Interview : APT river cruise with Kuoni Store Manager Nicole

Relax aboard one of APT's award-winning river ships. Unpack only once & enjoy your floating boutique hotel as great destinations appear at your doorstep.

What ship were you on and what was the route?

APT, Travelmarvel ship – VEGA. The route was Budapest to Vienna that I experienced, but the ship continued on until Amsterdam.

Did you stay overnight before? How did you get there?

We arrived in Budapest (flight), overnight in the city then sailed away just before lunchtime and headed to Vienna (sailed overnight)

Did you go on any excursions?

We had a lovely escorted tour around Budapest the morning after arrival, we ventured around the city showcasing the best architecture & history, followed by some freetime to ourselves to explore.

Can you give an overview of the onboard experience? (interiors, food, drinks)

Onboard the travel marvel ships, it was a relaxing & contemporary feel throughout. Beautifully designed lounge areas, allowing guests to relax or come together in the evenings, or if they preferred – keep themselves to themselves. Food was beautiful – limited chose of a 4 course (only 2 per course available on the main menu, but did cater for all dietary preferences & requirements), however was always based on the destination we were in along with local wines served. Drinks weren’t included throughout so this was in addition, except tea, coffee, hot drinks & water. You did get local beer & wine included at meal times though. Very good value on board though considering it’s a “captive” audience; £5-7 per cocktail depending on what you wanted. Service was great, and felt staff would do what they could to accommodate any needs. The touring guides were fantastic (we witnessed 3).
Was there entertainment on board?
The 3 nights we stayed on board, we had a music quiz one of the nights which all of the guests got involved in. Plenty of mingling around the lounge and lots of guests mixing with one another. The other night was live music from local singer & musician

What activities can you do on board?

Being on a river cruise is more about experiencing the destinations, or relaxing watching the world go by on the “day cruising” where tours aren’t included. Generally sailings are conducted in the afternoon/evening or overnight, so that you can wake up to a new destination. Sometimes the ship will continue to travel along the river whilst on a tour and the guests will be taken back to their ship in the new docked location at the end of the tours.
In your opinion, what makes APT different?
Fantastic value for money vs their competitors but also new ships (the big thing I didn’t realise is Travelmarvel is the “side” brand of APT – more moder & contemporary feel).

Who would enjoy this cruise? (e.g. families, couples, adventurers, people who want to relax).

Couples & groups – older clientele. Empty nesters

Do you have any advice for people booking this trip? (what to pack, dress codes, must-sees, experiences not to miss etc)

Great for people who want to enjoy exploring cities with the knowledgeable guides, but not need to unpack daily. Still have the comfort and “luxury” available and not on coaches all day – also the accessibility as they offer “slow” tours

What were the highlights of your trip?

Seeing the cities from the water – from some of the most known European cities, seeing it from the waters edge at night was beautiful.