goksucats

Ditto in the USA.

oh thank you. I've only visited the Munich airport so I've never seen the Marianplatz or any of the city. I've spent time in Berlin which was interesting but I'm much more excited about Munich. I was looking at restaurants and of course an aware of the famous Hofbrauhaus. But I'd love to see something more recommended by somebody local so I will look those up.

I went to their site today and they seem to be selling tickets for Munich to Paris today so I'm assuming we will be good to go. Thanks for the heads up on construction. Either way the about 6 hour train ride basically right outside our hotel sounds much more pleasant then the hour long ride to the airport, security at the airport and the Wait there and then CDG airport in Paris is also out of town.

Definitely have seen this done before myself, and I've only done one Viking River Cruise. Our 2021 Christmas Markets Rhine river cruise was scheduled to be on the Viking Einar, and we show up and they are putting us on the Viking Sigrun instead! And there weren't even river issues at that time.

Just back it up a week and join us on June 19th! Of course the flights will have to be changed, etc. Right now my biggest concern is trying to figure out what to do about our personal extension. We have the extension in Munich at the end booked through Avalon for the extra two nights. They are putting us up in the Sofitel Munich Bayerpost which is right next to the main central train station. After the extension we are going to Paris for a few days before flying home. Currently I have train tickets schedule for June 26th from Munich to Paris, but hearing about all of the travel issues by rail almost has me more worried then the river issues. And if you look at Munich's long term forecast I swear there is rain in it every #$%^ day for the next 10 days!!! Ugh. Three weeks seems like plenty of time for the rail service to be restored in Munich. And I also can't get a good feel if the Munich to Paris route is impacted, it currently doesn't look like it, but it certainly doesn't help I can't read a #$%^ on Deutsche Bahn's website. lol. Any locals have insight on the rail issues in Munich.. I would be deeply indebted cause I'm going crazy trying to figure out if I want to go to the hassle of booking flights from Munich to Paris instead of the rail. The issue of course being.. the airport is an hour away from the city, flight times kind of are the pits for non-stops, and the train station is a convenient walk out the door from the Munich Sofitel Bayerpost.

Especially when you can't even read them or have a clue what they say.🤣 I'm fortunate that outside of a little caution with anything that causes .. ahem.. gas related issues (and I'm eating Sauerkraut in Germany so my stomach is just going to have to deal), I don't have any real food allergies that I know of.

I would assume that also means we should be okay in the reverse from Budapest toward Vilshofen by June 19th. Fingers crossed

Viking seemed to take care of my mother and sister when they were impacted by very low water levels on the Rhine a few years ago. While the journey wasn't the same, they also said Viking did do a good job of making it a fun trip, getting them to interesting places and they also did receive travel vouchers to discount a future cruise. And they've gone on other Viking river and ocean cruises since. So it didn't discourage them from doing them in the future. Keep hope and be positive. If you go into feeling awful about it you're going to have an awful time. You get to go to Europe!! something so many Americans can only dream of. It should be amazing no matter how you get to see it.

I know Viking operates in this manner, and I'd expect Avalon similarly. I've not been effected by water levels before on a river cruise, but my mother and her sister were a few years ago on a Viking Rhine cruise. While they said it wasn't exactly the same, they also did say that Viking did do some pricing adjustments and also gave travel vouchers to apply to discount a future cruise. Something they were not obligated to do.

As I pointed out to Labmom57 above.. she is going to be on Avalon Envision I believe the week before we are. While we are all disappointed at the possible change of plans, I wouldn't immediately discount Avalon's ability to make this worthwhile. They are a division of Globus International which many consider to be the premiere land-based tour company. Unlike any other cruise line, I'd have to believe Avalon/ Globus could create something amazing for us if the river doesn't cooperate.

We are scheduled to be on the Avalon Envision on June 19th so we are the cruise right after you. We are to board in Budapest and head back to Vilshofen. I'll be eager to hear how this goes for you. I am hopeful that two weeks is enough time for the rivers to return to normal for regular cruising, but of course will be happy to see the area by coach if necessary. One thing to keep in mind for us is that, unlike most river cruise lines, Avalon is owned by Globus so they can leverage their ties to them as they are famous for their land-based tours. I'm certain Globus will put together a great land based itinerary if the river is not passable for you. Mostly I am hopeful we can stay with the ship at night instead of hotels. The two biggest issues I've seen from people in the past who have had to move to motorcoach vacations is that the inconvenience of having bags ready to go every morning for pickup outside the hotel room, and the constant packing/unpacking, but just as disappointing often is the food it sounds like. That the food is often not up to the standard that a Viking/Avalon is producing on board. Truthfully eating locally sounds far more interesting, but I also don't know what kind of restaurants the cruise lines choose. If it's constantly "hotel" food then that sounds pretty awful.

We are booked on Avalon Envision Danube Symphony with 2 Night Extension in Munich (Westbound) starting in Budapest June 19th and ending in Munich June 26th (exiting ship in Vilshofen). Hopeful that there isn't aren't any significant evacuations or issues for the poor locals living through this between now and then and that it stops raining. Looks like there is a chance for rain in Munich every day for the next 10 days so trying to prepare myself for the worst. We went ahead and bought train tickets to get us from Munich to Paris at the end of this trip and then staying in Paris a few days afterwards as well. I've been to Europe but this will be my daughter's first time. She is 16. Been trying to follow along and appreciate all of the information.

Oh my goodness. That is a LOT of water.

Wow some fascinating information here. We are going on our first river cruise of the Danube in June. Avalon Danube Symphony with 2 nights in Munich, June 19th - June 26th and then a train to Paris. I've been on the Rhine but this will be our first Danube. Will be watching the water level information though based on your comment above it sounds like we are missing the most troublesome part of the Danube. We will be cruising from Budapest to Vilshofen.