Danube River Cruises on Small Ships

The Scottish Highlander cruise was incredible from beginning to end. The boat was stunning (old polished wood and comfortable furniture), the cabins were efficient with excellent bathroom facilities... but the most astounding part of the experience was the excellence of the crew. Their personal warmth and attention to detail was mind-blowing. Our boat had a 5-person crew, and each of them in their own personal way made the experience unforgettable. They genuinely seemed to like finding ways to enhance the passenger experience. Holly was utterly charming as she made sure our experience in the boat went well, and no detail escaped her attention, from the flowers she brought on board to recommending walks at docking points to the care with which each meal-setting was perfect. Deckhand Jake was always eager to explain the locks and workings of the boat, as well as life in Scotland. Angus made sure our excursions to castles, a distillery, a cheese shop (especially fun) went off without a hitch (except one case of wet feet in a bog, an easy mistake) and he filled us in on the history needed to understand various sites. Skipper Adam was friendly and welcoming as we took turns driving the boat, or just hanging out in the wheelhouse and watching the amazing scenery go by. And Chef Simon, wow... the meals were absolutely superb... creative and delicious, while utterly mindful of dietary restrictions. Having done larger river-boat cruises before, I never expected this level of cuisine. The meals were works of art in themselves. This cruise was perfect for relaxing, taking in awesome scenery, enjoying walks here and there, and exploring nooks and crannies of the scenic Scottish highlands. Source: https://tinyurl.com/2bnhkj6b

The barge itself and the crew were amazing. The structure of the various expeditions and visits by experts and musicians was very well constructed to educate about the history of Scotland. All in all it was brilliant with the best food that we have ever tasted. Source: https://tinyurl.com/2auclmjp

Lovely, relaxing, superb food but too much. Staff made every effort to accommodate needs. I would recommend keeping beds arranged … Source: https://tinyurl.com/2bvpbd5b

I grew up speaking French and I’ve traveled to France 50 to 100 times. I have always wanted to do this barge trip, but I wanted to do it with a group of friends. In May, my old friends from college and I booked all six cabins and did a week on the impressionist. It was fantastic. 10 times better than we’d hope for. The staff was amazing. We all loved it. Great food. Very cool barge. Nice rooms. Amazing wines. Fantastic tours. Everyone spoke English. I can’t imagine how it could’ve been any more fun. Source: https://tinyurl.com/25ub24k3

Best food I've ever had. Crew were excellent, personable, and professional. I particularly enjoyed sitting in the wheelhouse when we … Source: https://tinyurl.com/29yodr9o

We had a fantastic time on L'Impressionniste last May. The crew was outstanding and spoiled us each day. They were … Source: https://tinyurl.com/2dke2sp5