TUI Allegra - Rhine Cruise
TUI Allegra 2011
The TUI Allegra, brand new for 2011, is a 4-star plus river cruise ship operating on the Rhine, Danube and Main rivers. Finished to an extremely high spec, the ship dominates the river as it accommodates up to 186 passengers in elegance, comfort and splendour.
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I was invited to join a Rhine cruise on the TUI Allegra in May 2011. I boarded in Koblenz and was immediately struck by the ship’s similarity to its sister ship the Premicon Queen. Not surprising really, since the ships have been built to an almost identical specification – the only difference being that the Premicon Queen has fewer and larger cabins and feels a little more spacious. However, the TUI Allegra in providing accommodation for a slightly different market still manages to offer first class accommodation and a reasonably good standard of food and service. |
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| I was accommodated in a Sofa-Cabin with French balcony (French doors opening onto a railing) which was roomy enough with the sofa in situ. The sofa would be transformed into a double bed for the return from dinner and back into a sofa after breakfast. With the bed extended there was not a lot of space but for lounging in the day the sofa was perfect. The bathroom which consisted of a WC, sink and shower was functional but cosy. |
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The TUI Allegra's cabins are distributed on three levels with lower-deck cabins offering port-hole windows only, but whilst seeming a little claustrophobic, these cabins are as roomy as the sofa-cabins on the upper deck and much more competitively priced. All cruises on the Allegra are full-board and there is no shortage of food available throughout the day. A daily itinerary delivered to each cabin details the itinerary for the day including meal timings, entertainment and excursion opportunities throughout the day. |
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| On our cruise the day started with an early-riser’s breakfast of pastries and tea/coffee/juices served in the lobby area which could be enjoyed on deck (weather permitting). This was followed by a buffet breakfast in the restaurant with a wide range of cereals, fruit and hot and cold meats with eggs cooked to individual requirements. |
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Lunch was generally a choice of a meat or vegetarian dish from the kitchen, with a selection of salads, pastas and soup served at the buffet, followed by a desert and coffee or tea. (NOTE – coffee and tea are included with meals – but a charge is made if ordered on deck, in the bar, smoking lounge or library). An afternoon tea was served daily with a selection of what we found to be very moreish cakes with coffee or tea. Dinner was usually served from 7pm although this can be flexible depending on the location of the ship. Dinner consisted of a choice of starters, main course and a desert followed by tea or coffee. Wine and water could be purchased by the glass, carafe or bottle and any unfinished bottles would be reserved for the next meal. Prices of wine and drinks generally were reasonable with a good bottle of wine costing anywhere between €20 to €30. For example menus see the attached documents. A late supper of canapés and cakes was served at 11pm every evening. |
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The entertainment onboard provided by TUI reps was mainly aimed at the German passengers onboard although this can be tailored for groups and English was widely spoken onboard by all staff and by excursion tour-guides. One facility which I did not get the chance to utilise was the Wellness area which contained a whirlpool, sauna and mini-gym. |
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A number of Spa treatments are available for an extra charge. Having been spoiled by the level of service provided onboard the Premicon Queen on my last cruise I did feel a little disappointed about the service offered by the restaurant and bar staff which at times lacked personality and professionalism. In defence of the crew however, this was only the second voyage for many and with ongoing training I’m sure that the service will go close to that offered on TUI’s other ships.A tight schedule only allowed me to stay on the ship for a couple of nights, but it was an enjoyable, comfortable and informed time with some beautiful scenery and a couple of interesting stops. Fine weather enabled much of that time to be spent on the sun-deck sipping a tall glass of beer whilst watching the every changing world saunter by. The endless castles and typical German towns that speckled the lush backdrop were occasionally interrupted by the distant thunder of a passing goods train. |
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| There are plenty of photo-opportunities along the route with a highlight being the Loreley rock at the river’s narrowest point. Many stories surround this rock which stands at an imposing 120 metres height and guards what is perhaps the most perilous part of the river. The treacherous currents here have accounted for many fatalities and this in turn has spawned legends of mermaids and stories of cursed lovers, many of which endure today. |  |
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The Allegra completes a fleet of 6 ships operated by TUI Germany which it charters from the cruise operator Transocean. This gives TUI a total capacity of up to 1,052 passengers on ships rated 4-stars and above. EXTRA INFO: TIPS - a tip is collected voluntarily at the end of the cruise. The cruise-staff rely heavily on their tips which are shared amongst all the crew, so a reasonable contribution is expected. I would suggest a minimum of €10 per person per day. Exceptional service may also be tipped, but I would suggest this is done discreetly. PROS – Relaxed atmosphere and excellent overall value for money CONS – cost of excursions |
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