{"id":3354,"date":"2014-04-07T23:44:54","date_gmt":"2014-04-07T23:44:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livevoyagereports.com\/?page_id=3354"},"modified":"2017-09-06T08:49:38","modified_gmt":"2017-09-06T14:49:38","slug":"day-1-embarking-ms-inspire","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/live-voyage-reports\/taucks-ms-inspire-belgium-holland\/day-1-embarking-ms-inspire\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 1 – Embarking ms Inspire"},"content":{"rendered":"

Embarking Tauck’s new ms Inspire in Amsterdam for a journey through history<\/h3>\n
\"Tauck's<\/a>

Tauck’s brand-new ms Inspire was one of several ships docked in Amsterdam today. Tulip river cruise season is in full swing! Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Aaron Saunders, Live Voyage Reports<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Today, I stepped aboard\u00a0Tauck<\/strong>\u2019s new\u00a0ms\u00a0Inspire<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>for the first time at the Port of Amsterdam. And what a beautiful ship she is!<\/p>\n

The ms\u00a0Inspire<\/em>\u00a0still has that “new-ship” smell to her. She\u2019s the largest river cruise ship that Tauck has ever constructed, yet she only holds an additional 12 guests than its other ships \u2014 for a grand total of 130. Most ships this size can hold nearly 200 passengers. What you get is a ship that feels far more intimate and spacious than her size would suggest.<\/p>\n

\"Tauck<\/a>

Tauck guests are welcomed aboard the new ms Inspire with these swanky new keycard holders. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Getting here was, in typical Tauck fashion, a snap. My KLM flight from Vancouver touched down just after 10 a.m. local time, and despite a recent spate of unfortunate baggage accidents, my luggage was the sixth piece dispensed on Carousel 12 at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. From there, Tauck\u2019s representatives were waiting just outside the baggage area, and I was whisked to the Inspire<\/em> along with three other guests.<\/p>\n

When I embarked the Inspire<\/em>, there was Arthur Tauck Jr., greeting guests personally in the Lounge as a light lunch was being served. Enormously friendly and personable, Tauck stated that he loved two things about this exciting new ship: the amazing showers in each stateroom and the meticulous attention to detail.<\/p>\n

He was right on both counts.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The new Loft staterooms aboard Tauck’s ms Inspire just might be some of the coolest ever designed on the waterways of Europe. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Simply put, my Loft Stateroom<\/strong> is one of the coolest features I\u2019ve seen introduced in river cruising since Viking pioneered the Aquavit Lounge aboard its Viking Longships in 2012. My jaw hit the floor when I entered my 225-square-foot Loft Stateroom aboard the Inspire and craned my head up to see the loft seating area, complete with a window spanning a full story in height.<\/p>\n

\"Lofty<\/a>

Lofty Views: The Loft windows are some of the largest on the ship. The middle panel can be electronically opened. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

The seating area comes complete with a full-sized table that is, as I type this, perfectly capable of holding two books, several papers, a brochure, my laptop and a bottle of Coca-Cola. There\u2019s room left over to spare. Two comfortable chairs complete the sitting area, which faces out onto the water.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/a>

View from The Loft, with partition opened to let fresh air in. Stunning! Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

On the far wall are a collection of six switches. Together, they raise the sheer blind up and down electronically; open the window partition electronically to let fresh air in, and open and close the blackout drapes in a mind-blowing three seconds. Which, I suppose, is perfect if you\u2019re sitting here \u201cless than decent\u201d and another ship comes alongside.<\/p>\n

\"Storage<\/a>

Storage space in the Loft Staterooms … Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"...is<\/a>

\u2026 is cleverly hidden. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

It is the convenience of this sitting area, coupled with the ability to open the middle window partition that makes these eight staterooms on Deck 1 so special. With the flick of a button, the fresh sea air from Amsterdam came swirling into my room, causing the curtains to dance hypnotically. For a moment, I just stood there, watching another river cruise ship slowly come alongside us.<\/p>\n

Letting the fresh air waft in, I set out to explore the rest of the room. The attention to detail is striking. To store my personal effects, my Loft Stateroom boasts two closets, ten drawers, an umbrella rack, and plenty of space under the bed to store a suitcase. Closets are lit on the inside, and feature full-length mirrors on the outside.<\/p>\n

\"My<\/a>

My Loft Stateroom bathroom aboard Tauck’s ms Inspire. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Dual<\/a>

Dual shower heads – take your pick. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

