Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

... And what about the Christmas market cruises?

notamermaid

By notamermaid,
in River Cruising

 Share

Recommended Posts

Host Jazzbeau Great Review Rare

Host Jazzbeau

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, sjde said:

Maybe this calls for starting a new thread , but I am unable to private message others on here. When I try,  it says it is disabled, but I don't see any way to change that in my settings?

It is disabled at the system level, because CC feels it would compromise the anonymity we promise.  Of course that leads people to post their email on CC, which is even worse – but then it was your doing...

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Canal archive

Canal archive

Posted
Posted (edited)

There is a theory that children are better at the ‘tiller bar’ of a narrowboat than adults but  it is fairly straight forward and as the speed limit is below 4 miles per hour you soon get the hang of it. I made a rod for my own back in an effort to slow my husband down, as he was driving all over the country and flying all over the world, I organised a narrowboat holiday . Several thousand pounds later and I must admit many many happy hours afloat I do not begrudge a penny of it. 
P.S. in a roundabout way it lead us to river cruising as well.

Edited by Canal archive
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
VJONES125

VJONES125

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, texasmomoftwo said:

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coronavirus-advice-for-foreign-nationals-in-france/

 

France is now requiring a booster for ages 65 and up, and those who had the JandJ/Janssen shot effective December 15.  How will the river cruises handle this? 

Unbelievable!  Every day something new is added!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
aeraen

aeraen

Posted
Posted

Thank you,  notamermaid  and everyone else, for keeping us up on what is going on in Germany.   Our Dec 16 Avalon cruise (CHRISTMASTIME IN ALSACE & GERMANY) is still a go, per Avalon.  One or two markets are closed, but Avalon is offering free excursions to make up for them, so we are still going.  

We're returning to the US from Zurich, so signed up and received the Switzerland Covid certification, so that is printed and on our phones.  Last info I found says this is accepted everywhere in the EU, but that info is from August and I assume things have changed.  I'm pretty sure we are as prepared as we can be, health-wise, but rules for entry into each country seem to have changed drastically in just the past few days.  Does anyone know if the Swiss certificate will still cover us in Germany and France?  We are getting covid tests within 24 hrs of our outbound flights, but they will be "outdated" by the time we land in Germany.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BQEC

BQEC

Posted
Posted

As of now, the Swiss Covid certificate is being honored in the EU. Avalon should provide assistance with testing if it is required to transition into a country which requires covid testing to enter during your cruise. They should also assist with scheduling the covid test to fly back to the US. You need a negative result to board your plane. That is now required within one day. (not 24 hours yet)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
notamermaid Excellent Advice! Rare

notamermaid

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I think you have already answered all the questions aeraen asked, @BQEC. Perhaps this is of further assistance:

https://foph-coronavirus.ch/certificate/where-can-the-covid-certificate-be-used/

 

@aeraen The Rhine area is not a fun, easy-going place to be right now, but you sound well prepared and ready to accept any short term changes. I am sure AvalonWaterways will look after you well and you will find magic and cheer sailing "my" river and visiting towns and villages.

 

notamermaid

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
aeraen

aeraen

Posted
Posted

Thank you, BQEC and notamermaid. You've both helped calm the rough waters of my mind.  We are experienced travelers. I've worked in airlines/travel most of my life and my spouse is a nurse, so we are usually prepared for anything (and have all the PPE we can pack.) But the policies are changing so rapidly it's like roller skating on ball bearings during an earthquake! 

 

Back in the summer, when we booked all of this, we added an extra day in Zurich, so testing on the ship won't help us, there,  but the Zurich airport is offering covid tests (for $$$) and we've already signed up.  

 

Most of all, I'm glad to hear that the Swiss certificate will likely be accepted.  I would hate to plan all of this and end up looking at the fun from the outside, like a kid at a candy store window. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
BQEC

BQEC

Posted
Posted

Aeraen, you are most welcome. For the return to the US , I believe that the US will accept Covid tests which are proctored on the internet. Test kits are purchased and taken with you for your use 1 day prior to departure. Your Zurich hotel may also be able to provide assistance at a more reasonable price. I understand that the airports are expensive. Also the antigen is acceptable and usually less expensive then the PCR. Hope that this is helpful. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
steamboats Great Review Rare

steamboats

Posted
Posted

Good news from Vienna... the markets are supposed to open on Monday (Dec 13th). The food and Glühwein stalls might still be closed or you can only have it for take away.

