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🇨🇭 Switzerland by Rail — Day 2: The Day of SurprisesToday was supposed to be a rainy day. We had already decided last ni...
09/09/2026

🇨🇭 Switzerland by Rail — Day 2: The Day of Surprises

Today was supposed to be a rainy day. We had already decided last night that if the forecast held, we would simply head into Bern, wander through the covered shopping arcades, do a little shopping and hopefully find somewhere for raclette for dinner.

Then I woke up this morning and checked the weather. The rain was supposed to finish around noon. And suddenly I had a thought:

Why don't we just get on a train and go somewhere?

We have our Swiss Travel Passes. The trains are included. We'd be dry while travelling, we'd get to see some scenery, and it really didn't matter where we went.

Marc immediately suggested: Interlaken. Great idea!

So we grabbed sandwiches from the little Coop near our hotel and headed to the train station.

And that decision gave us our favourite day of the trip so far.

We took the train from Bern to Interlaken West, once again travelling First Class with our Swiss Travel Passes.

When we arrived in Interlaken, we noticed there was a ferry terminal right beside the train station. Since the ferry was included with our Swiss Travel Pass, we said to ourselves, why not add a boat component to our day? 

We had about half an hour before departure, so we didn't wander very far. We took a few photos, looked around, and naturally found another drinking-water fountain. 😂

This one might be my favourite yet.

It had two little beavers, and while Marc filled his bottle, the baby seemed to be staring up at its mother saying “Mommy! They're stealing our water!”🤣

Eventually we went looking for our ferry. Except we couldn't actually see a lake. We could see a canal. Where exactly was this boat supposed to be? And then we found it.

🚢 Surprise Number One

Our ferry was a paddle steamer! Not a modern sightseeing boat pretending to be old-fashioned. A beautiful, proper paddle steamer.
The Blümlisalp.

We didn't even know where it was going. We simply walked aboard. “Let’s see where this takes us!”

First Class was upstairs, with a quieter seating areas, inside and outside, providing wonderful views. We chose outside, for the fresh air and so we could take photos with no reflections through the glass. 

For roughly the first 20 minutes, we travelled along the canal leading away from Interlaken.
Then the canal opened onto Lake Thun. And everything changed.

The colour of the water shifted dramatically, the wind picked up, the landscape opened around us, and suddenly we were surrounded by mountains, villages, alpine houses and castles along the shoreline.

It was breathtaking.

But the wind was high and the air got colder, so we decided to move inside. Marc and my brother-in-law ordered fries and they didn’t want them to be ice cold within 30 seconds. 🤣

Then we'd see something. Outside with the cameras. Back inside. Something else appeared. Back outside. 😂

There was an elderly woman sitting by herself near us who had clearly noticed our enthusiasm. At one point she gently touched my arm and told me that a castle was coming up. That started a lovely little conversation. She was from Thun, and I asked whether she had always lived in Switzerland. Eventually she shared that sometimes she simply gets on the ferry and rides it. Not because she needs to go anywhere. Just because it's such a beautiful way to spend a day.

I loved that.

From then on, whenever there was a castle or something interesting approaching, she'd make sure we knew about it.

By the end of the journey I thanked her for being our unofficial tour guide. She gave us the sweetest smile and said it had been her pleasure. I think perhaps we brightened her day a little. She certainly added something special to ours. ❤️

🏰 Castles, Villages... and Another Surprise

There were so many beautiful places along the route, but Oberhofen completely stole our hearts.

Its waterfront, little church and Oberhofen Castle looked almost impossibly picturesque. One of those places where everyone simultaneously reaches for a camera.

And then my sister and I needed to find the washroom. Not usually a pivotal moment in a travel story. Today it was. 😂

We went downstairs and discovered that you could see the working steam machinery inside the ship! The huge rods were moving back and forth as the engine drove the paddle wheels.

Then through a window, we could actually watch the enormous paddle wheel churning through the water. Suddenly our means of transportation had become another attraction entirely.

Our spontaneous little ferry trip eventually lasted a little over two hours, taking us all the way across Lake Thun to the town of Thun.

🧀 The Great Raclette Search

By the time we reached Thun, it was getting into the early evening and we were hungry. We had originally planned to eat raclette today, so Marc searched for somewhere nearby.

First result? A cheese shop. Marc said he definitely searched for a raclette restaurant and Google apparently heard “This man would like to purchase cheese.”

