In Retirement

I would suggest that following this experience and complaint, most of the initiative would go away if there was a post that this was an "unfortunate mistake" and that this specific cruise line wishes to promote the vacation experience of all of its passengers, regardless of cultural and other individual characteristics. Likewise, it only offers, but does not coerce, selection of any of its supplemental services (port excursions, beverage service, casino, photography, specialized dinning, spa, shops, etc.). Although some people think that we misinterpreted our CC meeting experience, I would like those who continue with this position to also indicate whether they were in attendance at this specific meeting. I can tell you that many of us, well-trained in the understanding of human behavior interpreted this experience in the same negative manner and were shocked. This was not one of those "internet rumors" and was not seen by anybody as an attempt at humor. Don't give either the captain or the cruise line an easy pass here. Celebrity knew many Cruise Critic members who were on board: all who registered received invitations, remember? Nobody (that I know of) received any harassment following this meeting, but I certainly had no interest in forming a bond with the CD (don't care why he left HAL or why he no longer led a jazz band and certainly considered that he had no limits to his sense of self-confidence or self-worth). I believe that people who wondered what my question to the captain was, also engaged in "mind-reading." Actually, my question had to do with identification of navigational challenges during our cruise (very non-paranoid, content-appropriate). The captain is not the President of the United States, and I am not a cruise ship "groupie." Subsequently, I was told elsewhere about the Norwegian control of the ship and also had a very sweet experience with the Hotel Manager on the floating dock at Geiranger. He saw me taking a picture of my wife and approached me offering to take a picture of both of us (much appreciated). I am not paranoid about this experience. If Celebrity does not want CC business, there is plenty of competition.

As what happens because we are just human and the topic is emotion-provoking, people (not on the ship, not at the meeting, not participating in any non-cruiseline outing) are commenting. "Seems that people present just "misunderstood" British humor, etc." And then there are hundreds of statements for the value of individually-planned port excursions. This has almost devolved into what happens with a discussion of the dress code here.

Please understand that all who paid attention took this as a serious and personal threat. We had a A- (at least) Roll Call in which a variety of private and other port activity options were mentioned online, but discussion of individual issues were discussed off-site by email. I have never participated in a transatlantic cruise Roll Call where this activity was not prevalent. So far we don't know what we did wrong. I can tell you that JC arrived and he had this prepared tirade and in totality it was against Cruise Critic (yes, a site where Celebrity posts ads, and through the miracle of the modern internet and maybe Google, I receive more than my share of communications shot from this company.

This has been a useful discussion of OUR specific experience, a comprehensive discussion of ship excursions, and some one-way discussion of Cruise Critic and its use. Certainly all commercial interests would just prefer we read ads and send in our money, but these very profitable web sites seem to attract people who want to learn more in their travel experience -- and specifically TripAdvisor promotes itself as the "thinking person's" resource. I really don't care how much its CEO makes in a year if it helps me plan and achieve my travel objectives. Indeed, on this trip (four weeks) I located/booked my hotel in Basel, learned about travel options in Belgium, learned that a stay at the Amsterdam Marriott provided access to washers/dryers (at our trip midpoint) and allowed reading of what people found "fun" at about two dozen locations. Obviously, much of this information promotes private decisions and educational activity. We can all agree that effective use of our brains is a good idea amongst the 65+ crowd?

My basic position is that none of us can accurately assume what JC was out to prove and until we hear from Celebrity about their expectations, our ability to adjust this experience in our memories is problematic. As an aside, I can only say that Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, in my personal last-year experience, fails in its pre-cruise communication with its passengers: don't provide email addresses and then staff the service so that meaningful responses do not appear in a timely manner! I can only compare my last efforts (last winter, this spring) with last summer's communication with Princess. In this regard, I always had private email communication with specific people at their corporate headquarters, with at least an 80% improvement as a result. Can't imagine why Celebrity has moved its Call Center away from Florida (this way their assigned people can only be useful if you can't read and understand their website).

It seems that TA/CC provides useful information that does not support all cruise line motivations, but focuses on the quality of an individual's vacation experience? In this regard, I'm a TA/CC advocate, you bet!

DJ

Greetings!

