George Keegan enjoyed a river cruise through Germany and Switzerland
At the outset I must admit I am a big fan of river cruises, so when Riviera Travel offered me the opportunity to join up with a group of like-minded tourists to sail along the Rhine and enjoy the local gastronomy on the way I had no hesitation in accepting. The starting point was Basle in Switzerland from where we travelled to Cologne on the very impressive MS Geoffrey Chaucer, a trip lasting 7 nights and 8 days. The Gastronomy of Switzerland and the Rhine is one of the new themed cruises which the company has added to their 2025 and 2026 programmes.
The luxuriously appointed MS Goffrey Chaucer
The package includes return flights from Ireland, all transfers, full board dining, the services of a travel cruise director and concierge, plus free drinks package.
This stylish and elegant ship was built in 2019. It has a crew of 44 and there were 167 guests on board for our trip. All members of the crew were courteous and extremely professional. In the lounge and restaurants areas there was continual banter between staff and guests, adding to the overall ambiance on board during the cruise. A river cruise, especially when travelling solo, is certainly the perfect setting for making new friends.
Facilities include panoramic observation lounge, a sun deck (complete with replicas of old fashioned deck chairs), swimming pool, spa/treatment centre, boutique shop and a hairdresser. The dress code on board is casual during daytime and smart casual in the evenings with a request not to wear jeans at dinner time. The main restaurant offers both waiter and self- service dining. For alternative dining the Riverview Bistro complete with open kitchen is a good option, but a table must be booked in advance. I thought all the food served on board from day one to be exceptional.
My cabin was spacious with comfortable bed, excellent shower room facilities, air conditioning and a table with two chairs beside the sliding glass window, giving the opportunity to completely relax gliding along this wonderful river. Suites on the Diamond & Ruby decks contain ‘French Balconies’, bringing the wildlife on the banks even closer. A lift service is available between all three internal decks but a short flight of stairs must be taken to gain access to the sun deck.
Nightly entertainment was presented by the highly talented Artur the resident musician throughout the cruise. On some evenings other entertainers came on board including a superb Spanish violinist. Another evening was set aside for a fun music quiz.
Guests may leave the ship on their own at any port should they so wish. The only stipulation being to always scan the cabin key at a special point beside reception before leaving and again on your return.
Every evening the programme for the following day is left in your cabin or you can attend a presentation in the main lounge describing the next destination with details of that day’s excursion. Members of the crew join with guests on outings. On the coach as well as walking tours a commentary is given describing places of historical and cultural interest.
Lucerne, one of the first excursions and a memorable one
Cruise highlights
There were many highlights on this particular cruise but space does not allow for detailed description of each of them. However the following, listed in no particular order, deserve special mention.
Lucerne: One of the first excursions and a memorable one walking around this beautiful city which is situated in central Switzerland, a German speaking Canton.The city contains lots of attractions especially the historic Old Town. First stop is always the famous Chapel Bridge and Water Tower. The covered foot bridge across the river Reuss was originally constructed in 1360 and the Water Tower is even older. Next up is usually the Lion Monument commemorating Swiss guards killed during the French Revolution and carved out of a wall of sandstone rock, above a small pond. If Swiss chocolate is your thing then Lucerne is definitely the place to purchase some.
Stanserhorn: Without doubt the highlight of the trip for me. We began our assent on the funicular railway dating from 1893 then transferring to the Cabrio aerial cableway, launched in 2012.The cable car has an inside deck with outside one on top (it was inside for me !) At the end of our journey we arrived at a large revolving restaurant where we had lunch consisting of a local dish called ălplermagronen. It was served with cream from Stans (small town at bottom of the mountain), cheese from Nidwalden accompanied by Swiss apple sauce and presented at the table in a large Edelweiss pot.
Afterwards I climbed a little higher on foot and was lucky enough to see a marmot at close quarters. These large ground squirrels inhabit the Alps. The views on what was a sunny day high up on the mountain (which reaches 1898 metres) were really spectacular.
Rhine Gorge: One of the most scenic parts of the cruise is travelling through this Gorge which is a World Heritage Site. Along this part of the river the best place to be is on the sun deck to view the almost vertical vineyards, ruins of old castles, the famous Lorley Rock standing 132 metres high on the right bank and the large impressive Marksburg Castle, a Medieval fortress.
Doktorenhof Vinegar Distillery: The excursion into the city of Speyer includes spending some time in a vinegar distillery. It was a real eye opener because I was not aware so many different vinegars exist. The visit included a fascinating tour of the darkened cellar area where the vinegar is fermenting in huge casks (similar to a wine cellar). We were then told the history of vinegar down the ages including way back then during Roman times when it was consumed as an energy drink called Posca !
This was followed by a tasting session of 5 special vinegars used as either an aperitif, a digestif, in cooking and for salads, plus one used for mind and body. I found the visit both educational and really enjoyable.
Titisee: A coach brought us through the Black Forest to the picturesque small German spa town of Titisee, situated on the lake of the same name and part of a community known as Titisee-Neustadt. A lovely spot to just stroll around and take a peek inside the numerous shops selling souvenirs, cuckoo clocks, craft shops and cafes. Boat trips are available around the lake. It was here I had my large piece of Black Forest Gateaux (which was delicious).
Apart from the breathtaking cathedral, Cologne has numerous attractions such as the Cologne Chocolate Museum
Cologne Chocolate Museum: all things must come to an end and the excursion to the Schokoladen Museum was on the final day of the trip. If you are a chocoholic this is the place for you. Learn all about the history of cocoa from its beginnings in Central America to the present day. As you walk around the building you can view artisan chocolatiers busy at work with the centre piece, a chocolate fountain standing 3 metres high continuously being filled with 200 kg of fresh Lindt chocolate. Yum !
River cruise specialist Riveria Travel
Last year Riviera Travel celebrated 40 years in the business of travel. The story began when Michael Wright decided to erect and rent five canvas tents in the South of France in 1981 (where the name Riviera was born). As the season was short he decided three years later to begin operating a coach tour of Paris. From that point onwards expansion after expansion took place. In 2009 he took, what was then considered a brave step, into river cruising. In 2015 the company established its presence in Ireland.
Itinerary for 2025/2026
A new sister ship to Riviera Radiance (which launches this year) will be the 178 guest Riviera Resplendence both of which were designed to qualify for the Gold Standard in Green Awards programme for shipping. This sets out independently verified standards in safety and environmental performance.
New itineraries include a selection of more specially themed cruises including Gastronomy on the Danube, Seine and Rhine, plus a Gardens & Natural Beauty trip also along the Rhine. Finally, it has also been announced that the company will be adding Mekong river cruises to the Irish market during 2026. There will be 19 departure dates across two 12-day voyages between January and December.
Note: If you intending to travel direct from Ireland there are two dates during 2025 and one in 2026. Dates for this year are 23rd May and “4th July. During this year the cost includes a superior drinks package of an unlimited selection of alcoholic and non- alcoholic drinks during lunch and again from 6pm till midnight each day. In 2026 this offer will become All Inclusive meaning from 10am until midnight. Full information on all Riviera Travel cruise packages at www.rivieratravel.ie .
