Prague to Vilshofen - by rail or ???

Travel by train. You could start little bit later and still be at Vilshofen at 12:23 but you would have to change trains twice and little bit later three times. If you rather go with just one change (at 5:12) you can check out anytime assuming you are in hotel with reception. In the case that your first train is delayed enough to miss your connection in Landshut (highly unlikely) there are two more trains to bring you to Vilshofen before 3 pm. One leaves Landshut at 12:12 arrives in Vilshofen at 13:20, the other leaves 13:14 and arrives at 14:23. You don't have to give up your day in Prague. Detailed schedule is on Deutsche Bahn website.

You could take the Czech shuttle. They will pick you up and drop you off. You can share a shuttle or set up private transportation. Contact them at [email protected]
We're taking the same cruise in August on AMAZON waterways.

I sound like a nervous travelers, eh? Thanks for helping out with some reassurances on the trains and connection times.

We'll likely be staying in a private rental, e.g., VRBO, so there the early checkout -- even on the later trains -- could be a factor. If we opt for the train we may look at hotels for our stay.

korndocs -- is that AMA waterways? If so, indeed, they do sell a coach connection with the cruise, at $150 a head. That was starting to look like the least complicated (albeit more $$ than we thought it was worth) option. Thanks much for the link (email). I'll contact them to see what they offer.

Hi Keri,
The shuttle is not the AMA offering of transportation. I thought $150 was too expensive. It is a private Czech company. Check the website, http://czechshuttle.com/
They quickly responded to me. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Sheila

Yes, I did get a quick response from czechshuttle. But they only have a "private" offering for Prague - Vilshofen, and for 2 people it comes to about $240, which isn't that much of a savings from the AMA coach. Also, I asked about bathroom on board and there is none. So I may not be able to talk my husband out of the train alternative.

We'll be meeting with the AAA agent today to finalize the cruise and I've asked her to get information on the AMA coach connection from Prague.

Whether or not your hotel has a 24-hour receptionist, it's often good to pay up the evening before, such as before you go out to dinner. Then, they might tell you to just leave your key in a specific place, if they won't be there in the early morning.

Laura, Excellent reminder. It's also good to pay up in the case of issues with the payment. Years back we were in Lugano and there was some issue with the card on our morning of departure. We had a train to catch, as I recall. Luckily we'd left plenty of time and I can't recall a bad outcome. But it was a stress. I'd forgotten about that since we now stay in private rentals (which call for up front payment) but if we're looking into hotels in Prague (because of the departure time issue) then this is a great mental jog. Thanks!

An update: we've talked with AAA about how the Prague connection by AMA works. It is an 8hr. trip, departing from the Old Town Hilton at 8am, timed to arrive at the cruise embarkation port at 2pm (for the 3pm cruise embarkation). Since the raw trip from Prague to Vilshofen is just over 3 hrs. (using the Czech Shuttle's timing) that seems excessive, but apparently they make "many stops" along the way -- that 'bathroom' issue, no doubt (there is no restroom on the bus), and also for frequent breaks/sightseeing. It's $150 per person. We're not needing more "sightseeing" -- just want to make an easy transfer.

So we're back to deciding between the train (early, early departure & 1 connection, or later departure with multiple connections) or the "private" Czech shuttle (more expensive but direct and no issues with the timing.

I have signed up to this website to add to this post ! I have done the transfers between Prague / Nuremberg and also Vilshofen both as a guest of Amawaterways and as a private traveller (we use 2 "l"s in traveller in the UK !) . Firstly you do not need to be checking into the ship in Vilshofen at 3pm on the dot - relax, the cruise briefing starts about 6.15pm so you can get on board a couple of hours later than 3pm ...Secondly the Amawaterways transfer at $150pp starts from either the Intercontinental or Hilton Old Town in Prague depending on which Hotel has been used for that sailing date - there are "comfort" stops and an extended lunch (at own expense) stop in the magical city of Regensburg which is well worth a couple of hours break in the journey. The Coach will arrive later than 2pm as detailed above - more towards 4pm . If you do not want to take the Coach transfer with Amawaterways having stayed independently in Prague you can use public transport - either train to Landshut/ change to Vilshofen .............or take the DBahn express bus to Nuremberg/change to Plattling and thence to Vilshofen - despite this being 2 stops it is slightly quicker than the one-stop Landshut all train option. All timings and details are on the wonderful DBahn website. If none of the above suits you can book a private shuttle as detailed above for about $240 - gets you there in the most direct and fastest way.....but you do miss Regensburg which is a gem . However you travel,enjoy !