Canal archive

Wow will follow this up. Have asked the question really weird.

Basically Halloween is the Eve of All Hallows or All Saints Day so it’s observed in one way or another by most Protestant countries. We stock up with a box of sweets and DH wondered for two years why we had no little trick or treaters until our grandson asked if he’d put the outside light on which he hadn’t because it is now automatic so DH will now not have a box of sweets to himself, oh dear what a pity!

Kristal has escaped just as the downpour started the expression is ‘stair-rods’ and I mean really heavy rain mind you we had been warned.

Research, research, research 🧐 Notamermaid you’d make a brilliant archivist.

Hi Jazz we are now Diamond members, someone is welcome to correct me about this if I’m wrong but your invoice for the Douro should have shown the $200 reduction as far as I remember I’ve never had an actual voucher, its in our case, £200 off the total amount not each. The OBC is very new, we used to get a choice of various - gifts - usually luggage this was stopped and the OBC of €50 per person introduced I’m fairly sure this was only from this year so again you should have been able to use it on your Douro cruise. I had quite a chat with our CD about it and she said she would mention it in her port talk, she never did. It’s supposed to be explained under the FAQ on the website it’s also Scenics nod to an ethical no rubbish planet, which I just thought was fatuous. I used mine for a massage and DH for more laundry which was to my benefit as less shirt ironing on our return. I think it actually didn’t start until April this year. Did you book yourself or through a TA?

The best cold weather wear I ever had was very fine silk long-johns and vest and when I found fine silk socks even better. Definitely required for winter camping, which I definitely do not do now.

momto3sons (wow) however hot you are wear your coats think of the weight and room lost in your luggage if you don’t.

At a canal water festival in a city some years ago we decided for one morning on a ‘friendly’ breakfast = bring your breakfast speciality plus as unusual bacon (not your usual back or streaky) for a towpath binge wow DH was in his element, he’s a great lover of bacon of every style, cut and nationality. Non of us moved for the rest of the day. Oh and Turkey bacon was included so everyone could join in.

Yes Coral some very useful information wherever you come from, I wasn’t to sure if it come under the same restrictions as TA’s.

Notamermaid - feet up with an excellent glass of German wine and reflect on a job well done! What a tour de force. 👌

Just a thought twl what you might consider a middle/reasonable price could be another’s really inexpensive (note I didn’t use the c word) or absolutely OTT it’s horses for courses. If you look - think I’m safe with this at Ralph Grizzels rivercruiseadvisor.com they have a comparison chart of inclusions of most of the different river cruise companies this could be helpful as a starting base, happy researching.

Sorry got the spelling incorrect I didn’t go into further detail as at the time according to a banking friend of ours when the deal was happening the convolutions around the deal, sale and eventual acquisition were quite interesting!

TUI used to be Thompson’s.

Don’t knock rafting up (breasting up) just share a glass with your neighbours we still very occasionally hear from a couple we did this with in pre covid days. Your right Kristelle, Scenics system does cover most eventualities use one glass door or fold all back or close and if you don’t want to be bothered with changing it ask your butler or cabin steward so that it’s ready for your late afternoon cocktail. Sit back and relax.

Interesting as usually the Portuguese like the ships using the Douro to be built in Portugal.

Thank you Notamermaid when I first became aware of it I tried a bit of tech searching and it’s obviously not my forte but if you’re travelling with Scenic it’s an interesting tool. They did remove the second Scenic boat that was sold to an independent company, almost straight away.

DougK got it, anyoverip has been around since at least 2011 it then was mentioned in the small print I haven’t checked recently. It’s useful but occasionally a little behind. If I remember correctly it was very usefully interesting when Scenic Gem was sailed to the Seine and Scenic Sapphire to the Rhône, I’m pretty sure it’s German but owned by Scenic. I tend to just use it automatically so forget to mention it. I know this won’t help if your a very far forward planner but it could help your wondering organisations if you contact the CD some time before your departure and build a rapport it may be useful.

Don’t mention the S word in my DHs hearing as it tends to hurt his pockets.

Daisi ohhhh wowwww I cross stitched, quilted and bead worked quite a few decorations for our tree and my DH insisted on at least one of them being a spider ever since known as our Christmas Spider when he sees this he will be so pleased so thank you he’s getting an early Christmas present.

Look for Jazzbeau’s in depth report they did it last year. It was our second time this year we were on the very first Scenic Seine cruise as well. My DH did the bike tour in Caudebec which he throughly enjoyed. Don’t miss Giverney. Trying to fit in everything keeps you very busy. Next year heritage wise is worth going it’s the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. Superb cruise as usual with Scenic.

In the past we’ve bought trees from ‘tree farms’ and at most we could choose which one we wanted. When I had my 2CV dads at work (could have been in Germany) so two daughters myself and car went off to a garden centre to choose our tree. So off home top down tree upright playing Christmas music down the A3 to home, any other time they would be so embarrassed to be seen in my ‘Dolly’ 2CV but not then because it was Christmas. Ohh and thank you for that particular invasion.

For a start Doug K what is the website you mention! Also you do realise that all docking regardless of where or when is in the control of the local authorities. Scenic have always changed their itineraries from year to year this is why we have been able to repeat cruises and consequently had a different experience although being on the same stretch of river. I’m also just a tad surprised that you would choose an all inclusive river cruise company if you wanted to do your ‘own thing’. With acquaintances we have managed to go exploring ourselves on our Scenic cruises with would you believe it the assistance of our cruise director and managed to fit in the odd picnic courtesy of the restaurant crew. Mooring up at a set time is not a given on European rivers, especially if river levels are a challenge.

As is coming up to Christmas market cruising I thought you’d like a web site I found about Fairies, Angels and Stars on the top of Christmas trees and bother I can’t get the site to copy so if you do it the long way round with the question - Why do we put Fairies, Angels and Stars on Top of Christmas Trees you’ll find out why! Of course Notamermaid it is a German tradition as it should be because of the tree but it is so very sweet, so thank you Germany, my fairy is clothed with fabric from my wedding dress so she’s now over 50 years old.

We did Amsterdam to Budapest 15 day with Scenic leaving towards the end of April. It a tad fresh - freezing in Amsterdam but seriously not slippy underfoot so toured the city warming up in shops as we went, you must try the fish tasting from the street stalls. The weather gradually got warmer so by the time we arrived in Budapest we were occasionally in shirt sleeves. The most challenging thing about that time of year is what clothing to pack. Enjoy, Pat

I’m definitely not accusing everyone and really not those used to tipping as a norm. It’s usually those who consider themselves above and beyond and I’ve seen the brown envelopes in some of the so called most up market places in this world. On our first trip with Scenic included tipping we tipped both our cabin stewardess and butler in the privacy of our cabin then they and ourselves were covered. At the time extra tipping was a real no no the next year all had changed and although tipping was included across the board no one batted an eyelid if extra was given and this is still the norm.