travelin_nat

We just sailed with Viking and absolutely loved them. We plan to do the Danube next. Our cruise director recommended Nuremberg to Budapest vs the other direction due to the beautiful sight of all the lights as you sail in to Budapest in the evening. You don't get the same sight going the opposite direction.

Thanks! Couldn't remember what others had posted!

 

 

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I say that with a caveat. We felt we had too little time in the Black Forrest. We shared that with the concierge and she said they contemplated taking a shorter drive to have more time up there. So if you take the same route, there's a cool thatched roof house out the right side of the bus.

When you get up there, plan your time wisely. If you go on the walk, you won't be able to watch the cake demonstration, cuckoo clock demonstration and glass blowing (not enough time for all three). So if you are more of a nature person, go on the walk. If not, stay in "town."

Hi Nat...do you have an opinion on side of the bus for the Black Forest tour?

 

 

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Right side

Yesterday you reported Koblenz as low as 64cm.

 

That's only a scant 2 3/4 inches above last year's "ship swap" level!

 

Those of us travelling on the Rhine soon should begin to mentally prepare for a ship swap (or even the dreaded bussing!) scenario.

 

With no rain in sight, it almost seems inevitable...

 

 

 

P.S. Please don't shoot the messenger! I'm praying for rain like the rest of you.

I would keep that in mind as you pack. I took way too much, adding to what I had to schlep around. Pack light but bring your layers.

We were quite amazed at the vineyards growing on very steep hillsides. They were quite numerous. I feel for the people charged with working them.

Hope the photo is not too large - not sure how to adjust the size

Hey Nat...any fall colors there?

 

 

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Yes - some.

We sailed through this morning. So beautiful! It was downright cold on deck. We were treated to hot chocolate with a shot of brandy, and they were handing out heavy blankets. That wind just blows right through you.

Thanks for the info. We will be on Viking Tialfi. I'll be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. Yes, we plan to have an amazing vacation. Regardless, we will be in beautiful country. [emoji4]

Looks like we will be in AMS at the same time - we are sticking around until the 10th

Travelin_nat, which direction are you cruising?

 

 

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BSL to AMS

Thanks notamermaid. I'll be watching for your upcoming reports as our river cruise starts two weeks from today...

 

 

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Ditto. We sail Saturday.

Notamermaid - any idea how low it needs to be for them to have to bus passengers to ports?

Would also appreciate feedback from anyone who has recently come off Enchantment...

Wow Dan, nothing like getting your head bit off. Lmao

No kidding. Sorry I expressed my opinion. Sheesh.

Nat

so $14 is leaving a bad taste in your mouth ? If money is that tight or important on your vacation downgrade or reconsider cruising. Thats less that .50 a day for 1 month :rolleyes:

I don't get the inconsistency. And I don't like that they did away with options. If money was that tight I wouldn't be cruising.

I find myself annoyed about the change to the drink packages, and wonder if/how long it will take them to change again. I'm especially annoyed they charge different prices for different sailings. We will be on Enchantment in December and the "sale" price is $48/day, whereas Liberty next June is showing $46/day. Why the difference??

I think we'll bite the bullet, but it's leaving a sour "taste" in my mouth...:(

Call me Captain Obvious, but sounds like they are pulling out all the stops to maximize revenue...:p

Hello All,

 

After a very early start (3am) for the first flight from ATL to HOU we got to the port around 10:30am. Checkin was about as smooth as I ever seen it...we had to sit for about 15 mins before they started boarding. We are just platinum and there are MANY D and D+/P, but it was no-time before we were on the ship and having lunch in the WJ.

 

A few notes:

 

Our first dinner in the DR was excellent.

 

This ship is completely sold out, there are more children than I expected, however, the ship does not have a full/packed feel...just like all of my previous RC cruises.

 

They did a nice moment of silence recognizing 9/11 during the drill.

 

Overall, a wonderful first day!

Hi There! I believe we were on Freedom together 10/11 - the cruise with the exciting weather. ;) Love to hear your thought on Liberty when all is said and done. We are booked on her next June. Sorry I don't remember your name, but you are a forecaster, correct? Hope all is well!

Best sleep we had on a cruise was on the Freedom back in 2011. Last two cruises have been slightly uncomfortable, not terrible. Sure hope they are not switching to firmer mattresses - that would chase me away...

Sorry I thought you were referring to the Anthem cruise last week.

Ha! Nope. But it would be interesting to know if there's protocol or if it's up to the captain. There have certainly been experiences worse than ours, such as that other one that was out of NJ within the past year or so - I've lost track of time. :) Wasn't that also the Anthem?

We were never sent to our cabins. I was all around the ship most of the day and night.

Must depend on the captain or the conditions. We had 120 Knott winds, and someone said 60 foot swells. In the captain's comments at the C&A reception, he talked about 100+ Knott winds, but we never saw an official account of the size of the swells.

Pasting an interesting article from CC. What's most interesting is that RCI claims Freedom was the first scheduled to depart that day. I'm not saying they were lying, but I'm such a nerd I had watched it sail on the port cam for several weeks before our trip and Freedom NEVER went first. I was slightly confused about why we were taking off before Carnival and Disney. The compensation quoted in the article matches what we received.

Obviously we hold no grudges. We've sailed with them three times since, and have two more cruises scheduled. Heck, it's far more dangerous to get behind the wheel here in Texas. ;)

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4628

He was funny! He forgot to announce that the elevators were closed, tho :confused: I watched the video with the two tables of elderly Asian folks, and that's right where they headed :eek: Poor people were very confused :(

 

 

 

I'm blessed with an iron stomach. I don't get motion or sea sick. Ever. Knock on wood :o

Yep. That was significant to me because I felt bad for the people in wheelchairs who were stuck in the hallways, and I had a very recent ankle injury so I was in a brand new custom orthotic which immobilized my ankle. It made climbing the 5 flights of stairs to our room a little more challenging.

We heard the ship listed 12 degrees. Never got that verified but it seems about right. At the time I had no idea hurricane season went that late, but we would have done it anyway. Doing Western Caribbean next June. You roll the dice and hope for the best. :)

I hear you, but if I was that scared, I wouldn't be a) videoing everything on my IPhone and b) talking about getting my $ back (I watched all the videos). I'd he hiding under a table or something....actually, I'd probably watching the storm out of a window, which is what I was doing when sailing on Jewel during a nor'easter back in '08, but I'm weird like that :o

Ha! Me too. I was enjoying the view out the window until we were sent to our rooms. By then my stomach was a little off so I just slept it off. Some people thrive on drama.

Did you watch the captain's speech? He was a hoot - very dry sense of humor, which I love. We were shocked when we found out he was the captain on the next cruise we took, which was to Alaska. I'm sure it's not that unusual, but I was glad to experience his humor again.

Egads! The chick on that recording was quite the drama queen as well! :eek:

It was scary for some people. Waiters were falling down and dishes were crashing everywhere. We just took it in stride. I think if there were real danger they would have directed us to put on our life jackets. I can tell you it was a long night for the captain though. ;)

We were on this sailing. Ship listed so much they shut down the elevators and sent us all to our rooms. Our balcony room flooded, as did many others. This was the first night of the cruise - the rest of the trip was picture perfect. The carpet in our room was replaced by the end of the week. It smelled pretty bad for a few days, but it was bearable. Royal took good care of us and we will cruise on...