We had an unforgettable cruise seeing the Rivers and Castles of Europe on the AMADOLCE, the cruise exceeded our expectations and thankyou to the team at Blue Water for making this happen for us with no problems encountered especially seeing we travelled from Australia to experience it. They were very efficient in keeping us informed along the way. Truly a trip to remember and the sun even appeared when we started the Rhine Gorge section with all the castles, so we all scrambled up to the fantastic sundeck to take in the picture postcard views

The Christmas cruise on board Amacello visiting Christmas markets along the Rhine was my first river cruise and I could not fault it. The standard was incredibly high compared to ocean cruises I have done and I will certainly travel with Ama again.
 
Why Ama?

It is an English speaking ship. Travelling single I did not want to find myself unable to communicate easily with everyone or it might have been a lonely Christmas,  and I wanted to get the most from my excursions. Michelle at Bluewater had travelled with Ama, she highly recommended the company and she was right.
 
Itinerary

Very well planned, we sailed through the more industrial stretches of the Rhine during the night and the scenic parts with their steep banks and beautiful castles in daylight. Every day we stopped at a different port of call with a choice of excursions and the option of taking a bike or just doing your own thing.The Christmas markets were in full swing, enhancing the already beautiful towns and villages. The local guides were very knowledgeable and we had headsets and earpieces so it wasn't necessary to hang onto their coat tails walking around. We were small groups of under 20 giving time to ask questions and advice, and always with free time before we had to return to the ship.

On Board

Cabin: Luxurious, modern with sliding doors to a french balcony giving great views and making it very light. Plenty of storage, the case fitted under the bed, flat screen tv with free internet. Compact modern bathroom and shower with body jets etc and quality toiletries.  Robes, slippers and even umbrellas provided. Excellent unobtrusive cabin service. Very quiet, I don't know if I had quiet neighbours or the insulation was great but whatever, it worked.
 
Dining

Where to start! I could not praise the food highly enough, it was top quality, beautifully presented and the open seating meant you could join friends on tables seating from 2 to 8.
Breakfast offered the full buffet experience with the best variety I have ever seen. From champagne, smoked salmon and bagels to a full English and a vast array of breads, rolls
and pastries all cooked freshly on board. Not to mention cereals, fruit, cheese etc. Lunch and dinner were waiter service multi course affairs with a wide choice of menu reflecting the food of the area you were passing through. However, there were always alternatives of grilled salmon, chicken or entrecote steak. At dinner decent quality wine was included and your glass was constantly topped up, they were generous.  At lunch, an alternative was to eat in the lounge where a selection of soup, salads, pasta, cheese and biscuits and a dessert were available for self service. Fruit and biscuits were always available in baskets in the lounge beside the tea and coffee station which was always open. Then there was mid morning snacks, afternoon tea with delicious gateaux and an evening buffet at 10.30! One person I met was coeliac and they always brought her a menu indicating gluten free items. It's a blessing I went on shore to walk some of it off.
 
Ambience

Customer service is paramount, nothing fazes them. My cruise itinerary had to be amended at the last minute because the Rhine was flooding and we were not allowed to sail as planned and had to divert half way through. This meant that on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Rolf, our cruise manager, was faced with having to find a fleet of coaches and local guides to take us on our excursions instead of us sailing there. He had very little notice so it must have been really challenging, but he did it and they were excellent. On top of which some passengers, faced with an hour's coach trip, changed their minds about which excursions they wanted to do. Reception staff handled all of this with smiles, no tension or irritation visible at all. That can do attitude was prevalent throughout the ship, nothing was too much trouble and it made for very relaxed and happy passengers. We were even given 20 euros each to buy our lunch as well as a picnic bag because it was too long a journey to bring us back to the ship for lunch. Oh, and following every shore excursion we were welcomed back to the ship with glasses of gluhwein and it was much better quality than at the markets!
 
General
 
122 passengers were onboard, a small enough number to make it really friendly. There is a quiet lounge at the back but it was rarely used, most people gathered in the forward loinge and there was plenty of comfortable seating. Entertainment was provided by a resident pianist who played in the afternoon and evening until about 10 when he livened things up and people danced. A classical trio came on board one afternoon, they were very good. Apart from that we helped decorate the Christmas trees, there was a 60's night and an 80's night, Santa bought us all presents, but it was quite informal and low key. A world away from the floor shows of some ocean cruises and all the better for it.
 
