conman

Take the cruise you will have a great time.  We were on the Viking Aton about a week after the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.  We also did a post cruise extension to Jordan which I also highly recommend.  One of the best trips the wife and I have ever done.  Never felt unsafe and the people were very friendly and nice.  The sites you will see are simply amazing.  Again go and enjoy yourself.

What’s the disaster?  We sailed almost a month ago and everything was fantastic.  If you are referencing the new web site then I have really no experience with that.

Well if they are having financial problems that certainly was not evident on the cruise we just finished earlier this month.  Everything was first class.  No evidence at all of cutbacks and such.  The ship was full and everyone seemed very happy.  

Was simply a mistake.  No biggie.😀

Meteora is what you want to do in Volos.  We hired a guide and a driver to take us to Meteora.  After the tour we were taken back to Volos and had Tsipouro.  Its a local drink much like Ouzo.  Yes it packs a punch but they also bring lots of Tapas style foods.  If you have a second drink they bring another round of food.  Our guide told us that people come from all over to go to these places.  Do not miss Meteora while in Volos.

Just back from the 10 day Spain intensive on the Onward.  Will try and write a review later.  I will say this the service, food, and the “Amazing Evening” in Seville, SP were outstanding.   Have read that many cruise lines have cut back on services and perks.  I did not get that impression at all as this was our third time in Azamara.  Okay, so the main purpose of this thread is to warn all of you, no matter what cruise line you are on to watch out for the taxi bandits at the Port of Lisbon.  If you google search taxi fares from the port to the airport you will find prices near 15 to 20 Euro.  It’s a short drive.  The cabbies charged my wife and I 35 euro and my friends behind me their cabbie charged them 40 euro.  My third group of friends got an Uber and it was approximately 15 euro.  Lesson learned in Lisbon pre arrange your ride to the airport and stay away from those taxi bandits.

Just received a message from Viking regarding our cruise leaving Amsterdam on 17 Sep.  Due to the quarantine restriction in the Netherlands our embarkation was moved to Emmerich, GE.  So we made accommodations there as we are arriving one day early.  Now we are told the ship is leaving Amsterdam now as accommodations have been made for the ship to depart Amsterdam.  Problem is since we are arriving one day early we violate the restriction.  Starting to lose my enthusiasm for this trip.  Of course the air fare is more money now.  Not blaming Viking.  But definitely frustrated.

Considering this new restriction just happened in the Netherlands I would say you have had plenty of notice.  You could have been on a trip just 10 days away like me when you got notified.

It is Viking and the itinerary was Amsterdam to Basel on the Rhine. Now starting in Emmerich.

Well we were just notified that our Amsterdam departure will now be out of Emmerich, GE.  Looks like a 1.5 hour train ride from Amsterdam.  Definitely a bummer.  

Have a cruise departing Amsterdam in the next couple of weeks.  Not looking good.  Viking is aware and says an email should be coming soon notifying us soon of the status.

Put me down as a disappointed Azamara customer.  Last year my family took our first Azamara Cruise from Venice through Croatia and down to Greece.  We were set to be repeat customers that had booked on the immersive Ireland Cruise 21 Jun 2021 that evidently was scrapped in favor of a rescheduled charter on the Journey.  We heard nothing from Azamara.  Yes we booked flights and now have to figure what to do with the credit, if there is one from the airline.  This is supposedly a high-end line that left us high and dry and is only offering a $500 credit on the substitution Cruise that leaves earlier in June.  I’m a loyal guy but I’m also one that goes elsewhere when I get screwed. Bye bye Azamara.

Still in Germany after leaving our Viking cruise just this past Saturday. The weather has been beautiful. Good for Oktoberfest and such but not much help for the Danube. Good luck to all of you. Headed back to the US tommorrow morning.

We only swapped once and it was painless. Of course we would have preferred not to change ships but it really wasn’t bad.

One other thing. Just go with the flow. I am reading now that ships can’t get into Budapest. We had no problems last week. The cruise companies look at these water levels day to day. Like the passengers they would like to avoid the inconvenience as well. Evidently the critical area of the river for us was from Passau to Regensburg. They day we ship swapped the water level was such that we could have made it but then the next day it dropped below again.

Just finished a Budapest to Nuremberg cruise on Viking today. The weather was sunny and warm. Even got to wear shorts for a couple of days. We had a slight change on our itinerary. The ship docked in Lintz Austria and we road a bus to Passau, approximately 1.5 hours for our daily tour. After Passau we road another bus to Straubing (sp) for a ship swap. Again another 1.5 hours or so. Again with the water levels the way they are Viking is able to minimize the impact due to having so many ships sailing back and forth. O. The train to Munich today we talked to a couple that just finished an Avalon cruise and they did more tours via bus because they can’t ship swap like Viking.

Yes. We boarded right at the Chain Bridge in Budapest. Currently on a bus to Passau. These guys at Viking have this down to a science with the ship swap.

You will have a ship swap. I am currently on a Viking Danube cruise. We were originally scheduled for the Gullevig and instead put on the Egil. We will swap ships in Passau I think. It’s good you are on Viking since they are able to do the swaps. Many of the smaller companies can’t do this.

We have a group of seven couples currently sailing on the Viking Egil from Budapest To Nuremberg. We are headed from Krems Austria and sailing to Passau. I believe we will stop prior to Passau, Lintz Austria I believe and have a ship swap. Not sure where we will get back on, hopefully Passau. I’ll try and update. We are having a blast. The food is good and the service fantastic.

Just received an e-mail from Viking letting us know our cruise itinerary will possibly change. Our ship out of Budapest has been changed since our scheduled ship can’t get up to Budapest. Sounds like the stretch between Passau and Regensburg is experiencing very low water levels. We are to depart Budapest on the 28th of Sep and disembark on 6 Oct in Nuremburg. Thank goodness we purchased the Silver Spirits liquor package. We will probably neeed it:D

I want to thank all of you that have been posting on the Danube River status. A group of us, seven couples are leaving from Budapest on the 29th of September. Sailing on the Gullevig (Viking) to Nurenberg

Another question, did you exchange your dollars to euro here or in Barcelona?

Tell your bank that you are on your way to Europe. Do not convert your money in the U.S. Bank ATM's are the way to go in Europe. You are normally limited to $500 or $600 per day. You get your best rate on the ATM. There are ATM's in the Barcelona Airport and lots downtown near La Ramblas. We were on the same cruise as baseball mom and had a blast. Get the Rick Steves book on European Cruises. Lots of good info and tells you where the ATM's are in each port city.

Livorno was rough as well. I was watching the ship tracker both days and the winds were definitely stronger going to Palma. I was looking at 50 kts on the approach/abort into Livorno. I have pictures of the ship tracker showing 70kts to Palma. The spotlights were scanning the seas that night from the bridge. The ship was even slightly tilited up wind I presume to protect the life boats. Excellent cruise. The wi-fi package really is nothing more than hi seas extortion. $100 for 250 minutes with sloooooow page loads. It should be unlimited like RCCL.

My family was on that cruise as well. I hope to write a review in the next couple of days. Can't wait to read about departing Marseilles and the 70kt winds and rough seas down to Palma.

How much do you typically tip your driver for a day trip?