River Ships Review

If you read my last Blog I mentioned I was at the CLIA River Conference a couple of weeks ago. Whilst we were there we had the opportunity to stay one night on board a ship and then look around the others the following morning. The was really beneficial for me as it was first time experiencing a river boat, and they didn’t disappoint.

The ship we stayed on was the lovely Emily Bronte which is owned by Riviera Travel. I knew what to expect in the size and facilities as there is only so much you can fit on board. But they way it was decorated was with a touch of ellagance. We had a French balcony which made the room bright and airy. The beds were very comfortable and the even the size of the en suite was impressive. Even the corridor to the cabins were decorated to high standard. The restaurant was set out well with the buffet bar for breakfast in the center of the room. Here we ate our evening meal and there was a lot to choose from, a la carte style meals and very tasteful. Upstairs is the bar area with a piano and plenty of seating. The entertainment is very low key.

Other than the Emily Bronte my other favorite ship I saw out of them all was the Amadeus Silver III. Once I stepped on board it really did impress me. I mentioned how fantastic the decor is on the Emily Bronte, but I would say this had the edge. Going into more detail, the flooring was modern, the comfy chairs had been carefully picked by the owners wife and the attention to detail was out standing.  The rooms were equally decorated tastefully to give the guests a special experience in comfort and style.

MS Emily Bronte

The MS Symphonie although was nicely decorated and very bright and colourful you could tell was probably only a 3 star. The main area that let it down was the restaurant, the size was good but the seating looked uncomfortable and it was just a room with no special touches. On the Amadeus even the coffee machines cost £60,000 so you can really tell the difference. On this type of cruise I think it is important to pick the correct ship and you spend more time on board watching the world go by, taking in the scenery. So to do this is stylish comfort makes a difference. Our colleagues had stayed here for the night and when they compared it to the other ships you could see the difference. However they said the food was lovely and staff really helpful.

MS Symphonie

Amadeus Silver III Photos

River cruises aren’t the cheapest holiday but having experienced the different ships I feel you have to get this right. Not all, but some of them include all the excursions and drinks as well which I think make the perfect package.

Here are some photos of the  Scenic Jade and you can see the  standard of ship it is.

If you would like help picking a river cruise please feel free to call.

0330 303 8471

Emily