notamermaid

Hello chelseacruiser,

as Hoyaheel has pointed out, the Christmas market cruises for 2014 have many cabins sold out already. So many people in America seem to book far in advance. However, a company you might not have looked at yet is Arosa, based in Germany. They had a good review (by a professional reviewer) recently, the link is somewhere here on cruisecritic. They have a website for the American market.

http://www.arosacruises.com/cruises/home.html

But the German website with different itineraries has an option to switch to English language, as well.

Just a tip from me, I have only seen the ships from a distant, yet.

notamermaid

Hello Got2Cruise,

I have yet to understand what the crucial difference between the two types of vessels might be. A longboat is, well, the old Viking way of exploring the seas and invading the rivers of Europe. See wikipedia for the history of the original longboat. The new ships built by Viking are a little longer than the older vessels while retaining the width, as, well, they cannot built them any wider, they would get problems in the older locks. But other companies build similarly-sized ships.

So what could be the real difference, why call it a longship rather than just a long ship?

Perhaps something an engineer or Viking representative can explain...

I have a certain feeling there might be some clever marketing involved here. The new ships all have names of Nordic gods and goddesses, remember?

Their website talks of innovation in style, space, etc.

All river cruise ships have the issue of making the most of the space available and, well, which company does not want to offer a stylish ship, I wonder?

Just my thoughts... at a time when the Viking Flusskreuzfahrten company ends trading on the 31 December 2013, Viking concentrating on the "Anglo-American" market.

notamermaid

Hello,

as the opinions are divided over this tour I would like to add something to the discussion. I fully admit I have never been there, but have been to Freiburg nearby and the Black Forest as such. The region is beautiful and has a feel of its own like you do not experience anywhere else on the Rhine cruise. If you want to see that, a bus tour 90 minutes each way sounds appealing (according to google maps a normal ride in the car only takes 50 minutes, though, one way).

Was there any commentary on the region and its history, anyone?

The Hofgut Sternen (the glass-blowing and cuckoo clock place) has a long tradition of tourism according to their website, for me that sounds to be on a par with Rüdesheim on the Rhine, where Germans have been travelling to for more than a hundred years. The area has had some importance during wars and the Hofgut is essentially an old coaching inn, turned 21st century, as I read it. There is also a modern hotel.

How much did you pay for this optional tour, anyone?

notamermaid

Hello banditoo,

by local operators I guess you mean the big companies based in Germany and other European companies.

There are, e.g. Transocean (see my signature), CroisiEurope, TUI, Arosa, etc. A couple more I cannot remember right now.

This is where it gets complicated: some companies only charter ships. So you have even more ships and companies actually offering cruises.

Some charter for the UK market, some for the German market. Some companies target the American market, meaning some ships are full of Americans, some have a mix of people from many countries (like my cruise on the Danube, Europeans from the North, East and the middle).

On top of that of course there are the companies that offer round trips and day trips, operating locally.

I suggest you have a good look round cruisecritic and use the google search engine with something like "Rhine river cruise tour" or similar, and of course, consult a good TA.

It is a busy river! :D

Have a good Christmas.

notamermaid

Not a white Christmas in the Middle Rhine valley this year.

Hello 4vettes,

hello FotoPeg,

the Rhine and Danube regions are divided from each other by the European water shed - which of course applies to a lot of smaller rivers as well. So the less-than-once-in-a-life-time flooding on the Danube this year was the equivalent of a once-in-ten-years flooding on the Rhine river. Roughly speaking.

Christmas time in Koblenz: this year saw IMO a reduction of quality and atmosphere of the Koblenz Christmas markets. However, I found the shopping centre in the town centre called Löhr-Center fantastically decorated. And: the Käthe Wohlfahrt shop had stalls there this year. If - next year - you miss the one in Rüdesheim there might be a chance the stalls will be back in Koblenz in 2014. Happy to enquire in November 2014 for anyone. :)

Perhaps not commonly known: the Viking ships normally always dock at Viking's own pier on the Rhine in Koblenz. Most other ships (perhaps 80%) dock on the Moselle river. The Moselle is just slightly closer to the old town.

