May 26th Avalon Poetry Budapest to Prague - Report

[Livestotravel]

Hi - I'll be adding to this, but just wanted to do a quick overview for those of you leaving today (if you have time to be online!). We had a fantastic trip, you will love it, everything was great except the one thing you can't do anything about - the weather. It was for the most part cold and rainy, and if there was one thing folks didn't pack for it was that. Luckily, I did, but some came with nothing but summer clothes. The drenching rains by the time we got to Passau resulted in the Danube flooding north of us, and we had to be bussed to our last ports of call. The good news was that we could stay aboard, however, and didn't have to pack up and go to hotels. The staff did a great job of putting together busses and tour guides for this unexpected complication. We tied up in Vilshofen, a small town along the Danube in Germany. What a treat! We still did the Regensburg tour, and could see it would have been great to have the boat docked there so we could explore at our leisure, but skipped Nuremburg since that would have been a 2 1/2 hour bus ride each way. Those who went said they were very glad they did, those of us who stayed behind and just enjoyed the day poking around Vilshofen, were also happy. I'll go into more specifics as I have time, and will be happy to answer any questions. By the way, the Amadagio was also "stuck" with us and I'd be curious to hear what arrangements they made for the last two cities on the itinerary.

[Jancruz]

We dont leave until October 12 on our Viking cruise Budapest to Vienna but I am having such a great time reading all of your reports..I really love this board!!

Thanks to all

Jan

*****

[M&T]

I love these boards too. We leave on June 29 for the Blue Danube, so I am really looking forward to all your report. I sure hope we don't have a bunch of rain. On our vacation last summer, it rained most of the time. I don't think I could take another vacation like that. My husband and I love to take pictures, so it really messes us up. Of course, it doesn't hinder the indoor shots. Jan, We have an uncle who went on a similar trip in October a couple of years ago. He said it didn't rain once. They had beautiful blue skies and the wate on the river was blue and beautiful. Marlyne

[pacmom]

If anyone is going to stop in Budapest on their cruise, the Central Market is a must. It was very near our docking. The downstairs is your typical European market---good place to buy paprika, and other food items. I brought some small pasta home--very tiny, looked like a croissant about 3/4in. long. Upstairs, there is an escalator, is full of crafts and the beautiful embroidered tableclothes, leather purses (very reasonable). We did a lot of our gift buying there, even tho it was at the end of the first week of a 3 week cruise. Don't miss it. Pat

[Livestotravel]

Hi - we had a long first day. SAS flight from Newark to Copenhagen, 5 hour layover, then 1 1/2 hrs. to Budapest. The Avalon people were right were they said they would be, and we were escorted to the bus for the transfer to the hotel. It took another 45 minutes for the rest of the folks on that transfer to arrive and then we drove for maybe 1/2 hour to get to the hotel. We checked in, and our luggage was delivered a few minutes later. Since it was now around 4 o'clock and we had an orientation meeting at 6:00 we took a quick walk down the Vaci Utca - starts about a block from the hotel. We reached what looked like the end of this great street full of shops and restaurants, and headed left still looking for the market. Finally we asked at a travel agency and they sent us back the way we had come - our mistake was that when you reach the very busy street, you should look for steps down so you can walk under it!! Another block or so and we were at the market. A quick survey of the second floor was interesting, but didn't really like the gift packs of paprika found there, so downstairs to the food market we went and I really got a good buy of four small sacks - two hot and two mild - for 1380f or around $1.50 apiece. Now we were really running late, and despite all the advice, knew we had to taxi back. We did establish a price first (1500 forints - around $7) and were back at the hotel in time for the meeting. By the way, if you walk along the river, go two bridges, not counting the Chain Bridge, and the Central Market will be on your left.

