Royal Crown - a little gem cruising along the rivers of Europe!

Myself and Holly have just had an amazing few days over in the Netherlands, a hectic 24 hours in Amsterdam (more about that in another post) followed by two nights on board Royal Crown.
I love river cruising as you know so I was thrilled to be invited to spend some time on this wonderful little ship, sort of Orient Express comes to the rivers if you like. Think wood panelling, think Chesterfield sofas, think a Steinway and Sons grand piano, think luxury, elegance, comfort and a relaxed atmosphere, and you will be on the right track.
Here is some background on the ship:

The Lounge

"This elegant vessel combines the nostalgic charm of the 1930s with the comfort, luxury and exquisite service of a five-star vessel. No expense has been spared to create not only a vessel that is beautiful to look at, but also a great joy to travel on. Spacious teak decks, elegant public rooms and staterooms with mahogany, rosewood and marble, together with rich fabrics and specially designed furniture, all blend together to create a unique river vessel. Passenger numbers are limited to fewer than 100, allowing the Royal Crown to be operated in true five-star style. Built in 1996 and refurbished in 2010, the 90 passenger Royal Crown is a luxurious vessel, specially designed for the rivers flowing through the heart of Europe. Exquisite furniture, expensive materials and accessories give the vessel its unique atmosphere. Facilities onboard include a library, boutique, fitness area, lounge with panoramic views and a restaurant with open seating. Outside there is a large sun deck, lido bar, a putting green and large scale chessboard. Onboard the efficient air conditioning system ensures a comfortable temperature. Two powerful engines propel the vessel up to a speed of 12 knots."

The Dining room

We were met at the gangplank by a charming crew member who whisked out suitcases away, embarkation was swift and uncomplicated and in no time at all we were in our gorgeous cabins ready to start our adventure.

Premium suite

We set off to explore our home for the next couple of days and we could not fail to be impressed by our surroundings. Royal Crown really is beautifully turned out and the attention to detail is impressive, even three large fresh floral displays adorn the reception area.

Royal Suite

This ship exudes quality, style and luxury.
The crew, new this season, are friendly, efficient and welcoming and nothing is too much trouble for them. Just a point of note, young Andras, on the bar, makes a damn fine Pina Colada! Our cabin steward Ivan was a delight and serviced our cabins to an impeccable standard in a most unobtrusive manner.

Sun Deck

Accommodation on board regards cabins starts with the Deluxe Suite (twin room), Premier Suites which are slightly larger and doubled bedded, Superior Suites, larger again, and then on top deck there are 6 Royal Suites, larger and more sumptuously furnished We had a Deluxe Suite each and they were lovely, more than adequate for our needs.

Fancy a game of Chess?

The lounge and dining room are both elegantly furnished and comfortable without being flash and overly fussy. Just classic comfort tastefully done.

The Library

The ship is 'crowned' by her magnificent Sun Deck which runs virtually the length of the ship and is furnished with stylish and comfortable teak table and chairs and steamers, all with cushioned covers for your comfort.
All in all, Royal Crown is a lovely ship offering a very special river cruising experience for even the most discerning client who demands the very best cruising experience. With such a high ratio of crew to clients, service is impeccable too.

My bathroom

You will notice that I have not mentioned the food on board at all, strange for me I admit! There is a very good reason for this - the food was so wonderful that it merits a blog post all of its own so watch this space, the food fest will follow shortly. Believe you me, you won't be disappointed, I certainly wasn't.

Would I recommend Royal Crown? I most certainly would, so if you are keen to hear more about her or would like to know how you can book a cruise on her, just give me a call on 0800 408 6084 or email me at hannahw@cruise.co.uk, I'd love to hear from you.