Page 10 - Explore - Autumn/Winter 2019

CRUISING

THROUGH THE

MAGNIFICENCE

OF EUROPE

ver the last seven years I’ve become a bit of an On day four of our cruise we docked at Rudesheim on
APT junkie. I have sailed with them on the Rhine in the Rhine. APT offers two options here, one being a tour
OGermany and the Douro in Portugal and the Rhône of Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in
and the Seine in France. the town which showcases 350 instruments dating back
three centuries. Think delicate music boxes, one with a
My all-time favourites are the Rhine and the Danube, which chirping bird on top, or massive pipe organs and pretty
are connected by a 171-km canal in Bavaria. Extending from much everything in between. The guides are excellent and
Rotterdam in the Netherlands to the Danube Delta on the the collection is large. Prepare to be amazed because it
Black Sea, the 2,850km river system is like State Highway is a great place. Following your tour, why not jump on the
One running through the heart of Europe. I’ve been fortunate gondola to the mountaintop for some exceptional views over
enough to have sailed it four times with APT and each the Rhine Valley?
time there’s something along the way that still leaves me
speechless. Day seven saw us in World Heritage-listed town of Bamberg
in northern Bavaria where a local English-speaking guide
There is no right or wrong way to took us on a walking tour of the Old Town. APT offers three
do the cruise, but I prefer departing different-paced walking groups from Easy to General to
Active so there’s an option for everyone’s fitness level.
from Amsterdam and finishing in On our walk we listened to the story of how the old Town
Hall came to be built in the middle of the Regnitz River,
Budapest so I can have a few extra marvelled at the 1000-year-old Bamberg Cathedral and
nights in my favourite city. afterwards tried one of the area’s speciality smoked beers.
On our walk in Bamberg we
The Rhine is one of Europe’s most important rivers. For
nearly 2000 years it has served as a vital trade route marvelled at the 1000-year-
between central Europe and the sea. Countless villages
sprawl along its banks, backed by scores of vineyards and old cathedral and afterwards
fertile farmland. These days the best way to view the Rhine tried one of the area’s speciality
and the Danube is on board an APT river cruise. APT offers
a big range of all-inclusive options including local guided smoked beers.
sightseeing; APT Signature Experiences such as a visit to
medieval castles like Namedy (Andernach) in Germany; a On day ten we arrived in Passau on the border with Austria
cocktail reception and concert at Vienna’s City Palace, and and were spoilt for choice. There was the option of staying
a ride on the Grand Empress Steam Train in Hungary. All in Passau and exploring “The City of Three Rivers” with a
meals, beverages and gratuities are covered, and there is a guide; travelling to Salzburg in Austria for a tour and sights
huge range of airfare options including Fly Free, Air Credits, from the classic film, The Sound of Music, or another cross-
Companion Fly Free, and more. border tour to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Having
There is no right or wrong way to do the cruise, but I prefer done all three options previously with APT, I chose to return
departing from Amsterdam and finishing in Budapest so I can to Cesky Krumlov, a beautiful city in the South Bohemia
have a few extra nights in my favourite city. On the way to region that feels like a fairy tale from the Middle Ages with
Budapest on my most recent trip last year – on APT’s 15-day quaint houses, cobblestoned streets, a meandering river
Magnificent Europe voyage from Amsterdam to Budapest – I and a grand castle. The full-day trip will have you wanting to
enjoyed some top sights that are all-inclusive with APT. return for another visit as it did for me.

8 HELLOWORLD TRAVEL : EXPLORE : AUTUMN/WINTER EDITION