Travelw

We just returned from an international trip.  Our experience is that you needed the original card, not a copy or picture, or some sort of official vaccine proof on your phone with a QR code.  It was checked at each airport before boarding a flight and at the hotel at check in.

On  the reverse side coming back to US from Europe, our card was not checked once.  All that was checked was our proof of a negative Covid test result.

We were on the cruise with ljandgb, also the port side, room was way to warm during the afternoon.  There was air con, but room was still warm.  We did pre cruise in Prague and post cruise in Budapest, it is a personal choice, we liked Prague over Budapest.  Both were beautiful though.  Have a great Danube cruise

TA just called, spoke to her rep at Royal and we have same cabins on Wonder and they are honoring the price.

Been following along, we found out by accident, no email or other info from Royal, that our Mediterranean trip was changed to a Caribbean trip on Allure.  Contacted our TA, she called Royal and was told the Med cruise was canceled and they just moved us to Caribbean.  She is working on the issue but they do not want to honor our original pricing for the Med, even though we booked in March of 2021.

The tour was in the morning, in our case it left from the ship since it was our last day of the cruise. The 40 minutes I mentioned was to look on our own around the castle before heading back to the ship for lunch.  The afternoon was totally free.

Just returned from a Danube cruise with an extra night in Budapest.  Avalon hotel was Marriott, no other choice.  Rooms had a view of the Danube.  The included tour through Avalon was driving tour of Buda and Pest, drive past Heroes square.  Only left the bus at Buda castle with a short walking tour there.  After tour we had 40 minutes to tour on our own.

We were on a Danube cruise with Avalon the first week of September.  We had 27 passengers and 30 crew members.  I agree service was fantastic, the crew was so happy to have us there.  Did not see any reduction in service or food quality from previous river cruise with Avalon (2018).  A very unique trip that we will probably not see again.  

Being on the first part of the Danube cruise with you, we completely agree, the people were the best part. The passengers and crew were all so excited to travel again. Seeing the amazing destinations with very few tourists, was a highlight. For anyone who is unsure about traveling during the pandemic, if you are fully vaccinated, in our opinion, it’s not an issue.

Hopefully ljandgb, sometime in our future timelines, we will get together again.

Sorry to hear about all the issues, hope things get better.

We are leaving the ship on Friday and spending a night in Budapest before flying home Saturday.  The cruise director said the test will be performed the day we are leaving the ship.  You will supply an email address and results will be emailed to you.

Yesterday we had a really nice morning in Passau.  Our tour guide was interesting and knowledgeable and Passau has a lot of charming buildings.  The waterfront area is very picturesque.  In the afternoon the ship sailed through the Schlogen Oxbow on the Danube.  Many little villages along the shore and scenery was spectacular.  
At dinner Ljandgb and their spouse joined us for dinner.  Had a great time.

Going to Salzburg today, very excited, it is a 10 hour excursion.

Yesterday was a really nice day, the group from Prague had a stop in Regensburg on the way to the ship.  Beautiful city, a nice stop.  We arrived at the ship around 4:00 pm, wonderful to be on a ship again.  Seems really weird with only 27 guests on the entire ship.  The crew was very happy to have guests on board again.

Arrived in  Passau Germany this morning, a little chilly and foggy.  Temperature is going to 75 later and fog is starting to burn off.  There is a guided city tour this morning.  The ship sails this afternoon for our next port so we will be cruising the Danube during the afternoon.

Our room is very nice.  It has a king bed and 2chairs.  Bathroom is nice but as mentioned above the shower is not the best.  No view to speak of, a building is a few feet away.  I would stay here again because of the location.

Thanks, good to know.

Today we took the Tram to the Funicular to go up the tower, very interesting, both the tram ride and the funicular.  Walked to the monastery brewery for lunch, good food and adult beverages 🍺.  In the afternoon we went to the Jewish quarter to tour.  This is a sobering experience when you see the names on the walls of all the Jewish people that were killed during WWII.

The Avalon rep told us this afternoon that our Czech dinner tomorrow night has been canceled 🙁.  

Last night we ate at the Imperial restaurant, directly across the street from the hotel, very good food and decor was fantastic.

Dennis

We arrived yesterday and can’t wait for the festivities to start.  Very tired after 21 hours of travel.  Our vaccine status cards were checked so many times, you almost could keep them out, twice in Chicago, three times in Frankfurt and at the hotel in Prague.

if you have a connection flight in Frankfurt, make sure you have plenty of time between flights.  Frankfurt airport is really spread out and we had to clear German customs even though we were just in transit and lines were very long and slow.
The Cosmopolitan hotel that Avalon uses in Prague is very nice, good location and rooms very comfy, must say the shower isn’t the best, hard to control.

We leave tomorrow as well, will be in Prague on Tuesday for 3 nights pre cruise, then to Artistry II on Friday.  All 4 of us are vaccinated and hopefully we have completed all the required paperwork.  Looking forward to traveling again.

Dennis

Yes, we all completed the form and have an email with QR code in it for someone to check.  Thanks for thinking of us.

We are in Prague for 3 nights prior to going to the ship.  We connect through Frankfurt going to Prague.  As far as I see if you are fully vaccinated that is all that is required along with masks naturally.  Of course coming back to US we will need a negative covid test result.  We are traveling with my brother and sister in law.  

We are on the Sept 3rd sailing Degendorf to Budapest.  Flying Chicago through Frankfurt and on to Prague.  We are looking forward to it.

Traveled with family, had three cabins in a row.  Opened dividers and had a 30 ft long balcony,  was great.

We also received an email saying we have a ship change for our Sept 3rd sailing on the Danube.  Originally supposed to be Imagery ii now Artistry ii.  

I too am happy to see our Sept 3rd Danube cruise listed as going.  I checked yesterday and there are only 21 cabins filled.  Fingers crossed it still goes.

We have an Avalon cruise booked in early September on the Danube.  Can’t wait

Thanks for the feedback.  On our only river experience we did not even open one suitcase.  Much different than an ocean cruise.

We were on one river cruise a couple of years ago.  On that river cruise it was very casual for dinner, jeans and maybe long sleeve shirt.  Is this typical for river cruises or just a casual crowd on that sailing.

Thanks 

Dennis