Iseula sailed away from the ordinary with us in October on our Romantic Rhine cruise. Here’s her recount of her week on the Rhine with Avalon.
Day 1 – Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Having already spent a few days in Amsterdam, I decided to spend one last day exploring the streets for snacks and pastries. The weather had been surprisingly good for October; even the locals were amazed! In the afternoon, I boarded my Avalon Suite Ship – my home for the week. I was delighted with my Panorama Suite with its beautiful decor, luxurious L’Occitane bathroom products and comfortable bed.
Once everyone was onboarded, all passengers gathered in the lounge for a complimentary drink and to be welcomed by our Cruise Director, Tony. Tonight’s dinner set the bar high with a five-course affair, accompanied by regional wines.
Day 2 – Amsterdam
Even though I am vegan, I still found plenty of choice at the breakfast buffet. I made sure to enjoy a hearty breakfast as I wanted to do some last-minute solo sightseeing of Amsterdam, visit the Heineken Beer Factory and pick up some souvenirs.
After another day of roaming around Amsterdam, I boarded in time for Happy Hour before another lavish dinner. I let the waiter know I was vegan, and he quickly pointed out what my options were.
Day 3 – Cologne, Germany
Prost! This was my first foray into Germany, and we had a beautiful blue-sky (but chilly) day. I chose the guided city walk of Cologne with its impressive Gothic cathedral. We had free time in the afternoon, so I spent time trying some local specialties – including the Kolsch pale lager, locally brewed for 100 years!
Day 4 – Rüdesheim
I woke early and immediately threw open my curtains to take advantage of my Open-Air Balcony. Cruising down the Rhine with ancient castles passing by was truly magical. I made the most of this beautiful scenery by heading to the Sky Deck to see castles on both sides of the river.
It was time to work up a sweat, so I chose to join our Avalon Adventure Host for a hike through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim. The views were magnificent and well worth the cardio. Some of the group opted to go for a quintessential Rüdesheimer coffee tasting afterwards, but I felt it was more of a beer tasting afternoon, so I went to explore on my own.
Day 5 – Mainz, excursion to Heidelberg
Today was a fabulous day! We docked in Mainz and took a short bus trip to Heidelberg for a tour of its castle. This Renaissance castle towers above the city and experiencing castle ruins up close was simply incredible. Our Local Guide was fabulous – she was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and quirky. Listening to her explain Heidelberg’s history was amazing! We also saw its famed Great Vat, aptly known as the ‘World’s Largest Wine Barrel’. It used to hold 228,000 litres of wine so you can just imagine its sheer size!
Day 6 – Strasbourg, France
Bonjour to France! Strasbourg was easily one of my favourite places on my Rhine cruise. It was a charming city with cobblestone streets, medieval architecture and lots of places to eat and drink.
Today, there were several included excursions available like an Active bike tour or Classic city sightseeing tour. I chose to spend the day exploring Strasbourg on a self-guided foodie tour. Before I left the ship, I worked out where the best vegan spots were for morning tea, lunch and afternoon snacks. It was a perfect day to walk around the city and La Petite France district, and soak in this fairytale-like atmosphere.
Day 7 – Breisach, Germany
Today, I joined a guided tour of Freiburg’s medieval city centre. Freiburg is found on the edge of the Black Forest amongst the vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley. I even had some spare time for a quick hike through the Black Forest itself.
We sailed on to Basel that night, complete with a special farewell dinner. We thanked all the crew for an amazing experience and enjoyed our last night sipping cocktails and looking across the river.
Day 8 – Basel, Switzerland
Sadly, we had to disembark after one last delicious buffet breakfast. What a truly great experience to travel through this area with Avalon.
Has this piqued your interest? Take a look at the full range of Rhine river cruises with Avalon Waterways.
