While I was looking at Christmas cruises recently (yep Christmas, it actually isn't very far away) I came across some veeeeery affordable Christmas market river cruises. 😁😊 They're literally half the price of other river cruise lines. If you're interested in the Christmas River cruises, you'll find those here: tui-uk.7cnq.net/eKE10X (Affiliate link). 🎄🙂

when people tell me I might be bored on a cruise or staying outside of the center of a city or town I say "EXCELLENT"! , being bored means I get to relax and lay there like a slug without feeling guilty.

Found your series by accident and I honestly must tell, even though Im not a cruiser myself, I found myself BINGE watching your videos.. very good and entertaining.

My dad went cruising with me until he was 96 he loved going on cruises we were on one just before the pandemic. He passed away at 98 and he was my cruising buddy

When I was Emma's age, this would have been high luxury. In my twenties a vacation usually involved sleeping in a car.

I have to congratulate Emma on communicating her information in the most efficient, informative way. My pet peeve are KZfaqrs who meander, perambulate, and hem and haw, repeat themselves endlessly. Emma delivers! I haven't the slightest desire to go on a cruise, yet I thoroughly enjoy her videos.

Hi. On the Skyla right now, in Passau. Just wanted to update some items. Bathroom door problem fixed. They added another layer of frost. Meals are bountiful and filling. Still 2 outlets in each room. Air conditioning now has an ice setting, brrrr. Having a wonderful times because of your review. Flew in from the states, only Americans onboard.

This is my favorite rabbit hole I’ve been down on KZfaq. This channel is so pleasant.

My wife and I are from Australia and we have done about 5 European cruises with Amawaterways, Viking and Uniworld. I was initially a bit daunted by the fact that this video was 30 minutes but, in all honesty, you did a brilliant job! Very informative, very detailed and interesting. Top marks. PS - also laughed at the shower scene.

I've never had any interest in an ocean cruise -- it's basically a big floating resort, and I'd much rather go to an actual resort at that point -- but river cruising has always been tempting. So many European cities and towns grew up around rivers, so you dock in the heart of the city and explore on foot, without having to struggle to the train station every time you travel to a new town. Your videos are really helpful and entertaining!

OK, so I have to say that your bathroom "re-enactment" scene made me laugh out loud so hard... Good on you for the funny visual. :)

In the US and Canada, coriander refers to the seeds and cilantro to the leaves. Elsewhere the whole plant is called coriander. There are no different names for the various parts of the plant. Wonderful video, Emma. Comprehensive, informative and unexpectedly comical with that priceless bathroom performance! 😂

I will be starting at American Cruise Lines as a steward in a few weeks, thank you for making these videos, it's giving me a much better idea of what to expect, 12 hours a day, 7 days a week is worth it if we get to serve awesome people like you, and the rest of the wonderful people I have seen since visiting your channel. Cheers.

A river cruise really looks a lot more fun than an ocean cruise.

Emma getting static shocks shows what an “electric” personality she has! Very informative vid!

I asked the Navy man had he ever commanded a ship. He said, "I commanded a fleet." Whoa. His rank? Rear Admiral. There are so few of them that you can still find his name on the web. Retired, he was totally unassuming and relaxed, just a nice guy.

Quick fix for glass bathroom walls: Buy a newspaper, borrow scotch tape, and cover exterior glass walls up to neck height with paper. I did this on my bedroom windows at the house I was temporarily living in -- but used bleached packing paper that I got from GSO office at the Oslo U.S. Embassy. You still got in filtered light, but no one could see in. It was perfect, and almost zero cost or time to accomplish. Plus, it looked very nice from outside.

The Danube is only blue to those in love. At least that’s what they said in “Goodbye Mr Chips” (1939 version).

I truly appreciate the level of detail you are able to share about your experiences aboard these cruises. The bathroom doors are absolutely one of the worst design choices I've ever seen for a shared space, unless you have no interest in privacy.

I have been binge watching your content after recently coming off my first cruise with my son :) I'm a single parent, and had lots of people telling me I would be bored - But we are both now addicted to Cruising and couldn't imagine a regular hotel holiday again. You are fabulous by the way, I love how well you come across, and how openly frugal you are - I am exactly the same, but I find this trait rare in todays world of keeping up with the jones'. Keep up the great content. I listen to them whilst at work driving lorries ahaa.

