European Cruising Christmas

Christmas will be here again before you know it so now’s the time to plan your next festive escape

In that spirit, a ‘part-time’ Christmas scrooge from Australia rediscovers the joy of the season on a Yuletide Markets cruise with Riviera Travel from Hungary to Slovakia and Austria.

By Andrew Mevissen

Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas. But like the Olympics, I just think Christmas should be celebrated every four years. There’s so much rushing, stressing and preparing that the storybook magic of the season dwindles – for me anyway – and it all comes around so quickly each year.

But last Christmas this part-time Scrooge rediscovered the joy of the season when I boarded one of Riviera Travel’s Yuletide Markets cruises in Europe. How could I not be swept up in festive traditions and breathless anticipation when I’m in a riverside town’s medieval square festooned with twinkling lights and colourful decorations and brimming with jolly carollers and enchanting timber stalls selling cuckoo clocks, wooden toys, artisan gifts and every type of Christmas treat and trinket you could imagine. Ice skaters glide around glittering fir trees and the sweet scents of cinnamon, honey cookies, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts fill the frosty air.

It feels like I’ve been embedded in a Christmas card. In under 24 hours I’ve been transported from a sizzling Sydney summer in Australia to a winter wonderland in Europe, celebrating our happiest season of all.

‘Our festive cruise had begun’

Our six-day cruise in mid-December started in Budapest when we boarded Riviera Travel’s five-star river ship, MS Thomas Hardy, a modern, gleaming, elegant vessel more akin to a floating, boutique hotel. An impressive line of staff welcomed us onboard in the sparkling, marble-floored lobby. Complimentary bon voyage drinks were offered, our baggage was delivered to cabins in a flash and our festive cruise had begun.

Named after the famous British writer, MS Thomas Hardy is a beautiful and spacious ship boasting an ambience that is stylishly casual and charmingly mellow. There are rich hardwoods, gleaming brass, polished copper, expansive glass and intricate wrought iron all creating a harmonious atmosphere of understated elegance and all designed to make guests as relaxed as the flow of the Danube. With only 169 passengers onboard, the friendly and personable crew quickly remember your face and name and you get to know your fellow passengers quickly as well.

As soon as you board the ship you feel the yuletide spirit, thanks to colourful Christmas trees and decorations, traditional Christmas delicacies on the restaurant’s menus, nostalgic Christmas movies on your cabin TV and favourite carols performed by the lounge pianist. But the best part is we don’t need to cook, wash dishes or clean – a perfect Christmas celebration in my book!

Thomas Hardy

‘Joyfully mesmerising’

Our lovely stateroom sported a French balcony – a panoramic, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door that, when opened, turns our suite into an alfresco sunroom. All cabins enjoy a river view and it was joyfully mesmerising to lie on our big, comfy bed and watch the gentle pastoral landscapes floating by, listening to the gentle, lapping water through our open glass door. Our stateroom offered a sitting area, ample space under the bed for luggage, flat screen TV with a bridge camera channel, individually controlled air-conditioning, phone, hairdryer, handy USB ports for phone charging, bathrobes/slippers and tea and coffee-making facilities including a small coffee pod machine – a nice and unusual touch. The marble bathroom boasted Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries. There’s an evening turn-down service too with chocolates on the pillows.

Flanked by panoramic windows, the tables in the main restaurant were beautifully laid out with crisp linen. A second, smaller bistro at the rear of the ship offered an alternative, casual dining venue overlooking the wake and back along the river. And unlike specialty restaurants on ocean ships, the bistro was complimentary. But like on all ships, there seems to be an unwritten rule in seafaring law that all passengers are never allowed to have more than a few hours between meals. That was certainly the case aboard Thomas Hardy where the tireless chefs were eager to please our palates around the clock. A highlight was a festive, eight-course degustation dinner – a delectable and veritable feast featuring seared prawns, rillette of duck, winter bisque, pan-fried halibut and rum balls.

MS Thomas Hardy

The River Journey

Our five-night journey aboard Thomas Hardy took us along the storied Danube River from the gilded palaces of Budapest to the romantic old town of Bratislava in Slovakia and the baroque splendour of Vienna. In each port there was a free excursion which typically included a guided coach and walking tour for half a day or so, leaving the rest of the day to explore on your own – including the stunning Christmas markets of each port. My wife and I were like excited little children, following mazes of cobblestoned streets leading to town squares soaked in sensory-filling Christmas magic. We sampled local delicacies and bought Christmas decorations back home for our grown-up children.

I thought Australia showcased Christmas pretty well in the decoration department but Europe wins the prize hands down, with spectacular displays everywhere – and I mean everywhere – especially in front of the Vienna Town Hall where one of Europe’s biggest Yuletide markets unfolds every season. After all, the traditions which we now love about Christmas originated in Europe so it was an eye-opening, bucket list experience for a Down Under summer worshipper like me to finally experience a winter Christmas.

Immersing in the local culture

But as wonderful as the Christmas celebrations were, my wife and I always like to steal away from the crowds and join locals in places that help us authentically experience the cultural fabric of a destination. In beautiful Budapest we immersed ourselves in the huge, steamy, outdoor thermal pools of the historic Szechenyi Baths, wandered the cavernous halls of the giant Central Market Hall, savoured hearty goulash soup in the glorious surrounds of the Central Café for lunch and stood in awe at the magnificent Parliament Building, brilliantly lit at night.