Webcam overlooking the German corner:

http://www.bafg.de/php/deutsches-eck-gross.jpg

Have a Merry Christmas.

notamermaid

It is 48F now. Not exactly "Glühwein-weather". :D

Hello embracedbylife,

we greatly enjoyed being at our table of six on the Danube cruise, but then we had lovely laid back yet relatively reserved people to talk to.

About Rüdesheim: just an idea, but as you like being on your own in ports, you can actually do as the locals do and cross the river on the ferry roughly where the Christmas market is. Very short journey. There isn't that much to see on the other side - the town is called Bingen - but you get a different perspective and perhaps some nice photo shots. Car ferry runs frequently but check service in the evening. There are no bridges in the area, by the way.

Enjoy your trip.

notamermaid

Very mild and sunny today, has not rained in days here.

Hello Fotopeg,

glad to hear you got home savely and that the trip was fabulous.

The place you went to in Cologne must have been Peters Brauhaus. It has got its own website and looks like a splendid traditional well-kept brewery pub.

notamermaid

Another mild morning in the Rhine valley, water level relatively low for winter now, which leaves plenty of room for possible floods at the beginning of next year.

Hello TravelBugM,

Thank you for that link to Aaron Saunders on the Viking Baldur. I had read last week that they were planning this. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the Arosa trip reviewed earlier this month.

notamermaid

Hello frisbeewife,

As you mention finances I would like to point out that the river cruises early in the year are often a little cheaper but as regards the Rhine and Danube you have a higher risk of flooding in April and the landscape might still be a little wintery. I would also not travel in mid-November as the landscape is again not so spectacular and there are no Chrismas markets open yet. Having said that, people on CC have favourably mentioned the Holland spring cruises.

Or have a look at the google pictures option when you check out the itineraries perhaps something will stick out that you want to see.

For wine and European (and Roman) history I would recommend looking at the Southern France cruises. I admit I prefer French wines to German ones...

And sticking to the shorter itineraries is a good advice. You could even go as far a looking at the European companies that offer 5-day-cruises.

notamermaid

Hello Peg,

according to marinetraffic you are not alone in Rüdesheim tonight! Right next to you is the Viking Forseti. I could not see anybody on rollcall on that ship. Have you met some fellow Viking travellers?

Enjoy the Middley Rhine Valley with all its castles tommorrow.

notamermaid

Hello H2Otstr,

first the luggage, then the accident. I sincerely hope that this are all the hiccups you will encounter on this trip! Glad to hear you are able to continue your cruise.

Have a good night's rest.

notamermaid

Hello,

big towns now often give you the option of a self-guided audio tour. They are normally available through tourist information centres. Most of the the places you visit on this cruise have good English websites. If you have special interests it might be worth enquiring at those places by e-mail or asking here in the forum.

Please note: the Marksburg castle is popular with cruisecritic members and worth the outing, but you cannot do this on your own really. The Marksburg can only be visited as part of an official guided tour.

notamermaid

45 F and sunny.

Hello,

A class action is being instigated against Scenic Tours / Evergreen Tours in Australia.

 

Check the link for further information

 

http://www.somervillelegal.com.au/page16858/Scenic-Tours-Class-Action.aspx

this is going to be interesting as there is always the issue of who can be - and to what extent - be held responsible for the natural risks on holidays, river levels in this case.

Living in the area affected during spring and summer I have my personal view on this, of course.

But how a company reacts to such impending risks and during flooding, i.e. their conduct towards their passengers and customers is another matter and with Scenic here in this case I very much welcome that someone is seeing into this from a legal point.

Please keep us posted.

notamermaid

Hello,

A second vote for this place. It is cute and reasonably priced. We were the only Americans there, surprising since it is right by the cathedral,but most people seemed to be locals.

Yes, Café Greindl, that's the place I meant. :D Had forgotten the name. :o

You go through a passageway to the Café, right there on the left is a shop fuuulll of chocolate. Irresistible!

