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The 140-passenger Jane Austen began life in 2015 -- identical to its sister ship, Lord Byron, which launched in 2013 -- offering Rhine and Danube river cruises as part of Riviera Travel's program of escorted tours.
Jane Austen's Rhine itineraries have been hugely popular since launching and it's easy to see why, with the particular stretch on our sailing offering plenty of eye candy in the form of castles, vineyards and quaint towns and villages. It's not all about the view, though. Jane Austen is well-suited to its slightly older -- typically 65-plus -- British passengers, offering a no-frills, yet premium-style, river cruise. The line doesn't go for high-tech devices, nor is it big on activities or energetic entertainment. Instead, Jane Austen offers a relaxed atmosphere in a highly comfortable vessel.
Passengers are met with a warm and friendly air as soon as they step onboard the ship. The space still has that new feel, with lots of shiny surfaces and pristine furniture. The lobby features crystal chandeliers, marble flooring, a wrought-iron staircase and dark wood panelling -- offering a luxury quality to the space that greets passengers. We love the vintage-style cabin-card cubbyholes behind the reception desk, reminiscent of a bygone era of travel -- though we don't think this is intentional -- which adds to the ambiance of the small, but well-laid out lobby.
Crew and guest service staff are extremely helpful -- they'll go the extra mile to help you out or find the answer to your question if they don't know it offhand. We also found that crew build a quick rapport with passengers and a friendly air of familiarity quickly develops. On our cruise, our cruise director and tour manager made a good match. They're not only knowledgeable and helpful, but they're passionate about the destination and offered personality with their information and destination talks.
The ship is well proportioned and a good size for the quantity of passengers onboard. Overall, the mood is peaceful and, although not a large ship, you'll easily find a quiet corner to read or take in the passing scenery. Although fellow passengers were friendly on our sailing, we didn't encounter much interaction between groups of passengers onboard.
There is no official dress code and the ship's crew advise passengers to dress however they feel most comfortable, whether that be in a dinner suit or relaxed slacks or jeans and shirt combination in the evening. Passenger attire leans toward informal. Expect jeans or trousers with shirts, polo T-shirts, sweaters and sturdy walking shoes during the day. In the evening, the casual theme continues, with chinos, smart trousers paired with polo shirts or shirts for men and smart two pieces or dresses for women. Some men do opt to wear a jacket and tie, although it's not compulsory. We didn't spot any women wearing cocktail dresses on our cruise, though you wouldn't look out of place if that's your preference. If you're cruising during the cooler months -- and even in summer when mainland Europe can experience bouts of rain -- pack warm clothes for when it gets cool on deck and you're taking in the scenic river views.
Drinks -- with the exception of tea and coffee -- and gratuities are not included in your cruise fare. For gratuities, an envelope is left in your cabin at the end of your cruise and the amount you leave is entirely up to you. It's advised to tip tour guides and coach drivers, too. Although the ship is specifically targeted to the British cruise market, the onboard currency is the euro.
Riviera Travel itineraries tend to call at at least one port per day, sometimes two, which works well with the line's light enrichment program. There's a daily talk on each port, which is insightful and really worth sitting in on to learn about your next port of call. Occasionally, when the ship calls at the next port early, the talk will take place the evening before.
Shore Excursions
Shore excursions are included if a port is deemed big enough for a walking tour to take place. Tours involve stops at landmarks and attractions, such as churches, monuments of historical or cultural significance and museums, although entry into museums is not included. Tours are carried out by local guides and are informative, slow-paced and well worth attending to get a taste of what each port has to offer.
Every cabin is equipped with battery-powered vox boxes so passengers can listen to their tour guide with ease. Make sure you charge your vox box each night ready for the following day.
In smaller ports, such as Boppard in Germany, where tours aren't available, the team will helpfully guide passengers into the main area of the town.
Maps of each port, including tour highlights, are provided at the ship's Tour Desk. The ship offers no other shore excursions.
Daytime and Evening Entertainment
Onboard entertainment is minimal. There's an onboard pianist who plays nightly in the Lounge Bar and a once a week trivia quiz.
There's only one bar and lounge onboard Jane Austen, which is open from morning through night.
Lounge Bar (Diamond Deck): The ship's only lounge bar -- located at the front of the ship -- is spacious, offering panoramic river views, with a luxurious feel. The Lounge Bar features a rich Royal blue and cream color scheme and plush fittings. The central bar is surrounded by ample seating, including long sofas and individual tables and lounge chairs.
The atmosphere is relaxed and passengers flow in and out of the space throughout the day and into the evening. The Lounge Bar is at its busiest in the evening, particularly after dinner when passengers gather for aperitifs.