 

At the meeting we were told that the optional dinner at a typical Hungarian restaurant with music was already sold out and our cruise director was sorry so many people were disappointed. Our escort from the airport had neglected to even tell us it was an option! Those that went had a lot of fun, but my friend and I just walked along the river one or two blocks until we came to a sidewalk cafe called Dunacorso where we had a great meal and enjoyed watching the people walking by. Inside the restaurant there were many tour groups, and music, but the musicians came out and played for the outdoor crowd, too. The food was excellent and the bill, with wine, came to 9500f, and we tipped 1000f. Once back at the Sofitel, we decided to check out the Las Vegas Casino which is in the hotel. My friend had her passport with her, but I had to sign all sorts of things, give a birth date, "look up at the camera", etc. to get in. My friend played roulette, and when she hit her number and won 18,000f, she called it quits - with what she had first lost that came to 8,000f or $39 so she left a winner after about 10 minutes! Then we called it a night - we were fortunate in the room we were given - it looked out at the Chain Bridge and the Palace all lit up at night.

 

The optional tours for Budapest were the Hunagarian Folklore Show with Dinner and City Lights Tour $79; "Back to the Good Old Days" Experience Communism day 2, 1:45 p.m. $34; Szentendre, the Bohemian Village & Shoppers Delight, day 2 at 2:15 for $34; Jewish Heritage Walk in Budapest 3rd day 10 a.m. $34; and Hungarian Puszta Experience with Horse Show and Lunch 3rd day 10:30 a.m. $59 and included direct transfer to the riverboat. So we were asked to visit the hospitality desk to sign up for any tours we wanted, and also to sign a list by color (5) for the bus we would be assigned to. One group of 31 from New Brunswick Canada had the white bus, we signed up for the Blue (Blue Danube!), but there wasn't any attempt to separate out the slow walkers from the fast ones, and honestly, I never thought it made a difference.

[M&T]

Thanks so much for all the detail. I can't wait to read more. I am really getting excited about our trip. Marlyne

[unberwoob]

Livestotravel

Thanks for your good review. We plan to eat at Duna Corso because the last time we were in Budapest it looked really good. Did you need reservations or have a long wait?

Did you take Avalon's city tour? And if so, did it visit the Cidedel on the hill? Did it end at Hero's Square. We are hoping it does so that we can explore City Park more than our last visit.

Thanks.

Dennis

[Livestotravel]

We just walked in - but then we did want to sit outside, and someone from our tour who happened to be at the next table said that inside was filled with tour groups. So, if the day is nice you should be good. We also went fairly early - about 6:45 - the outdoor patio was filled by the time we left.

 

For our included city tour we started at Hero's Square, drove around Parliament, visited St. Matthias, had some time at Fisherman's Bastion. There was a little time at Hero's Square to walk over to the entrance to the Park, but that was about it.

[Livestotravel]

Breakfast is included at the Sofitel, so we were down on the Mezzanine level by 7:30. All tables were full, so we were sent to the public cafe off the lobby for the same buffet - just had to give our room number.

 

The tour started at 8:30, as most did. First, we boarded our buses according to the color we had chosen. This meant about 32-36 per bus. Our guide filled us in on Budapest's history while we drove up Andrassy Ut to Hero's Square. There we put on our headsets to hear her explanation of the statues, etc. We were told to leave everything on the bus as pickpockets frequent the crowded square. I asked how to get to Gundel and she walked us to the entrance of the park, just to the back of the square, for later reference. After that we drove around Parliament, then up to the Castle District where we had an inside visit to Matthias Church. Inside is the Loreto Chapel containing a statue of the Virgin Mary. During the Turkish occupation, it is said, an explosion brought down a wall exposing the statue, and the Turks who had turned the church into a Mosque, took this as a miracle and left Hungary. The glass faceted Hilton is right next door, and it makes an interesting contrast to include both in one picture. The Hilton was built into some ruins which can be seen if you walk up the steps at the far end of Fisherman's Bastion. Fisherman's Bastion is basically a structure where you can pay money to walk over the top and take pictures - I'm being facetious - it's a really lovely neo-Romanesque structure built in 1905, but as our guide said, you can take pictures just as well from the bottom, and avoid the crowds! There is a great view of Pest and Parliament from up there.

 

After some free time, we boarded the bus and were taken back to the hotel. A lot of folks who hadn't made the trip to the Central Market the day before asked to be dropped off near there, and the bus did stop within two blocks for them. The market closes at 2:00 on Saturday, and is not open Sunday.

