bellemere

We did the crossing on Queen Mary 2 in August 2015 on a sunny day. We did the Halifax Titanic Historical tour with Paul McNeil. A great tour of the city. Yes, there are shops and restaurants along the board walk and nice area to walk along the area where the ship is docked.

Why doesn't Cunard ships stop at Easter Island? It is listed as a cruise by.

Thanks.

We used Viking Air Plus for our Christmas markets cruise in December 2016.

Flights were great but the seats kept changing.

Each time I called the airlines and talked with them. They could not explain the reason seats had changed. They would change them back. I talked with Viking as well and they could not explain the changes either. To add to the mystery it was only the leg from Philadelphia to Budapest. The equipment for the flight nor had the times been changed at any time.

This happened four times before we left.

So each month I would check till the last month and then weekly till we left.

It never hurts to make sure everything stays the same.

We did the same thing as Valley Girl of Va.

It was very easy and inexpensive. We got our tickets ahead of time before we left the states. There was a sign on a post right outside of the Nuremberg Train Station where to wait for the bus. Bus was clean with an attendant who saw to our needs besides the driver. Very quick and relaxing. We were dropped off in front of the Prague station. If you use a cab in Prague get it from the taxi stand and then make sure you know what it will cost and there is a meter in the cab.

We also saw it yesterday on the comics page of our local city paper.

Nothing like free publicity.

Before your see them, you might want to read the book, The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts published in 2016. It tells the true story of how the horses and the school were saved during World War II. Americans played a role in saving them.

We did this river cruise with Viking in late April 2016. Yes the excursions had changed from the years before so not sure what you will have. On arrival day went into Amsterdam to New Church on Dam Square and bought 2 museumkarts. They were good at 400 + places in the Netherlands.

Following the cruise we spend a long weekend in Amsterdam by ourselves and it worked very well to have the museum cards. We used it the first day to see the church and the Royal Palace then back to the ship to do an intro walk with a guide of Amsterdam. As I recall on the intro walk, we did not go into anything but gave us a good chance to see Red Light District and areas around the Dam Square. Next morning tour was a canal boat ride and a walking tour of WesterKerk and Jordan area. We went in the church on our free time.

That afternoon we went to Delft and it was market day. I went to the flower market and bought 5 or 6 dozen tulips that had not opened yet for 6 euros. During the trip, they slowly opened.

Did the walking tour with Viking and toured the small delft factory right in town where we learned how to tell the real delft and had good walking tour of the town. During our free time we shopped and visited a church and had a stroopwaffle.

Next day - Arrived early in Hoorn, so we got off the ship by ourselves and just walked around the town by ourselves. Had a good 1 1/2 guided walking tour with Viking. We also did the home tour in historic area of Hoorn. After lunch we did the Tulips and Windmills excursion. We went to a family farm which does tulips and seed potatoes. We really enjoyed this. The farmer's wife did the tour. She did a presentation on raising tulips while we sat at tables and had tea with little tea pastries. She encouraged us to stand in the fields of tulips and take pictures. We also toured their factory where bulbs and tulips are prepared for market. We were pleasantly surprised how much we enjoyed it.Then it was down the road to her friend's house where she explained their potato farm and their turbo windmill. We actually went inside the turbo windmill.

Next day enjoyed our trip to Palais Het Loo. Nice tour of gardens and building. Afternoon we did the Operation Garden excursion since we both enjoy the history of World War II. Did the cemetery and visited the Hartenstein Museum.

Next day - Kinderdyk a must see. You do go in one of the windmills and they have a presentation they give in a separate building besides a guided walking tour to the windmills. We had already done this so we were hoping to do the excursion to see them make cheese but since it was Sunday the place does not do it on Sunday.

Next day - Antwerp - Good walking tour. Viking paid for us to go into Cathedral of our Lady. Don't miss paintings by Ruben. Woodwork of choir and pulpit should not be missed. Only had about 15 minutes to visit shops. After lunch we did the optional excursion, Delicious Antwerp. We enjoyed this excursion.

Next day Brugee. Walking tour covered a lot of area. We did not have time to go into the Church of our Lady. We had 40 minutes free time. Good overview if you want to return for later visit.

Next day - Watersnood Museum, Veere, and Delta works. We enjoyed them all. Went in the museum and free time in this little town of Veere. I think at the Delta works we just got off the bus and looked around. Very, very windy there.

Next Day - Keukenhof Gardens. We arrived early because when we were leaving, people were really coming into the gardens. We were here on April 28th. the gardens were in full bloom. Simple walking tour and then on your own. Had plenty of time.

We took optional excursion to Haarlem. Wonderful lunch included with visit to Frans Hal Museum and a walking tour. We did the church on our free time. Excursion was just okay not grand.

We had rain, ice pellet rain, snow, wind, and sunshine. Fellow passengers were looking for places to buy gloves, hats and warm jackets. We always take a good goretex jacket and then layer underneath. Yes, we had our hats and gloves. We were pleasantly surprise how much we enjoyed this trip with Viking. Our weekend in Amsterdam was a perfect end to our trip.

Unless the rules have changed, you will need a visa if you are longer than three days in Russia or if you elect to go ashore by yourself during the three day period. The three day rule of not having visa applies if you are on a tour but once you go over three days you need a visa. When we did our Baltic cruise with Cunard and stopped in St. Petersburg, we did not need a visa since we were in port less than three days and when we went ashore we were on a tour from the ship.

