Rhine River cruise review

Castles, vineyards and charming towns – here's what to expect from a Rhine river cruise.

TUI River Cruises celebrated its maiden voyage in summer 2021, to resounding success. These adults-only sailings tick off Europe’s best bits along the Rhine, the Main, the Moselle, the Danube, and the Dutch and Belgian waterways. I went onboard TUI Skyla – one of the three adults-only ships – to see what a snapshot, two-night cruise along the Rhine River is all about. From Germany’s top wine towns, Boppard and Rudesheim, to the swanky facilities onboard, here’s my take on what it was like…

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Do me favour. Picture a river cruise in your head. Are you imagining a modern ship, with fancy restaurants and glamourous bars, sailing along a scenic waterway to a tucked-away town that’s covered in half-timbered houses? That was my expectation of what a river cruise looked like before this trip. And having recently been invited on one, I can safely say the real thing doesn’t miss the mark.

What's it like onboard TUI Skyla?

At the centre of every river cruise is the ship. It takes you to your ports, it’s where you eat, sleep and drink in between your stops – it’s your home away from home. And that’s exactly how TUI Skyla felt during my adventure. It’s manned by a crew that couldn’t do more for you. You’re escorted to your cabin when you board and every crew member you pass in the hallways greets you with a smile. It feels warm and welcoming all the time, which, as a solo traveller, I found to be incredibly reassuring.

Now, if the ship’s at the centre of every river cruise, then the cabin’s at the centre of every ship. And, again, it doesn’t disappoint. I bagged a Super French Balcony Suite, on deck 2, for my sailing, complete with a pair of floor-to-ceiling doors. Being able to crack them open and unwind in my cabin while watching the world go by is a level of relaxation I won’t be forgetting for a while.

Did you know?

Every cabin on a TUI River Cruise ship is outward facing, so top-class views of the waterway are guaranteed.

Entertainment

The rest of the ship is just as impressive. During my two-day trip, I spent plenty of time mingling with the other passengers in the two bars, the Club Lounge and Observatory. The former’s the smaller of the two, and feels like a cosy parlour thanks to its comfy sofas and electric fireplace. Observatory, meanwhile, is the entertainment hub. It’s bigger, it’s bolder, and is where the quizzes and live music are hosted in the evening.

Dining

The real highlight throughout my river cruise, though, was the food scene. You’ve got two eateries to dine in onboard each TUI River Cruises ship, Verdastro and Bistro. The former’s the fancier of the duo, and is open for all main meals. In the mornings, you can help yourself to the continental spread, and customise your own made-to-order omelette as part of the à la carte offering. The evening meals, meanwhile, tote a daily-changing à la carte menu, made using locally sourced ingredients. Cheese soup, pork with mustard sauce and a meringue-topped, fruity ice-cream dessert called Hot Love are a few of my highlights.Bistro’s the more casual of the eateries, and is also open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Again, the breakfast and lunch offering changes daily. One day’s lunch was a three-course line-up of soups, pasta and fruity desserts – plus, a help-yourself salad bar – and another offered tasty burgers and chips. The dinner menu here, meanwhile, switches things around halfway through your sailing.

The swanky, six-course dinner, however, was the crème de la crème. You get one of these during every sailing, and it’s a nice excuse to throw on your smartest garb and tuck in to some fit-for-royalty fare. My menu included sliced duck, pumpkin risotto, steak with mushroom sauce and chocolate-lava cake. And, before the main event, I got started at the Club Lounge with a few drinks and caviar-topped canapés – delish.

TUI River Cruises destinations

The on-land offering with TUI River Cruises is just as varied as its ship-side servings. With over 30 itineraries to choose from and 120 ports to explore, there’s really something for everyone. During my sailing, I visited a pair of Germany’s top wine towns, Boppard and Rudesheim.

Both of these settlements are known for their vino heritage and history, so I decided to see some of it for myself. In Boppard, the 1,400-year-old ruins of a Roman fort stole the show. And, in Rudesheim, my tour of its winery-lined lanes was headlined by a stop at a traditional café to sample the town’s signature drink, a brandy-infused, whipped-cream-topped coffee.

Check out all our TUI River Cruises destinations See all our TUI River Cruises shore experiences

Verdict?

All in all, my time aboard TUI Skyla was all I could’ve hoped for and more. The ship and its facilities are excellent, and the ports I visited in Germany left me longing for another visit. And all of this was packed into a short, two-night sailing. Just imagine how much more you could see and do with a seven or 14-night itinerary.

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Author: Ben Staff

Last updated: 25.02.2022