 

On our own, we walked to St. Stephen's, just 3 blocks from the hotel, took the elevator to the tower and enjoyed a view of all Budapest. After that we went to a small Lutheran Museum and Church a few more blocks away. We ambitiously started our trek up Andrassy Ut hoping to make it to the Park and either Gundel or the sister restaurant Bagylovar (Owl's Castle) but just ran out of steam, and took a Frommer suggestion to eat at the Marquis de Salade (I know, I know). What a charming place - kind of Moroccan in decor, I thought, but great food. We praised the waiter and told him to give our compliments to the chef, but when we went downstairs in search of the WC, found he was it - waiter, bartender, and cook. That may have been because it was 2 in the afternoon.

 

Back at the hotel my friend went to the room for a rest, but I walked over the Chain Bridge and back, because that's just something I like to do!

 

For dinner that night we took a suggestion from these boards and went to the Zsolnay Cafe (Zsolnay Kavehaz) at the Hotel Taverna. We sat at an outdoor table, and enjoyed people watching along the Vaci Utca. It is probably two to three blocks from the hotel, on your left. Again, loved the food. We ate lightly and saved room for a pastry at the Gerbeaud Cafe in a square where the Vaci Utca actually begins, and maybe a block from the hotel. That's when the skies opened up and the weather for the week began.

[unberwoob]

I am enjoying your reviews since Budapest is one of our favorite cities and we will be visiting next month for our Avalon Black Sea cruise. Thanks for info on Duna Corso.

A tip for future travelers: It is an easy subway ride from Vorosmarty Ter, a short walk from the Sofitel, to City Park. The line runs under Andrassy Ut. so you can also walk part way then go the rest on the subway.

Dennis

[M&T]

We plan to use the public transportation because I have rheumatoid arthritis. I need to save my joints for when I am at the sights. I understand there are trams at the riverside of both Pest and Buda. Livestotravel: What were some of the prices at the restaurants and Gerbeaud. Thanks. Marlyne

[Livestotravel]

I wish we had gotten the public transportation pass - I think it would have saved us a lot of walking, but we didn't expect to need one. During rush hour I wouldn't have really wanted to be on a tram though, they looked very crowded, and of course that is where you have to be especially careful of pickpockets. Our cruise director did say of Budapest that it is no worse than any other city, just don't leave your wallet hanging out of your pocket! In Prague, however, even the hotel warned against pickpockets. No one, to my knowledge, had anything stolen, though.

 

Our lunch at Marquis de Salade - salads, quiche, wine, came to 5000 F or $24 for both of us. Zsolnay Kavehaz at Hotel Taverna, ate lightly, had wine and mixed drinks, came to about $38 for two. Gerbeaud for pastries $7 total, and in the Gerbeaud Pub for lunch with appetizer, 2 homemade "superior" beers, and salads the bill came to under $48 for two.

[Livestotravel]

After breakfast, we placed our luggage outside the door tagged with our cabin number and then waited in the lobby until our 10 p.m. Jewish Heritage Walk excursion began. You couldn't leave your hand luggage for transfer to the ship, you either had to take it with you all day until the transfer in the afternoon, or leave it with a porter. I managed to fit mine into my suitcase, so I just had a large purse with me for the tour.

 

A bus took us to the beginning of the tour - I think mainly so the tour of about 30 of us would get safely across Andrassy! From there we heard about the history of Jews in Budapest, and did a walking tour past two of the synogogues and into the largest. We went through the Jewish Museum, and in the courtyard saw the "Tree of Life" which was donated by the Tony Curtis Foundation. There are four thousand metal leaves on it, three thousand engraved with the names of individuals or families who lost their lives during the Holocaust. One thousand are still available for engraving if surviving families wish. A very moving sight.

 

It rained through most of this tour, and then we were on our way back to the hotel on foot. The tour guide left us at Gerbeaud, in the square which is also the beginning of the Vaci Utca, so we could have lunch on our own. We went downstairs to the Gerbeaud Pub and had one of their "Superior" homemade beers, each, an appetizer of "beer bites" which consisted of flat bread with a sour cream and bacon dip, and salads. The bill came to 9688 forints with tip.

