AnhaltER1960

12 hours ago, texanapat said:

We are looking at booking the Cities along the Elbe.  We have sailed on the Rhine a couple of times.  I know this would be a smaller ship.  I was just wondering if anyone has done this cruise and how you liked it.

 

Thank you

No one has done the programme "Cities along the Elbe" yet, as it was introduced in 2020, and, as almost anything else last year, did not happen in the end.

All ships on the Elbe are smaller than on other rivers, because the Elbe itself is smaller than other rivers. Also with a tendency to low water tables, thus allowing less draft of the ships. Elbe ships have around 90 Pax, if fully booked.

BUT, looking closely at the itinerary of "Cities along the Elbe", you will see, it is not a cruise in the classical meaning, but a hybrid of a bus journey will overnights on the berthed ship. See the map on https://www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk/cruise-destinations/europe/cities-along-the-elbe/2022-berlin-prague/index.html and explanations there.

Also see the wording on Vikings webpage (https://www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk/cruise-destinations/europe/cities-along-the-elbe/2022-berlin-prague/index.html#modal/2315496523148924) like

* Day 3: " (...) then transfer to Wittenberg to embark your Viking ship—a fine floating hotel that remains your docked home away from home until Day 5. "

* Day 5: "Today, enjoy a comfortable motor coach ride to Meissen, (...) You will join your sister ship in Dresden while your luggage is seamlessly transferred and delivered to your awaiting stateroom."

*  Day 7: "Today enjoy another morning in Dresden and, water levels permitting, a brief sail along the Elbe." (something you can get for 25 Euro, using local steamers).

Wrapped up, you will see many interesting places in the former East Germany and Czechia, you will see some fine historical cities, you will see some great landscapes, you will learn a lot about German and European history, pampered by the Viking standards you can expect. But you will not get a cruise on a river.

The programme "Elegant Elbe", which Viking offer in other seasons, shows the same places and includes sailing between Wittenberg, Germany, and Decin, Czechia (river permitting, of course).

Viking seem to anticipate low water levels in summer.... as they introduced an alternative Elbe programme in July through September called "Cities on the Elbe". Their standard itinerary "Elegant Elbe", which is a bus tour Berlin to Wittenberg, river cruise Wittenberg - Dresden - Decin and again bus Decin to Prague is offered March - May and again from October, some late cruises in the year offered as "Christmas along the Elbe".

However, from July to September the new programme "Cities on the Elbe" reads like a bus tour all the way, the ships berthed in Wittenberg and Dresden and used as boatels only. Just one day of cruising is planned out of Dresden into Saxon Switzerland and back. Obviously the answer of the Viking controllers to the 2018/19 seasons, when they had to do exactly this due to low water levels and having all the dispute with disappointed customers. Now they dont even promise to sail ....

If you want to sail the Elbe, avoid Viking in the months of July, August and September.

Interesting topic, but difficult. Even the big players in the river cruising industry are family held companies - unlike ocean cruises. Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Carribean are publically traded with all the obligations as far as transparency is concerned. So it is next to impossible to get informations on the finance status of river cruise companies. And, sure, all companies do all effort in presenting themselves in the best of lights to their customers, their creditors (which does mingle) and, of course, competitors. This was valid before covid and is even more now, as all companies in the industry are,  must be in trouble. So all these "read here", "heard" sound like difficult sources to verify.

6 hours ago, Roz said:

First you have to deal with the requirements of the airlines.  Then the requirements of the country you're entering, and finally your cruise line.

Cruise line is just another challenge, still not the final one. The final challenges are the requirements of your home country regarding returning from abroad.

As hipped roofs are widespread and this picture shows no hint on the whereabout and a relatively good state of preservation (@notamermaid, "neglected" swiss barn is similar to "well preserved" in other countries 🙂) , we have to take the invitation to name only river and country. So, to start Rhone river, France.

On 2/15/2021 at 3:03 PM, CaroleLee said:

Will this be for EU pax only- as in 2020 or do US & CAN pax have a chance?

Carole

That is not a question to the cruise company, as they will be happy to take bookings (and payments...) from wherever (but might not care for english-speaking guests as you might be used to with other operators). Just - they do not take the risk, if you are allowed to travel into the country, and as a no-show, or cancelling on short notice you will lose 95 percent of the cruise price, as their fineprint says. So, if US/CAN pax will have a chance, is a question to state regulations, both in Europe an in the US/CAN. At the moment the answer, as in 2020, the answer is "no". My glass bowl for the future is out of order right now.

On 2/17/2021 at 4:36 PM, notamermaid said:

And here is oneof  the most unusual itineraries I have ever seen. Sail out of Berlin to the East! Plantours only markets to German-speaking countries but it is an interesting read and you can see what is possible with a small ship: https://www.plantours-partner.de/kulturschaetze-am-oderufer-san0121.html

(If you would something translating or explained, I would be happy to be of assistance if I can)

 

notamermaid

 

Looks like an intersting programme - as well as other itineraries by Plantours. Just a pity they wont sail in six weeks time......

Viking have issued a health and safety concept without vaccination (see https://www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk/my-trip/health-and-safety/health-and-safety-program.html ).

They go for daily testing with PCR, masks and distance. But they wont be sailing until June anyway....

