Our Head of IT, David Haig recently had a fantastic experience onboard Riverside Cruise, Debussy – read below to find out more:
We boarded the Riverside Cruise ship Debussy in Nuremberg, what a magnificent ship! This was our first river cruise, and the Debussy exudes opulence. We were greeted at the quayside by three crew members who promptly collected our luggage and provided a brief orientation. Our cabin, a Riverside Suite, was simply stunning. It looked brand new and easily rivalled any high-seas accommodation. Spacious, with a walk-in wardrobe, en-suite bathrooms, and a king-size bed, it was pure luxury.
We only had time to explore the palm court lounge and the dining room, both of which were incredibly stylish. Dinner, and the service, were exceptional. After a restful sleep, we set off to explore Nuremberg this morning.
We spent the morning in old Nuremberg with an excellent guide named Johnny. The small group size significantly enhanced the tour as we strolled through the ancient city and castle. Nuremberg has so much to offer, and we barely scratched the surface. We had an hour to browse the market in the main square before returning to the ship, which had moved on to Roth for a buffet lunch.
After an impressive buffet, the ship sailed for Regensburg, and we embarked on some exploration. The Debussy boasts a small but luxurious pool with a sunbathing area at the aft. We relaxed there while watching the ship navigate the colossal locks on this part of the canal, rising over 30 metres! The engineering was awe-inspiring, and the captain's skill in manoeuvring the ship with inches to spare was astounding.
We were also fortunate to see one of the Debussy's suites - Wow! We thought our suite was incredible, but this one had a separate sitting room and an enormous walk-in wardrobe. After a delicious dinner, we retired early, as we had two excursions planned for Day 3. We were also lucky enough to see one of the Debussy suites - wow, we thought ours was great but this has a separate sitting room and the walk in wardrobe is liveable in! Early night after dinner as we've two excursions on Day 3
I must share a unique feature of the Debussy's cabins – the large glass windows along one side convert into Juliette balconies at the touch of a button. Another magical touch is the cabin TV, which has Sky F1 in HD!
This was our final day in Bavaria, and we were in Regensburg, a medieval city on the Danube. We enjoyed a short walking tour of the city, culminating in a Bavarian sausage tasting by the river. Back on the ship, the top deck had been transformed into an alfresco barbecue and sundeck for our docked period. The talented chefs continued to impress with their culinary creations, and we spent the afternoon sipping cocktails in the sunshine. As dusk settled, the ship departed for Passau, treating us to a magical sunset cruise down the Danube, past the remarkable Walhalla, culminating in an impromptu firework display from the riverbank.
With another beautiful day on the horizon, we decided to stay on board and travel down the Danube from Passau to Linz instead of joining a coach tour to Salzburg. After a brief stroll around the old city of Passau, we set off for a full day of travel. Passau is where three mighty rivers converge: the Danube, the Ilz, and the Inn, all swollen after recent floods.
Leaving the city behind, we cruised down the Danube Gorge, with its steep, forest-covered sides, encountering not only other cruise ships but also barges, pleasure craft, and even a Viking longship. We navigated more locks, and eventually, the landscape transformed, with the steep banks giving way to farmland and increasing industrialisation. We passed the Faber & Castell 'highlighter' factory before finally arriving in Linz.
As other passengers returned from their excursions, we were treated to a wonderful tasting menu featuring regional delicacies, followed by a waltz class with professional dancers to aid digestion!
We woke early for an excursion to Melk Abbey and its magnificent library. We were docked in Melk, surrounded by pumpkins – the floods had uprooted them from the fields and deposited them in the river. Our guide explained that a week prior, the entire area was submerged in mud and water, and the evidence was still visible everywhere. The abbey and gardens were breathtaking, the views were stunning, and the church was spectacular. It's a place well worth visiting at any time.
