Our girlish hearts yearn to go on Emerald Waterways’ Classic Prague and Danube Delights cruise. Why this yearning, this passion, this desire?
Well, why not? Have you heard about Emerald Waterways? Have you dreamt of being on a “starship?” Well they have some!
Emerald Waterways is a daring new entrant in the river cruise market and they are here to provide, as their Managing Director Chris Townson says, “a predatory product that takes what is out there to another level.” Well take us with you, Chris, we like your confidence, vision, innovation and the gauntlet you’ve thrown down! (And yes, we know you’re part of the Scenic Cruises family – in fact you’re the Prince Harry of the royal family. Good lineage but with a twinkle in your eye and not afraid to live on your own terms.)
We want to be part of Emerald Waterways’ new journey both literally and figuratively. The concept of more value for less money, introducing our demographic cronies to the joys of river cruising, lolling about in spacious rooms, sniffing river breezes on open-air balconies, swimming in the heated pool for our daily exercise and then later enjoying a film in a cinema over-top that same pool is very compelling. (Please check to be sure we’re out of the pool before you put the lid on it.)
We are thrilled that tips are included so that for once we might tell Brunette’s husband the truth about what a trip will cost.
We would endeavor to use as many of the ship and itinerary features as possible. You’d see us enjoying alfresco luncheons on the terrace, spy us through our cabin windows consuming after-dinner sweets and marvel at how much food we would gleefully consume in the Reflections Restaurant. (Unless that name is literal – seeing our reflections could stifle our consumption of excess food.)
We would be using the wi-fi to keep our readers up to date on the cruise and our adventures. We would be intrigued to be learning history from local guides telling us memorable stories spanning the Gothic Period to current times. (As always Brunette would marvel at how much they know and Blonde would think they’re probably doing what she would; making it up.)
The Classic Prague and Danube Delights itinerary is compelling to us because we start with three nights on land so we can wait for our lost luggage to arrive. Then we will cruise to many places we have long-wanted to see but won’t have to pack and repack or drive a rental car (and possibly have to pay speeding tickets after we get home…). We could experience and absorb the benefits of slow travel and probably also absorb a lot of gelato from that gelati stand. (Brunette will need the ship’s laundry facilities to get the gelato stains out of her clothes.)
Another Emerald Waterways differentiator we appreciate is the emphasis on UNESCO sites. If UNESCO World Heritage sites had a cheerleading team we’d be on it (assuming no one else tried out). The countries in this itinerary have a total of 68 UNESCO sites and we trust Emerald Waterways to smartly curate the itinerary to present us with the best options.
We’d hope to savor the renowned Czech “palacinky” pancakes after years of licking pictures of them in travel magazines. We would contribute any needed oomphs or paahs to the Bavarian band. In Austria we would happily lead a tasting of the crisp Grüner Veltliners or determine if the Sauvignon Blancs they’re producing are deserving of the accolades they’re gathering. (We would be doing this purely in the interests of scientific research.)
And we would really enjoy meeting other travelers who share our discerning taste in a “top of the food chain” river cruise company.
Emerald Waterways has sister ships – we are sisters – this just can’t be a coincidence! (And dare we be so bold as to say that we do not have godmothers so would be thrilled if Twiggy would be our Godmother as well as the one for Emerald Waterways? Just sayin’… not a deal breaker or anything.)