(1) It will be useful to hear from Celebrity regarding their policy regarding port excursions. If Celebrity is saying that passengers must take their port tours, they are acting like a river boat company and should make this clear (and include such plain vanilla tours in the price of its cabins). I would suggest that they first go after large websites and companies such as CitySightseeing that draw away 100s of passengers. Seeing that Cruise Critic seems to be set in the USA and English is its language, I wonder how freedom of speech and free enterprise is factored in to their policies? As already posted by several, then what are the expectations for drink packages, casino gambling, "party activity," and the purchase of ship pictures. Cruise lines need to just adjust to the current century -- this is no longer the loveboat generation!

(2) Cruise Critic is a wonderful travel resource as is TripAdvisor. (Interesting to see the annual salary of the later's CEO, yes?). We all assume that Cruise Critic exists to promote interest in cruising and to be a resource to both passengers and cruise line companies. I have no idea if Cruise Critic has a backbone of salaried staff or is a public entity in any way that functions under certain laws and regulations. It is difficult when we only hear from "hosts" who are apparently just enthusiastic volunteers (as we are). It is also clear that Cruise Critic is viable because it is useful. Will removing such value diminish website use?

(3) My hope is that more of the folks who attended this 27 June meeting will speak up about this meeting called for our benefit. If you attended the many events hosted by JC, you understand that a discussion of his behavior was not a viable alternative (and his face and booming voice was present everywhere. It is, however, easy to perhaps misinterpret his tirade (not knowing if it was a personal thing or a corporate directive) because his manner, in general was loud and brash (looks like his hallmark). Obviously his words only served to alienate a relatively sophisticated/experienced and a very small segment of ship passengers.

(4) I remain dumbfounded why a cruise line would "snoop" into communication that many thought was dedicated to passengers and then learn from it that they should "threaten" those most interested in the integration of cruises into vacation plans. As a personal note, I am a stockholder in both Royal Caribbean and Carnival and obviously found this experience offensive. My personal experience is to select the cruise line for dates/ports/prices as for many of us who read these postings, the cruise ship is a moving hotel room that facilitates the adventure, not like the 1920s Cunard couple with her in a beaded dress smoking a cigarette in a long holder, while he, in his tux, gazes into his brandy snifter! (Wake up, our airlines don't transport trunks and cabins don't provide facilities for our staff!) I guess that investigation of other cruise lines and new travel options may become useful in the future. My thought is that a cruise company that is happy with elderly couples who never leave the ship (like during their yearly Caribbean cruise in February) should not care if we participate in port activities of our own planning? My very first CC cruise included, just as an example, a Sunday visit to Rome when the Vatican museum was free -- any visit could not be planned through a cruiseline excursion. In our case, we developed a list of places to visit that provided exposure to Bernini and Michelangelo, ending with a reserved visit to the Villa Borghese -- I would suggest that the 8 of us did not represent a threat to a cruise line and this activity should be of no interest to a CD such a JC! Maybe he should pay more attention to the quality and timeliness of his entertainment (i.e. production pieces featuring music from the 20s to 50s with a British bias to preference is not the same thing as our enjoyment of Foyle's War or Downton Abby).

DJ

quote by In Retirement:

"Isn't Lois wonderful for starting this discussion? I bet we can come up with many more who can report on this threatening experience."

If you were directing your comment to me? I did not start this

discussion. The original poster started this thread and yes, I chose

to reply with a couple of comments, just as many other folks have

done as well. I never said anything was threatening......not sure where that came from.....

I returned home to not only deal with the seven hours' jet lag, but acute bronchitis (that I've given to my wife) and a reoccurrence of an inner ear syndrome -- so you can understand my "Lois" substitution for "Iris" (have already sent her a personal apology).

Just saying, at least 50 of us from our Roll Call were in attendance 27 June, and no one will deny that a Cruise Critic "meeting" in which its members are thoroughly criticized is quite an experience? The following hour was a Captains Club reception with drinks and good will towards other frequent-customers. Don't remember anything served for Cruise Critic, but then again I was too shocked and on this ship there is almost always food available.