 

When we got back to the hotel around 3 p.m., the lobby was full of folks on our tour, waiting for the 3:45 transfer to the Poetry. It was just too miserable out for walking around any more, so we all just sat and chatted. We had been told to have our Passports with us for checking in, and once we got to the ship everything went very smoothly and we were in our cabin in 5 minutes. Our suitcases were already there. Since I was traveling with a woman friend, and not my husband, we wanted to use separate credit cards and keep our onboard purchases separate. We were told we could make those arrangements anytime after that first day, and it worked out well, because while everyone was busy settling their accounts the last day, we were all set. When we ordered a drink, or bought anything, we just signed our cabin number and our name and they charged the correct credit card. Passports are kept at reception for most of the trip although you need them when you go to Salzburg.

 

The folks who took the Horse Show and Lunch tour ($59) that began at 10:30 a.m. were brought directly to the ship, and those we spoke to enjoyed the excursion very much.

 

We unpacked and then went to the lounge, had a drink, met some of our fellow travelers, and waited for the 6 p.m. briefing and safety demonstration. Afterwards we had dinner. There is just one seating, and we ate with different people almost every night. The food was very good and every night there were several choices of soup, salad, meat, fish or vegetarian entrees, and dessert. The white and red wine flowed freely. If none of the choices appealed there was always salmon or chicken. It happened that we never made those choices as the others were always interesting, and good.

 

Around 7:30, as we ate, the ship left the dock and we began cruising up the Danube, past the city, Margaret Island, and Szentenre which was an optional tour on day 2. Then it really got too dark to see much. I had read so much about the Danube Bend, and knew there were river tours out of Budapest that did that stretch, that I was a little disappointed we didn't leave Budapest earlier so we could enjoy the sights in the daylight.

[M&T]

I am confused about the time you left Budapest. Amadeus sent me a schedule of arrival and departure times. It said they would depart at 2200. I wonder if the rest of the times are off too. Sorry, I just realized that you were on Avalon not Amadeus. Marlyne

[Livestotravel]

I had emailed the Avalon home office and was told we would be transferred at 12 noon - I, too, was trying to make plans, for instance, should be be thinking about lunch before we boarded. At the orientation the first evening we learned that the transfer would be at 3:45. We also weren't able to see the final optional tours that would be available until we were on the ship. Being flexible seems to be the key to enjoying river cruising!!

 

I've been away for a few days, and will get back to my trip report later today.

[Livestotravel]

Monday - I woke up at 4:30 to a beautiful sunrise. Snapped a picture and went back to sleep! Little did I know seeing sun would be such a rare event.

 

We were at the buffet breakfast by 7:15. It was available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. There were cold and hot choices, the usual cereals, yogurt, fresh fruits, toast and rolls, omelets to order, scrambled eggs, soft boiled eggs, bacon, sausage, smoked salmon, cheeses, pancakes, etc. You won't go hungry, and the choices were color coded to help dieters. We went through our first lock while eating breakfast. We were so close to the wall the whole dining room dimmed. It probably took 3/4 of an hour to go through.

 

I did some exploring - the fitness center had two bikes and a rowing machine, a small hot tub, a beautician's area with two stations, and a scale. I liked the scale - I weighed 62 something.

 

Each night when we came back from dinner the next day's program was in our cabin. Today's forecast was for a high of 58 degrees, cloudy, possible showers. It was pretty cold for spending any time on the sun deck, but the lounge and dining rooms are ringed with windows, and there was no problem watching the passing scenery.

 

At 9 a.m. we had a briefing on the optional excursions. I know I won't remember everything offered - sorry - we were told to check off what we wanted to do, then line up with our payment (couldn't charge to the ship account - we used our credit cards) beginning around 10:30. The Cruise Director asked that the 100's cabin numbers line up first, then those in the 200's and finally in the 300's. This may be the one time I missed mega-ship cruising where you can book online before you even leave for the cruise, use kiosks, or the excursion desk. We probably stood for an hour until we were able to get up to where Akos (Cruise Director) was doing the bookings.

