PNFL

We did the Delightful Danube several years ago and I loved it!  We spent a few days in Budapest before the cruise.  You are of course are bused from Nuremberg to Prague.  We did not spend extra time in Prague after the cruise and I regret not spending more time.  Prague is wonderful.  Hard decision but I am sure either cruise you decide on will be wonderful.

14 hours ago, ak1004 said:

Thanks for the review!

 

What was less favorite on this cruise compared to your previous cruises? You mentioned food, was food better on the previous cruises? Which ships have you previously sailed? Are there significant differences between different Uniworld ships? We are doing the Empress in September, the longer version of your cruise (10 nights).

The food was just not up to the quality of other ships we have been on.  The last night on board I got the halibut and it was dry and tough.  I thought the breakfast and lunch buffet were good.  We were on the River Princess on the Danube and SS Joie De Vivre from Paris to Normandy.  The service was wonderful on board.  Also the scenery along the river was not as nice as the Danube. We took the optional excursion to Heidleberg and I loved it.  My first cruise was from Budapest to Praque and I loved it so it is hard I think for other cruises to live up to that cruise.  I am sure you will enjoy the cruise. 

On 7/17/2023 at 1:22 AM, gnome12 said:

 Those seem to me to be very expensive rounds of golf!

Yes as a golfer it does look expensive.  Wonder if it includes golf club rentals.  The one place I would love to play golf is St.  Andrews.  Not sure if I would want to play golf on a river cruise I rather see the country side.

We were on Uniworld recently and there were children on board but very well behaved but they looked very bored!

Water level is always a concern.  I think we went in June  several years ago and it was wonderful.  Perfect weather.  I just love our cruise on the Danube my favorite cruise so far.

I sailed on Uniworlds SS Antoinette June 10-17.   Prior to the cruise we did the pre-extension to Lucerne and post cruise with did the extension in Amsterdam.  We were meet at the airport by a Uniworld rep and the ride to the hotel took about an hour from Zurich airport to Lucerne.  The hotel was very nice.  Our room did not over look the lake but the view of the hill side was still nice. Our guide meet us at the hotel and told us there would be a meeting at 2pm to talk about the agenda for the following day and also to enjoy a welcome drink. There were about 13 of us on the pre-sxtension.  Three of us had signed up before leaving on the cruise to do the optional tour to Mount Stanserhorn but the guide knew nothing about us signing up for this tour.  Before we left we were told we had to either do the walking tour of Lucerne or the optional tour but we could not do both.  Our guide said no it was possible to do both and she would contact Uniworld. 

After our meeting and a glass of wine we decided to head into town for some dinner.  To get into town you had to take the funicular lift and then a ferry.  We had a wonderful dinner at the Hotel Des Balances.  It was expensive but worth the money.

The next day we took a walking tour which lasted about 90 minutes then we headed to Mount Stanserhorm.  Mount Stanserhorn was wonderful and not very crowded.  We returned to the hotel around 4pm and just decided to eat at the hotel. The next day we were transported to the ship.  The bus arrived at 12:30 but we did not get to the ship until after 3pm.  I really think the bus driver got lost.

The SS Antoinette is very nice and the bed was very comfortable.  This was our third Uniworld cruise and I will say it was not my favorite.  The service was excellent but I thought the food was just OK.  We did sign up for an optional wine dinner for 70 euro's and I did not think it was worth the money. Most of the stops we had to take a bus for the excursions which is fine but I enjoy just being able to get off the ship and wander into town.  

We also did the post extension in Amsterdam with Uniworld.  This was definitely not worth the money I think I could of done it much cheaper on my own.  When we got off the ship in Amsterdam we were taken by bus to the Rijksmuseum and then a canal ride.  We spent I think about 2 hours at the museum but wish we had more time.  Our Uniworld guide after our canal ride walked us to the hotel and gave us a 24 hour tram ticket.  The next day was on our own.  Before leaving I had gotten tickets to the Van Gogh museum and also the Anne Frank house.  We did a lot of walking that day!  The next day we were transferred to the airport and arrived in plenty of time for our flight.  So I enjoyed the cruise but it was not my favorite.   If you have any questions please let me know.  

9 hours ago, UDChE89 said:

OP here.  I did get the upgrade but not sure I’d do it again.  I felt I got a better value out of the suite cabin I bought on Viva last year than I did on Uniworld.  Actually, the decor on Viva suited me better than Uniworld.  We had not so great weather and I found the furniture in the public areas to be slightly uncomfortable so I spent a little more time in my cabin.  I did not avail myself of all the amenities but I do have to say the bed, linens, and shower were all fantastic.

Well I did not get my upgrade and now I do not feel so bad about not getting it.  Even if the weather is not great I would probably be in the lounge.

14 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Not about Uniworld, but my reading of the Black Forest excursion on many cruise lines is that people are often disappointed.  Except those who planned to buy a Cuckoo Clock.  Otherwise: long bus ride, overly touristy clock store, meh cake.

 

Strasbourg is quite nice, especially the Petite France area.  Try to be inside the Cathedral for the 12:30 pm performance of the Astronomical Clock, and have tarte flambée [or Flammkuchen in Alsatian] for lunch or a snack.

 

Does your Strasbourg tour not include the canal boat tour?  I think that would be a highlight (except that when we did it, the sun was so strong that I thought we would melt into the seats on the open boat!)

