notamermaid

I just throw in a brief report on water levels. Maxau gauge up and down at pleasant levels over the mean. Kaub gauge stable above 200cm for the next week or so. All good. Temperatures are pleasant, single or double digits during the afternoon, intermittent rain. Trees are blooming more and more, fruit trees have started.White blossoms are slowly filling gardens and parks. And if you like Japanese cherry blossoms then bookmark this website and check in over the next two weeks to see the spectacle in Bonn virtually: http://www.kirschbluete-bonn.de/blog-3/ notamermaid

Interesting. I have looked at some English language youtube videos on German river cruise lines recently. Nicko does a very good job on the German market, but overall I would say that Viva Cruises will be a better fit for most North Americans. I agree. Not sure what the ratio is but Viva Cruises will in all likelihood still have a large proportion of Germans and also some Europeans on board. As far as I know Viva Cruises is bi-lingual rather than dedicating some itinerary dates to the international market. Until a few years ago I had no idea just how many Americans have either direct German ancestors or marry into that ancestry. You know, you may trace your family and everyone is Irish/English/French/Polish or whatever and then you meet the love of your life whose grandparents came from a tiny village in the Palatinate (which is the second half in the state name Rhineland-Palatinate). There are dedicated local amateur historians in the Rhineland and elsewhere, some have gone to great lengths writing brochures or entire books on the topic. Alexander Emmerich is a professional historian renowned for his books on North America and especially the Germans emigrating to the US. He wrote a biography on John Jacob Astor. notamermaid

For those stopping in Koblenz. Most river cruise ships dock on the Moselle in Koblenz, rather than on the Rhine. This is Deutsches Eck: https://www.visit-koblenz.de/en/sights/deutsches-eck You are looking up the Moselle in this photo. For a view of your river cruise ship and the skyline of Koblenz head onto Balduin bridge: https://www.koblenz-touristik.de/geschaeftsfelder/hafen You can see this at the right side of the photo. The Balduin bridge is old, unfortunately it lost nearly one half of its old pillars to make passage for ships onto the Moselle easier. It is also the approach to the first lock (or last one, looking downstream) on the Moselle. Here is an aerial photo: notamermaid

Cochem and Bernkastel-Kues are the right places for you then, and Trier will blow you away. https://www.zentrum-der-antike.de/en/home/ Boppard has Roman history (a fort) as well and there is an exhibition in the local museum (have not seen that one). notamermaid

Thank you for the praise. Trying my best. There are still a few things about the Moselle I want to find out and cannot seem to get the answers to. I may make a couple of slightly annoying, nosy phone calls at the federal authorities some time, keeping employees from doing proper work. I have had a closer look at your itinerary. Some great options in there. I would be spoilt for choice in Boppard! The Oberlahnstein brewery I have been to, nice place, but the other excursions sound great, too. Eberbach Abbey near Rüdesheim is great. To stay in Trier or go to Luxembourg? Difficult choice. Bernkastel-Kues is pleasant, albeit a bit touristy. I intend to go there this spring again to see the birthplace of Nicholas of Cusa, i.e. an old building on the banks of the river at Kues. notamermaid

Yes. The Main and Moselle river differ in that respect. On the Main the bridges are often lower than on the Moselle. From what I have understood, the frequency of the bridges on the Main means that it is easier for the crew to keep the sun deck closed for long periods. Policy on that will differ from cruise line to cruise line and also depend a bit on the ship structure. But more on that is in the Main thread. On the Moselle the bridges give the ships more headroom so in standard conditions the Moselle is fine whereas on the Main it is very often the case to have too little headroom so that the sun deck is a safety issue. Both rivers are kept at a certain level for shipping and that is achieved of course by the many locks. In that both rivers are the same on all river cruising itineraries. So on both rivers low water is not an issue - both mouths of them aside, as those short stretches are affected by the level of the Rhine. Call it fine 99 percent of the time. This I think is a very likely scenario. notamermaid

Welcome to Cruisecritic. A great time to be on the river with Spring fully there and the weather normally stable and pleasant. Have a great cruise. notamermaid

Thanks. Actually, I was just referring to the beer, did not see the u Umlaut thing as my brain tells my finger to go straight to that key on my German keyboard. The Scenic cruise options look nice, the new Douro ones perhaps being the most attractive for those that are looking for something different and active. Melk Abbey was stunning already, with its spiral staircase a gem, would love to see Gottweig Abbey. notamermaid

@Host Jazzbeau quick note regarding your post: it is Altbier in Düsseldorf. notamermaid

There are many docking locations on the Danube in Germany and Austria. And many of those are managed by "Donau Schiffsstationen GmbH". I missed this at the time, the Melk one got revamped in 2022. This is what it looks like: https://www.donaustationen.at/en/current-information/hafenspitz-melk-has-opened-62/ The view of Melk Abbey is stunning. More or less opposite Melk is the place called Emmersdorf an der Donau. River cruise ships can dock there, too. We will have a look at that in more detail. notamermaid

