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Breakfast with a View

Another leisurely morning began with breakfast in the main restaurant on board Riviera Resplendence. We chose a table beside the large panoramic windows so we could enjoy the ever-changing scenery as we sailed along the Rhine. It’s one of the things we’ve come to love most about river cruising, the views are constantly changing outside. As always, there was an excellent selection to choose from and we took our time over breakfast while looking forward to what promised to be one of the most scenic days of the entire cruise.

Cruising Through the Rhine Gorge

After breakfast, almost everyone made their way up to the sun deck as we prepared to sail through the spectacular Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the highlights of any Rhine River cruise.

The weather had certainly changed since the glorious sunshine of the previous two days. The skies were overcast, but if anything, it added a little atmosphere to the dramatic landscape. The rolling hills, vineyard-covered slopes and medieval castles looked every bit as impressive beneath the clouds, and nothing could dampen our excitement.

Throughout the morning our Cruise Director, André, provided an excellent live commentary as we sailed through the gorge. His timing was impeccable, pointing out each castle, village and notable landmark just before we reached it, while also letting everyone know whether it would appear on the port or starboard side of the ship.

It was fascinating learning about the history behind the many castles that line this stretch of the Rhine. Some have stood proudly for hundreds of years, while others have been lovingly restored after falling into ruin. Listening to André’s stories helped to bring the landscape to life and made us appreciate just how historically significant this part of Germany is.

The scenery seemed to become more spectacular around every bend in the river. Steep vine-covered hillsides, charming riverside villages and fairy-tale castles combined to create one unforgettable panorama after another.

Trying Traditional Rüdesheimer Coffee

Mid-morning brought a lovely surprise as the bar team arrived on the sun deck serving mugs of traditional Rüdesheimer Coffee. Neither of us had tried it before, so we couldn’t resist. This famous German speciality is made by warming Asbach brandy with sugar before carefully flaming it. Freshly brewed coffee is then added, topped with a generous layer of whipped cream and finished with dark chocolate shavings.

It was certainly stronger than our usual morning coffee, but absolutely delicious. Rich, warming and full of flavour, it felt like the perfect drink to enjoy on a cool morning while admiring the stunning scenery of the Rhine Gorge.

Celebrating the Inaugural Sailing

Following another excellent lunch in the main restaurant, we were invited to the Panorama Lounge for a special celebration rather than lingering over dessert. As this cruise marked the inaugural sailing of Riviera Resplendence, the occasion was celebrated with the ceremonial cutting of a beautifully decorated cake. The Captain and senior crew joined the festivities as everyone raised a toast to the ship, its crew and the first of many successful future voyages.

Naturally, slices of the celebration cake were served afterwards, alongside desserts. Needless to say, we couldn’t resist sampling both! It was a lovely way to mark such a significant milestone and made us feel part of a very special voyage.

Exploring Rüdesheim

In the early afternoon we arrived in the charming wine town of Rüdesheim am Rhein, one of the best-known stops on many Rhine River cruise itineraries. Guests had the choice of visiting the fascinating Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum or taking the Rüdesheim cable car high above the vineyards to the famous Niederwald Monument. Although both excursions sounded appealing, we decided the cable car offered views that simply couldn’t be missed.

The gentle ride carried us high above the vineyards, providing increasingly spectacular views over the Rhine, the surrounding countryside and the colourful rooftops of Rüdesheim below. It was another wonderful opportunity for photographs and a completely different perspective of the river we’d been sailing along all morning.

At the top stands the impressive Niederwald Monument, built to commemorate the unification of Germany in the nineteenth century. The monument itself is certainly impressive, but it was the panoramic views that impressed us most.

We spent some time following one of the clearly marked walking trails through the surrounding woodland, enjoying the peaceful setting before making our way back down to the town by cable car.

Wandering Through Rüdesheim

Back in the centre of Rüdesheim, we had ample time to wander through its charming narrow streets. The town has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, with traditional half-timbered buildings decorated with colourful geraniums spilling from almost every window box. It was lovely to browse the small independent shops, admire the historic buildings and soak up the character of this popular Rhine town before returning to the ship.

Another Wonderful Evening on Board

Back on board Riviera Resplendence, we quickly settled into what had become a wonderfully relaxing daily routine. After freshening up, we headed to the Panorama Lounge for pre-dinner cocktails before making our way to the main restaurant.

Dinner once again showcased the exceptional standard of cuisine we had come to expect throughout the cruise. We enjoyed a beautifully prepared four-course gourmet meal overlooking the Rhine.

As the evening drew on, many guests returned to the Panorama Lounge where the resident musician provided another evening of entertainment. Some couples took to the dance floor while others, ourselves included, were happy to relax with another drink and enjoy the friendly atmosphere.

Watching the lights reflected on the Rhine as Riviera Resplendence prepared to continue her journey overnight was the perfect ending to another memorable day of our Riviera Travel Rhine River cruise.

If you have enjoyed this post, you may also like:

A Day in Freiburg: Exploring the Heart of the Black Forest

A Scenic Walk Through Baden-Baden, Germany: Culture, Parks & Architecture

We were guests of Riviera Travel and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.