I travelled solo and it suited me ideally. There were 10-12 of us and we usually ate together in the evenings. I made some good friends and we plan to meet up and maybe do another trip together. Because of the small number of passengers and everyone getting together in the lounge it is really friendly and I would certainly recommend it. Except for the thorny issue of single supplements (which were waived because I booked very late when there was an offer on). 
 
Dress is informal and casual though most of us brought something a bit smarter for the gala dinner and Christmas.
 
Whilst it wasn't a cheap holiday the value for money was tremendous with 5 star dining including quality wines, teas, coffees and bottled water,my choice of shore excursions, all included. I found I didn't actually need much money on holiday as it was all paid up front. I had a few drinks from the bar in the evenings and their prices were ok and measures generous. I think Bellinis were 4.20 and cuba libre 5.50 euros.
 
One great thing about river cruises is the lack of movement in the ship, no fear of seasickness here! And always something to look at on one bank or the other. Take binoculars, plenty of memory cards for the camera and a guide book to identify the
castles and other landmarks coming up on the river.

Not having cruised before, we didn't know exactly what to expect, but we were very impressed with every aspect. The ship was immaculate, the crew were cheerful and very efficient throughout, the food and wine were delicious, and the shore tours were well organised and very interesting. Even the Crew's Show, which we thought might be a little strained (well they're not professional performers after all), was extremely well done and great fun. And to cap it all, my wife won a beautiful Cuckoo Clock in the ships raffle which is now proudly hanging in our hall as a constant reminder of our holiday! Thank you for a terrific cruise - we couldn't fault it!

The pre-cruise administration was first class and the cruise could only be described as excellent.

The Viking Helvetia was in pristine condition and the staff were smiling and helpful all the time. The cabins were well fitted and plenty large enough, they were thoroughly cleaned and prepared each day and our sheets were even turned back at night.

The restaurant menu was varied, excellently prepared and served by cheerful waiters.

The lounge was comfortable and well presented and was where we took the 'light' lunch each day, not being able to face a full meal on top of the all the other meals. Also in the lounge the entertainment duo were very suitable and good.

The excursions we took part in were all very good and well guided, either by the Viking staff or local guides.

I cannot comment on the travel to and from Cologne as we decided, for various reasons, to travel there by private car as the cruise was starting and ending at the same place. This I would recommend to anyone.

Thank you Blue Water Holiday

The trip was a special romantic birthday present from me to my husband, and it met all our expectations.  We made our own travel arrangements to reach Strasbourg by train, boarding our ship MS Modigliani there.  The vessel was an absolute delight, from its comfortable lounge and bar to our lovely cabin with its views of the river, and from the sun-deck to the dining room, we can honestly say we were delighted. The ship was immaculate.  The atmosphere - and food! - on board were unmistakeably French.  Full marks for the delicious meals and ample portions. Our hostesses (Yasmine, Jessica and Emilie) and indeed all the crew were friendly, welcoming.  Nothing was too much trouble, it seemed.

In the three days (4 nights) we were treated to a perfect view of all the magnificent castles, churches and pretty riverside towns of the Romantic Rhine, while enjoying a coffee or drink on board, as well as fascinating visits ashore, including picturesque Rudesheim and a particularly good value guided tour of historic Heidelberg.

The holiday more than fulfilled our hopes and was over all too soon, leaving us only our memories - and many, many photographs!

My mother in law is 92, and wanted a holiday to look forward to.  We chose a river cruise as this seemed to be the easiest way for her to see a lot of different sights without packing and unpacking.  I had never been on a cruise before, so didn't know what to expect, but everything went well.  We got on the Viking Sun in Basel and cruised down to Amsterdam, starting on May 3. We had good weather the whole way. The ship was very comfortable, and the food exceptional.  Service was good,and the organisers insisted on strict discipline on starting  and meeting times for the tours; this meant I had to allow lots of time to get my mother in law to places promptly. The Black Forest tour on the first day was especially good, and included a very large cuckoo clock and a slice of Black Forest gateau. Some of the walking was too fast/steep/slippery for my mother in law, but we took our time and left out the parts of the tour which were too difficult. The stretch along the Rhein with the castles was extremely picturesque. The mooring at Cologne was very central and we could walk very easily to the cathedral and other sights such as the Chocolate Museum. The majority of the people on this cruise were from the USA - some even came up to my mother in law and exclaimed over her age and overall good state of health (Gee, you look so swell!).  Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this cruise for someone elderly - they just have to be able to get up and down short flights of steps.  And my mother in law said at the end that she would never have dreamed she would have had such a good time!

