Riviera Travel - Rhine Cruise - MS Geoffrey Chaucer
Being in 'her prime' and after health issues Sylvia wanted to get back to travelling but as a solo traveller had worries. I met Sylvia at Kings Cross and walked her to the Eurostar station. We arranged for her luggage to be sent ahead to avoid her having to carry it and at the end delivered back home. It really makes travelling easier so do ask me. She is stronger in mind and body than she thinks....and as for the mind, well Sylvia will always give me honest feedback...BELIEVE ME!
From me a big thank you to the Riviera on-board team and crew of the MS Geoffrey Chaucer who made a valued client feel truly pampered..so much so she has booked on the sister ship on the Mosel for September! Read what Sylvia has to say....and if you still are interested Sylvia will happily chat to anyone considering this.
After a later arrival I did not notice much about the public areas of the ship until the next morning.
My cabin, or room, as they are more accurately called was like a 4* hotel room. On the bed was a welcome newsletter with the details needed for the following day, and an information folder. The newsletter appeared every evening, and listed notes such as an occasional change of dining times, tour departure times and duration, and evening entertainment when provided.
The room was well equipped, with a UK 3-pin socket and an EU 2-pin. Unusually the wardrobe door, and also that to the cupboard, had strip lighting at the side. The coffee machine was a nice touch, as was the umbrella. Rooms have individual air conditioning controls, and a very large TV with a limited selection of programmes, the same as most hotels.
I was a little concerned that when I booked this cruise the only options I had available (these cruises sell quickly!) for rooms were opposite two sets of stairs, side by side. However I need not have worried. One set was to the sun deck and the doors were opened by a push button and closed very slowly automatically – no slamming. The other set had no doors and were to the lower decks. Another plus was that I never heard any sounds from the rooms next to mine,
The tours were divided into groups of around 20 to make the numbers manageable, and each group had an allocated number and route. All the groups covered the same sights, but in different orders so it never seemed crowded. You picked your number according to preference, and if one group was oversubscribed then volunteers were called for to change the route, There was always a more gentle walking group, which would miss out the section of the route which was the hardest to do, (e.g. in Mainz, it was the castle which was omitted) and also went at a slightly slower pace. A coach was provided for some tours, and on one, I think it was Heidelberg, there were comments that it was quite a walk from the ship to the coach. In contrast, the “Noddy train” for transfer into Rüdesheim arrived at end of the gangway.
Every meal was a feast!
Breakfast, fresh fruit, yoghurt, fruit juices, cold meats, cheese, tomatoes, croissants, and toast. Separately on the hot counter there were German sausages, scrambled eggs, beans, mushrooms, and tomatoes, and eggs cooked to order.
Lunch was a mixture of salads from the buffet, a hot dish of the day, or a three course menu, with starters and desserts from the buffet and the main course chosen and ordered, and waiter served.
Dinner was a full waiter service. Apart from soup and starters, there was always a vegetarian option and a vegan option on request. Local specialities appeared on the dinner menu 3-4 evenings, as well as the regular dishes. All were well cooked and beautifully presented.
The portions were a bit on the small side, but you can ask for more! With a full breakfast, a three course lunch, followed by a three course dinner, perhaps it was a good idea.
Tea, coffee and biscuits were available in the lounge from mid-morning to lunchtime and again from mid-afternoon until early evening.
I think RT assume that everyone will go on the tours, because apart from a chess set, a very restricted TV service, and one or two books, there is nothing provided onboard for those who stay. Perhaps they hope passengers will spend time, and money, in the boutique. There is a Fitness Centre, a spa, hairdressing, manicure and pedicure services. I had a pedicure, and it was the best I have ever had, even beating a Champney’s!
The sun deck has a mini putting green, and there is a small pool. There is plenty of seating, sun beds, deck chairs, and “garden” chairs. I never saw a time when there were not seats for anyone who wanted one, even when we were cruising through the Rhine Gorge in glorious sunshine, and just about everyone was on the sun deck.
Smoking is not allowed in the inside areas, but there is a smoking area on the sun deck and another outside the lounge.
For a solo traveller a regular first cruise is a bit daunting. As it turned out nearly all the passengers were friendly, and I only had two meals on my own, and both of those were breakfasts. I admit I am best left alone at that time of day anyway.
I went on this cruise with an open mind and do not have concerns at all about the next one. I would like more cruise information on the website regarding walking tours, distance from ship to coach, length of time of a tour, after all a walking tour can be anything from minutes to hours. Several people said they would have liked more information regarding how long they would be walking. The cruise director or his always assistant had the answers, so why not give it out beforehand?
All of the staff were so hard working, polite and cheerful. The receptionists were very knowledgeable and could answer any question thrown at them.
We were lucky, we had sunny days, and cloudless blue skies, every day. The stretch of the river through the Rhine Gorge is magnificent. So pleased I invested in a new iPhone. A a recording of children singing the Lorelei song played as we went by the rock.
I knew before I left that I would not be able to do some of the tours, but it was too hot for me anyway, so when I had the chance I just went for a short walk as far as I could manage, at my speed and distance. However, I really wanted to look out of a different window, see different scenery and meet some different people, and in that respect it did not disappoint.
