xmaser

Vantage apologists are legion. My problem is first with the obscenity of the size and weight of the catalogue to someone who is not sailed with them for a long time. They show no concern for the environment with such wastefulness. Mine go directly into the recycle bin. Out of the several companies who send catalogues, they are by far the worst.

I've done over 17 river cruises with several lines. Vantage is at the bottom of my list after 3 with them

First trip: Please don't pontificate about mobility. I am quite mobile, but suffered an injury affecting that particular trip. The ship was the standard size on the Rhone with an elevator. It needed repair, and we were told day after day it would be taken care of. BS

A different trip: As to diet, the needed item was any non-dairy 'milk'. Easily obtained in the cities of The Netherlands and Belgium! I advised Vantage at the time of booking and then emailed the ship directly. It was confirmed by the ship. When I arrived there was none. The 'chef' advised me daily that he would have some. Never did.

Please note the day after day 'put offs'.

If you choose to gloss with more patronizing generalities, I'll gladly give additional specific examples.

If you love cheap, you'll love Vantage.

Viking, Avalon, and AMA on several trips provided none of these problems.

I just received the most environmentally damaging, wasteful catalog ever from them. For years I've tried to get them to stop sending, but their 'hearing' in their office is a deaf as the ship's staff on my trips when I needed the broken but unrepaired elevator and help in dietary needs. Not one of their fans.

Beware of Vantage!

Unfortunately, the beds do NOT face the windows.

I have done only river cruises (17) and can respond only to those. The last was in April 2019. I have always traveled on the 300 level. Usually my trips were in April and December for the seasonal experiences and to avoid the mid-summer crushes. The prices in December used to be lower, but that seems to have changed.

The crowds of people and ships in ports has become a real disappointment. My last cruise was into Northern Holland, Friesland, and then to Arnhem. It was nice, far fewer people and new places to visit. The docking in Amsterdam is especially disappointing to those who want to walk into the city, distances are farther and time in port is very short compared to past years. The port is obviously trying to be fair to all the ships that want to dock there.

Avalon is by far my favorite line. As a single traveler, their pricing is most attractive to that class of customer. Their bathrooms are almost perfectly designed. I love the beds that face directly toward the windows, a feature that appears only in the most expensive rooms on other lines. I understand that Avalon has them in all the 200 and 300 level rooms.

The Avalon food was good, reminding me of home cooking, usually regional (which I really like), rather than pretentious. AMA had slightly better food, but I think at times pursued the adventure rather than the flavor and comfort of food. Food on Viking was usually good. A few years ago they bought local produce. Sadly I watched fellow travelers turn up their noses at truly fresh and sweet Brussels sprouts and white asparagus. Later Viking trips catered to tastes that ignored fresh veggies. On Vantage and some Viking trips, the food bordered on institutional. 

Wine was mediocre, which was OK for me since I rarely drink on these trips preferring to have a clear head for the art, history, and architecture offered on the day trips. 

Staff on all ships were friendly (especially Avalon and AMA). Viking staff could be a little snooty at times. Vantage staff seemed frustrated by poor corporate decisions.

All lines had good excursions. I took as many as I could to satisfy my travel goals.

Of the four lines, three had very satisfactory embarkation and disembarkation. Avalon's only weakness in my experience was getting on and off. Embarkation was quirky with the hotel to ship requirement. Although they did meet me with an empty full sized bus at the Amsterdam airport. Disembarkation worked much more smoothly.

I've had years of happy satisfied travel on the European rivers. The crowding now means I'll probably bring it to an end.

For a new traveler, there are still many, many good experiences to be had with river cruising.

I among I'm sure many others look forward to your explanation of the difference between a Visa and an ETIAS other than the name. Please share your understanding.

An additional deterrent to US travelers starting in 2020 will be the Visa required of US travelers to enter the EU. The US government insists it is not a Visa. However if it looks, feels, sounds, …. like a Visa why not call it that. I am aware that this requirement is the result of the current US administration's tightening restrictions on travel from the EU to the US.