I travelled with my sister, and this was our first river cruise.  We found the ship (Douce France) pleasantly comfortable and the staff accommodating and informative.  We were entertained well, and dined quite extravagantly each day with a wide variety of dishes.  Despite being two of only three English people on board, all communications were translated for us from the French, by one of the crew, which ensured we were fully informed at all times about forthcoming excursions, activities, and general announcements.  We appreciated the written information supplied about the sights along the river side, as we passed each castle and city, and took advantage of all the on-shore trips which enhanced our trip.  We have recommended the cruise to our friends, and will certainly consider joining the same company for one of their other cruises in the future.

 These pictures were meant for my original review just sent but this closed after I had added just one image. Hope these can be attached to that review!

This was a really good cruise despite temperatures being sub zero most of the time.

We were on the MS Europe which was French making the food excellent but the 'English' announcements were pretty ropey.  The cabins were very good and the lounge and restaurant  were fine.

The stops were interesting at Nijmegen, Cologne and Rudesheim whilst at a couple of overnight moorings it was OK to pop to local bars to ring the changes.

The stretch of the Romantic Rhine had some spectacular views and we did the Heidelburg trip which was very worthwhile.

Strasbourg at the end is a beautiful city with a great cathedral, canal tour, shops and restaurants.

For canal fans there are some huge locks to go through.

The 2 gala nights on board were very good especially the New Year's Eve bash with 6 courses and free wine. The service, in general, was first class, mostly Hungarian.

On the down side the entertainment was repetitive and the Crew Show embarrassingly bad. Also our party and others didn't know about the return transfer to Amstedam from Strasbourg so we had made our own return travel arrangements when the tickets/info arrived.

The Croise cruise was excellent overall.  The boat was well turned out; all the staff were friendly and efficient; and the food was well presented and delicious to eat.

All in all a memorable trip

Our ship was the Douce France. At first it felt a bit dated but I soon got to really enjoy it. It was really comofrtable and well-equiped. I'd never been on a cruise before but soon learned to relax on the deck with a book and watch the most beautiful stretch of water in Europe pass by.  It felt exotic and cosmopolitan and so far away. The food was excellent and French and it must have been a feat of organisation to serve so many people so well. My dietry needs were catered for. It was amazing to wake up and just look out the window and see darkened river banks and forests then drift back to sleep. The staff were young and friendly and full of life. The fellow passengers were mostly 60+. The excursions were a bit disappointing and in retrospect I would have explored alone for one of them. I really enjoyed the gala night and the lovely young animatrice managed to get me to dance. I was sad to leave the boat. I think the gala evening was spoiled slightly by the relentless giving of leaving instructions. That should have been got out the way before the night began.

Food and crew excellent. Guided tours generally good. More commentary on passing scenery would have been welcome.Can recommend.

Why did we choose Blue Water Holidays and Avalon again for our second river cruise holiday?

The first cruise was selected purely on brochure and website info.  We wanted luxury and service.  We got much more!  This latter cruise on the Rhein was an easy choice.

River cruising is a floating hotel, with ever changing scenery.  Docking at selected places, you can go on the tours or just do your own thing.  Then in the evening enjoy superb food and good company.  I could get used to this !

About the pictures :-

Heidelberg - a general view from the castle.  The walking tour was too arduous for me, so I sat outside with Max from Tennessee, a fellow traveller, who at 80 had an impish sense of humour.

Café - Again I sat out whilst the group did the walking tour of the town.  Sit in the sunshine and have a coffee.  I like this photo for the ambience of Heidelberg.

Rudesheim - The Mechanical Musical Instruments Museum - fascinating.

Rhein Castle - This is the stretch of the Rhein from Koblenz to Köln that gives the cruise its name, the twisty bit in steep valleys with castles and legend.