The café has a lovely view as well as an unusual interior and is off the (English-speaking) beaten track.

notamermaid

46 F today.

Hello,

Arosa has only been targeting the American market for a year and have perhaps slightly different dates or itineraries to the other companies. They are still "experimenting", i.e. changing things in 2014 from 2013 experiences. They are worth checking out. Perhaps have a look at the review currently running concerning the Arosa Silva. You find the link in the thread concering Arosa incentives.

notamermaid

Hello,

as websites are not always updated regularly, perhaps you could send an e-mail to the tourist information centre in Passau? Or phone them, they are used to tourists and English-speaking guests. :)

The web page is: http://english.passau.de/Home.aspx

Just navigate from there. And while writing this I can see a nice cruise on the webcam docking right in the foreground. :)

I like the quirky bistro café next to St. Peter's church, but it is not a typical restaurant.

Have a great cruise.

notamermaid

It has started snowing in the Middle Rhine valley!

Hello,

I am puzzled by this ship and its cruises. Renamed and declared a luxury cruise ship, cruisecritic has a review but it is not clear when this was written. As a luxury cruise ship should it not be doing Christmas markets and festive cruises, one might wonder? Yes it should and was supposed too:

According to an internet booking agent it is chartered to do short Christmas market trips along the Rhine, but has not left its current dock for weeks (according to marinetraffic). The charter company ewaterways does not list any cruises on board the Royal Crown, though.

The vessel had been sold to a Dutch company which I believe went bankrupt in 2011, the ship is registered in Hamburg.

The Royal Crown did sail in Summer, having also been affected by the flooding in June.

I would have been interested in such a Christmas market tour.

Its sister ship the River Cloud II wiil be sailing the Danube next year and is doing fine.

Anybody know anything about this?

Thank you.

notamermaid

Hello,

The European river cruise companies, when they market to Europeans, are not all-inclusive. But you will have to be able to understand German or French.

It is correct that the European cruise lines are not all-inclusive when marketing to Europeans. Safe for party cruises. We had optional excursions and had to pay for drinks.

I do not agree though that you have to be able to speak German or French. My cruise on the Belvedere was bilingual (i.e. German and English) in commentaries on-board and all the tours. And the waiters were also comfortable using both languages, even mixing tables with German natives and English-speaking guests. However the guests were a European mix, so all kinds of accents. It was fun! :)

From what the cruise manager told me those European guests had booked online.

The Transocean catalogue can be accessed online. Look for the Union Jack icon. But your default settings might give you the English site straight away.

Other European cruise lines also accommodate for international customers. And you could look into how the UK cruise operators charter the ships, i.e. if they offer the not all-inclusive cruises.

A good one to look into is also Arosa. That company has actually started targeting the American market. Their website also has an English version.

notamermaid

Foggy this morning, visibility quite reduced (not much landscape to be seen), dry. 35F.

Hello,

This is all true. You can minimize it by taking the Amsterdam to Basel (or vice versa) itinerary, which most river cruise lines offer. Not very many locks (and we didn't even notice them on the few occasions we went through at night). And less chance of flooding affecting your itinerary (at least based on this year).

Basel-Amsterdam (or vice versa) is - I believe - the tour with the fewest locks, yes. If you choose an itinerary that does just Cologne and the Middle Rhine valley (not many do that type for the American market) there are none.

As regards the water level: it is not possible to say whether the Rhine or Danube might be less likely to flood in any year. Statistics also slightly change with every year that has passed, of course. No way of knowing. All anyone - including experts - can tell is the overall tendency towards more flooding. And what the situation will be like in the next week...

notamermaid

Temperature 43F now. Getting a little sunnier. No need for snow boots. :D

Hello talisker,

Dear ingo,

I am sorry to disagree with you, but we are booked on an Elbe River cruise with Vantage in 2014. Here is the title of the cruise:

Cruising the Elbe River: Berlin, Dresden & Prague

I found your cruise on the Vantage website. Is the itinerary new perhaps? Things are changing every new year in river cruising. Arosa getting into the American market, TUI expanding with hopes of getting onto the French rivers in 2015, for example. And that is just the German companies / crusie lines.