I wonder how we can reach some consensus about sensible guidelines for Roll Call postings and what each cruise lines expects from its passengers beyond behavioral maturity and responsibility? What to do about the elderly that don't leave the ship? (Charge them more for lost excursion profits?) How about the religious who don't gamble? Those familiar with the port who have private plans? Those who avoid all sorts of "add-ons" during the cruise (and maybe prefer to take more cruises instead?). I figure opening up a competitive retail business on board should have negative consequences. Actually this was our second cruise RT Amsterdam on the Constellation. If the Cruise Critic welcome we received this year had occurred on that Baltic cruise, we would have missed out on the wonderful 26 June cruise. We just need to figure out if Celebrity wants repeat customers with a serious interest in developing their own port experiences. Obviously, Celebrity can't meet the port interests of all of its passengers -- I remember reading during the cruise that Port Excursions could offer private drivers at some ports -- so they would be happy with such last-minute interest. My greatest concern is the realization that Celebrity management of some sort are following our Roll Call discussions (seems creepy). It seems that they could follow some more honest practice to gain information and advice? I wonder how freedom of speech and individual action relates here. I can tell you I spent six months trying to get Cruise Critic and Viking to improve forum and "roll call" options for river cruises and perhaps unfortunately, had to gain my own experience "live" instead.

DJ (still in retirement and still enjoying the vacation-planning experience!)

Greetings!

Isn't Lois wonderful for starting this discussion? I bet we can come up with many more who can report on this threatening experience.

"Discovered" Cruise Critic and TripAdvisor in 2008 when my impending retirement led to some "serious" vacation planning. (Thought I was making a "unique" contribution by this activity of serious travel post-retirement! How very silly of me.) A really active Roll Call with serious and experienced fellow members adds value to trip-planning: defining options, issues to consider, problems to avoid). Who doesn't visit TripAdvisor to insert name of each port as well as to ask questions at TA Forums?

Everyone should acknowledge that different people want different port experiences. My assumption is that just as buying a travel guide supports such a position, that Cruise Critic and Trip Advisor provide value to participants in this manner and then constitute a known population that allows the sale of advertising. However, I now have no understanding of where Cruise Critic falls in this process.

My experience is that people I tend to associate with view travel as an educational experience and plan to maximize these experiences. I don't necessarily think that saving money is primary, rather the difference between a bus ride through a city and visits within a city's buildings reflects whether you are being introduced to Rome or whether your day will be spent following a historical period or the works of one or two artists. So, different strokes for different folks?

Hopefully, Cruise Critic will continue to be that resource. Our 27 June Celebrity Constellation experience included direct revelation that Celebrity monitors its Roll Calls (sort of like Eric Snowden/NSA). Indeed, the CD commented on use of "labels" such as my use of "In Retirement" and asked the 60-some of us "who do you want to know the identity of?" and my receiving a round of applause led to my regretting that I raised my hand! Obviously, my general guideline to post only on a Roll Call discussion material appropriate to all readers and to leave individual discussions among a limited few to private email is very necessary (we are all quite annoyed with two people hijack a Roll Call).

Please consider that we are talking about maybe 50 English-speaking passengers when large contingents of Dutch, German, Belgium, and Israeli passengers are onboard. Is Cruise Critic a threat to a cruise line's bottom line? Do cruise line's contribute the degree of planning necessary to attract a group of retired teachers? Does Celebrity provide tours in German, Flemish, Dutch, and Hebrew? Have no idea of how to influence a travel corporation with a lack of the necessary talent to determine how to improve port excursions (or whether the effort to produce such experiences would be worthwhile).

I realize that this may seem extreme to those of you who did not participate in our (really quite wonderful) Roll Call, but this Cruise Critic meeting experience was no different from the CD making a request that we all buy drink packages (yes, even the alcoholics or diabetics) or gamble in the casino (shouldn't this space and equipment and all of those bored employees represent adequate return for capital?). Inappropriate IS inappropriate. As an aside, would observe that the "walking tours" provided by my first (maybe last) river cruise days before suffered from the same lack of intellectual effort -- was quite surprised that we were a small group, but put into a structure where we were all supposed to do the same thing and given little time to develop other experiences.

Have no idea of how to reach Celebrity. Discovered they are in Miami and their call center is in the midwest (at least not in Asia?). I am a RC stockholder and was truly horrified at this experience. I give some of those around me credit for support to get through this and I must admit that I was extremely pleased with all of our eight port calls (honored to be on Celebrity's last Norwegian cruise RT Amsterdam).

