Getting there
I flew from Manchester to Budapest via Frankfurt, and I was met by a lovely representative from APT, who then escorted me to the River Danube. I then boarded the Travelmarvel Polaris.
The trip
Budapest
I was shown to my cabin which was a Cat A French Balcony double cabin which was absolutely stunning, full ensuite, a small sitting area with 2 chairs. The cabin was a great size and a lot larger than I’d had on an ocean cruise.
We had our evening meal which was a 5-course meal, and we were entertained by some folklore music. We then moved into the lounge and got to meet the rest of the agents and also chatted with some guests.
On Saturday we enjoyed a buffet breakfast before heading off on a guided tour around Budapest. Budapest is an absolutely stunning city and we got to visit the main attractions whilst we were on the tour. The tour guide was fantastic. The tour left at 0830am, and we returned back at around 1300hrs. I would definitely recommend going on the tour. Once back onboard we had lunch and then we set sail from Budapest and headed along the Danube to Vienna.
Vienna
We arrived in Vienna on Sunday, late in the morning, The scenery along the way was stunning scenery and the sun was shining, so we were able to sit on the top deck and enjoy the sights. Once we arrived and the ship moored, we went on an afternoon guided tour to Vienna. Vienna was a very busy city and customers are aware Vienna does close on a Sunday so only a few coffee shops are open. On Sunday evening we had the opportunity to go to the opera, which was absolutely amazing!
The way back home
Unfortunately, I had to head home on Monday as this was the end of the trip. I flew back from Vienna via Brussels to Manchester. As both flights were indirect, I think this could put a few people off as it took me nearly 12 hours to get to Budapest which if I flew directly, this would’ve taken a max of 2.5/3 hours. Also, on the return, there was not enough connection time.
The Experience on the River Cruise
Our hosts from Apt/Travelmarvel, Brad Koral and Sarah, were great hosts and made sure we were all well looked after and made our experience one we will not forget. We were lucky to have a tour around the ship and meet the crew who I must say were always smiling and very helpful. It was nice to be able to chat with the guests as well who were mostly British or Australian and to hear from them their experience of the cruise.
The dress code onboard was smart /casual and very relaxed. I would definitely recommend that guests make sure they take a good pair of walking shoes/trainers as in both cities there are a lot of steps and cobbled streets.
I would say the cruise would be suitable for the more mature guests. This is my first experience with a river cruise, and I will definitely be recommending them to my customers.