Best River Cruise to see lots of castles??

[jealdaka]

If you wanted to see lots of castles, which river cruise would you choose? There is so much to choose from and we could use a little help!!

[TravelBugM]

This was exactly my question when deciding on our next river cruise. After speaking with a number of seasoned cruisers, we were advised either the Elbe or the Rhine. I researched the ships sailing each and decided on the Rhine cruise.

[beesKate]

When you cruise the Rhine, you will see a lot of castles (in varying stages of ruin to rebuilt) This website shows how they're dotted along the river http://www.loreley-info.com/eng/rhein-rhine/castles.php

You won't actually go in or visit any of them, but you will enjoy seeing them as you cruise along (along with lots of vineyards and cute towns).

[honumaui]

We got so excited to see out first castle on the Rhine..By the end of the trip.we were castled out...Suggest the Rhine.

[caviargal]

The Rhine Gorge is said to have the greatest concentration of castles. We enjoyed cruising through on AMA's Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle in 2011 and will be seeing it in winter on AmaPrima's Treasures of the Rhine in December.

[WatchHill]

Last fall we did AMA's "appreciation of wine" on the A'Cello from Amsterdam to Basel. The castles were an amazing site; camera with telephoto lens, captured each and every one. We had a fantastic cruise coordinator for this trip. He was on the bridge by day, narrating the entire time through the Gorge, with historic facts and folk lore about the castles. Some are in disrepair, others are being used as boutique hotels, or in various stages of repair. I would love to return on a river cruise that included a day trip to one of these mountain top beauties.

 

Darcy

[Hydrokitty]

The Rhine going North/west from Budapest.......castles, vineyards and the Lorelei....amazing scenery.....and everybody does it so you have a dozen ships to choose from.

[Talisker92]

I agree with everyone- the Rhine. It helps to have a guidebook called "Castles along the Rhine". We took this cruise a few years ago. The story and pictures are on our website. We are always happy to answer any questions.

[TravelBugM]

Talisker92 - Any idea where I can obtain a copy of Castles Along the Rhine? I've searched but can't seem to locate the book.

[Hoyaheel]

Perhaps it's really Castles on the Rhine?

 

http://www.amazon.com/Castles-Rhine-Cologne-descriptions-Englische/dp/3930885379/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379352891&sr=8-1&keywords=castles+on+the+rhine

[suspaul]

We did Uniworld's Castles Along the Rhine and saw lots of castles. Like a previous poster said, at the beginning it's like Wow! By the end it's, oh another castle. It was a great river cruise and very scenic. Uniworld did a wonderful job.

 

 

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[Host Jazzbeau]

One nice thing about doing this itinerary from Amsterdam to Basel is that you have the Rhine Castles sailing day before you get to Heidelburg. Then you get to go through the Heidelburg castle and see what these old buildings were all about.

 

PS - If you can, take the extension to Lucerne. It was wonderful. Zurich was nice too -- be sure you visit the Fraumunster to see the Chagall windows.

[janmcn]

Just did the "Castle Section" on the Rhine yesterday...about 3 hours of total castles on both sides...lovely. (Rudestein to Koblenz is the main area.)Took a tour of Marksburg Castle that was the only one that still is intact and was never bombed or conquered. VERY interesting. It's on the 14-day Budapest to Amsterdam cruise we are on with Viking. It's also called The ABC Cruise..."Another Bloody Castle" by some. I must say we are calling it the CCC cruise...Castles, Cathedrals, and Cobble Stones!

[TravelBugM]

Thanks janmcn. We are actually looking forward to the ABC cruise. It will be a variation from the ABC (insert church/cathedral for the "C") norm.

[Hydrokitty]

Just did the "Castle Section" on the Rhine yesterday...about 3 hours of total castles on both sides...lovely. (Rudestein to Koblenz is the main area.)Took a tour of Marksburg Castle that was the only one that still is intact and was never bombed or conquered. VERY interesting. It's on the 14-day Budapest to Amsterdam cruise we are on with Viking. It's also called The ABC Cruise..."Another Bloody Castle" by some. I must say we are calling it the CCC cruise...Castles, Cathedrals, and Cobble Stones!

 

Our TM in Russia said the same thing about our tour, calling it the ABC tour for "another bloody Cathedral". I think at some point we all feel that way....another bloody castle/cathedral/church.....but we keep going back for more.:D Regarding cobblestones, I think they should be outlawed as charming lethal weapons of mass destruction (ankles, knees, hips, backs, etc.)

[Host Jazzbeau]

YMMV. On our AMA Rhine cruise, we felt the guides neglected the Cathedrals/Churches. They aren't allowed to lecture inside, so they don't take you in.

 

DW and I made a point of using the free time to visit as many churches as we could -- each is different, and as long as they aren't rococo you can get a real idea of how the local church worships in this space. To us, this was much more interesting than getting an idea how the local youth inhabit bars etc...

[Hydrokitty]

YMMV. On our AMA Rhine cruise, we felt the guides neglected the Cathedrals/Churches. They aren't allowed to lecture inside, so they don't take you in.

 

DW and I made a point of using the free time to visit as many churches as we could -- each is different, and as long as they aren't rococo you can get a real idea of how the local church worships in this space. To us, this was much more interesting than getting an idea how the local youth inhabit bars etc...

 

that's unfortunate, and a little surprising because on our Rhine cruise we either had a local guide take us into the churches/cathedrals or our TM did it. I don't recall any church or cathedral where we couldn't go in because they weren't allowed to lecture inside, although I have experienced that in other places. It's really a shame because all kidding aside, the churches and cathedrals are really beautiful and worth seeing.