We will explore the cheese shops and farms of the Rhine regions of France, Germany & Switzerland together and sample the areas' finest cheeses and wines.
Your trip includes:
-Exclusive Philly Cheese School excursions & cheese shop visits
-On-board lectures & tastings by PCS owner Julia Fox-Birnbaum
Our Cruise: Gastronomy of the Rhine & Switzerland
We are partnering with Riviera River Cruises for this incredible culinary adventure aboard the luxurious MS Oscar Wilde. Our journey along the Rhine
I’m Julia Fox-Birnbaum and I’ve been in the Cheese Industry since 2014. I’ve worked in cheese education, marketing, social media and more. Before making Philly Cheese School my full-time gig, I filled in as head buyer and manager for one of the largest cheese counters on the East Coast. Over the years I've been lucky enough to visit farms, meet artisan cheese producers and train under some of the best cheese-mongers in the field.
For me, cheese is a magical food which connects flavor to tradition and science and so much more. My favorite thing about cheese is its ability to tell a story and bring people together. Philly Cheese School was born out of my love of sharing these stories with my community. My goal with this business is to educate cheese lovers from near and far on this endlessly fascinating and delicious topic which I’ve dedicated my career to.
I am so excited to be working with Mayfair Travel to offer this dream trip along the Rhine! I'll be there every step of the way to offer an industry pro's perspective on some iconic food locations, and provide my cheese expertise in order to make your experience even more memorable. I look forward to connecting with fellow cheese lovers, whether that means teaching a deeper understanding of cheese-making techniques, telling stories from my over 10 years of experience in the field, or simply sharing in the awe of this delicious and fascinating region."
After years of painstaking research to create the most perfect vessels afloat, a new era in river cruising dawns as we introduce our state of the art, ‘all suite’ ships. Swiss operated and truly world-class, we are absolutely delighted to present the five-star MS Oscar Wilde.
It is extremely difficult to convey just how extraordinary this outstanding ship really is and exactly what distinguishes it from similar vessels. It would be very easy to just say ‘luxurious’ but it’s much more than that; we have deliberately avoided the current trend for a minimalist style where you could be anywhere in the world, creating instead a unique yet exquisite blend of understated taste, style and elegance at the highest level. Immediately striking is just how exceptionally spacious this new vessel is as you enter a gleaming, richly colored marble-floored lobby flooded with natural light from a stunning atrium above. Moving inside, exceptional creativity from Europe’s finest design studio has produced a superbly balanced masterpiece of onboard style, utilising sustainable rich hardwoods, gleaming brass and polished copper, sparkling glass and intricate wrought iron. The ship is beautifully illuminated throughout – including the exterior and imaginatively furnished with harmonious colour schemes, all designed to create the serene atmosphere reflective of the golden age of cruising which time after time you tell us you adore.
The restaurant rivals the finest on shore establishments taking fine dining to another level complemented by delicate European porcelain, gleaming glassware and the intuitive service in which the Swiss excel. This superb vessel carries 44 in-house trained crew members serving just 169 guests (similar size vessels may carry well over 190 passengers) giving the ratio which our experience proves is concurrent with our first class service levels.
Furthermore your suite will easily exceed your expectations for not only will you enjoy the most discerning décor, so too the ship’s dimensions afford the ultimate in space and comfort - a minimum 17 square metres (183 square feet), with upgrades available to ‘Superior’ and ‘Deluxe’ accommodation.
Features:
More details about the beautiful MS Oscar Wilde here:
https://www.rivierarivercruises.com/ms-oscar-wilde
Over lunch & dinner in our restaurants: unlimited drinks from a choice of:
-Red, white, rosé, and sparkling house wine, including non-alcoholic
-Draught beer, including non-alcoholic
-Selection of soft drinks & juices
From 6PM to midnight in our bar & restaurants: enjoy all the above, plus unlimited drinks from a choice of:
-Our cocktail & mocktail of the day
-House spirits & mixers (gin, vodka, rum & whisky)
-A recommendation of wine during dinner
-Martini & sherry pre-dinner
-Port & Brandy after dinner
Price for cruise package for one person sharing a stateroom with one other.
