Hydrokitty

Hello Thyme2Cruise - Saw you will be leaving Nov sailing for the Christmas Markets with Vantage....please don't buy all the stuff at the Markets, leave some things for us - we leave on the following trip (Dec 7th) on the same trip. Kinda looking forward to some snow, better photos. Have fun. Willard

My dear Willard: have you not learned after all these years that you never get between a lady and her shopping mission! :D Seriously, I've toyed with the Christmas markets but I really don't like the cold that much and wonder if it's really worth it.....waiting to hear from you guys. Judy

Hi LInda we are doing the same and the same pre trip HELP .Gmwg@juno.com

Surprised you're having trouble finding info on this trip on cc...We took this trip in late April' date=' 2010 on the Odyssey and it was wonderful.

Weather: NB: I was there in late April/early May.

Brussels and other Belgian ports were very comfortable for touring in capris and short sleeved shirts. Generally I would start out with a short sleeve tee under a long sleeved blouse.

Holland ports: the further north we went the colder it got! When we were at the Zuider Zee museum it was rainy, damp and cold, but the museum is a wonderful place so layer and go. The day we went to the Keuk. was sunny, bright, clear and freezing! But the tulips and grounds just take your breath away. Amsterdam: pouring rain and clammy cold.

Brussels: you will have a tour of the city that takes you pretty much everywhere and an optional tour to Ghent, which is worthwhile. The hotel is well located and across from a huge indoor mall, behind which is a street filled with restaurants, all of which have good food and big city prices! I tell everyone make sure you try Kriek in Belgium, it's cherry beer and it's fantastic and you can only get it in Belgium. Don't buy chocolate in Brussels because you will have to carry it with you for the rest of the trip and you'll be able to buy it in Antwerp or Brugges just as easily.

Odyssey: Very comfortable and clean with a fantastic crew. If you run into a guy names Elvis, tell him the "duck lady" says Hi! Breakfast is buffet with hot and cold cereals, many types of bread, meats and cheese, broiled tomatoes if you're lucky, pastry and eggs, bacon, etc. with a cooked to order station. They also usually have a breakfast specialty which is ordered off the menu. Lunch is also buffet with all kinds of sandwich and salad makings, soup and a hot meal selection. Dinner is always sit down with salad, soup, choice of 3 entrees (+ vegetarian which are stupendous) and dessert. You get iced tea and coffee but have to pay extra for soda, beer and wine. If you like wine you can buy a bottle and they will put your room on it and bring it out the next night or whenever you want it. All meals are open seating. Any other questions feel free to contact me: [email']chydro564@yahoo.com[/email].

Linda: sorry it took so long to get back, but we've been a little busy with a nasty houseguest named Irene! I wouldn't worry about finding someone on roll call that is also on your trip....I've never met anyone on cruise critic that's posted for the same trip I'm on. Believe me, you will not be the only ones on board and you will meet plenty of nice people! :D

Kathy: business class is better on every airline!! We especially like Lufthansa, the seats lie flat and you really can sleep. :D

This appears to be the fashion thread for rain gear. We were at Fred Meyer last night and they had a Coleman hooded rain coat with pants for $9.99. Waterproof. Anything else and you're paying for the brand and any bells and whistles like a plethora of pockets and zippers.

I'm not familiar with the brand, but if you're buying it in Alaska, it's probably more like what you really need. Only thing I disagree with is the plethora of pockets and zippers....being of the female persuasion, I love my pockets:D

seriously, it was great having a rain jacket that would enable me to keep my wallet and camera dry in a zippered pocket because the only day it rained it rained a lot!

I don't know how I forgot these two items, because I had to buy them in Haines: a hat that covers your ears (like a knit cap) and a pair of gloves.

We were there in June and had hardly any rain at all, but I understand we were very lucky. Cousins went with us and had rainpants, I did not and did not miss them. I think some of what you need to bring depends on the types of excursions you book. ie: they went on a helicopter to the glacier. We went on a boat and city tour. Only day it rained was Ketchikan and it wasn't bad enough to wear rain pants. I had a hooded rain jacket that was more than sufficient and DH had a collapsable umbrella.

My hooded sweatshirt and my llbean fleece vest, and my llbean hooded rainjacket with so many wonderful pockets for my camera, wallet, etc.:D

Baybear, I just realized you will be going in the summer, and the opera house tours are not just 1 PM, but apparently every hour from 10 to 4. Also, since you seem to be classical music fans, try to get to the Haus Der Musik (House of Music) which is sort-of a high tech, hands-on musical experience including exhibits on all the heavyweight composers from Mozart to Mahler. You will also get a chance to humiliate yourself when you use the virtual baton to "conduct" the Vienna Philharmonic. If you screw up, the musicians laugh at you! Only in Vienna!...

