cathyo

For 25 th anniversary hubby (63), and I (52), thought about splurging on a15 day river cruise from Amsterdam to Prague. But after reading these boards, and thinking about what we like/want out of a trip, I am not so sure. In the past, I have planned month-long trips to Spain/France and to Italy/Austria/Switzerland. I enjoy the planning, and we both enjoy the driving and being visitors in small towns that are not on the "must see" lists ... We don't love the train travel (I know it's because we are not as familiar with it), but we don't let that stop us, and have used trains a bit on past trips. I love art museums, we both love history and architecture, and we both love walking, exploring and having the time to just BE in a place. On our past European adventures, we almost always stayed 3 nights in each place, or more. I love going to the market to get food for a picnic, returning to the same coffee shop and "recognizing" some people, exchanging pleasantries in the language of the country (anyone can learn some of the basic phrases!). We took a Holland America cruise a few years ago fron Copenhagen to St. Petersburg because St. Petersburg was #1 on my bucket list, but I was too intimidated to plan a Russia trip on my own. It was a good way to get a peek at Russia, but I do not like being on a ship with so many people and with so many activities ... After a long day of sightseeing, a glass of wine, some good conversation, maybe time for some reading are all I need. So, a river cruise sounded like it would be a better ship experience for us, and so much less planning work (happy anniv. To me!), but I have been reading numerous posts on this board about issues some have had with the rivers being too low, and sometime too high, and then you're put on a bus ... Maybe I should look into a shorter, 7 day river cruise and then plan some land time (focusing on Prague, Czech countryside, Budapest)... Or just not do the river cruise, and plan the whole thing on my own ...I think I am getting "analysis paralysis". If you have any feedback, now that you " know" me, I would enjoy hearing it. Thank you.

Gretchen

I think that would be a LONG time on a boat cruise. We took a wonderful 6 day barge trip in Burgundy. Charming barge, absolutely delicious chef prepared meals for the 20 passengers, excellent day trips to chateaux, towns, etc. in the little van that went along with us. Maybe there is such for Czechoslavakia, or you can combine.

kenav

My hubby and I are pretty much the same ages as you and your hubby are (only the ages are reversed.) I think you have to look at the itinerary on the river cruise and decide if you want to see all the places they stop at. Also, how long in each port do you get? A lot of your time might be cruising, except when you get to the big cities.

We went on a 12 day Viking River Cruise Moscow-St. Pete this past October. Four days in Moscow, 3 in St. Pete and 5 days cruising in between the cities. Five days was too long for me. I got antsy. We stopped at some port each day, but sometimes for perhaps only 3 hours. Then, the rest of the time we were on the boat going to the next stop on the river that we would arrive at on the next day.

I think Viking did a terrific job, just I would have liked less "cruising along the river" time and more time in the cities. But you might want to relax on the boat for a few days.

What's your preference?

If the cruise line you're thinking of doesn't tell you, on their web site or brochure, when you arrive in each port and when you depart - ask them. I think it can make a difference.

Gwendolynn

During our travel life my husband and I traveled both ways.... the river cruises came as we became "longer in the tooth." They can be enjoyable ... depending on the cruise line one choses. But, in your case it sounds to me that while you're still young and driving you should continue in that mode.Stops on cruises aren't all that extensive and at the end of the day, even tho there are only 100 or so passengers.... there's still a lot of "togetherness." -

cathyo

Thank you, Gretchen and kenaf ... 15 days is a LONG time, and much of it is in Germany, which I am not as interested in as Amsterdam, Vienna, Budapest and Prague ... The shorter cruise we are considering is on Uniworld's River Beatrice, and it sails from Budapest, to Vienna and ends in Passau ... With a few small towns in between. If we did that, I was thinking of trains or a car to explore Czech countryside for 4-5 days and then Prague for 4-5 days (with a few extra days in Budapest on the front end of the cruise).

Gretchen

I would also add that on our barge trip we saw the big river cruisers, and were really glad we were on our little barge for the ambience and intimacy. Just another thought.

