Crystal River Cruise | Sally O’Brien | Lindfield Office
I was recently fortunate to experience the luxury of a Crystal River Cruise Treasures of the Danube on board Crystal Mozart. Our 10 night round trip river cruise Vienna to Vienna travels down the Danube River with it’s fairytale scenery, stopping at gorgeous history-filled towns along the way. Napoleon once declared the Danube to be “Queen of Europe’s Rivers” and it’s easy to see why.
The suites on board Crystal Mozart are really elegant and each one comes with a butler. Our butler was very discreet and just a phone call and a couple of minutes away when needed. Every day he restocked the fridge with our choice of beverages, took our clothes to the laundry and for pressing – and ensured it was all back by evening!
Crystal River Cruises are all inclusive and that means premium wines and spirits, cocktails and plentiful gourmet food are included. There is also 24 hour in suite dining with an extensive menu available. The produce is sourced locally where possible (farm to table) and paired with regional wines selected from the wine regions you pass through. Our fabulous waiter got to know our wine preferences so fast. After our first dinner he was quick to offer wine suggestions – we never had to even think about our wine pairings and every suggestion was spot on.
During our cruise, Crystal Mozart stopped at Krems, Melk, Linz, Passau, Durnstein, Bratislavia, and Budapest. It was even possible to cycle from one stop to the next – from Passau through the Bavarian countryside to Durnstein, rather than travelling on board. The relatively flat roads make this an attractive option. It’s an easy way to ride off the calories and earn your next delicious meal and glass of wine back on board!
Many shore excursions are included in the cruise fare and our guides were fabulous with a great local knowledge. There’s are a selection to choose from in each destination plus a range of more personalised options available at an additional cost.
Perhaps my favourite excursion was to take part in the October Fest in Munich. Munich is a fabulous city and our guide was excellent taking us to a beer hall to experience the fun and the incredible atmosphere. I also really enjoyed our stop at the town of Durnstein in Austria. It’s a tiny ancient town of just over 900 residents with cobblestone streets and loads of old world charm. Sitting above the town is Durnstein Castle. It’s a bit of a hike up the hill but it’s really worthwhile as the views from the top are incredible.
The dress code on board is called “Crystal Casual”. There’s no ties needed and it helps create a really relaxed feel on board.
Treasures of the Danube has 3 future departures scheduled – 8 July & 16 October in 2020 and 10 October 2021. If you need any more information please contact me. I would love to assist you choose your Crystal River Cruise.
Sally O’Brien