As will all the people watching who don't have the stomach to try it themselves!! :D:D

Wonderful experience for the classical music lover as was our private concert at the Kursalon. Don't know if it's offered on your cruise, but if it is, don't miss it!

The boats dock near a large road bridge over the river . Walk along the river and up the stairs to the pedestrian walkway beneath this road bridge, turn left and head approx 500m along the footpath to the nearest Metro station.

 

The Metro will take you most anywhere including Schonnbrun.

 

The railway is very shallow and just below the surface of the roadway. The "to' platform is accessed from the footpath on one side of the roadway, and the "from" platform from the footpath on the other side of the roadway . (i:e: You cannot interchange between the two platforms underground. )

 

Sights not to be missed in Vienna - Schonnbrun Palace, The famous Prater Amusement Park with its historic Ferris wheel as seen in the film The Third Man, and the Golden Hall of the Musikverein (where the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra broadcasts their annual New Years Day Concert to the world on January 1 each year .) If you are into horses also the Lipenzaner horses and Spanish Riding School .

I so wanted to ride on that ferris wheel, but there just wasn't enough time!

Linda-We also had our 1st taste of Kriek (correct spelling in case you're looking for it) on our Holland and Belgium trip in April. We ate at a little restaurant on the square in Brussels and the food and the Kriek were delicious; I've never liked beer so it was actually my 1st beer and my 1st Kriek. My husband thought it was more of a ladies drink but he suffered through one. We looked for it when we got home and you could buy it a specialty wine and beer shop but not in the local grocery...Valerie :)

Thanks for the correction, Valerie. I was spelling it phonetically! I found it in a specialty wine shop here on LI, but it wasn't even close to what I had in Belgium. Do you have a brand name I could look for? MY DH wouldn't touch beer, but of the two other women with us, one of them and I drank it everywhere we could!

Docks are not in downtown Vienna but we were provided with a shuttle that made the round trips between ship and city every 30-45 minutes. bus ride was about 15-20 minutes as I recall, I don't think you could really walk it. Once in the city, it's very walkable. We walked from the opera house(where the shuttle stop was) to the Stadtpark where the gold statue of Strauss is. It was a lovely walk and the park is beautiful. There are many things to see and do in Vienna....best thing would be to 1: research what's there on line and make a list of what you want to see and do; and 2: ask your tour manager how to do and see them. One of the things I hope you're offered is the Schonbrunn Palace, which I thought was even prettier than Versailles and I know some people in our group who had been to Vienna and Schonbrunn before booked their own trip to the Black Forest and said it was wonderful.

This helped quite a bit. Thank you so much for the information. I am now more excited about going on my river cruise, if that was possible, then I was before. Thanks for the restaurant suggestion...cherry flavored beer? Sounds good even though I'm not a beer drinker. I love wine though.:D. I will definitely make a note about Ghent. I will be doing that for sure. I will be traveling alone so hopefully I will meet someone that I can eat with at least...:)

 

Are you sure you don't want to join me?..;)

 

Thanks again,

Linda

I would love to, unfortunately we just came back from Alaska, are going to Hawaii in Jan., Russia in August and PAnama Canal in April 2012!

I am not a beer lover either and like you, prefer wine. However, Krick is the most wonderful beer! Apparently it's only available in the spring when the fruit is fresh and can be made with cherries or strawberries or pretty much whatever sweet fruits are available. It's served in a tulip shaped glass and if you ask nicely if you can buy the glass, most places will give it to you! As for traveling alone on a river cruise, have no worries! First of all, you're taking the pre-trip extension so you will be spending 3-4 days with people before getting on the ship....that means you'll already know some people when you board. Secondly, it's open seating so when you walk into the dining room look for a table with an empty seat and ask if you might join them. Unless they're total clods (and very few of them travel) they will invite you to sit. You'll have your name tag on which will have your name and home state, and I recommend wearing it to meals every day until you know enough people to feel comfortable not wearing it or if you're like me and terrible with names, it's a wonderful way to seem like you remember everyone:D Dining room tip: if you see a seat with a napkin over the back of the chair that means it's being held for someone specific, otherwise, you are safe to assume the seat is available. We are a group of four and the first one to get an open table would put napkins on the backs of three chairs so we could sit together. Most of the tables are set for 4-8 people with a few more and a few less. Are you going to the Floriade? If you are, I might have to reconsider joining you!:)

The port side makes it easier to watch each docking if that interests you. I think the scenery is about the same while sailing.

 

When at Hubbard, College Fjord or Glacier Bay please go to the front of the ship somewhere and stay there until they begin to turn the ship. Then go to the side with the view. Spend as much time looking at the glaciers as you can. Bundle up if needed. The longer you watch the more you see.

 

The back of the ship for port sail always is always nice.

