How one mother and daughter experienced the beauty of the Great Rivers in Europe
Sue (left) and her mother stand on deck of the M/S River Concerto on their way to the Bavaria Baroque & Beer tour.
By Sue Antico, first-time traveler, Canyon Country, California
My mom and I traveled from Amsterdam to Vienna on the Great Rivers of Europe River Cruise. No reviews, pictures, or pre-trip materials could have prepared us for what awaited us aboard the M/S River Concerto—they paled in comparison to what we experienced.
The ship was a floating luxury hotel and restaurant, beautifully furnished and staffed with the friendliest, most helpful people imaginable. When I was a bit under the weather, Restaurant Manager Gabor ensured I had soup and bread sent to my cabin! Meals were sumptuous and we enjoyed regional specialties throughout the cruise. I enjoyed the balance between sailing, onboard activities, and excursions as well.
Each city we visited was special in its own way and our Program Directors worked hard to give us a great experience no matter where we were. My favorite stops were Wertheim (the Home-Hosted visit is a must), Bamberg, and Nuremberg.
Sue had many favorite stops on her Great Rivers of Europe River Cruise, including Nuremberg, Germany.
We went on most of the optional excursions and enjoyed them all. The Marksburg Castle tour with a stop at the microbrewery was a lot of fun. Heidelberg was an extremely enjoyable day and lunch was fantastic. An art historian made our Baroque & Beer tour better by explaining the abbey to our group. (And it was even more fun to munch pretzels and sip beer on the patio before we boarded the boat for our ride down the Danube Gorge!). Melk Abbey was beautiful and our wine tasting (with music!) was very entertaining. Last but not least was the Vienna musical performance—a lovely concert in the Kursalon. I almost opted out of the excursion, but our Program Directors encouraged me to stick with it and I was really glad I did.
The post-trip extension in Vienna almost felt like a different vacation. Gone was the luxury of the ship and the abundant food and intimate setting. We were now in a huge, busy city. We saw amazing sights and enjoyed the bus and walking tour and time on our own. We were able to explore Schönbrunn Palace, the Imperial Crypts, and the museums at the Hofberg.
I would highly recommend the Great Rivers of Europe trip. I’d also encourage more mothers and daughters to travel together—we had a ball!
Whether traveling with family, friends, or on your own, you’ll enjoy exploring the busy cities and quiet towns on our Great Rivers of Europe River Cruise.