The oversized bathroom is smartly designed and attractively furnished. Molton Brown toiletries; a Villeroy & Boch sink; lit anti-fog mirror surfaces; and a dual function Grohe shower featuring rainforest settings and a standard detachable arm round out the mix. Bonus points for the garbage can attached to the left door that swings out when the door is opened; and for the cleverly hidden toiletries cabinet behind the mirror.<\/p>\n

\"All<\/a>

All Tauck river cruises boast Molton Brown toiletries. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Which brings me to the rest of the stateroom amenities, like an interactive television that can be raised or lowered electronically from the bed; and your very own Nespresso coffee maker, complete with pods, to keep the minibar company.<\/p>\n

The bed \u2013 brand new \u2013 is like sleeping on a cloud of pillows. I dare not sit down on it until I am done this report \u2013 even for a second.<\/p>\n

\"Coffee,<\/a>

Coffee, anyone? Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

I fell in love immediately with this room. I\u2019d take it over a French Balcony or a suite, and I have no qualms about saying that this could very well be one of the hottest staterooms on the waterways of Europe very soon. I\u2019m excited about spending the next seven nights here.<\/p>\n

Wisely, Tauck didn\u2019t re-invent the wheel when it comes to public areas aboard ms Inspire<\/em>. Instead, the focus has been on turning these already popular spaces into more upscale, elegant versions. If you\u2019ve sailed aboard the line\u2019s other vessels, you\u2019ll find a lot to like here.<\/p>\n

\"My<\/a>

My Loft Stateroom, as seen from the loft itself. These rooms are exclusively located on Deck 1. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

The Panorama Lounge<\/strong> all the way forward on Diamond Deck \u2013 always one of my favorite spots aboard the Swiss Jewel<\/em> \u2013 remains largely unchanged, save for the addition of a new colour scheme and more varied seating options. It is modern and elegant, but still retains the feel of a high-end boutique hotel set inside a heritage building in Europe, with moulded ceilings, chandeliers, and attractive wall sconces.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The gorgeous Panorama Lounge aboard Tauck’s ms Inspire. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Enjoying<\/a>

Enjoying cocktail hour in the Lounge. Tauck’s 2014 river cruise sailings are now entirely inclusive. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Tauck has always been amazingly inclusive, but this year, the line has gone fully inclusive. This means that all of the local beers and wines here \u2013 along with spirits, soft drinks, specialty coffees and bottled water \u2013 are complimentary all day in any venue onboard the ship.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The elegant Restaurant boasts an attractive new colour scheme and a crisp, clean new design. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Down one deck on Ruby Deck, the Restaurant<\/strong> is largely the same as onboard the Swiss Jewel<\/em>, but with an attractive mother-of-pearl color scheme that lends the room a bright, airy feel. Carpets are done in tri-tone brown with elegant swirl patterns, while chairs feature bright red fabric on their seats paired with an almost champagne colour on their backs.<\/p>\n

Sightlines have also improved dramatically, with less use of brass columns than before and more use of attractive glass partitions between booths and the serving stations along the centerline of the ship. Walls have also been given the champagne treatment as opposed to the dark wood veneers found aboard previous vessels.<\/p>\n

\"Passenger<\/a>

Passenger corridors aboard ms Inspire glitter. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

At the very stern is Arthur\u2019s<\/strong>, named in honor of Arthur Tauck Jr. This casual restaurant will serve up lighter fare in the morning and afternoon before becoming a specialty (though free of charge) restaurant most evenings.<\/p>\n

To take the ms Inspire <\/em>out on her maiden run, Tauck\u2019s assembled an A-Team of riverboat staff, including the friendly (not to mention Canadian) onboard Tauck Director Steve Marchant. I was fortunate to have Steve as a Tauck Director when I sailed aboard Swiss Jewel <\/em>two years ago, and it is a real privilege to be sailing with him again.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Atrium aboard ms Inspire is similar to that found on other Tauck vessels, but with a few twists. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"A<\/a>

A new staircase arrangement aboard Tauck’s ms Inspire replaces the hard-to-navigate spiral staircase on previous ships. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

To help beat jet-lag, I decided to take a short stroll through the city. Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, and its magical 17th<\/sup> century canals are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n

Within these canals, history abounds. Anne Frank\u2019s house<\/strong> is located 20 minutes or so from the cruise pier, on Prinsengracht 263-267<\/em>. The Royal Palace anchors Dam Square and Amsterdam\u2019s main shopping district. It\u2019s easy to lose yourself in and amongst the narrow, winding streets of the history center, and not at all uncommon to discover you\u2019ve doubled-back on your own track.<\/p>\n