Amsterdam - You just have to do the Rondvaart.

Amstersdam Spring Cruise

Our cruise was a great success in celebrating my 60th birthday.  We were forwarned that there may not be any other Brits on board which did not worry us at all.  It was a surprise to find ourselves amongst the rest of the party on board who were all French!! 

We have all cruised before on larger ships.  The Victor Hugo cruise was rated 3 star but it felt more 4 star with excellent staff and accommodation and the food was a 5 star rating.  There was no choice of menu but each meal was beyond expectation and very well presented. The french crew were friendly and made special efforts to include us in all the aspects of cruise life.

We all came away feeling we would like to experience more river cruises especially if the standards remain as high as we experienced.

We have just returned in June from a one week cruise on the Ama Waterways Amacerto. We flew from Norwich to Amsterdam and were met by a private car transfer in arrivals, a 15 min drive and we were on the ship. We then cruised to Basle and took two flights back to Norwich via Amsterdam again at the end of the week.

The ship is first class as are the staff nothing was too much trouble. We had a french balcony cabin, the bed was zip and link type and very comfortable, plenty of wardrobe space. The bathroom had a large marble type shower, everything was very very clean. The cabin staff were the best we have encountered. There was TV in the cabin which doubled up as a computer and free wifi all the time also.

The food was excellent. It could be help yourself at breakfast and lunch or you could order off the menu at no extra cost. Evening meal was 5 courses waiter service. You could choose where you sat at every meal which would mostly be sharing with other people. Every evening were different maybe regional wines. All tea,coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks were included with meals. Hot drinks were available from a machine self service 24 hrs a day and in the afternoon sandwiches and cakes in the lovely lounge.

We visited the chef's table restaurant on the last night and even though the food could not possibly be any better it was a lovely evening. It held 28 people at the end of the ship and had excellent views.

The dress code was casual all the time, no dressing up was required at anytime although obviously you could in the evenings if wished.

The evening entertainment was low key, the highlight was when 2 girls who were an Abba Tribute act were brought on the ship and it was an excellent night.

Each day there were choices on the trips and they were all managed very efficiently. You were either off the ship about 9 am or 1.30 pm depending on when you were sailing. If the ship docked in a town you could leave the ship on your own to do what you wanted, when you go all inclusive food and trips you tend not to do this though. The pool was small but warm and very pleasant. 80% of the clientele were from the USA.

Room Tip... We were near the back of the ship and there was a lot of engine noise and vibrating when sailing overnight.

We would definitely recommend this holiday to anyone who wants to see the Rhine if you like a fairly active time, getting up quite early in the mornings and also a lot of eating and drinking to fit in !! albeit in first class surroundings, but only of course if you like travelling with Americans, but overall an excellent trip.

This holiday offered us everything we hoped for. The staff were particularly hard working, charming and attentive. Because my sisters mobility was impaired just before we set off it was touch and go whether she could make the trip at all. Once on board the cruise Manager (a terrific asset to this ship), found a shop which hired us a wheel chair so that my sister could access lots more than would otherwise have been the case, however it would improve the situation if in future the ship carried its own chair for just such emergencies.

The excursions were well organised and interesting but occasionally the tour guides were OTT - not a big problem if the ear piece is removed!

All the staff at Blue Water Holidays were helpful whenever I rang. I made some use of the web site but relied more on the personal touch for details. Given my exact requirements for travel with my sister it would have been even better had the admin staff offered more info regarding use of regional airports and assistance with boarding - pressure for info regarding options came from me, which was disappointing in retrospect. However everything which was put in place by your staff was excellent and there were no slip ups or disappointments. Many thanks and well done - we all survived and enjoyed our trip.

We have recently returned from an Avalon Rhine River Cruise, organised by Blue Water Holidays.  Would love to go again and if we do we shall certainly use the same two companies.

Both the cruise and the organisation were first class. The food on the boat along with the service was exceptional as were the shore trips. One small point however was as the river was in flood and we had to travel by bus to Mannheim we had to wait ninety minutes for our boat to moor as there were no mooring spaces despite a sister ship being tied up and empty. As there was nowhere to sit it would have been nice to wait on board.