So we tried again. We found another restaurant and stood outside studying the menu. No raclette. No fondue. We stared harder. Still no raclette.

Eventually one of the staff members came outside and asked whether she could help us.
Marc explained that we were looking for raclette or fondue. That's when we learned something.

She explained that for them, raclette and fondue are winter foods. They don't serve them at this time of year.

We had always associated both dishes with Switzerland, of course, but hadn't really considered their seasonality. Restaurants serving them year-round may be catering more specifically to visitors looking for the classic Swiss experience.

Travel teaches you something every day.

So...

No raclette. No fondue. What now?
We looked at the restaurant.
It was cozy.
It was interesting.
The menu looked good.

And all four of us said:“Let's just eat here anyway”, giving the server a chuckle. Which, considering how the rest of the day had gone, seemed entirely appropriate.

The restaurant was Steinbock Restaurant and it turned out to be an excellent decision. The food was wonderful. Marc had lamb strips with rosemary. My sister and I had handmade meatballs. My brother-in-law had Cordon Bleu.

And then there was an unexpected little treat on our plates: endive! Something we absolutely love and don't see nearly often enough at home in Canada.

We even enjoyed some Swiss wine with dinner.

Our failed raclette mission had turned into a fantastic dinner.

🏄 Wait... Are Those SURFERS?

After dinner, we decided to wander through Thun for a little while before catching the train back to Bern. We could see another beautiful wooden covered bridge in the distance, so naturally we headed toward it.

And then came perhaps the most unexpected surprise of the entire day.

There were people in wetsuits.
With surfboards.
In Switzerland.
Landlocked Switzerland!

We moved closer.
Sure enough...

They were surfing! 🤣

The covered bridge also incorporates a dam, and where the gates release the water, the current becomes incredibly powerful. It creates a standing surge strong enough that surfers can ride against it without travelling downstream. There must have been around a dozen people taking turns.

🎉 The Funny Surprise!

While we were making our way down the stairs toward the train station, we got one final little Swiss wildlife moment. A pigeon was hopping UP the stairs!

Apparently health and wellness are so ingrained in Swiss culture that even the pigeons take the stairs. 🤣

Unfortunately, none of us got our cameras out quickly enough to prove it.

🚢 One Final Surprise

We eventually made our way back to Bern, tired but extremely happy.

Then Marc started researching the beautiful paddle steamer we'd casually stepped aboard earlier in the day.

And that's when we learned one final thing.
The Blümlisalp was launched in 1906. The ship we'd spent more than two hours travelling across Lake Thun aboard is 120 years old!

It was taken out of service in 1971, later restored, and returned to service in 1992.

Suddenly the gorgeous old staircase, the polished machinery, the paddle wheels and all those old-fashioned details we'd been admiring took on an entirely different meaning.

We hadn't ridden a modern boat designed to look historic. We had spent our afternoon travelling aboard a piece of Swiss history. And we hadn't even known it when we stepped onboard.

This morning, we thought today might be one of the quieter days of our trip. It was supposed to rain. We had absolutely nothing planned.

Instead, we took a train and then a steam paddle boat ride across the lake, because we could. Our Swiss Rail Pass gave us the freedom to build our day as we went and that gave us the most beautiful and relaxing afternoon.

We crossed Lake Thun aboard a 120-year-old paddle steamer.
We saw castles and alpine villages.
Met a lovely woman who became our unofficial tour guide.
Watched the steam engine working beneath our feet.
Went looking for raclette and learned something about how Swiss people actually eat it.
Had an excellent dinner somewhere we hadn't planned to visit.
Found surfers in a landlocked country.
And witnessed what may be Switzerland's most fitness-conscious pigeon. 😂

Yesterday, wandering up an unknown path gave us one of the most beautiful views of the Alps we have ever seen. Today, getting on a train with no real destination gave us our favourite day of the trip so far. A

There may be a lesson in there somewhere.
Sometimes the best travel plan is simply:

Go.

And see what happens. ❤️🇨🇭🚆

🇨🇭 Switzerland by Rail — Day 1: Bern, Mountains & Travel Advisor PowerToday we traded the river for the rails—and what a...
09/08/2026

🇨🇭 Switzerland by Rail — Day 1: Bern, Mountains & Travel Advisor Power

Today we traded the river for the rails—and what a first day it was. 🇨🇭🚆🏔️

After a week of early starts, excursions, buses, boats and ever-changing schedules, this morning was wonderfully relaxed. We didn't have to leave AmaSerena until 10:00, and AmaWaterways had arranged a taxi to take us to the train station.