The drinks menu is comprehensive, although champagne -- Moët & Chandon is the only option onboard -- is only served by the bottle. A sparkling wine is however available by the glass as is a selection of sparkling wine cocktails. There's an excellent non-alcoholic cocktail menu, too, which also make for tasty juices during the day. The ship tends to stick with offering local, not international, beer.
There are several outside spaces for passengers to sit and enjoy the views, including a Sun Deck, featuring sun loungers that are covered by a canopy in the winter months. There's seating and rattan-style outside furniture located at the front of the ship and further seating at the back of the ship, outside the Lido.
Though there isn't a walking or running track onboard, the ship's outside space feels open and offers space to take regular walks if you prefer to keep active while the ship is sailing.
There's a small splash pool and a four-hole putting green located next to each other toward the rear of the Sun Deck.
The small stack of books in the lobby make for the ship's library. The shelves are half full with an odd mix of fiction in German and English. Also in the lobby is the ship's shop, stocking a selection of premium European-brand accessories and leather goods, such as jewellery, scarves and handbags. The Tour Desk is also in the lobby where passengers can ask questions about port stops.
A fee-based laundry service is available if you require items washed and/or ironed while onboard.
There's no internet café, but Wi-Fi is included. Guests have to take their device -- be it a smartphone, tablet or laptop -- to the reception desk to get connected. The basic Wi-Fi package is ideal for using social media platforms and browsing the web. Passengers can purchase a faster premium internet connection.
There's no spa onboard, but the ship does have a small sauna and steam room. Robes and slippers are available from reception. The ship features a two-chair salon, offering washes, cuts and blow dry services.
We found the overall quality of food onboard Jane Austen excellent, with the ship catering extremely well to passengers with dietary requirements. Not only is there an allergen labelling system on menus, with everything from gluten to nut allergies listed, but the crew and chefs are accommodating to the dietary needs of passengers and are happy to suggest alternative options to dishes listed on the menu. For health-conscious passengers, low-fat dishes are also marked on the menu.
Expect fresh and seasonal ingredients at the buffet and on menus. We experienced pumpkin, mushrooms, game meat such as venison and seasonal vegetables during our autumn cruise. We were extremely impressed by the quality of the food in the main restaurant in particular. One evening we ordered the chateaubriand, a dish we though to be a touch ambitious when catering for a large quantity of passengers, but the beef was cooked to perfection.
All dining options are included onboard, with no extra fees.
The only snacks available between meals are complimentary chocolate and oatmeal cookies, which are left out in the Lido by the ship's complimentary coffee machine.
Main Restaurant (Ruby Deck): Almost all of the meals served onboard Jane Austen are in the Main Restaurant, including breakfast, buffet lunch and either buffet or set dinner. There is no allocated seating -- passengers can just walk in and grab a table. The restaurant is light, airy and has a jovial ambiance during service. Although it never quite feels full, it's just the right amount of busy to create a lively atmosphere and allow conversations to flow throughout the dining room.
At breakfast a self-service counter of hot and cold breakfast items is available, including fruit juices, fruit, cereal, fresh bread baked on the ship, cold meat cuts, smoked salmon, herring, cheeses, beans, fried and scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage. In addition to the buffet, there's also a daily morning menu available featuring items such as eggs Benedict, omelettes and hot cereals. Tea and filter coffee are served at the table.
At lunchtime, the buffet features a range of hot and cold dishes. There's a salad bar and a selection of meats, a pasta dish, potatoes, a fish (such as cod or plaice) and a meat dish. Dessert ranges from fruit and various types of cake to cheeses.
On the first night of a cruise, the restaurant offers a buffet service, while all other nights a daily changing menu is served. An evening buffet typically consists of similar dishes to lunchtime, with additional hot dishes, such as sea bass in a light lemon dressing, vegetables and potatoes. Typically, there's a fish, meat, pasta and vegetarian main dish; followed by a selection of small desserts and a cheeses.
The restaurant's set menu typically includes a starter, soup, appetizer, main course and dessert. The appetizer courses (starter, soup and appetizer) only offer one option, such as a terrine of venison, wild mushroom minestrone soup and marinated king prawns. The main course consists of three options, typically a meat, fish and vegetarian option. The vegetarian option -- a homemade pumpkin ravioli on our voyage -- was creative and didn't feel like a token gesture. Kudos to the chefs who pulled off a perfect chateaubriand dish on our sailing. With the restaurant near capacity and many of our tablemats ordering the same dish, it is not an easy entrée to get right. Vegetables are fresh and ingredients in season.
Service is faultless. Crew are attentive, ensuring plates are carried away (although not too soon) and glasses refilled. Unlike most river cruises, wine isn't included at dinner service, however passengers can expect a simple selection of local and European wines to choose from off the list.
