Steerage Club

Hello Notamermaid,

Just checking in here on your Danube channel. Will be looking forward to your reports thoughout the year!

Steerage Club

Hello notamermaid,

Hopefully I find you in good health and spirits! Well as I have been monitoring the weather and water levels in your part of the world as well as how Germany and Europe overall is managing the Covid-19 efforts, I as a group lead on a Main-Rhine-Moselle trip in Oct 2020 made the decision to move our trip to Oct 2021. We have also made a change to the itinerary and will now be traveling the Danube from Regensburg to Budapest. Although my wife and I have done the Danube from Budapest to Melk, the rest of our group will be experiencing it for the first time. I'm excited to share what I had experienced and learned on that previous trip. So with that, I will be switching to your Danube water level channel 🙂 to get your updates over on that river! I still will be checking in here as I'm still interested on how the Rhine flows, as a geography geek. 

By the way here in the New England area of the USA we are experiencing high temps and lack of rain too.

Cheers,

Steerage Club Member

Hello Notamermaid,

Yes I have been watching your river level postings as our trip is on the Main, Rhine, Moselle. Since it has been a little dry there as you say, and the water levels are at least below normal, I wonder what late Oct time frame will bring. That's all we would need to have, changes on the ship to deal with and the joy of a motor coach ride to another ship! Really want to explore the German cities and countryside though! Oct 2021 seems so far away if we have to postpone. 

Always thanks for the links to German/local events and history!

 My German isn't so great,

 so thank goodness for Google translate! (little poetry there)

Cheers!

notamermaid,

Good to see you back reporting weather and river levels. Whether you are a river cruiser or not it is interesting data!!

As far as the river cruises go I am sad to say I think the experiences will not be the same in the foreseeable future. Avalon is not sailing at least until Sept. After attending a seminar on changes for 2021, those changes will definitely impact the experience for those who have traveled before. Less passengers on board, ...but there are plans for requiring masks at times, breaking up the dining times, no breakfast buffet, which if you have been to one is a highlight. No self serve coffee and pastry bar in the rear lounge. The rear lounge area is an amenity that sets Avalon apart from other cruise lines as others do not have this casual space to relax with a cup of coffee in the early morning. Maybe my concerns are trivial, but the fact is you pay decent amount of money for these trips and compared to the past it wont be the same. I am ready to cancel my October 2020 even if it ends up happening, to wait into the future where the Normal is Normal, not this "new Normal" everyone wants you to believe in. 😞

Steerage Club Member 

Avalon Waterways per their website (March12) states that they are temporarily suspending operations through April 30, 2020.

Fog, WWII bomb remnants, thank goodness it’s not cruising season! Thinking of cruising and spring, many posts talk about Christmas markets, but I have to mention the not so publicized Easter Markets which I stumbled upon on our April 2019 cruise up the Rhine. Depending on your cruise company’s itinerary you might be able to experience one. On Avalon when the boat is docked in Breisach, Germany, you have the option of an all day excursion to the Black Forest or a half day to Colmar. My wife and I along with our friends chose the 1/2 day to Colmar instead of the long bus ride to the Black Forest. Colmar is gorgeous and the Easter market was really special with all the decorations. Would say Colmar was my favorite town on the trip. Easter falls on April 12 this year so if your cruise falls before that, consider that excursion if available. Also it left us the afternoon to explore the German countryside around Breisach via the bikes that are available onboard. Having the opportunity to get off the beaten path and explore is a great experience.

Steerage Club

First...thanks notamermaid for the informative information you provide! As a river cruise junkie it is great to get all your updates here. Now that 2020 is here, looking forward to another cruise in October, this time starting in Nuremberg and ending in Remich with Avalon. My wife and I have done a section of the Danube in 2017, and the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basil this past April. Love the service and accommodations on the boats while seeing so much beauty throughout Europe. We have met new friends along the way to the point we are all meeting up again for the October trip. 

I will be watching your posts throughout this year paying special attention to the levels at Kaub. Seems like that is the “pinch point” when levels are low. I hope if we can make that, then clear sailing to and on the Moselle. Prost! And to a good year ahead!