christmas river cruises
Dec 16th, 2008, 10:57 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
christmas river cruises
My wife and I returned on Dec. 3 from a Christmas Market cruise along the Rhine with Grand Circle Travel. Things must have been good when the only real improvement we would recommend is a better quality of wine served at dinner.
We boarded our ship in Basel, Switzerland and got off in Amsterdam. When we were making our plans we saw that all the cabins were the same size. As you went up in price and floor the difference between the cabins was the size of the window. The most expensive cabin had a balcany, but the swquare footage for the balcany was taken away from the cabin. Thus the most expensive cabin was actually smaller than the cheapest. We chose the cheapest.
The cabin had two padded benches that are made into single beds for the evening. In this respect, all of the cabins were the same. There was a table between the benches, two closets, a make up/writing table asnd of course there was a private bathroom.
Yes, we did hear the water slipping by the ship when we were underway, but that was kind of nice. Our window was just above the water line and when we docked in Strasbourg the swans came right up to us and looked in on us.
The seating is open and the food is good and varied. If you did not like what was on the daily menu you could always get a hot dog, a hamberger or a cheese burger for lunch. For dinner you could always get a chicken breast or salmon.
Because this was a Christmas cruise the staff had done an outstanding job in decorating the lounge and the public areas with Christmas trees, greens, ornaments, gingerbread houses, etc. to give a feeling of Christmas.
The structure of the cruise is simple. Most days you spend in a city. There was one optional tour to Heidelberg and one day spent crusiing the most beautiful part of the Rhine.
When you are in a city the morning is spent on a walking tour which will wind up at the Cathedral and the Christmas Market. In the afternoon you are on your own to see other things in the city or do more shopping at the markets.
You are given a choice of either going back to the ship for lunch or staying in town. In either case, a buss will be provided to take you back to the ship. However, make sure you have your guide mark on a city map EXACTLY where to find the bus.
In Strasbourg my wife and I didn't do this and we paid for it in a couple of ways. We were heading in the right direction, but we didn't go far enough. OUr feet were hurting and it was getting dark. We found a cab to rescue us for about 8 Euros and it was worth every penny.
Make sure you do your research before you go. Get on the internet and contact the tourist office of each city you'll be in. Most of the time they can send you better maps than thee ship will provide and they will send you brochures so you can find the stuff you want to see.
Two examples. I did not do this for Speyer, Germany because Maurine and I were taking the optional day tour to Heidelberg. I should have checked. Not until we got there did we discover there was an air and transportation musium that is as big as the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum. If I had known this, I might not have gone on the tour.
Because I had done my research on Cologne, after lunch and the Christmas markets, we took in a design museum that even had descriptions in English.
Of course the main attractions on this type of cruise are the Christmas Markets. While they were interesting and they were fun, they were not what I expected. I expected stall after stall filled with beautiful Christmas decorations.
There were some stalls like that. But in reality, these are really craft markets that are held at Christmas time. Besides the stalls with stuff to buy, there are many stalls selling food and especially hot mulled wine. I thought my mulled wine was better.
Almost evey market also had a merry-go-round, a universal language for kids.
If you go, pack warm. This is winter and it can even snow. I had long johns, my down ski jacket and my ski gloves. Also take some kind of rain gear and some comfortable water proof shoes. It does rain (only one morning in Cologne on our trip)and I can tell you that walking over cobblestones IS VERY tiring.
That's about it. While you could go into town at night, we didn't. Dinner was not over till about 8 and by that time we were too tired from walking to do much of anything other than write in our journals.
You are assigned a program director who is also your guide. In a few spots you will have a local guide. They are all knowledgeable and tell some interesting and funny stories.
That's about it. It was a fun time and a great value. The only other river cruise we have done was on Viking from St. Petersberg to Moscow for a lot more money. We thought this trip was just as good and it cost a lot less.
If you are interested in seeing Christmas Markets, Grand Circle Travel is a good way to go.
We boarded our ship in Basel, Switzerland and got off in Amsterdam. When we were making our plans we saw that all the cabins were the same size. As you went up in price and floor the difference between the cabins was the size of the window. The most expensive cabin had a balcany, but the swquare footage for the balcany was taken away from the cabin. Thus the most expensive cabin was actually smaller than the cheapest. We chose the cheapest.
The cabin had two padded benches that are made into single beds for the evening. In this respect, all of the cabins were the same. There was a table between the benches, two closets, a make up/writing table asnd of course there was a private bathroom.
Yes, we did hear the water slipping by the ship when we were underway, but that was kind of nice. Our window was just above the water line and when we docked in Strasbourg the swans came right up to us and looked in on us.
