indeed, a biking tour was always an option in many destinations. On our last days in Vilshofen, travel agents Shan Dioquino David, Marites Tanada-Palanca, Joyleen Tan and Grace Catamora biked along the river while I retreated to a café by the church to have coffee and apple strudel.
Another special feature of this river cruise is that it makes you feel like you are on vacation in every sense of the word — your time and pace are all yours, without the rigidity of other tours that you feel compelled to join to make it worth your buck. (Almost all tours, which were very comprehensive, are part of the cruise price.)
For instance, there are gentle tours that you may avail yourself of. While we hiked, those who preferred to ride golf carts were given golf carts! And if you wanted to sleep in and miss one tour, the AmaSerena has a “late risers’ breakfast.” Then you can just avail yourself of other tours, or just walk around yourself.
Travel agent Marianne Guidote Velez said she never saw so many places at such a relaxed and relaxing pace!
“River cruising is a very personal experience. Once onboard you will have many different tours to choose from so you can really personalize your cruise experience. But don’t be afraid to sleep in some mornings and take advantage of the ‘late risers’ tours’ or book a massage to relax at the end of the afternoon,” smiles Rico, his eyes as blue as the Danube once was. (Though still enviably clean despite the fact that it is a major artery that runs through 10 European countries, the Danube is actually green — green like Bohol’s Loboc River.)
It was truly an AMA-zing “Melodies of the Danube” river cruise. We’re still singing praises for it.
(For inquiries and bookings, contact your travel agent or North Star International Travel at 848-7802, 485-7272 Ext. 214 or e-mail cruises@northstar-travel.com.ph.)
(You may e-mail me at joanneraeramirez@yahoo.com.)