But, like Venice, part of the joy of Amsterdam is making these discoveries on foot and losing yourself in among the streets and laneways. This is my fourth visit to the city in two years, and it\u2019s only now that I feel I\u2019m beginning to find my way around.<\/p>\n

\"Today<\/a>

Today was a very busy day for river cruise ships at the Port of Amsterdam, with eight vessels docked in our section alone. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

The ms Inspire<\/em> is docked just a five-minute stroll from Amsterdam Centraal Station<\/a>, and from here you can even head further for an afternoon in Haarlem, or just simply hop a tram to some of the city\u2019s other attractions, like the stunning Rijksmuseum<\/strong><\/a>, which we\u2019ll be visiting tomorrow.<\/p>\n

For me, though, when I visit Amsterdam I tend to just enjoy strolling around the city \u2013 or biking, as I did last year. I also usually make the time to enjoy a drink and admire the city skyline from the SkyBar<\/strong> atop the Doubletree Amsterdam across from the Centraal Station.<\/p>\n

\"Tonight,<\/a>

Tonight, I opted to dine out at ‘eye’ – the building with the white roof on the left – with good friend and ShipParade founder Bart de Boer. An excellent time! Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

This time, I joined good friend and ShipParade <\/strong>founder Bart de Boer for a dinner at the sumptuous eye-bar restaurant <\/strong>across the river. The great food and excellent conversation was made even moreso by the torrential rain that came upon the city suddenly, leaving my jeans soaked through in a matter of seconds. You know how it rains in movies \u2013 that sort of unnatural downpour that is the tell-tale mark of the \u201crain rig?\u201d That\u2019s how the rain came down just after six this evening \u2013 except it came sideways.<\/p>\n

But here aboard the Inspire <\/em>tonight, I am reveling in my cozy stateroom as I finish this installment at the desk and table on my loft. I\u2019m looking across the river at the lights twinkling across the channel, the black sea slowly drifting by in the periphery. Tomorrow, our tour kicks off in earnest \u2013 and I can\u2019t wait to see what it has in store!<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Tauck's MS Inspire - Belgium & Holland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
DAY<\/B><\/td>PORT<\/B><\/td>ACTIVITIES<\/B><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 7, 2014<\/a><\/td>Amsterdam, Netherlands<\/td>Arrive Amsterdam; Embark Tauck's new ms Inspire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 8<\/a><\/td>Amsterdam, Netherlands<\/td>Private river cruise through Amsterdam's Canals; visit the Rijksmuseum; tour Keukenhof Gardens<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 9<\/a><\/td>Hoorn, Netherlands \/ Enkhuizen, Netherlands<\/td>Walking tour of Hoorn or visit to Alkmaar. Walking tour of Enkhuizen & open-air Zuiderzee Museum.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 10<\/a><\/td>Arnhem, Netherlands<\/td>Choice of tours - De Hoge Veluwe National Park exploration with Vincent Van Gogh at the Kroller-Muller Museum, or tour sites associated with the WWII airborne assault on Arnhem. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 11<\/a><\/td>Rotterdam, Netherlands<\/td>Tour of Rotterdam & its museums, or optional excursion to the historic city of Delft. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 12<\/a><\/td>Veere, Netherlands \/ Middleburg, Netherlands. <\/td>Exploration of Veere or excursion to Neeltje Jans Delta Works to learn about the country's storm surge barriers. In Middleburg, enjoy time exploring on own.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 13<\/a><\/td>Antwerp, Belgium \/ Ypres<\/td>Orientation walking tour through Antwerp's historic city center & visit the Red Star Line museum. After lunch, Tauck Exclusive tour to Flanders to observe the centennial of World War I with dinner and a private visit to the In Flanders Fields museum. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 14<\/a><\/td>Antwerp, Belgium \/ Hasselt, Belgium \/ Maastricht, Netherlands<\/td>Drive to Margraten to see the Netherlands American Cemetery. Tauck Exclusive Lunch at Chateau Neercanne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guided visit to Maastricht & free time in the Old Town.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 15<\/a><\/td>Brussels, Belgium<\/td>Disembark ms Inspire & travel to Brussels for a full day of sightseeing. Overnight at the Hotel Amigo.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 16<\/td>Brussels, Belgium<\/td>Onward journey home.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n