I’ve had people tell me I’d be bored on a non standard cruise or some like that was predominantly elderly, but all I need to do is sit somewhere and look at the water and I’m happy. Anything else beyond that is extra.

Totally agree. Nothing ruins a perfectly good cookie like a raisin!

It's so great to see that TUI are approaching the more 'budget' end of the market - river cruising has always been far too pricey for me, but will deff be checking this out!

Hello Emma from Maryland in the US!! This has got to be my favorite video you've done so far. The architecture you were able to see and learn about during excursions was to me, better than cruising in the middle of an ocean - add to that the scenery from all angles while sailing - priceless! I've never been on a cruse ship (anxiety attacks -- far too many people in one place), but would actually consider a river cruise. This was fantastic (despite the bathroom)!!

When the only complaint was that you found a raisin in a cookie, I would say it was a very successful cruise.

Great video. We used to go "cheap" but I've discovered that you really do get what you pay for. It's not just one area like balcony, food, open areas, drinks, privacy, etc but a host of small changes that make a difference. Still, looked like you all had a good time. Thanks for the info!!

One silly fact about lower deck is that you will have to put up with peeping waterfowl. Didn't bother me but we did wake up one morning to the sound of a swan pecking at the window.

Fabulous review thanks Emma. Other Vloggers should use this as the model for what needs to be covered in such a review and how it needs to be presented.

Emma, your personality is so fun and positive! Love watching your videos! This river cruise covered my dream destinations and I appreciate that you showed so much footage of your excursions.

I've been sooo eager, checking frequently for days to see if this video was up yet and it was so worth the wait! What an excellent job Emma. I am so grateful to learn about this budget option for river cruising. You do a fantastic job as a creator, thank you for the brilliant content!

I have taken the river cruise off my bucket list because everything that I wanted to experience, you have walked me through it. your description is so good that I now have no desire to go on a cruise. whenever I have an urge to river cruise, I will watch your video. YOU ARE A MASTER STORYTELLER.

Hi always enjoy your attitude Emma, you’re always honest what you don’t like but you try very hard to like some things which is wonderful you’re always enthusiastic God bless you. As I’ve said before you were raised well.

“An old man breathing warm air”. Now that’s a ringing endorsement!

Your experience (minus the transparent bathroom) was similar to the river cruises I took years ago. For me, the cruises were all about the places we visited, and as long as the onboard experience was reasonable I was happy. I think this video gives river cruising a big boost!

Emma, the price 2,064 you paid for two was great price to me. I am a solo traveler and used to think fare for river cruise was too high for me. Now I have to change my thought. Thank you for sharing. 😇

Being good at feedback is most definitely a skill. To inform, and explain an expectation, without impugning another person's character is somewhat rare these days, unfortunately.

Terrific review, Emma. No hesitancy, no fill in ums or ahs, informative, humerous, personable, . Well done.

Awesome video Emma!!! Great info that i needed! I'm from the US, a solo cruiser, been wanting to try a river cruise & I think you just made my mind up for me with this cruise line! Thank you so much...

I've been pretty unsure about river cruising just because I think I can do those destinations by land for cheaper, but this budget option is definitely worth looking into! Thanks for the review!

The "low bridge" experience is so cool. Earlier this year I was on the Iona in Lisbon and when we set sail we went under the bridge that looks like the Golden Gate bridge and we were told there was only 3-5 metres clearance. There was a lot of people on the top deck to experience this.

« Close the curtains ! Closed the curtains ! » 😂

I actually like the idea of the glass doors in the bathroom, I find the small bathrooms very dark and claustrophobic and that would be a great compromise. I am however hard to embarrass and unlikely to have been travelling with my brother.

Just did my first river cruise on the Rhine with Viking in July. It was FANTASTIC! Your video caused me to contact Tui about flying from the U.S. for a Danube cruise. Thanks for a very informative video. Well done!!!

I see your videos to sleep they are awesome for relaxing, I did see them before, and this time is for sleeping

cilantro is the name for the plant's leaves and stem, while coriander is the name for its dried seeds, in the USA

So cool to see this experience and locations! Thanks for the great review!

