SnowshoeCat

The direct train is what I was looking at. The timing is perfect for my flight. When I mentioned "bus", I meant the transfer offered by the cruise company. I don't mind walking to the train station. I'm just not sure I want to deal with that at 5:30 in the morning. Steamboats, another question if you don't mind. My original, pre-cruise plan was to take the train from Munich to Vienna, stopping overnight in Prien am Chiemsee, which is right on the main line to Salzburg. When I was there many years ago, we just hopped on the train to Salzburg. Now it seems I'd have to backtrack to Rosenheim, then transfer to the faster train. Is Prien no longer a stop for the faster, direct trains? It was so convenient before. And thank you for all your help.

Thank you. Your thoughts echo my own. More than likely, it will work perfectly, but one strike or delay can destroy the whole plan. But that's true with any aspect of travel. The shuttle is certainly convenient, and mindless.

My cruise ends in Regensburg (water levels permitting) and I have a same-day flight out of Munich. The cruise company offers a transfer, door to door, for about $150 US. There is a direct train to the airport terminal that leaves at the perfect time, and that's only about 35 EUR. Other trains involve a bus transfer at Freising, which also seem perfectly manageable. I travel light, have taken trains frequently, and wonder if this is a reliable option.

On NS it was deck 5 (I'm almost certain) that was occasionally open for "scenic cruising".

I let the courtesy hold lapse because I had something else going on the week before and scheduling was tight. Well, I got rid of the other "obligation" (I wasn't too enthusiastic in the first place), and now I need to crawl back to the agent to see if the offer is still available. Thanks for everyone's input and experiences, both on the river and in the UK. I've got the Cotswolds planned for next spring and if I can't get on the cruise in October, I just might head to the UK. We don't have good scones around here.

I cheated and consulted Google. But I'll let you explain.

King Arthur slept there?

Now this is my other concern. The info says dinner isn't until 7:30. I can't wait that long. I'm going to need that 4pm sustenance.

Interesting! I've done many hiking/walking trips in England, and I think that's what I was thinking of when I made my post. I don't think I've seen too many raised eyebrows, maybe because I'm usually in a group. So many places are used to walkers. I have a picture somewhere of a sign outside a tea room saying "Dogs and muddy boots welcome!" I love their network of public footpaths. Cheers!

Thank you for the reassuring words. The waived solo supplement is available on the sailing I'm looking at (it's on a courtesy hold for two more hours). I wouldn't wear shorts at dinner, and the only reason I wore sneakers on my last cruise was because my shoes fell apart! They were in the closet all winter and I just tossed them in my suitcase without checking them. Then when I was walking around the cobblestones of France, the soles just crumbled. The sneakers were black, and hardly noticeable (and nobody cared, anyway). I know the activities are optional. I just had images of me returning to the ship, possibly waterlogged from bike riding in the rain, stumbling into the lounge for tea, and facing a whole bunch of neatly ironed folks sniffing and swirling their wine glasses 😄 Actually, this is a good excuse to go buy a new top or two!

I have a couple of questions along the lines of "Is Avalon right for me?" I've only been on Vantage and Gate 1 and enjoyed them both. They were comfortable and casual. Am I correct in thinking that Avalon is a little dressier? How much? I know how to look neat and tidy (sometimes), but I also like to pack light. Also, I'm a solo traveler. Will dinner be awkward, with me throwing off the symmetry of the table? I saw there's a bistro and I would be fine with that. I'm researching a particular sailing because of the itinerary and because they offer biking and hiking excursions. They also advertise this as a wine tour where there will be a wine master on board. I'm not a wine drinker. I know I'm free to do what I want, but will it be considered rude if I skip most of the wine-related activities? Thanks for any input.