I see. Misunderstood the last question of your post. I wonder if there is a term for Avalon if Viking is "Walmart". It reminds me that a couple of folks have posted in the last year or two that there is supposed to be not enough room (seating) for all passengers in the lounge during the information talks when the ship is fully booked. True or not, the crowded feel is obviously there. notamermaid

I cannot compare the cruise lines but can compare the itineraries. You are looking at two considerably different routes although both are in Western Europe and here in the realm of the Rhine and its tributaries. The first is three countries (via a short sail into Germany), the second is four countries. The first is on elevations barely above 60m (excursions get you higher), the second is over 200m (at Basel) with the hills close by and excursions taking you quite a bit higher. The first is culturally a closer unit, meaning Low German/Dutch/Flemish, the second is a more varied mix of Germanic and Alsatian/French. For want of a better comparison. The first gives you beer mostly, the second wine and beer. The first is longer in days than the second. It depends on what you would like to focus on. I regard them both as interesting itineraries. notamermaid

Whooheyy! Or something. Means I am a bit surprised and happy that I am right about Boppard. Great to read that you will see this splendid part of "my" river. An added bonus to the itinerary. Enjoy. Just a quick note about the Main river. There is a thread https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2670259-the-river-main-infos-and-river-cruising-experiences/ in which you will read that the river has so many low bridges that the sundeck may be closed for a long time while you are sailing. Most ships are too high for the superstructure to stay up, that is the wheelhouse (which will be lowered as needed) and the tarpaulins (for hiding from rain and sun) and even potentially the railings. That is something not unique to the Main, but there it is kind of standard. On the Rhine this is almost never a problem. Another bridge that is sometimes a problem, i.e. when the river level gets high, is the one at Passau. More details on that are in the Danube thread. notamermaid

First river cruise and on Viva Cruises sounds unusual. Are you in Europe? Viva Cruises have recently been targeting the North American market but are far from a household name there yet. notamermaid

Welcome to Cruisecritic. It is tricky. All in all, a river cruise is not a good option for people with mobility issues. But it is manageable. As the previous posters have said, the stones and stairs are a problem. Assume that you will encounter stairs that you will have to navigate. The advertising that you can walk off the boat into town only gives you the best pictures and words, i.e. the loveliest scenario that is not incorrect but just, you know, the ideal... The problem I see is with the river cruise that does not go as planned due to lock issues, strikes and other delays or water levels. It may be uncomfortable. I would not go with a long itinerary that would have a lot of hours on a coach as a result. Not sure if a return trip would be a better option than a town A to town B cruise. On the Moselle towns and villages are accessible well and you do not get low water issues. The Netherlands are also good for more flat terrain but cobblestones tend to be omnipresent in old towns. You may want to look at the ships in more detail as some are split-level, meaning it involves steps to get from cabin to restaurant no matter what level your cabin is on (lifts are available but remember that these normally do not go to the sundeck). Would you be willing to also consult a TA familiar with river cruises apart from the great advice you will receive here from past cruisers? It could help narrow down where your interests lie and what is doable. Edit: just seen your response regarding hand rail. That is good, so ships should not be a problem. Getting of the boat is a bit trickier but hand rails are usually available. Crew are also there for assistance of course. Have fun planning. notamermaid

I see. Hmm, I would not put it such words as you say, but I do not like Rüdesheim either. The cable car is great if you enjoy heights and views but other than that I cannot see that sailing the distance from Mainz, here I mean mouth of the river Main, to Rüdesheim is merited by what you get to see. I regard Bingen (on the other river bank) and Eltville (nearby town) as superior in interesting cultural aspects. Yet, if one enjoys the old charm of a town that lives from wine and of wine/river tourists including day trippers then it is pleasant enough. It is not for me. For anyone new to "alternative" towns, here is a thread on them: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2516698-rhine-beyond-the-standard-ports/ Both Bingen and Eltville are featured. notamermaid

Quick interlude and return to a topic of last year - the accident at Iffezheim lock. This was major and it may well affect you slightly this year on an itinerary as at Iffezheim still only one lock chamber is usable. One gate at the second lock was severely damaged when a ship hit it and will now finally be replaced. This is a German news article: https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/karlsruhe/schleuse-iffezheim-reparatur-nach-schiffsunfall-rhein-100.html notamermaid

That is interesting. So you did not go to Rüdesheim and a bit further. Have seen a couple of itineraries where there was a sailing into the Gorge. Down to Boppard and then back to Mainz is a good way of doing this, one does not need to go all the way to Koblenz. notamermaid

Hello to you in Melbourne. That is one of the itineraries that I put in the "Grand European" category, but it is an unusual one. Sailing from Basel to just before Mainz and then "turning right" to sail the Main and all the way to Budapest on the Danube is an interesting variation. Will there be a short trip into the Rhine Gorge either sailing or by coach? If you sail straight onto the Main river you will not see it. notamermaid

