pontac

Rafting is getting more common owing to the huge increase in cruise ships. It only happens when boats are moored (obs) and that is usually at night. If moored during the day guests are probably on an excursion. The biggest detraction is if one has a cabin with a balcony as the other boat's cabin balcony my be right alongside yours, and inhibiting sitting outside. And the other boat obstructs your view. However, it's just one of those thing. The amount of cruise ships now, and thus the number of cabins available, means there's fierce competition for passengers and prices are less than they'd be than if there wasn't so many boats. Has it been a big detractor to our cruising enjoyment? No.

Depends on journey, and whether you want to speak or email a query in English. A simple point to point, e.g. Paris to London via Eurostar is easy to book direct with Eurostar on their website. A more complex journey where there are several options, connection and rail services and you want advice maybe you'd get a better service from a specialised TA*. Also depends on ones confidence in choosing the route and dealing with websites not in English. *this board says you need a TA to book your river cruise. That's something I've never done, always booking direct with cruise line. So, what do I know? 🙂

My Mum always took her own pillow wherever she travelled. I thought that weird. I don't now..... Amawaterways website eventually (it's very slow) came up with Deluxe hotel-style bedding with Egyptian linen, down pillows and duvet I take 'down' to mean feathers. There must of been previous passengers who were allergic to feathers, so, as @CastleCritic said, seems a call to them is necessary to see what alternatives they offer..

Eurostar trains are limited see article here Adieu Mickey Mouse: Eurostar’s shrinking ambitions seven years on from the Brexit vote | Eurostar | The Guardian Suggest tickets are bought in advance via rail travel experts. Ffestioniog Travel in the UK is one such specialist and they can give up-to-date advice in English. Another CruiseCritic forum user that I met on a Ukraine cruise* has been travelling in Europe and books her tickets in the USA with Ffestinniog as have I. Tickets are digital now, so you can do it all with email. I haven't given link as while I know one cannot recommend cruise travel agents I don't know about train travel agents. *happy days, great cruise from Odesa up the Dnipro to Kyiv, so sad what's happened.

I don't know what you're expecting @JustKeepCruising23 but I don't think what is on the site is a 'list' nor that the same wines will appear on every boat, on every route and throughout the year. Indeed they state 'Please note drinks may vary by itinerary and ship' If we look with a critical* eye at that list: Chardonnay, France - France is a big country. It's more likely to be a co-operative or branded wine from Languedoc than Burgundy or Chablis, indeed they would state so if it was. Pinot Grigio, Italy - there's a huge amount of this wine made and most is very cheap Sauvignon de Loire, France - note, not Sancerre or Pouilly Fume Pinot Noir, USA - well.... why would Americans drink wines they can easily get at home. Be aware that US wines are more expensive in Europe than in the USA Rioja, Spain - Probably the most reliable, as has to be bottled in Rioja and bear an official seal showing quality level Merlot, France - France is a big country. It's more likely to be a co-operative or branded wine from Languedoc than Bordeaux, indeed they would state so if it was. Shiraz, Australia - unlikely to be from Barossa Champagne - many Americans think any wine with bubbles is Champagne, so if Champagne is your thing insist on seeing the bottle. Only bottles with a label that states Champagne are.. Prosecco - huge amounts made, some very good, but this is unlikely to be Conegliano Valdobbiadene. Few cruise passengers are interested or knowledgeable about wine, but the wines available will be poured generously and be palatable. They promise the local area’s finest. Those advertising wine have a different perception of what finest means to those consuming the product. *The board is called Cruise Critic

The Douro cruise covers a short distance - from Porto to the Spanish border and back. Once you leave Porto you are in a very rural region. The Douro is in a gorge, so while you can see the river banks, you can't see the country beyond them from the ship. The gorge gets steadily narrower and close to the Spanish border there are occasions the boat can just squeeze through, with rock cliffs seemingly within touching distance either side. Wine is the business here, and the steep sides of the gorge are terraced to grow vines, and you are sure to visit a winery. The Douro is home to the fortified wine Port (Porto in the USA), and there are also forests of the oak trees whose bark is stripped for cork.. Whether that's attractive is a matter of personal choice. As others have said, you don't travel at night, and we enjoyed sitting on the sun deck watching the scenery pass. It was a relaxing trip. The river was not navigable until recently when rapids were dynamited an huge locks built. Thus I don't think one need worry about water levels. The Douro is a long river and the stretch sailed on is the closest to the outlet to the sea and controlled by locks. I was going to book a second trip there, this year with Scenic who are advertising (in the UK) that the second person sails for free. But it wasn't the bargain it initially seemed as flight, port fees and taxes had to be added, but primarily the only vacant date was end of November, Our cruising friends recently went on their second Douro cruise and said such was the increase in cruise companies on the river they were rafted most nights and had the other boat's exhaust blowing on their cabin. All the same, I think it is one of the most scenic cruises, and relaxing. However, I don't like long coach rides, so I won't be booking a holiday that commences in Lisbon, and although Salamanca is a historic and attractive city, I am not sure I'd spend another 3hrs in a coach to visit again

I haven't stayed in one, and I doubt I will. If one is looking for downsides, possible ones are that they sell out fast, and they're located over the engine room and the crew smoking area is on the sun deck right above the suites. The engines are very quiet and vibration free.

No. And I don't drink spirits anymore. My indulgence is fine wine..

None are of use to me.

I couldn't see how to make a booking on TUI River Cruise website, but they have an app and that lets one book and pay for cruises. And you can book a cruise without the travel to/from boat element The TUI app | Download Now | TUI.co.uk MORE REASONS WHY YOU NEED THE TUI HOLIDAY APPThe TUI app’s like having a holiday expert in your pocket. Here’s a little more about why it’s a must for your holiday… More about browsing and booking breaks There’s no quicker way to start your holiday search than with the TUI app. Flights, beach breaks and excursions are all at your fingertips. • Filter holiday options to fine-tune your results, and search for flights from local airports. • Get instant info on room upgrades, board details and flight extras. • Check out and pay, or set up a Direct Debit, all from the palm of your hand.

The answer is easy to find on Riviera's website What soft drinks and mixers are included? A wide selection of soft drinks and juices are available, including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Bitter Lemon, Ginger Ale and tonic water. Juices include orange, apple, grapefruit, pineapple and tomato. The exact selection of soft drinks and juices may vary by itinerary and ship. source Superior drinks on us | Riviera Travel

I haven't been on Rinda - built in 2013 - but I'd have no worries about its age. It is identical to the rest of the Longships, and each winter the Longships go to a shipyard where they are inspected and any wear & tear is repaired or replaced. I also don't have recent experience with this route, as it's new this year. I went on Viking's Passage to Eastern Europe, from Budapest to Bucharest and thoroughly enjoyed it. Many of the stops are different, but I can recommend the optional Hungarian Horsemen excursion. I am not a 'horsey' person but the show was astounding. He's driving a team of ten horses standing on the backs of two of them. Excursion available from Budapest on your cruise. Re Thermal Baths: there is a fairly recent thread on this forum about doing it on your own cheaper. The baths are near the mooring spot, within walking distance. Note that Bucharest is some distance from the river and as the roads are in poor condition and the traffic in Bucharest more than the roads there can cope with, it took a very long time to make the journey from the boat into town. Now there are different stops I may be joining you in 2025!

I did my first cruise with Scenic in August 2022 and didn't get any OBC but even if I did, I wouldn't know what to spend it on, as there are no optional excursions to buy and drinks are included. But that was last year and things change; for instance last year we got backpacks and a free chauffeured car to/from airport, but this year first time travellers get neither.

They certainly weren't on my Scenic cruise in the capital of wine, Bordeaux. The waiters come around with a bottle of red and a bottle of white and will pour those unless you refuse. So you don't need to look at the wine list. But if you do, there's a description of each wine and if you don't like it, say so and ask for another. It's all paid for, so you may like to taste a range of wines to see what you prefer. No worries, it's only a drink and there's a first time for us all.

I was told that they could not by the Tour Director on our cruise in April. I assume they are to encourage people to rebook with Viking rather than the competition. If one has already booked before buying the certificate, there's no reason why Viking should knock 100 $ £ or € off.

There are so many river tour companies I am not clear why Australians want to book with TUI since TUI don't seem to make it easy. I haven't been with TUI and I don't live in Australia. River cruises sold in UK include travel to/from the boat mostly by air although some cruises offer Eurostar (Train from London through channel tunnel) as an alternative, so flights to UK from OZ are needed. If @dazadelaide wants to be in Europe before and after trip, then one could book a flight from Oz to/from the respective cities, and book the TUI cruise. Then either meet the TUI rep in the arrivals hall at the inbound airport for travel to the boat or make your own way to the boat. At end of trip, don't go on included coach to airport but tell the Tour Director you're doing your own thing. This way you are paying for, but not using, the included air travel from Britain. If you want to go with TUI to be with friends, arrange with them to use their postal address to make things easier. A number of river cruise lines have offices in Oz for booking from Oz. Or, look at booking with another line through their US office. I understand that they don't generally include flights, so you are paying just for the river cruise.

Email from Viking received today Viking will lift its requirement for all guests to be vaccinated against COVID-19, for voyages embarking on or after 1st November 2023. Our vaccination requirement will remain in place for all voyages embarking on or before October 31, 2023.

If you were satisfied with the operating company on your first trip why not use them again as many cruise lines give a discount to repeat cruisers. But if you want to pay less then look first at prices; I got a card from Scenic last week with a great offer of second guest going free. That was for 2023 cruises from June 23 to EOY. If you wait there may be similar offers next year, of course you risk there not being such an offer and not getting the dates you want. After price, see what the price includes, do you want an open bar, gratuities included? Look also at the stops and the excursions available. Is there anything you want to see on the cruise?? There are so many offers, the brochure prices only seem to be there so the cruise line can quote large 'discounts'. I've never paid the brochure price and doubt anyone else has. There are so many cruise lines now offering all sorts of enticements - so there's plenty of competition for your money. Check a few cruise line websites. But, to answer your original question, all cruise operators will supply a safe ship, the river side sights will be the same no matter how luxurious or cheap the cruise is. It comes down to cost and what is supplied in food, drink and excursions.

Half the trip is on the Mosel, and the Moses is very scenic and so are the towns visited. I went with Viking from Basel the Trier. I'd done the Rhine bit twice before, so visited the Speyer Technical museum, which is a very short walk from the river and has English language signage and a guide book. There's also a separate old mansion in the grounds which the ticket allows entry to filled over 4 floors with toys, costumes, stuffed animals and more. I went with first time cruisers and found that the guides we had on this trip showed different things than the guide we had last year. So, as you enjoy Uniworld and your friends company I'd suggest you follow @Canal archive 's wise words. You may like to read the report of my trip

Thanks for your concern , but is didn't affect us as we weren't booked on the after-dinner event. And Mrs P and I have been to Winningen twice before on excursions from Koblenz. But a bummer for those booked and looking forward to it. How much further than Trier is Mosel navigable for cruise boats? I'd like to spend more time on the Mosel as its very attractive.

Good for you @Canal archive. Why change what you know will offer all you want. PS - it wasn't innuendo: I clearly said that you praise Scenic.

One is subject to the laws of the territory that one is in*. However @Roz326 was in the US and making a booking with a Viking Company registered in California, USA, thus the booking would be subject to the laws applicable there. When I book a river cruise it is with the company in the UK and the booking conditions are those that are lawful in the UK; they aren't the same as those applied by the US company, or the Australian company. Suggesting the the laws are made by Viking's owner is just Jazzbeau's usual criticism of anything to do with Viking, although a bit over the top in this case. *as my son found out when he had his 18th birthday in Florida and couldn't buy a beer to celebrate....

Not us. Our latest Viking trip was 24 April - 1 May 2023, our first was in 2012

The wines were our choice from the wine list, we had white with lunch and red with dinner. The drinks package was included in our booking. If one didn't have the drinks package, the included wines are both German. Mrs P won't drink Pinot Noir so we didn't have any of the listed German Spatburgunders, and although we did have German Riesling a couple of times, other wines were more attractive to us. The advantage of the drinks package is one can choose what to drink, our choices suited us, you would make different choices.

Writing this report brought home just how many sights we'd seen and places visited. Yet we'd not booked any optional trips nor took all the included trips. I'd never even heard of Cochem, yet it was one of the most enjoyable tours with a winery tasting, a tour of the old town and the amazing castle on the hill. The boat had 186 passengers, just four short of the maximum, yet the boat never felt crowded. There was never more than one person using the drinks machine when we went for a coffee, there was plenty of seating and the boat was light, airy and spacious. The food was good and plentiful and requests to have chips instead of mash were met with out a blink of an eye. I noticed four things new this year. 1) All lunches and dinners (except for Taste of Germany) were waiter served. In previous years lunches in the Aquavit lounge were buffets. 2) There is a Viking app which has menus for each day, details of excursions and the ability to book them. 3) There were tickets for excursions, both included and optional. Tickets were placed in the cabin the evening before to be given to the guide. The ticket has your name, cabin number and tour-guide group number. 4) British style back bacon joined American style crispy streaky bacon on the breakfast buffet.