Back on topic: German cruise lines do not tend to have these aggressive advertising styles, so far I have not heard of a 2-for-1 offer (perhaps someone else has?) here. We tend to get early booking reductions, or reductions or vouchers when you book at a tourism fair. Also full payment a year in advance is a no-go really. The small print in the catalogues gives a detailed breakdown of how much they expect you to pay in advance. I get the feeling customer protection laws are different from the US.

notamermaid

Hello cruisejunky,

having about 30 Christams markets to choose from within four weeks and within 50 miles of where I live I am biased towards the Rhine area. A land trip is a great chance to explore markets that are within reach of the river cruise lines. Therefore check out some along the Rhine or Moselle and go further inland. Having said that, Munich sounds a great option. You are more likely to get lots of snow in Bavaria than in the Rhine area.

A site to explore with tipps on markets in castles, palaces and short ones only opening on a specific weekend is this. Though beware of inaccuracies, no guarantees for the information contained.

http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/

Also perhaps have a look at the local cruise companies overing day trips or evening round trips with festive fare. One for the Rhine is:

http://www.k-d.com/en/home/

My favourite weekend market at the moment is Traben-Trarbach on the Moselle. The Christmas market is in the old wine cellars.

Enjoy the planning, lots of opportunities to chose from!

notamermaid

Hello orangeterebear,

We've just booked our first river cruise! Leaving 12/27/13 from Amsterdam. Anyone else joining us or have any sage advice?

Your counter says 25th December, but you say 27th. Are you leaving the States on the 25th?

If you have a detailed itinerary yet, check the times when you are in the respective ports of call. Some still have Christmas markets or ice rinks open. Almost all Christmas markets close on the 23rd in Germany. Worth looking at the Amsterdam official website how they celebrate:

http://www.amsterdam.info/events/christmas/

As you will be travelling shortly after the winter solstice there won't be much sunlight, or sunshine possibly. Sunrise on Monday is at 8.10am and sunset at 4.28pm. Still getting less and less of course.

I assume you will be celebrating New Year's Eve on the ship. If you are in Germany then, you will hopefully be moored in a place with lots of fireworks displays by the locals. Must be fantastic seeing them from the ship!

Enjoy your cruise.

notamermaid

River water level still falling slightly. Fine for sailing.

Hello steamboats,

Thank you for specifing. Around my area only the supermarkets are open after 2pm on the 24th. Yes, some museums could be open on the 26th, have never heard of one to be willing to open on the 25th!

River and specific itinerary would be good to know, yes. Has seaofwonder actually chosen yet? :confused:

If you are willing to give this away: whereabout do you live? Großstädter, Kleinstädter oder Dorf? :D

notamermaid from the Rhine valley

Hello,

You really need to contact the cruise line to find out what they are doing on those days.

I definitely agree. This is really a Christmas cruise rather than a Christmas market cruise. Itinerary has to be adjusted as ports of call tend to shut down on 24 December and almost nothing is open on 25 and 26 December. No matter where you go on the European mainland. You might find museums and castles closed and churches closed to guided tours, for example.

I would look carefully into how the cruise line wants to entertain you with what type of celebratory meals over Christmas.

notamermaid

Hello,

Hi

This is my first posting, so please be patient.

I wish to take my wife on the best quality European River Cruise available...please can you suggest the best cruise line to use to achieve my goals...Many thanks

I have just noticed that you are in Britain. Have you talked to a couple of TA's in your area? Try a big Thomas Cook and a different independent TA perhaps and get brochures to see what might strike your wife as a "must see".

As you are trying to find the best, do not go for rivercruiseline based in the UK, that is my judgement based on the ship I saw moored on the Rhine recently and the critical posts here on CC.

notamermaid

P.S.: Viking also advertises heavily in Britain, even on television. I wonder how much money goes into that. :(