Rebel54

I've only traveled with Avalon and I'm with you on not being keen on excursions, however, these tours are included in the price of your cruise and for the most part they are pretty good. I can't think of too many I didn't like. I wish I had passed on the Vietnamese water puppet show but what can you do and I wasn't too excited with the Music machine museum in Germany. We tend to do a combo of going on the provided tour and going off on our own, esp when there's an overnight in that stop. The nice thing is you can decide as you go. No need to choose now ... wing it and do what you want on your vacation.

Avalon has a less "formal" option for dinner which you might like. Same menu, just lighter options. Also, they wave single supplement on some cruises. They also offer room service for each meal if you just want to eat is peace. Avalon cabins are a bit larger than what you will find on Viking, fewer cabins mean less people and their payment options are way more attractive. https://www.avalonwaterways.com/river-cruise-deals/?computed_promotion_ids_sm=276319&sort=computed_itinerary_firstbestdiscountedprice_usd_tl%3Dasc&format=mobile

You are welcome. Happy to help. I've been to Prague a few times and love it. Such a special city. If you are into history, there's an old movie called Operation Daybreak. Set in Prague and when you are there you can go to the church where the end of the movie is set. If you get to the towers in town (Astronomical clock, Charles Bridge, etc) in the first hour they are open you can enter for half price. If you get to the Golden Lane in the castle complex after 5 pm, it's free to walk down it. Before then you have to pay. If you want a great photo tour check out: https://www.johnnyspraguetours.com/ Used him on my last trip and my photos were amazing!

If you really want to explore the castle grounds I would do it on my own and skip the tour. You could spend all day up there and in the surrounding area. If you just want a basic tour, then it's worth going with Avalon. Prague is easily walkable (unless you have physical limitations) and so wonderful to explore on your own. I would get up early to experience the Charles Bridge and Old Town before the crowds. Remember that if you want to explore the Jewish Quarter, it will be closed on Saturday. If you want an amazing food tour while in Prague check out https://www.tasteofprague.com/ Great tour with history and interesting info about the city and it's people. Worth the price. You also get a digital food map and I think their guide book, also digital, with your tour. Honest Guide and Real Prague guides have great videos on the ins and outs of Prague. How to use public transportation, how to avoid being scammed, where to change money, etc.

I can't wait to see this. I was watching a video on YouTube yesterday and the YouTuber was trying to put her foot in one of the shoes....It seemed rather disrespectful.

Facebook rumor mill is that the Avalon Go app seems to be back up and running.

I hope everyone will be ok. How frightening.

River Roll calls are here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/546-all-other-river-cruise-roll-calls/

Congrats. Hope you enjoy it. Avalon is a wonderful company. You probably won't get too many people in here on the same cruise but fear not, you will make friends when you board. River cruisers seem to be a very friendly bunch. You can just submit a reply and add your questions in the thread.

I prefer to book my own flights but I also tend to come in well in advance of my cruise in order to get over jet lag and explore the starting city. I am also a control freak so I prefer to do things myself.

That's crazy. Sounds like a glitch.

I'm also T-Mobile and never had an issue with extra charges or any problems while in Europe. On board the Wifi was fine for calls using it.

I can understand that. I know Avalon has the pre cruise meeting with people that have dietary restrictions. I don't eat pork or seafood so I'm thankful for that. This will be my first trip since changing to my foods due to religious reasons, and I find it a bit awkward as well.

Thankfully I have some good stuff happening between now and then so time will fly :). Final payment due in exactly 2 months 🙂

Finally my cruise is within reach. 5 months to go. First time on the Danube so I'm very excited. Praying August will be kind to the water levels.

I'm always so wore out after all day in ports that I barely make it to dinner 🙂 I know lots of people hung out in the lounge drinking and socializing. Too much for me. I know on Avalon there are board games and the like in the back lounge so some people did that.

Avalon was usually out in the am, back in the PM. Great service.

I'm not sure about your cruise but the one I am on overnights in Vienna. If it's important to you, you might want to forego the second excursion.

This is part of why I love a balcony cabin. I can enjoy the sights in the peace of my room. I love Avalon for the cabins with the beds facing the windows and they have a small table, couch and chair so you can also enjoy coffee or room service if you just need that peace. I get over stimulated with too much energy from other people so it's hard for me to be in social situations all the time. On Avalon there were a nice mix of tables and options for seating so I could be as social or NOT as I wanted to be.

I have a Revolut card that I plan to try out with my travel credit card as my back up. Plan on getting minor amounts of local cash cash at each location for small things and I'll pull from the ATM..

Pretty much. Food, drink, you name it.....as long as it's not illegal 🙂

You do pay for the items in the mini bar. No soft drinks in the 24 hour area. I had them remove the mini bar items and just picked up some preferred drink items when we were in port. L'occitane products are in pump bottles attached to the walls in the shower and at the vanity.

Very thoughtful response. Thank you. The bench in the shower really does not impact you showering at all. That shower is pretty big. I also like that there is a separate toilet from the shower room and more counter space. Traveling with my daughter makes both details a blessing :). I agree on the window situation with the bed in those cabins. Really wish they had thought about that. I honestly never laid in bed and watched the scenery so it didn't bother me much. I'm booked in a RC on the Envision and will have a twin set up and plan to give the bed near the window to my daughter so she can enjoy it. I prefer to sit at the table and enjoy my coffee in the AM. I like that the seating area is not crammed at the end of the bed in the RC.

I'm an Avalon fan myself so I can't really give advice on Viking. I was going to suggest, if you haven't, search for Viking ship tours on YouTube. 🙂

Have you tried calling Viking and asking them to resolve it? They should be able to move you or them to the same cruise.