ITTN’s Sharon Jordan is currently on The Blue Danube itinerary onboard Riviera Travel’s Emily Brontë kicked off yesterday in Budapest, led by new Business Development Manager to Ireland Ralph Uhlemann.
The group joined the river cruise in the afternoon, with high spirits among guests and crew.
We started with a pre-dinner drink in the bar at 6.30, where the bar team served some amazing red wine. On a Riveria cruise, all drinks are included from 6pm to midnight, which is a really great feature onboard and adds a special touch to the pre-dinner drinks experience.
There are two options for dining on the Emily Brontë: you can choose either the main dining restaurant or the smaller Bistro restaurant (which needs to be reserved at reception).
Our group ate in the main dining room where I chose the mushroom crème brûlée to start, followed by traditional Hungarian goulash and finished with a top-class cheeseboard. Paired with delicious local wines, this was a great first-night dining experience.
A nightcap was held in the bar where the onboard musician Marina, a Brazilian lady whose musical talents are some of the best I’ve seen on the rivers, entertained everyone in the busy lounge.
Alas, bedtime and it’s time to check out the staterooms. The staterooms are comfortable and functional, and like all river cruise ships, they are of a certain size designed to maximise space.
I’m fortunate to be in a suite in Diamond Deck which has a French balcony. The in-room product is NUXE. I’ve never seen this before anywhere and I am loving it!
A coffee machine and kettle, dressing gowns, slippers, and champagne in the fridge – make this a 5-star experience from the first night.
On Tuesday morning we attended our compulsory safety briefing led by the hotel manager Andreea and the Riviera team of Cassie and Karim, before we set off on our included excursion of Esztergom and its famous Basilica.
Esztergom is a quaint little town in Hungary, near the border with Slovakia. It is widely known for its rich history and significant cultural heritage. Here are some key points about Esztergom – if you ever get asked in a quiz!
- Esztergom was the capital of Hungary during the medieval period and is one of the oldest towns in the country. It played a vital role in the formation of the Hungarian state.
- The city is famous for the Esztergom Basilica, which is the largest church in Hungary and a significant symbol of the Catholic Church in the country. The basilica features a stunning dome and beautiful interior decorations, making it a popular tourist destination. It also has a panoramic view of the city that’s accessible by taking 140 steps to the top, you’ll even find a Costa coffee there!
- The ruins of the Esztergom Castle, which once served as the residence of Hungarian kings, are located on Castle Hill. It offers panoramic views of the Danube and the surrounding area and is definitely worth the hike up.
Back onboard we sat down to a sumptuous 4/5 course meal that was a highlight. Course after course was tasty and perfectly sized. It would be remiss of me to not give a nod in the direction of the chefs preparing the soups. They are incredibly tasty and I’m dreaming of the next one already.
An afternoon of relaxing on deck worked up an appetite for the welcome drink at 6.30 followed by another 3/4 course meal. It’s true what they say about cruising – 7 pounds for 7 days.
We passed through the largest lock on our journey over dinner, which made for some fun as we went up and over. After dinner we joined musician Marina in the lounge, but it was swiftly to bed as tomorrow brings an early start in Bratislava.
Follow for more as ITTN’S Sharon River cruises with Riveria Travel.