However this did not distract and we had a wonderful time. Chauffeur drive to the airport and back, and an extra bonus as all tips were included saving a lot of embarrassment.

Our first river cruise and we were not disappointed, from the minute we were picked up from home by our executive car to the airport to then seeing our brand new boat, the cabin was spacious and well equipped with everything you would need, very comfortable bed and pleasantly surprised to see how luxurious the cabin was. APT certainly live up to their reputation with friendly and professional staff. From the cabin crew to waiters and cleaners, who couldn't do enough to make the trip unforgettable. There was a selection of excursions to suit varying needs and very well organised and informative. The tour guides were excellent and had a good sense of humour. We enjoyed all the trips we went on but the most enjoyable by far was the Royal dinner at the Burg Namedy Castle in Andernach. Last but not least was the excellent food on board from a great Breakfast to choice of Buffet Lunch or dinning in the Restaurant to first class Evening dinner. Our choice was the Restaurant every time. We thought this holiday was very good value for money with the great Food and all inclusive Drinks. Thank you Bluewater and APT for a very enjoyable holiday.

My river Rhine & Mosselle cruise with Avalon Waterways on the Affinity was the best of cruises I have had in recent years.
The crew were very helpful and pleasant. the on board facilities & state room comfort were excellent.
The breakfast & lunch buffet selection of meals were first class.
The excursions were varied & well planned.
I would choose Blue Water to arrange my future holiday.

We travelled on Croisi Europe's MS Gerard Schmitter on the 7 day Holland and Romantic Rhine cruise in August.
The standard of the ship was very good (the ship only around 2 years old at the time). We found all of the crew members (particularly the Purser) to be very helpful, courteous and friendly.
The standard of food, wine and waiting service was very high. My partner has some dietary requirements and the restaurant/kitchen staff were very good at providing her with suitable alternatives at every lunch and dinner served.
The main lounge area and piano bar were very comfortable with good table waiting service for drinks. We particularly enjoyed the upper deck piano bar with its outside seating area at the back of the ship, a good place for pre and after dinner drinks or just to relax on the sofas and take in the views when the sun was shining.
There is free WiFi available on the ship (we were also able to connect to the WiFi when in our cabin).
We obviously were well aware of the cruise itinerary before we travelled but it is a fact to consider that the early stage of this cruise does pass through some fairly industrialised areas, the really interesting and scenic areas are, in the most part, from around Cologne and to the south.
We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Blue Water Holidays and Croisi Europe to any friends and family who may consider a similar cruise in the future.

The cabin was slightly smaller than we expected but it was modern, comfortable, well enough equipped and very clean (upper deck cabin). We had some overnight sailings and we found that there was virtually no engine noise or vibration at all so it was easy to get a good night's sleep.

All meals are served in a single sitting and at your allocated table. The majority of the passengers on our cruise were non English speakers, it was good that Croisi Europe made the effort to group passengers for meals according to language spoken; makes things more at ease.

We would say that the cruise was good value for money overall, the quality of the meals was excellent with good variety (strong French influence) and there was a good selection of nice French wines (Reds, Whites, Rose's and Sparkling) to accompany meals. Our package included unlimited drinks -wines, spirits, soft drinks, tea and coffee served throughout the day from after breakfast to around 11:00 P.M. so that also adds to the good value. Some premium drinks (malt Whisky for example) were at an additional charge but prices were very reasonable.

Our overall booking experience with Blue Water Holidays was pleasant, easy and trouble free. The additional information and help with excursion bookings and flight bookings we requested leading up to our departure were always dealt with efficiently and we always found Blue Water Holidays staff to be friendly and courteous.

My friend and I have recently returned from a 4 night Romantic Rhine cruise. From the moment we were welcomed aboard we enjoyed incredible service by the crew as well as amazing meals. We were the only English speaking passengers and every effort was made to ensure we were kept informed of all announcements in English.

There was ample time for shore excursions and shopping and all in all the trip was a great experience.

It was very much a French boat, French speaking, French food with I think 8 English speaking passengers.

We were very well looked after, the assistant purser (Charlotte) was so helpful/charming and did all she could for us, and was our interpreter and guide. Having a dedicated table in the lounge and at mealtimes was very important and again well organised and the food of good quality.

