ural guy

Jazz- I see that Noble includes airfare from UK. For US passengers, do you know if they offer a credit if you line up your own airfare? Not sure if I remember correctly, but didn't you extend your trip once, flew over to the UK for a quick visit, and then used the included airfare? Either way, looks like it would be a nice trip.

Loriva- Biggest pyramid yet!

dcassetta- Yes to Budapest. We've been there 3 times, as recently as a few weeks back. Mrs and I agree we could spend a week there no problem.

Nothing wrong about liking the 'Pyramids'. My parents had the little ones when I was growing up, and later we bought two when stationed in Germany. Stuff like that off limits now; between the puppy/cats/myself, something is going to catch on fire. The Viking ship looks nice and festive. Glad you have good water levels and are enjoying yourself, you'll be back in sun soon enough. Keep the pics rolling!

AnhaltER- Any idea of how Viking's early spring sailings went in 2022? High water the problem then? Sailings start 8 March in 2023. Bring warm clothes for that one. I thought that there is more to the Viking boat than just diminished size, didn't they do away with propellers and are more like a jet-ski type propulsion system? I remember there being some 'excitement/PR' at the time that made Viking seem to have solved low water due to no dam issue. Unfortunate the end result wasn't better suited for the Elbe.

Queen: Glad that you're enjoying your trip so far. Feels pretty neat to be on the ship with just a few other passengers while you head down the river? I've skipped a tour and stayed on board, imagining it was a private yacht. The crew is typically in a good mood, as they can go about their work while joking, they don't have to be as serious.

On our recent Vantage cruise, they had little plastic gloves to use so you wouldn't be directly touching serving spoons in buffet line. They had pretty good compliance. We were lucky in that we only had 122 passengers with capacity being 176. For the most part it seemed like people just had the normal post flight coughs. Worst experience was in Budapest airport waiting to check-in. Another lady (American) had to comment on everything, loudly, at 0345. Either negative or passive aggressive nonsense, like she was in a bubble and no one else could hear her. While coughing, pondering if they should wear masks. In between berating her 2 young teenagers. Luckily they were not on our flight, but at the adjacent gate, by boarding time 3 of the 5 were coughing. The airport and plane were the only times we wore our N-95 masks, along with the Vienna public transpo system that required them.

Stayed in Budapest an extra night to avoid returning the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. Last afternoon went to Gellert Baths, which was director across from docking spot. Facility is gorgeous, vibe is awful. Selfies and cameras allowed in thermal baths, everyone chatting despite signs not to, not worth it to us. Pretty building though, from cabin. Castle Hill and Parliament. Bohem Art Hotel, amazing location, 3 minute walk from our docking. Leave bags and easy Metro ride to the Zoo. A great end to the trip. The animals are well displayed and enclosures are decent sized. Buildings are all unique designs. This was in one of the animal houses. lots of playgrounds Best exhibit was wallabys with emus together, and you walk along a sidewalk through the fenced in area. We arrived just after they opened, and the critters were curious. Very cool, a great breaks from crowds and cathedrals. The entire zoo is very well landscaped and i think it would be cooler in summer. and when you exit, you can watch the ice skaters. and the castle behind Hero’s Square.

I understand there are low water issues. For the early season Viking sailings, say later March/early April, are there high water issues or other issues? I know nothing is guaranteed, but is it 50/50 you'll sail, or 90 % sail, 10% bus. I also know it can be cold weather, just always been intrigued by the route and would like to have the best chance for sailing. Thanks...

The river confluence was also border between Soviet sphere and west. There were several memorials for those who tried and did not make to the west. I am posting these with no political commentary, and ask others to refrain. Merely trying to show what can be found so close to the ship, accessible via good bike paths. A heart made with barbed wire, recreation of one crafted in 1989 from just removed barbed wire. maybe 10kms up the Morava, an old gun bunker, and more memorials. There were also tank barriers closer to the river. All this was offset with a nice playground with workout equipment. I passed several playgrounds with very nice looking mini gyms, along with bike repair stations. Crossing the river is this neat bridge, with a summer Hapsburg palace a few kms away, Schloss Hof. A huge place, the grounds are highly rated. I wonder how many gems like this could help to spread out the cruise ship crowds. We sailed with numerous couples who were on this section of the Danube for the fifth time, options would be nice. The bridge is part of a peace trail that is being worked on, utilizing the green corridor left by the former border no-go zone. Another view of castle.

Bratislava and breakfast in cabin. Finally have sun after a long strech of rainy days. one of my favorite statues. Partisans seem to have the squarest of jaws. Took an E-bike back up stream to Slovakia’s border with Austria, the Morava River. A few statues along the bike trail, and then 12ish kms out of town is Devin Castle. and a lighthouse.

