notamermaid

The engine, I think the term is unit, is indeed separate from the passenger unit and the reason is noise and vibration reduction. They are kind of fixed though, meaning they cannot be uncoupled like with a pushboat and its barge unit. On this shipyard website they do not use the term unit though: https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/ships/premicon_twincruiser.jsp There is a German Wikipedia page: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/TwinCruiser Here the shipyard that built the Premicon Queen, which was then the Thurgau Ultra and is now advertised as the River Crown, uses the phrase "The back half of the drive unit hosts the spacious restaurant": https://www.neptunwerft.de/en/press/press_detail/the_sixth_twincruiser_is_built_in_rostock.jsp I am not sure if this automatically reduces the number of cabins possible, need to leave that to a technician. Perhaps it can be figured out from the text or drawings on other websites. notamermaid

In the Rhine thread I have written about the epic journey of the Norwegian Viking replica boat, The "Saga Farmann". It has left the Rhine and is now on the Main. As I write she is still tied to the Heike Lucie at the port Bischofsheim. I had understood from the videos posted by the boat crew that the barge would take her as far as Mainz. We will see tomorrow what has happened and if there was a change of plan. It is easy to track and try and spot the boat on the river as like other ships she sends a signal (this is the 21st century not the tenth 😉). https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:6781228/mmsi:257081140/imo:0/vessel:SAGA_FARMANN notamermaid

Yes. What will Noble Caledonia still change? From the photos I gather the hull will get a new colour scheme. According to a German report called "Farewell Thurgau Ultra" it was a very popular ship that had sailed with Thurgau Travel for quite a few years but had been short-time chartered by other companies as well. Thurgau Travel has replaced her with the new "Thurgau Gold" that was supposed to have been christened this month. Have not checked if it has taken place. There are a few videos online that show the interior of the Thurgau Ultra. There is a good website with review and photos but unfortunately it is also a travel agent so no linking allowed. notamermaid

The courts decided yesterday that the excursion boat which sank in Brohl is a "boat" not a "shipwreck". This has implications for the court case with auction. But first for me it means hooray there is hope yet for this ship that also has had me twice as a passenger (many years ago). notamermaid

The Heike Lucie with the Saga Farmann left Engers at dawn and after a stop at Boppard has left the Rhine. The captain of the Heike Lucie has kindly provided some photos for upload on Binnenschifferforum. Here they are: https://www.binnenschifferforum.de/showthread.php?115130-Saga-Farmann-FGS-257081140&p=458449#post458449 notamermaid

The Danube at Passau showed a tiny wave yesterday, after all the rain. The level there is now 572cm. No rain coming and the weather will be sunny and warm over Whitsuntide. Upstream at Pfelling will most likely stay at good levels over 400cm, giving no rise for concerns that the level could drop too fast. Computer modelling for next week looks pleasant (this is not available for Pfelling or Passau but available for Kelheim). Whit Monday is a public holiday in Austria, Germany and Hungary. You can check other countries here: https://www.feiertagskalender.ch/feiertag.php?geo=0&jahr=2023&klasse=5&ft_id=35&hl=en notamermaid

Thank you. Good to read. I am intrigued, why have you got a German saying on a sign in your avatar, if I may ask? notamermaid

Good point. I have had a look and it seems that Marksburg Castle is open all year. But would I want to be up there in winter? Snow looks great but icy ground is dangerous in that place. I think such an itinerary needs adapting to the weather conditions. A Black Forest coach trip is fabulous in snow, but, again, icy or rainy and blustery? Not my thing. notamermaid

Okay, I had this feeling... I suggested that there is a chance that the Saga Farmann may dock before Koblenz. It has turned out to be correct. The twosome is in Engers: A barge and a Viking ship replica in front of a Rococo Palace. Now that is something. Although I think she may be further upstream at the industrial harbour if the signal is perfectly accurate. notamermaid

