rosepetalsbeck

Oh you are so right! We went to Europe for our first time middle of June to late June to cruise the Rhine and everywhere we went was a surprise festival they were having we didn't know about! It was so fun and back in the states I would normally not enjoy that type of thing much, super crowded streets, loud music, loud drinking people etc but over there it was a wonderful surprise and we hung out for hours at a few of them! Lucerne had a huge festival going on in old town, as did Lake Como, Milan had some huge outdoor concert right next to the Duomo, it was just amazing. Didn't plan to be at any of them but sure enjoyed it and now when we plan to go back I'm kinda looking to see if I can find any LOL. We ended up going back to Lucerne after our cruise to spend a couple nights and it was such a different experience because the festival was only 2 days so it was over and thousands of less people around the Chapel bridge area made it for a totally different (but still amazing) time, just different. One of the things I enjoyed the most that totally surprised me was how much I loved to walk around after a day of excursions in old town of some quaint village/town and just sit and soak up the culture all around me. I'd always read to try not to fit too many places into your vacation because you don't have time to truely FEEL the environment, culture of a place and that was some of the best advice I heard actually. Just going and seeing top attractions was wonderful but the best part for me was just wondering around with no destination, sitting at a cafe and just watching, listening to all the sights, sounds, smells, etc. Best vaca ever. Thanks for all your great info on rivers, we are going to cruise the Danube next Aug/Sept so will keep reading your blogs 🙂

@notamermaid You are so very helpful! New to this site and love your info, thank you! My question to you is and I would love your opinion because I'm finalizing up a cruise reservation for fall 2024 on the Danube. There's 2 I'm looking at. My favorite one that last sailing is Budapest to Prague (extension) but it's date is Aug 26 - Sept 5th. Should I be worried about water levels on the Danube during that time based on past years? I would hate to have to swap ships or get bussed to excursions. Sailing on Avalon which I know from experience is not as deep of ships as some and they tend to run when others cant get through an area (Uniworld couldn't but they could). My 2nd fave is same Budapest to Prague and it's date is mid to late Sept. I worry that one will have not enough daylight hours, maybe too cold, etc. I'm guessing water levels will be ok mid to late sept. Your thoughts? I'm having a hard time picking which cruise and time is running out. My fave is the excursions they have picked on the Aug. 26th cruise but worried about water levels. Thanks!!