Floating Feast – Ship Review

A European river cruise delivers sustenance for the eyes and the palate

Austin, Texas-based advisors Cyndi and Mark Worgan report back on their recent river voyage – a journey, they say, that was full of pleasant surprises and culinary discoveries. The couple slipped past castles, vineyards, and storybook villages while sailing aboard Inspire, a ship that cruises exclusively for Tauck on Europe’s Rhine and Moselle rivers.

Speaking Of Pleasant Surprises …

“We were amazed at how Inspire navigated through locks and under low bridges. And the ship was very comfortable – with contempo­rary decor, yet a warm and inviting ambience.”

Ask And You Shall Receive:

“One night at dinner, we casually mentioned to the maître d’ that, as Texans, we were crav­ing guacamole. At breakfast the next morn­ing, the chef surprised us with house-made guacamole and flour tortillas.”

Oenophiles Will Love:

“Local vintages are served in both the ship’s main dining room and Arthur’s, its small, alternative bistro. (Book early for dinners in Arthur’s, as tables fill up fast.) Our itinerary also offered an excursion to a Moselle Val­ley winery for a private tasting.”

Speaking Of Excursions…

“Tauck had three guides on board who gave briefings every afternoon on the next day’s activities ashore. Some­thing else we liked: Tauck’s buses followed us from port to port, so we had familiar transportation and drivers throughout our cruise.”

Talk About High Tea:

“Nothing beats afternoon tea on the ship’s top deck while cruising past castles.”

We’re Suite On:

“The suites on the Diamond Deck are wonderful and feature two floor-to-ceiling French balconies. We’ve also had several discerning clients tell us they loved them.”

Itinerary to Book:

“The 13-day Rhine and Moselle voyage between Amsterdam and Basel, which includes a private gala evening at Germany’s twelfth-century Satzvey Castle.”