Cruise review: I took a Travelmarvel Capella European Gems river cruise
It's rare to be able to check in and join a cruise halfway through its itinerary but that's precisely what I did. It's a point of difference for Travelmarvel, the sister brand to Australian-owned APT.
If a cabin is available, anything is possible. This flexibility is a hallmark of the brand, and echoes throughout the ship's laid-back program. There's a modern but relaxed feel to the interiors, food and service, which suits Australian guests, and the pricing is competitive, catering to travellers who may not need all the bells, whistles and pricey all-inclusive drinks packages.
Top tips for your first time on a cruise ship
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Set the scene
We embarked on the Travelmarvel Capella in Melk, Austria, for the final leg of its river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. While Australian guests will usually complete the full 15-day European Gems itinerary along the Rhine-Main-Danube route, European-based travellers are more likely to choose to sail for one week. This leaves a handful of free cabins for a colleague and I to join the fun. The company has four ships sailing Europe's most popular course, and Capella's cruise director Hedleigh Emberson knows the itinerary well. He's been sailing this circuit for years, and rallies the troops each day for shore excursions with good humour and infectious energy.
We embarked on the Travelmarvel Capella in Melk, Austria, for the final leg of its river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. Picture: Supplied.
The itinerary
While Capella's 15-day itinerary traverses the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, I'm only on board for four nights, covering Melk and Vienna in Austria, Bratislava in Slovakia, and Budapest in Hungary. It's a hit a minute – each day we arrive at a fascinating European city, and the diverse experiences make it clear why many travellers repeat this route. In Melk, we explore its Baroque hilltop abbey, and enjoy the cobblestone streets lined with local distillers.
By afternoon, we've reached the idyllic village of Dürnstein.
By afternoon, we've reached the idyllic village of Dürnstein for a wander and wine tasting at Weingut Böhmer. The region is known for its grüner veltliner and we settle in for the afternoon at a quirky bar tucked into the city's medieval gate. A full day spent in opulent Vienna passes quickly, touring manicured parks, historical Habsburg palaces and monuments (including many devoted to the Empress Sisi), shopping, and sampling ale and schnitzel at the popular Reinthaler's Beisl. Bratislava in Slovakia is immaculate and affordable, with its historic Old Town a stone's throw from the ship.
Our last stop is the highlight, with two days in Budapest, where the finale is a jovial dinner and an evening cruise along the Danube with the magnificent Budapest landmarks alight.
I was lucky to score an Owner's suite. It was very spacious, with a generous seating area. Picture: Rob Nijhuis/Supplied.
The cabins
There are 89 cabins catering to a maximum of 178 passengers and 44 crew, and three categories of rooms. Entry level starts at a Window Stateroom up to a French-style Balcony Suite (with floor-to-ceiling windows, which open), and an Owner's Suite, which I was lucky to score. It was very spacious, with a generous seating area, bathroom with double sinks and plenty of storage, desk and large TV facing the bed. All of the rooms are modern and well furnished.
There is a petite whirlpool on the sun deck. Picture: Rob Nijhuis/Supplied.
The extras
Daily shore excursions are included in your fare, with extension options if you want to pay more. There are bicycles to borrow and I was pleased to find a gym on board, not that I used it after walking so much while exploring different cities each day. There is a petite whirlpool on the sun deck, and a cooktop space on the Sky Deck Terrace functions as an outdoor bar and barbecue, which lends an Australian touch for outdoor entertaining.
The main dining room, Constellations Restaurant, serves good, crowd-pleasing food. Picture: Supplied.
Food and drink
The main dining room, Constellations Restaurant, serves good, crowd-pleasing food, and the comfortable McGeary's Bar (named after the company's founding family) at the rear of the ship, has a more casual pub-style menu. The True North Lounge is an additional bar area for relaxing or evening entertainment. Travelmarvel suits travellers who don't want the expense of an all-inclusive drinks package and prefer to pay as they go.
The True North Lounge is an additional bar area for relaxing or evening entertainment. Picture: Rob Nijhuis/Supplied.
What's hot
Cruise director Hedleigh's sense of humour. 'You'll find me on the mezzanine,' he winks at me, gesturing to his desk upstairs with a cheeky nod to Kath and Kim (who mispronounce it as mezza-noyne).
What's not
Dark wood panelling within the interiors is polished and cosy but can make spaces feel dark if the weather is overcast.
The service was efficient and friendly and the tours of a high standard. Picture: Supplied.
The verdict - 8.5/10
Although I didn't undertake the full 15-day itinerary, this is a flexible, good-quality way to pack in the sights. The service was efficient and friendly and the tours of a high standard.
The writer was a guest of Travelmarvel. Its 15-day European Gems cruise, sailing Budapest to Amsterdam, is priced from $4995 per person.