How true and the rewards can be spectacular!! I was focusing on Marjorie Glacier because it had 3 spires that looked very "artsy" and just as I started to press the shutter I heard a loud crack and a huge chunk fell off. Needless to say that's the picture I hung on the wall!! If you're southbound you'll have to get up early for College fjord and that's where your balcony will pay for itself....I was in my jammies and taking wonderful photos of one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. I just wish I had a map of all the glaciers so I could put their names to the pictures, it's hard to match them up using google and my pix!:D

Did southbound in June....I'm with the port side crowd, although if you're on HAL avoid cabin 158 due to constant vibration.

Hi,

 

I booked my first River cruise with Vantage River Odyssey Waterways of Holland/Belgium, Tulips...... 4/1/12. I also booked a pre-cruise extension in Brussels. I've been searching high and low on CC for any information about this kind of itininary. Not finding anything. Can anyone give me any information about the ship and the itininary? Any suggestions on what to do in Brussels? Apparently Vantage will keep me busy on and off ship :).

 

I am a cruiser..done over 20 cruises. This will be my first river and I'm very much looking forward to it. I always wanted to do one.

 

Thanks!

Linda

Hi Linda: We did our Holland/Belgium tulips in 4/10 and loved every minute of it, even when it was raining at the Zuider Zee open air museum! We also did the Brussels extension and I believe Vantage has added a day to it since we only stayed 2 nights and I believe you will have 3. Brussels is amazing! We had an included morning tour of the city and then an afternoon optional tour of Ghent. As a result we didn't get much free time in Brussels and we all complained about that, which I think is why they added an extra day. There is a huge indoor mall across the street from the hotel (Intercontinental I think) but behind the mall is a street with one restaurant after the other and all of them were fantastic. Be sure to try Krick, which is only available in Belgium and is cherry flavored beer. It was amazing and we had it every time we stopped in Belgium! Museums are closed on Mondays. Ghent optional was worth it, and you should get to spend more time there than we did. Bus to Amsterdam was very comfortable ride with a delightful lunch stop.Hope this helps.:D

WONDERFUL!!!!! I love raccoons and the one of him sticking his tongue out at you is priceless!!! Don't know what happened to your camera in Juneau (have to read rest when I have more time) but you've taken marvelous pictures and I'm SOOOOOOO jealous!!!:D

Oh No! I finally convinced myself that travelling "light" was the way to go on our River cruise in Nov. I read a number of articles about packing for winter in Europe. I convinced myself that this was different than an ocean cruise. And now this thread.

 

We always clean up for dinner. Wash, change our tops,shower if we have time, etc.If the weather is hot we know we will need a lot more clothes.After all no shorts in the Dining Room. And 94 degree temps are different than in the 40s.

 

But this River Cruise has me a little befuddled. We have 3 days in Paris precruise and 2 additional days in Amsterdam after we get off the boat. This means dragging suitcases through airports and train stations. I thought that what we wear the night before would do for touring the next day. Otherwise 14 days x 2 outfits = 28 outfits. Yikes! I was only going to take 3 pair of cords and 1 or 2 pair of knit jeans including what I wear on the plane. Sweaters can be worn multiple times.

 

I would not want to be offensive to anyone and to the best of my knowledge we never have been. Should I rethink the amount of clothes we are taking? Those of you that have been on River Cruises this time of year what has been your experience and what is your best advice.

 

Thanks so Much!

Carol

Carol: You're going to be fine. Of course, we all "freshen" up for dinner, but to change clothes isn't necessary. The only trip I ever showered and changed before dinner for was Egypt, because camels smell like cattle and there was sand in everything. Weather won't be sweltering so you won't be soaking with sweat. Trust me, I've done this several times on river cruises, what you mentioned will be fine.:D

Quote: Someone above said that most people on river cruises dress in the morning and keep the same outfit on till bedtime.....I think that's pretty accurate!

 

Ugh’ fancy sitting next to someone at dinner who hasn’t changed, they must whiff a bit after having had the same clothes on all day, I guess some people just get used to there own smell.

It makes me wonder if these people actually wash for dinner, even if they do wearing the same clothes would soon negate that.

 

River cruising sounds a bit more relaxed or free and easy, but one should dress a little more formal (or smarter) in the evening, if only in respect to fellow passengers who have taken the effort to shower and dress in a clean shirt & slacks/or Blouse & skirt etc, and to the crew who have presented their dinner as professionally as they can.

 

It doesn’t cost much to be smart on a more casual holiday, just the time to wash and change, there is a very big difference between casual, and scruffy, Do these people also wear working trousers (Jeans) and trainers in the evening? I wonder.

 

I'll bet the Captain and crew change their shirts for dinner, and I wonder what they think of us when they smell someone whiffing of daily B.O while bending over them to serve the food?

