LarryT

This trip was planned and sponsored by a small Travel Club from rural Colorado and we have enjoyed several trips with them. Since this was with a Travel Club we did not get to choose when to go. ‘High Season’ (late spring, summer and early fall) is more expensive and lots more crowded. Off season is cheaper and less crowded but the weather can be ‘iffy’ at times. We have wanted to take one of these River Cruises but had not gotten around to it. Have done several larger ship (ocean) cruises and really enjoy them but this was going to be very different. Ocean cruise ships may be ‘Large’ (about 2,000 passengers) and even ‘huge’ (up to 6,000 passengers). We prefer the smaller ships so the River Cruise boats should suit us fine since they have only about 150 to 250 passengers.

From Denver, it was 8 time zones and long flights overnight so we lost a day. We checked into a Hilton Hotel (included) for a couple days. Found out that the Czech Republic does not use the more common Euro currency (we had) and we did not want to end up with a lot of different types of currency so used Visa & Master card. Note: Notify your charge card companies of your travel plans before you travel so that they will approve charges. The Hotel was pretty expensive for meals so we found some local places to eat. The Czech folks are big on mushroom sauces and I am not. I ordered some Italian pasta and it came drenched in mushroom sauce. While in Prague, we had one tour included in the cruise packet and took another ‘optional’ tour (costs extra) so did see a good bit. It was foggy and cloudy in the mornings but OK later.

Then a bus ride to Nuremburg, Germany to board our ‘boat’ (not ship) and begin the cruise on the Danube. We were with the Avalon Cruise Line and the boat was the Avalon Tapistry. It had been recently rehabbed so everything was like new – very nice. These boats are really different. They are long and narrow to be able to go through the numerous ‘locks’. This boat had 80 (160 passengers max) cabins and a crew of 40. It had 3 decks with two rows of cabins and a passageway down the middle so every cabin had water views. Another open deck was the ‘Sun Deck’ where passengers could sit and watch the sights but that proved to be less than expected. Whenever the boat went under the many low bridges, passengers had to stay off the Sun Deck and the crew literally collapsed everything up there including chairs, sun shade, railings and the Pilot House was even lowered. There was just a couple feet clearance.

The Danube did not originally go all the way from the North Sea to the Baltic but a canal was constructed (Main Danube Canal) with about 17 locks to raise the boat and then lower it to the actual Danube. The first couple days were in the Main Danube Canal and weather was cloudy and misty. Most of the travel time was in the evenings and nights so as to arrive at the next stop in daytime. The trip included shore tours at every stop and optional tours were available. They provided receivers and ear pieces so you could hear your tour guides very well. There is so much history out there that the tours were very interesting. After awhile, the churches and towns started to look alike.

Food on board was very good. Breakfasts and lunches were buffet style with lots of choices. Dinners were served at your table (open seating) and (free) wine available. Some days there were instructional talks and even one beer-tasting event. We stopped at Regensburg and Passau, Germany; Lintz, Melk and Vienna, Austria and ended the cruise in Budapest, Hungary. In Budapest we learned that is actually two cities, Buda & Pest, on opposite sides of the Danube. They also had their own currency but most places would accept the Euro so we did shop for some small things. Had to watch our luggage weight since we only had a couple of pounds to play with (50 pound limit before extreme extra airline charges).

Overall, we enjoyed our trip and will go again (have signed up for a Russia cruise next September) with Viking.

bettyk

Sounds like a nice trip, Larry. We've often thought about taking a river cruise in Europe. We lived in Austria years ago and haved visited Austria and Germany on vacation numerous times in recent years. But I like the idea of a cruise. I think you get a different perspective from the river and you only have to unpack once! That really appeals to me at my age.

Royal

Thanks for that posting. We are doing this same cruise in May 2012.

We have only heard good things about Avalon and are looking forward to this experience.

aussie_10

Yes, thanks for posting and giving us a good indepth look at the river cruise.

Do you think it would have been even better in better weather seasons?

LarryT

Hi Aussie_10,

Yes the scenery would have been better but the crowds would have been worse. As it was, there were no crowds to speak of and that is a plus for me. Will have to do a few more at different times of year to get a better feel for it. Go for it and enjoy.

CYESQ

Thanks Larry. I've been thinking about taking this cruise as well. How were the accommodations, was your cabin pleasant and spacious enough? Was it also newly remodeled? Did you have a balcony?

kenav

Larry T - I hope you are taking the Viking River cruise in Russia in early vs. late September. We went from October 9-22nd and the weather was pretty sucky. Cold and grey every day. Had a great time anyway as Moscow and St. Pete are fabulous. I would have liked 1-2 fewer days actually cruising on the river (Volga mostly), as there was lot of time on the boat and time in the towns was limited to a few hours. Got a bit antsy the ship. My husband was happy to have the leisure time, though.

bilboburgler

You will be glad to know that the Danube still does not go from the North Sea to the Baltic. What the Main Danube Canal does is link the Danube and the Main and hence through to the North Sea via the Rhine (or Rhein as the German's insist on calling it).

I suspect you can reach the Baltic by crossing through the Elbe Havel canal (wrong). Ah, I've checked you need to get over to Hanover and then on the old Hanover to Lubeck canal. Possible but only after a great big circle.

http://eurocanals.com/Waterways/germanywaterways.html

Sounds like fun, last time I did one of these we were 30 and the majority of the customers were 70+ and we had an ambulance to the boat everyday. Was it like this or did you dance the night away?

LarryT

Hi CYESQ, Yes the boat had been recently rehabbed and the facilities were all like new. There was ample room but only one chair so was not huge by any stretch of the imagination but very pleasant The cabins are on both sides of a center aisle so all had a water view with a door that opened with a railing right there so could not really be described as a balcony. One thing to watch for is that the fares generally posted are for the lowest cabin level and may be partially below water line and no window/door that opens.

LarryT

Hi kenav, yeas we learned that late Oct is a bit late for the Danube so booked the first Russia trip after the rates dropped (Sep 5th). What is amazing is that we booked about 14 months prior to departure and got the last cabin in our class and the entire boat was sold out a week later. We are hoping for good weather.

LarryT

Hi bilboburgler, Thanks for the clarification. The first couple of days were in the Main Danube Canal and had about 17 locks and no current. First thing we noticed was the current after we got into the actual Danube.
Yes, there were a lot of "oldies" on our trip and then I looked in the mirror and discovered I was one. We did not have any health problems with anyone and everyone had a good time. Don't ever get your M4edicare card as that is when it all seems to head down hill (HA?)