First Cruise

[Jetson]

We depart Amsterdam on the Imagery for a 14 Day cruise to Pudapest on 20th May 2007 (YES just over 2 weeks away:) ). What will the weather be like at this time of year....can we have some feedback please about the cruise from anyone who has been on it. Open to both good and bad feedback:p

Something that does concern us, is that to date we have received nothing from the cruise company, is this normal......my travel agent says they usually send out "something" about 2 weeks prior to departure. Our complete tour was booked thru Scenic Tours Australia and in their brochure they say we will receive a "Welcome Pack" do we get this once we are on board or before we depart - We feel STARVED for information.

 

First Time Cruiser

[steamboats]

Jetson,

 

Yes, waiting for the docs can be somewhat of boring (:D we received ours more than two weeks ago for a May26th cruise).

 

Weather, sorry, noone can say what it will be like during your cruise. Right now we have the hottest April ever with temps up to 28°C (usually April is about 10-15°C with May being a bit warmer). In fact we have a draught as it hasn´t really rained/snowed for more than 7 months. Anyway river conditions are still o.k.. Usually May should be pleasant (if you´re lucky 20-25°C), sunny but be prepared for some rain.

 

I´m still hoping for some rain. The Elbe river (our cruise) is down to 110 cm at Dresden, our ship is drawing 95 cm.

 

steamboats

[Jetson]

Thanks for the info.

 

We here in Queensland Australia are experiencing our worst drought for over 200 years so can sympathise with you. Govt have all sorts of water restrictions in place.

 

Have you actually done the Amsterdam to Budapest cruise? Any highlights we should look for?

[steamboats]

Jetson,

 

No, I haven´t done Amsterdam-Budapest which is not offered on the German market. I´ve done Passau-Budapest-Passau. But try the search on this board and you´ll find plenty of reviews.

 

steamboats

[lior]

Hi Steamboats.

Need Your Advice About Train Trip From Munich To

Passue.

First Class Or 2.

Thank You

Lior

[steamboats]

lior,

 

Save your money and take second class. There isn´t much difference as there are mainly local trains on this route. It´s about an 2 hour ride (if you have to change then it´s 2:30 h).

 

steamboats

[lior]

Hi steamboats

thank you again. we will take your advice.

we eill be 2 days in passue-any suggesstion?

lior

[steamboats]

lior,

 

My advice would be to spend those two days in Munich. There´s much more to do and see there. Passau is a small town with a nice historic downtown center. You may contact the Passau tourist information to send you some brochures in advance to make up your decision

 

http://www.passau.de/public_main_modul.php?bm=&unit=4636fccf864e1&ses=&document_id=336

 

Here´s something I wrote about Passau a couple of months ago:

 

Passau (http://www.passau.de/) is also called the Venice of Bavaria or the city of three rivers (Danube river, Inn river and Ilz river). The city of Passau is featuring a webcam at the town hall place overlooking the Danube river and parts of the cruise ship landings (http://www.kmz.de/webcam/main.htm). With three rivers in town of course a city sightseeing tour by boat is a good way to explore the town in an easy way (http://www.donauschiffahrt.de/). A must is the Passau cathedral featuring the world largest pipe organ (concerts all summer starting in April). The historic downtown area is easy to explore right from the landing (but there are steep cobblestone paths leading up to the cathedral). You can also walk to the confluence of the Inn and the Danube rivers where a little park is located (including a nice playground if you have children with you). Passau is the largest cruise ship port in Germany.

steamboats

[magmorr75219]

We depart Amsterdam on the Imagery for a 14 Day cruise to Pudapest on 20th May 2007 (YES just over 2 weeks away:) ). What will the weather be like at this time of year....can we have some feedback please about the cruise from anyone who has been on it. Open to both good and bad feedback:p

Something that does concern us, is that to date we have received nothing from the cruise company, is this normal......my travel agent says they usually send out "something" about 2 weeks prior to departure. Our complete tour was booked thru Scenic Tours Australia and in their brochure they say we will receive a "Welcome Pack" do we get this once we are on board or before we depart - We feel STARVED for information.

 

First Time Cruiser

 

We received our docs from Avalon last Thursday evening for our May 12 departure, so I'd expect yours any day now.

[lior]

Hi STEAMBOUTS

we will be in munich in september .hotel im munich this time are very expensive so after 5 days in munich with our granddaughters(9-5),we are going to go to passue waite for our river cruise.

what are your suggestion for children in munich?

yours

lior

[steamboats]

lior,

 

September is Oktoberfest time and prices are skyrocketing for hotels. Where are you staying? As I recommended in another thread: do the 1 hour narrated bus sightseeing trip with the blue grey line busses starting at the central station. It´s EUR 11 and you get a great overview over the town.

 

http://www.stadtrundfahrten-muenchen.de/eng/index.html

 

This company also offers day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle.

 

There are a couple of museums which are attractive for kids too. The largest museum is the German Musem (you can spend days there). There are a lot of hands on exhibits and shows. I´d pick only a few of the departments because it´s much too much to see there. Check here

 

http://www.deutsches-museum.de/en/

 

Near Marienplatz in the old townhall there´s the Toy Museum

 

http://www.spielzeugmuseum-muenchen.de/english/munich/index.html

 

I´d also go to a beergarden like the one at the Chinese Tower in the English garden. This one has a small playground too.

 

Munich also has one of the best zoos of the world

 

http://www.zoo-munich.de/index.php?page=102405&v=100003

 

(and wonderful playgrounds in there too, DD has more interest in the playgrounds than in the animals).

 

A fairly new attraction for kids is the Sealife Aquarium which is located in the Olympiapark (the area where the Olympics of 1972 took place)

 

http://www.sealifeeurope.com/language.php?lang=en

 

But expect long queues there. And I´ve seen better aquariums in the US.

 

The Olympiapark is nice too

 

http://www.olympiapark-muenchen.de/?L=1

 

Go up the Olympic tower for a breathtaking view over the city up to the Alps. Ride one of the boats on the lake.

 

I also love climbing the church towers. The tower at St. Peters (downtown) has about 300 steps. The tower of Our Lady´s Church (Munich cathedral) and the one of the new townhall do have an elevator. Another fun thing is to climb the statue of the Bavaria located at the Oktoberfest grounds.

 

I´m sure I can come up with some more ideas.

 

For Passau and kids: Definitely do one of the boat rides on the local excursion boats.

 

steamboats

[lior]

HI AGAIn.

in passau we are alone.

we do valued you taking time and to write the info.

hope the weather will be nice to us.

we are booked at the marriot for our stay in munich.

(5 days).

yours

lior

[steamboats]

lior,

 

Are you talking about the Marriott at Berliner Straße (street)? Then you´ll be within a walking distance to the subway line U6. This line is getting you to Marienplatz, the main square in the downtown of Munich.

 

Also check

 

http://www.muenchen.de

 

for information. The Oktoberfest starts Sep 22nd this year. If you´re still there the kids definitely will have fun. But go in the afternoon not in the evening.

 

Close to Marienplatz you will also find the Viktualienmarkt, a fruit and vegetable market with lots of butcher shops and fish shops too. It´s also a nice place for a lite lunch.

 

As for Passau of course you have to go to the cathedral and listen to an organ concert on the world largest pipe organ.

 

steamboats

[lior]

TO STEAMBOATS

 

T H A N K Y O U!!!!!!!!

 

lior