Di Princess

I am just about to order my Euros and Czech Crowns from Citibank because I want smaller bills and don't want to spend my valuable vacation time wandering around trying to find a bank or ATM. I will pay my small bill on the Viking Var with my credit card. :D

I called Verizon this morning and got a quote of $30 for a Data Plan for Germany & Czech Republic for our 13 days. Seems reasonable. ;)

I bought the new (2016) Rick Steves Prague book for $20 though Amazon so I could read everything and bookmark it. Sometimes, there is nothing like holding the paper book in your hand. ;)

It is well worth the cost because he has lots of tips on eating "Off the Beaten Path" where the Locals eat - cheaper and better food.

As well, he has lots of walking tours that are easy to follow and also entertainment. For instance, he gives a website that has dinner, traditional dancing, and will pick us up from our Sheraton Charles Bridge Hotel. We will do this our first night before we take the included Viking tour the next day. :D

I can hardly wait (one month from now) to see the largest castle in Europe that was undamaged in the wars. I love the Rick Steves website and just bought a new backpack because it was on sale.

Roger,

Do you have a Link? :confused:

Thanks!

Well lucky for you all, we only got Bacon (smells) one morning in the 15 we were onboard.

Every Wednesday from 10 AM to 11 AM, I take a Yoga class at the JACC (Japanese-American Cultural Centre) in Pacoima (San Fernando Valley). About half way through the class, I start smelling bacon. It is an ethnic neighborhood (Mexican and Asian). I don't know why they are eating breakfast so late. :eek:

Unless I am eating it, the smell is awful! I love bacon; however, not when exercising on just a cup of coffee. (I get gas if I eat first.)

What would we do without the beautiful and smart Mermaid and Steamboats? :D

We are cruising on the Viking Var from Luxembourg to Koln next month and I paid the $50 per person for air deviation to avoid waking up at Oh Dark Thirty and I chose all my airports and times. :eek: The Viking Air Agents are very knowledgeable and helpful. :D

OUTBOUND: Depart: 1:50 PM from Los Angeles Airport

Arrive: 9:05 AM (+1) at Amsterdam (Netherlands) Airport. Duration: 10 Hours, 15 Minutes. 3-HOUR CONNECTION.

KLM (Operated by KLM CITYHOPPER), # 1355, Depart: 12:05 PM from Amsterdam (Netherlands) Airport

Arrive: 1:30 PM at Prague (Czech Republic) Airport

Duration: 1 Hour, 25 Minutes

INBOUND: Depart: 2:50 PM from Frankfurt (Germany) Airport.

Arrive: 4:10 PM at Paris (France) Airport. Duration: 1 Hour, 20 Minutes. 3-HOUR CONNECTION.

Air France, #76, Depart: 7:10 PM from Paris (France) Airport. Arrive: 9:50 PM at Los Angeles Airport. Duration: 11 Hours, 40 Minutes

$3,390 was the total for 2 pax. I chose my aircraft seats right after booking the cruise. ;)

Fair Winds and Following Seas, Dee. :D

I was on a South American cruise (Star Princess) several years ago with my Aussie friends and they love their wines so in one of the ports of Chile, we went to a grocery store and in the wine section there was a gentleman in a white chef's coat (sommelier-like) giving advise on the wines. So cheap and good. Go to the grocery store. I loved Macchu Pichu. ;)

Color me jealous. I hope to do a Christmas Market trip once. I miss that about Germany. Christmas always felt so special. Have a Gluwine for me. I have a MacBook Pro 17-inch. That thing alone is heavy. With a Canon DSLR and a couple lenses, and other assorted odds and ends, it gets heavy. I'm not checking anything that is going to tempt thieves. I used to be able to handle it on my back but it makes my hips and neck cramp up. Not worth it. I haven't really started packing but the guest room looks like a hurricane hit it. All the new luggage, odds and ends I've picked up are all in there now. By the time we get ready to go, it's going to be a disaster!