 

I would also do the Heidelberg tour.  We docked in Speyer and it was a long bus ride – Mannheim should be closer.  We started with a tour of the castle [very large and it gives you an idea of what was going on in all those other castles you will pass], and then walked through the old town before setting off on our own to visit the Church of the Holy Ghost (Lutheran) and the Jesuit Church (Catholic).  Both were impressive in different ways.  You should have plenty of time in Heidelberg, as we did all that and still had time to DIY Speyer after we got back from another long bus ride.  [I also recall visiting some student drinking halls on my first visit to Heidelberg – as a student – but those don't seem to feature in the river cruise excursions!  OR maybe I just remember watching The Student Prince...]

Thanks for that information.  No the tour does not include a canal tour so that is something we might do.  Right now I think I will skip the black forest  but will  do Heidelberg. The included excursion though Uniworld sounds like just a walking tour. This is the description of the tour 

STRASBOURG PANORAMIC TOUR WITH CATHEDRAL AND OLD TOWN WALK

Controlled over the centuries by either France or Germany, Strasbourg is both cross-cultural and bilingual. Old and new, French and German all blend together in this wonderful city, which is also considered the legislative and democratic capital of the European Union. Get a glimpse of Strasbourg's grand political role as we drive by the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, where the European Court of Human Rights sits. Then get a feel for the cultural side of the city on a walking tour through its enchanting streets.

Watching closely since we will be on our river cruise in June 10th

Thanks.  I am definitely going to sign up for Heidelberg.  It will be a long day since you do an included tour in the am and then Heidelberg in the pm.

They are charging $88 for the Heidelberg tour which is a 5 hour tour and the Black Forest is $143 and that one is for 7.5 hours.

Well my river cruise is now right around the corner and I am trying to plan my excursions.  We are on the sailing that leaves Basel on June 10th. For anyone who has been on this cruise do you have any info and thoughts on the optional excursions?      Day 3 we are in Kehl (Strasbourg) and trying to decide between doing the included walking tour or spend the extra money and take the optional Black Forest tour.  Day 4 we are in Mannheim (Speyer) and I am torn between the Vinegar estate tour because it has gotten great reviews on this site or do I spend the extra money and do the optional Heidelberg.  Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.  

Thank you so much for that information I will look them up.

I will be spending a few days In Amsterdam after our river cruise in June.  I am looking into a dinner cruise on the canal.  What company did you book with and did you book it before you went or once you were in Amsterfam?

So why did Uniworld send emails asking if you wanted to bid on an upgrade if they give complimentary upgrades?  I would not be happy to find out someone got a complimentary upgrade and I had to pay for an upgrade.  

My river cruise is in June and we are doing Castles Along the Rhine and I just got the email to bid on an upgrade.  I am currently booked in a deluxe balcony room and the minimum bid

to upgrade to a suite was 600 pp so I put a bid in for $610 pp.  I doubt I will get it but thought I give it a try.  The email I received back from Uniworld said that "most offers are evaluated between14 and 3 days before departure.

On 1/11/2023 at 10:01 PM, gnome12 said:

You don't say where you are flying from, but if you are coming from North America, you might have jet lag to contend with also. Are you really prepared to do a fairly full day touring after an overnight flight?

We are leaving from Tampa.  We are doing the pre-extension through Uniworld so according to their site they have some tours scheduled during the days.  The only day that looks free is when we arrive.  You are right we probably will be jet lagged but from what I heard and read I do not want to miss MT Pilatus.  We will just have to see what time we arrive and how tired we are.

We will be on the Uniworld Castles Along the Rhine in June and we are doing the pre-extension through Uniworld and staying in Lucerne for a few days.  I want to go to Mount Pilatus the day we arrive but do not want to order tickets ahead of time since our flight schedule could change.  Also we are flying into Zurich so not sure what the travel time is from Zurich to Lucerne.   Would I be able to get tickets the day of arrival or do I need to get them ahead of time?

When I hit the lottery I will book this trip 🤣.  Looks like a trip of a life time.

I booked a cruise for June through Uniworld and I decided to do everything through Uniworld.  Yes it is not cheap but I love the idea of being taken care of and not worry how I am going to get from Lucerne to Basal.  This is my first time booking pre and post excursions through the river cruise line so we will see how it goes.

I just booked my air through our cruise line and the cost was cheaper.  The cruise line sent me the cost and flight information I compared it to what I could get and the cruise line was a better deal.  We were also able to select our seats.  My thought was with the airlines canceling so many flights lately it will be up to the cruise line to get new flights.  At least I am hoping that is what will happen.

There might have extra excursions that are not included in the price and you could use the credit for those excursions.

4 hours ago, scottjeanne said:

You may not find it cheaper to do on your own.  Our extension was $1569 per person.  We had a two night three day stay.  The hotel alone is $1500 per night.  So the cost of the hotel without the tour and transfers is the same as using Uniworlds extension.

Yes that is what I am finding when searching hotels so I have decided to go through Uniworld.  I like the idea of everything being taken care of as far as transfers and getting me to the ship.

Just read your review and it looks like a wonderful river cruise.  The itinerary does not look like it has changed.  Plan to look up the hotel that you stayed in at Lucerne.  Still on the fence whether to just have Uniworld do all the work or doing it on our own.  I know it would be much cheaper but I also like the idea of something taking care of us and getting us where we need to be 😀

Thank you.  So looking forward to this cruise.  Now we are talking about do the pre-cruise extension and then staying on day in Amsterdam before flying home. Turning into an expensive trip 🙂