Originally published as Cruise review: I took a Travelmarvel Capella river cruise, this sets it apart
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Yet Australian lifeguard Sebastian Walker-Staalkjaer reckons it's taken a while to get used to another occupational hazard - random naked swimmers. The 27-year-old from Victoria's Portsea Surf Lifesaving Club is one of six Aussie lifeguards who have been patrolling Danish beaches northwest of Copenhagen since late June as part of an exchange program with North Zealand Lifesaving Service. The group has been deployed to swimming spots along a 70-kilometre stretch of coastline known as the Danish Riviera, where sleepy fishing villages are inundated with holidaymakers. "Because you can see Sweden from here ... you just don't get the wind that pushes the swell for kilometres and kilometres and kilometres to build the big swell we get in Australia," Mr Walker-Staalkjaer explained as AAP joined him on patrol at Lynæs sea bathing club. "So even though they do have rips here, they just don't have the power behind them." Mid-interview, a naked Danish couple wandered down to the water. "This is one thing I'm surprised about," he said laughing. "In Australia, we don't have naked swimmers." Mr Walker-Staalkjaer used a rubber duck thermometer to measure the water temperature, a crisp 19 degrees. "The Danes love their water temperature," he said. "I guarantee you, I have six different guys come up to me, telling me I'm off by a degree." The exchange program started three years ago after John Mogensen from North Zealand Lifesaving Service met Natalie Hood, former president at Portsea Surf Lifesaving Club, at an international lifesaving meeting. The pair lamented how difficult it was to fill patrol shifts during summer, Mr Mogensen said. "It's about boosting manpower but also giving an experience to my lifeguards ... they make friends abroad," he told AAP. The participants receive travel subsidies, free accommodation and access to bikes to get to their paid or volunteer patrol shifts, depending on working holiday visa eligibility. Mr Mogensen, who is director of lifesaving, noted the Australians injected more fun and social life into his service. Inspired by Australia's Nippers program, he revived a Danish junior development program. The exchange also expanded after former Australian ambassador to Denmark, Kerin Ayyalaraju, introduced Mr Mogensen to a surf lifesaving contact in Sydney, resulting in NSW lifesavers coming to Denmark. For Mr Walker-Staalkjaer, who has a Danish father and Australian mother, it's an opportunity to connect with his paternal roots, practise his language skills and catch up with extended family. "Just writing Australian lifeguard up on the board, you get so many people coming up, excited, saying 'Oh wow, you've come all the way over from Australia'," he said. "You have a lot of people bringing up (Australian-born Danish Queen) Mary... most have a connection because they have been travelling there or their kids went to study or took a gap year." Mr Walker-Staalkjaer hasn't performed any major rescues in Denmark. It's mostly been first aid, jellyfish stings and swimmers standing on poisonous spiky weever fish. Doing solo patrols has also been a novelty, whereas back home, he is usually on duty with a team of 10. "You need a different style of guarding here. You have to keep yourself very alert. Whereas, in Australia, things kind of come at you," he said. "It's a slower pace in a good way." Later this year, a handful of Danish lifeguards are set to travel Down Under to escape Denmark's brutal winter. Mr Walker-Staalkjaer then hopes to be back in Denmark next year. "It's great hopping from summer to summer," he said. There aren't any lurking sharks or powerful rips to contend with on Denmark's Zealand island. Yet Australian lifeguard Sebastian Walker-Staalkjaer reckons it's taken a while to get used to another occupational hazard - random naked swimmers. The 27-year-old from Victoria's Portsea Surf Lifesaving Club is one of six Aussie lifeguards who have been patrolling Danish beaches northwest of Copenhagen since late June as part of an exchange program with North Zealand Lifesaving Service. The group has been deployed to swimming spots along a 70-kilometre stretch of coastline known as the Danish Riviera, where sleepy fishing villages are inundated with holidaymakers. "Because you can see Sweden from here ... you just don't get the wind that pushes the swell for kilometres and kilometres and kilometres to build the big swell we get in Australia," Mr Walker-Staalkjaer explained as AAP joined him on patrol at Lynæs sea bathing club. "So even though they do have rips here, they just don't have the power behind them." Mid-interview, a naked Danish couple wandered down to the water. "This is one thing I'm surprised about," he said laughing. "In Australia, we don't have naked swimmers." Mr Walker-Staalkjaer used a rubber duck thermometer to measure the water temperature, a crisp 19 degrees. "The Danes love their water temperature," he said. "I guarantee you, I have six different guys come up to me, telling me I'm off by a degree." The exchange program started three years ago after John Mogensen from North Zealand Lifesaving Service met Natalie Hood, former president at Portsea Surf Lifesaving Club, at an international lifesaving meeting. The pair lamented how difficult it was to fill patrol shifts during summer, Mr Mogensen said. "It's about boosting manpower but also giving an experience to my