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As expected there is a fee for the bumper cars: 5 Euro/2 minutes (and yes, I asked back, it´s really 2 minutes). I´m not onboard but my DH is. steamboats

Seems like you haven´t been prepared well at all ;-). MSC does interporting in Europe - Med and Northern Europe. For the MSC Virtuosa Southampton and Hamburg are the two major embarkation ports. But you might also board in Le Havre.... or any other port on this route. Not too many people embark there. The Carousel Lounge is the only place you pay for entertainment - actually you pay for the cocktail. It used to be Circe du Soleil but now they are doing their own shows there. I heard about the facecheck nightmare in Southampton on this cruise from German cruisers. But we had the same nightmare on AIDAcosma in February. Lines all around two decks. We were more than one hour late for our shore excursion. And they told us to go 15 min prior to the meeting time ashore. No lines were organized onboard. In fact we were lining up one deck above and had to go down the stairs while other people squeezed in from the lower deck and the elevators. Then there were only two or three immigration officers doing the facecheck. So Southampton is a hit and miss regarding the facecheck. steamboats

Aldi Süd and Nord are working together since a while although they are still different chains. But they advertise together and offer the same products (you will find both logos on the product). Back to the Christmas food... Aldi Süd offers Mini Pannetone for 99 ct in their gourment line. They also offer Glühwein next week for 1.79 Euro/Liter. Anyway Edeka has the same Glühwein next week as special offer for 1 Euro. Not that I would buy any as this is totally oversugared. But for those who want to have Glühwein at home... go to a grocery store and buy Glühweingewürz - it´s the spices you need in a tea bag. Then chose your own wine (red or white) and add some orange juice (and peel) and the "tea bag spice". The spice is less bulky and won´t break in your suitcase ;-). The most popular is called GlühFix by Teekanne. You can also mix it your own... 2 pieces of cinnamon 3-4 star anise dried lemon and orange peel 5 cloves Grind all up in a blender. Optional spices are vanilla (dried powder), ginger (dried), cardamom, nutmeg, allspice. Use one teaspoon of the spice mix for one liter. steamboats

Makes sense to have food venues in the neighborhoods - especially the Surfside. So the families can stay there and don´t have to go up to the Windjammer. Indulge Food Hall onboard Norwegian Prima is really great. The only downside there is that there is not enough seating. It´s so popular that you hardly find a table. steamboats

And those invited passenger don´t have to pay for the drinks... "basically in any bar" is totally correct as there are no exclusions unless it´s a third party brand (like the chocolate stuff Jean Philippe or Venchi, Crepes & Gelato and Lavazza Coffee shop). You may get a gin in the new gin bar but maybe there´s only one brand included in the package... the only limit is the price of the drink 8 Euro. I´m pretty sure the bumper cars will have a fee as all activities have a fee on MSC - zip line, bowling, F1 simulator and so on. But it´s the same as for the bars... the currently invited passengers won´t pay anything. The first cruise with paying passengers isn´t until Christmas - after the soccer world cup. BTW, there are no bar menus currently in the app for the christening event. steamboats

Not yet 😉 , but I don´t want to think about any snow... Maybe the tracks are getting to slippery to proceed? @cleobella sorry, no apple strudel can´t be packed. But Stollen comes in different sizes and tastes. This makes a nice present. You may asked whether it is packed sealed. Baumkuchen is also a nice Christmas bakery item. It also comes as small pieces called Baumkuchenspitzen (tree cake tips). All kind of Christmas cookies... all kind of Lebkuchen (ginger bread especially the one of Nuremberg). Although it´s not German but you might find the Italian Pannetone (Christmas cake) in shops. It also comes in different sizes. steamboats

First, you´re a bit early with your questions. The MSC World Europa is to be named on Sunday. So by today the first invited passengers are boarding for the naming ceremony. The Easy+ package basically can be used at any bar. It´s more what you can order must be included in the package. steamboats

Yes, that´s pretty early. I heard in the radio news today that a first market in Bavaria is opening tonight (but not anywhere close to the rivers). The first ones in Munich open next week, Nov 17th. steamboats

I´m commuting for a month now and none of my trains have been on time. Swiss trains are never delayed. Even Italian trains are more on time than German ones. steamboats

Yes, there are currently passport controls especially on the borders to Austria and the Czech Republic. This is basically on trains or river cruise ships due to the raise of illegal immigration. Austria and the Czech Republic joined those efforts and to border controls too. And yes, usually when you need a real visa for the Schengen community you need it for the first place of entry and then you are good for the whole Schengen area. Same for those who are eligiable for the visa waiver program and just get a stamp in their passport at the first place of entry. But there might be some nationalities right now which have to follow different rules (maybe connected with the Ukraine war). steamboats

Coffee with Amaretto is a nice thing too on Christmas Markets. More than 30 years ago I saw they were offering hot chocolate with Amaretto and asked the booth whether I can have a coffee with Amaretto. Got it. The following year it was on the menu. I left Munich just for work. Happy... sort of, except for the pleasures of Deutsche Bahn... after one month I thought I know every excuse for a delayed train. No, they still can surprise me. steamboats

Both Kinderpunsch and Glühwein are pretty high on sugar. Too much for me. Egg nog is another favorite on the markets. The best ones I had were in Bonn and in Munich at the Weihnachtsdorf at the Residenz. And usually I made the "mistake" to go there during lunch time... working in the afternoon was... not that easy... there´s a lot of rum involved ;-). This year I try out "new" markets as I´m not working in Munich anymore. The mean thing is that there is a market right around my new office... I will definitely check out the offerings there. But anyway this one is not close to the river cruise stops. The other one I intend to visit is Nuremberg as I have to change trains there. steamboats

