Shebely

There are not usually problems with locks. There was an issue with a broken lock on the Danube this year but that was very unusual.

 

Our cruise was disrupted along with many ithers by the Lock workers strike in Bavaria during the Summer of 2013. The lock closings were rolling and sporadic and our cruise on the Danube fell up to 11 hours behind schedule. This was in late July 2013 that we cruised. Thanks to our Captain and the logistical team of Avalon they did the best the could to hsndle this problem. Adjustments had to be made to the schedule and the optional River gorge excursion was cancelked. We did not dock in Regensburg, but we had to be bussed there instead.

The cruise we were on included only English speakers so the assigned table for dinner was not because of language, but apparently because it is their practice.

Our travel group was not told that we could request alternatives if we did not want to be served, for instance, venison. I looked around that night and I saw many plates that were returned uneaten. Overall, I did not find the food memorable.

I was responding to the question what was a Croisi Europe cruise like. My previously posted comments were meant to be informative to others who are going to make decisions a about which company to travel with. For the money that is paid for a river cruise, I want choices for my lunch and dinner menus and I don't want to be stuck with an assigned table when it is just my husband and I traveling. We enjoy very much meeting and talking to many of our fellow travelers.

Midwest based US travel company chartered boat for Seine cruise Paris to Normandy in May 2013. MS France. Would I travel with them again? The answer is no. I did not like the set, no choice menus for lunch and dinner. We are not fussy eaters, but I always want to pick out what I want to eat on a particular day.

One night the meat served was venison. I am sorry, but I don't eat venison.

Lunches were sit down long drawn out affairs and that does not give you time to go back to your cabin and relax before afternoon activities.

At dinner, you were assigned to a table for the entire cruise with the same people. Boring!

The boat was older and well kept. All the cabins had standard windows so no French balconies. We were on the second level which was fine. Friends on the lower level reported noise from engines?

Bathrooms were extremely small and it was hard to turn around in the shower.

The crew was fantastic and very helpful and friendly. Since the group sailing was from US, English was the language spoken.

Just got back from Avalon Rhine cruise. I was on wifi all the time except when we were going through locks. My phone is not compatible with European networks so I cannot answer about phones. There was one guy who was in the lounge and working several hours each day and he did not seem to have any problems. Several others told me that they had to check emails, etc each day also.

We went from Passau to Cesky by private transpiration. I would assume the bus would probably take a similar route. It was not a winding road and the trip was quite pleasant.

I agree the road was not winding from Passau to Cesky Krumlov. We returned from Cesky to Passau to meet back up with the boat. I said the road was winding from Linz to Passau and the trees were close to the road. If you are someone who does not have motion sickness, please be aware that some people like me do. My comments were meant to alert those who might have a problem. Also riding on a bus is quite different than being in a car.

Since you have views on both sides of the river while cruising, most people sit on the top deck or in the forward lounge area (both inside or outside). This is very different from ocean cruising where you relax in your room and watch the open water go by.

If you have traveled on a Globus brand trip including Monograms or Cosmos and therefore are eligible for a Journeys club membership, you get a 5% additional discount on Avalon cruises.

I second the notion of 2 days in Amsterdam. It is a wonderful city and you can take tours or you can very easily do it DIY. If you can, spend a few extra days after the cruise is over.

 

Many of the people on board don't come back to the ship for lunch, choosing instead to stay in town and dine/drink there.

 

Those that have sailed your itinerary often want to go to wine/beer shops and buy something to bring back on board....you will be in the land of German wine & beer!!

 

We love Avalon and have not sailed Viking.

Our experience with our two cruises on Avalon is that most of the passengers returned to the boat for lunch and then to refresh before the afternoon excursion. The Rhine cruise is very packed with excursions. We just returned from our Rhine cruise Amsterdam to Basel in July.

Often there was a different destination in the afternoon and we were sailing during lunch.

We are not allowed to give the name of travel agents, but if you google discounts on river cruises, we will find several companies.

These companies receive commissions from the cruise lines and they pass very good discounts to their customers. Please be sure to check the awards they have received.

We have greatly enjoyed our 2 Avalon cruises (Danube and Rhine) and we have 2 more booked. We have complete confidence in Avalon's decision making and logistical teams since the are part of the Globus travel family.

We were dropped off in Linz, Austria to take the bus ride to Cesky Kromlov. The road was too winding for me with trees too close to the road. I am very prone to motion sickness and this was not the trip for me. Luckily, we stopped part way there or I would have been sick.

I should have stayed on the boat and seen Passau.

We could not open our French balcony on the Danube July 2013. Lots of mosquitoes and small flying insects because of record floods on June. You never know and just have to be prepared. This was especially true at night because the insects were attracted to the lights on the cabin.

I really enjoyed your detailed trip report. We are taking this exact trip next July on Avalon's Poetry II. I am glad to know about the "repeated" included tours when you decide to take an optional tour.

Our favorite part of European river cruising is being able to walk off the boat right into the town.