In picture-book-lovely Bratislava, we borrowed two of our ship’s complimentary bicycles and cycled along the river and through backstreets, stopping for hot chocolate. And in magnificent, wintry Vienna, we picked the cosiest, warmest café we could find to indulge in traditional apple strudel and Vienna coffee! In every place, we walked, wandered, watched and wrapped up during the short, cold days, returning always to the luxury and warmth of the Thomas Hardy at the end of the day. And how delightful, before leaving Vienna, for the passengers to be serenaded by an Austrian string quartet which came aboard the ship to perform a spine-tingling concert featuring composers who loved Vienna, such as Mozart, Bach and Strauss.

MS Thomas Hardy

Our favourite experience

But as appealing as advent markets and grand, historic cities were, our absolute best memory of our short river sojourn was soaking in the ship’s top-deck, open-air plunge pool, heated to toasty jacuzzi temperatures in winter. We were in there at dawn and at dusk and after dinner under the stars, coffee or wine in hand, soaking in the majestic splendours of Europe all around us. Just bliss! It was, indeed, beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Returning home to a hot summer in Australia, just three days before Christmas, I was now, finally, in the mood to celebrate the joy of the season!

To find out more about Riviera Travel’s Yuletide Market Cruises in Europe, call us at Cruise Express on 1300 766 537 or visit www.cruiseexpress.com.au

River Cruising Around The World

More Australians than ever are holidaying on the world’s great inland waterways.

The appeal of river cruising is obvious. Unpack your bags once, sit back and your deluxe floating hotel will take you on an enthralling journey through the heart of a destination.

There’s no rushing, no big crowds, no stress and no day where there’s nothing to see. The ever-changing scenery is entrancing – from romantic vineyards, enchanting castles and quaint villages to rugged gorges, ancient ruins, and wild jungle.

Shore tours and drinks are often complimentary, there’s no seasickness and you arrive in the centre of each town or city, immediately immersing you in the local culture.

It’s a perfect and top-value way to travel!

Overwhelming, the majority of Australians who go river cruising head to the M1 motorway of river journeys – the popular route from Amsterdam to Budapest along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. It’s a beautiful cruise but if you’re looking to expand your horizons to other river cruising destinations, almost 200 river ships sail along 30 inland waterways around the world. Here’s a quick overview of river journeys away from the Amsterdam to Budapest river highway.

River Cruise

Europe

The Danube – Beyond Budapest to the Black Sea. Rivers were the trade routes of yesterday so it’s logical that Europe boasts more river cruise options than any other continent. Did you know, though, that you can cruise beyond Budapest all the way to the Black Sea through intriguing countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Croatia?

Holland and Belgium – The maze of the Rhine Delta can be traced on cruises past tulip fields sprinkled with windmills and charming, medieval towns filled with lace and chocolate shops.

The Moselle – Paris to Amsterdam. Another of Europe’s grand rivers can be sailed from France to Holland via Luxembourg through lands of storybook castles and rolling vineyards.

France – The Loire, Seine, Rhone, Saone, Dordogne and Garonne Rivers. From north to south and east to west, France boasts six major rivers you can enjoy a cruise on. Alluringly destinations like Provence, Burgundy, Bordeaux and Normandy are filled with captivating scenery including grand chateaux and castles, rustic wineries, picturesque hamlets and the sanctuaries of great artists like Monet.

Germany – The Elbe, Havel and Oder Rivers. From Dresden to Hamburg, the Elbe River passes through the verdant vineyards of Saxony and the beautiful Saxon Alps. The Havel and Oder Rivers can be traced from the vibrant city of Berlin north to the Baltic near the Polish border.

Russia – The Volga River. Russia’s two great centres, Moscow and St Petersburg, with their breathtaking palaces, museums, and onion-domed churches, can be seen by cruising along the Volga canal system.

Barge cruising in the UK and France. This is river cruising at its most intimate – quaint and cosy barges carrying less than 10 passengers meandering through the canals and rivers of old-world England and medieval France, through picture-postcard scenery and past castles and impossibly cute hamlets.

Portugal and Spain – The Douro River. Threading its way through Portugal’s romantic, castle-speckled scenery is the Douro, which meanders past vineyards and bewitching villages.

Italy – The Po River and Venice Lagoon. Immerse yourself in Italian Renaissance culture as you cruise the fascinating Venetian lagoon and the reflective waters of the Po to the beautiful city of Mantua.

River Cruise

Africa

Egypt – The Nile. One of the oldest river cruise routes in the world is the Nile – the world’s longest river – with its many ancient ruins and of course the great pyramids in Cairo.

Botswana and Namibia – The Chobe River. Take a river safari on the tranquil Chobe as you search for hippos, elephants and other wildlife close to the iconic Victoria Falls.

Asia

Vietnam & Cambodia – The Mekong. The mighty Mekong has become very popular with Australians on exotic river journeys between Vietnam and Cambodia, with rickshaw rides to local markets and villages.

Myanmar (Burma) – The Irrawaddy River. Immerse yourself in the mysterious, once hidden land of Burma as the Irrawaddy takes you deep into lands frozen in time with gilded pagodas, ornate monasteries and villages where friendly locals still follow a traditional way of life centred on farming.

India – The Ganges, Hugli and Brahmaputra Rivers. These holy rivers can be traced on exotic cruises that unveil scenery filled with temples, tea gardens, palaces, bustling bazaars and national parks that protect Indian rhinos. You’ll also see Indians flock to the shores of these mythical waterways to perform rituals performed for eons.

China – The Yangtze River. See China’s heartland from its most famous river and cruise through the jaw-droppingly dramatic Three Gorges with their sheer cliffs.

River Cruising

South America

Peru, Ecuador or Brazil – The Amazon. A true adventure into wild jungles inhabited by isolated tribal villages where little has changed for centuries.

Call your river cruise travel specialists today at Cruise Express on 1300 766 537.