joanne2

I know what you mean! When we had to replace our king we put twins on the frame and use king size sheets but we each have our own blanket!:D

Where's that "like" button? Another vote for separate blankets, our bedding needs have changed so much over the years. My on and off blankets drove DH crazy during the hot flash years. LOL And we did get the idea during a trip to Europe, bought feather beds in Munich.

It's like the TripAdvisor restaurant rankings for a city. McDonalds or Waffle House is often ranked higher than the gourmet places. But the people are ranking them on completely different standards: it's easy for McDonalds to get 5 stars because they almost always deliver exactly what you have come to expect from them; it's very hard for a gourmet restaurant to get 5 stars because you expect perfection.

The OP was considering Avalon and Viking which was why I cited the Travel Leisure article which rated Viking but Avalon didn't make the cut. Of course it has to be invalid because it rates Viking higher than Avalon.

But Tauck was rated #1 so what is your point about McDonalds? The gourmet line got the 5 stars.

Avalon is not in the top 5 of the recent Travel and Leisure awards (see post below for complete info). Viking is #2 and Tauck #1.

Although it seems that there is no longer "typical weather" anywhere, I think that early Oct. is usually a wonderful time to be in Europe. The leaves are changing color and it's harvest time for the grapes. The real hot weather is over and it isn't cold yet.

Very interesting but now I'm waiting for all the Viking haters to denounce the awards as invalid. They didn't accept the Cruise Critic awards either. But I'm happy you had a good Viking cruise and I'm really looking forward to my Viking cruise. It's nice to see that Viking moved up from last year's awards.

I haven't been on a cruise yet but I think I have read on this board that Viking sells a very good map in their gift shop.

I just read your blog and I love it! Looking forward to reading about your cruise. We're on the Viking Sky Aug. 28 Budapest to Amsterdam.

I am looking at a Viking brochure. "Cities of Light Paris to Prague 12 Days/10 guided tours/4 countries." In the first line of description "8 day cruise". Is this somehow misleading? They include Paris and Prague hotel stays but this is clearly indicated. And it is an 8 day cruise. Unless someone would book a cruise after only reading the first few words of the description, I don't see the big problem.

Today, 7/13, the Chicago Tribune ran a very nice review of the Viking Freya Budapest to Nuremberg. I think it can be found at ctc-travel@tribune.com.

Yes we're going Aug 28. Have been hoping someone would post about it this year. It's smaller than the longboats, 150 passengers. Thanks for the reply; at least I know it's out there.

What a beautiful story. I'm crying.

There is a thread down about 10 or so titled something like "Passage to Eastern Europe 6/10-6/26." It's a live day by day from the Rinda. It sounds like a wonderful trip.

Hi all...it is time for us to get excited!! We head to Europe in two weeks and board our cruise a week later. Today we received the following from Viking! We will be sailing the Viking Ingvi on July 25th from Amsterdam for the Rhine Getaway!!

 

After waiting almost 2 years since we booked this cruise, it is starting to feel real!!! I promise to return with a full review upon our return, and thanks to all who shared their thoughts, posted their info (where I lurked and read and read...) and especially those who answered our questions to help us through the planning for this adventure! Almost time to start packing.....

 

Thanks for posting this. We don't leave until Aug. 28 (Viking Sky Budapest to Amsterdam) but your pictures made me feel like we're going very soon. Can't wait until we get ours. Have a great trip.

I have a funny (at least I think it is funny) story about wearing shorts to lunch on a river cruise. One of the female passengers on the cruise asked to sit at the table I was occupying. She then noticed I was wearing shorts and left for another table saying she preferred to eat with a gentleman who cared about his appearance. Again, this was lunch not dinner. I always pride myself on looking nice and had very enjoyable lunch with others who cared more about good conversations than dressing up for lunch.

Roger

Be careful, she may be on this cc board.

I did the math for our upcoming trip and we'll need > €120 in coins for bus driver/tour guide tips! :eek:

 

I would think that the reception desk would have 'some' change, but not THAT much. My plan is to take one for the team and buy a gelato every day using a €20 and then use the change as tips.

 

It's my story and I'm sticking with it!!! :p

I love your plan!!

Would anyone of you doing the 14 day Amsterdam- Budapest or vice versa itinerary be willing to tell me how far in advance you booked, what kind of room booked, and an idea of what you paid. Thanks. I'm looking at possibly doing it next year. Was the 2 for 1 available when yopu booked?

We booked late Jan. for Budapest - Amsterdam on Aug. 28. The Viking Sky is not a longship and has standard and deluxe rooms. We paid approximately $5000 pp for the lowest deluxe. Not many rooms were available at that time. It was "2 for 1" but that really means nothing. We did get a special rate of approximately $1000 pp for air.

Looking forward to your posts.

I'm booked in a solo cabin on the Queen of the Mississippi departing Oct. 25, 2014 from New Orleans - Memphis. I'm really looking forward to this river cruise.

You should spend at least 1 night in Memphis post cruise, eat some Memphis barbeque and hear some blues on Beale St. I suppose most people also go to Graceland but not my thing.

We went Memphis to NO. The ports are lovely, historic, beautiful scenery, friendly people. I forget the town but at one port we could take a shuttle or do a short walk. We were set to do the walk until we saw the very large alligator in the middle of the road; decided to wait for the shuttle. Vicksburg is amazing. We've done the trip twice and both times our tour took us to the Illinois memorial (we are from Chicago) and the stories are fascinating.

Or if you can't easily tell the guide (he/she's talking), tell the people next to you and they will know at count time.

Honestly, people don't scare us. We are perfectly happy with the longships but thank you for the suggestion.

I really do wish there were a "like" button on cruise critic. I would love to cruise with you.

I enjoyed your trip to France and I'm enjoying this one too. Looking forward to the the next days.

How ironic that when we usually hope for no rain during a vacation we are now all doing rain dances. Wishing everyone a wonderful trip, lots of rain in the middle of the night and sunny days.

We're doing the same one August 28. Hope you all have wonderful trips and post afterwards.

Last year on a Celebrity cruise some of our table-mates were frequent cruisers. On the last night when we were saying good bye and exchanging addresses, they had "business cards" which they gave us. They had had them made just for that purpose, name, address, phone #, e-mail, and I think some had a nautical image. I thought it was a great idea, easier than writing it out and no chance of mis-reading someone's handwriting.

We did an Avalon Rhine river cruise 7 years ago (where has the time flown) and loved it! We are now booked with Globus to do the British Isles by bus in Sept. I expect we will receive the same wonderful treatment we had on our river cruise. I hope we enjoy this bus trip as we are considering Italy in 2015. Great customer service Avalon!!!!

We did an Italy tour with Globus last May. It was wonderful and certainly made us consider Avalon for a river trip this year but we finally decided to go with Viking.