Idk why but your video style is sooooo addicting to watch !! I've just been binging ur vids for the past 2 days

My admiration for newly found Emma just increased exponentially. A COKE ZERO fan! The greatest invention since waterproof golf shoes!

My first visit Emma to your channel. Well done the presentation was first class. You are a delightful host.

Awesome video Emma! I’ve been quite interested to hear about a “budget” river trip. It sounds like, aside from being frozen and having a bit of a peep 😉, you had a great time. I’ve done several Danube trips and even in the summer they are cooler than expected. It sounds like you would take another Tui cruise, based on a value proposition alone. You are spot on about motion sickness not being an issue. However, the bus excursions get to me so I always wear a scopolamine patch when cruising. Thanks again for sharing your trips with us. Hugs from the US.

Thanks for the review, I was on the Tui Maya at the same time as you and found a lot of the same things especially the static shocks! I always got them from the banister in the atrium. Totally agree with your comments on the bathroom door as well! We are a mid 30s and were the youngest couple on our cruise however we didn't feel massively out of place, everyone was very friendly. We did find the cruise a bit boring at times but there may have been down to our itinerary which visited some very small but picturesque towns along the moselle river.

This is so timely, Emma. I am 60 next year and we have been toying with a river cruise to celebrate. Budget is essential however, so knowing the Tui now do them is interesting. I could never afford Viking (though would love to) but for a river cruise experience to be in my £££ is fab. Thanks for your review. We have been on a number of budget sea cruises over the years and can tell you that great staff and marvellous ports are essential for our enjoyment and can make an unforgettable holiday. We do love food too but have simple tastes and I believe that the Tui ,menus will be acceptable. I am heartened that the staff were attentive to help solve the problems that came up though the semi-transparent bathroom is unfortunate. we both like privacy when on the loo!

I have a very simple and cheap solution for the bathroom door/wall problem: the person not using the bathroom looks elsewhere.. great video! Thank you for sharing your experience

Emma, thanks for doing this. I'm part German and my wife is Polish and Czech, so we have been talking about doing a European river cruise to visit those countries, but river cruises are advertised in the US as costing $4,000 - $6,000 per person which is way beyond our budget. At least this is within our range.

Thanks Emma, very good information and you did a great job presenting it.

I've never taken a cruise. YET. This is such a timely and needed video. Wow. Thank you. New subscriber!

Thank you for such a comprehensive and well-executed review. I love your content!

In the USA cilantro is also known as Chinese parsley, and the seeds (which are then dried and ground up) the plant produces are coriander, which is used as a spice. It's also quite easy to grow (at least for me).

Thank you for a wonderful video. Thank you also for talking about the relative prices of river cruises, as offered by various providers! Comparing value-for-money is a great idea, especially with the world exiting its COVID stasis, and, wanting to travel. For many, cost could be an issue, which you addressed so well. While I have always wanted to do a river cruise, I have been put off by the cost. I can often speak the local language, and, prefer to explore on my own, almost making the cost of an excursion to be a waste of money.

This is so cool! I live in the US so I've never heard of this before. Great video, very entertaining and very informative

In the USA, we call the Leaves and stems of the Coriander plant "Cilantro" (Sill-LANT-tro) and only the seeds "Coriander" which are often toasted and ground for spices of Latin dishes.

Great video Emma! A very balanced review. I'd like to try a river cruise one day but ocean cruises seem to be much better value for money. TUI seems to offer good value for money and as you say probably a good way to find out if river cruises suit us.

The Blue Danube is further upstream, near the source. Down at Budapest it’s jus The Danube 😊

I was really pleased to hear these comments, we have a Caribbean cruise booked for next summer, so wanted to book something cheaper this summer, and booked with tui river cruises on the Rhine. We wasn't sure what it would be like, but you've now put our minds at rest. Thank you. Mx

I totally love how you level your expectations to the cruise prices. Some people complain that their "good value" budget cruise was not up to luxury cruise levels. My husband and I have cruised quite a lot at different price levels getting good "deals," and never complaining that our inside cruise cabin did not live up to our concierge suite...it is just not apples to apples comparison. Loving your vlogs from Florida, USA.

LOVE the longer video format! Great depth and detail, thank you so much!

Hi Emma! Thanks for uploading. I think it's cool that you take some of these cruises with your family!