By offering a 4 night, effectively 3 day tour, this was just the right length of time to retain our interest. The mini cruise for us was an important selling point which should be publicised, especially say with an overnight stay in Strasbourg which was a lovely town.

The recent river cruise I have just returned from on board the MS Lord Byron with Riviera Cruises far surpassed my expectations. The quality of the ship was exceptional as was the food and the well planned itinerary.

Blue Water Holidays arranged the cruise efficiently and dealt with things promptly answering all my questions. I can recommend the cruise line and Blue Water Holidays and will certainly use both again myself soon.

We just completed the five day cruise from Strasbourg to Koblenz and back with
CroisiEurope on the L'Europe. We were a little concerned because it is a French
cruise and we are English speakers. It turned out we were the only
English-speaking passengers and it was no problem at all. The staff made extra
effort to ensure we received all the information we needed and that we could
participate in any activity that we wished. The ship was immaculate. The food
was wonderful. The scenery was spectacular. And, for our mid-20's age sons, the
length of the cruise was perfect. I could have used a few more days! I highly
recommend a few days in Strasbourg either before or after the cruise. It is a
wonderful town.

This River Rhine cruise with Avalon Waterways was my first solo holiday so I was very apprehensive. I need not have worrried. The Cruise was so well organised and all cares were taken catered for. I was never left feeling lonely and Avalon have high standards in all areas. On this holiday the Cruise Director and all the staff were professional and friendly. There was a friendly ,caring attitude on board which filtered through to passengers - most following their example.I would not hesistate in booking further holidays with them as there are many other rivers I wish to explore. 

The Croisi Europe crew on board made every effort to accommodate their English speaking customers, even though there were only 7 in total amongst around 160 French speakers. They translated all important announcements and then met us each day at the dining table to ensure we understood what was happening. They also provided English speaking guides for excursions and kept us in a group together. Very friendly and efficient all round.

This was our second river having been 11 years ago with Peter Deilmann  who no longer do the river cruises. We found your company extremely helpful in all aspects of the trip from airport transfers to the cruise itself.

Viking Helvetia was a lovely ship with friendly staff, excellent food and comfortable cabins. The Rhine scenery in autumn was particularly beautiful with the lovely colours and as the weather was good we had wonderful days out in the various places we stopped at.

We would certainly recommend your company to friends and family and look forward to travelling with you in the future.

We travelled on the Viking Sun on a 15 day river cruise from Antwerp to Basel in July.

This was our third river cruise having cruised the Rhone and Budapest to Amsterdam, but the first with Viking. We chose this particular cruise because we like to cruise for longer than 10 days and we hadn't visited quite a few of the towns along the Rhine or Moselle.

We found the customer service, the food and cleanliness to be excellent. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff.

I would highly recommend Viking

My wife and I recently returned from an extremely successful holiday on the MS Leonardo Da Vinci. In order that our car could remain parked in Strasbourg, we had arranged back to back trips to and from Saarbrücken

As previously, we found we the inexpensive secure car parking arrangements excellent and as usual found the ship was in a pristine condition.

Reception by the Purser and her staff was efficient and very welcoming. Our cabin had been prepared to a very high standard which was maintained throughout the 14 days on board. Most of the crew were Hungarian, managed by French. We were 2 of only 5 English speaking passengers on board, but with a little school French and , where needed, help from the ever attentive crew we were not disadvantaged.

The variety of food produced was amazing, and was served cheerfully and efficiently by the mainly Hungarian waiters. Free flowing wine was served with both lunch and dinner and all drinks over the bar were included as well. All the ports, both down and up the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Saar were interesting and guided tours or excursions were available. Suitable music was provided by an organist, as a background during the day and for dancing in the evening.

All the Ship's crew, from cleaners, cooks, bar staff, receptionists, entertainers, etc. must be commended on their friendliness and attention to detail. Goodness didn't they all work hard!

This was our 5th cruise with Croisi Europe, which speaks for itself. Once again leaving very happy memories of a wonderful 14 day holiday.

Thank you Blue Water Holidays for the efficient administration.

Had a fab time on a 5 day cruise from Strasburg to Koblenz and back.

The food was wonderful, the weather was excellent and the crew were first class.

As first timers we had no idea what to expect but the staff were so friendly and helpful and made us feel really welcome and at home.

