Having returned from her time aboard Amadeus Queens, Jackie Robinson takes a look at why a river cruise can help soothe your mind and body.

People often associate cruising with overindulgence, being sedentary and a lack of exercise but, on an Amadeus river cruise, it certainly doesn’t have to be that way.

Having recently sailed on the newly commissioned Amadeus Queen (entered service in April ’18), I enjoyed a morning yoga class with the resident gym instructor to gently wake my mind and body for the exciting day ahead.

The yoga paved the way for a healthy, yet tasty, breakfast of homemade muesli with various fruits and nuts, all washed down with a specially prepared multi-vitamin juice.

One of our ports of call on our Rhine River cruise was Hoorn, a beautifully preserved fishing village. The comfortable touring bikes provided by Amadeus were a great way to explore the many historic squares and lanes.

Back on the ship, we were delighted to find that there was always a light option to choose from at both lunch and evening meal times. Plus, the chef was always on-hand to give advice and tailor something to our wishes.

If, when you’re on board, you do happen to be tempted by the vast array of calorific deserts (and I think you should – you’re on holiday after all!) the well-equipped gym at the aft of the ship can dissolve some of that guilt. There’s an exercise bike, weights and rowing machine all waiting for you.

If running is more your thing and you have some free sailing time, as I did before reaching Cochem, there’s nothing more rewarding than winding along the Mosel whilst pounding the running track on the sundeck and taking in the picturesque hilltop castles and villages. You almost forget you’re exercising at all.

If you do happen to feel the strains of an energetic day, then the experienced onboard masseuse will alleviate all with a heavenly choice of massage programs.

When you do moor up, in a city such as Cologne, for example, it’s so easy to take yourself off on anything from a gentle walk to discover the iconic Gothic cathedral to a full-on hike to one of the many nature reserves. The ship’s staff is always on-hand to give advice and maps to help if you choose not to take one of the many excursions operated by Amadeus.

Of course, when you do return ‘home’ to the comforts of the Amadeus Queen, it’s a sheer delight to bathe in the pool of the Amadeus Club at the aft of the ship. This pool area not only has sumptuous Italian leather sofas but a retractable roof so you can enjoy a dip in the open air and watch the sun go down with a fruity cocktail in-hand (alcohol optional).

All these well-being options are available to you on board Amadeus Queen – so you can return home not only enriched in the mind but also refreshed in the body!

If you would like to learn more about our range of wellness focussed cruises, from Amadeus and other cruise lines, call the GoRiverCruise team on 0800 954 0064. Alternatively, you can click here to submit an online enquiry.