In the past, I’ve looked at cruising but shied away from it. To be honest, the thought of the enormous ships puts me off. I know of folk who take a cruise every year and they have an amazing time, but its not for me.
Being on a huge ship fills me with a degree of apprehension. I can imagine getting lost amongst the different decks, eventually finding my way to the correct restaurant hours after it closes. My concerns also have a historical base which my mother still reminds me of to this day. Some years ago, we stayed in a lovely hotel with a separate swimming pool complex. Fabulous time, and as I walked across the lawn back to the main building, I couldn’t remember which door I needed, once I got inside the hotel. There were no signs up, a factor I hold up in my defence. So, with a sarong wrapped round my top half and big towel around the bottom, I opened what I thought was the correct door back to reception and the lifts to take me back to the bedroom.
Nothing for it, I confidently opened the door to find I had walked into a Wedding reception. To make matters worse, it was speech giving and all was quiet. Naturally, to make matters even worse, it was a very big wedding with loads and loads of seated guests at loads and loads of tables. What was quiet before, went into silence. Well, nothing for it, but an apology of “Sorry wrong door” and a very speedy exit. As you can imagine, the vision of all these people turning to look at me has stayed with me forever and the thought of a similar occurrence on a massive cruise ship is a very real possibility.
So, River Cruising was the answer and I have thoroughly enjoyed 2 adventures. The first was down the River Danube. I couldn’t believe that in 8 days, we visited 5 countries along the way. We flew to Budapest (I now know that it is pronounced “Budapesht”) and met the boat. Our cabin was fabulous, situated on the middle deck. The crew were excellent and the food superb. Every night we were invited to a talk about what we would see the next day and every evening an itinerary appeared on our beds.
Our first exploring day was to Esztergom and thank goodness there was a little train to take us up the very steep hill to the magnificent church at the top, with its beautiful painting of the Ascension of Our Lady. As you can visualise, the views back down the valley to the river were spectacular. After that we sailed on to visit Bratislava. I remember the vast white painted building high on another hill (no little train this time), which was their administrative centre, with its views down to the river far below. Just outside the courtyard are very impressive and very tall wrought iron gates, with very tall masonry pillars either side, which actually lead nowhere. As you step round on the path, the land completely stops, and so the gates remain locked for obvious reasons. Built a long time ago, they apparently ran out of money and land to continue, so they just stopped right there. Bratislava is a fascinating place, dating back centuries, and beautifully preserved to such a degree that we were shown cannon balls still imbedded in walls.
I have to say that as the weather was so warm, I made good use of the hot tub on the top deck. There is something incredibly surreal and dreamlike to be sitting in the hot tub looking out over the scenery gently passing by. But on one occasion I did stop to have a wonder about the golf putting, also situated on the top deck, and I pondered the physics of whether in hitting a ball, it might travel further towards me as the boat was travelling in the direction towards the ball, so the ball might get to me sooner! I also noted with a large degree of fascination how the bridge went up and down in order to get under the bridges. So, my hot tub use was also research, I told myself.
I certainly did some good exploring of the boat. I swerved past the onboard gym, but found the café at the stern, with a wonderful barrister machine…fabulous for a morning coffee. I can see why people often put on weight when cruising. There were home made cookies or pastries continually available in the aft café; the restaurant served a massive selection for breakfasts and lunch, with the evening meal being a menu affair; and then there was a buffet lunch and afternoon tea in the main lounge area. Food was excellent and copious, which I am pleased to say that I ate sensibly and not glutinously (partly because I only bought one size of clothes with me, which I still had to get into at the end).
Other places we visited were Durnstein with its amazing masonry and exquisite church; and Melk Abbey (see photo of the yellow brickwork). We were there at just the right time to hear the beautiful chiming bells. I also decided to take the option of a trip to Saltzburg. On the way we stopped for a comfort break and cup of coffee. In all my days I have never been to such a magnificent service station. We were all aghast at the huge display of delicious pastries and delicacies on offer. With Saltzburg’s famous connections to Mozart and the Sound of Music, I took full advantage of visiting his home and birth place, the gardens from the Sound of Music and a ride up the Funicular with spectacular views. To this day I still smile at my purchase of Salt from Saltzburg. The shop had every possible variety of salt imaginable, and despite being told that the salt is from centuries old, very ancient mines, there is a best before date on each packet………love it!
Another amazing visit was to Vienna and the Spanish Riding School. Words cannot describe the precision and skill of both Horse men and women and the horse. We were lucky enough to view one of their practice sessions for an event. Vienna itself being such a beautiful city held many other sites and sounds which added to our day. Returning to the boat we were full of recalling what we had seen that day until our boat came along side another boat also waiting to get through one of the 7 locks along the river. We sat in the restaurant having our dinner and as the water level started to fall in the lock, we all looked out of the windows for our last glimpse of Vienna before our journey back to Budapest. Suddenly our attention was taken by the man in his cabin opposite our restaurant window. He had turned on the light and clearly didn’t realise that we could see him lying on his bed naked. Very discretely an arm then came up to draw his curtain. That was an end to a day we had not expected.
Sadly, we had sailed back to Budapest by the next morning and after a day in the city and a site seeing tour, it was back to the airport and home.
My second River Cruise was to Paris and down the Sienne. Paris, being another magnificent city and fabulous holiday. We visited Rouen and saw where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. The masonry work in the cathedral was stunning; While there, we explored the wonderful fruit and veg markets, with their amazing displays of mouthwatering produce.
Although I have been as a child, I did not have any recall, so when we saw the famous tapestry in Bayeux, it felt as if I was seeing it for the first time. But by far the most memorable time we spent was to Arromanches and the D-Day landings. I defy anyone not to be moved by rows and rows of white crosses in the cemeteries on our way to walk peacefully through the British and Commonwealth war memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, with its vast numbers of pillars holding the precious names of those very brave service personnel who died for the freedom we enjoy now. There is a need to be there in silent reverence.
Amongst other sites we visited during this trip, we went to the very beautiful and ancient fishing town of Honfleur with its strange streets built up the side of the hill, so that the ground floor of one house is the same level as the top floor of the house in the next street.
A trip to Monet’s house and garden at Giverny was also another must see. To Walk round his “Water Lily Pond” with its little boat strategically floating at the edge, was a definite pinch me moment. I was surprised to see that his house and garden were far, far larger and grander than I had imagined.
After that, it was back to Paris, where upon opening the curtains on our last morning we were treated to dozens of canoes of 2 rowers or with coxless 4, or even crews of 8 plus cox. There was clearly a regatta taking place, and it was wonderful to watch literally from the water’s edge.
As the week we were on this cruise coincided with the end of the Paralympics and winners’ parade through Paris, many of the streets were still closed, but that didn’t stop us from seeing Notre Dame Cathedral (from the outside as it was still under reconstruction) and a coach tour. We went past a number of significant sites including the Pathèon where Marie Curie is entombed. We were told that her coffin is lead lined as there is still a small amount of radiation given off from her.
So, it was back to England via Eurostar. I had never been on the train before and it was another wonderful and easy experience. And which was my favourite cruise of the 2, either and both. So much to see, so much to enjoy and so much to remember.
For me it was such an easy way to discover all these places; to wake up each morning, turn on the television screen and get the view from the camera situated on the bow of the ship; going to breakfast and mooring up in a different location to the one we were in when we went to bed.
I know it was expensive and as such these might well be considered holidays of a life time, but we loved every minute and came away having had fabulous trips in the company of like minded and charming fellow travellers.