All prices I saw had a Euro equivalent. If you have tap and pay on your Visa or Mastercard, your life will be easy. 95% of places had it, from Gluhwein vendors to market stalls to subway ticket machines. ALWAYS select local currency, and you're done. A bathroom was our only hurdle when at the markets in Vorosmarty Square. The Burger King bathroom did want 200 HUF's, (.50 USD) which we didn't have. A small souvenir shop changed 1 Euro for us, and the Mrs was ecstatic. We were only there 2 nights, and used tap/pay for everything else. If people have extra time, the zoo is well worth a visit, and you can watch the skaters by Hero's Square afterwards. The zoo stand took tap/pay for our two very good coffee americano's, $1.60 usd equivalent for both. Every place we went, communication was easy, people were friendly, down to Metro attendants showing us the direction to insert ticket to validate. Could have stayed a week. In Czech Republic, we did get Crowns as we were there 9 days. One ATM in Pilsen wasn't in a bank, and it was a roughly $6 fee, which Schwab refunded us. The other withdraws were made from bank ATM, inside the vestibule types, and fees weren't bad.

Correct. Her image is inset into the wall with a domed top, not sure if the pic shows that. And docked 2 ships from us, our first cruise ship from 2014, the Viking Jarl, on right. And enroute to Bratislava, from outside cabin view. Vantage did a great job with Thanksgiving dinner. I cleaned 2 plates worth. Lots of walking in Schonbrunn Palace Gardens to make up for.

I phone, it’s been raining so much the real camera has stayed in cabin.

Jazz- my visit to Mathausen yesterday may have put me in a pessimistic mood, and thinking more than is good for ones self. Never imagined a comment on lack of education in the US about our own history would be ‘ too political’.

We are in Vienna for almost 2 full days, arriving at noon Wednesday and sailing at 2300 today. The concert at the Mozart House is well worth attending. It’s in a small space, seats 50ish maximum, and has great acoustics with a domed ceiling. A string quartet played and my description can’t capture how special it was. Spouse very happy, I surprised her with tickets Performance space is in an old Convent. Mozart played in the same space. Earlier in the day we visited the Opera house. And these are the people who made the chandeliers for this opera house and one in NYC (not 100% sure here). Crunches for days, low carb diet.

Both Christmas markets we visited in Vienna were bustling last night. The stalls seem to have a higher quality of merchandise. Here there were quite a few items I could see getting for presents that people would be honestly happy to have, and not just some souvenir that they could buy anywhere in Europe. Both are very easy to get to by subways without changing lines. We are docked adjacent St Francis church, so really easy access to city center. The one market surrounds St Stephens Cathedral. It was great when the bells are ringing as you stroll along.

Linz market in full swing. The small one close to the river was still busy at 2000, the larger one by the train station, stalls were closing at 1900 as the rain was keeping people inside. I liked the little animatronic displays. The people who went to Salzburg said the markets were expensive. Strange juxtaposition between Santa and the nice lady. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of the Frau Holle animatronic. Will google later to try and figure out the story. I just know that the little girl was crying as her dress was dirty, as a fox/wolf looked very concerned.

Thanks, not sure why that flipping happened. I’m on my phone, tried reloading, still inverted. I was knackered after the bike, but this was the first sun in awhile so I’m glad it paid off.

When I returned to the boat, the Arma Magna was behind us. A Viking ship was rafted to ours and Magna about matched both ships width combined. I’m on the River Splendor, Viking to my left, and AMA dwarfing both. Pretty Passau.

A bit of a different excursion from Passau, I took one of the E bikes up a bicycle trail on the Inn river, round-trip it was about 35 miles. The weather wasn’t great, 42f and some rain, but it was now or not at all. I road over the hydo dam at Inglin, then past Burg Weinstein, and Vornach Abbey The bike route was very good, ranging from smooth asphalt to peastone to single track. At times along the river and other times through fields. A nice break from touring with the audio vox in your ear, rolling along like cattle. In Sankt Florian I had a good lunch of Cordon Blue and boiled potatoes. And someone along the way had a little Lena. I tried to ride the train back, one conductor told me I could pay on the train, but when I boarded that train’s conductor said no, and I got off at next station (no fine). Not sure what happened, but I got about 6kms closer to ship, so that was nice.

Passau- looks like they are putting the final touches on, heavy work is done.

Notamermaid. Correct, boarded in Passau. They will take people to Regensburg for the tour tomorrow by bus and return them to Passau. Spouse and I will stay in Passau and explore a bit. We were told we boarded here for safety, I have no idea, just a passenger at this point. The independent part of our trip is over until we disembark in Budapest, so my thinking part is done! We originally boarded in Lindau, 3 km’s downtown, and saw Viking sliding into town. Good diner, happy to be onboard.

On board now, in Passau. Supposed to board in Regensburg. Pretty drive from Prague, snow along the route. Nice welcome lunch, feels so nice to finally being on ship, using April 2020 credits. Different coffee machines, nice cuppa. Side note: very happy with Raddison Blu in Prague. Our first 6 days in Czech, we were in nice apartments, but morning coffee was Folgers bags we brought, with something easy for breakfast. The Blu had a great spread AND an OJ machine that squeezes the oranges. Staff were super nice. Even with wet cobblestones we were walking 10 miles a day.

No, i was with 10th Mountain Division, just route security, guarding food distribution sites, etc. Silly me, I thought we were there due to famine. Nope, civil war with food deprivation as a weapon. one of many odd moments, our interpreter lived in the same apartment complex as my brother in Arlington, Virginia. State Department reviewed Somalias with student visas, and encouraged them to volunteer to help out. The locals hated the interpreters, they knew the ‘terps were part of the privilege, former ruling class who had the means to leave the country when it suited them. There but by the grace of God/Allah/Buddha go I.