When we walked off the ship, our luggage was already loaded into the taxi. Now that's how you end a river cruise. 😂

About ten minutes later we were at Basel train station, and it took us only a couple of minutes to orient ourselves and figure out which train we needed.

Our Swiss Travel Passes are First Class, so we settled into a wonderfully quiet carriage for the approximately one-hour journey to Bern.

And just like that, the next chapter of our trip had begun.

🚆 Switzerland by Train

We're staying at the Moxy Bern Expo, which we chose largely because of its location. It's directly across from the train station, so when we arrived there was no hauling suitcases halfway across Bern.

Our room wasn't ready yet, but my sister and brother-in-law's was, so we dropped off all the luggage and headed back out.

First priority: lunch.

There is a little Co-op grocery store just a couple of doors down from the hotel, so we grabbed sandwiches and drinks and found some tables across the street.

Nothing fancy. Just four people sitting outside in Switzerland eating sandwiches. And it was perfect.

We also discovered a public water tap right beside us where we could refill our bottles - just after my brother-in-law bought a bottle of water 😆.

Lunch finished, it was time to put those rail passes to work again. We hopped on another train and made our way to the Gurtenbahn, the funicular that takes you up Gurten, Bern's local mountain.

The train station is only a short walk from the funicular, making the whole trip incredibly easy.

Up we went.

And apparently yesterday's bird warning was unnecessary. Today we had to watch out for the cows. 🐄🤣

There were cows peacefully grazing at the top, because apparently Switzerland really does occasionally behave exactly as advertised.

The first thing we spotted was a Ferris wheel.
Well...Obviously we had to go on that. 🎡
From the top we had wonderful views over Bern and the surrounding countryside.

Afterward we started walking and discovered a toboggan run. Marc, my sister and my brother-in-law immediately decided this looked like fun.
I decided photographing them looked like fun.

There was, however, one small logistical problem. They weren't allowed to take their belongings on the toboggan. So while the three of them went flying down the mountain, I was handed everything.

Bags. Hats. Cameras. More bags.
Apparently my official role in Switzerland is no longer Travel Advisor. I am the Pack Mule.🤣

And yes, photographic evidence exists.

After everyone survived the toboggan, we noticed a pathway heading farther up the hill.
Naturally, it was paved. After all, this is Switzerland. 😆

We couldn't actually see where it went.

It was over 30°C, we were hot and sticky, and for a moment we almost decided to go the other way. But then we thought...

*Let's just wander up and see what's there.*

So we did.

We followed the path, climbed toward the crest of the hill... And then we reached the top.

Oh.

There, stretched across the horizon in front of us, were the Swiss Alps. We had almost missed them. And I think that made the moment even more extraordinary.

There had been no tour guide leading us to a designated viewpoint. No announcement that we had fifteen minutes for photographs. No schedule telling us when we had to leave.

We had simply followed a path because we wondered where it went. And suddenly, there they were. 🏔️❤️

I have always felt a very strong connection to the mountains, and seeing the Swiss Alps stretching across the horizon was breathtaking.

So we stopped. We sat. And we stayed.

There was nowhere else we needed to be.
No guide waiting for us.
No bus departure time.
No schedule at all.

We could simply sit there for as long as we wanted, looking out over the countryside toward those mountains.

It felt peaceful.
Grounding.
And absolutely wonderful.

Sometimes travelling isn't about doing anything.
Sometimes it's simply about being in the moment.

Of course, while contemplating the majesty of the Alps, I suddenly became very excited because I was quite certain I could see the Matterhorn.

I was wrong. 🤣

What I was actually admiring was the Finsteraarhorn. Still magnificent. My Swiss mountain-identification credentials, however, may require some additional training. 😂

We also watched a bird soaring high above us and repeatedly diving through the air. At first I thought it might be a hawk or falcon, but the wings didn't look quite right. Mystery eventually solvedAlpine Swift!

After the various bird-related incidents earlier in this trip, I am happy to report that this one remained at a safe altitude and behaved impeccably. 😂

Eventually we pulled ourselves away from the view, took the funicular back down and hopped aboard another train.

Next stop: Old Town Bern.

