Magnificent Europe – Looking at the old continent from a new perspective

As I open the sliding door of my suite and take a deep breath, my lungs fill with fresh morning air saturated with the sweet smell of late spring flowers in bloom.  The day has just begun and I feel excitement stirring as I watch a new town coming into view while the ship rolls down the river Rhine.

The town in question is Würzburg, a Bavarian medieval city in the heart of Germany. Here, in 1180, Henry the Lion was banned from the Empire and his duchy was handed over to Otto I, Duke of Bavaria. The imposing Fortress Marienberg perched above town and the 15th-century Alte Mainbrucke (Old Main Bridge) speak of eras gone by, of intrigues and well-laid plans now made hazy by the passing of time.

Today is day six of my fortnight aboard the Expression, one of Avalon Waterways deluxe ‘suite ships.’ According to Jennifer, one of the many friendly staff onboard, the suite ships are the latest in comfort and refinement with their wall-to-wall panoramic windows that, once slid back, virtually opens up the whole side of my room.

Avalon are known for their innovative suite designs that lets the outside in without losing cabin space. In fact, my panorama suite is more than 30% larger than the industry standard, she tells me. There’s an air of flawless through small villages and their majestic castles.

The guided tour of Würzburg will take me to the largest ceiling fresco ever painted in the magnificent baroque Bishop’s Residenz. Being a bit of a history and art aficionado, I’m really looking forward to that and the many other treasures on my way to Budapest. For instance, in a couple of days we’ll be sailing in to Regensburg, a city established during the Roman Empire. It’s one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities and the only one not bombed during WWII.

However much I love travelling through all the splendour and beauty of these historic places one of the highlights of my trip so far are the four-course dinners onboard the ship every evening. After a full day of new impressions and exciting encounters with the locals nothing beats sitting down to enjoy an appetising meal while the world is slowly drifting by outside the window and the sun quietly sets beyond the vineyards and rolling hills.

Tomorrow I’ll step out into the heart of a new and exciting destination, completely refreshed after a good night’s sleep and fully immersed in the relaxed pace of river cruising. Not for a moment will I worry about packing or unpacking, paying for my meals or missing out on essential experiences. Everything’s been taken care of; all I need to do is enjoy, enjoy and enjoy this unforgettable fortnight onboard the Expression.

By D.A. Young

Avalon Waterways 2017 preview brochure is out now!
Book and pay before 5 April 2016 and receive a $4000 per couple credit towards your airfare for Europe and South East Asia cruises departing 1 Jan–30 June 2017.
It doesn’t get any better than that! Click here to visit the Avalon Waterways website or see your travel agent today!