I cooked with coriander and cilantro both for many years before I found out they are almost the same thing. In the US, cilantro is the leaves & stems (Spanish name for coriander), coriander is the seeds. Not sure why... it just is. 😎

Thank you so much for this , always wanted to do a river cruise but was always out of our price range ! It does clearly state in the details about the cabins when you book online which ones have fixed beds which is great as not sure my friend Michelle would be happy to share 🤣 although the bathroom door is something that really puts us off 😢

"An old man breathing cold air into the room." I love it! Emma, thank you for sharing your experience. There's a new river cruise in the US on the Mississippi. Hopefully, someday you can experience that adventure.

I would've just asked house keeping for an extra flat sheet (large) and put it over the bathroom door. like a curtian.

THANK YOU SOO MUCH; I appreciate your frankness and very detailed info on river cruising (especially on this new line; never heard of them until now)

I have been on a few river cruises in Europe and this is the first time I have heard of this cruise line but I really do not see anything wrong with their ships. They look nice and I love that little remark about ships docking just outside your window. I have gotten into the habit of 'peeking out' from behind the curtains first thing in the morning instead of boldly opening the curtains and saying ...TADA....Great video...thanks

The glass walled bathroom issue is funny. Reminds me of a boutique hotel in Shanghai I stayed at, the bathroom was fully walled on two sides with completely clear glass, not even frosted. There was no separate area with the toilet, so anyone using that was in full view. I don't care if you're on your honeymoon, I agree that no one wants to see that. And if you're with someone not your significant other? You definitely need to make the other person leave the room each time you use it.

This is the second time I have watched this video, I traveled to Eastern Europe in 1994 with my mom on an academic trip thru my college and we stayed on to visit Slovakia and some distant family. It makes me happy that more people get to visit Bratislava now. Back then it was hard to even find a travel guide (!!) and we didn't speak Slovak so we were not always sure what we were seeing. It's fascinating to think maybe some day we could go back and have a completely different experience. I love your sense of humor and the explanation video of the bathroom issue was hysterical. I often need a laugh and your videos helped keep me going since 2020 when I got very ill. Thanks, please keep up on sharing joy.

I've watched over a dozen of your very interesting videos and this is the first cruise ship that looks interesting to me. I have no desire to ice skate or wall-climb or go down water chutes or watch musical productions. Tasty food, interesting ports, and a quiet, comfortable room with a view is what I want from a cruise.

This looks fun! Although even the budget one seems quite expensive to me. We call it cilantro because that's the Spanish word for it, btw - it's because of how close we are to Mexico (and how much Mexican food influences American food!)

Emma, enjoyed the review of your Danube river cruise. We did it from Passau to Budapest and back last September with a swiss company (we live in Switzerland) and everything you talked about brought back so many fun memories. I love river cruising as the passenger numbers are so low and you do „get to know“ all the others - maybe just a smile and a Hi, but still. We also saw tons of Viking ships - everywhere! However they are VERY expensive. My biggest negative about this particular route was that we did all the available excursions and so missed out on alot of the actual „cruising“ - or - the ship did the cruising in the night. We did, with the same swiss company, the Duoro river in Portual in 2020 (HIGHLY recommend!!!) and there they only offered one half-day excursion each day and then the other half was spent cruising to the next stop - loved that! And the scenery on the Duoro is STUNNING!!!! I would like to do a Basel, Switzerland-Amersterdam and back for my next one.

I believe that you gave “good feedback”. That is feedback that is accurate, detailed and good natured... as opposed to an angry complaint. There’s a big difference there.

Bathroom reenactment was hilarious. I always carry gloves, hat and puffer jacket no matter what month or country I travel in. I’ve been in your situation many times and finally learned

Coriander is the seed and cilantro is the leaves of the plant.

This is great information. I have not wanted to take an ocean cruise because Idon't want to be on a ship with 3000 other people. But I could enjoy this boat with only 150 or less people. However, I am in the US so to add airfare would make the trip too expensive. I would love the scenery of passing villages and taking foot tours at docking. I may have to save up for this!

I just enjoy watching your videos so much. You have a wonderful sense of humor and your descriptions are so helpful. Thank you.

Loved this! I will have to check TUI river cruises out!

