Page 24 - DreamScapes Magazine | Winter/Spring 2023

WELLNESS WAVE FEATURE
Getting to Know You
After two years without travel or
socializing, my husband Wallace
and I could hardly wait to be among
the first passengers on Emerald
River Cruises’s newest ship, which is
the sister fleet of the luxe five-star
line, Scenic Cruises. Although the
Emerald’s mantra is casual comfort, every
inch of this sleek, sophisticated river ship
has been carefully considered, from the three-
level mirrored atrium with its dazzling crystal globe chandelier, to the infinity edge pool with its retractable sunroof. That said, carry-on luggage and a limited wardrobe served us well for our European journey.
It was easy to mix and mingle with only 90 other guests on-board. We met our first new friends at the embarkation dinner. Connie and Greg, retired construc- tion company owners from Florida, who have sailed ocean cruises, were on their first river cruise.
Breaking Bread Together
In the Reflections dining room with its floor-to-ceiling
windows, each white-linen-draped table setting offers
scenic views. A storybook of medieval villages floats
past us as we dine. Views of half-timbered houses
jostle for space by the water’s edge while church
steeples point the way to vine-covered hillsides.
Before long, we got to know our friendly dining room i crew. A trip highlight was the captain hosting us at the
captain’s dinner table. A third-generation riverboat captain and avid swimmer, Captain Vladimir shared that his daily morning swims at the ship’s pool cleared his mind to focus on the challenging job of navigating a river cruise ship, and helped him to lose 30 pounds!
Working it Out
Wellness is top of mind on the Emerald Luna, with a walking track on the Sun Deck, and a gym and spa on- board. I started some mornings with poolside yoga and Pilates classes led by wellness coach Nanad. He also helped Wallace work out his aches and pains with a soothing massage in the spa. Activity Director Thays organized circuits on the walking track, hikes to hill- side castles, and riverside bicycle tours for people seeking greater challenges.
In Budapest, we loved our trip to the Gellért Spa Bath, a fantastical Art Nouveau thermal hot spring spa palace, where the indoor and outdoor pools are adorned with romantic statuary. We roamed from one turquoise porcelain ceramic-tiled pool to another under a two-story retractable skylight, dipping into the cool, then warm, then almost too-hot-to-bear mineral- rich water.
Tours de Force
The cruise tours are wide-ranging. In Amsterdam, we floated under bridges on a canal boat tour, passing mil- lion-dollar houseboats and tall, tilted houses standing shoulder to shoulder. In Slovakia, locals Zita and Fran- tisek welcomed us to their home in Cífer, sharing coffee and cake, before a tour of their abundant garden. There was always some free time in every port to sample a regional beer or go shopping.
When we returned home, we were astounded to find that we hadn’t gained a pound, thanks to all the walking tours, but we had gained some new friends. We were finally relaxed for the first time since the pan- demic. It is proof positive that our cruise has been the perfect prescription for body and soul. DS
TRAVEL PLANNER
Discover the riches of Europe’s fabled rivers on-board a river cruise. Emerald Cruises offers a 15-day Splendours of Europe river cruise along the rivers Rhine, Main and Danube. For cruise details and reservations see emeraldcruises.ca
24 DREAMSCAPES WINTER/SPRING 2023
PHOTOS: EMERALD CRUISES | SHUTTERSTOCK/TRABANTOS | EMERALD CRUISES