A-Rosa have been busy finding new excursion options. This is the news article: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tour-operators/a-rosa-adds-50-extra-excursions-to-2024-programme More info is available from the company press release: https://www.arosa-*****/fileadmin/media/presse/PM/2024/KW09/A-ROSA_PR_New_Excursions_26.02.2024.pdf notamermaid

Welcome to Cruisecritic. I was also going to suggest a "Grossraumtaxi" for your group. Many train options indeed and Munich is a great city to explore. If you rent a car and would like to explore smaller places then the villages of the Bavarian Forest are nice. But the Alpine region is more spectacular. If you have any questions about Vilshofen you can also contact the tourist-information centre: https://www.vilshofen.de/index.php/kontakt-tourismus-information Have fun planning. notamermaid

Yesterday I was in the hilly region of the Westerwald in the North of my state. While I was sitting in a café far away from any river cruise and even a navigable river I thought that it is a shame that so many little known places you will likely never be offered to see during an excursion. And then I remembered something I read about A-Rosa. I will post this in the thread about the popularity of river cruising but here are more details about this. This is the original news article I saw: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tour-operators/a-rosa-adds-50-extra-excursions-to-2024-programme Not many details, but "Idar-Oberstein" caught my eye, so I checked A-Rosa: https://www.arosa-*****/fileadmin/media/presse/PM/2024/KW09/A-ROSA_PR_New_Excursions_26.02.2024.pdf And there is the info: "Alternatively, there is a new group excursion from Trier to the historic gemstone city of Idar-Oberstein and the possibility to marvel at over 100 historic airplanes from aviation history in a nearby museum after." Idar-Oberstein is literally a gem town, you will find the gem stone museum there: https://www.edelsteinland.de/en/sightseeing/all-sights-and-attractions/jewellery-and-gemstone-town-of-idar-oberstein-kopie.html But that place of aviation history?? I found it, it is a private museum and what a place it is. You can find it in nearby Hermeskeil. This is the website with video: https://www.flugausstellung.de/ They have a "Tante Ju" and a replica of the Concorde, among many other historic objects. I really like that A-Rosa has been adding these rarer places. Probably sheer coincidence that we had a conversation here on CC about Idar-Oberstein a couple of years ago discussing it as a possible excursion... The Palace of Gödöllö in Hungary by the way was offered as an excursion on my river cruise in 2013 (another German company). I am surprised this has so far not been part of the A-Rosa portfolio. notamermaid

The magnolia tree is doing well, already looking more pink than on Wednesday (see post further above). Kaub gauge long-term forecast is really looking good, stable and pleasant. Ships are getting ready to sail to ports to pick up their first passengers of the season, more by the day (the sailings that is). In Cologne Niehl the dock is still full with ships but they will soon leave one after the other: One Viking river cruise ship left this popular winter harbour earlier today, the Viking Ullur. The S.S.Antoinette is docking in Cologne just North of Hohenzollern Bridge tonight. And exciting news: the Amina is signalling in Gendt! Not sure if she is still on test runs or now ready and out and about on the river proper. She is the new ship of Phoenix Reisen and will be christened in Bonn on 3 April. This her inaugural sailing is two nights, Bonn to Rüdesheim return, and is sold out. After that she will, typically for this time of year, sail the Netherlands on five day trips, before transferring on a long itinerary to the Danube, a sailing from Cologne to Passau in May. notamermaid

For my river cruise I used a TA and the advice I got was useful. I travelled by train so booked that in addition to the river cruise from her and it was really convenient. I could have done it myself but I was happy to hand booking the package over to a professional. You may feel the same about sorting out flights - you intend to stay longer in Europe so could there be a transfer which may be good if your TA did it? As regards specifics for the US I of course need to leave that to others to answer. I cannot think of a better time to see the Rhine - unless it is for magical Christmas markets. Of the two itineraries, which look the same at first glance and only differ in sailing direction, I prefer the Enchanting Rhine one. Details matter, and with this one it matters to me that the description says Burg Lahneck. You will be the only tour group there of all international river cruise passengers (and I am not sure if the owners have German river cruise passenger groups at all). I have not been inside, but have read good things about it. The small restaurant serves really nice waffles (and other food) and the view over the valley is good: Have fun planning. notamermaid

Time to have a look at what the river did in February. This is Kaub gauge: We see highs and lows, coming and going, all due to rain basically, there has been no pronounced snow melt. It has been a mild winter all in all and temperatures in February did not vary much week on week. The winter has also officially been wetter than usual (which we may have guessed from the situation in December). The month ended on a level above mean water but far away from any level that would affect sailing. In the last week we have seen a further drop so we go into the river cruising season at a very pleasant level that is neither low nor high. Lake Constance gauge is running above the mean in the annual graph, so the Rhine's natural reservoir is filled well. notamermaid