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Prunion

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Posts posted by Prunion

    What to do in Puerto Vallarta for the day?

    in Mexican Riviera

    Posted

    I do not recommend adventuring out on  your own. On our cruise, there was a couple that rented a car and was pulled over by the police and stole all their belonging, cash, credit cards, jewelry, pretty much everything they had except the cloths on their back and the rental car. They even took their passports. other  passenger said that they do not adventure out on their own be cause you can not even trust the police. So be careful and stay in a crowed area.  I recommend taking one of the ship tours.

    Romantic Danube

    in River Cruising

    Posted

    Romantic Danube was my first Viking cruise, number 3 (Rhone River) starts in a few days. Now I went in December, so it was more of a Christmas Markets cruise, but I may be able to offer you some helpful information.

     

    I don't think the euro is widely used in Budapest (At least in December 2014 it wasn't, but that might have changed). However most shops did accept credit cards.

     

    Keep some coinage handy as many "Public" restrooms charge a fee (Usually 50 cent euro). This is true in many places in Europe.

     

    Budapest is very walkable from where the boat docks (Near the famous Chain Bridge).

     

    In Vienna they had cards printed up with the docking location, in case you did independent sightseeing, that you could give to a taxi driver to bring you back. Where we docked wasn't too far from a metro station if you don't wish to pay for a taxi.

     

    Passau and Regensburg the boat docks right in town. You can take the included walking tour, or ditch the guide and do it yourself depending on your comfort level. Our guide in Passau was great, the one in Regensburg not so much. We had plenty of free time in both towns.

     

    Do you like palaces? in Regensburg the privately owned palace of the Thurn & Taxis family may be opened. It's larger than Buckingham Palace and the rooms we toured were beautiful.

     

    I am sure you will have a wonderful time.

     

    Thanks so much for the information Rosethorn40,

    Romantic Danube

    in River Cruising

    Posted

    We were on Viking Jarl departing Budapest on 23 April 2017.

     

    I don’t know if snow in April is usual or not. It only snowed the first day we were there. The other days were cold, wet and windy. If you are going to be there in March you will need warm clothes. Layers work best and the outer layer should be wind and water proof. Don’t forget hats and gloves. It’s a fascinating city and you wouldn’t want to be stuck inside due to not having appropriate clothing.

     

    Some tours the shopping was central to the activity eg the winery / monastery visit. In other tours there was time at the end.

     

    There’s just no way you will see everything there is to see. However if you go on the daily tour you will see a lot of interesting things. Consider making your own way back to the ship if you have time. This will give you the chance to drop in at a cafe or pub for lunch or coffee etc. also consider spending extra time in Europe after the cruise. We spent two weeks travelling around Germany by train. It’s cheap, clean, safe and above all fascinating.

     

    Thanks for the information. We did a 18 day tour of Europe a couple years ago and had a great time.

    We are doing the pre cruise and arriving a few days before we sail in Budapest and we are doing the post cruise in Czech Republic, did you extend your trip to Czech Republic, if so what the sites not to miss.

    if you don't mind I have a few more questions.

     

    I have read that you might have to change boats due to the water levels, did you have to?

     

    Is credit cards accepted at the different ports

     

    This is our 1st River Cruise, how would you rate Viking.

    Any additional information that you think would be helpful,, would be appreciated.

    Thanks again for your help.

    Romantic Danube

    in River Cruising

    Posted

    :D

    We arrived in Budapest on 20 April 2017. It was snowing.

     

    Re the sulphur smell it is probably exhaust gas from a diesel engine. You shouldn't smell this in your cabin but may smell it on deck. If you smell it in your cabin complain and make sure it is fixed.

     

    Viking excursions we have been on allow time for shopping etc. But if people are late get ing back on the bus this time may be reduced.

     

    Thanks so much for the information. When did you do the cruise and is it usual for snow in April in Budapest.

     

    Where you given time for shopping during the excursion or after the excursions.

     

    Since this is our 1st River Cruise any additional information you can offer would be helpful, I'm a planner and try to know all the in's and out's before we travel, so we don't miss anything

    Thanks again, so looking forward to our trip.:D

    Romantic Danube

    in River Cruising

    Posted

    The smell is more of a sewage smell that occassionally occurs when the ship is docked. We just experienced the smell on a Tauck ship. It’s not an issue.

     

    Which cruiseline are you considering?

     

     

     

    Thanks for the information:)

    Romantic Danube

    in River Cruising

    Posted

    Quite often your ship proceeds to another port while you are out on a tour. They do this to a variety of reasons, mostly to save time. For example they may have to queue up at a lock. Typically they have a specific time they need to arrive at a lock by or they move to the end of the line. Your tour will return you to your new ship location. It's not something you need to concern yourself with unless you have arranged a private tour or are out and about on your own.