We adventured off the boat without goingon trips and had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the peace  and comfort of the river cruise from start to finish.

All in all a fab introduction to cruising and we will return - thank you all for making our first cruise so memorable

Richard and Rose

We thoroughly enjoyed our time on the cruise from Strasbourg to Strasbourg with CroisiEurope.  Having had a hectic few days touring Germany before embarking, we were totally relaxed within an hour of arriving on board and found the ship clean, comfortable and stylish with a very polite and helpful staff.  We would thoroughly recommend this company to anyone embarking on a first river cruise.

Jan & Peggy Szymanska

It's hard to find reviews for the above company so I thought I'd add my own.  We have just returned from a 5 night cruise from Strasbourg to Coblence and return.  We made our own way to Strasbourg and it's a gorgeous city and worth spending a couple of days there.  Then we caught the cruiser.

This ship is usually mainly for the French but on this cruise there were 42 Brits, including us.  The Brits made it a fun cruise.  If you go on this ship I suggest you ask if there are any Brits on board - it makes a huge difference.

The boat - well, it's clean and the public areas are nice.  It's a 3 star boat.  the cabins are far too small.  The small double bed is up against the wall so you have to climb down the bed to get out or climb over your partner.  There are single bed cabins which might be a little bit more practical.  The shower room is tiny and it is impossible to get a proper shower - my hisband had to hold the shower head and just sort of rince himself.  There is not enough room to get dried either.  It was clean though.

Noise - we were on the upper deck but the vibration and engine noise was really loud and they cruise overnight most nights.

 The food - no choices but the food was really very good.  If you're veggie or need special diet then they will cater for that.  We really enjoyed the food.

 Drinks - wine, beer, water, coke etc were included with meals and they were very generous.  The wine was decent too.  Drinks at the bar had to be paid for but the prices were reasonable.  No grumbles there.

 Itinerary - well the stretch between Strasbourg and Rudesheim is ugly and on most of the cruises you have to do this stretch twice.  On this itinerary we stopped in Rudesheim on the way there and back too which I thought was a waste.  Coblence is nothing to write home about.  Heidelberg was nice.  We were originally booked on a better itinerary - 3 rivers - but had to change it.

 Trips - reasonably priced - we only did the Heidelberg though as the other places were easy to do on your own.  Heidelberg isn't as there isn't really enough time to do it independently.

Price of Cruise - we paid direct in Euros and I think it was dear for a 5 night holiday but the posher cruiselines are much more expensive. 

Would we go again - No.  We much prefer the big cruise liners and luxury!  However it was nice, though basic.  The crew worked very hard and there was a good crowd on board.  We personally wouldn't bother with a river cruise at all a second time.

Hope this helps.  The upshot is - if you get an inclusive deal (travel to Strasbourg included) and you're with other people from the UK and you don't pay too much you'll have a good time.  Don't take a lot of clothes though - nowhere to put them.  Also, be prepared to grit your teeth and face the ordeal of taking a shower.

 THIS IS NOT A CRUISE REVIEW BUT TO TELL EVERYONE HOW WELL I HAVE BEEN TREATED BY REBECCA AND HER SUPERVISOR AT BLUE WATER HOLIDAYS. WE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY BOOKING AND THE FINAL OUTCOME COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER, THEY DEALT WITH IT SUPERBLY. I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF YOU THINK OF BOOKING A HOLIDAY WITH THEM YOU WILL GET 100% SERVICE AND A POSITIVE OUTCOME. THANKS TO YOU BOTH. STEVE. 

The service and friendliness of the staff on CroisiEurope were outstanding. My wife and I were made especially welcome even though we (and one other couple)were English speaking and all the other passengers were French speaking. We were encouraged to participate and our basic French language skills were encouraged.

It is difficult to single out individual members of the crew but I do want to thank Nathalie in particular who translated announcements for us and made sure that we could understood. She also assisted us with the on-board entertainment and with the excursions. Mannue (? spelling) was an excellent master of ceremonies.

Now, about 6-months on from the cruise, we still have very happy memories of a wonderful holiday which we would happily recommend to others.

(And what a wonderful way to combine an excellent holiday with excellent food with an opportunity to improve one's French.)