We wandered through the streets and market, taking in some of the historic centre, and found yet another public fountain for a water refill.

By this point, though, the temperature was still well over 30°C.

We were hot.
We were sticky.
We were tired.
And we'd had a fantastic day.

Time to head back to the Moxy.

Dinner brought another discovery.

Swiss gin!🍸🇨🇭
We tried a Matte Dry Gin, made right here in Bern.

I mean, really... We ARE Gin & Tonic Travel.
It would have been professionally irresponsible not to conduct the necessary research. 😂

My dinner was also rather colourful—a chicken burger served on a bright red bun. It looked slightly alarming. It tasted pretty good.

And with that, we thought our adventures for the day were over. We were mistaken. My sister and brother-in-law discovered that their bed was hard. Not firm. Not supportive. Hard.

I went into their room and tried it myself.
It was like lying on plywood.

They went downstairs to ask whether they could get a mattress topper, but housekeeping had already left for the evening and initially there didn't seem to be a solution.

That's when Travel Advisor Angela came back on duty. 😂

I went downstairs with my brother-in-law, explained that I was the travel advisor for both bookings, that we've stayed at many Moxy hotels in several cities and countries, and that there was absolutely no way they were going to get a comfortable night's sleep on that bed.

The manager was alone at the time, but told us another staff member would arrive at 10:00 and promised they would bring a topper upstairs.

And at 10:40 p.m., the message arrived.
Topper delivered.
Bed comfortable.
Crisis over.
Along with three very appropriate words from my brother-in-law: Travel Advisor Power.”🤣

So ends our first day exploring Switzerland independently.

Today we rode trains and a funicular, went up a Ferris wheel, sent three members of the group hurtling down a mountain on toboggans, discovered Swiss gin, wandered through Bern, drank from public fountains, met some cows, identified an Alpine Swift and almost accidentally walked away from one of the most beautiful views of the entire trip.

Another thing we really appreciated today was just how much our Swiss Travel Pass covered. Every train we took today—including the Gurtenbahn funicular—was included. So rather than stopping to buy individual tickets each time, we could simply decide where we wanted to go, hop on the next train and keep exploring.

That freedom is exactly what we wanted from this part of the trip. And perhaps that's what I loved most about today.

We didn't have to be anywhere.

We simply had the freedom to wonder:
“I wonder what's up there?”

And then go find out. ❤️🇨🇭🏔️

🇨🇭 Day 7: Lucerne, Two Bridges & One Very Suspicious CormorantToday we went to Lucerne, and after several days of buses,...
09/07/2026

🇨🇭 Day 7: Lucerne, Two Bridges & One Very Suspicious Cormorant

Today we went to Lucerne, and after several days of buses, boats, ship swaps and ever-changing plans, it felt rather nice to simply head out for a day of exploring Switzerland.

And Lucerne did not disappoint.

It is one of those cities that almost doesn’t look real. Mountains in the distance, beautiful old buildings, incredibly clear water and, of course, those famous wooden covered bridges that seem to belong in another century.

Our first was Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), probably the most recognizable landmark in Lucerne. Covered in flowers and stretching across the Reuss River, it’s beautiful from the outside—but walking through it is where you start noticing the details.

Above you are historic triangular paintings tucked into the roof structure, telling stories from Lucerne’s past. It’s easy to walk across looking out at the river and the city and completely forget to look up.

And then there is the water. I don’t think photographs really capture just how clear it is. As the water levels are so low, you can look straight down and see rocks, plants and the riverbed beneath the surface.

We even spotted a cormorant standing on a rock with its wings spread dramatically in the sunshine. Considering what we witnessed earlier in this trip involving one unfortunate bird and the aftermath of its digestive system, I viewed this one with a certain amount of suspicion. We kept moving. 😂

Lucerne is a wonderful city for simply wandering. Beautiful architecture, colourful buildings, little squares, churches and fountains everywhere.

One thing that really caught our attention was the painted façades throughout the Old Town. These aren’t simply colourful buildings—many are decorated with murals, elaborate patterns and scenes that tell stories about the building, its former owners or Lucerne’s history.

Some of the façades almost look like enormous outdoor paintings, and once you start noticing them, you find yourself looking up constantly. It’s another example of how history here isn’t confined to museums—it’s quite literally painted onto the city.