The seating is open and the food is good and varied. If you did not like what was on the daily menu you could always get a hot dog, a hamberger or a cheese burger for lunch. For dinner you could always get a chicken breast or salmon.
Because this was a Christmas cruise the staff had done an outstanding job in decorating the lounge and the public areas with Christmas trees, greens, ornaments, gingerbread houses, etc. to give a feeling of Christmas.
The structure of the cruise is simple. Most days you spend in a city. There was one optional tour to Heidelberg and one day spent crusiing the most beautiful part of the Rhine.
When you are in a city the morning is spent on a walking tour which will wind up at the Cathedral and the Christmas Market. In the afternoon you are on your own to see other things in the city or do more shopping at the markets.
You are given a choice of either going back to the ship for lunch or staying in town. In either case, a buss will be provided to take you back to the ship. However, make sure you have your guide mark on a city map EXACTLY where to find the bus.
In Strasbourg my wife and I didn't do this and we paid for it in a couple of ways. We were heading in the right direction, but we didn't go far enough. OUr feet were hurting and it was getting dark. We found a cab to rescue us for about 8 Euros and it was worth every penny.
Make sure you do your research before you go. Get on the internet and contact the tourist office of each city you'll be in. Most of the time they can send you better maps than thee ship will provide and they will send you brochures so you can find the stuff you want to see.
Two examples. I did not do this for Speyer, Germany because Maurine and I were taking the optional day tour to Heidelberg. I should have checked. Not until we got there did we discover there was an air and transportation musium that is as big as the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum. If I had known this, I might not have gone on the tour.
Because I had done my research on Cologne, after lunch and the Christmas markets, we took in a design museum that even had descriptions in English.
Of course the main attractions on this type of cruise are the Christmas Markets. While they were interesting and they were fun, they were not what I expected. I expected stall after stall filled with beautiful Christmas decorations.
There were some stalls like that. But in reality, these are really craft markets that are held at Christmas time. Besides the stalls with stuff to buy, there are many stalls selling food and especially hot mulled wine. I thought my mulled wine was better.
Almost evey market also had a merry-go-round, a universal language for kids.
If you go, pack warm. This is winter and it can even snow. I had long johns, my down ski jacket and my ski gloves. Also take some kind of rain gear and some comfortable water proof shoes. It does rain (only one morning in Cologne on our trip)and I can tell you that walking over cobblestones IS VERY tiring.
That's about it. While you could go into town at night, we didn't. Dinner was not over till about 8 and by that time we were too tired from walking to do much of anything other than write in our journals.
You are assigned a program director who is also your guide. In a few spots you will have a local guide. They are all knowledgeable and tell some interesting and funny stories.
That's about it. It was a fun time and a great value. The only other river cruise we have done was on Viking from St. Petersberg to Moscow for a lot more money. We thought this trip was just as good and it cost a lot less.
If you are interested in seeing Christmas Markets, Grand Circle Travel is a good way to go.
Dec 16th, 2008, 01:42 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I enjoyed reading about your cruise with GCT. You did a nice job giving details about the trip. It's good to know that they are doing well; I'm on their mailing list but have not heard anything from them in months. Your post has renewed my interest in GCT!
Dec 16th, 2008, 02:03 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,994
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not to rain on the parade, but we, and about 150 others, had a perfectly miserable time on a Non River boat cruise and GCT was near to a lawsuit over the way we were treated. They have a very spotty performance and reputation....just so you are aware.
Dec 16th, 2008, 03:14 PM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Clarasong, I am interested in more information on what you are talking about. I am thinking about placing a deposit on an 18 day trip to Italy with them. Any insight you can provide would be appreciated.
Dec 16th, 2008, 07:42 PM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,994
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
h2O: Go to the internet and 'google' "problems with Grand Circle" ....don't know the current status but we, nor anyone we know, will travel with them again, due to indifference, deceipt, no customer care, lack of response, and bad handling in a crisis. When it is good, guess they do pretty good, but they have had several mishaps that have got them thrown out of the Better Business Bureau.
In our case, without rehearsing the details again, a high percentage of the people on our 'cruise' protested the charged, referred it to their credit card companies, and GCT never challenged it...guess they knew they had trouble.
In our case, without rehearsing the details again, a high percentage of the people on our 'cruise' protested the charged, referred it to their credit card companies, and GCT never challenged it...guess they knew they had trouble.
Dec 16th, 2008, 08:09 PM
#7
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PK, I'm curious about your impression of the Christmas market in Cologne. My Son has one of the booths in the market, and has had one for many years. Unfortunately, I have never been in Germany in the winter to see it.
How did Koln compare with the other markets you saw?
How did Koln compare with the other markets you saw?
