Romantic Danube Nov 24, 2013

Just booked my trip. Anyone else having sweet Dreams about this trip?

Just booked my trip. Anyone else having sweet Dreams about this trip?

We cruised with Avalon the Blue Danube Discovery from Budapest to Prague in late November 2011 and it was fabulous!! Hopefully you will have extra days pre and post in Budapest and Prague as they are the most beautiful cities with so much to do and see independently. On our post cruise days last November we were fortunate to catch the opening of the Christmas Markets in Prague before we flew home. They were so much fun and quite festive!

Have a great trip!

This is from Nuremburg to Budapest. I am thinking of a Paris stopover pre cruise.

This is from Nuremburg to Budapest. I am thinking of a Paris stopover pre cruise.

When flying via CDG, it is less stressful to stopover in Paris than to change planes.:cool:

When flying via CDG, it is less stressful to stopover in Paris than to change planes.:cool:

I am not sure which airline yet. But that's what I was thinking. I don't think I'd want to stopover after. I think I would prefer to do the Budapest add on after & stay there a couple of days

Romantic Danube was a great trip for my wife and I a few years ago. Based on where you live in Texas for slightly over $1000.00 (about 1048.00 including taxes) you should be able to fly on American/British Airways on a direct flight to Paris with a connection in London Heathrow. You may want to check with the source you booked your cruise with for options. The cost of a train from Paris to Nuremberg is approximately $89 Euro traveling in second class, it takes about 7 hours to make the trip. I totally agree with others you DO want to add a couple of nights in Budapest on the end.

I did this cruise. It was wonderful!

Budapest was one of my favorite ports. What a great place.

I was concerned it may be to cool at this time, but wanted to see the Christmas scenes. Hopefully they will be out.

I am not sure which airline yet. But that's what I was thinking. I don't think I'd want to stopover after. I think I would prefer to do the Budapest add on after & stay there a couple of days

Hi WI-TX,

From a fellow Texan who endures 6 months of heat and humidity, we welcomed the colder weather of traveling in November on our cruise last Thanksgiving from Budapest to Prague. All the ports were wonderful, most especially Budapest, Prague and Regensburg. Bring the correct layering of clothes, boots and typical good winter wear and you will have a marvelous time. The Christmas Markets typically start opening right around Thanksgiving which in 2013 is Nov. 28th so hopefully you will see some in your port stops and certainly the Holiday decorations will have begun. It is quite festive, pretty and the Holiday aromas and drinks of the mulled wine were perfect for the cooler weather. You mentioned about pre days in Paris. Unless Paris is a must visit for you enroute, have you thought about pre-days in Prague before you depart out of Nuremberg? Prague is absolutely gorgeous lit up at night and they had a wonderful Christmas Market in the Old Town Square. Would be a great place to start your Danube cruise. There are many on these Boards who will confirm about how much there is to see and do in Prague and there is independent transportation modes to Nuremberg if you are not doing them with your cruise line.

We have been to Paris twice previously and loved it but if we had our choice we would go back to Budapest and Prague for our pre and post Danube days in a heartbeat, esp. during the Holidays. Just food for thought:) You will have a great trip however the route! Enjoy.....

Hi WI-TX,

 

From a fellow Texan who endures 6 months of heat and humidity, we welcomed the colder weather of traveling in November on our cruise last Thanksgiving from Budapest to Prague. All the ports were wonderful, most especially Budapest, Prague and Regensburg. Bring the correct layering of clothes, boots and typical good winter wear and you will have a marvelous time. The Christmas Markets typically start opening right around Thanksgiving which in 2013 is Nov. 28th so hopefully you will see some in your port stops and certainly the Holiday decorations will have begun. It is quite festive, pretty and the Holiday aromas and drinks of the mulled wine were perfect for the cooler weather. You mentioned about pre days in Paris. Unless Paris is a must visit for you enroute, have you thought about pre-days in Prague before you depart out of Nuremberg? Prague is absolutely gorgeous lit up at night and they had a wonderful Christmas Market in the Old Town Square. Would be a great place to start your Danube cruise. There are many on these Boards who will confirm about how much there is to see and do in Prague and there is independent transportation modes to Nuremberg if you are not doing them with your cruise line.

We have been to Paris twice previously and loved it but if we had our choice we would go back to Budapest and Prague for our pre and post Danube days in a heartbeat, esp. during the Holidays. Just food for thought:) You will have a great trip however the route! Enjoy.....

Thanks for the advice. I am originally from WI so I do understand correct layering. I book so early so I can get a "good price" but also so I have time to research & do add ons. I like the idea of Prague. I am allowing myself a week before & a week after. So I think Icould fit it all in.

Anyone else have suggestions. I would love to hear them.

How important is it to know basic german, etc. phrases for while you are on shore excursions.

Most everyone speaks English. Been in Germany 3 times and had no problem communicating.

Most everyone speaks English. Been in Germany 3 times and had no problem communicating.

I sometimes feel guilty when I am on these tours & I do not bother to learn any phrases. but then I think a few may just get me in trouble.

How important is it to know basic german, etc. phrases for while you are on shore excursions.

Virtually everyone we met spoke or understood english very well. Its nice to be able to say thank you or hello etc in the local language but apart from that neednt worry.

Definitely agree with others here Budapest is a beautiful place, would have to be very close to the top of my list in Europe..havent been to Prague..YET..thats on our next list ! :-) Deb

I was concerned it may be to cool at this time, but wanted to see the Christmas scenes. Hopefully they will be out.