High German or "Hochdeutsch" is what is in the dictionary and in the news. And what you write in your essays in school, etc. A typical example for the difference between High German and Low German is das Wasser - dat Water. You see that Low German and with it the Lower Saxony dialect family is closer to English. Also Dorf - dorp which is the -thorp(e) surviving in place names in England. Basically the further down the Rhine you go the more the dialects sound a bit like English. Dutch is also Germanic and has retained those traits. Going full nerdy: A couple of years back I stumbled upon the fact that "lützel" is the German equivalent of little in English. It is a word that has fallen completely out of use in High German, but a few Saxon/Low German dialects retain it. It actually has something to do with a place on the Rhine. Koblenz has a suburb called Lützel. And there is a Lützelstein in Alsace, which the French language gives away in its meaning, they call it La Petite Pierre. "Small stone" and all together now the English is: "Littlestone". That happens in stark contrast to the fore mentioned Alsace place to be a flat village at the sea in Kent. Right back to rivers and canals. The Heike Lucie with the Saga Farmann should arrive in Koblenz in about 30 minutes, which is 19.45 local time, provided she docks there and not before. notamermaid

I am not ashamed to say that I am a tad envious. 🙂 Try not to rush through St. Pancras, instead take a few minutes to admire the mix of old and new railway architecture. I have done the trip Koblenz or Cologne to London by train several times in my life, either with ferry in between or in more recent years through the Tunnel. St. Pancras to Cologne is great, from one "railway cathedral" to another. The Thalys in First Class was the best experience. But Eurostar in Second Class is also fine, better than some German ICE's Second Class. One of my worst train journeys in a supposedly "First World modern high speed train" was actually a stretch around Frankfurt on a Friday afternoon coming back from my river cruise on the Danube. It was overcrowded and half the toilets were not working... Much preferred the First Class reception lounge of the Eurostar at Ebbsfleet International. Newspapers, drinks... 🍹 Have an amazing time in Europe. notamermaid

Angles and Saxons were two distinct tribes. The Saxons' origin (land) is still clear in the modern word Lower Saxony, or Niedersachsen. It has geographically nothing to do with Saxony in the East of Germany but there is a small connection to Saxony-Anhalt. The Lower Saxony language group will sound closer to your English than High German will. notamermaid

The Saga Farmann has hitched a ride and is towed alongside the barge Heike Lucie as the current is too strong and she does not have the necessary papers for sailing by herself. Apparently this will continue to be the case for quite some kilometres, i.e. up to Mainz. She is starboard so you may not see her going upstream when you pass downstream, she is quite small compared to her 135m "helping hand". This is what it looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvbVZeyECIE Thankfully, there is no flooding, which would have made the voyage a bit trickier. And the weather forecast looks good. notamermaid

Two continents, three river cruise ship christenings. The American Jazz and the American Serenade: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Cruise-Lines-christens-two-riverboats?ct=river The Amadeus Riva: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Amadeus-Riva-christened?ct=river Safe travels to them always. notamermaid

Hmm, perhaps I should not call her ex-Thurgau Ultra yet. Which company bought the ship? Is it a lease? Did the investor/bank in the background change? Is Noble Caledonia involved in the purchase? Cannot find any info or what will happen this year. Perhaps she will continue her rest next to the Royal Crown and Crystal sisters near Nijmegen: notamermaid

To my surprise even Binnenschifferforum draws a blank. The ship has obviously been renamed seeing that she was built in 2008. Only 100 passengers? 135m long and a draft of 1.35m? Does not quite fit together but is not impossible I guess, just unusual. I have had a look round, a bit of combining websites and detective work. I believe it is the now ex-Thurgau Ultra, a twin cruiser. The ship left the fleet of Thurgau Travel, a Swiss company, at the end of 2022. Compare the photos: https://imagelibrary.noblecaledonia.com/asset-bank/assetfile/41295.pdf https://www.binnenschifferforum.de/showthread.php?69450-Thurgau-Ultra-KFGS-04806540&p=403868#post403868 Time for the ship spotters on Binnenschifferforum to get to work, I think. notamermaid