lifeguards ... they make friends abroad," he told AAP. The participants receive travel subsidies, free accommodation and access to bikes to get to their paid or volunteer patrol shifts, depending on working holiday visa eligibility. Mr Mogensen, who is director of lifesaving, noted the Australians injected more fun and social life into his service. Inspired by Australia's Nippers program, he revived a Danish junior development program. The exchange also expanded after former Australian ambassador to Denmark, Kerin Ayyalaraju, introduced Mr Mogensen to a surf lifesaving contact in Sydney, resulting in NSW lifesavers coming to Denmark. For Mr Walker-Staalkjaer, who has a Danish father and Australian mother, it's an opportunity to connect with his paternal roots, practise his language skills and catch up with extended family. "Just writing Australian lifeguard up on the board, you get so many people coming up, excited, saying 'Oh wow, you've come all the way over from Australia'," he said. "You have a lot of people bringing up (Australian-born Danish Queen) Mary... most have a connection because they have been travelling there or their kids went to study or took a gap year." Mr Walker-Staalkjaer hasn't performed any major rescues in Denmark. It's mostly been first aid, jellyfish stings and swimmers standing on poisonous spiky weever fish. Doing solo patrols has also been a novelty, whereas back home, he is usually on duty with a team of 10. "You need a different style of guarding here. You have to keep yourself very alert. Whereas, in Australia, things kind of come at you," he said. "It's a slower pace in a good way." Later this year, a handful of Danish lifeguards are set to travel Down Under to escape Denmark's brutal winter. Mr Walker-Staalkjaer then hopes to be back in Denmark next year. "It's great hopping from summer to summer," he said. There aren't any lurking sharks or powerful rips to contend with on Denmark's Zealand island. Yet Australian lifeguard Sebastian Walker-Staalkjaer reckons it's taken a while to get used to another occupational hazard - random naked swimmers. The 27-year-old from Victoria's Portsea Surf Lifesaving Club is one of six Aussie lifeguards who have been patrolling Danish beaches northwest of Copenhagen since late June as part of an exchange program with North Zealand Lifesaving Service. The group has been deployed to swimming spots along a 70-kilometre stretch of coastline known as the Danish Riviera, where sleepy fishing villages are inundated with holidaymakers. "Because you can see Sweden from here ... you just don't get the wind that pushes the swell for kilometres and kilometres and kilometres to build the big swell we get in Australia," Mr Walker-Staalkjaer explained as AAP joined him on patrol at Lynæs sea bathing club. "So even though they do have rips here, they just don't have the power behind them." Mid-interview, a naked Danish couple wandered down to the water. "This is one thing I'm surprised about," he said laughing. "In Australia, we don't have naked swimmers." Mr Walker-Staalkjaer used a rubber duck thermometer to measure the water temperature, a crisp 19 degrees. "The Danes love their water temperature," he said. "I guarantee you, I have six different guys come up to me, telling me I'm off by a degree." The exchange program started three years ago after John Mogensen from North Zealand Lifesaving Service met Natalie Hood, former president at Portsea Surf Lifesaving Club, at an international lifesaving meeting. The pair lamented how difficult it was to fill patrol shifts during summer, Mr Mogensen said. "It's about boosting manpower but also giving an experience to my lifeguards ... they make friends abroad," he told AAP. The participants receive travel subsidies, free accommodation and access to bikes to get to their paid or volunteer patrol shifts, depending on working holiday visa eligibility. Mr Mogensen, who is director of lifesaving, noted the Australians injected more fun and social life into his service. Inspired by Australia's Nippers program, he revived a Danish junior development program. The exchange also expanded after former Australian ambassador to Denmark, Kerin Ayyalaraju, introduced Mr Mogensen to a surf lifesaving contact in Sydney, resulting in NSW lifesavers coming to Denmark. For Mr Walker-Staalkjaer, who has a Danish father and Australian mother, it's an opportunity to connect with his paternal roots, practise his language skills and catch up with extended family. "Just writing Australian lifeguard up on the board, you get so many people coming up, excited, saying 'Oh wow, you've come all the way over from Australia'," he said. "You have a lot of people bringing up (Australian-born Danish Queen) Mary... most have a connection because they have been travelling there or their kids went to study or took a gap year." Mr Walker-Staalkjaer hasn't performed any major rescues in Denmark. It's mostly been first aid, jellyfish stings and swimmers standing on poisonous spiky weever fish. Doing solo patrols has also been a novelty, whereas back home, he is usually on duty with a team of 10. "You need a different style of guarding here. You have to keep yourself very alert. Whereas, in Australia, things kind of come at you," he said. "It's a slower pace in a good way." Later this year, a handful of Danish lifeguards are set to travel Down Under to escape Denmark's brutal winter. Mr Walker-Staalkjaer then hopes to be back in Denmark next year. "It's great hopping from summer to summer," he said.