I think, it is premature to debate mandatory vaccinations now. Few percent of the population are vaccinated or going to be in the next weeks. From what I have read, all countries have a priority list, mainly elderly and medical personnel first, and, since the state administrations do have the vaccines, there is no chance to jump the queue. So it is not difficult to forecast, that company who will require vaccinations, wont be sailing until the end of summer.

Passengers are one side of the medal, crew and land support (tour guides, bus drivers...) are the other. Being younger people, they usually are on the far end of the priority list. They come from all over the world with different vaccinations used, eg. Viking do have plenty of Hungarian buses and drivers. Hungary now uses the Russian vaccine, which is not approved by the EU. Others might come with the Chinese stuff,  Yes, there is plenty of movement (and confusion as well), also we do not know, which administrative regulation, which crossborder rules will apply, when it comes to real sailing. Companies, who declare vaccination mandatory now might rethink that position further down the year.

Thank you @notamermaidfor opening the 2021-Elbe thread. Let us hope, it will not turn out to be a short one. With the German-Czech border closed by the German authorities for all but really necessary travel it looks like a very slow start into the season. I found a German company, Plantours, with the vessel MS Sans Souci planning Dresden - Prague - Dresden on starting April 1st (no joke). Though I doubt this will happen.

Viking have already suspended their sailings until May 31st.

15 hours ago, notamermaid said:

 But, my, they have a "Kabelsalat" here! Need to get that sorted, even if they like the "laissez-faire".

 

Savoir ligne, if I may put it this way. After all, it seems to work. Though your example of prussian Londoners looked convincing indeed.

32 minutes ago, dogs4fun said:

 Are you referring to Sacré-Cœur or the building in front? 😂

Not sure about the building in front, I think most pictures of Sacré-Cœur show another foreground.

Your turn @dogs4fun

Thank you, CA, though @notamermaid should deserve the credits - she was well on the right track.. Anyway, this should be a quick one - showing one of the most photographed edifices in the world. Please name city and building.

20 minutes ago, Canal archive said:

It’s on the Main Danube Canal,

Are you sure ? If so, we are talking about different chapels and I am wrong. The Jochenstein, which I (thought to have) identified, is in the Danube, some 20 km downriver from Passau and, as @notamermaid correctly remembered, on the Austrian - German border.

7 hours ago, notamermaid said:

This looks like something devotional, a little chapel with "mother and child". The couple do not ring a bell in my memory but I got the feeling this may be on the Danube that I sailed, possibly near the German/Austrian border. I think there is also a legend attached to it.

 

notamermaid

 

Yes, youre right. See https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jochenstein

The lock, which CA describes, is just a couple of metres upriver, as can be seen on Google Satellite.

just for the 100 ....

Thanks @Daisi, I will proceed to level 2 now:

@Shmoo here, lets start labelling your pics 😃

ok, practising a bit with all the hints now I ended in Obernai, (Oberehnheim), Alsace, Rhine river.

The picture shows the ramparts near the synagogue (which is just to the left of the picture) looking north. The half timbered house lies on Rue du General Guraud.

Somehow I would place that castle into Franconia, Main river, but no idea, where really.

24 minutes ago, Daisi said:

VW plant, Wolfsburg, Germany, Mittelland Canal.

 

If I am correct, please call a wild card.

This is the correct Wolfsburg. The Volkswagen plant was built in the 1930ies as an extension of the (then rather a village) Wolfsburg, which is in the back of the photographer. Opposite the canal there is this massive industry compound with its own power plant. Further to the right there is now an automotive theme park called "Autostadt" showing the brands of the Volkswagen (literally peoples car) company like Bentley or Lamborghini, yes, Volkswagen and Skoda, too. Croisieurpoe pass and stop here on their Berlin-Amsterdam cruises.

On behalf of @Daisi its wild card now.

Ok, lets stay in the industry corner. Please name the body of water and the city. First correct guess will get to post the next photo.

There are so many pictures of steam locomotives, just a bit reduced by the gauge tho. Browsing thru all the pictures on the internet, it keep getting stuck at the Mallet-Locomotive type M105 in a B'B configuration. And there is this 11 on the back (not a football-side obviously). This pointed me to the Brohltalbahn, marketed as "Vulkan-Express" (Volcano-Express) from the Rhine into the Eifel. , their engine No 11 was built 115 years ago.

So, Rhine river, not exactly sure abut the location. My guess is Brohl narrow gauge station.

Looks like a narrow gauge to me (or the people are giants). And some steep hill in the background, imho too steep and high for a Budapest background, but not high enough for the Zugspitze. I am rather looking at what we call Mittelgebirge in German. Still plenty of choice tho.

In Germany there are many beavers along the Elbe and Danube rivers (not so many along Rhine/Moselle). Since you wrote that this guy is not in the river, but maybe in tributary or some dead water parallel. My guess is Danube in Bavaria.

Every pedestrian zone in continental Europe seems to be proud to have an English phone booth. Though here were at the edge of a pedestrian zone with car traffic and a tramway line visible. The building to the left - yes, I do have an idea, Typical handwriting of this architect, playing at home here.

I think we have missed to draw a line earlier. We have tolerated open sea pictures of the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon with the closest river cruise port some 200 km away. But probably an excursion and/or start/end of a river cruise package. So is London in the programme of some companies. Following that logic plus the assumption that we will have to continue here for a while, leads me to an "aye" to to Thames. Though I wasted some time today by ruling out England and searching on the continent :-),