It works in France as that country has excellent high-speed connections. Mind you, it works in some parts of Germany as well. Yes, we may catch on. Flying from Frankfurt to Cologne is basically pointless and the journey quite possibly faster by ICE train depending on connection. notamermaid

A splendid ship. The specifications are given on the ship project website. With a draft of 2.5m she could indeed sail up the Rhine and would be strong enough with that manning against the current, I reckon. The dragon bow looks tall but I guess is low enough to fit under bridges. I hope I can spot the Saga Farmann, if not, a webcam image will have to do. She is now not far from Düsseldorf. notamermaid

I suppose this chapter in river cruising was closed when the ships were sold. But I will follow up briefly with the next chapter for "The B". She is now the Carmen, her details: https://www.binnenschifferforum.de/showthread.php?115114-Carmen-FGKS-02321750&p=458368#post458368 I was surprised to read that she did not start life as the River Baroness with Uniworld. notamermaid

Copycat? Not quite, but following in the footsteps of Viva Cruises, the German company that has completed the second season of winter cruising successfully. The difference is that Viva Cruises operates those itineraries both on the Rhine/Main and canals to the North with the large ships and the smaller ones whereas Viking has chosen the standard Rhine route popular with its customer base. Viking cannot operate on the canals with its long 135m ships.Viking's press release: https://www.vikingcruises.com/press/press-releases/2023-05-23-viking-announces-new-treasures-of-the-rhine-itinerary.html Sorry, but from my comments above you can see that the phrase quote: "...establishes Viking as the first line to operate year-round..." end quote, is not correct. I am not convinced that seeing the river in four Celsius and rain and mist with the potential of flooding is an enticing idea. It does snow in January but a winter wonderland is not a given. Still, if you are prepared for all that it sure is a nice itinerary. notamermaid

The seasoned cruisers among you will know that the European market for river cruises differs from the North-American one, meaning the passengers on the continent and from the UK travel differently and lines cater to that. It is not a vast difference but noticeable. A few notes from travelweekly on this. Perhaps there is some info that you find interesting. https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/River-cruises-for-Europeans-and-US-guests notamermaid

The Rhineland is really nice to spend your later years in, but, my, is Normandy beautiful! When you are coming from the North Sea and fjords, the beach easily beats our measly river embankments. notamermaid

Naah, that is the English and they are Anglo-Saxon. But that partying or football exuberance may be a relic of the Norse manner in the Normans coming from Normandy in the wake (pun intended) of that William guy. Who knows. I should have been more precise actually as the story of the Viking raids is an interesting one as regards Mainz, the city was spared. The Vikings indeed raided the Rhineland and outside of Mainz but did not enter the city. For the history nerds: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_raids_in_the_Rhineland But the Vikings also traded, Bonn and Koblenz for example were important centres. Products from the Rhineland are known to have reached Scandinavia during those centuries. Not many years after the main raids had stopped, the Vikings were given Normandy and never returned to the Rhineland. The rest is history. notamermaid

As far as I know all vessels (perhaps exceptions exist) on the waterways have to have a few specifics/equipment to comply with modern navigation. The Saga Farmann is no exception. I can see on the hull some basic info displayed. So she would have a transponder we can use for tracking as well, right? She does. Here she is on marinetraffic: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:6781228/mmsi:257081140/imo:0/vessel:SAGA_FARMANN notamermaid

The Viking ship is a replica of a vessel found in the 19th century in Norway. The ship is on an epic journey from Norway to Istanbul, from Lübeck it has traversed Northern Germany via some canals and is near Gelsenkirchen. It will enter the Rhine and stay overnight in Mainz from 27 to 28 May. I would love to see that. Last time the Vikings were in Mainz they did not behave themselves. Well, times have changed from more than a thousand years ago, I am confident this time it will be all relaxed and good-natured. This is the project: https://www.sagafarmann.com/ Video from earlier today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byCzYDsGUtg So if you see a sailing barge with some odd-looking bearded folk on board, it is not the fault of the bar tender's drink on your river cruise ship... notamermaid