Cruising the Danube Delight: Tony's Adventures Aboard Travelmarvel Polaris!

Welcome aboard as we set sail on an unforgettable escapade along the mesmerizing Danube River. If you're yearning for a travel tale that will leave you wanting to pack your bags and hit the waterways, you've come to the right place! Tony tells all about his recent river cruise onboard the magnificent Travelmarvel Polaris river cruise.

Journey there

Who did you fly with?
Outbound British Airways Glasgow to Budapest (via Heathrow) and inbound KLM Vienna to Glasgow (via Amsterdam)

Did you get any connecting transport from the airport?
Travelmarvel provided airport transfers to/from the ship. A Travelmarvel airport rep was on hand to welcome us on arrival at Budapest

How was the journey?
Excellent

Did anything memorable happen?
We made use of one of the No.1 Lounge at Terminal 3 at Heathrow
 

Hotels

Where did you stay?
We stayed onboard the Travelmarvel Polaris River ship specially designed for the Rhine. The ship was new in 2022 and still smells new!

Were there any special features?
The ship boasts the only Irish bar on the river. McGeary’s Bar is situated at the back of the ship on the upper deck and has panoramic views of the river.
The Sky Deck Terrace & Bar is on the sun deck and is a fantastic space to enjoy sundowners overlooking the river.
The True North Lounge Bar is also on the upper deck and is a beautifully appointed comfortable space with floor-to-ceiling windows giving great views. In the evenings, live music is a feature here. The Constellations restaurant is on the main deck and features a 4-course meal that highlights regional specialities from the area the ship is sailing through

What was your stay like? Did you enjoy it?
It was a fabulous experience!

Did you receive any special service/treatment?
The Cruise Director Roland deserves special mention as did Arturo the Hotel Director. Both were fantastic hosts for whom nothing was too much trouble. They were fantastic hosts.

Activities

Where did you go?
City tours of both Budapest and Vienna with English-speaking guides. Every person is provided with a personal listening device that allows the user to hear the English-speaking guide from a distance. A fantastic additional service! A visit to the Prater Park fun fair on a free day in Vienna was a real highlight!
The ship also boasts a fleet of bikes that can be hired to enjoy a cycle along the river bank.

What was the weather like?
The weather was fantastic. We enjoyed the sun while sailing between Budapest and Vienna on Sunday morning. It was so relaxing to be on the sundeck on the sun loungers hearing the birds and the ripple of the river as we sailed along

Any recommendations?
Take the optional but totally unmissable Viennese musical evening. Coaches took us to a city music hall in Vienna, for an evening of waltzes and operatic arias from the chamber orchestra and singers, culminating in a performance of Strauss’ Blue Danube – what else! The evening also features performances from some dancers waltzing up the aisle! Truly magical.

Conclusion

Would you recommend this holiday and who to?
This is an ideal holiday choice for anyone of any age who enjoys city breaks. The ship really is a hotel afloat, and you are very well looked after by the onboard crew, for whom nothing is too much trouble
 

If you would like to know about River Cruising, get in touch today by calling us on 0808 169 8208 or email Tony at [email protected]