I recently spent two nights aboard Riverside Mozart to discover what luxury river cruise company Riverside offers guests looking for an alternative to ocean cruising.
We embarked in Vienna and enjoyed a fantastic champagne reception before being escorted to our suite for the trip. We’d been allocated a Penthouse Suite, beautifully decorated with a French balcony, a walk-in closet, a living area, an ensuite bathroom with a shower, bathtub and toilet…with remote control settings! Our friendly Butler welcomed us and showed us how to use the shower and coffee machine; he even brought us a kettle and English tea bags – nothing was too much trouble.
Our Penthouse Suite accommodation.
Once unpacked, we headed to the Blue Bar Grill for a bite to eat. Situated at Mozart’s stern, the Blue Bar Grill is a great lunchtime venue to grab a burger, sandwich, wrap or salad and to watch the world go by through circular windows. Next, we looked around another dining venue – the Vista Bar & Grill, before the ship set sail for Melk. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t great, so this was the only time we enjoyed the ship’s top deck; however, I can only imagine what it would be like to sit up there on a balmy sunny evening with a cocktail in hand.
In the afternoon, we enjoyed a lovely coffee in Mozart’s European-style cafe, The Bistro. Alongside speciality teas and coffees, The Bistro has pastries and ice cream and is open for late breakfasts and an afternoon tea service. The surroundings are beautiful, and the laid-back ambience lends itself perfectly to sitting back and watching the world go by.
Next, I headed to Mozart’s spa and fitness facilities, which feature a pool, a jacuzzi, two treatment rooms, a gym and a hairdressing salon. I was taken aback by the size of the jacuzzi, especially on a river ship. The pool was great, too, especially the counter-current system, which is very powerful, though it provides a great workout if you’re looking to burn some calories after all the delicious food!
The surprisingly large jacuzzi!
There is also a sauna and a steam room (both of which I ‘tested’) and a gym fully equipped with Technogym apparatus and free weights, with daily classes available if you wish to participate.
In the evening, we had a pre-dinner drink in Mozart’s main lounge, Palm Court. Decorated in a palette of blue and green hues, the lounge is truly a beautiful space and the ideal setting for a welcome from the captain and crew. Palm Court is also where the nightly entertainment occurs (we had an ABBA tribute singer and a four-piece band on our short cruise).
The Palm Court lounge and bar.
The ship’s main evening dining venue is The Waterside, a fine dining restaurant with regionally-inspired cuisine and a choice of wines curated by the sommelier. I couldn’t fault the food; On the first night, I had a wiener schnitzel and apple strudel – you could tell I was getting into the Austrian spirit of things! For a more intimate experience, the exclusive Vintage Room can accommodate up to 12 guests on a reservation-only basis (a surcharge also applies).
The Waterfront Restaurant
The following morning, we had breakfast at The Marketplace – a wonderfully light and airy venue with great views, various buffet options, and hot dishes. You can choose from made-to-order omelettes, pastries, cereals, meats and cheeses or indulge in a fully-cooked breakfast. The Marketplace also hosts a lunchtime service; alternatively, you can order room service if you’d like to eat while taking in the views from your French balcony.
The Marketplace – breakfast is served!
The excursion programme is a large part of the river cruise experience, and Riverside certainly don’t disappoint. We sampled two excursions during our trip. On the first morning, we took a short coach ride to Melk Abbey, where we met our guide for an immersive one-hour tour (the highlights being the library and the stunning church).
Melk Abbey
In the afternoon, we had a walking tour of nearby Durnstein, including a fun tasting of the local wines. Then, we spent the rest of our time in the town, enjoying some free time exploring the quaint lanes and local shops. Weather permitting, Riverside offers guests the chance to participate in a guided bike tour – due to the wind and rain, this option wasn’t available to us. So, instead, we returned to the ship for hot chocolate and a catch-up with our fellow guests in Palm Court.
Overall, I had a fantastic couple of days with Riverside. Mozart is, without a doubt, a beautiful ship oozing boutique-style luxury. However, when you factor in the quality of the dining and the exceptional service, the experience is easily comparable to a small luxury ship and certainly worth considering if you’re looking to try river cruising but don’t want to sacrifice the luxuries and facilities offered by an ocean-going vessel.
What do you think of Riverside’s approach to ocean cruising – would you consider a Mozart cruise in the future? Let us know in the comments below!