     

    This is all gone over nightly at the briefing before dinner. They will explain in detail what will be happening the next day and if the ship will be re-positioned during a tour.

     

    River cruising is nothing like ocean cruising. Unless it overnights in port, the ship is almost always moving.

     

    Thanks for the information,

    We are planning doing the included excursion, but wanted to go out on our own afterwards for some shopping, but not sure if we should, if they move the boat on us and we have to find our way to the new location.

    Romantic Danube

    in River Cruising

    Posted

    I presume you mean 2018 ,,,,,

     

    When you finally get your cruise documents most of your questions will be answered as it includes a BOOK specific to your itinerary. I'm copying some info from mine. We sailed in late May, Budapest to Nuremberg, with a Viking pre stay in Budapest and stayed beyond on our own beginning in Nur', then moving to Hamburg.

     

    1. we had no water level issues but this can't be predicted this far out. ya just gotta watch how the spring rains happen. Using Vienna as a mid point reference, April temps average high of 57 and low of 41 (f) ... according to the documents we were provided.

     

    2. sulfate smell? never heard this or experienced it. maybe a reference to engine exhaust? because the ship does not have a 'stack' as such a following wind might cause exhaust to be blown back over the decks but I did not experience ANYTHING like this. (and I'm a sailor so would have known what it was)

     

    3. As I recall there was 'explore on your own time' built into every 'included tour'. usually at the end of a walking tour, if the boat wasn't 'right there' the guide would finish by saying the bus will be over there at time XXX if you want a ride back OR you can get back on your own. The boat sails at YYYY. But NOTE that SOMETIMES the boat MOVES while you are on a tour - included or extra - so if you set off on your own the responsibility is YOURS to get back to your floating hotel. Like I said this is all explained in the detailed itinerary you'll get - ours was nearly 40 pages . . .

     

     

    Thanks for the information Capt_BJ,

    Yes I mean 2018 (still in present)

    You state the boat moves while you are on tour, if it moves, how do you know where it moved too.

    Thanks again for the information

    Romantic Danube

    in River Cruising

    Posted

    We will be on the Romantic Danube March 25, 2017 - April 1, 2017 (we are also doing the pre cruise in Budapest and the post cruise in Prague) I have a couple questions.

    1) What is the weather like March - April, have you been know to change ships during this time due to the water levels

     

    2) I have read about sulfate smell on the ships, is there a way to avoid this any help dealing with this will be helpful.

     

    3) If you take the included Shore Excursions, do you have time on your own to do some shopping.

     

    This is our 1st River Cruise any helpfully do or don't would be helpful.

    Thanks in advance for any help.

    :D

    Danube river levels

    in River Cruising

    Posted

    Generally, there is one spot that ships can't pass. In this case it was a low bridge, sometimes it is an area of low water levels that ships can't sail.

     

    When a cruise line has multiple ships (usually identical) on the river, on either side of the problem, you pack up your stuff, and while you are out on an excursion your stuff is moved from your ship to one on the other side of the problem, and their passengers' stuff is moved to your ship. Then at the end of the excursion you are bused to your new ship. When the ships are identical, you will be in exactly the same cabin on the new ship. It is obviously inconvenient to have to pack up, but your trip continues as expected.

     

    Thanks for the info.

    Danube river levels

    in River Cruising

    Posted

    Generally, there is one spot that ships can't pass. In this case it was a low bridge, sometimes it is an area of low water levels that ships can't sail.

     

    When a cruise line has multiple ships (usually identical) on the river, on either side of the problem, you pack up your stuff, and while you are out on an excursion your stuff is moved from your ship to one on the other side of the problem, and their passengers' stuff is moved to your ship. Then at the end of the excursion you are bused to your new ship. When the ships are identical, you will be in exactly the same cabin on the new ship. It is obviously inconvenient to have to pack up, but your trip continues as expected.

     

    Thanks for updating me

    Danube river levels

    in River Cruising

    Posted

    On our recent Viking Romantic Danube river cruise (9/1 to 9/8) from Nuremberg to Budapest we were advised before we boarded the boat that the river was low and we would probably have to swap boats mid cruise. When we got on the boat we were told that because of the rain there was a possibility of not having to swap boats. The next day we were told because of the rain we probably would not have to swap boats. The next day we were told because of the rain (now high river level) we would have to swap boats because mid cruise the boats could not get under the bridges. So we swapped boats. Go figure....

     

    Thanks for the reply, but why are you swapping boats, what kind of boat did you swap too. Not understanding how swapping boats will fix the water lever problems. Sorry new to river cruising

    :confused:

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