Suites on the Emerald Deck are slightly smaller, measuring approximately 16 square metres (172 square feet) and have smaller fixed windows.
Price for cruise package for one person sharing a stateroom with one other.
A gleaming wood door opens revealing your exceptionally appointed suite. At 17 square meters (183 square feet), its generous dimensions are amongst the largest you will find on a cruiser gracing any European river. Imaginatively designed and appointed to the highest specification, with all the luxury you would expect to find in a smart ‘boutique style’ hotel, your comfort definitely won’t be compromised on any level!
The gleaming marble bathroom features a powerful fully glazed shower with a large ‘rainshower’ head, superbly refreshing after a hard day’s sightseeing. Clever design allows for ample space, and contemporary lighting, complimentary cosmetics by ‘Crabtree and Evelyn’ and fluffy towels, makes preparing for the day ahead an absolute pleasure.
The chic styling of a talented designer’s eye extends to the entire suite with generous use of hand-crafted tropical hardwoods blended with premium fittings, discreet thoughtful lighting and a color scheme of calming neutral tones, creating an ambience to put you in the most relaxed frame of mind from the very first minute! A full size bed assures a good night’s rest in crisp cotton linen of the finest quality and turndown service each evening adds the finishing touch. Please note all suites have two twin beds with individual bedding which can be moved together or separated accordingly.
You will enjoy a particularly generous seating area with two chairs and a table, enabling you to unwind in comfort in the privacy of your own suite whilst a bow camera conveys live images of the ship’s progress to your flat screen TV, ensuring you won’t miss a thing. Careful consideration has been given to the tiniest details with individually controlled air-conditioning so you set the temperature that you desire, a hairdryer, safe, minibar, telephone and the convenience of tea (our meticulous planning even extends to familiar teabags!) and coffee making facilities ensure a familiar home from home experience.
Suites on the Diamond (upper) and Ruby (middle) Decks have ‘French Balconies’ – panoramic floor to ceiling sliding glass doors bringing riverside life just that little closer!
Price for cruise package for one person sharing a stateroom with one other.
Suites on the Diamond Deck measure approximately 15 square metres (161 square feet)and have a French Balcony.
At 15 square metres (161 square feet), your luxuriously appointed cabin is amongst the largest, most comfortable and best appointed on any European river cruise vessel - with all the high quality facilities you would expect from a top hotel, and more.
Indulge in the luxury of Riviera Plus when you stay in an upper deck cabin or suite. In your well-appointed cabin, you’ll find a range of extras to make your experience extra special.
If you’re looking to really spoil yourself, at a staggering 269 square feet, the world-class Diamond (upper) Deck Deluxe Balcony Suites are for you. Larger than standard suites, they allow for an even more generous living area for the ultimate in space and comfort.
In addition you will enjoy a private exterior balcony complete with table and chairs - perfect for an ‘al fresco’ breakfast should you wish or just a quiet morning coffee or a pre-dinner ‘sundowner’ whilst watching the world drift by.
With the same fittings as standard suites, exquisitely and lavishly appointed to the very highest standard, plus complimentary soft cotton bathrobes and slippers adding the final little touch, this really is the epitome of river cruise luxury!
Supplement for a solo traveler rooming by themselves and not sharing their room with anyone else.
Supplement for a solo traveler rooming by themselves and not sharing their room with anyone else.
Supplement for a solo traveler rooming by themselves and not sharing their room with anyone else.
Welcome Aboard! The dedicated English-speaking crew will welcome you on board and help you to your cabin. After settling in to your spacious and tastefully furnished accommodation, there’s time to familiarize yourself with this five-star floating hotel.
Meet your fellow cheese-cruisers at the Bon Voyage cocktail reception this evening.