My cabin on the Riverside Debussy river cruise came with my very own butler! Just like Carson in Downton Abbey, my butler Indra was available to satisfy my every wish day or night.
Deliver breakfast in bed? Not a problem. Bring a couple of extra pillows? Did I want a soft or hard pillow. Have a mug of hot Irish coffee waiting for me after a chilly Christmas market excursion? Of course. All I had to do was send a text via WhatsApp and all my needs and desires were quickly fulfilled.
My Christmas market cruise on the Riverside Debussy
Riverside Luxury Cruises wants to be THE BEST river cruise company in Europe, and after my cruise with them last week, I think they are well on their way. With a 2 to 1 guest to staff ratio, attentive service is a guarantee. Over the course of my weeklong Christmas market cruise, it quickly became clear that attention to detail and a sincere desire to provide the best possible experience was a true hallmark for this cruise line.
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Riverside is a new player in the European river cruise market with three new ships that have been launched in the last year, all bearing names of famous European composers. The Riverside Mozart sails on the Danube while the Ravell tours the Rhone River in France. My ship, the Riverside Debussy, was introduced on the Rhine River in March 2024.
The all-suite cabins on the Riverside Debussy
The size of the locks on the European rivers dictates the external dimensions of a riverboat, so most of the ships tend to be about the same size. But that’s where the similarities end.
With only 55 all suite cabins, the maximum number of passengers on the Riverside Debussy is much lower than on other, similar sized ships. This meant that my cabin was much more spacious and that public spaces felt less crowded. I was delighted by the roominess of my standard cabin. Despite having a king sized bed, there was still plenty of space for two people to sit and relax without tripping over each other.
My cabin’s standard amenities were also impressive. A walk-in closet provided more than enough storage, the crispy high end bedding was a pleasure to sleep under, and the mini fridge was well stocked with complimentary water, sodas, beer, and a bottle of bubbly. My favorite feature though was the huge wall to wall, floor to ceiling panoramic window. It was such a pleasure to sit in bed with a fresh cup of espresso (made with the in room Nespresso machine) and watch the scenery slip by.
Another treat was the marble lined bathroom which was the largest I’ve experienced on any type of ship. The double vanity offered plenty of storage space, the walk-in, glass enclosed shower was not in the least bit claustrophobic, and the heated floors were utter luxury. High end Italian bath products complemented the spa-like feel.
Bright and elegant public spaces
Decorated in soothing hues of ivory and taupe and accented with shades of blue and caramel, the public spaces on the Riverside Debussy were also surrounded by extensive panoramic windows. This made it ideal for enjoying the scenery when it was too chilly to sit on the top deck.
The lounge and bar could seat all guests comfortably as we sampled some of our bartender’s unique cocktails or pre-dinner treats. The dining room offered tables for two, four, six, or even larger groups if desired. This allowed me to choose between a private dinner with my cruising partner or a group dinner with new friends.
Superb food
I think one of the best reasons to cruise with Riverside is the quality of the meals. This was not mass produced food. Everything offered was freshly prepared with the highest quality ingredients.
I am normally not a fan of buffets, but on the Riverside Debussy I did not mind. The buffet choices were very fresh and tasty, and there was also the option for made-to-order items like omelets or eggs Benedict at breakfast, and grilled fish or shrimp at lunch.
For dinner, the chef delivered culinary masterpieces. His menu combined a whimsical play on words with fun combinations of unique ingredients and expertly crafted traditional dishes. Some of my favorites were the “Deconstructed Blue Cheese Waldorf” , a blue cheese creme filling paired with grapes, apples, and nuts in between two crispy wafers. Or “Pope Benedict’s Silky Gown”, a creamy, silky egg surrounded by asparagus and a truffle hollandaise sauce.
Interesting ports of call and excursions
My Christmas market cruise started in Amsterdam and ended in Frankfurt. In between, we toured some of the historic towns along the Rhine: Nijmegen and Arnhem in the Netherlands, and Dusseldorf, Rüdesheim, and Mainz in Germany. We also cruised through the scenic Rhine River Gorge with its many castles and vineyards.
I appreciated that along with the local Christmas Markets, I also had the option to take tours that introduced me to a location’s history. In Arnhem we visited the bridge that was part of Operation Market Garden in WWII and was also the subject of the movie “A Bridge Too Far”. In Dusseldorf I learned about the city’s brewing traditions as our group visited (and tasted) three historic breweries. Since all the excursions were included in the cost of the cruise, I didn’t have to decide which ones to take part in.
I have long wanted to take a Christmas Market river cruise in Europe so this was a dream come true for me. My only complaint is that I couldn’t take my butler Indra home with me.
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