Totally correct! And there are no different kind of checks whether you´ve been on a ship sponsored tour or out on your own. All have their ship´s card checked to enter the port area and the cruise terminal (there might be more than just one check of the ship´s card). All bags are checked with a scanner (like the ones at airport security). As I said, in some ports the ship says you need to carry a photo ID with you. But that doesn´t mean they check it when you reboard. steamboats

Harry disembarked in Portland (I saw him leaving). Some guests also disembarked in Cobh. Not sure whether FDR left in Cobh or Portland. steamboats

@BenCoudon we started out with more than 2,600 pax and still had 1,965 in Le Havre. And yes, we all did have issues with the size of the venues plus we were not able to book any specialty restaurants (basically because some special guests and then they said "invitation only"). We also had problems finding seats in the Indulge Food Hall. Syd´s was stuffed... steamboats

No, usually they only check your ship´s card but not any IDs. Check your daily program they will let you know whether a photo ID is required. But even when they write it in the program the security guys might not check any ID but just the ship´s card. steamboats

The Mozart was no newbuildt and obviously Crystal had paid the massive renovation out of the pocket with no bank loans. steamboats

The basic problem is that the rest of the fleet is more or less owned by banks. And they want their money back they loaned to Crystal. Therefore it might be cheaper to build new ships than to buy those. steamboats

@notamermaid Munich usually gets a tree which has to be cut anyway. So this year it was a tree from a nearby county which had to be cut because it was grown too high and became a risk. @Seminole1975 for Christmas markets snow boots are usually not necessary. We usually don´t have any or much snow for November or December unless you are in the mountains (higher than 1,000 m / 3,000 ft). Water resistant is a good idea as it can rain or we have some slushy, muddy rests of snow on the streets. steamboats

Wow, reading what you all plan to wear for visiting the Christmas markets here in Germany makes me rethink my outfits 😉. Currently we do have 10°C and a bit of rain here in Munich. It´s supposed to get warmer by next week again. October was pretty hot - up to 24°C (more summer than fall). The Christmas tree for the main market here in Munich has just arrived last week. The main Christmas Market does open Nov 21st (more here). But almost every part of the city has it´s own market. There´s a list here (click on "mehr laden" for more markets). Some open already Nov 17th (and are closed on Nov 20th all day - as notamermaid mentioned). My favorites are Schwabinger Weihnachtsmarkt, Weihnachtsdorf in der Residenz or Mittelalter Weihnachtsmarkt (at Wittelsbacher Platz). One market won´t open in 2022 and it´s one of my favorites too, Weihnachtsmarkt am Chinesischen Turm. The Chinesischer Turm (Chinese tower) is under renovation this winter and they also redo water pipes and more. Therefore there is no space for the market. "The" market is the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt which opens Nov 25th (more here). I´ve been to Nuremberg a week ago and saw the first lights already mounted. Regensburg and Passau have great markets too. So for all those of you who are on a Danube river cruise for the markets. steamboats

Sorry, @edinburgher I didn´t see that VMax1700 is from Ireland. Anyway our German ID card is not valid anymore to visiting the UK. Might be a special regulation for Ireland. I travel with pickpocket safe bags. Actually I have a belly bag for the most valuable stuff - my passports and my money and my mobile phone. This has a strap which has a metal cable inside so it can´t be cut. The bucket is hidden. The zipper of the main compartment can be locked. I also have a hand bag which is pickpocket safe (but I don´t use it). I never carry any bags loose on my shoulder but across my body (but usually I do have a backpack). Never ever let your cell phone laying open on a table (like in a cafe or restaurant). Avoid crowds. If you are ever "rounded up" by others (kids or adults) start shouting (I doesn´t matter what you are shouting or in which language - it´s just to attract attention of others and that´s what the pickpockets don´t like). There are "common" tricks like asking you for the way holding a map close to your body or "accidentially" pouring something on you (mustard, ketchup, a drink) and trying to help you. In both cases get away from them and attract the attention of others. In Italy it was pretty common that they came up with a motorcycle and grabbed a bag which was loosely over the shoulder (see above - wear a bag cross body and to the side of the houses not the street). Never ever hang onto your bag trying to safe it. You will only get hurt (and there were cases the person died). Any kind of handbag should be closed with a zipper. Basically use common sense and don´t wear any valuable like jewellry or watches open. I watched pickpockets in Rome. We shouted and they let the wallet go. The poor guy was happy to have his money not stolen. Watch the movie "Innamorato pazzo" from 1981 with Adriano Celentano and Ornella Muti (sorry, I don´t know the English title just the German one, so the original Italian might be more helpful for searching). Adriano Celentano is playing a millionaire who is falling in love with a girl from a family of pickpockets. She thinks he´s homeless. They "adopt" him and teach him "their business". steamboats

Your UK passport card is similar to our German ID card. It´s just that we now can´t use it anymore to travel to the UK but need a passport. Within EU ports I usually leave my passport onboard and have my ID card with me. steamboats

A passport photocopy might proceed things but isn´t a valid ID either. As euro cruiser said most tourists will never encounver a situation where they have to give a prof of identity. But if so you are totally out of luck - meaning you can end up in a police station for hours and miss your ship. steamboats

I´ll forward the kudos 😉 (but first DB has to get me back home). steamboats

Driving license is not a government issued photo ID in Schengen / Europe. I can use my German ID card in France but not my DL. steamboats