As a first-time river cruiser, I was not sure what to expect as I boarded Emerald Sky to cruise the Danube, understanding that the ship and on-board experience would be very different to the large ocean cruise ships I have always enjoyed.
There are differences, but for many of the guests on board, and for me these offer a completely different and highly enjoyable cruising experience.
I stayed in a Panoramic Balcony Suite and would recommend this to anyone considering an Emerald River Cruise on board one of their star-class ships, these suites are modern, bright and well-designed to make the view from the full-height windows the central feature. The windows open to become a balcony from which you can sit and watch the world go by. The continually changing riverbank scene could distract you for hours, from villages, boat clubs, beautiful houses backing onto the river and tranquil landscapes passing by.
High standards of dining and service are something that is central to a cruise experience, and this is something that is also true of a river cruise. With only 182 guests on board when the ship is at full capacity you really do get personalised service.
The dining room offered a sophisticated setting for some delicious meals. A combination of waiter service and buffet options for breakfast and dinner, with a daily changing menu served in the evening. With local menu themes that reflected the destinations we visited, we enjoyed daily speciality dishes including Hungarian Goulash, always with the option of favourites including pasta dishes, steak or salmon to ensure there was something for everyone’s palette.
The service on board Emerald was second to none. Everyone we met from the room stewards, waiters, bar staff and cruise team were friendly, and professional and wanted to make our trip as enjoyable as it could be. Whether that was explaining the menu choices, running through the itinerary options for the day ahead or remembering your favourite drink, all these small things have a big impact on how you enjoy your holiday experience, something Emerald Cruises obviously understand.
We were lucky enough to enjoy dinner at the captain’s table and following a conversation about the upcoming locks as we approached Vienna, he offered to arrange an early morning wake-up call so we could experience this feat of engineering first-hand. An early start but something I will definitely remember.
Night-time entertainment ranged from a stunning river cruise of Budapest by night light to some entertaining quiz nights. It is easy to get involved and make new friends, but at the same time if you would rather indulge in a quiet nightcap on the terrace or watch a movie being shown on their big screen then these options were also available to be enjoyed.
I would recommend Emerald Cruises to anyone thinking of taking another river cruise or trying one for the first time. Thank you, Emerald Cruises, for a wonderful three days!
