Roz

@PhD-iva, yes, Coeur de Lion! I get so many compliments when I wear the earrings. People want to know where I bought them. The gift shop on Uniworld. Like you, I only had to add a few euros out of pocket. Well worth it.

I used my OBC on Uniworld to buy 2 really nice (expensive) pairs of handmade earrings.

Sorry to hear that but looks like Viking has a plan.

To @Daisi's point, there's not much down time on a river cruise as opposed to most ocean cruises. The emphasis is on touring and there are few if any "sea days".

If you're really prone to seasickness, best to see a medical professional beforehand for their advice. I do know this - you can't wait until you're seasick to start taking medicine. Also, I think you'll be surprised at how large the ship is and how unaware you'll be most of the time that you're even on the water.

Hi @Travel R. Welcome to river cruising. I've done 3 cruises on Uniworld and have a Tauck cruise booked for this coming December. A good place to start is @Host Jazzbeau's excellent article here. It's one of the stickies at the top of this forum. I have a TA that I use for my river cruises who's different than the TA for my ocean cruises. She's helped me in a lot of ways - airline reservations, pre-cruise tours, trouble shooting, etc. I've received some OBC from her, but on Uniworld there's not much to spend it on because it's pretty much all inclusive. Post any specific questions you have. There's a pretty helpful bunch of people in this forum.

I've been to Eastern Europe but fortunately had no need to use any medical services. I sailed on Uniworld and they had a Romanian doctor on the ship. This was pre-Covid so I don't know if they still do this. I'm guessing there is decent medical care in the big cities such as Belgrade and Budapest.

It may be too cold in October to eat on the outside terrace, especially in the evening.

How many documented deaths on cruises due to Covid have there been since the introduction of vaccines and viable treatments? Not saying it can't happen, but I read CC most days and haven't seen evidence of this.

@islandwoman, it's too bad you didn't do your research before you booked. River cruises are pretty tight quarters, and your expectations for dining aren't realistic.

I've had it happen to me on an ocean cruise. An insurance co. chartered the ship as a reward for their top producing agents. It's common throughout the industry, but definitely disappointing. I'm glad you had time to make other arrangements, and hope your cruise with Viking goes smoothly with no hiccups.

Thank you, @Daisi. Looks like the Tauck website isn't up to date. All I could picture was having to order cheese, crackers, and a Heineken from room service every night. 😁

I have 3 cruises booked over the next 8 months. I've been monitoring Covid requirements and changes. This is from the Tauck website. See the sentence below in purple. Is this true? It's not a deal breaker for me. I just want to be prepared. "For entry to the Netherlands: All American travelers must bring proof of full Covid vaccination. All American travelers must present a negative test result from a NAAT/PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure, or an antigen test taken within 24 hours before departure. All travelers will need to fill in a health declaration, which will be provided by the airline. In the Netherlands, all non-essential shops, venues and restaurants currently close at 5 PM. At hotels, only room service is available after 5 PM. This does not affect meal service on the riverboat or other elements of the shipboard experience. A digital Covid certificate may be required to enter dining venues and some leisure facilities in the Netherlands (not required for take-out or for museum entry). This does not affect any of the included sightseeing on your Tauck itinerary, and the certificate is not required for travel. If you wish to have more options for your free time, your Tauck Directors can assist you with organizing an optional Covid test at your own cost."

I should mention that the service we received on the Rotterdam's 92% capacity cruise was the worst we've experienced on any cruise, except for the room stewards. MDR, bars, Dive In, etc. were awful.

@milling73, thanks for the info on the Hilton in Prague. I'm an HH member, and try to book hotels in the Hilton family using points to help with travel expenses. Sometimes the locations don't work, as in this instance, so it's good to know that ahead of time. I hope you enjoyed Prague and Budapest, and enjoy your cruise!

@sophietucker, that was me that mentioned 92%. It was the Rotterdam's March 20, 2022 sailing to the Southern Caribbean. I got the 92% figure from the Captain, and based on the MDR, show lounge, Lido, BB King's, etc. I thought it was an accurate figure. When I posted this information in a review when I returned I was questioned about it and some went just short of calling me a liar. I stand by that stat.

Back in March my sister and I took our first post-Covid cruises. Both of us flew to Ft. Lauderdale from different cities. In FL there were no restrictions at hotels, restaurants, stores, etc. We didn't wear masks on the ship unless required, such as on the gangway when boarding or embarking. The ship was at 92% capacity. We ate in the Lido and MDR, played trivia and bingo, went to shows, etc. Neither of us contracted Covid for which we were grateful, but we both said the same thing - that ship was safer than our workplaces at home. My sister works in a grocery store in direct contact with the general public, and I work in an office 2 days a week with a majority of co-workers who either don't believe Covid exists or don't believe in vaccines. The passengers on the ship all had to be vaccinated, and all were tested prior to boarding.

Another viewpoint here. On top of the vaccines you've already had, your recent bout with Covid has also given you some natural immunity. New vaccines are set to be available this fall that target the current variants. I would get a booster this fall and go on the cruise in January. My viewpoint is influenced by the fact that last year I had open heart surgery. Time is not unlimited. Enjoy it while you can. I agree with @Hlitner. You can either try to hide from Covid or live the life you want to with reasonable precautions.

Someone on my roll explained that it's Pier 35S, not 358. 😎

Just checked the SF cruise port schedule, and we are at Pier 358. Where the heck is it??? Is it even in SF? The main pier at the cruise terminal is Pier 27. What the heck is going on? I was supposed to meet a friend, but between Fleet Week and this pier change, I'm having my doubts as to whether this is a good idea. Anyone who can provide info, it's greatly appreciated. Here's the link to the port's cruise ship schedule: 2022.pdf (sfport.com)

I can't wait until I'm retired (November!) so I can take advantage of last minute solo fare deals.

There are rarely, if ever, solo deals for balconies, especially in Alaska.

@LAFFNVEGAS, my sister and I had the same conversation a few nights ago about the Rotterdam that we sailed back in March. We were both disappointed with various aspects of the ship, but mostly the cabin and service in the DR. Also the lines, crowding, and wait times at things like the Dive In. We would have been satisfied with an outside cabin vs. paying the extra for the veranda. The beds were narrow (like a gurney!) and too close together. The cabin was crowded and poorly arranged. We were both looking forward to sailing on a new ship and came up disappointed.

I've only done one back-to-back. Never again. It was a disaster. Staff didn't know how to handle us. I had to pack everything up for the cabin move. No communication from the ship as to what to do. This was at Canada Place. Told us not to leave the terminal as it would be hours before we could get back on (no bypass lane for current passengers).

I have 2 HAL cruises booked that require international airfare. FlightEase was worthless with both of them. Not worth the effort and all the associated glitches.