The weather remained glorious, with a cloudless sky, and we set off down the Danube mid-morning. This stretch of the Danube was different, with the Wachau Valley on one side, featuring high-sided forests and mountaintop castles, and vineyards and orchards on the other.
By mid-afternoon, we reached Krems. Due to a lock being out of service following the floods, we had to change ships for one night. We travelled by coach to Vienna to join the Riverside Mozart, the flagship of the Riverside line. A larger vessel, it still maintained the Riverside style. We were in a smaller suite, but it boasted a remarkable toilet with an array of unexpected functions.
In the evening, we attended a Riverside Signature event at the Belvedere Palace, enjoying an evening of classic Viennese music and song in the stunning surroundings. We then returned to the Mozart for some sightseeing around Vienna in the morning.
We awoke on the Mozart for a day in Vienna. We were surprised to find it a much more modern city than we had imagined – the skyline was more reminiscent of Dubai than the City of Waltzes. We embarked on a panoramic tour of the city after breakfast.
Late in the afternoon, we returned to the Debussy, which had moved to Tulln. It felt good to be back on the ship that had been our home for the past week. We walked through the charming town centre and along the towpath, which was bustling with people enjoying an evening stroll. Unfortunately, we received some bad news: the lock required to reach Budapest had been severely damaged and was inoperable. Therefore, the plan was to bus us to Budapest and spend our final night at the W Budapest instead of on the ship.
The floods in central Europe had significantly impacted the river cruise industry. We had seen river cruise ships moored three deep in many ports along the way, all empty. It was a testament to Riverside and the incredible crew that they had maintained such a smooth cruise and adapted so effectively to the challenges presented by the flooding. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that Riverside had its own fleet of coaches, allowing them to be extremely flexible in such situations.
For the first time, the sun wasn't shining this morning, which was perhaps a good thing, as we had a three-hour coach journey to Budapest ahead of us. We were leaving the Debussy and would be staying in a hotel that night. It was a shame not to be able to continue our journey on the Danube, and we were sad to say goodbye to the Riverside team who had worked so hard under challenging circumstances. The coach journey was uneventful, and we arrived in Budapest in time for lunch at the Gundel restaurant, a Budapest institution located near the zoo.
After a traditional and delicious lunch, we embarked on a tour of the two cities, exploring the history from the late Middle Ages and the birth of Hungary through various occupations up to the fall of communism.
The traffic and restrictions imposed after the floods meant that the tour was not comprehensive, but we concluded with a private tour of the newly refurbished opera house, which was just across the road from our hotel – the W Budapest. What a hotel it was! The lobby was breathtaking, and the rooms were modern and bespoke. Our top-floor suite was like a high-tech 'loft'. It was almost a shame that we were only staying for one night!
We're now on our way home after an incredible week. Time has flown by, and the weather has been exceptionally kind. We've visited stunning places, enjoyed fantastic food (and perhaps indulged in a few drinks!), and stayed on wonderful ships and in a spectacular hotel. Even the initial mishap with the plane's cargo door didn't derail our plans; KLM efficiently rebooked our flights with no fuss.
We've compiled a collection of photos and videos showcasing the ships and our hotel in Budapest – first the Debussy, which truly became a home away from home; then the Mozart, larger and oozing with style; and finally, the mind-bogglingly 'boutique' W Budapest. Each offered a distinct experience, but all were undoubtedly exceptional.
However, the true highlight of this trip was the company we kept. Both the fellow guests and the Riverside team, both on board the Debussy and back in the office, were fantastic. Without their efforts, the cruise would not have been possible, as the floods in central Europe caused significant disruption, requiring the team to constantly adapt the plans. I must give special mention to Zed and his team for their unwavering support and the exceptional manner in which they handled everything. Nothing was too much trouble, and they always greeted us with a smile. Thank you to everyone.
Would we consider another river cruise? Absolutely! However, I believe it would be challenging to find another cruise company, staff, and ship that could surpass the Riverside Debussy.