 

Lunch was ready by the time we finished. Lunches were buffet style also, and there was a great assortment every day, including salads, beef, turkey, cold and hot dishes, and a huge dessert table. By now we had made many new acquaintances by sitting with different folks each meal, and of course speaking to others in the lounge. We had 168 passengers on board, and I think we knew at least half by sight if not by name before the end of the cruise.

 

We cruised past Bratislava. Our cruise didn't make a stop there, although I believe Amadeus Waterways does. I did get a picture of a castle from the river. Couldn't figure out what the little green torpedo like things were in the river until someone explained they were the buoys laid flat by the 3-6 mph current. All along the river were fishing shacks.

 

From 4-5 there was a port talk about Vienna in the lounge. It was explained how the excursions would be run and how to do things on your own including using public transportation. We were given maps showing exactly how to get back to the ship on our own, or where the bus would pick us up after our free time if we didn't want to stay with the guide.

 

We booked a number of excursions in Vienna. The first was for dinner and entertainment at a wine garden (Heuriger) this first night. It was located near the Vienna Woods. We went to "happy hour" (an almost nightly event), and then were told the excursion had been cancelled because the accordian player was sick and our cruise director didn't think it was worth going to without the entertainment. We were disappointed, but of course the onboard dinner was excellent.

 

Every night and during happy hour there was entertainment in the lounge consisting of a musician singing and playing keyboard. There is a small dance floor and there were some great dancers on board.

[Livestotravel]

It was a dark and rainy day. . . however, nothing really can dim the beauty of Vienna! We left for the included tour at 8:15 and had a comfortable coach ride around the Ringstrasse, passing the Ferris wheel on the way. Unlike other tours described on these boards, we had a different bus and driver in each city. The bus portion ended at the Schwedenplatz where we were told we could either pick it back up to go back to the ship for lunch, or for those who wanted to have lunch downtown, there would be a pickup there on the way to Shonbrunn Palace in the afternoon. I thought every effort was made to make it easy for folks to spend their time the way they wanted to, while still getting transportation back to the ship. Of course, we also had our maps and the instructions on how to take the public transportation.

 

We then did our walking tour that included an inside visit to St. Stephan's Cathedral which was beautiful. There is a cross on top that was never toppled during the bombing of Vienna. After a walk through a typical courtyard, past the house where Mozart rented rooms, and past the Winter Palace, we were on our own for about an hour. Following the guide’s very sage advice, we searched for a sweet shop to have a hot chocolate. We found a wonderful place called Pemel. It is on the street with Gucci, heading towards the Winter Palace from St. Stephan's. We both agreed it was the best hot chocolate we ever had! Meeting the guide at the appointed time, we walked back to the bus and had lunch on the ship.

 

At 1:15 we were back on the bus for the optional tour of the Schonbrunn Palace. After the tour of this very beautiful palace we met in a restaurant on the grounds where we were given a demonstration on how to make apple strudel, and of course were treated to a good sized sample! We had free time after that, but it was raining too hard to really go through the gardens, so we shopped a little in a gift shop, and then waited for the bus.

 

After an early dinner, to accommodate those of us going to the optional Mozart-Strauss concert, we headed off again, through the city, to the Kursalon Concert Hall. About 8 musicians did a wonderful job and we were treated to Baritone and Soprano soloists, as well as dancers during several of the songs. At intermission, there was champagne, and we could wander out onto a patio - well until the rain started again and it was inside for the bunch of us. A very entertaining night, and lovely ride back to the ship past all the city lights, and the Ferris wheel in motion. The cars on the Ferris wheel are like small trolley cars, and weddings and other celebrations can take place in them! Back on the ship was a midnight treat of goulash soup - hit the spot.

[Jswen]

Wow Lives,

Our tours were different, we toured the National Library, that was amazing and beautiful.

At Schonbrunn Palace we didn't get the apple strudel demonstration or the tasting, lucky you!