What airline did you fly to get to Nice? I am not sure I want to fly to Paris CDG and then catch a plane to Nice.

We were in Amsterdam last month for 4+ days and we walked and took trams. We were told there are 800,000 bikes in Amsterdam. You had to be alert every second when walking to avoid being hit. I was relieved when we left Amsterdam because of the traffic and the bicycle riders. My husband went on a bike ride purchased through Avalon into the countryside "Waterlands" which is northeast of Amsterdam. They took one of the ferries that is behind Central Station to easily get out of the city. He really enjoyed that ride.

Our CD showed us an ATM outside a bank across the street from St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. We had extra time after our walking tour to wander around, shop, etc.

We found an ATM in a bank that was in the central square in Nuremberg.

People on this board can only give your their opinions. It is best to get medical advice based on your medical history and needs. We just went through an extensive evaluation for our next trip and it was very interactive in addition to looking at our past immunization history and where we were traveling to this year and maybe where we might go next. My 2 cents.

This thread has gotten so long and ventured onto so many topics, my suggestion would be to start a new thread if you want feedback on this important question.

Did the May Harper riverboat cruise, Moscow to St. Petersburg - recommend it highly - was my first cruise - a fantastic trip, extremely well organized, very nice boat ("Alexander Pushkin"). Took in all the major sights in Moscow and St.Petersurg (did the two day extension there!), plus five most interesting stops as we sailed north. You will not go wrong by taking this cruise.

I would very much appreciate a referral. My email is ljshebesta@gmail.com. Please contact me.

Thanks

Last year we flew Luftansa from Ohare to Munich to Budapest and then from Prague To Munich to Ohare. Very pleased and Munich is a very good connecting airport.

I know Tom Harper river cruises is a relatively new company, but I am sure there are Cruise Critic members who have traveled with them

I am looking for someone to provide a referral.

Thanks

If you live in the U.S. then may I suggest you ring Tauck yourself as firsthand information is always the best.

On a recent cruise we dined one night with a couple from England. His wife told us that she had called several cruise lines asking whether her husband's medically necessary diet of gluten free food could be accommodated. She did not tell me which cruise lines she had contacted, but they decided to travel with Avalon because of the assurances that she received about how he would be taken care of. For every lunch and dinner, the Maître D came right to their table when they sat down and went over the menu with him so that he would find out the menu choices that were proper for him. He did not need help with the breakfast buffet since there were so many choices. I was so impressed by the special care that Sergio, the Maître D showed throughout the cruise.

Again, make the calls and see which cruise lines can provide the menu choices.

My guess is that a typical day is

 

Morning bus tour 930 to 1130

lunch

PM bus tour 2 to 430

cocktails

dinner

possible evening entertainment

 

Is that about right?

 

Can you leave the boat in the morning and rejoin it later at the next stop?

Is it usually docked during tours or moving?

We have been on 2 Avalon cruises and it seems the morning tours are scheduled to start at 8:30 so our groups get a jump on popular sites. Depending on the itinerary, it is common to dock near the town center and then walk into town. This is our favorite part of the European river cruise. We have maybe a 1 hour walk with a tour guide and then we either continue walking aound or if you want you can return to the ship.

If it is a longer distance to the local attraction, then there are buses.

For afternoon tours, it was generally a 1:30 start unless we were sailing and had not reached the afternoon tour site yet.

On the last cruise we took, many people adjoined to the sky deck after dinner whether we were sailing or not. On our recent Rhine cruise sunset was after 10:00 pm.

Some nights there will be special entertainment and if course, there will be an on ship musician playing favorite songs.

I am sorry that your friends cannot travel, but I am here to say that my husband and I have been on 3 river cruises in the last one year plus and we have met such wonderful and interesting people from all over the world. On our last cruise, there were only 116 on the ship. We enjoyed sitting with different people at meals and traveling on excursions with them. I am sure this trip has probably been in the works for dome time. Go, go, go

We have just returned from Tom Harper's 1st Russia River Cruise Moscow to St. Petersburg. Wonderful cruise with many tours included 3 nights in Moscow, 2 in nice hotel one on the ship with a late sailing, all meals included, 7 night cruise to St. Petersburg great tours and wonderful and knowledgeable guides who spoke excellent English. 3 nights in St. Petersburg again great guides.

 

Be warned this is not a cruise for the physically challenged as there is a lot of walking and stairs with few or no elevators at the sites visited. Cruise included air and tips. Great price. Ship was great but like all river boats small cabins with space for everything but luggage which the ship stored until night before departure. Would recommend this line and we are seriously considering Scotland cruise.

I would love to get a referral. Thanks

Lynn

We flew Copa from Chicago to Panama City 2 years ago and we were very impressed. New plane, great service, free liquor (not that liquor matters to us. Price was good and it was a non step flight.

Thank you so much for your review. We are really, really wanting to book this trip in fall 2015.

Per Avalon travel guide for 2015, if the water is to low, generally late December to June, they will fly travelers if the ship cannot cross Tonle Sap.