With more and more passengers looking to stay active on a river cruise, Jane Archer gets a spirited workout on AmaLucia
It’s 6.30am and my alarm has just gone off. Trust me, it’s not the usual time I get up on holiday, but I’m on a mission to get in shape and this Rhine river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel is the perfect place to start. I know what you’re thinking. River cruises are about sights and scenery rather than working up a sweat.
That might be the case with some companies, but I’m sailing with AmaWaterways, a river cruise line with wellness in its DNA. It’s such a serious business with this line that all its European river ships (apart from those on the Douro in Portugal), have a trainer on board (they call them wellness hosts) to take passengers through their paces in free fitness classes – from yoga and Pilates to dance and cardio – and on hiking and biking tours at most ports.
Every ship has a range of active excursions to choose from, and a fitness centre on board – AmaMagna even has spin bikes on the rear deck. AmaLucia is silent as I make my way to the lounge, convinced I must be the only person up at this hour, but no; a couple are already signing their lives away with Tiago, our trainer, and more arrive as we grab our mats, including Kristin Karst, AmaWaterways’ executive vice-president (who is on board for the ship’s long-postponed christening).
She is on board with president and fellow co-founder Rudi Schreiner because – after a long wait because of the pandemic – in a couple of days AmaLucia will be christened in Rüdesheim by brother and sister godparents Will and Riley Farmer, the children of AmaWaterways’ business partner Colin Farmer.
The vessel is not quite new, but the planned 2021 christening had to be cancelled.
Fitness lures passengers
Karst joins fitness classes whenever she can and says they are increasingly popular, as are the hiking and biking tours. “Attitudes about river cruising are changing. People are choosing us for the fitness classes,” she says.
That’s certainly different from just a few years back when river ships were seen as floating retirement homes. Now passengers are up early, exercising, showering, breakfasting and on parade for 9.30am, ready for the first tour of the day.
By the end of the first class, 30 minutes of core strengthening, my body is reminding me why I leave exercise to others, but as everyone stays for the next session, I grit my teeth and hang on in there. It’s a stretch class this time, also 30 minutes, but harder than it sounds – especially the bit where one leg went over another, then was looped around the opposite elbow. Or was it the other way.
Passengers are up early, exercising, showering, breakfasting and on parade for 9.30am
But I don’t give up that easily, so after a trip to Floriade, Holland’s once-a-decade flower show, I was back for another two sessions with Tiago, this time on the sun deck and line dancing, followed by an evening stretch.
Tiago is the Mr Motivator of the rivers without the colourful attire, urging us on, teasing with long countdowns and exuding a few oohs and aahs on our behalf so at least it sounds as if he is sharing our pain.
Next morning, as we sail towards Cologne, there is more core strengthening and then yoga; just 90 minutes later (brought forward as Tiago is needed for an afternoon bike ride in the city) another two sessions cover resistance bands and more line dancing.
Rather than join the guided bike tour, my husband and I borrow a couple of bikes and set off on our own, cycling past vast, deserted warehouses ripe for development and through parks. We cross the river and go back to the city, where we dodge through crowds who are heading to a huge food market.
And so the days drift by, with me up with the larks doing yoga, stretching, Pilates and line dancing on the sun deck, much to the continued horror of my abs, and cycling whenever possible. We even manage several miles along the river from Rüdesheim after the naming ceremony before hastening back for dinner at Chef’s Table, a free restaurant at the back of AmaLucia with superb food, and service to match.
Had I shed any pounds? Probably not – blame the food and free wine with meals – but I had gained an appetite for exercise and discovered it can be fun, which I’m chalking up as a result.
3 selling tips
UK managing director Jamie Loizou offers tips on how to sell an AmaWaterways cruise
1. Cast a wide net
River cruising is perfect for touring clients, city breakers and those who wish to experience the history, culture, food and spirit of the destinations.
2. Target your active guests
With a choice of up to six fitness classes a day, active guests will find it easy to stay in shape while they’re on holiday.
3. Don’t forget the upsell
Guest are increasingly opting for twin-balcony staterooms and taking the pre or post-cruise land programme, which offers an even richer destination experience and more earning potential for you.
Book it
From £2,736 for a seven-night Captivating Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basel on AmaLucia departing July 27 including flights, transfers, shore excursions, wine, beer or soft drinks with lunch and dinner, a Sip and Sail pre-dinner cocktail hour and Wi-Fi.
amawaterways.co.uk
PICTURES: Toni Scholz.
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