pontac

Dear @ellasabe I have been pondering your post and have two further thoughts:- 1) I wondered why your neighbours were so negative and thought that maybe they were trying to put you off booking a river cruise because they know your husbands capabilities and thought he wasn't up-to-it. 2) You are considering a Christmas Markets cruise. By definition this will take place in winter and it will be dark a lot of the time. You guide your husband over kerbs and warn of obstructions, but these can be hard to see in the dark. Plus it will likely be raining some of the time with the possibility of sleet and snow which are not good conditions, especially in the dark, for those with poor mobility.

I have cruised these places more than once but have bought no souvenirs. If you must have a reminder then fridge magnets will recall a place every time you go to the fridge, weigh little and take hardly any space in suitcases and don't need a shelf when you get home. I set photo's from my last cruise as backgrounds on my computer, with the pictures changing every day. Great reminder!

Thanks, @gnome12 - I missed that vital bit.

Which codes? Cannot abide by every code of every country visited. I'd have though with a boat it's the code of the country they're registered with. Perhaps the country they operate in, e.g. Scenic sell their cruises in Australia, UK and US.

Both lines I've cruised on (Viking and Scenic) have two handrails either side of stairs to to deck. And so have the boats from other lines that I've been rafted to, so I think that's standard, but the point is that you cannot be sure you'll not be rafted next to one that doesn't.

I didn't realise there are free trams in Amsterdam. Since I'm back there in August pray tell more.

Europe isn't one country; every country has different rules. I don't know where Elegant Lady was registered but many boats are registered in Switzerland which isn't an EU member. In Speyer, Germany last year the guide told us all stairs in Germany that had more than three steps had to have handrails. But hand rails on steps can be at either edge so its not possible to hold both. I can't remember in the USA finding wide stairs with handrails spaced across them so both can be held at once.

Yes, I said thin, I meant narrow, they were steep and narrow and metal. They were slippery because of rain. There was one handrail. A Viking crew member, in red in photo at top of stairs, advised us to go down backwards, which I did. They were very dangerous and that's why I didn't use them in the afternoon. You have no control over what you're rafted to. This was 'Elegant Lady', a Plan Tours boat. The other terrible metal stairs I encountered while rafting was a CroisiEurope boat. But even wide steps can be dangerous, see @1of4 's thread

Viking advertise different boats and dates in America than Britain, but sell cruises in the 'others' boats when there are spare cabins. I've been on a boat where there were on 3 Brit couples, rest were north Americans - it was a late booking and the date and boat didn't show on the UK site. But usually its a mix of nationalities with the majority from North America on Viking On the one (so far) trip I did with Scenic (Bordeaux) the Programme Manager announced the nationalities on board as UK – 68 Australia – 24 Canada -18 USA – 10 Ireland – 1 Maybe that's because Brits were more interested in visiting the world's premium wine region. I've wondered why it's mostly North Americans and I can only think that many are 'doing' Europe, they want to walk in historic towns and see ancient Cathedrals, whereas many Brits live in historic towns and have ancient Cathedrals nearby. And if they want to see Paris, Budapest, Vienna etc they get a very cheap flight and a few hours later they're there. My sons have taken weekends in Budapest and Prague

