As soon as I saw the Riverside Mozart, a spectacular ship nestling on the riverbank of the Danube in central Budapest, I realised that this would be a holiday like no other. Riverside Luxury Cruises have long been renowned for their luxurious on-board experience – plush, opulent décor, delicious cuisine and impeccable service were just a few of the fabulous reviews I’d heard before embarking – but nothing could have prepared me for the wonders of this holiday.
The ship holds little over 150 passengers per voyage, making for a calm and intimate space to call home. It’s furnished with a selection of gorgeous restaurants and bars, an elegant observatory lounge, a well-equipped spa, pool and fitness centre, and a restful outdoor area on the Vista Deck. What amazed me most, though, was the service: I’ve never known staff to be so attentive, so thoughtful and so dedicated to the comfort of their passengers. There was never a glass left empty, a chair not offered, a bag not carried. Our wonderful butler brought petit fours to our suite each evening. The serving staff in each restaurant and bar remembered us, our tastes and our preferences, and ensured these were catered for at every opportunity. There was no better feeling than to arrive back on board after a wonderful day of exploring a new European destination, knowing that an astounding menu of regionally-inspired dishes and drinks were on offer that evening!
The itinerary was gorgeous: a steady sail up the River Danube from Budapest to Vienna via Bratislava, the Wachau valley and a quaint little Austrian town named Tulln. Each day, the Riverside team offered a fresh, exciting selection of excursions – from sight-seeing to wine tasting, home-visits and biking – all accompanied by experienced tour guides.
A real highlight was sailing down the Wachau Valley. As we stepped back on-board the Mozart at lunchtime, after a morning spent wandering around Tulln, we were invited to join the crew on top deck. Whilst most passengers had gone ashore, the crew had prepared the most incredible barbecue: burgers, sausages, steak, lobster, chicken skewers, grilled vegetables, soup, a salad bar, a dessert counter… the list could go on! What an unforgettable experience. The Wachau Valley is something I will never forget, the ancient castles and apricot orchards on each mountainside, with sweet Austrian towns nestled on the riverbanks. We stared at the views in awe, sipping bellinis and tasting local apricots, stuffed with soft cheese and drizzled with honey. It was a day I’ll never, ever forget.
It’s the attention to detail that make Riverside unique. The touches that I would never have expected, but that made travelling on the Mozart so special. If you’re considering whether to book your next river cruise with Riverside Luxury Cruises, whether as a solo, a couple or as a group, I have one piece of advice for you: go. It was the holiday of a lifetime and you will have no regrets.
If you are considering going on Riverside, do let one of our Travel Specialists know and they can arrange for me to call you, it’s hard to summarise all the wonderful things about Riverside in a few paragraphs!
Mandy