Dining hours can vary, dependent on itinerary, but typically breakfast is 7 to 9:30 a.m.; lunch service begins between 12 and 1 p.m. and lasts for 1.5 hours; and dinner is 7 to 9 p.m.
Lido Restaurant (Diamond Deck): The Lido offers an alternative to the main restaurant for a light lunch or dinner. Passengers are required to book for dinner, although there is no fee. The restaurant space is small, featuring 10 tables of two or four seats and floor-to-ceiling windows, leading to a small outdoor seating area.
A specialty lunch option is served everyday in the Lido with a chef manning a barbecue on the deck outside. Expect local specialties such as a variety of sausages and kebabs cooked fresh and served in the small restaurant, with a salad bar, fresh bread (all bread is baked onboard) and condiments available.
In the evening, the Lido turns into the Lido Bistro, which can be booked for tables of two, four or larger groups of passengers and serves a similar menu to that of the Main Restaurant. The evening ambiance is intimate, even romantic, and makes for a perfect contrast to the larger Main Restaurant space. The five course set menu features an appetizer, soup, sorbet, main course and dessert. Dishes are not exactly adventurous and they feel traditional, but the quality of food is outstanding -- similar to the quality of food you would experience in a top European bistro.
Lunch times vary, depending on itineraries, but is typically available from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and dinner is 7 to 9 p.m.
Room Service: A small selection of continental breakfast items -- such as juices, tea and coffee, pastries, fruit and yogurt -- can be ordered to cabins from the cabin breakfast menu. There's no cost attached to ordering breakfast to your stateroom.
No other room service options are available.
An instant win for the ship's cabins is that they all come with a view. There are 74 elegantly appointed outside cabins in total, laid out over three decks -- Emerald Deck (Lower), Ruby Deck (Middle) and Diamond Deck (Upper). The glass lift, located in the lobby by the staircase, makes all decks easily accessible (although it doesn't go to the sun deck).
Cabin types include standard, mini and master suites, which range in size from 161 to 242 square feet. Cabins, like the public areas of the ship, have a premium feel, featuring a lavish champagne and royal blue colour palate. Even the smallest of the ship's cabins feel roomy thanks to a clever colour scheme and large windows on the upper decks, which allow light to flood in.
All cabins contain a standard double bed or two single beds pushed together, bedside tables with drawer and lamp, an upholstered chair, a table, a mini-bar, telephone, tea and coffee-making facilities, safe, double wardrobe, a hair dryer and a large flat-screen Samsung TV showing a mix of TV channels, including all of the regular international news channels. There's one movie channel, which typically features one movie on loop per day.
All cabin bathrooms feature a toilet, sink and wall-mounted shower. There are also two glasses in cup-holders; a large wall-mounted mirror, providing excellent lighting; and a shaving mirror. Bathrooms contain premium Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries, including a body wash, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion. There's also a line to hang items of clothing. Standard cabin bathrooms feel small, but they're well designed, with clever shower doors -- which means no clingy shower curtain -- that fold into the shower.
The electrical power supply onboard is 220V with sockets conveniently located next to the bed and by the cabin table. Sockets cater to European two-pin plugs, so remember to pack an adaptor.
Evening turndown service is provided in all cabins, which includes a thoughtfully placed chocolate left on your pillow.
Standard cabins: The smallest cabins onboard, at 161 square feet, make up the bulk of the ship's accommodations. They're well laid out with a design that maximizes space, including a double wardrobe located in the entrance, opposite the bathroom, before you reach the main bedroom area. That said, we found some of the cabin amenities, such as the mini-bar, wineglasses and hair dryer, take up some of this valuable storage space inside the wardrobe.
Standard cabins are elegant and while they might not be the largest on Europe's rivers, they're a good size and the large French balcony windows, offering unimpeded views, are a big plus.
Mini Suites: The difference between Standard cabins and the six Mini Suites is the size and layout. The 199-square-feet Mini Suites feel spacious, with the double bed angled toward the window. Bathrooms are bigger, too, offering that extra storage space that standard cabins lack.
Master Suites: The four generously proportioned -- 242 square feet -- Master Suites feel especially roomy, including a double French balcony with the bed positioned facing the windows and plenty of room for movement on both sides of the bed -- top marks for feng shui!
Master Suites also feature a dark hardwood table and two upholstered chairs. Robes are included, too, which saves you having to request them. There's also an iPhone docking station, which features an alarm clock; a fruit basket upon arrival; and bathrooms that feel exceptionally luxurious, including the addition of an overhead rainforest shower, as well as the wall-mounted shower, and extra storage space.
Jane Austen doesn't have any interconnecting cabins, but it does have one accessible cabin located on the Diamond Deck closest to reception.