Shelly_Winston

Used a tour company this summer with Tauck tours. The river cruise was amazing and incorporated land tours during the day, and river cruising late in the day and overnight. Saw a great deal of history in places not really visited by the tourist crowd. Look into it. The tour company in toprate!!

suec1

We did Grand Circle Tour Budapest to Prague (the last bit overland, of course), I think we were on the ship seven nights and then had several days hotel stays at both ends. We really liked it - LOVED Budapest. One thing to think about is that in that part of Europe, esp. driving thru small towns, much less English spoken. We have train traveled many times on our own but for that part of Europe we decided to do the river cruise and were quite pleased with the experience - I think we stopped somewhere every day, the evenings on the ship were pretty mellow but that was fine with us. 7 nights on the ship with the more in depth city stays at the ends made a good combination - maybe you could fly to Amsterdam at the end of your trip for another extended stay - it certainly deserves several nights or even a week!

annhig

We looked a doing a cruise to holland with my mum [who is 80] but rejected it was we couldn't get just what we wanted, there was a lot of coaching about included, and for rather less, we could get exactly the trip we did want.

something you might like to think about is that sometimes, they have to bus you around because there is too much or too little water in the rivers.

kenav

cathyo - Sounds like your second idea is a better one. You'll have more time to be on your own and set your own schedule.

Loved Budapest - definitely take time to spend a few days there.

cathyo

You have all been so helpful. You gave me some other venues and some caveats to consider. Now that school is back in session, I hope I can get this thing planned! Thanks again for the excellent feedback.

easytraveler

Personally I think you'll love driving around the Czech Republic. Do you like castles? There are so many castles in the Czech Republic and there are wine regions - then there's the great bend of the Danube to drive around in Hungary...

Just to add a few more thoughts to your planning.

cathyo

I have decided not to do the river cruise, and this is how my trip is fleshing out, so far. Have not booked airfare, yet, so we are flexible. Also, hubby is retired and I am a teacher, so we are not locked into a set number of days ... But I know I get cranky after 3 weeks-ish!
Depart on June 12 for Prague. 5 nights (Marriott, Old Town, with the last of hubby's points!)
Cesky Krumlov, 2 nights (Castleview apts. or Hotel Koviche)
Durstein/Wachau valley, 3 nights (Hotel Sangerblondel)
Vienna, 5 nights (stay with friends!
Budapest, 5 nights (Hotel Victoria)
Have not decided whether to rent a car when we leave Prague and turn it in when we arrive in Vienna. Am considering the alternative: bus to Cesky Krumlov, train to Durnstein (bikes, bus/train while in Wachau valley), then train to Vienna and hydrofoil to Budapest, if we don't do a rental car.
Thank you, in advance, for your feedback!
Cathy

joannyc

Sounds like a great plan! Enjoy!

I took a day tour from Vienna to Budapest... one of those mini-vans. They picked me up at my hotel early in the morning, put my luggage in the back of the van and when the tour was over in Budapest, I just grabbed my luggage out of the van and checked into my hotel there. The rest of the tour returned to Vienna after they had lunch and shopping time.

cathyo

joannyc, that is a great idea! Thanks for giving me a great option to consider.

joannyc

Happy to be of help, cathyo.

Marriott in Old Town Prague is a great location! Have you checked to see which Marriott (Prague, Vienna Ringstrasse, or Budapest) gives you the best bang for your buck (i.e., your points)?

All of these Marriotts are in great locations and are lovely hotels. Great CL's too!

Gwendolynn

Surprisingly (or not) I had the best weiner schnitzel ever at the Marriott in Vienna.

PalenQ

ttt

cathyo

Joannyc, I decided to use Marriott in Prague, the first city on our adventure, to have a totally known entity for our home base while we re getting over jet lag and getting our "European travel legs" back on, I did get "book 4 nights, receive the 5th night free"! After that, I knew we'd be ready to take our chances with smaller, independent hotels that I am ferreting out with multiple travel resources. (I love the planning part of a trip!)

joannyc

Super! Have a great trip!

Although a bit of a sobering visit, I highly recommend a day trip to Terezin from Prague.