This was my first river cruise and only second group tour, so I was a little apprehensive about how I would like it. I have to say, once I adjusted to the 'rules' , I really enjoyed it. Dad had booked a 3rd floor room, which had a french balcony ( basically a floor to ceiling sliding glass door that opens all the way. The room was more spacious than I had imagined, with plenty of storage and room to move around- or at least to walk to the bathroom and door without squeezing past each other. Suitcases fit under the beds. We actually kept this room neater than our larger hotel rooms!! While on the cruise, we had 3 meals available. A buffet breakfast with some additional menu 'specials' was offered from 7 Am until 8:30 , lunch from 12ish to 1 and dinner (4 course with a choice of 3 entrees) was PROMPTLY at 7PM. Note: PROMPTLY. :) This was one of the constraints that i found a little hard to adjust to as I tried to squeeze out as much time in each port as I could and that 7PM just seemed like a teenager curfew. In reality, most times, I was easily done sightseeing by that time and so it was not an issue.
The second concern I had was "who are we gonna eat with?'. Dad and I confessed that we kinda felt like freshman on the first day of school when we walked into the Welcome orientation. Luckily, we meet quite a few nice people . Dave and Betsy sat next to us at 'orientation' and then at the dinner tour in Budapest, they became our dinner buddies and it worked out great for the rest of the cruise. We noticed that most people were able to join with other groups and that people were mixing things up at different events, like the cocktail party , games so there was always a friendly feeling .
Generally, the daily schedule for dad and I was : 1) wake up around 6:30 to 7 . I usually wandered down to the lounge and grabbed a coffee and croissant from the early bird breakfast and go up to the outdoor deck to greet the day. Dad would take advantage of the privacy to get dressed . Dad would go down to the 'real breakfast' while I got dressed. Then we would join the group tour. If it was a walking tour, Dad would pick a bail out point if he thought it was too much walking ( or that it meant walking to see something he wasn't interested in). most tours were in the morning and ended in time to walk back to the ship for lunch. While that wasn't far, Dad and I usually opted not to waste those steps and just grabbed a bite as part of our activity for the afternoon.2) Afternoon activity on our own based on guides suggestion 3) return to the ship. Dad would chill while I would dash back out to wander on my own until it was time to attend the group meeting. ( Dad kept threatening to take mys hoes as he was a little nervous I would miss the boat) 3) Attend the group meeting where the plan for the next day was gone over. This was another of the 'small' things that drove me a little nuts. As a planner, i like to know in advance what the plan is . For example- knowing what time the morning tour would start and end would let me know about how much time I had on our own . Also, since dad and I were trying to keep the walking down, knowing about where the boat and tour would be relative to public transport was helpful. 4) Dinner 5) after dinner- Dad would often go to the front lonunge for the music and game. I would usually go up on the deck to take in the sights as we went underway.6) Sleep , Repeat..
Posted by
OP
New York, NY, USA
698 posts
Heres what I loved:
1) Going thru the locks, especially the first one between Budapest and Bratslavia. We got to this one around 5:30 AM - a little ahead of schedule. Woke up, realized we weren't moving and all I could see was a gray wall outside our window. A Lock! Dad and I threw clothes and a jacket on over our pjs and dashed up to the deck. So interesting and exciting to watch this process . It was so much fun, esp as the 10 or so of us who woke up and braved the chill were really bonding over it.
2) Viewing the scenery and the towns as we cruised past. A highlight day was the stretch between Vienna and Melk -This was the section that we were actually moving during the day. it was a beautiful, sunny warm day so we could really enjoy being up top watching the beautiful countryside go by.
3) Seeing Melk abbey from the river,. I had seen the Abbey from a train and vowed to dome back.
4) the fortress and beer gardens in Linz and in Passau. Beautiful views, great food and a lovely way to enjoy an afternoon
5) As always, the people. Both the people on our tour (though at times I was grateful for my headset to tune out the chat) but especially the moments of kindness and interactions with the local people. A lovely older woman in Linz insisted on giving me her seat by the window on the tram down the hill and then pointed out the highlights as we went down. ( She and I also gawked at the homes). Also, in Linz, a younger woman explained that the protest we were watching were the young people protesting for climate change and then asked me about any protests in the US. ( I reassured her that there were even if they aren't being shown on the TV there)
6) The ease of traveling in a group tour where someone else bears the responsibility and (on a cruise) sleeping in the same bed and being able to unpack.
7) Watching the changing of the guard at the Hungarian Parliament and then realizing we were actually watching the guards practicing! So much more human
8) Trams and public transport- so easy, so fun and such a great way to see where people live and whats not just the tourist areas
9) Bruegel, bratwurst and strudel!!
10) Lighting real candles in churches - joining my prayers today to the centuries long prayers of those that preceded me. and marveling at the history and events ,both large and small, that have been prayed over in those spaces
11) being away from American (and most) news-
12) the hot tub on the boat
13) wines from the Wachau valley- a real find for me as I usually stick to 'baby wine' (white zinfandel) or diet coke
So ,would I recommend a river cruise? Yes- even with the constraints, it was a wonderful experience and a great way to visit a beautiful region
Posted by
Atlanta
2469 posts
Diane,
Was this a Viking cruise? From Budapest to ...? How many days? Sounds lovely. I appreciate reading the details of your daily routine to fit your and your Dad’s needs, my main concern with cruises is with the limit to sightseeing.
