Rivers and Rails with Andrew

29/06/2026

I had the opportunity to join the guests on an excursions to the Czech Republic. I really enjoyed my visit to Česky Krumlov - a delightful town on the Vltava River. It is a stunning town and a UNESCO World Heritage town. I would love to visit again.

27/06/2026

The first full day onboard saw the guests enjoy a short walking tour of the wonderful Bavarian town of Passau. Known as the ‘City of Three Rivers’ because of it is located at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers. Thanks to Maria for the pictures. cruise

26/06/2026

A new team mate for me on the Danube this week. What a great joy to work with the fabulous Maria. It’s great when two BA pals get to do something new together. Hopefully the guests will enjoy the cruise as much as we enjoy working together.

26/06/2026

Embarkation day in Passau and one of the things I love to see is the bags waiting outside of the cabins for the guests that are about to arrive. Great Rail Journeys offer a a shipping service with Baggageman. The cases are collected from the guests homes and delivered to the ship and at the end of the holiday they send them back home. It’s a brilliant service and the Baggageman team are the best!

24/06/2026

https://www.greatrail.com/tours/delights-danube-cruise-passau-budapest-fly-and-cruise/ This is what’s on the itinerary. I hope you’re going to follow along. 🛳️

Cruise the Danube from Passau to Budapest with Great Rail Journeys. Delight in cultural treasures on this fly and cruise tour – reserve your spot now.

24/06/2026

A very early start for me today as I made my way to Passau to join the Amadeus Cara for a week on the Danube with guests from Great Rail Journeys and Vacations By Rail. Looking forward to meeting them tomorrow when they arrive and board the ship.

12/06/2026

On Monday an excursion to Heidelberg was on the cards. The groups left our mooring in Mannheim to travel to Heidelberg where they enjoyed a visit to the castle and a walk around the town before returning to the ship for lunch. This evening Debbie and I hosted our Gala Dinner and Crew Salute.

12/06/2026

On Sunday morning the guests had some free time to explore Koblenz. The afternoon brought a real highlight of the cruise as we sailed the Rhine Gorge. The stretch is lined by castles and vineyards and is very picturesque. I wish I’d had chance to take more pictures but I was rather busy giving a commentary as we sailed.

08/06/2026

Saturday morning was spent sailing on the wonderful Moselle river to Cochem, a picturesque town in the Moselle Valley that is known for its medieval architecture and steep vineyards. The iconic Reichsburg Castle overlooks the town from the hill top. The guests enjoyed a tour of the town with our knowledgeable local guides.

08/06/2026

On Friday morning we sailed into Cologne with some good views of the cathedral and city. The guests had a walking tour before returning to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon we were in Königswinter - the home of the Drachenfelsbahn. It is the oldest cog railway in Germany and a ride on it is part of our trip. Great fun with some fantastic views from the top of the Drachenfels.