Just back from the Danube!

[Got2Cruise]

We are looking at our first river cruise on Danube. I calculate per diem Avalon $355;AMA $457;Scenic $509;Uniworld $580.

 

So wonder if this is Apples to Apples.

 

 

 

Definitely not apples to apples. For one, Scenic and Uniworld price includes tips. Then, you have to look at included excursions. Usually Avalon has a morning excursion included and the afternoon excursion is optional for additional fee. Then there are drink costs. When we sailed Avalon wine and beer no cost only at dinner. AMA includes wine and beer at both lunch and dinner. I believe Uniworld and Scenic includes all spirits except a few. This is all off the top of my head from learning here at CC.

[pully8]

costs/charges are 1 consideration and it maybe the only factor for some.

we all want/expect different experiences when we buy a travel product. look closely at the details and read widely about how others found the cruise experience.

 

value and quality? it can be subjective. a lot also depends on the cruise director catering staff and even the weather. of course you could try them all?

[acwmom]

Robin,

 

Where are you? Hope you're just busy at work!

 

I'm anxious to hear if you went and what you thought of Cesky! It is currently on my list for our sailing!

 

Chris

 

So sorry, Chris!

 

My pictures/Flickr account are on my computer at work!

 

I just now got around to uploading to Flickr.....so, be prepared for a lot of Cesky pics!

 

(Mondays are always crazy at work)

 

Robin

[acwmom]

Our bus ride from Grein to Cesky took about 2 hours. The tour guide on the bus was fabulous. She grew up on a farm in Austria, and told us all about the farming industry, etc.

 

As someone posted previously in another post, when you cross the border from Austria to the Czech Republic.....you know.....the roads, not as good; the fields, not as green; the buildings and towns, more run down.

 

We were advised to take our passport, just in case. We were stopped by border patrol, but they saw we were a tourist bus, and let us pass on through.

 

What no one from Avalon told us was to be prepared to use Czech currency.....for the restrooms....Fortunately, our tour guide was prepared, and all was well, but, for those NOT traveling with Tauck:-)......be prepared!

 

While our tour guide on the bus was fantastic, our local guide in Cesky was awful. After an hour and fifteen minutes, we had only managed to cross the bridge heading toward the main square. During that time, she showed us where we should shop, and eat, and showed us an art gallery which had been flooded a few years prior. We only heard a short presentation on the castle, and when someone asked if it would be possible to tour the castle, they were pretty much told, "no, you won't have time, there is only one tour in English a day".

 

We left the tour, and ventured out on our own. We did do the castle tower, and explored the exterior of the castle, and then just wandered around town, and took pictures. I'd love to be able to share some history, but we didn't really learn a lot......

 

So, hopefully, you will enjoy the pics!

 

I'll call this a "skywalk" of sorts, linking parts of the castle:

 

 

The walkway on the outer perimeter of the castle:

 

 

The backside of the castle:

 

 

The Castle Tower. There is a moat at the base, where 2 bears live. We didn't catch a glimpse of them.

 

 

I think this was the entrance to the Monastery......unfortunately, the Brewery there was closed.....for a couple of years! (Renovations)

 

 

A typical cobblestone street in Cesky: (I prefer to try to get empty streets:-) )

 

[acwmom]

More cobblestone streets:

 

 

 

A view of part of the castle, from the river:

 

 

The castle tower, from below (I believe it cost $4/person to walk to the top):

 

 

A view of the tower from the streets below:

 

 

The castle tower dungeon:

 

[acwmom]

Views from the top, or near the top, of the tower:

 

First, towards the Monastery:

 

 

Moving to my right:

 

 

 

The castle courtyard:

 

 

The river, and castle gardens in the distance:

 

 

The main pedestrian thoroughfare, with the central plaza to the right of the church:

 

[acwmom]

 

 

 

 

 

[acwmom]

 

 

The main square, taken from our table, where we enjoyed an "original" Budweiser.....sadly, it wasn't any better than the American version:-(

 

 

The clouds cleared as we were leaving, so here are some parting shots of the castle. In the first, you can see the "skywalk" we approached, when we first arrived:

 

 

To the right of the previous picture-it was a huge complex!

 

[stonepebble]

Oh Robin the pictures are wonderful!

 

I know I have it in my notes that tours are given regularly in English at the castle.

I will go off on my own as soon as I get off the bus!

It would be nice if we get the bus guide you got!

 

Would you do it again?...I'm guessing you would go off on your own if you did?

 

We will miss seeing the 3 rivers meet on the approach to Passau by going to Cesky :(

 

Chris

[H2Otstr]

There were people kayaking the day that we were there.

 

[acwmom]

Oh Robin the pictures are wonderful!

 

I know I have it in my notes that tours are given regularly in English at the castle.

I will go off on my own as soon as I get off the bus!

It would be nice if we get the bus guide you got!

 

Would you do it again?...I'm guessing you would go off on your own if you did?

 

We will miss seeing the 3 rivers meet on the approach to Passau by going to Cesky :(

 

Chris

 

Where will you depart from, to travel to Cesky? Our cruise from Linz to Passau was beautiful-we were the only ship on the river. Those pictures are coming up soon. I probably have as many from that cruising as I do from Cesky.