I know this thread is supposed to glorify the expansion of river touring but we need to speak the truth somewhere.

It's obvious to me that there are problems with selling cruises. One day last week I got four (4) Viking catalogs on the same day. There were a few others from them in the same week. I had the usual trickle from other lines as well.

Everyone I've talked with complains about the rafting and overcrowding. After several years of sailing I feel the same. One of my friends who was on Viking was still angry about Viking's part in it.

Protest strikes in London, the Notre Dam fire, the French Yellow Jackets (democracy is messy as we in the US are experiencing), spreading word about river crowding and river level unpredictability are all reasons why US travelers are finding Europe less attractive.

The cruise lines need to pay more attention to the travel agent observations and less to their own publicity.

I've sailed solo on several river cruise lines. Both AMA and Avalon offer attractive offers for single travelers. For the small difference in price from Vantage there is a great difference in the on board experience. Shop around before your settle on Vantage.

Just assume that you ship will be rafted. The city is on  BOTH sides of the river so you have a 50/50 chance of a view. Also, the ships move around so a view may be blocked in one part of the day and not in another. In my experience AMA docks near the Elizabeth Bridge. I hope you enjoy being with AMA, I did.

Obviously Pollyanna is now working for travel weekly. Have those people thought about anything other than selling product? I'm offended by what I consider obvious huckstering. If you've done 40+ you probably don't really care where you go as long as you are going. For the sentient world, destination counts. I know the cruise companies can't control the weather, but let's not glorify second best. I've sailed repeatedly in the Low Countries in the Spring and love it, but it's not German Christmas Markets.

Sadly, many of you are learning one of the reasons why I refuse to ever use Vantage again. They have little ability (desire?) to deal with any changes or correct problems. In my experience, last minute is their MO. I fully empathize with you.

Someone said they don't advertise. From now on you will get at least 3 mailings weekly and almost daily emails. They are relentless. I consider them reckless in their use of paper.

I just returned from an Avalon last week from Basil to Amsterdam with Mosel. The first days were bussing only with one night hotel stands and then bussing/commuting for three days from Engers/Koblenz. Then the sailing on the Moselle was perfect! The trip from Koblenz to Amsterdam was dicey. The ship slowed to a crawl at several points north of Dusseldorf. This has been the most stressful of all my cruises.

My experience on the ship was almost perfect. I can speak highly of Avalon.

I love river cruising in Europe, having done 15 of them. At the moment my advice, against the desires of the cruise companies, is that anyone contemplating booking a cruise on the Elbe, Danube, and Rhine would be wise to wait and see what the winter brings in terms of rain and snow. If there is a wet winter, all could be much better. If it is dry the cruises will be difficult.

For those of us who had booked far in advance, there was little choice.

I urge you to be wise before you plunk down your currency to book a cruise on those rivers in the near future.

December seems to be less problematic than Autumn. I've recently done the Danube Christmas markets in three different years without problems, including Nuremberg to Budapest. There is of course no certainty of water levels.

If you do Andernach, can you share an easy way to get to 'Maria Loch Abbey' from the dock?

You can safely assume that the vendors with more expensive items will accept credit cards. Not US Discovercard. You should have a small amount of local currency for less expensive items - under 10 Euros is a good standard.

Search for 'All Things Vantage' in this board.

As always, notamermaid is correct - have a small amount of cash (Euros are usually accepted in non-Euro countries but at a costly exchange rate). The more expensive the items, the more likely the stall vendor will accept credit cards. You can assume that shops will take cards. Personally, I don't charge less than US$10. My experience is from 7 Christmas Market cruises in a variety of European countries. I have never had Mastercard refused - certainly other cards should work. Discovercard is not generally accepted in Europe.

Going downstream on the Rhine (Basel to Amsterdam) usually allows more time in docking locations because going downstream is faster than going upstream. If you compare the itineraries carefully you will find some differences. This can help you choose your direction.

