Black Forest Tour and other optional Tours

We are first time river cruisers on Avalon Artistry II 6/2/13 from Basel to Amsterdam. I am wondering if anyone can comment on the optional Black Forest tour offered? Is it worth the extra cost in your opinion? Any other optional tours on this itinerary that you liked and would recommend? We don't know a lot about this area and would love to hear some other opinions. Also, is it necessary to prebook for fear of the tour selling out? I have kind of gotten the feeling that it is not necessary on a river cruise. Thanks!

Hey SadieMay - and fellow NCer!

We'll be on the Artistry next year and are in the same dilema. We're looking at the optional excursions and trying to decide which ones to take. Our choices are Strasbourg or the Black Forest.

I don't think you'll need to commit now. You can wait almost to the last minute to decide.....or at least that's the way it was on our previous small ship adventure. There are only 128 people on the boat, so I'm sure they are quite flexible!

I don't know what your Black Forest tour includes. We did one with Avalon and essentially it was a bus ride to a clock shop. We've done other Black Forest tours that were incredibly delightful. The Avalon included tour was a waste of time.

Strasbourg is a very beautiful old city with a magnificent Dom. I think it's a don't miss city and would do that instead of a Black Forest tour if the tour is only a bus ride and visit to a coo-coo clock shop. Search the web for Strasbourg and you will see how wonderful it is.

Have fun no matter where you tour!

We lived in Germany for four years and did both Strasbourg and the Black Forrest. Strasbourg, France is one of my favorite cities. I would tend to go with that choice, but I don't know what your Black Forrest tour includes?

The black forest tour was included in our trip and nothing more then a bus ride. Strasbourg is not to be missed.

This from the website as to our choices for the day:

Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg blends the cultures of both countries in a delightful way. As capital of the Alsace region and seat of the Council of Europe and European Parliament, it is without a doubt an important city, yet it manages to retain its historic charm. In fact, here, on your included WALKING TOUR, you will discover Europe at its most quintessential. Visit the monumental red-sandstone GOTHIC CATHEDRAL with its ancient murals, stained-glass windows, and fascinating astronomical clock, as well as the magical LA PETITE FRANCE district, home to half-timbered houses, quaint shops, inviting bistros, and a waterfront promenade. Also spend time exploring Place Kléber, a large historic square in the heart of the city, and Place Gutenberg in the heart of medieval Strasbourg, which features a statue of the inventor of the printing press. A choice of optional excursions is available this afternoon; a trip into the Alsace wine region in France may strike your fancy, or on the other side of the river in Germany, the Black Forest beckons.

It looks like the tour of Strausburg is included for the morning and in the afternooon we can 1) stay in Strausburg, 2) go on a trip to Alsace (wine tasting maybe), or 3) go to the Balck Forset - for which there is this description:

Excursion to the Black Forest

The Black Forest region ('Schwarzwald') is essentially known for three distinctive features: its highlands, scenery and woods, the typical Black Forest Cake ('Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte') whose success is based on tasty cherry schnapps and the traditional cuckoo-clock. The name Black Forest was quite accurate in earlier times, when the forest was impenetrable. When the wood trade began to falter clock-making stepped in and has been a successful industry for the Black Forest ever since the 17th century. Listen to your local expert's stories and fairy tale, as the region is blessed with a particularly rich mythological landscape. Visit the open Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof at Gutach and see how life was lived centuries ago, in this area.

If we did go to the Black Forset, it would be to look for cuckoo-clocks. Doesn't look like we'd do that according to the description.

BUT our trip is quite a ways off, so their optional excursions may change between now and then!

This from the website as to our choices for the day:

Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg blends the cultures of both countries in a delightful way. As capital of the Alsace region and seat of the Council of Europe and European Parliament, it is without a doubt an important city, yet it manages to retain its historic charm. In fact, here, on your included WALKING TOUR, you will discover Europe at its most quintessential. Visit the monumental red-sandstone GOTHIC CATHEDRAL with its ancient murals, stained-glass windows, and fascinating astronomical clock, as well as the magical LA PETITE FRANCE district, home to half-timbered houses, quaint shops, inviting bistros, and a waterfront promenade. Also spend time exploring Place Kléber, a large historic square in the heart of the city, and Place Gutenberg in the heart of medieval Strasbourg, which features a statue of the inventor of the printing press. A choice of optional excursions is available this afternoon; a trip into the Alsace wine region in France may strike your fancy, or on the other side of the river in Germany, the Black Forest beckons.