 

In other Austrian cities it depends on the local lockdown rules.

 

steamboats

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
sjde

sjde

Posted
Posted

Our friends have returned from their 10 nt AMA Rhine Christmas market cruise. Only the Rudesheim market was closed but after they left , Speyer was going to be closing. Cologne's I think was the only really busy one. They chose to go to Colmar (Riquewihr was another option) rather than Heidelberg because for that one they wouldve had to take a Covid test).

 

 

The ship was giving antigen tests (not sure of the cost, it said "minimal') but since it has to be within 24 hours and they were staying on, they were told about a place they could go to have it done.

The antigen test is quicker than the PCR test but not nearly as accurate if you are asymptomatic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BQEC

BQEC

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, sjde said:

Our friends have returned from their 10 nt AMA Rhine Christmas market cruise. Only the Rudesheim market was closed but after they left , Speyer was going to be closing. Cologne's I think was the only really busy one. They chose to go to Colmar (Riquewihr was another option) rather than Heidelberg because for that one they wouldve had to take a Covid test).

 

 

The ship was giving antigen tests (not sure of the cost, it said "minimal') but since it has to be within 24 hours and they were staying on, they were told about a place they could go to have it done.

The antigen test is quicker than the PCR test but not nearly as accurate if you are asymptomatic.

Hi, sjde,

We are booked on the Rhine over the holiday with a 2 day pre stay in Amsterdam, AMA Captivating Rhine 7 days, disembark Basel, 2 days Lucerne, 2 days Zurich and back to the USA. I am trying to get a sense about the itinerary changes and general experience. As you know, we have to jump through a lot of hoops, paperwork, tests, $ for the tests. And the unknown factor of turning up positive asymptomatic ... quarantine. Did you get a sense from your friends if it was all worth it? Thanks for any insight which you can provide. I realize that this is a personal decision. Thanks again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...
jrcooper

jrcooper

Posted
Posted

We returned from the Christmas Market Cruise on the Rhine (Dec.7-14) on the AmaLucia. As with most of you, we considered cancelling or postponing the cruise until next year, but decided to go ahead and go. I am really glad we did! We compared the pros and cons of "to go or not to go", and the "to go's" won. Since this was my first river cruise, I can't compare experiences on prior cruises, however. For those of you that have upcoming cruises here are some things that might help you a little bit.

1. Masks are worn everywhere and these must be either the surgical type, KN95, or N95 masks-no cloth-except when you are eating or drinking something. That is on the ship, outside on tours, on excursions, in the markets, etc. They are very strict about enforcing this, and if you forget yours when you leave your cabin, they will hand you one. I know because we forgot ours several times!

2. All Christmas markets had one entrance ,and you were required to show your Swiss COVID certificate as well as a passport to enter. Even some vendors asked to see it before serving you. Restaurants and shops required it as well. The Swiss certificate was excepted in Germany and France, as well.

3. All Christmas markets were open on our cruise except Rudesheim- which we knew was closed before we left. The Heidelburg market was closed, and if you wanted to take the tour to Heidelburg, you were required to take a COVID test before going. We went to Speyer instead, and at that time, the Speyer market was open.

4. Most markets were not too crowded, which we were happy to see, except for the train market in Zurich and the markets in Cologne. They were both very crowded!

5. One word of advice: be sure and take walking shoes that have a good, sturdy, heel support. I took warm, fur lined snow bootie type shoes, and found that they were really warm, but did not provide enough support on the uneven, cobblestone streets, resulting in back and hip pain, so I ended up buying a better pair of shoes while in Lucerne.

6. While we were on the cruise, the US changed the COVID test requirement from 48 hrs. before your flight home to the 24hr. time frame before your departure flight. AMA quickly changed their testing procedures that are usually done in Cologne to bringing a testing crew onboard ship when we arrived in Amsterdam in order to meet the new requirements. We got our results back quickly, and everyone onboard the ship passed with flying colors!

As I said at the beginning, we were glad we decided to go ahead and take this trip. We had a fabulous time, and the weather cooperated with us. We had a mixture of weather- some cold temperatures, a little rain, sunshine, snow showers, and a drenching rain in Cologne, but very little wind which made it all bearable!

 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail on Sun Princess®
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...