rslinky

Don’t have an answer to your specific question, but have information. There are city shuttles that take you to the glacier. They are right outside when you get off the ship. They run on a regular schedule so you can stay choose when to go back to ship. And you can book the tram right there too. It’s been a few years since we did Alaska but I think the shuttles were about ten bucks. Very easy to do. You might prefer the control you have over your schedule this way.

FYI. From our experience, sailing the longer itineraries over Thanksgiving will result in far fewer children/teens. We did a ten day Panama Canal and there were very few.

Next door to main train station. Schweitzhof.

ROZ, Sketchers makes several waterproof shoes and low boots. I ordered a pair of waterproof sneakers and they are light and as comfy as all the sketchers I own. I will also be taking a pair of low waterproof hiking shoes. I figured if we have lots of rain, it might be good to have more than one pair for day use.

Going on our first river cruise so also first visit to Christmas Markets. We are sailing on Emerald and we know our itinerary of course, but not times in each stop. Dinner on the ship is at 7:00. So wondering if most of the time available for Markets is during the day. All the variables of when the ship is in motion, the fact that it gets dark early, etc, just wondering if on a December cruise if it is likely to have both day and night opportunities. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

For those needing boots/shoes, sketchers has waterproof shoes very reasonable. They would be useful whatever climate you have at home and serve their purpose on a river cruise too!

We are excited for our first river cruise in December. Basel to Amsterdam. Will have two days in Basel before we start cruising, plan to explore Basel and Colmar, France. Have waterproof shoes/boots, multiple layers to mix and match depending on the day. Only real prep left is reading a bit more about each stop so we know options. Have been in holiday prep mode too as everything must be done before we leave for the 11 days. All Christmas shopping is done, cards addressed and presents wrapped, So hoping to find wonderful gifts in the Markets and have most of next years shopping done too! With Christmas markets basically everyday, I have to hope I can be patient with our shopping so that I don’t run out of funds or space in luggage in the first few days of the trip. Of course, there is always shipping home. Have no tips as this is our first River cruise, but ready to hear from experienced Christmas market cruisers.

We did both Alaska and Panama Canal cruises with HAL. Loved both. Our Alaska was a land/sea and I wouldn’t want to do Alaska without the land portion. HAL has the best ship for viewing the inside passage. The Crows Nest. There are Panama itineraries that do a partial transient of the canal, and this is what we did on this cruise. Love Cartagena Columbia and Costa Rica. We did a Baltics on a different line and it was when two days in Russia was possible. But still worth going without that stop. Estonia, Sweden, Copenhagen, so much to see. For me there isn’t a wrong choice. Go where your mind and heart call you to go. And Enjoy.

American announced late summer that they were eliminating 1100 plus flights in the fall. I was lucky enough to have two of my four legs of a European flight eliminated. They tried to give me a two stop flight home thru London with a 50 minute connection time. My husband said no. At 84 he doesn’t run anymore! So we are staying an extra night before coming home to catch a flight the next day, no charge. Sometime you get people who really want to help and others who don’t. Glad you can relax about making your BA flight!

I have never once overpacked! I have, however, come home with unworn options!

Thanks for the responses. I am not overly sensitive to odors, but just that it is in Emerald’s terms of agreement as something for which they give no compensation, I thought maybe it was a frequent thing. Looking forward to this new experience.

We are doing out first river cruise in December. The paperwork we need to sign mentions that noise and odors are normal. Not concerned about noise, but has anyone experienced odors on the ship? On a small vessel it makes sense that exhaust, fuel and food smells could be more noticeable. Would hate to have eight days of sewer smells though. We are in a lower level cabin so don’t believe our small windows open.