We oppted to stay in town and have lunch, actually we should have gone back to the boat, but we did get a little more time to shop.

Our day was pretty much the same but we did not get champagne at the concert, the one we went to was at the Imperial Palace,which was the winter palace of the Habsbergs.

I am enjoying your trip report, like reliving the trip again.

Thanks,

Judy

[steamboats]

Livestotravel,

 

I assume the café was "Demel" (http://www.demel.at) which is next to café Sacher (http://www.sacher.com) one of the most famous cafés in Vienna.

 

steamboats

[Livestotravel]

I wrote down Pemel, but of course could easily have gotten that wrong. If we were right next to the Sacher Cafe I am sorry we didn't go just a few steps farther!! This shop had a candy counter on the left as you walked in, then a room full of candy gifts to the right. There were two tables in the back of the shop, but upon asking were sent around a corner to the cafe part which had at least two separate rooms. There was a lunch menu as well as hot drinks.

 

I think this whole trip was just an overview of all these wonderful places and I hope I get back to them someday to do all the things we missed.

[Livestotravel]

We just loved Durnstein – maybe it was the smallness of it, or the convenience of just getting off the ship and being right there. Our included walking tour started at 8:15 and we split off into our “color” groups with 5 different guides. After the tour we had about 1 1/2 hours to walk around on our own. I was fortunate in finding the dolls I had hoped to find for my granddaughters in one of the little shops. My “trip T-shirt” is from there, too, just because I liked the place so much. If you have ever been to Nice and done the St. Paul de Vence tour, it sort of reminded me of those hilly, cobblestone streets. Very lovely. We did NOT climb the hill to the castle where Richard the Lion-Hearted was imprisoned, but I did get a picture. All aboard was 10:45. If I haven’t mentioned it before, you are given a pass every time you leave the ship, and you turn them back in when you get back onboard. This is the way they can check if everyone has returned.

 

At 11 a.m. we gathered in the lounge for a lecture on the Wachau Valley, which we would now be cruising on the way to Melk. Two million gallons of wine are produced in this region each year including a Riesling white and Gruner Veltliner, another white. There were just beautiful little villages along the way, and passing Spitz, a castle on the hill. It was a very relaxing, wonderful way to get from one place to another!

 

Lunch was available from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and around 2 we docked in Melk. And the skies opened up. And it was a driving rain! My friend opted for an afternoon nap, but I was glad I went on the included tour. We met our guides and walked in the rain to the busses parked maybe a city block away. They were parked in front of a building on whose façade were lines and dates showing flood levels in prior years – one flood reached the second story windows!! When we reached the Abbey there were a great many steps to walk down, in the pouring rain, until we reached an area where we were told to wait while they split the group up into smaller groups with guides from the Abbey. I don’t want to say the weather was bad, but there were hailstones bouncing around our feet as we waited in a covered section of the courtyard!!

 

The Abbey is beautiful – I know I keep saying everything is, but really, this was. By the time we had gone through a number of the rooms we were taken outdoors to a second story patio – and “squint, squint” the shine was shining!! Spectacular views of Melk from there since the Abbey is on a hill high above the Danube. The Benedictines have been in residence in this Abbey for 600 years and it is the largest monastery in Austria. There is a relic purported to be a splinter of Christ’s cross in a jeweled cross in one of the rooms. After a little time in the gift shop, it was back up the steps, at least not raining, to get back on the bus for the 4:45 transfer back to the Poetry.

 

Every morning there are information sheets available in the lobby of the ship describing the port we are in. Also, several of the movies shown on TV were appropriate to this trip – The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and The Third Man. My friend read the Third Man while on board and donated it to the library – look for it if you take the Poetry some day. She wrote her email and address in it, kind of in the note-in-a-bottle tradition.

 

Back on board, from 5 – 6 was happy hour – great trio of bartenders, by the way, and at 6:00 p.m. there was a wine tasting in the Lounge featuring the wines of the Wachau Valley. Dinner was scheduled for 7:30, the all-aboard was 7:45, and we headed off for Linz. After a quick game of Boggle in the Library (sounds like CLUE) I headed for the lounge and some "group" dancing to the music provided by Sasha.

