I Sailed APT's Rhine and Main River Cruise Before It Opens to U.S. Travelers. Here's My Honest Review.

My short answer: APT offers a little more than the river lines I already know well. It's more exclusive, and all-inclusive really means everything. But there are a few things I'd want you to know before you book, and I'll get to those.

APT has been a favorite with Australian travelers for a long time, and it shows. It has a sister brand called Travelmarvel that sits at a lower price point. Until now, APT hasn't been sold to the U.S. market. That opens with the 2028 sailings.

That means very few advisors here have actually been on board. I've sailed with Avalon, Emerald, and Viking, and now APT, and I'm a certified river cruise expert with Avalon, AmaWaterways, Viking, and Riverside. So APT is something I can compare, not just describe. I went with a group of travel advisors so I could tell you what it's really like, not what the brochure says.

2026 was a very dry year in Europe. There wasn't much rain, and water levels on the rivers dropped low, so that's exactly what we got. Instead of sailing out of Amsterdam, we spent our first night on the Travelmarvel Polaris, then took a motorcoach to Frankfurt to board the APT Solara. It was about five hours with two bathroom stops and a longer lunch stop.

Here's the part I'll remember. APT gave every guest €30 for lunch that day. Nobody asked them to. They also kept the experiences that mattered. We still had our Amsterdam canal cruise, and we still made it to Namedy Castle and Rüdesheim, even though the ship didn't start sailing until Monday night.

The honest trade-off: during low water, "included" excursions can mean longer coach rides. Namedy Castle is usually about 15 minutes from the ship. For us it was over an hour each way. Low water can happen in any dry year, and I can't promise any line will avoid it. But how a line handles it tells you a lot, and APT handled it well.

Coming from the Polaris, the Solara felt like a step up. The cabins are larger and brighter, the lounge is larger and brighter, and the top deck is much nicer.

My cabin was a Category A French Balcony Suite, and it felt so airy. The bathroom was a great size, with a roomy rain shower. There's a coffee and tea station with real glasses tucked in a drawer, a mini bar, and plenty of storage. My favorite thing: push a button and the whole window lowers, and your room becomes a balcony with the river right there.

I also toured two other cabin types. The lead-in Deluxe cabin is still roomy, but it has a darker interior with wood paneling. I'd take the brightness of the French Balcony every time. I saw one suite, and it was lovely, but unless you really want a balcony you can step out onto, I don't think it's necessary.

APT says there are six dining options on the Solara. I'd call it four real restaurants plus two extras.

• Bistro Saison is the main dining room, European bistro food with a modern twist.
• Annie's Table alternates French and Italian weeks. I was there during French week, and since I'm not a big fan of French food, it was my least favorite meal of the trip. Still good. Just know which week you're likely to get.
• The Owner's Cellar is a five-course tasting menu with premium wine pairings. I loved everything, and I even stepped out of my comfort zone and had the duck. If you don't drink red wine, know that some of the pairings are reds.
• The Grüner Bar & Dining was my favorite spot on the ship. It's built around fresh, local ingredients, and the whole venue rises up to the Sun Deck on a hydraulic lift so you're eating with panoramic river views. I had a lunch there and my final dinner of the trip, and I loved both.

The extras are light fare in the lounge and a Sun Deck BBQ.

One thing I really liked: the three specialty restaurants are by invitation, and the ship rotates them so everyone gets a turn. Nobody monopolizes the favorite. Two guests in our group had special diets, and the kitchen went above and beyond, so they ate nearly everything the rest of us did.

On my sailing, all-inclusive really meant everything. Drinks, gratuities, and transfers were included, and I never took my wallet out the entire trip.

My one small wish for a line at this level is easier access to water. Bottled water wasn't handed out for excursions, and you refill the carafe in your cabin yourself. Bring a reusable bottle.

Namedy Castle. This is one of APT's Signature Experiences, and it was something. Princess Heide von Hohenzollern greeted us herself, with her two dogs. After drinks and snacks she told her family's story in the banquet room, then let us explore the rooms and grounds. She wanted us to take it all in, and we did. Our group was the last to leave.

Rüdesheim. The classic choice here is the gondola up to the Niederwald Monument or a wine cellar tasting. I picked the wine, small sips, since it was morning. Then I wandered the shops and the town. If you're a coffee lover, try a Rüdesheimer coffee. I've had it on a previous trip, and I'm not a big coffee drinker, so I skipped it this time.

Miltenberg. One of my favorite stops, and it felt like a storybook setting. Our liqueur tasting was held in an old ice cave. Afterward I walked up to the castle at the top of town for amazing views over the Main. Miltenberg is also home to the Faust brewery. And watch for the local candy man who hands out treats. Some of them are chili flavored. I asked for a sweet one!

Rothenburg ob der Tauber. We walked part of the medieval town wall, and then I went straight to the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas store. It's a store you have to experience at least once in your life. It took a good chunk of my free time, and I came home with a couple of ornaments. If Christmas is your season, here's why Christmas market river cruises sell out 18 months in advance.

Bamberg. We walked along the river past the old fishermen's houses, known as Little Venice, and saw the rose gardens. Then I did one of my favorite things to do in Europe: sat at a café with a drink and watched the people go by. Beer lovers should try Rauchbier, the smoked beer Bamberg is known for.

There was live entertainment every night with performers who travel with the ship, and they have great voices. Most nights had a theme, including music trivia and a request night. There's a learning lecture, a morning stretch some days, and games, books, and puzzles.

The spa and gym are small. The spa has one treatment room. If wellness is a big part of your vacation, that's worth knowing.

Our cruise director, Tomas, was fantastic. He kept everyone well informed in the port talks and made sure we were taken care of. Service was excellent across the board.

It was a little bit of a younger crowd, with most guests not yet retired. Most of them were Australian, since APT is an Australian brand and is still new to the U.S. market. Once U.S. sales open, I'd expect a mix of Australians, Americans, and Canadians on board. And the Australians definitely know how to have fun.

I get asked which river line is best all the time. My honest answer is still that they fit different travelers. That said, compared with Avalon, AmaWaterways, and Viking, the lines I work with most, I'd say APT offers a little more. It's more exclusive, and it's more fully all-inclusive. If you're weighing Viking specifically, my Bordeaux river cruise review with Viking is a good companion read.

APT and Travelmarvel are a good example of the same family at two price points. The Polaris reminded me a lot of an Avalon ship. The Solara added bigger, brighter cabins and public spaces, and a top deck with a more luxury feel, especially the whole sitting area at the front of the ship.

This is a great fit if:

• You want a more exclusive river cruise where nearly everything is included
• You like trying a different restaurant most nights
• You're social and enjoy evening entertainment
• You're comfortable with an international crowd
• You've done a river cruise before and want a step up

I'd steer you somewhere else, or talk it through first, if:

• A big spa or gym matters to you
• You'd have a hard time being flexible if a dry year drops the water levels
• You want to book for 2026 or 2027 (U.S. sales start with 2028)

If you're still deciding which river or line fits you, start with my guide to European river cruises.

That's why I go. So that when you sit down with me, whether you're in Berks County, Schuylkill County, the Lehigh Valley, or anywhere else in the country, the answer comes from somewhere real.