So how many times a day do you shower and change your clothes at home? :D I think what we're saying is that most people where the same clothes to dinner that we wore to breakfast.....I'm assuming everyone showers before breakfast...I am a retired professional person who would shower and dress for business every day and many days would wear the same clothes from morning commute to evening commute and I don't think I ever offended anyone. We "freshen up" before dinner, but with the packing restrictions in the US, we don't bring anything we don't absolutely need.

Don't know if it was mentioned, but a night light for the midnight head trip - don't want to break a toe on vacation. Also, during our trip this spring we noticed that all the French wore scarfs [everyone - maybe even some statues].

Night light lives in my suitcase! For the reasons you mentioned, I never leave home without one....sometimes we don't need it, but when there isn't any light, it's very good to be able to find the bathroom in the middle of the night:D:D

Check in the shoe dept. where the shoe polish is.

Thank you both....I'm heading out there tomorrow and will look for it and buy it! :)

Great idea about water proofing spray.....I never heard of that, but I'll look for it next time I'm in Wal-Mart.

I bought a strap for my water bottle that makes carrying it very convenient because it can hang from my shoulder or go over my head. It keeps my hands free and the case absorbs any condensation from the bottle. It holds just about every size of personal water bottle except the really big ones.

we did Budapest to Amsterdam end of Sept. and the weather was beautiful. I didn't bring a winter coat but I did bring a couple of sweaters and a light jacket. I would wear jeans with a tee shirt, covered by a sweater and my pull over rain jacket that acted as a wind breaker. Then as the day progressed, I would peel off layers. I think you'll find everyone who posts on these boards will tell you layers, layers, layers! It may have been unseasonably warm the year we went, 2008, but we even spent one day on the river in shorts. At night it was cool, but the dining room and the lounge are inside so we were comfortable.

You know, I never really thought about it...when it rained I wore whatever shoes I was wearing: hiking boots if we were walking on cobblestones or walking shoes if we weren't. I brought a rain jacket with a hood and zippered pouches for my camera and purse, but never really gave much thought to shoes. I will say this: we did have a few rainy days and I don't ever recall wet shoes being a problem.:o

May I make a suggestion? We purchased walking shoes that were black leather. No one realized we were wearing our walkers at dinner. My husband has even been known to wear his SAS black walkers with a tuxedo on formal nights on an ocean cruise.

My kind of people!!!!:D

I usually wear white walking shoes and have to pack a pair of black shoes for dinner when we are cruising. Since I have big feet :p they take up a lot of room. We'll be on a Tulip cruise (Avalon) in April and a Danube (Viking) in September next year. Can I get away with just my white shoes? Also, can I leave my sports jacket and tie at home? We're renting a car with another couple to drive a bit around Germany at the end of our Danube cruise and will have to pack tightly.

I would answer YES to both questions, but then i don't much care what other people think of the way I'm dressed! :p Being a short female, I have no problem bringing a pair of soft black flats that fold in half, but I can see your dilemma. My husband has black walking shoes that he uses for travel because they can double for dinner....is that a feasible option for you? As to the sports jacket and tie, leave 'em home. River cruising is not that fancy. Someone above said that most people on river cruises dress in the morning and keep the same outfit on till bedtime.....I think that's pretty accurate! :D

You will love this trip! I took it from Budapest to Amsterdam two years ago in late Sept. Weather was wonderful. I would bring the following items, the amounts will depend on how long your cruise is, although I would imagine it's about 15 days. 3 pairs of jeans + 1 pair of black jeans or slacks for the two "formal" nights. 2-3 pairs of cut-offs (we called them pedal pushers in my day!) 1 pair of shorts for that one day when the weather was just glorious and we were on the ship all day. I would bring a jacket, 2-3 sweaters + one dressy type top (I bring a beaded sweater to wear with the black jeans. 4-6 tops with a mix of long, middle and short sleeves. GOOD walking shoes, a rain jacket and enough underwear and socks to get you through 7 days. On the 6th day you leave the dirty underwear, pajamas and socks in the plastic bag on your bed and let the ship do laundry for you. I've never had to wait over-night for my laundry to be returned, but they don't guarantee same day service. You don't say who you're traveling with but if it's one of the big companies (GCT, Uniworld, Viking, Vantage, etc.) you will not need a hair dryer or bathroom amenities like shampoo, conditioner, tissues, etc. Bring sun glasses, an extra memory card for the camera and a battery charger for the camera! About the "formal" nights.....this would be the welcome dinner and the farewell dinner. Unless you're eating at the captain's table, which is by invitation, you will do fine with black jeans and a fancier top. Virtually nobody had a suit or dress at any of these events and if you have room in your suitcase throw in a pair of black flats that you can stick on instead of your walking shoes. I usually bring an old pair, wear them twice and then throw them out to make room for new stuff that I buy. :)