[ozdroggy01]

I have just joined the forum. I am taking an Avalon about 13 May 2007 and now making bookings. I have a couple of quick questions:

 

1. What cabin/deck did you have?

 

2. If cost no object are the Jnr. Suites worth it?

 

TIA

 

Mike.

[Livestotravel]

We were in 211 - midship, 2nd deck just off the lobby and reception. I picked it out when I saw that it was available on the website, being used to cruise ships and the advisability of being in the middle for stability. Well, on these river boats I doubt it really makes a difference. There was a warning to those in the forward cabins, however, that they may be awakened by the bow thrusters and vibrations - no one ever complained about it though. Personally, I wouldn't have liked being in the 100's - those cabins had port holes that often had water covering part or all - and I do get motion sickness and wouldn't have liked looking at the water rushing by - also, if you were on the side of the ship up against the pier - that's what you would be looking at in port. We had what's called a French balcony, which only meant sliding glass doors and then a railing - couldn't really go out, but it was a much more open feeling, and you could check the weather (in our case cold and rainy), take good pictures, etc. When we checked in and I saw we were right off the lobby I wondered if it had been a mistake, but it was actually extremely convenient for just popping out to the desk for stamps, or to pick up a security pass, or the sheet detailing the next day's port. Some, if not all, of the cabins on the top deck required going outside to get to the dining room. So, I liked where we were, never did see a Jr. Suite, so can't answer that, but found the cabin to be roomy enough to put away all the clothes brought by two women, for a twelve day trip, with shelves to spare.

[Livestotravel]

The sheet detailing today’s program suggested bringing warm clothes for the Salzburg excursion, and the forecast was for a high of 49 degrees, cloudy, possible showers.

 

After breakfast, we collected our passports and security passes, walked up to the sun deck, across the sun deck of the ship we were tied up to, and back down to their lobby to get off onto the pier. From there it was a two-block walk in the rain to get to our bus. The guide told us it was the coldest June 1 in 30 years, and that it had snowed in the mountains! On the ride to Salzburg she explained a lot about the Austrian form of government, typical salaries, leave policies for childbirth, etc. We had an inside tour of the Basilika Mondsee.

 

The bus then drove along the lakes, past venues where Sound of Music was filmed. After “enjoying” our box lunches in the rain at the bus park, we took a walking tour past a view of the Fortress, inside the Cathedral of Salzburg, through the very interesting cemetery, and at each appropriate spot, locations of scenes from the movie were pointed out. We had a quick walk through Mirabell Gardens, and then walked to a main shopping street, and our meeting place in front of Mozart’s house. As we walked back and forth through alleys connecting the shopping streets, we came to Mozart’s Café. We took an elevator to the serving rooms and had a Mozart Coffee – Coffee, liqueur, and whipped cream.

 

We poked around the stores, and then headed for the meeting place and our bus ride to Passau. We never had to show our passports, although when we got to the German border, a guard did get on the bus and look around. The guide told him we were all from either the U.S., Canada, or Australia and that seemed to be enough to let us through the checkpoint. We passed through some beautiful German countryside on the way to Passau. It was explained that originally guesthouses started putting benches outside and sold beer. For shade, horse chestnut trees were planted, and today for a beer garden to be authentic, there must be a horse chestnut tree. Of course there also was the experience of traveling about 80 mph and having cars whip by us on the Autobahn! There is no speed limit for cars.

 

Once back on board we enjoyed another happy hour chatting with two couples we hadn’t met before. At dinner it was announced that the river was too high to continue to Regensburg and Nuremberg. The good news was that we didn’t have to leave the ship, but would be bussed to the last two ports, and returned to the ship at the end of each day.

 

The Crew Show was that evening, which lightened everyone’s mood. One of our favorite bartenders, George, was the highlight of the evening – quite talented!

[gas]

Thanks so much, Livestotravel, we're on that same trip sailing Oct. 12th. How did you pay for tips after the cruise? Credit card, I hope