The Start of Our Riviera Resplendence Rhine Cruise
The wake-up alarm wasn’t particularly welcome, but the excitement of setting off on our Rhine cruise aboard MS Riviera Resplendence soon made up for the early start. Our journey began with a morning Eurowings flight from Manchester to Düsseldorf.
Riviera Travel also offers departures from Heathrow, Edinburgh and regional airports giving plenty of options depending on where you’re travelling from. Before long we were landing in Dusseldorf ready for the holiday to begin.
A Riviera Travel representative was waiting to meet us at the airport and escorted our group to the waiting coach for the hour-long transfer to Cologne. It was all very well organised, allowing us to sit back and watch the scenery change as we headed towards the Rhine.
Our first glimpse of MS Riviera Resplendence certainly didn’t disappoint. Waiting on the quayside were smiling crew members who offered welcoming glasses of chilled Prosecco as we stepped on board.
Check-in was quick and efficient, and within minutes we were being shown to our cabin. Better still, our luggage had already arrived and was waiting on the bed ready to be unpacked.
Our Cabin on the Ruby Deck
Our home for the week was a standard cabin on the Ruby Deck with a French balcony. The full-height sliding doors opened to let in plenty of fresh air and provide uninterrupted views of the river, making the cabin feel wonderfully bright and spacious.
The cabin was very well designed feeling more like a boutique hotel than a cruise cabin. The bed could be arranged as either a king-size double or twin beds. The mattress was wonderfully supportive, dressed in crisp white, high thread bedlinen that provided a good night’s sleep after busy days exploring.
There was everything we needed for a relaxing stay. A small table and chair beside the window was my favourite spot to sit with a morning coffee while watching the river, and the generous wardrobe space made unpacking very easy.
The large-screen television included a live bow camera showing the view ahead of the ship, alongside the usual TV channels and radio. USB charging points, European power sockets, a kettle and espresso coffee machine were all provided, together with complimentary bottled mineral water and stylish reusable metal water bottles to utilise on excursions and then to take home as a souvenir. Our cabin also contained rechargeable VOX headsets, to be used during the included excursions, making it much easier to hear the guides without everyone having to crowd around.
A Walk Around Cologne
One advantage of arriving on the early Manchester flight was having much of the afternoon free to explore Cologne before dinner. The ship was moored only around a fifteen minute walk from the famous cathedral, so after dropping our hand luggage in the cabin we headed straight back ashore.
The riverside promenade was lively with walkers, cyclists and cafés spilling out onto the pavements. As we wandered into the city centre, the magnificent twin spires of Cologne Cathedral dominated the skyline, and every corner seemed to reveal another attractive square, historic building or bustling shopping street.
Rather than rushing to tick off landmarks, we simply enjoyed wandering around, soaking up the atmosphere and getting our first taste of one of Germany’s oldest cities before returning to the ship later in the afternoon.
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea was served at 4.00 p.m. as more guests had arrived by then, this proved to be a lovely surprise. A tempting selection of finger sandwiches, warm scones, cakes and pastries were beautifully presented alongside tea and freshly brewed coffee. It felt like a real occasion and certainly set the tone for the week ahead.
Adding to the atmosphere was Freddy, the ship’s resident musician, who entertained everyone with a relaxed selection of music while guests chatted about their arrival on board and first afternoon in Cologne.
An Evening to Remember
Back in our cabin we unpacked, freshened up and got ready for the evening. As this was the ship’s inaugural sailing, guests were invited to gather on the Sun Deck at 6.00 p.m. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially welcome the newest addition to the Riviera Travel fleet. Glasses were raised in celebration and everyone enjoyed the moment together.
Dinner was served from 7.00 p.m. in the main restaurant. Attractively furnished, with tables seating four and six guests making it easy to strike up conversations with fellow travellers. Before long we were chatting with people from different parts of the UK, hearing about previous cruises and discovering what had inspired them to book this one.
Our four-course dinner was beautifully presented and full of flavour, with attentive service throughout the meal. One aspect we particularly appreciated was that drinks are included so there was no need to think about the cost of ordering another glass of wine. The wines served alongside the meal were excellent and complemented each course perfectly.
Cologne evening stroll
Although we’d already spent much of the afternoon exploring, we couldn’t resist another stroll into Cologne after dinner. One of the pleasures of river cruising is the freedom to come and go while the ship is in port. Guests simply tap their room cards when leaving and returning, allowing the crew to keep track of everyone before departure. The city had a completely different feel with the riverside promenade having a relaxed evening atmosphere that made for a lovely walk.
Back on board, we rounded off the day with the cocktail of the day in the lounge before finally admitting that our early start was catching up with us.
As we climbed into bed that evening, reflecting on everything we’d already packed into our first day, we couldn’t help feeling excited about what lay ahead. If this was anything to go by, the rest of the cruise promised to be something rather special.
If you have enjoyed this post you may also like:
Riviera Travel Douro River Cruise Day 2
We were guests of Riviera Travel and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.
Love Travelling Blog 
Leave a comment