Trip Bacon — The secret ingredient to the perfect getaway logo

I Spent a Week on 1930s River Cruise Ship

Emma Cruises
Emma Cruises
🏅Authority
👁️ 367K views📅 3 years ago⏱️ 24:48

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

The creator documents a week-long journey aboard the Merlin, a 1930s barge converted into a small river cruise ship sailing 420 kilometers across Germany. Accompanied by her father, the creator explores the intimate atmosphere of traveling with only 23 other guests and a small crew led by owners Christina and her husband. The trip focuses heavily on daily cycling excursions through German towns and the countryside, which the creator manages by utilizing e-bikes to navigate hilly terrain. The video details the living conditions on the barge, including the spacious cabins, the unique use of river water in the toilets, and the high quality of the three-course meals prepared by Christina. Beyond the physical activity, the creator highlights the social aspects of the cruise, noting how the small group size fosters connections between passengers. The summary concludes with a breakdown of the costs, noting that the seven-night trip cost approximately 1740 Euros per person, covering accommodation, food, and daily tours. The creator reflects on the experience as a meaningful way to make memories with family while discovering the history and logistics of running a small-scale river cruise business.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsCruise Vlog🏅Authority Creator
❤️ Best for CoupleNorthern_europe · Summer · 7 nightsFrom DusseldorfVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

This is the Merlijn, she was built in 1930 to transport sand and she will be my home for the next week.

This cruise cost me around 250 euros per person per night... that includes the accommodation the daily tours and all of our food.

I tip 10 euros per person per night for the crew... seeing how hard this team worked... I was very happy to tip.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Try the e-bike if you're not a confident cyclist.
Pack light for cycling clothes to save space.
Tip the crew for their hard work and dedication.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Cycling abilityYou can take rest days; e-bikes are available and make hills easier.
Accessibility on a bargeEnsure you can manage steep stairs before booking.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat is it like to live on a 1930s river cruise ship?
QHow does cycling on a barge cruise work?
QWhat are the costs and inclusions for a week-long barge cruise?

Topics Covered

Ship Condition4½ Happy BaconService Crew4½ Happy BaconCabin Interior4 Happy BaconValue Pricing3½ Happy BaconItinerary Route4 Happy BaconExcursions4½ Happy BaconDining Main4½ Happy BaconPort Destination4 Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Dusseldorf4 Happy Bacon
Munster4 Happy Bacon
Top: Walking tour of Munster
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology

Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube