Bake apple

1 hour ago, Turtles06 said:

Even if Viking goes forward, we may have many hurdles to overcome in securing the necessary approval to enter museums, etc. during the portions of our trip when we are on our own.

I understand your concerns and we have the same.  Canada has 6 times zones so it is not as if we have no where to travel within our own country but Europe certainly has myriad historical places that are not to be missed. We have cruised three times and on two of those spent a week in Amsterdam and area on our own before we cruised. Fabulous!  At the end we stayed a week in the Budapest area and again it was so very interesting and entertaining. We are anxious to once again explore Europe on a cruise and on our own but for us this year (so far) isn't the one. Still, fingers crossed, suitcases ready and comfy walking shoes polished.

We have cruised with Viking on three occasions and while I am not a strict vegetarian it is my preferred choice.  There were very good vegetarian options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and not just rice or pasta dishes which can often be all there is!! On our second cruise (Grand European) I happened to speak with the chef, when he did his evening visit to each table, about the great choices. He asked me to meet with him anytime to review other options he could offer. I asked for eggplant parmesan and got it. Yum.

Although I do eat fish or chicken, I had no problem selecting from the menus. The only time I was disappointed was during German Night where there was a lot of meats, bratwurst  and sausages etc. (my DH was in heaven). My fault, I should have spoken to the waiter or chef the day before. Not much of a deal breaker on a 14-day cruise all the same!! 🙂  If you notify Viking before you cruise they will contact you once on board to ensure you are well taken care of I believe. 

It has been only 15 or 16 days since I first started this thread and at the time we were really considering booking spring or summer 2022 cruise!! Well, since then  it has not been all that cheerful on the travel scene to be honest.  Here in Ontario we are back in pretty tight restrictions, schools closed etc etc. Very high virus cases each and every day now. Our government has issued a Travel Alert against all International Travel.  So the question I posed back two weeks ago: "what to do, what to do?" has been answered for now.  We are going to look at Fall 2022 to see if anything strikes our fancy otherwise it will be 2023. It is what it is and like everyone else we are weighing the risks and coming to a decision that is comfortable for us. Having said that, I received another River Cruise brochure in the mail this week and I did read every single page, twice!! 😁 

1 hour ago, Canal archive said:

Well we cannot go anywhere at the moment but never mind. We'll sort something for next year.

I had just read about that. So sorry. Our dear friends in Wales are hoping their brand new grand daughter can make a visit from London.  I think they may have travelled there last week to ensure a special visit.  Our government has announced a travel advisory against international travel so we are in the same "boat".

1 hour ago, pbeach said:

We're doing 2 US land tours with Tauck in 2022 then the 45 night Amawaterways cruise in 2023.

 

45 days!  I am green with envy, I must check out the AmaWaterways routes. That sounds like the trip of a lifetime. 🙂 

1 hour ago, bodl said:

Earlier this month, I converted river cruise credits from 2020 into ressies for a 2023 river cruise. I considered a 2022 cruise, but decided I’d rather play the upcoming year by ear, and schedule a number of long weekend (non-cruise) trips on short notice, leaving the bigger EuroRiverCruises to 2023.

We are also hanging on to credits and will use those in 2023 in Europe if all goes well. I  recently learned that if you look over previous vacation photos it will impact our brains and cheer us up!!  Not so sure of that as I looked at the Sacher Torte on the table in downtown Vienna. My husband said the same thing about this enormous glass of beer and a port hock he had in Prague. I need to stop taking photos of food!! LOL.  Can't wait to cruise again.

52 minutes ago, Gourmet Gal said:

Have 3 cruises booked and will go if the the ships go!  

Wow,  three cruises is awesome and we do hope it works out and you can enjoy cruising again. Fingers crossed for us all.

Happy Holidays.

12 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

My bike and barge of the Moselle was originally planned for May 2020. It was moved too September 2021, adjusted a few times and then cancelled. We are now booked for September 2022. If omicron is not an issue, I expect that we will go. Right now, the chances of testing positive outside of Canada and not being able to fly home is an issue.

We have been taking a look at the barge and bike trips on the Moselle!  Have a real interest and we may look a little more into that.  Notamermaid often writes about the beauty of the Moselle and I believe it is a worthy candidate for our next trip. We are anxious to get over to Europe again and miss not only the travelling there but the anticipation and research.  Hopefully you will get to do this trip and we would look forward to any reports you offer.  Happy Holidays.

We enjoy river cruising very much and before the pandemic had cruised three years in a row with two more booked and then sadly cancelled. Although we are anxious to get back on the rivers we probably won't until 2023. We have weighed the risks against the rise in cases and the protocols in place and decided to wait until Spring 2023.  I so hope things settle down and we are proven so very wrong to wait but are getting a little weary of saying "what to do what to do?".  What are your plans?

Sleep7 thank you both so much for taking us all along on your fabulous journey. You provided such wonderful descriptions and the photos were amazing. We have cruised the Danube twice and you brought it all back to us.  Wished we could have cruised with you because you have made the very best travel buddies.  Well done and many thanks again!!!

For the first times in many many months things are looking far better here in Canada's capital city. Today we had the lowest count of new cases in 2021 at 19.  Far fewer in hospital and ICU. It is so encouraging  that I have started to look at cruises again and making a few little pencil and paper plans on the two cruises we had  cancelled.  So thankful there IS a light at the end of this long tunnel.

Tomorrow I receive my second vaccine shot/jab. It was accelerated from 25 July so I feel I am getting a little bit of the summer back.  Having said that it is a real dog fight to get vaccines here right now; my 2 hours plus on the phone and laptop at the same time paid off.

A really hot few days here as well in the City, today it hit 33C/92F. We were all advised by Public Health to stay inside as much as we could; such irony given we have been told over and over and over to do just that. I did laugh.  So nice to have something to laugh about again. 😁

Stay safe everyone.

Bake Apple

We received the Pfizer.  Public Health sent out a email indicating that reservation would open the next morning at 8am for those 70 years of age and older.  I had our reservations within 10 minutes but by 11am, from what I read, all 26,000 doses were booked.  No adverse reactions except for a little tender at the injection site but a very big sense of relief!!!

Spring has arrived in Canada's capital city. How can I tell?  Crocuses and tulips are showing their flowery heads above chilly ground in a few sunny areas.  It will be warm and sunny all the week and the pot holes are growing ever deeper as fast as the weeds on my front lawn! 😜  Unfortunately the virus has really taken hold here and we are back into a very restrictive shut down mode; a week ago there were 25 new cases a day and now we are at 200 or thereabouts every day.

 Happily we received our first vaccine shots this past weekend so looking towards that light at the end of the tunnel. Second shot is schedule for third week of July.  But sadly no travel plans at all; we were scheduled for Vancouver to volunteer for the LPGA in late August but that is more than unlikely.  I continue to browse all the cruise e-mails and booklets all the same. Hope spring....

Stay safe everyone.

Well CA I think I need your blueprint for your celebrations.  We are celebrating our 50th during mid-May and had all these wonderful plans to cruise the Rhine again and wine taste ourselves into a standstill.  Now of course we are making a new plan and I like your style!!!

3 hours ago, Canal archive said:

Having all our family together mean time it’s our Golden wedding anniversary tomorrow and our girls have presented us with a list of times we’re having deliveries tomorrow. I also want to get back to river cruising. Good luck all.

Congratulations! So very very nice to read about the good things in our lives right now. Have a wonderful day. 🥂

Once we get somewhat past Covid and the world is a little safer I am looking forward to being with my family (yea!!!),  visiting close friends and a little local travel if possible. It has taken this horrible year to remind me that the everyday simple things,  taken for granted, are so often the best. Your wish list??

Thank you so much for this thread. I may not be travelling, this summer anyway,  on that beautiful river but I shall read your posts with interest. Much appreciate your comments and insights; it’s a pleasure to read and I look forward to new entries.  BTW: You are a great writer! 🙂🧐

Well today I actually opened the daily Viking River Cruises email, first one in months that I didn't just delete.  I thought I would take a peek at the 2023 cruises.  That seems such a very long ways out but still.....!  Perhaps it is the extra daylight morning and evening and the sunshine and the ever so slightly less news and grim statistics about Covid but I feel a little more optimistic about travelling again 'sometime in the future'. 😬  So very much looking forward to holding out my arm for the vaccine injection, I'm just waiting my turn!!!  Reminds me of that TV game show from years ago...."come on down, you're the next contestant...."

12 hours ago, franski said:

My daughter calls us "wimps" when we complain about weather like this... She is in Northern Manitoba - where the weather is often -29C *without* the windchill...  

 

Fran

She wins!!  As soon as it is warm enough to go to the post office I will mail her my extra duvet, ski mittens and month supply of my Air Activated Charcoal Instant Hand Warmers paks (available only to Canadians who go outside in -29C  wind chill 😵) . BTW: I have heard that Winnipeg is pronounced as "Winterpeg" is some areas.

Hi all, yes we still have COVID, paucity of vaccines, restrictions and Stay at Home modes but today we are just a little occupied with our weather. Yes, it can get really cold in Canada but take a peek at the temperatures here tonight. Talk about needing another log on the fire! Yep,  the wind chill tonight will be -29C / -20F!!

24 minutes ago, Canal archive said:

I’m with you thinking about no more river cruising I’ll give it till next year. We’re on our way to 9 million vaccinations about half a million are second jabs.
There are now more manufacturers vaccines coming on stream thank goodness. At least I had my jab today but my eldest lovely daughter was diagnosed with COVID and now that other nonsense with the EU I could cry but I won’t.

Chin up and go shopping! CA

I do hope your daughter recovers quickly and completely. Please let her know that your friends on CC are thinking of her.

Maybe it is the constant negative news and press about rising cases, mutated variants, lack of vaccine and a prolonged Stay At Home mode but I am slowing losing my confidence about river cruising again.  I would need to believe that everyone, passengers, crews, guides etc, will have been vaccinated. Also concerned about the towns, villages and places we would tour. I know it is early days yet and there is light at the end of this tunnel but right now it feels a bit iffy to gather in crowds for a long long time.  I believe that cruise lines will do everything they can to make it safe but still.  Am I suffering Covid fatigue or is the reality that our beloved form of travel may not come back as it was? You?

We have enjoyed three river cruises, all in Europe in the past five years.  Our fellow travelers were interesting, so pleasant to speak with and awesome dinner companions.  A great group of people.  Only one little annoyance that I recall: during one cruise when the sun deck was closed a lot of us would hang out in the lounge to read or check emails etc.  So, a group of eight travelers decided to hold a bridge afternoons, two tables and sadly they all thought we needed to hear every word of every play of every game. I know the lounge is large and there are lots of places to sit but I believe they could have been a bit more aware. Oh well, I would rather be cruising with bridge players than sitting here in Stay at Home mode!! 😀

Excellent question.  Our first ever river cruise was eight days in the south of France, five days cruising (mostly at night) and the rest docked. It was a good cruise but given the time, effort and cost to get to Europe from North America it was short. We knew we needed to add on some DIY vacationing at the end.  We learned that an eight day cruise was too short for us. 

So, for the next two years we booked 14-day cruises: Amsterdam to Budapest with a week first in Amsterdam; and, the second cruise was Budapest to Amsterdam with a week either side. That worked out much better because we had more time to explore Amsterdam & area, Prague & area and  Budapest.

We enjoy the destination focus of river cruises and although each day can be a little regimented it was not a deal breaker.  Now should river cruising get back on track we would definitely consider Amsterdam to Bucharest without hesitation.  Of course it all depends on your personal travelling preferences. We enjoy the guided excursions, meeting fellow travelers, trying new foods & wine and the amazing scenery plus new culturally events.

Whether it is an 8, 14 or 23 days cruise, everyday is an early start and if you are joining the ship's excursion the coaches leave around 8:30am so it is a bit up and at 'em. Back to the ship for lunch most days, out again and back for a hurried shower to get to dinner at 7pm. A busy day for the most part especially if you are going on a an evening excursion too. 

As an aside: One evening we spoke with a fellow passenger and simply asked if she was enjoying her cruise and she said, quite tersely, "No! There is absolutely nothing to do on this ship! No entertainment and you have to eat when they tell you".  Yikes! She still had 10 days to go before she could escape!

It is a good idea to read the reviews on this board and go ahead and post questions because travelers here are great and will happily give you the benefit of their experiences.  Enjoy your planning and research and hopefully we will all be back on the river soon or at least soon-ish.

Sorry about that, I was typing one response when the other answer came in so I didn't see it.  My goof. 😟