When we did Viking River cruises, Waterways of the Tsars we did need the visa. The application is quite lengthy and asked for very detailed information.

We enjoyed our cruise. The only part that I would like for Viking to change is docking closer to St. Petersburg so less time on the bus. But think they do not have any control over the situation. The home visit in St. Petersburg was not to be missed but is was an optional excursion.

Our first Christmas Markets river cruise was on the Danube with Tauck which hooked us on the markets and this time of year to do the river. We have also enjoyed our Rhine River Christmas Market trips and the middle part of Germany trips with Viking. When it snows, it only enhances the experience. I remember traveling by train from Fussen to Berlin in the snow. Very magical. Yes, the mugs are great souvenirs to bring home and the wooden products from the eastern part of Germany. We have always dressed in layers and definite take some type of long underwear with outer coat that is moisture proof. While we have gone with gloves and hats which you need, they are some wonderful hats to buy at the markets that we do not see in the states.

The sausages, potato pancakes and chimney cakes are favorites of ours at the markets. It is less busy during the day but at night the lights are the attraction. Not to be missed.

Thank you for your comments about your trip. Did you have the sausages by the bridge in Regensburg? Where did you dock in Vienna? Want to take public transportation to Schonbrunn.

We booked our barge trip in France thru Barge Lady Cruises out of Chicago. She represents different size barges in France and other countries in Europe.

Our barge trip is one of most favorite vacations we have taken.

http://www.bargeladycruises.com

If you are just back from a 2016 Danube River Christmas Markets cruise, how was the river levels? What was your favorite Christmas Market? Is there anything you did or ate that should not be missed?

Thanks for sharing.

We have enjoyed getting the cash discount when we book another trip within the year and also the year later cash discount is smaller but still something. Every little bit helps. We have also bought the vouchers on board for $100 which are worth $200 when you use them to book another trip.

We have also received a welcome back gift from Viking right before we take another trip with them.

Just call Viking River cruises and they can email you a possible schedule. You have to realize it can change due to traffic on the river and the river. It is a tentative schedule but was glad to get the information.

Thanks for asking the question. We missed it on our first trip on the Danube.

Thank your for sharing your experience with this shuttle. Just wondering since the voyage is sold out.

We will be using the Cunard transfer from the Royal Santina Hotel to Civitavecchia. We are told to arrive by 12:00 noon and will depart at 12:30.

Do we need to arrive earlier than noon?

Do they meet in the lobby of the hotel?

We have done the Cunard transfer from London to Southampton several times and worked great. We found getting there earlier allowed us to get on the first bus out of London.

Is there more than one bus from Rome?

Thanks for your help.

When we check in on the first day, we request bathrobes and slippers.

We also ask for bar soap for the shower.

Always taken care of the first day.

Have a wonderful trip.

You will receive a booklet with your final papers that gives you a lot of information about the trip and ship.

You will receive a booklet with your final documents that answers all types of questions.

There is a section on tipping and recommended amounts per person per day.

Yes, you can put on your charge card when you settle your final bill on the ship. Also you will be given two envelopes for tipping that you can use if not wanting to put on your credit card. One is for the crew and the other for the cruise director. This is a great way to get rid of foreign currency. Yes, you can do both, credit card and envelopes.

We did this cruise in late April of 2016.

We had a wonderful time. It was the perfect time for the tulips.

However, we had all kinds of weather. Rain, ice, and snow but it was not constantly so it did not interrupt our excursions or our enjoyment.

Be sure if traveling in March and April to take winter hats and gloves and a weatherproof jacket. You can always layer underneath your jacket with sweaters. Some of the passengers were buying jackets, gloves, and hats to wear. Hats and gloves take up so little space why not pack them.

When we went to Delft on the second or third day, I purposely found a flower market and bought 5 dozen tulips for 6 euros. I took the flowers back to the ship because I wanted tulips in our room while we were sailing. As we boarded the Viking ship on our return, the concierge asked if I needed a vase. Within 5 minutes, a steward was at our door with a large vase with water. They lasted the whole trip.

I can echo what Ab Ovo has said about the Cunard bus to Southampton.

We have used the Cunard bus from Victoria Bus Station to the Southampton for 2 westbound crossings.

Very efficient.

We go early so we can be on the first bus out.

The bus is comfortable and luggage is taken care of for you.

You pull right into the cruise terminal in Southampton and begin your process of checking in to the ship.

Best part you do not have to worry about missing the ship if something happens with the traffic, bus, etc or having to give directions where the cab is to take you in Southampton.

Once we are on the bus, we just relax because our Queen Mary 2 adventure has begun.

Our first experience was with the Queen Elizabeth II for our 25 wedding anniversary and it is why all these years later we continue to return to the grand ships of Cunard.

Thank you.

Are the 7 new cocktails named for the different commodores being served in all Commodore Clubs or just on the Queen Mary 2?

Thanks.

You might want to see the buildings and monuments that are association with the Titanic. The link is a map to the Titanic Trail

http://seacitymuseum.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Titanic-Trail-MAY.pdf

You might want to stop into a pub called The Grapes which has a tie with the history of the Titanic.