I'll do my best to answer, but so much depends on which boat and route you are on. What your neighbours have told you is of their experiences on the boats and routes they were on. There is no one answer that fits all. Getting to the road depends on what ship and where. on boats that have an exit lower down at places this will be on the same level as the street. Then the exit will be like this, straight onto street level. Other times you might have to moor on a floating pontoon, and the exit could be like the above, but you will have to walk up a wide ramp, the angle of which depends on the height of the river Some boats have only one departure level so there's a gangplank down to road level. Even if you're on a boat that could have a level exit you may, as we were, rafted on the outside of a boat that doesn't, as we were here. Those on the top had had to go up to the top deck of their boat, cross over using a short gangplank, and go down the stairs of the other boat. (those stairs were thin, wet and slippery, I stayed on the outside boat in the afternoon instead of going back to the town because I didn't want to risk those steps again). As to climbing up embankment steps; I don't recall many of them. Budapest come to mind. I'd suggest you verify for yourself, again it depends on the boat which can vary model depending on route. Check plans on websites of lines you're considering. Remember that if your boat has an elevator to the top deck, the boat it's rafted next to may not. . I've not done a Christmas markets cruise, but it seems unlikely to me that a cruise advertised as such would not allow time at night to see the market. Boats travel at night in order to cover long distances and take people to places where they can enjoy excursions in the daytime. If a cruise is specifically for Christmas markets it seems to me that's what they're focusing on. Not so. Sometimes I'm waken by a bump. I'm a light sleeper, Mrs P isn't woken. There are many locks that I've slept through. There isn't constant noise and I've never certainly heard grinding. Your neighbours must have had a terrible time. It's not happened to me in 15 river cruises, but water issues do happen. Some rivers have a reputation for it, and time of year is a big factor. Winter and soon afterwards there's more chance of high water, end of summer, low. What cruise lines do about it depends. On popular cruises Viking have so many boats, going on different days and in both directions that if they can't get under a bridge or river is not navigable for a way passengers swap to another boat which turns back in the direction its come from. The boats are identical, so you go to the same room number and its the same. The crew transfer bags. Some line transfer to a hotel. I agree, this would be no better than a land tour. It's one of the risks in river cruises. Coaches are standard.

Which cruise, and which year? I see three cruises on the route Amsterdam>Basel, Rhine Getaway, Treasures of the Rhine and Christmas on the Rhine. Treasures of the Rhine overnights in Amsterdam and you take a canal sightseeing boat on the second day morning Are you making your own way to the boat? If Viking are transporting you the no worries, you'll get to the boat. If travelling to the boat yourself you'll need to know where the boat is moored. There isn't one 'port' Such is congestion in Amsterdam that boats can be moored some distance from the centre of Amsterdam. You can embark earlier. Your cabin may be available at any time before but Viking only promise access at 3pm. So if you are travelling on your own and spend the previous night in an Amsterdam hotel you can check out the hotel after breakfast, go to the boat and leave your bags there. Then either check with reception when boat departs and go sightseeing, or wait in the lounge. A buffet embarkation/disembarkation lunch is available in the restaurant for early boarders and late departures. Enjoy the journey, the scenery is much better than you saw on the Bordeaux trip and there will be daytime sailing, but much sailing is done at night in order to cover the lang distance between Amsterdam and Basel

There are now so many river cruise lines that I don't think anyone on this board has been with them all. As @Host Jazzbeau says, most of us find a line that suits us and stick with it. There are so many factors when choosing between them: Cost, cabin types and facilities, whether travel to/from the boat is included, quality of food and drink, whether alcohol is included, whether unlimited alcohol is included, types of excursions offered, whether some or all excursions or included in price, what they do in non-navigable situations, and so on.... Also, what a line offers can and does change year by year. Also lines have different offerings depending on the market they're selling in And don't forget the crew; they change over so two people could go on the same cruise on the same boat on subsequent weeks but with a different crew. One Programme Manager could 'make' the cruise for the first person, a different Programme Manager could spoil the cruise for the second person. For the record, I've cruised with Viking and Scenic. They're much of a muchness, but I prefer Viking.

Hi @Australia08 “Wines of Southern Romania.” was an optional tour, did you think it was value for money? Did you buy any of the wines?

I'd like to echo @Daisi 's welcome. Her advice is good; I cruised the Rhone northbound last year with Viking. There was some daytime sailing but from a cabin one can see only one side. From a public area one can see both banks and also what you're sailing towards so you're ready to take pictures. One consideration is whether you'll face the bank or water when moored. River boats usually face the direction of the flow when moored, so in your case it's the direction of travel. But whether your cabin will be alongside the bank depends on which side of the river you moor. And if you face the river it's possible another boat will be moored alongside you. In other words, the answer to which side of the boat is best is 'both'.

