ad (invite) – I’ve just disembarked a European river cruise on a 1930s barge that took everything I thought I knew about cruising and turned it on its head. Our cruise was a week long and on the cruise schedule was 225km of cycling across the German countryside from Bonn to Saarburg. I am definitely not a cyclist, so I was very nervous, I didn’t want to let anybody down. To say it was eventful would be an understatement. We had injuries, a heatwave, I smashed my camera, and I saw and did things I never thought were possible on a cruise.
Merlijns website: https://Merlijn.nu
Before Coen and Cristina, the owners of the Merlijn invited me to join them on their ship I had no idea that this type of cruise existed.
My first reaction was ‘cycling? I can’t cycle’. At this point it had been a good 5 or more years since I’d been on a bike but I thought either it’ll go well, or it’ll be a great story for me to tell you and here we are.
I had visions of me being the person who was holding everybody else up, I didn’t know if I would be physically able to cycle that far? What would happen if I couldn’t? I had no idea what staying on a barge would be like, I didn’t know what would the food be like, what would the other guests be like? I had no idea.
** As mentioned in the video and on all my social posts (you may have noticed the ad (invite) disclosure) I was invited onboard by Merlijn which means that I didn’t pay a cruise fare. All opinions and content are my own. **
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48 Comments
An update on a few of the frequently asked questions! 😀
When am I cruising with them again? 27th May 2023, the Weser valley tour in Germany. If you'd like to come, that'd be awesome!
Where did I get the towel from? It's from here: https://amzn.to/3A6vInJ (affiliate link).
What is the price based on? It's two sharing. Solo prices are available at the cabin price – a 10% discount.
Thank you for your lovely lovely comments on this video, it's been really interesting to see the different reactions this video has received. Lots of non-cruisers are interested in this one, which is awesome.
Emma this sounded like so much fun. Great food and rooms. One of my favorite cruises of yours. 💙⛴️ Loved hearing about the toilets. Who knew? Lol
I had no idea a cruise like this even existed. Fantastic video and now I want to go on one…. !!!
Thanks for sharing. It is brilliant how cycling incorporated seeing the countryside while participating in an activity. The food looked delicious even to my husband who refuses to ever step foot in a MDR on a cruise ship.
Emma, your genuine enthusiasm is quite evident, well done!
Also, I love your plush cat pics. 😍
This sounds absolutely amazing! Thank you for doing a video on it I don't think I would have known about it otherwise
I really like the way you do your reviews I would really like to do something like a bike and barge many years ago we did a bed and breakfast bike tour and enjoyed it
I am not able to go on any cruises and never been but I got hooked on watching the ocean and these River cruises. I think the river cruise is something I've really wanted to look at and was always enjoying it these. however Emma the barge trip and your video on that was so exciting! I can't tell you how envious and excited I was to think you know imagine that maybe I would you know book a cruise. and the bicycling is something that I've always thought about. but the way you were able to see things just was amazing and your telling about the bicycling was so exciting. normally I would want to know about some of the things you saw but actually you did a remarkably exciting video. I hope your trip which I haven't seen on the river again will be enjoyable but I hope that you continue laying this really know how things are. I really trust that you let us know the good and the bad and from a person who enjoys what they're doing. thank you so much have a good fall. 🍁🍂🥧 (pumpkin pie is American fall, Thanksgiving standard.)
The river water in the toilet is actually so cool! Its kinda an imersive experience
Just a quick thank you. I have never cruised but have been enjoying some vicarious living and I too am a vegetarian. Not a ton of vloggers out there showing food I actually find appealing for mains! Thank you!!
Hey @emma > Know it's an old video but my wife and I saved it and are looking to do this in spring '23. Did you book directly through them or have any referrals/etc. that we could use to give you some 'credit' for selling us on this amazing idea!
This sounds like a perfect way to dip one's toe in the cruise pool! E-bikes? Wonderful. So sorry for your loss. Mashed tech is a heartbreaking sight. PS- STOP with the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Raspberry cookies pics! Stop it! I am dying over here.