 

Would I go to Cesky again, yes, unless there was an option to go somewhere I hadn't been. Picking between it and Salzburg, however, I would choose Salzburg.....we felt there was more to do there.

 

I will likely have several Cesky pics put on acrylic to hang.

 

JP has some awesome pics of the 3 rivers meeting from the top of the fortress in Passau-perhaps you can go there to see it-IIRC, there is a shuttle bus. The approach to Passau is special, too, though.

 

Robin

[stonepebble]

Where will you depart from, to travel to Cesky? Our cruise from Linz to Passau was beautiful-we were the only ship on the river. Those pictures are coming up soon. I probably have as many from that cruising as I do from Cesky.

 

Would I go to Cesky again, yes, unless there was an option to go somewhere I hadn't been. Picking between it and Salzburg, however, I would choose Salzburg.....we felt there was more to do there.

 

I will likely have several Cesky pics put on acrylic to hang.

 

JP has some awesome pics of the 3 rivers meeting from the top of the fortress in Passau-perhaps you can go there to see it-IIRC, there is a shuttle bus. The approach to Passau is special, too, though.

 

Robin

 

It's a little hard for me to tell where we get off for Cesky. But it clearly states on the Passau description that you will stay on the ship and see where the rivers meet.

The Cesky tour is 10hrs and starts at 8am...we won't be back until 6pm. Not sure how much we'll want to do after that...

 

How long were you in Cesky?

[acwmom]

It's a little hard for me to tell where we get off for Cesky. But it clearly states on the Passau description that you will stay on the ship and see where the rivers meet.

The Cesky tour is 10hrs and starts at 8am...we won't be back until 6pm. Not sure how much we'll want to do after that...

 

How long were you in Cesky?

 

We left at 8:30am, arrived around 10:30. I think we had to meet at 3-3:15pm? Then, it was about 90 minutes to Linz, also a scenic route. Those pics are up next, though I have no idea which towns they are.......

 

We had lunch at a pizzeria-very good-fresh....mainly because my husband was cold, and wanted to get inside, somewhere.....The Katacombs restaurant on the main square didn't open until 5pm. Others ate along the river.

 

A good part of our time was spent at the castle, even without the tour. The rest of the time, we just wandered, and took pictures.

 

Robin

[pully8]

beautiful pictures thank you.

[stonepebble]

We left at 8:30am, arrived around 10:30. I think we had to meet at 3-3:15pm? Then, it was about 90 minutes to Linz, also a scenic route. Those pics are up next, though I have no idea which towns they are.......

 

We had lunch at a pizzeria-very good-fresh....mainly because my husband was cold, and wanted to get inside, somewhere.....The Katacombs restaurant on the main square didn't open until 5pm. Others ate along the river.

 

A good part of our time was spent at the castle, even without the tour. The rest of the time, we just wandered, and took pictures.

 

Robin

 

Thanks Robin. Our info says leaving at 8 and that it's 10 hrs. So, I think the timing will be about the same.

 

I think, based on your advice, once we get off the bus we will just forge off on our own.

 

Chris

[acwmom]

We took what appears to be the "scenic" route......

 

We drove along the Vitava River, which, apparently is widely used in the summer for kayaking and summer camping on its banks.

 

We also passed through Rozmberk nad Vltavou, a small village, most known for its castle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A castle on the outskirts of Linz:

 

[acwmom]

We arrived in Linz at about 4:30-5pm. It had been a long, cool, brisk day, so we both showered before our port talk and dinner.

 

The dinner offerings continued to be limited.....even for the Farewell Dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "baked Alaska" was more like Neapolitan ice cream......left a lot to be desired....

 

[caviargal]

The dinner offerings continued to be limited.....even for the Farewell Dinner.

 

I vividly remember my "cheese platter" desserts on Avalon Panorama. Basically standard slices of swiss and cheddar, and they were rationing those based on the portion size. It became a running joke at our dinner table.

Edited June 8, 2016 by caviargal

[Ritabob]

Thanks for posting the photos. I know how much time that takes.

RB

[jpalbny]

Thanks for posting the photos. I know how much time that takes.

RB

 

Thanks from me too!

 

Some day we must see Cesky...sigh!

[acwmom]

Thanks from me too!

 

Some day we must see Cesky...sigh!

 

Happy to share! It is interesting to compare some of the same destinations.

 

Next up, a morning of cruising, en route to Passau. These pics are, by far, my favorites, as there was no other ship on the river, and the weather was gorgeous, though chilly!

 

Robin

[acwmom]

I'm not nearly as good as JP at taking notes about places, and our cruise director wasn't on deck, so all I can say is.....we're on the Danube, traveling from Linz to Passau

 

 

 

 

 

 

[stonepebble]

So pretty Robin!

 

The water looks like glass...great reflections!!

 

Chris

[acwmom]

]

So pretty Robin!

 

The water looks like glass...great reflections!!

 

Chris

 

I know! It looked more like a lake, than a river.....and the colors, so bright and vibrant!

 

Here's some more:

 

 

 

One of my favorites, with the smoke coming from the cabin's chimney, reflecting in the water:

 

 

 

Biking:

 

 

This was very close to a bridge we passed under, but I wasn't able to find its name:

 

[Got2Cruise]

Can never get tired of river pics. Thanks for posting