 

It looks like the tour of Strausburg is included for the morning and in the afternooon we can 1) stay in Strausburg, 2) go on a trip to Alsace (wine tasting maybe), or 3) go to the Balck Forset - for which there is this description:

 

Excursion to the Black Forest

The Black Forest region ('Schwarzwald') is essentially known for three distinctive features: its highlands, scenery and woods, the typical Black Forest Cake ('Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte') whose success is based on tasty cherry schnapps and the traditional cuckoo-clock. The name Black Forest was quite accurate in earlier times, when the forest was impenetrable. When the wood trade began to falter clock-making stepped in and has been a successful industry for the Black Forest ever since the 17th century. Listen to your local expert's stories and fairy tale, as the region is blessed with a particularly rich mythological landscape. Visit the open Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof at Gutach and see how life was lived centuries ago, in this area.

 

If we did go to the Black Forset, it would be to look for cuckoo-clocks. Doesn't look like we'd do that according to the description.

 

BUT our trip is quite a ways off, so their optional excursions may change between now and then!

The heart of the Black Forest is around Triberg and you are not going there. Baden Baden is another interesting city, but you don't go there either.

I would go with Strasbourg. For the afternoon, stay in Strasbourg or do the wine tasting.

Thank you!!!!

Thank you for all the replys! The info has been very helpful and I think we will forego the Black Forest in favor of the wine tasting.

CaroleSS, thank you for that complete description. We had not seen that on the web site. I think we will have to go back to the site and search it more thoroughly.

I do not wish to dissuade anyone for going to the Black Forset, but isn't that what this forum is for....do discuss the pros and cons of "stuff" so we can all make the most of our cruises?

We have NOT been on our cruise, but I'm unable to find any reviews of the Avalon excursions. The only one that I've found is on CCs sister site

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g580188-d190955-r112752283-Black_Forest_Open_Air_Museum-Gutach_im_Breisgau_Black_Forest_Baden_Wurttemberg.html

I've looked for reviews of the Alsace tour, but have come up short. I'm hoping that this forum will grow as time progresses with reviews and suggestions.

(Note to self: remember to come back and post details and suggestions when we get home! :D)

We are wondering how cold should we prepare for, or just bring layering clothes, and be comfortable?

QUOTE=CaroleSS;37854727]This from the website as to our choices for the day:

Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg blends the cultures of both countries in a delightful way. As capital of the Alsace region and seat of the Council of Europe and European Parliament, it is without a doubt an important city, yet it manages to retain its historic charm. In fact, here, on your included WALKING TOUR, you will discover Europe at its most quintessential. Visit the monumental red-sandstone GOTHIC CATHEDRAL with its ancient murals, stained-glass windows, and fascinating astronomical clock, as well as the magical LA PETITE FRANCE district, home to half-timbered houses, quaint shops, inviting bistros, and a waterfront promenade. Also spend time exploring Place Kléber, a large historic square in the heart of the city, and Place Gutenberg in the heart of medieval Strasbourg, which features a statue of the inventor of the printing press. A choice of optional excursions is available this afternoon; a trip into the Alsace wine region in France may strike your fancy, or on the other side of the river in Germany, the Black Forest beckons.

It looks like the tour of Strausburg is included for the morning and in the afternooon we can 1) stay in Strausburg, 2) go on a trip to Alsace (wine tasting maybe), or 3) go to the Balck Forset - for which there is this description:

Excursion to the Black Forest

The Black Forest region ('Schwarzwald') is essentially known for three distinctive features: its highlands, scenery and woods, the typical Black Forest Cake ('Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte') whose success is based on tasty cherry schnapps and the traditional cuckoo-clock. The name Black Forest was quite accurate in earlier times, when the forest was impenetrable. When the wood trade began to falter clock-making stepped in and has been a successful industry for the Black Forest ever since the 17th century. Listen to your local expert's stories and fairy tale, as the region is blessed with a particularly rich mythological landscape. Visit the open Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof at Gutach and see how life was lived centuries ago, in this area.