LMAO, Rebel. I have the same disaster. BTW, I just discovered a new way to pack my checked bag. Put it on the ironing board and then you can move it up and down easily and weigh it and when it's time (after locking straps and lock) to put it on the floor to wheel out, just lower the board down. I don't know why it took me this long to invent this method. :confused:

In 1972, I lived in Aiea for a year, with a beautiful view of Ford Island and the Memorial. Although I loved it, I became "Island-Bound" and was happy to move back to California. :cool:

I Lived in Pirmasens (south of Kaiserslautern) from 1954 to 1957 and my first daughter was born there.

Actually, I am still on the fence about my backpack. In the past, I have successfully used the Blue insulated Trader Joe's bag. Very lightweight and it is the EXACT size required. The downside is that the weight is all on one shoulder. Therefore, I am still vacillating. I also wear a fanny-pak under my shirt and all my euros and dollars are under my panties in the panty-wallet. Because the air stewards starve us for water for about an hour, on my shoulder is a cheap ($5) plastic thermos into which I put ice. Although you cannot bring water aboard, ice is o.k. ;)

With the carry on, you also need to consider weight. Lufthansa limits you to 8 kilos, 17.5 lbs.

TRIPS:

Is this true for KLM and Air France also? My laptop weighs 13 pounds! :eek:

I know the CPAP does not count. :)

I just got our Docs (doin' the Dance now)!

It is > a month out; however, I have started packing so that I can then un-pack a couple of times. I need lots of space and poundage left for shopping The Christmas Markets! :eek:

Kiyomi just returned from the Right Coast seeing the fall leaves, Canada & New England. I told her she just needs to unpack, fill up the washer, dryer, and re-pack. ;)

I just found out that I have a "Mild Sleep Apnea." Just what I need.:mad: A CPAP to carry to the aircraft. I also just started taking a Statin for high cholesterol. I resisted for 2 weeks after reading all the contraindications on line; however, only 1 to 2 % chance of side effects so I acquiesed and started yesterday (only 10 g.) I also changed my diet but will probably blow it with all the wonderful German food on board. :p

I am taking my backpack for laptop, camera, extra clothes, and jewelery so the weight is distributed over my painful back. (Doing the Physical Therapy every day.) :o

Interesting thread, Rebel. Thanks

Donna

Thanks, Guys & Dolls!

If it is 7 hours, we would need to leave at 8 AM, or get to the ship after 3. :eek:

OMG. Do women actually still wear pantyhose? :eek:

I haven't worn them for > 30 years! NO, they are nothing like compression hose. There are several different types. I have some with copper and hemp in them. Some are Morino Wool. Most are synthetic materials. You need to try different types to see which feels best on your legs. People can get blood clots no matter what their age. I have high cholesterol so I always wear them. ;)

I also recently read that you should wear them the next day after landing. :D

Well worth the time and expense. You need to walk around the aircraft every HOUR, not 4 hours! ;)

She has Permium Eco with foreign airline. Booking with the Cruiseline just does not to then upgrade. Only way to upgrade to Business/First is arranging your own air.

FlyerTalk usually knows what he is talking about. See his good advice on the Flight threads.

I am on KLM next month and have had my PNR (Pax Number Record) for months. I wanted to upgrade but my travel partner did not want to pay for Premium Economy and I saw the cost on the KLM website; however my travel partner did not want to but I chose 2 aisle seats across from one another. I just need to keep checking in case there is an equipment change. :mad:

I really do not understand whatever it is you were trying to say above :confused:; however, buying the Viking Air was a good price and, yes, we are able to upgrade to PE on KLM! ;)

Two other typical ports for Prague, Nuremberg and Linz, are roughly 3 hours from Prague. Thom

Hi, Thom,

Next month, on the Viking Var, We are taking the pre-cruise with Viking, Nuremberg to Koln, staying in Prague for 3 days. I have read on CC that Prague is 2 hours on coach from Nuremberg. However, I called Viking and the agent said it is 7 hours. I don't believe her (probably a new agent). :eek:

Thom, Have you been on this coach ride from Prague to Nuremberg and how long did it take? Thanks for your help! ;)

Found your informative and detailed review. Sincere thanks for taking the effort to reply and for posting such a great review on return from your cruise.

