Rhine wellness cruise: Recharge the spirit amid karma waters

This was the case the following day in Cologne, where AmaMora drew up close to the cathedral and we strolled the surrounding streets, ending up in a brewery eating potato cakes and apple sauce, washed down with local beer.

Shore excursions are included in the fare on AmaMora, as are drinks with meals, a “sip and sail” cocktail hour and unlimited wi-fi. Food is almost always available, from early risers’ pastries at 6.30am to breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks.Tapas are served all day and tea and coffee are on tap around the clock.Aside from the main restaurant, there is the Chef’s Table serving tasting menus.

In Rüdesheim, home to some great Rieslings, we went wine-tasting with a very outgoing host who regaled us with hilarious stories.Then it was on to Ludwigshafen to take a 45-minute coach trip to the old castle of Heidelberg which houses the world’s biggest wine barrel.

Our next stop was the French city of Strasbourg, where we walked the area known as Petite France, admiring the medieval houses. Back on board, having passed flat riverbanks with beaches where children played and old men walked their dogs, we visited the charming town of Riquewihr the following day before ending our journey in the Swiss city of Basel.

On the AmaMora most cabins have two balconies, a French one with sliding doors and a proper veranda with two chairs so you can sit outside your own room watching the world go by.