Budapest to Prague 5/17/09 -- some questions

[akai]

We are booked on the MS Amadeus Royal through Gate1 Travel. So far so good, anyone with experience with Gate1? Anyone on this trip? We are arriving in Budapest a couple days early, and have booked our own hotel on the Buda side near Castle Hill area. We are open to suggestions for fun things to do in Budapest, we have 1/2 day Friday and all day Saturday and 1/2 day Sunday before the boat embarks. The trip also includes transport and 2 days in Prague at the Le Palais Hotel. Anyone stayed there? It is advertised as a 5 star hotel. We also booked a couple more days at another hotel near the Charles Bridge. Again, we are open to suggestions for fun and interesting things to do in Prague.

[akai]

After further reading on this board and elsewhere it turns out that our trip with Gate 1 http://www.gate1travel.com/european-river-cruise/danube-royal-11dpbudnuer092.aspx is the same cruise as this one from Luftner http://www.lueftner-cruises.at/xxl/en/kreuzfahrten/_id/1034217/_show/beschreibung/index.html . After speaking with Gate 1 we learned that the only difference is that Luftner may have some additional optional tours etc. not offered by Gate 1. But since we have all the available Gate 1 tours included in our package -- and we are staying extra nights at both Budapest and Prague, we feel like our trip is shaping up to be very memorable. Of course we will post our experience when we return. So far Gate 1 has been very responsive, refunding us for transfers and an optional tour that our travel agent booked by mistake. The ship is the MS Royal Amadeus, apparently one of Luftner's fleet. They have a nice virtual tour on their site, and the cabins look fine. Wine is included at dinner, but it seems that there is no free wireless available...

[steamboats]

akai,

 

yes, the MS AMADEUS ROYAL is owned and operated by the Austrian cruise company Lueftner Cruises. Gate 1 does not own or operate own cruise ships but is chartering them partially or full.

 

Make a search for Gate 1 and you´ll find a couple of reviews from last year. Lueftner is a good and reliable company. The ships are also very good.

 

I was surprised to hear that Gate 1 is back into the cruise business. Last thing we all heard was that Gate 1 has cancelled all river cruises. Obviously there were some problems. Seems like they are now solved.

 

steamboats

[akai]

Thanks Steamboats, it is good to hear that Lueftner is a good and reliable company. As I said, will post a review of Gate 1 and the cruise when we get back.