Getting Active on a Rhine River Cruise with Emerald Cruises

Emerald Destiny sails with up to 182 passengers. I joined about 140 others on my cruise on the Moselle, Rhine and Main Rivers in Germany.

A river cruise in Germany is an adventure that will test the willpower of anyone who generally intends to stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle.

So, what’s a traveler to do when sailing throughout Germany, visiting Franconia and Bavaria in regions of the world where you’ll be constantly tempted by wines, cheeses, sausages, fries, beers, cakes, strudel and gelatos? And don't forget the pretzels! Oh, those pretzels.

During my weeklong cruise on the Moselle, Rhine and Main Rivers with Emerald Cruises, I was so tempted with all the mouthwatering fare I encountered that I had no choice but to implement my tried and true “Operation Mitigation” approach to eating and exercise.

The simple premise of this diet plan: If I was going to eat it, I was going to have to earn it!

It what is typically pure folly, I always head out for my trips with the idea that I will limit myself to a couple indulgences here and there, try the regional specialties and have a few beers and desserts during my trip to get a proper flavor of a destination. This is important, of course, to make sure I enjoy myself and connect in a nice way with the regions I visit.

Once we reached Bavaria, it was time for an onboard feast of regional cuisine. The crew on Emerald Destiny hustled to deliver cold beers and heaping plates of delicious grub to eager passengers who swarmed the main dining at lunch time.

But I almost always quickly realize that resistance is futile when beckoned by smooth and creamy scoops of fresh-made gelato and the twisty embrace of warm and salty Bavarian pretzels. I typically go off the rails by the end of the first night, when a few crisp and easy-drinking German pilsners go down so effortlessly during hours-long convivial meals with new friends.

Thus, it was the case on Emerald Destiny on Day 1 during my cruise. I particularly enjoy these cruises on the great European waterways because they provide the perfect environment for exploration. The small and comfortable ships feature crew members offering friendly and attentive service, and the Emerald Destiny staff was among the most upbeat and fun crew I have seen on my dozens of European river cruises.

My friend Lauren introduced me to the smoke beers of Bamberg. An ideal way to wash down a salty pretzel.

You also have the chance to meet well-traveled people from all over the world who share a curiosity and taste for new foods and learning about history and culture. The intimate confines give the voyages a pleasant energy as you sail past stunning scenery that makes it seem as if you are in a live painting -- drifting past castles, villages ruins, vineyards and green fields.

We journeyed from Bernkastel on the Moselle River to Nuremberg on the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, and over the course of a magical week, I would make special new friends and cherished travel moments that revolved around the entire spectacle of stunning scenery, immersive history, beautiful weather and delicious culinary delights.

I got my morning in Cochem started with a run along the Moselle River. Photo credit: Jack Hollingsworth

The sunny days played a key part in my plan, as I was able to mitigate my caloric consumption with ample doses of exercise and other activities that made for a perfect guilt-free week that allowed me to do it all.

Here is the plan I used that allowed me to step on the scale not one pound heavier after returning home, while allowing me to enjoy all the food, drink and dessert that I was helpless to resist. (I'm talking two desserts daily and ample glasses of German pilsners, smoke beers and kolsches).

The Sun Deck is a fantastic spot to take part in exercise classes onboard while taking in the views while sailing.

Emerald Cruises offers an activity manager on each of its ships, and the line launched its EmeraldACTIVE program, which features a wide range of classes, activities and events that ramp up the fun for cruisers. This includes trivia contests and quizzes, cabaret shows and golf putting competitions and games of petanque on the wide-open Sun Deck.

The program also includes programming for the fitness-inclined cruiser, and we were able to take part in a guided bike tour of Bernkastel and special hiking excursions.

I jumped in to try my first water aerobics class in the large pool. Photo credit: Laura Kiniry

Harry Jordan was our activities manager on Emerald Destiny, and in addition to running the quiz shows, teaching dance classes and performing cabaret shows during which he sang Neil Diamond and Rat Pack classics, he also offered a series of active classes onboard the ship. He led Pilates, water aerobics (yes, Emerald Destiny has a large indoor swimming pool), yoga and stretch classes.

Top to Bottom: Our activities manager Harry led yoga, Pilates and soft petanque sessions as part of the EmeraldACTIVE program.

I added a daily run and a few workouts in the ship's small fitness center to further boost my calorie burn in “Operation Mitigation.” European river cruises offer numerous wonderful chances for avid runners to explore by foot while sticking to their regimens. All of the villages we visited with Emerald on this cruise itinerary offered well-marked running paths right along the rivers and just steps off the gangway of your river ship. I went on several scenic runs, crossing ancient bridges and even up to the Koblenz Fortress (I rode the Koblenz Cable car back down, though).

We asked for a large plate of fries to share at the pub. Instead, we got four big plates to share. Something was lost in translation, I suppose.. We considered it an error in our favor, as our hunger kicked in and we did our best to finish them all.

Emerald Cruises ships also carry a fleet of bikes that you can sign out to go on a ride. Want to explore independently and get in some exercise at the same time? Ask your activity manager or cruise director for a good running or biking route or a special hike that they have found in each port.

Tip: Bring along your camera or mobile phone and be ready to stop numerous times for pictures during your ride or run. Also, bring a credit card and a few euros because your route is bound to bring you past a quaint little pub or cafe by the river that will draw you in for a beer, wine or other treat.

The bottom line: You will feel the constant tug of temptation on these cruises in Germany, but Emerald Cruises gives you a good chance to burn off just as much as you take in.

Our EmeraldACTIVE program got off to a nice start with a long and scenic bike ride in Bernkastel.

We were fortunate to enjoy mostly sunny days, which yielded views like this one in Miltenberg on our hiking excursions.

The most importantly thing, though, is that my cruise on Emerald Destiny was an overall fun experience, giving you a full menu of things to savor — from foods to adventures and activities.

Thanks for reading,
JR

I broke loose from the crowd in Miltenberg for a run. This was simply my afternoon prep for another hearty dinner experience back on the ship.