Both Viking and AMAwaterways provide very good experiences. AMA service and food this Spring was amazingly good.

Had bad experiences with Vantage on several trips (itinerary deletions without alternates, elevator malfunctions, unable to meet advance request for dietary needs, etc., etc.). You should think long and hard before booking.

Mid December is a good time if you want to shop in the markets, the stalls are not fully picked over. If you search this forum for Christmas Markets (be sure to hunt for markets not market) you will find lots of info from years of experienced travelers.

You can see the backup on the Danube above and below the stranded ships on vesselfinder.com. Amazing to watch.

Sealed box of cookies is not candy (which may contain liquid). I've never had a customs problem with baked goods and candy. Liquids and powders are not the same thing. Taking food out of carry on for TSA is new in the six airports I regularly use. There were no notices or requests made. Just assume that you will be expected to take out edibles now. To simply call it evolution is sophistry.

Because I love to travel I will comply if TSA lets me know what they want.

Since we River Cruisers usually travel by air to our sailings and shop for goodies, I would like to hear others' experiences.

Please note the NEW heightened security screening requirementsUS citizens are benefitting from.

I was surprised by these in April in Minneapolis whensecurity spent several minutes pawing and rubbing a cellophane SEALED tin ofDutch cookies I bought at the shop directly beside my international flightdeparture gate in Schiphol Airport IN a restricted area after I had gone through Dutch security. Obviously it was not in my checked baggage.Fortunately he backed off from pawing around in an opened box of handmadeBelgian truffles. Spekulas are one thing, truffles another. Admittedly, I didnot offer them for separate screening – how was I to know - I wasn't asked.

I would feel much safer if they spent more effort oncontrolling who gets into the employee entrances of airports instead of gropingmy chocolates.

So now, be prepared to take out your baby power, paprika,and chocolates for separate scanning. It is part of the increasing price oftraveling I am still prepared to pay.

From: USA TODAY – posted June 19, 2018

(Italics are my addition)

“The Transportation Security Administration beganscrutinizing containers of powders in fliers' carry-on bags last summer as partof a broader security push, and will soon ask foreign airports that sendflights directly to the U.S. to do the same. The focus is on containers holdingat least 350 milliliters of powder, which is about the size of a can of soda. (350ml is just under 11.9 oz)

TSA is urging passengers to pack larger containers in checkedluggage and remove smaller containers from carry-on bags for separatescreening, similar to small containers of liquids. (Powders include not onlycosmetic and medicinal powders but also spices.)

More recently, travelers noticed more scrutiny of food incarry-on bags this spring at TSA checkpoints. The challenge for securityofficials is to get a good look at objects in sometimes cluttered carry-onbags.

Rather than ban snacks or containers of powders, TSA isasking travelers to remove them from carry-on bags for a better view in theX-ray. The alternative is to risk a hand search of the bag, which slows downthe traveler and the line.

Everyday items, including some foods, books and magazines,powders, and large electronics may result in additional screening.”

From: USA TODAY – posted March 25, 2018

“The Transportation Security Administration might ask(actually they asked nothing and insisted on searching bags) travelers to take food out of their carry-on bags, but officials say it's toget a clearer picture of what's in the bag rather than scrutinizing a snack. They certainly scrutinized my and others cookies. They took jars of mustard that were 1/2 oz too large from another traveler.

Passengers at airports in Newark, N.J.; Atlanta; Los Angelesand San Francisco have noticed unfamiliar requests to remove food from carry-onbags in TSA checkpoint lines, along with customary requests about largerelectronics or smaller containers of liquids.

But TSA replied that there is no new policy governing food,and the request is simply to reduce clutter in bags for X-ray screening.”

Every time I have arrived in CDG from the US I have been REQUIRED to go through security to make a connecting flight within Europe. Be sure to allow time for this. The best thing about CDG is the shops that sell macaroons.