Thank you. Now I have the Rheingold jingle going through my head. I only remember a few of the words, so there's lots of humming 😁

I had a wonderful trip on the Seine this past May. There was no mention of water level problems so I don't know if that's an issue at other times of the year. I skipped the Normandy excursion because I had been there a couple of years ago. I heard it was very moving and they organized a special service. We were docked in Rouen for two nights as the base for Normandy and enjoyed the extra free time there. I know nothing about Caudebec. We sailed at all different times. One night we sailed for a couple of hours, docked somewhere for a short time (we weren't allowed off), then continued to our destination. The distances aren't that great and we had to kill time and not arrive too early. The Seine was much more scenic than I expected. In Paris, the dock is down the road from the Eiffel Tower. I'm usually fine with public transportation, but this one time I was really happy for the airport transfer. Paris is hosting the Olympics next year and there was lots of construction and traffic in the city. The bus tour on the last day was probably the only disappointment. I'm glad to know you liked the Danube. I'm in the process of planning that right now.

I'm looking forward to your reports. I'll be going the other way, starting in Budapest, in a couple of months.

Love it! Happy Canada Day!

Thank you, JP (hi neighbor!) and Canal for your input. I'm sure I would enjoy either one, although I'm leaning towards the westbound itinerary. I'm also looking at flight schedules and availability to help make my decision. The cruises I mentioned are only 5 nights between Regensburg and Vienna. I can enjoy this little taste of the Danube, then in the future plan a longer cruise in warmer weather.

I'm looking at a few cruises in late November/early December. The eastbound sailing stops for a half day in Passau (allowing for an optional excursion to Salzburg, or more daytime sailing), then a full day in Linz (optional tour to Cesky Krumlov). The reverse, westbound itinerary includes two short stops in Durnstein and Melk on the same day, then a full day in Passau. It's also at the beginning of the Christmas Market season, which might be why it's a bit more expensive. Does either itinerary seem much better than the other? Except for Vienna, I haven't been to any of these cities. I'm not planning on the excursions. I like to just wander around and explore the port cities.

I don't know, but I wonder if it has something to do with Vantage's problems? This is total speculation, of course. I know that Gate 1 sometimes uses at least one of Vantage's ships. Maybe they had to reshuffle. Again, just a guess. I wouldn't want to start any rumors 😉

Danke! I like the itinerary because it seems "easy". Just one country, and I don't have to think about "where am I"? And maybe my German will come back before I head home. I actually spent a summer in Bavaria, so I do want to fly in early and revisit some areas.

First of all, I want to thank notamermaid and steamboats and all the other regulars for supplying so much wonderful information. My friend and I are planning a Christmas Market cruise on the Main this December, from Regensburg to Frankfurt, stopping in Nuremberg, Bamberg and Wurtzburg. While the markets look fun, I'm not really a shopper, but I do enjoy the edible treats. The cities also look as if there's plenty of history to keep it interesting. We live someplace cold, so we know how to bundle up. Any thoughts/advice/things we should know about? The cruiseline offers tours of each city, then free afternoons. Unfortunately it will be too cold for an afternoon bike ride, but hopefully we'll find some other entertainment.

Have you tried searching "multi-city" instead of "round trip"? For instance, trip 1: YHZ-SYD, trip 2: SYD-YVR ( then rest up in YVR), then trip 3: YVR-YHZ. I've done that returning from Europe, spending a night at a stateside airport hotel, then continue home on the short hop the next morning. The price difference, if any, was minimal.

First of all, thank you to Sea42 and cruising sister for your reports. I thought I was going to Alaska this summer, but while reading your threads, I somehow ended up booking Norway 😎 I hadn't considered Club Orange. Will they do like the MDR does and ask if I want to sit with someone? I'm usually okay dining alone. As a matter of fact, one of my favorite meals was a curry dog from the Dive-in, combined with a salad from the buffet, and eating it on the deck overlooking a fjord.

Thank you for the information about the Sunnmore Museum (I tried to quote, but think I deleted everything). I love open air museums. How do you pay for the bus? I know Norway likes credit cards - even for such a small amount?

I need to get off these boards! I now have two courtesy holds 😁

I've been flipping a coin between Alaska and Norway for this year. I've been to Norway a couple of times, sailed on the NS once, so wanted to try something different. But I think Norway is once again winning out. OP: Thanks for the report and photos!