The embarkation of our cruise on the Mani went very smooth. We arrived by air to the beautiful city of Amsterdam. A fine group of arrival people met us at the airport and guided us through customs. We then boarded a bus that took us to the Mani. A complimentary walking tour of the center of Amsterdam was provided in the afternoon before the 5 pm departure. I do regret not taking the offer of a 2 night stay in Amsterdam before the departure. Next time we will.

The Mani was quite large for a riverboat and quite comfortable. We chose a French balcony cabin which was very comfortable but smaller than the cabins we were used to on seagoing vessels. Dining was wonderful in the beautiful, large dining room. The food was quite delicious and prepared by a talented Swiss chef. Our Captain was quite gracious in conversation and posing with us in photos. Service by our cabin attendants was excellent and fast. There was a nice bar on board with a couple of very talented and generous bartenders that I will always remember.

A complimentary shore excursion was offered at every port along our Rhine journey. We also opted for 4 other tours along the way which were very inexpensive and enlightening. I especially enjoyed Cologne, Germany where my Grandmother immigrated from. Other excursions were wine tasting in Strasbourg, France, and Marksburg Castle in Germany. Read more