Cruise ship review: Floating boutique hotel offers exceptional value

Travelmarvel Vega

• The cruise Amsterdam to Budapest (14 days)
  
• The ship Built in 2021, launched in 2022.
  
• Passengers 182
  
• Crew 44
  
• Cabins 91
  
• Length 442.9 ft (135 metres)

Budapest at sunrise with the Szechenyi Chain Bridge over the Danube.

Ship shape

Travelmarvel Vega is one of a trio of identical new ships custom-designed by parent company APT for the Australian market. The Vega and sister ships – Travelmarvel Capella and Travelmarvel Polaris – are named after stars and share a contemporary sleek design and features aimed at maximising enjoyment of those gorgeous European river vistas.

There’s plenty of outdoor space on the Sun Deck and Sky Deck Terrace and Bar, which is built half a deck lower to make it accessible when passing through locks and under low bridges. As a nod to its Australian roots there’s a pub, McGeary’s Bar (named after APT founder Geoff McGeary) while Vegemite takes pride of place on the breakfast buffet.

Boarding

My teenage daughter and I sail Vega on its classic European Gems cruise. We barely have to wait to board as passengers embark at different times throughout the day. Before we know it, we have lanyards around our necks, bubbly in hand (mocktail for my daughter) and are chatting to bleary-eyed passengers who’ve been up since sparrows travelling to join the ship. We spend our first night in port and do a short dinner sailing taking in Budapest’s impressive historic buildings.

Travelmarvel Vega – more like a boutique hotel.

The design

Given the Vega has only operated since 2022, it still has that new-ship feel. It’s more akin to a boutique hotel than a river ship with a contemporary palette of neutral colours, a hotel-like reception area and a stylish lounge offering floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable lounges and table seating for enjoying a barista-made coffee, casual bites or afternoon tea.

Bi-fold doors open onto a covered verandah so you can sit outside in the fresh air and watch the ever-changing scenery or see the ship go through one of the 68 locks (spoiler alert: the novelty wears off).

The spaces

With just four decks it’s easy to get your bearings. On the upper deck is the True North Lounge (the main hub of the ship and home to the busy tea station and main bar), Alfresco Lounge and McGeary’s Bar which is particularly popular at happy hour.

Rooms feel stylish and spacious.

Constellations Restaurant is found on the lower deck for fine dining (breakfast, lunch and dinner) along with a small (underutilised) fitness centre. The Sun Deck and Sky Deck Terrace and Bar are on the top deck and offer a whirlpool and putting green.

The stateroom

Vega sleeps 182 passengers in 91 cabins, ranging from Window Staterooms at 14.2 square metres (with a small window) through to the spacious 24-square-metre Owner’s Suite cabins. The latter includes a separate lounge area and beds facing out to the water.

We’re in a French Balcony Suite on the upper deck with floor-to-ceiling glass windows opening to a French Balcony (there’s no balcony as such, however an electronic window slides down to chest height) for taking in scenery along the Danube, Rhine and Main Rivers. While cabins aren’t huge, their clever design makes them feel luxurious and spacious.

True North lounge bar.

Each stateroom or suite offers blackout curtains and blinds, ensuite, TV, hairdryer, two small armchairs, personal climate control, a decent amount of storage, safe and mini-fridge.

Self-shutting drawers mean you don’t hear noise from the next cabin and beds are high enough to store large suitcases underneath, freeing up floor space – a popular feature with Australian and New Zealand passengers who are typically away from home for at least two weeks or more.

The food

A choice of dining options.

While there are only three dining options onboard – four-course fine dining in Constellations Restaurant, True North Lounge for relaxed bites or casual pub-style fare at McGeary’s Bar – onboard chefs do a fantastic job of incorporating local cuisine into the menu and keeping things fresh.

Lunch and dinner are accompanied by local wine and beer as well as soft drinks. Highlights include a welcome dinner featuring a seafood buffet and a barbecue on the Sun Deck while sailing through the picturesque Rhine Valley.

My daughter and I often opt for McGeary’s Bar with its dark-wood panelled walls adorned with memorabilia – choosing from hot soup, ribs or a pint and parmie – over a multi-course dinner. Often, we’re the only ones there.

Wellness

Vega offers a small gym with a selection of hand weights and a rowing machine, but few passengers make use of it. There are complimentary bikes available if the ship is docked along the river which is a great way to get exercise and see the local surroundings. The Sun Deck walking track is popular for strolling and soaking up Danube vistas.

Entertainment

The ship picks up a talented male and female duo en route, who entertain passengers with everything from live traditional folk music, song and dance to popular disco nights. Some passengers comment that entertainment is limited compared to ocean cruising but given the size of the ship they do a great job.

The crew

What makes the Vega particularly memorable are the attentive staff who hail from various countries including Hungary, Myanmar and Indonesia. Each morning wait staff greet you by name at breakfast and remember your preferences (egg-white omelette for me; poached eggs for my daughter). Special mention to Marius who chased me offboard when I forgot my boarding pass and affable, multilingual cruise director Andrew Masters who kept everything rolling like a well-oiled machine.

The verdict

Fresh contemporary style, interesting port stops and talks, inclusive tours and exceptional value. No wonder this ship and its popular European Gems itinerary is consistently booked out.

The details

Travelmarvel’s 14-night European Gems cruise sails from March to December (you can cruise in either direction). Alternatively, sail seven-nights Amsterdam-Nuremberg and Nuremberg-Budapest. Fares from $4995 a person. Pre and/or post-trip extensions to Prague available from $316 a night or Paris from $550 a night. See travelmarvel.com.au

The rating out of five

★★★★

Swell Sailing through the Wachau Valley and soaking up vistas of terraced vineyards tumbling down to the riverbanks.

Not so swell If they could get the coffee right you’d have the perfect ship.

The writer travelled as a guest of Travelmarvel.