Thanks, I see it! Re Viking - I've never booked via the website, I just ring them because they seem to have extras available; for instance on next years cruise gratuities are included but no drinks package as in previous years. So I asked and got the drinks package and we each were given £100 OBC in addition. Layout of rooms is the same, and the electrical sockets are by the bed head. Regarding which cabin, I was told what was available and one was proposed, but - like you - I chose the same one I'd had in Holland (well not the same cabin, because it's on a different boat but all the Longships are identical.) Reason I picked the same is I kept getting the cabin number wrong. It was 336, but when I was asked for it I'd say 366. It's only because there's no cabin 366 that my drinks bill didn't go to some other guest. By end of trip I was getting the number right, so next year I should be OK. But you can select which cabin you want on the Viking site. Click on Price & Build then on the next page you can select the date, cabin type, deck and then the cabin from those available. As you say 'Guess it's just a matter of getting used to a different booking site...'

Yes, brain fog. First I was on the US site and then the UK site but it was Avalon in both cases. Err, on the UK site Rhine & Moselle for Wine Lovers is shown for 2025. It doesn't have Canals, Vineyards & Castles in the title but includes a canal cruise in Amsterdam and of course the castles of the Middle Rhine. The site is frustrating, as I can't see any dates listed, it seems you have to ask via a form, and there are many pop-ups.

Just goes to show, you can't believe all you read on this forum! As you haven't been on a Viking River Cruise and I have been on fifteen, I can confirm there is seating for all if they want to sit.

Tempted, but cruised Rhine/Mosel (Basel>Trier) in 2023 with Viking and due to cruise Rhine/Mosel (Amsterdam>Bernastel>Basel) with Scenic in August this year. Also we cruised the Rhine in 2012 and 2022: I think we are a bit Rhined out. The Mosel is most attractive, but if we were to take the Amawaterways cruise, the one that tempts me is "The Rhine & Moselle For Wine Lovers: Canals, Vineyards & Castles." and on the UK site there are same amazing discounts for cruises later this year

Funnily enough when I got back from lunch there was a(nother) Scenic brochure in the letter box. This one offers chauffeur transfers to airports within 50 miles, but it differs in many ways from yours - in particular 1) it is for 2025 cruises, not cruises this year as you said 2) It is 36 pages including covers, not the 40 pages you got 3) It offered savings 'up to 20%', not the 35% you got so maybe you are that influential!!

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Viking already had Long Ships cruising that catered to Chinese guests. We passed one and the Cruise Director told me it had a Chinese speaking staff, Chines food was served and tour guides spoke Chinese. I know Viking advertise different boats and dates in the US to the UK, they may do in Australia, Canada and they do in China - but I don't know how regularly the Chinese boats cruise

@DougK Do (did) the daily Programmes remain accessible on the app when you get home? I take the Viking Daily's home and scan them to keep and to post in my trip reports. The photo's I took of the Scenic Daily Programmes were poor quality; they were behind plastic on the reception counter and I had to take the photo's at an angle because of the reflections on the plastic

You get free transport to airport because of your high ranking in the Scenic loyalty scheme. It's not true for those who haven't reached that level. Two years ago even first time cruisers got transport, not so this year.

Oh, seats now count as luxury - or is that ultra-luxury? I don't know which cruise line doesn't have enough seats - it's not one I have cruised on.

7pm is usual, maybe adjusted by 15 or 30 minutes either way to allow for excursions that day. But is that early or late for you? It would be ridiculously early for people used to Spanish restaurants, maybe late for people from the USA. What time do you usually eat dinner? You don't have to eat all the courses, you can have two starters and skip the main course, skip starter & dessert, whatever you fancy. That's on a sitdown, waiter served restaurant meal. Some lines serve dinner as a buffet, some have cafes where you can have a lighter meal. I've cruised with Viking and Scenic. I never felt bloated after a 3 course lunch or dinner, neither did I feel hungry. Others, though, augmented the served meals with snacks bought off boat and/or cookies and cakes available on board. So really, whether you'll feel bloated at bedtime depends on what you eat and what time you go to bed. There's on board entertainment after dinner but after a long day's sightseeing and lots of fresh air we rarely stayed up late.