And here’s something I almost forgot until the photos reminded me: many of those fountains aren’t simply decorative. The water is drinkable and they’re intended for people to use. You can refill your water bottle as you explore the city.

We stopped at one particularly elaborate church, and the rather understated exterior gave absolutely no indication of what was waiting inside. The interior was stunning—ornate ceilings, elaborate plasterwork, paintings, marble and gold everywhere you looked.

Then we found our second wooden bridge.
And no, despite appearances, this wasn’t Chapel Bridge again. This was the Spreuer Bridge (Spreuerbrücke).

It doesn’t get quite the same attention as its famous neighbour, but I found it fascinating. The wooden structure itself is beautiful, and again there are paintings tucked into the triangular spaces beneath the roof.

This bridge has clearly had a life. One of the signs tells its story: built in 1408, destroyed by a storm in 1566, rebuilt in 1568, and renovated in 1889. More than 600 years later, we’re still walking across it.

That’s one of the things I love about travelling in Europe. History isn’t necessarily behind glass in a museum. Sometimes you’re simply walking across it on your way to the other side of town.

Eventually it was time to leave Lucerne and return to AmaSerena in Basel.

Our final dinner onboard was, as always, delicious… although we couldn’t help noticing that the menu was rather eclectic. After a week of beautifully composed meals, this one had a definite: “Right then… what have we still got in the kitchen?” feel to it. 😂

Nothing wrong with that. It was all delicious, and I applaud a kitchen that sends us home well fed and cleans out the fridge. No need to waste food.

After dinner came the part of every trip I dislike.
Packing.

We all went back to our cabins, packed our suitcases and got everything ready for the morning.

Once that was done, none of us was quite ready for the evening—or the cruise—to end. So the four of us went up to the Sun Deck.

We were docked in an industrial port area of Basel, but it was remarkably quiet. The temperature was lovely, nobody else was up there, and for a while we simply sat together talking.

No excursion to get to.
No bus to catch.
No suitcase to put outside the door.

Just the four of us, sitting on top of the ship after a rather extraordinary week on the Rhine.
It was a lovely way to end our cruise.

This certainly wasn’t exactly the itinerary we thought we would be sailing when we booked it. Extremely low water forced changes along the way, but AmaWaterways worked incredibly hard to keep us as close to the original itinerary as circumstances allowed, including getting us through the Rhine Gorge on a smaller sightseeing boat when AmaSerena couldn’t sail that section.

And we learned afterward just how fortunate we had been.

We heard that the Rhine Gorge closed to navigation the following day, meaning we had made it through just before the closure. There was speculation that it could remain closed for some time.

Sometimes you don’t realize just how narrow the window was until after you’ve passed through it.

Tomorrow morning we’ll say goodbye to AmaSerena, but our trip isn’t finished. For the next few days, we’ll be exploring Switzerland by train before eventually making our way home.

The suitcases are packed.
The river portion of the adventure is complete.
And tomorrow… we trade the river for the rails. 🇨🇭🚆

Next stop: Switzerland by train. ❤️

🚢 Day 6: Baden-Baden, A Bevy of Swans & One Serious River Cruise ProblemThis morning we left AmaSerena at 9:00 for the r...
09/06/2026

🚢 Day 6: Baden-Baden, A Bevy of Swans & One Serious River Cruise Problem

This morning we left AmaSerena at 9:00 for the roughly one-hour drive to Baden-Baden, and for the first time this week, we boarded an actual AmaWaterways coach.

AmaWaterways has its own coaches positioned at many of its regular ports of call, but because our itinerary has been modified throughout the week, we’d been travelling on rented coaches until today. As travel advisors on a FAM, these are the little things we’re here to experience, and the coach was quite comfortable.

It did, however, present us with our first mystery of the day. Beside the buttons for the lights and air vents was another button that appeared to have a coffee cup on it.

We all stared at it. We discussed it. We never did figure out what it did. And considering our track record this week, we decided perhaps it was best not to push unidentified buttons. 🤣

Our guide for the day was Zoe, originally from New York but now living in Europe for about 25 years. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the history, customs and culture of the region and led us on a 90-minute walk through Baden-Baden.

Baden-Baden has long been a playground for the rich and famous—a place people came not only for the famous thermal waters, but also to see and be seen. Today, the elegant streets, beautiful buildings and high-fashion shops still reflect that history.