If we did go to the Black Forset, it would be to look for cuckoo-clocks. Doesn't look like we'd do that according to the description.

BUT our trip is quite a ways off, so their optional excursions may change between now and then!

We are on the July 14th sailing and will be doing the Wine Tasting tour instead of the Balck Forest tour, have read numerious reports on both tours on this and other sites and 70 to 80% say the Wine tour is better, we also enjoy wine.

peterdkiwi ~ what cruise line are you traveling on? We'll be on Viking (Rhine Getaway) and DH is VERY interested in wine. The on-line itinerary for Breisach mentiones the Black Forest tour and also an optional tour to Colmar - is that the wine tour????

Thanks much for any info!!

I guess ya'll have convinced me.....wine it is!

BUT don't forget about us.....please let us know how it was when you return!!

And that choice is Strasbourg for all the reasons mentioned above. We also went on Viking which has a slightly different itinerary so that the included Black Forest tour is at a different stop from Strasbourg. We went on the Black Forest tour for something to do until the optional Colmar tour in the pm (if your ship offers Colmar, it is worth the time though not as an alternative to Strasbourg).

Black Forest tour was a long bus ride to a cuckoo clock, Black Forest cake touristy stop (cake did not look good), BUT there was also a beautiful nature trail next to a waterfall that you could do while others were shopping and eating. We were there in the fall and the ride through that part of the Black Forest was pretty so if such a thing is included and there is time to kill, it might be ok but I would never pay for such a tour.

We did this cruise and decided to go to the Alsace winery. I loved the ride through the French countryside and the winery was pretty neat. I thought the side trip was worth the extra money.

Fotopeg

We are on Avalon July 14th from Basel

peterdkiwi ~ Thanks much! I'm hoping Viking also offers this trip - but we'll be in Breisach on a Sunday so don't kmow if that will change things.

Basel ~ we'll be there 2 days pre-cruise - anything you can report back will be much appreciated!!! (Have been to Amsterdam 3 times for cruises - great city!!)

Going on Rhine GetWay with Viking Jarl on Nov 1, doing pre cruise stay in Basel, wondering about weather and cold temps, just layer up, gloves hat, Etc?

Black Forest was one of the best trips we've had on our Rhine cruise.

Just returned from the first voyage of the Artistry II (Amsterdam to Basel). We took the Black Forest trip to the open air museum. Would have been a very interesting tour if we had more time. The drive to the museum took 1 1/2 hours. We had less than an hour to tour the museum before we had to leave for the 1 1/2 hour trip back to the ship. The ship was docked all day at Breisach so they could have made this a longer tour.

I was on Avalon's Felicity last May from Basel to Amsterdam. Here is the link to my review:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1646466

What some people don't realize is that the timing of port stops is different depending on which direction the ship is heading. From Basel to Amsterdam, we had a full day in Strasbourg. We chose the wine tasting option and loved it. I should preface by saying that I prefer white wines to reds, and the Alsace region is known for its white wines. We had a great time at the winery. We had a private tasting room and a member of the family that owns the winery lead our tasting.

After the winery, we went to Obernai, France. We had quite a bit of free time to explore this very quaint town. When we were in Strasbourg, it was a holiday so many of the shops were closed. People who stayed in Strasbourg were a bit bored. If the shops / museums are open, staying in town would be a good option. Very few people on our trip would recommend the Black Forrest option. As has been mentioned, it is a long bus ride to a coo-coo clock shop. Weather could also be a factor.

We did not book this excursion before we left but rather signed up once on the ship.

I'm more than willing to answer any questions others may have.

Ok, since you volunteered, I'm sure you read our choices. Given what you saw/did, you recommend the wine tour. If you had it ti do again, would you stay in Strasburg or do the wine tour?

I think I would still do the wine tasting. I really enjoyed it and we had plenty of free time in Obernai. I liked being able to see another city. There were lots of the 1/2 timbered houses. It was very nice and relaxing.