Thanks for sharing your trip with us!
Posted by
Brooklyn, NY
3836 posts
What a lovely trip you two had, thanks for the report, it was enjoyable.
Posted by
NM, USA
888 posts
Diane, I'm so happy you enjoyed your river cruise. They aren't for everyone but we have loved ours. Our 4th is coming up next month and includes many of the stops you had (14 day Budapest to Amsterdam) so your descriptions were of interest.
We also find the convenience of our "moving hotel room" a plus for an enjoyable vacation. Glad you found some friends to bond with. That's a worry that many people have. In reality, most of the people on river cruises are couples vs larger groups and they are just as eager to find some kindred spirits.
There's lots of river cruise companies out there and the all provide good products. For those considering a river cruise - make sure in comparing prices that you know exactly what is included - tips, airport transfers, alcoholic beverages, daily excursions, port fees, customer service, single supplements, etc. Our favorite is Tauck - not cheap but fully all inclusive so I never feel nickel and dimed - but I've had friends who have taken cruises with other companies and had great times.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6501 posts
Thanks for this report. We did a similar cruise from Budapest to Passau several years ago, on the Amadeus Diamond, but down on the lower deck where the view was mostly of water sloshing at the small window. It was fun, interesting, and memorable. We too bonded with some of our fellow travelers. How much time did you have in Vienna, and how far from the center were you docked? We had two days but the dock was well west of the city, reachable by tram or the shuttle bus the cruise provided.
Cruising is a good way to sample cities and landscapes, but seldom with enough time to really appreciate the cities. Did you have time in Budapest before embarking, or in Germany after the cruise?
Posted by
franktown, colorado
2252 posts
Oh, Diane...what a special and memorable trip you had with your Dad. I enjoyed reading about it and especially the specifics regarding your "daily itinerary". I've never taken a river cruise but would like to try one some day so was especially appreciative of those little details. Thank you for taking the time to post your report.
Posted by
OP
New York, NY, USA
698 posts
Thanks for all your kind comments! To answer some questions:
The trip was 14 day - i always get tripped up with whether to include the travel days. It was a Gate1 tour- our first but our cousins had used them for several land tours and recommended them. We were pleased with them and would go with them again.
There were several different options; We chose the 14 day trip which included 4 days in Budapest ( 2 nights Hilton Budapest City hotel , 1 night on ship and then left in the evening of the 4th day), seven nights on the ship (Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Melk, Linz and Passau ) and 3 nights in Prague (Hotel Imperial). Some on board the ship came just for the cruise portion, more came for the extra days in Budapest before the cruise. About 1/2 the cruise continued onto Prague.
We had one day in Vienna and, yes , the ship was docked outside the city but close to a tram line. We weren't really told about being able to take the tram, but that was probably wise . Many on the ship seemed to be directionally challenged and were very anxious about how to get back to the ship even when we were docked in the center of town.( Several times I was thinking- walk to the river- look to the left or right- you cant miss the boat) Also ,we left from that dock at 10PM so there really was not a great amount of time . At the end of the (included) city tour of Vienna, you could go with the tour bus back to the ship for lunch and then return on a shuttle. There were additional shuttle back to the ship at 3 and 4:30. It would have been nice if one was offered at 9 PM . Most people seemed to want to be back on board for the dinner at 7 PM, We did take the optional concert tour that evening so we didn't have to worry.
Re: included options: I agree about the nickle and dime and knowing what was included. Our base price included: airport transfers, a city tour in each city, meals on the ship ( a light snack and then dinner the first day, breakfast the last) , wine,beer and soda ONLY DURING DINNER, coffee and tea thru the day and I think there was a midnight snack and some snacks around 5PM. There were a couple of discounted happy hours- but I really didn't pay attention. I was very glad I asked about the soda because i am a big Diet Coke fan and dad likes a cocktail. I added "find a supermarket " to my to-do list in Budapest and then in Linz and bought a couple of bottles of diet coke , snacks and some liquor for dad to have in the room. Tips for the boat crew were not included but could be charged to your bill. Tips for the tour directors and the activity director were not included and had to be given directly to them. The tip for the boat crew was a 'group tip' but I gave a very small tip to 2 individuals who had helped me and whom I wanted to acknowledge. A suggested amount for the tips was included in the trip literature but you could give whatever you wanted.
I have to say that I didn't feel surprised by any of the charges- they were very clear .
I was a little surprised at how much 'incidental' tipping there seemed to be- tips for the city guides, tips for bus drivers. This seems to be a general trend where everyone is expecting a tip for what I used to think was included in the price I already paid . But that's another conversation.
Posted by
Stuttgart, Germany
3049 posts
Great report in making me understand how a cruise actually works! With older parents and a grandparent who aren't really up for regular travel but are still mulling over their options I've suggested a river cruise like this. Locks are really fun, I can't imagine what it's like going through one on a big river like the Danube!
Really evocative and awesome report, thanks for sharing!
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Thanks for this report. I'll see you at the RS travel meeting tomorrow!