We visited the grand casino, although we were only permitted into the spectacular main lobby. Tours are available beyond that, but only offered@ in German. The grounds surrounding the casino were also being prepared for a music festival taking place over the next several weekends.

The thermal baths, of course, are at the heart of Baden-Baden’s story.

Today’s baths were constructed above the remains of the ancient Roman baths, and Zoe explained how people have been coming here for centuries in search of the supposed healing properties of the thermal water. The naturally hot water contains a variety of minerals—including lithium, arsenic and saltpeter—and historically, bathing in it was believed to help everything from physical ailments to depression.

Drinking it, however, was definitely NOT recommended. 😳

We were able to put our hands into some of the thermal water. Hot means HOT.

There are also horse statues positioned around the city to commemorate the beginning of Baden-Baden’s horse-racing season, adding another little piece to the city’s rather glamorous personality.

One thing that particularly caught our attention, though, wasn’t glamorous at all.

We crossed a small stream where the water was so low that you could clearly see the brick-reinforced bed beneath it. After everything we’ve experienced with low water on the Rhine this week, it was another reminder of just how widespread the dry conditions are.

After our guided walk, we had about 30 minutes to wander on our own. There wasn’t enough time to do any serious damage in those high-fashion shops—which was probably for the best. 😂

Then it was time to head back to the coach, which was about a 10 minute walk. But we had a problem.

Two passengers were missing.

For a few minutes there was genuine concern, and Zoe headed back to look for them. Thankfully, they eventually appeared, everyone was accounted for, and off we went.

On our way back toward Strasbourg, I managed to catch one of my favourite photographs of the day as we crossed the Rhine: Germany on the left and France on the right. Two countries. One photograph.

Europe is pretty amazing sometimes.

We arrived back at AmaSerena in time for lunch, and then we set sail for Basel.

The afternoon was exactly what I had imagined when we first booked a river cruise: nowhere we needed to be, beautiful weather, the Rhine passing quietly outside and time simply to enjoy being on the river.

Marc and I even managed to catch up on some work while still having plenty of time to sit outside and watch the scenery.

We passed through several locks during the afternoon, and each one was a little different. Sitting on our balcony and hearing the water rushing in as the ship slowly rose to the next level was fascinating. It’s one of those ordinary parts of river travel that turns out not to feel ordinary at all when you’re actually experiencing it.

And then…

THE BIRDS REDEEMED THEMSELVES.

After the pigeon incident in Amsterdam, the swan incident, the bird-poop incident in Rüdesheim and the wasps shopping amongst the jellybeans in Cologne, I think the European wildlife finally decided we had suffered enough.

I was waiting to speak with our Cruise Director when I stepped outside and spotted a huge bevy of swans on the river. So many of them.

We really haven’t seen many swans at all this trip, which has surprised us, so suddenly seeing this beautiful group together felt like a little gift.

No hissing. No pooping. Nobody was attacked.
Progress. 🤣

Later we enjoyed Sip & Sail before the Captain’s Dinner, with glasses of champagne handed out as everyone entered the lounge and members of the crew parading through. Dinner itself was delicious.

We’d also had opportunities to chat with other passengers and swap cruise stories—the kind of conversations that happen so naturally on a smaller ship.

After dinner, all four of us spent some time outside enjoying the Rhine at night. The sky was clear enough that we started talking with another passenger about the different constellations overhead. And then I saw it.

A shooting star.

It lasted only a moment, but sometimes those completely unexpected little moments become the ones you remember.

Marc and I also found ourselves talking about a question we’re often asked: Which is better—ocean cruising or river cruising?

After this week, I don’t think there is an answer.
They’re simply too different.

Ocean cruising has its big entertainment, endless choices and the excitement of a large ship. River cruising is intimate and relaxed, with fewer passengers and the remarkable ability to travel straight through the heart of Europe, often waking up somewhere new.

Each has its own charm.

And after nearly a week, we’ve also been asking my sister and brother-in-law—our first-time river cruisers—what they think.

They’re loving the food and service. They love having fewer people aboard. My sister definitely does not miss the long lineups that can come with a large ship.

And I have a feeling this won’t be their last river cruise.

There is, however, one rather serious deficiency in river cruising that my sister has now identified. She misses the late-night pizza runs.🤣

So there you have it.

Beautiful European cities.
Thermal waters.
The Rhine.
A bevy of swans.
A shooting star.

And still…

no pizza at midnight. 🍕🤣

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