Superb cruise

This was our second cruise with Emerald Waterways (the first being the Douro river cruise which was also excellent).

We booked a cabin on the lower deck. The room was well equipped, comfortable with plenty of storage space. The furnishings were of a good standard with no room for complaint. The only downside of using cabins on the lower floor is reduced natural daylight. Something we were aware of because of our previous cruise with Emerald. So little time is spent in the cabin that this was never a problem.

The ship was well maintained, with all communal areas being kept in a highly presentable state.

The food (quality and variety) was excellent, with a focus on local produce and local wines. The dining experience was complimented by excellent service from attentive, friendly and engaging staff.

The itinerary was thoughtfully constructed, catering for different levels of fitness, whilst the destinations, guides and the use of individual headsets on escorted tours made each trip more memorable. Highlights included the abbey at Melk, Vienna and Budapest.

Facilities on-board are limited by the size of the ship but importantly, the internet service was excellent and in the in-room entertainment system was very good. A slightly annoying fact was the volume of the television was very low when watching films.

The only slightly negative comment was the level of ambient noise in the communal areas. When full, the background noise in the lounge and restaurant often made conversation difficult with passengers.

The cruise was excellent. I would not hesitate to recommend the cruise and Emerald Waterways.