Thank you for this honest and positive review. I'd love to do a river cruise, but the Viking ships and other lines are way of budget. Happy to hear I'd be just fine on a Tui - maybe I'd just pack extra snacks . . .

The frosted bathroom doors is absolutely wild to me. Who thinks that’s a good idea? Visually and audibly. And no locks either? My dad does a lot of river cruises with his bike group and people often bunk up to down the cost, I can’t imagine having to figure that out. Were there any “public” bathrooms on that cruise ship?

Emma! Thank you. We booked the Tui Isla for this coming September all because of your beautiful introduction via your video! Because Tui is not marketed in the US, we called direct to Tui in England and she told us she gets calls from the US because of you! Weve been on many ocean cruises but have always put off river cruises until your review. Thanks. We're excited.

This video is great! I really don’t know much about river cruises, and this is so helpful.

My daughter and I were on one of the viking cruise line boats on a very similar route. Our only problem is we were always facing the other riverboat except when in Budapest and Passau. All of the other ports we were facing the other ship - which was a big bummer after paying for a french balcony and having only a balcony from the other ship to view. Ugh! We saw your riverboat and noticed that you were usually the only boat at the dock. Everything else was fantastic!! Thanks for your review of this cruise.

Very well done Emma. My wife and I hope to one day go on a river cruise. They are starting to gain popularity here in the United States but I think we would like to do one in Europe.

You always give very good information in such a pleasant way. Thank you.

Maybe a couple of magnets and a extra flat bed sheet could have helped to cover the glass bathroom wall.

Hey Emma, I think most Germans don't feel the need to have the level of privacy that you expected from people they share a room with. Maybe this is just one of those cultural differences you only find out by being confronted with it. I guess TUI will learn it's lesson and change things very quickly.

The glass bathroom doors could be decent for a couple but beyond that very very strange choice. I would be pretty uncomfortable even with family.

Many Thanks for all this info. I am booked on the similar trip 14 days on 26th May and I could not find any info. You have answered all my questions.

Just before Covid my wife and I booked a river cruise with TUI. The cruise obviously was cancelled and then cancelled again and for a third time. Tui upgraded us to the top package as we just kept agreeing to roll it over to that far off day when it would actually go ahead. Even a drinks package - wasted on us as neither of us is what can be considered a drinker! I think our cruise must have been a couple after yours (or maybe even the same one). Same ship, same itinerary - we loved it. One of my enduring memories was getting up before just about anyone else, pouring a coffee, grabbing a couple of those biscuits and taking a book up top to welcome the sun coming up. The pilot gave me a great run down of handinling the ship as it was about five in the morning and nobody else around - I'm guessing he was bored! There was one particular morning where the clouds were hangling low in the valley and the shipe was clearing its way through the mist/clouds with the birds on the river flying alongiside us - not a sound and the sun just about to say hello. It was breathtakingly beautiful the photos are good but of course cannot do it justice. One night we hit a real rainstorm, coming in horizontally. Upstairs was cleared for safety reasons though there was only about half a dozen of us stupid enough to be out of the bar area. we sat at the front, freezing water drenching us and there's half a dozen strangers all laughing like a bunch of schoolkids - talk about bracing. We also had a Viking cruise berth alongside which had to come through. We found ourselves at a cafe with a couple of these passenger who had taken a detour to take a look at Skyla - their quote was there's no way there was a thousand pounds difference between what we were enjoying compared to their overpriced surroundings. We teamed up with an American couple (my wife is American though for long been a UK citizen). Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and for sure will be going on another TUI river cruise - probably the Rhine in the not too distant future. Enjoyed watching your offering here - thank you. . .

Very detailed. Dining sounds too restricted- don't think I could put up with waiting until 7pm to have dinner.

I lover river cruising, there's always a stop or great river scenery. The ocean cruises with the multiple days at sea are what's boring to me. I tell folks that if they like scenery and want to explore the stops, then river cruising is the way to go. If they just want a floating resort where they can sit by the pool all day, then ocean cruising is the way to go. It just all depends on the type of person and what they want to get out of the experience.

Your descriptions are so good I almost feel like a veteran cruiser even though I have never set foot on a ship.

This is the first time I came across your review. Very well done and thorough!