Angela Rippon’s River Cruises: Episode One

"There are going to be wonderful things to see, new experiences to have… the music, the architecture, the culture in each different country. And my travelling companion is right there, the River Danube.” 

Budapest

As enthusiastic and inquisitive as you’d expect from a journalist of her calibre, Angela’s zest for adventure is immediately palpable on arrival. Starting in Budapest, she gazes out over the Danube from Buda Hill and reflects on her journey ahead.  

“What a glorious view of the River Danube in this early morning sunshine, as this mighty river slices through Budapest… I think it’s been a good 10 years since I was last in this city… it’s going to be so exciting discovering this river all over again… “ 

With some time to explore the city before boarding Scenic Amber – her 5-star luxury Space-Ship and home away from home for the week – Angela meets local guide Andrea outside St. Matthias Church at the heart of Buda’s Castle District. Here, she enjoys a quick history lesson overlooking Pest from World Heritage-listed Fisherman’s Bastion.

She discovers what differentiates the two sides of Budapest, learning that until 1873 Budapest as we know it now was made up of three cities, Buda, Óbuda, and Pest – with Buda as the capital. Angela explains that Buda is the old historic area, while Pest is more cosmopolitan, grandiose, and European in style.  

As she marvels at the beautiful architecture of St. Matthias Church, it’s not long before this national treasure is recognised by a fellow tourist – as they stop for a short conversation, Angela notes meeting wonderful people as one of the most special things about the trip.  

“That’s one of the joys of this trip, meeting lovely people in such beautiful places.”  

The pair continue onwards for a refreshing walk over the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, as Andrea’s spectacular knowledge feeds Angela’s quest for insight. They chat about its designer – William Tierney Clark – and the significance of the flags billowing in the wind – a reminder of the 1956 uprising.  

Onwards to Pest, where they stop for a coffee in the heart of the Jewish District. Here, they discuss the horrific history of this once flourishing, vibrant community, before Angela takes herself to the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial, designed to honour thousands of victims, mainly Hungarian Jews, murdered in the winter of 1944-45.  

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more telling reminder of how cruel mankind can be.”  

Visibly moved, she reflects on the importance of confronting difficult subjects as a way of understanding a country and its people, even when it means facing the horrors of the past. 

“This is where our voyage of adventure really begins.”  

It’s time to board her Scenic Space-Ship to cruise from Budapest and begin her journey along the Danube. From the spacious Sun Deck of Scenic Amber, she has unprecedented views of the Hungarian Parliament Building, the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary and a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture.  

As she heads west for a day on the river, the guests enjoy all-inclusive world-class dining and drinks, as well as the ship’s many amenities. We find Angela on the Sun Deck, enjoying the ever-changing scenery – namely Bratislava Castle as the ship sails past the Slovakian capital.

Vienna

“A city of music and of dreams… what the Habsburgs have done is extraordinary” 

Waking up in Vienna, the Austrian capital celebrated for its quality of life, culture, music, and architecture, Angela notes the strong influence the Habsburg Empire had on the city, remarking on how they really left “their stamp”.  

As she marvels at her spectacular surroundings – many of them cafés once frequented by renowned artists and intellectuals – it would be remiss not to visit Café Central. With its ornate ceilings and cabinets filled with pastries and sweet treats, the café has been thriving for 150 years and has long attracted historical figures who gathered there to share ideas over sachertorte and coffee. As she cuts into a slice of rich, gooey chocolate cake, she imagines sharing tea with greats such as Puccini. 

Her next stop is the Imperial Palace – something she describes as a must-visit – where she meets the riders of the Spanish Riding School. As a horse rider herself, Angela is excited to meet Marius, one of the chief riders.  

“I am in horse heaven here, but this is not your average stable.” 

Upon meeting one of the spectacular Lipizzan horses, the spectacular white stallion can’t help but take the limelight as she revels in learning the history of dressage. Bonding with the animal, she feeds him before a training session, which she is thrilled to be able to attend – a magical moment as she is so visibly taken by the encounter as a whole.  

Lovely moments of respite are enjoyed on board her 5-star Scenic Space-Ship, where all the amenities of a world-class hotel enable Angela to relax and reset after each fascinating day, and recharge the batteries for exclusive evenings – much like when she visits the Tanz-Schule Elmayer – the top dance school in Vienna, for a lesson in the art of the Viennese waltz.   

“I feel like I’ve been taken back to the glittering age of ballroom.” 

Accompanied by fellow Scenic guests, she meets Bernie, the school director, who teaches the group the basics before she pairs up with the man himself to put her newfound skills to the test. She tries the “dizzying” Viennese spins to the most apt music – the Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II. Swept up by the romance and the tradition, she finds herself literally waltzing back to the ship after yet another unforgettable experience.   

“To travel!” 

As the day draws to a close, Angela joins a Canadian couple for dinner in the ship’s main restaurant, Crystal Dining. Over a meal of world-class cuisine, they reflect on their favourite moments of the journey so far – from Europe’s majestic scenery to the ever-changing menus on board. Like any great restaurant back home, the menu evolves with the seasons and the regions you’re travelling through, offering a true taste of each destination. 

Scenic’s chefs excel at what they do, crafting everything from refined, multi-course dining to relaxed café-style meals, each plate thoughtfully paired with exceptional wines.  

And for those who glance beyond the table, there’s another spectacle to enjoy – the landscape drifting by outside. As the ship glides towards its next destination, the scenery becomes part of the dining experience – a constantly changing backdrop to an already unforgettable meal.

Krems

“How many adjectives can you use to describe this?” 

50 nautical miles from Vienna, and part of the World Heritage-listed Wachau Valley, the town of Krems is up next on Angela’s itinerary. She visits Göttweig Abbey, a 900-year-old benedictine monastery positioned at the top of a hill overlooking the Danube. Widely celebrated for its architecture and history, 32 monks still practice there, and she meets with Father Pius to learn about monastic life and enjoy an insight into their culinary secrets.  

A stunning display of Baroque splendour, he takes her into the monastery’s church, where the sound of prayer resonates through the mesmerising interior. Marvelling at the gold frescoes, high altar, and vibrant blue paintwork across the ceiling and walls, Angela finds herself humbled by such works of art. 

Surrounded by over 60 acres of vineyards, producing delicious apricots, they head to the kitchen for a lesson in making apricot jam. Angela relishes hearing all about the history of this old tradition – dating back to St. Benedict – before Father Pius takes her to a spectacular spot on the terrace with sprawling valley views, to try apricot dumplings and apricot sparkling wine, all made on the grounds. All of which go down very well, so well in fact, she urges the crew to try it for themselves!  

“To your good health, and your apricots!”

Dürnstein

For the next leg of her journey, Angela embraces her adventurous side and sets off on an exploration on two wheels. She mounts an e-bike and cycles a short stretch of the Danube Cycle Path to the medieval town of Dürnstein with her local guide, Thomas. 

An international cycle route and one of Europe’s most popular, it offers a unique perspective on life along the river. Angela’s joy and youthful exuberance is palpable as she enjoys the slower pace, surrounded by terraced vineyards and ancient fortresses. The experience is made all the better by having her personal encyclopaedia by her side, before she reunites with the ship, which is waiting to welcome her back. 

“What a wonderful travel companion the Blue Danube has been so far… there are still hundreds of miles of this river to be explored…”