It is too soon to know the dates. For 2013 but you will likely have a good selection of markets. They generally open the first weekend of Advent which is quite late this year. Some open earlier.

It is our favorite time to be in Europe as they really do the holidays with so much less commercialism and more charm and warmth than here at home.

We will be there again this year for the season and are very excited.

It is too soon to know the dates. For 2013 but you will likely have a good selection of markets. They generally open the first weekend of Advent which is quite late this year. Some open earlier.

 

It is our favorite time to be in Europe as they really do the holidays with so much less commercialism and more charm and warmth than here at home.

 

We will be there again this year for the season and are very excited.

The cruises closer to Christmas were considerably higher. So I am hoping some places will have some Christmas already out since it is the week before Saint Nick. Plus it should be a little warmer than at Christmas.

The cruises closer to Christmas were considerably higher. So I am hoping some places will have some Christmas already out since it is the week before Saint Nick. Plus it should be a little warmer than at Christmas.

In 2010 we had 22 inches of snow in November in Germany and in December over Christmas 2011 it was considerably milder. Mother Nature is nothing if not unpredictable.;)

In 2010 we had 22 inches of snow in November in Germany and in December over Christmas 2011 it was considerably milder. Mother Nature is nothing if not unpredictable.;)

So true so true. I moved to TX 9 yrs ago from WI. It may be fun to see snow again.

Any past cruisers have any suggestions as to what to buy or to do at each stop.

Any past cruisers have any suggestions as to what to buy or to do at each stop.

Hungarian Paprika and spices in Budapest, Bohemian crystal in Prague or better yet one of their lovely Garnet stones they are so famous for. DH did his Christmas shopping for me last November while in Prague and I now have a lovely Prague garnet pendant :)

Durnstein also has a nice jewelry shop on the main street that sells lovely pendants, bracelets and earrings made from unique stones from the Danube river.

Vienna, has great Viennese coffee to bring home if you are a coffee drinker and Regensberg has chocolates and nice Christmas ornaments.

Each port has something wonderful to offer. You will have a great trip!

The cruises closer to Christmas were considerably higher. So I am hoping some places will have some Christmas already out since it is the week before Saint Nick. Plus it should be a little warmer than at Christmas.

Two years ago we booked Viking's Danube Waltz (similar itinerary Budapest-Passau) at the last minute cruising during our Thanksgiving week. As you noted, prices were quite a bit lower than those marketed as "Christmas Market" cruises. We did a bit of quick googling and determined that in 2010 at each of our stops, the Christmas markets would just be opening in each. The weather was all over the place, rainy to start, then sunny and mild, and snow at the end of the cruise. It was a great trip with beautiful scenery and we really enjoyed the excursion to Salzburg, seeing Bratislava (since we'd already been to Prague) and the 900-year- old abbey in Melk. Here is a link to the pictures from that cruise:

http://smengelt.shutterfly.com/341

Hungarian Paprika and spices in Budapest, Bohemian crystal in Prague or better yet one of their lovely Garnet stones they are so famous for. DH did his Christmas shopping for me last November while in Prague and I now have a lovely Prague garnet pendant :)

 

Durnstein also has a nice jewelry shop on the main street that sells lovely pendants, bracelets and earrings made from unique stones from the Danube river.

 

Vienna, has great Viennese coffee to bring home if you are a coffee drinker and Regensberg has chocolates and nice Christmas ornaments.

 

Each port has something wonderful to offer. You will have a great trip!

All great suggestions, and I have a weakness for real stone jewelry.

Two years ago we booked Viking's Danube Waltz (similar itinerary Budapest-Passau) at the last minute cruising during our Thanksgiving week. As you noted, prices were quite a bit lower than those marketed as "Christmas Market" cruises. We did a bit of quick googling and determined that in 2010 at each of our stops, the Christmas markets would just be opening in each. The weather was all over the place, rainy to start, then sunny and mild, and snow at the end of the cruise. It was a great trip with beautiful scenery and we really enjoyed the excursion to Salzburg, seeing Bratislava (since we'd already been to Prague) and the 900-year- old abbey in Melk. Here is a link to the pictures from that cruise:

 

http://smengelt.shutterfly.com/341

OHHH thank you I'm hoping thats true for me. Can't wait to check out the pictures.

Two years ago we booked Viking's Danube Waltz (similar itinerary Budapest-Passau) at the last minute cruising during our Thanksgiving week. As you noted, prices were quite a bit lower than those marketed as "Christmas Market" cruises. We did a bit of quick googling and determined that in 2010 at each of our stops, the Christmas markets would just be opening in each. The weather was all over the place, rainy to start, then sunny and mild, and snow at the end of the cruise. It was a great trip with beautiful scenery and we really enjoyed the excursion to Salzburg, seeing Bratislava (since we'd already been to Prague) and the 900-year- old abbey in Melk. Here is a link to the pictures from that cruise:

 

http://smengelt.shutterfly.com/341

Luv Luv Luv the photos. Compliments to the photographer. I am a photo buff and these look very similiar to what I take. I love the architecture and showing everyday life in my photos. This link is going to be my favorite "dream" site until I have my own.

Regensberg has chocolates and nice Christmas ornaments.

We loved the mustard at the Wurstkuchl (Old Sausage Kitchen) - you can buy a jar (or two) to bring home....

Fran