Can you please post a Link? ;)

Thanks!

Another beautiful morning in the Rhine valley. The early wine is on sale; drink with caution as the fermenting process is still going on. It is called Federweisser. It is the sort of drink you cannot really take home as a souvenir. The bottles are - for safety reasons - uncorked: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federweisser

notamermaid

Hi, Mermaid, ;)

Is this Federweisser as sweet as Gewertstraminer? I love Gewerts. From reading the wikipedia, it seems to be sweet. We sail 28 November. Will Federweisser be available at that time? (Viking Var, Rhine). Thanks for all your many helpful posts! :D

I've used Camp Dry in the past but the most recent few years we've been using Atsko Silicone spray

 

http://www.amazon.com/Atsko-Silicone-Water-Guard-10-5-oz/dp/B0001FYL2M

Read the 1-Star Reviews on Amazon at the above Link. Don't use on white because it will turn it a blotchy yellow! :eek:

There was a long thread about this recently. You should be able to find it with the search feature above. Sorry I don't know how to do links.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1874753

It got quite heated - a good read. ;)

Beside the obvious temperature (weather), daylight hours, and Christmas Markets, what do you think the biggest difference is? Leaving Nov 26 Basel to Amsterdam for our first river cruise!

Hi, Hugueys,

We leave 23 November to fly to Prague for 3 nights pre-cruise and then 7 nights on the Viking Var, Nuremberg to Koln and 2 nights post-cruise in Koln. I just wonder if NotaMermaid or the other German poster guy knows about the weather on the Rhine in late November.

When I lived in Pirmasens, Germany (near the French border), I remember that I froze to death all year long (for 2-1/2 years). :eek: However, that was 58 years ago. Times they are a changing'.

I think the rainy season is starting there so I think the rivers will be fine for cruising; however, I wonder if there will be snow. :confused::confused:

Hope this opens for you http://www.pragueairport-transfer.com/river-cruises/

We made reservation on line and paid when dropped off at the ship. 1380 czk, approximately $57 each.

Thanks, dmrbmr,

Great website! ;) Nice not having to pay immediately.

We did a dinner cruise from 7 - 10 PM which was very nice. There were several ships that offered them, but the choice we made on line before we left suited us, the food was good and the weather was great. The cruise company picked us up at the hotel which was in a good location so we just walked back, it was about a 15-minute walk.

Can you please give me a Link for the Dinner Cruise company that you used? :confused:

We sail from Prague (staying 3 days at the Sheraton) and I was thinking of doing this. What is the cost? Thanks! :D

The higher costs are because the boats are U.S. flagged and required to have a U.S. crew. Wages and costs of operation are different than on cruise ships. Cruises in and from US ports must be US flagged and crewed unless they stop at a foreign port. Non U.S. labor is much cheaper - which is why we see so many of our jobs being outsourced - and the staff on cruise ships (none of which are US flagged except for NCL's Pride of America which only cruises Hawaii) do not make wages comparable to U.S. workers in similar positions.

 

That's what I said!

:rolleyes:

I'm Dancing for you! ;)

Havana Mob is the English (as opposed to the American) version of Havana Nocturne. It's an excellent book which gives you a real insight into Cuba. It's being made into a Film and is due for release in 2016. Lonely Planet Cuba is a good book, as is the Eyewitness Guide.

Thanks, Mark. I knew that Mr. English is British by his spelling; however, I didn't know there is an American version also.

Excited to see the movie. ;)

You are very welcome!

And, I am NOT afraid of The Turtle! :rolleyes: