By Julia Labedz,Stephen Aherne

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This week, we’re delighted to feature a guest piece from Michelle Ryan of Travelmarvel, who takes us behind the scenes of life onboard their river cruises. With Cruise Week in full swing, Michelle shares what sets the Travelmarvel experience apart – from its relaxed take on luxury to the blend of Australian spirit and Irish craic that keeps guests coming back.

Happy Cruise Week to those of you who celebrate! Of course, in my world every week is cruise week but it’s always nice to have an extra reason to give airtime to our sensational ships and yachts.

From my side, I wanted to take this opportunity to help you understand the Travelmarvel brand a bit more. I appreciate that the river cruise industry is growing massively in popularity and I believe that having a strong grasp on what life is like onboard, what a typical Travelmarvel customer looks like and what they should expect when choosing our premium products will help you when talking to your customers.

Starting with our guests onboard, who range in nationality from Australian and New Zealander to Scottish, English and Irish. With the company originating in Australia, it has traditionally been very popular with Australian holidaymakers who have been loyal to the company for generations, though more and more guests from closer to home are choosing to sail with Travelmarvel. This brings a feeling of more relaxed, laid-back luxury to the trip, as the Australian attitude blends so well with that of the Irish. We strive to find the perfect sweet spot between luxury and comfort so the vibe onboard gives a feeling of being upscale, but not pretentious.

Our typical customer tends to like comfort and ease, making a Travelmarvel river cruise attractive thanks to our well-organised itineraries, included meals with drinks and guided excursions. They appreciate a mix of relaxing days onboard with cultural immersion off-ship with expertly guided local tours in history-rich destinations surrounded by picturesque scenery. Many are experienced travellers, though some are new to river cruises. The brand tends to attract people who enjoy luxury or elevated service but in a more relaxed, less fussy way than ultra-luxury lines. Formal nights are not a thing onboard, though we do offer gala nights for anyone who does wish to up the ante and don the gladrags, but formal wear is not obligatory.

Thanks to the Australian-Irish blend the craic onboard tends to be quite fun and lively, with entertainment crew always on hand to judge the vibe that the guests are looking for. They tend to be quite sociable travellers, looking to mix with like-minded adventurers and join them in a glass of wine on the sundeck or as part of a team in the evening activities. That said, if you do want some space there is plenty to be had either up on deck, in the lounge or chilling down in the aft of the ship in McGeary’s Irish bar with a pint. Essentially you can be as social or as removed as you choose on any given day.

We’ve had some fantastic feedback from agents who have stepped onboard themselves over the Summer and experienced first hand what life onboard a Travelmarvel river cruise is like. They have graciously agreed to share their experiences.

First up is O’Callaghan Travel’s Katie McDonald who sailed onboard Travelmarvel Capella back in April, who observed that having been very experienced in ocean cruising prior to dipping her toe in river, she was excited but also apprehensive to see what a river cruise would be like in comparison. Though admitting after that “honestly, it exceeded all my expectations.”

She observed that “Travelmarvel offers a wonderful experience in every aspect. The staff were friendly, kind, and attentive to the little details, like remembering the wine I’d enjoyed the night before or returning my freshly ironed clothes within minutes of asking.”

“The food was excellent, locally inspired, and always plentiful,” she continued. “The walking tours and ‘Enhance Your Journey’ experiences were informative, active and fun, and the overall atmosphere onboard was relaxed and easy-going.”

Reflecting on her fellow passengers, she noted: “Guests were warm and down-to-earth, whether enjoying a quiz in the evening or laughing together at a silent disco. I came away recommending Travelmarvel to so many people, and several of my clients have since returned with the same glowing feedback.”

Her conclusion was simple: “If you’re looking for great food, thoughtful service, and a laid-back environment while exploring beautiful towns, Travelmarvel truly delivers everything and more.”

Sarah Murphy from Cruise Paradise also had the pleasure of setting sail onboard Capella in August and remarked that, “From start to finish the trip was a dream.”

She recalled how impressive the guides were throughout: “On the included tours and optional excursions, they were so interesting and passionate about the destination and its heritage that you couldn’t help but be captivated by the towns, monasteries, castles and cathedrals they escorted us around. They answered every question, helped if there was ever an issue. Nothing was too much for them. For me, they were the highlight of each tour.”

Turning to dining, she noted, “The food was delicious and so varied – I felt like we never stopped eating the entire week! Having the option of pizza, a burger, or Caesar salad in McGeary’s was a great alternative after a long day off the ship.”

She also praised the crew, really backing the APT Difference that we strive to showcase through all aspects of both the APT and Travelmarvel brands. In particular, she recalled just how attentive and considerate the Cruise Director onboard was, recalling that “Emese, our cruise director, was one of the most efficient, organised, and empathetic people I’ve ever met. Watching her interact with other passengers was lovely. She’s a fabulous ambassador for Travelmarvel.”

The entertainment left just as strong an impression. “Our entertainment crew were great fun – so engaging, and everyone loved them. They brought a lot of lightness and merriment to the week.” She also added that the bar and wait staff were “some of the best I’ve ever encountered” adding that “nothing was ever any trouble for them.”

And over out West, Annette Hynes from Cruise Worldwide by Fahy Travel is just back from a trip down the Douro with her husband on the newly launched MS Estrela. She gushed that “From the moment we arrived the attentiveness was second to none from all of the staff. They went out of their way to make sure everything ran smoothly.”

Noting the level to which the crew went to make her feel at home, she added, “I am not a drinker myself but after our first evening the Hotel Manager Alex asked to speak to me, advising that he would make sure my fridge would be stocked with my chosen soft drink, which it was, and throughout our journey each time we saw him he always asked if there was anything else he could do for us.”

Commenting on the ease at which it was to travel with Travelmarvel, she finished by stating that their “return flight was a very late departure but this was not a problem as we were able to leave our luggage on board and enjoy all that Porto has to offer without any worry. We even returned to the ship for the afternoon to enjoy some time by the pool with a cold drink before making our journey home.”

In summary, life onboard a Travelmarvel ship is relaxed, friendly, and full of fun – the perfect balance for Irish holidaymakers who value good company and a welcoming atmosphere. From attentive staff who remember the little details, to hearty, varied meals with a taste of the regions, every moment feels effortless. Days are enriched with engaging tours and evenings bring easy-going entertainment, whether it’s a quiz, live music, or the laughter of a silent disco. With a warm, down-to-earth vibe, it never feels stuffy – just delicious food, spectacular service, and generally great banter while sailing through some of Europe’s most beautiful towns.

Travelmarvel’s Travel Marvellous Sale is now on – offering up to €1,800 in savings per person PLUS free drinks packages on 2026 river cruises. Check out the full selection of what’s on offer at www.travelmarvel.com.