"Ticked off" means annoyed or angry in Canada. 😀
In US English when talking about marking things off a list, a tick is a single line and a check is this ✅(with the v shape and long and short side). I think we say we're checking things off a list because we're marking them off with a check mark, which is the name for ✅.
American, and I say tick. I just never remember how to spell it. We also say check though. I've got my mascot that goes everywhere with me too. He is a Timberwolf named Zevy (Zay-vee). He is a Miyoni brand Timberwolf, summer coat.
Thank you Emma! Definitely one of your best videos.
I've never been on a river cruise, but this one looks just excellent!
I love this cruise! Thanks for the video.
If you another bike trip…I suggest getting a gel bike seat cushion that you put on their bike. It makes a huge difference for the bum. Then you take it home.
In my part of the US, ticked off means angry.
What a great review! Thank you for sharing in detail. What month did you travel with the Merlijn?
This is such a great idea, I would love a cruise like this.
They don't use salt water for toilets on Cruise Ships because they process all their sewerage on ship and salt water would damage the process.
It looks absolutely AMAZING! I have just added another cruise to my bucket list!!!! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Emma, you need to backup your files more frequently
I'm a relatively new subscriber and am working backwards through your videos. They are all great but this was the best yet. Well done!!
I never went on a cruise and don't really plan on doing one in the future but I love watching your channel! This is the first time I actually feel intrigued by a cruise. I am not very fit and don't ride a bike often but this sounds like so much fun while also being quite relaxing. The fact that the passengers have the choice of biking or staying on the ship makes it so nice to me.
It is my dream to go on this! It’s very expensive though 😅
My favorite video of yours. So clear how much you really loved this.
Bike and cruise sounds fantastic, my girlfriend would say similarish things that you said but since we completed a 7d unassisted Loire cycle last year – me personally I'm sold on this idea, will be mentioning to my girlfriend as well and will be checking out prices!
I am not sure you want salt water in the pluming on a cruise ship though, it works for a river boat.
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man, in australia you would never have been out there riding when it was 37°! seems so unsafe, good choice staying behind
i think this is something id love to do 🙂
Hi Emma. Love your videos. I am Canadian and use check or tick pretty much equally. That could be partially due to my heritage 3/4 Scottish and 1/4 English. I would love to do a cruise like this one, though my significant other has never learned how to ride a bike, nor have I been on a bike in probably 25 years or more. What is your stuffy’s name. He certainly works hard along with your office manager 😊.
Interesting. I live in that area.
I REALLY loved this video Emma! What a creative way to travel. Thank you for doing this amazing trip and documenting it for me!
How amazing! My ancestors came from Ernst Germany, which is between Cochem and Zell. I've always wanted to take a river trip through that area. Don't know if I'm up to the biking, but this looks like such a wonderful trip!
This looks like such a fun and exciting way to cruise! I can’t imagine going on something like this and not making at least one friend! I wish we could go on this cruise! Unfortunately my husband is disabled and wouldn’t be able to bike for that long, but I’m sure we’ll find something similar that will be just as fun!
It made me so happy to see your little stuffed animals all eating together. So cute!! 😂
8:15 ww2 fact: during ww2 the germans tried blowing the bridge (nots no longer there) however the explosives didnt demolish the bridge and the americans captured it. However 10 days later dual to alot artillery fire & aircraft bombs the bridge collapsed into the rhine. The bridge towers where left as a war memorial. Also the bridge was orginally built in 1918.
I have been at that bridge too and before i forget its name is the Ludenndorff named after the german ww1 general: Erich Ludendorff
Your experience reviews are fabulous. Well done (again). Gooday from Australia.
There is a cooling towel brand called “Frog Toggs”. My daughter played junior and college golf and it really helped when temps hit the high 90’s.
What a fabulous unique holiday experience… loved it! Not surprised you’re heading back for more 👍
Oh my gosh this is perfect!! This is where it's at! A barge, a smaller group, and cycling! WOO HOO!
Emma I love your videos but this is by far my favourite. I so want to do this cruise now!
As a cyclist with a non cyclist spouse this sounds amazing
I have been following them since your 2nd Bike and Barge Cruise. This Barge is on my Bucket List.. Only 24 adventurers per trip. The eBikes are a real plus. Thanks Emma.