DJ

For myself, I usually invest a good deal of time in understanding ports and planning each visit, and often see a cruise ship as a floating hotel. In this context, a lot of meals not prepared or cleaned up after are pretty swell?

Our just past 12-night Celebrity Norwegian Fjord cruise RT Amsterdam was marvelous with good weather throughout and developed or selected port activities to gain some understanding of Norwegian history and current society. The only negative experience was brought to our Cruise Critic event by the ship's Cruise Director (in the presence of the captain) who stated directly that Cruise Critic would be the cause of cruise company's failures! Really would like to share this experience with Cruise Critic management. Can't understand how maybe 50 from the US will bring Celebrity down? Sort of like how to cope when people don't drink or don't gamble? Perhaps it is unrealistic for a cruise line to think that it can attract all of its passengers to its excursion offerings. Got the absolute impression that Celebrity reads its Roll Calls -- seems rather creepy and will keep useful information off of the boards: unless the goal of CC is to promote all cruise ship offerings? Really appreciate CC and TripAdvisor as resources and the facilitation of travel information. Who will be most interested? I'm a stockholder and need to identify the individuals best to inform among Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.

DJ

Have a look at Anthem of the Seas. It will be departing out of Southampton, so you could have a stay in London before or after your cruise. It will be a brand new ship with quite a few innovations. It will be 14 night cruises to the Med, hitting Florence and Rome on some of its itineraries.[/quote/

Yes, this brand new RCI ship is exactly the one I would have suggested for people wanting to see both London and the Med. There will be similar cruises from Southampton with Cunard, Princess and Celebrity, but other ships from this port will be biased more to UK/Irish/European cruisers.

 

Our Princess Cruise in 2012 RT Southampton did, of course, have people from the UK and Australia, but the vast majority were from the US and Canada (and only English was used). I understand at one time local (UK) travel agents had access to excellent rates. Later this month and in 2011 we will be/were on Celebrity RT Amsterdam and the composition is/was the same. I really don't understand how you can say this? Princess has been part of Carnival Lines for many, many years. I'm not certain that access to London is a benefit of Southampton when the goal is the Mediterranean as you see the additional at sea days required (unless you find Gibralter more of a benefit than Istanbul or Athens? On several Barcelona/Venice itineraries, there is only one Sea Day, which I see as a benefit (this is not the Caribbean or the Canary Islands in the winter where relaxation and dressing up for dinner is a primary objective.

DJ:)

Thanks for the information Karen.

 

We have booked and communication from Fred (Busy Bus) has been excellent, even emailing to tell me we have passed the minimum number of eight.

Trish

We did a RT Southampton 12-night with Princess and used Busy Bus from Liverpool. Excellent experience (I also can identify many details in pictures, however from Le Havre we visited Rouen and Honfleur as we spent a week in Paris before a Baltic cruise out of Amsterdam the summer before!

Wouldn't it be great if locating all of the best port experiences did not require such effort both here and on Trip Advisor -- but, as they say, most of the fun is in the planning?

DJ:)

Hard to come up with any specific recommendation, except assuming this is a high school graduation and your daughter is an only child? Does she have a favorite aunt? Are you sharing one cabin?

Adults who experience the stress of a vocation would see a personal jacussi on a balcony as relaxing and a luxury. A young lady graduating high school would not be so interested?

The great value of a European cruise is an introduction to our world, often just read about in a history course. If this would be her first experience in Europe, I would suggest a Mediterranean cruise (12 nights) and, instead of a "surprise" bring her and your wife into the planning. A cruise as a moving hotel room can be quite exciting, especially if selecting an itinerary that includes many of the highlights. Cruise critic can also be helpful in a Roll Call finding similar families, or if your daughter has a close friend with parents similarly inclined and port calls can be turned into adventures using the services of a private driver for a small group or a private guide and small bus for a larger group. Great experiences can be had with a Barcelona to Venice itinerary that samples Provence, Italy (Florence, Pisa, Rome) Greece (Athens) and Turkey (Ephesus, Istanbul). These 12 days plus two for travel and two or three in Barcelona and Florence would be ideal. Is this for now or next June?

Let us know what you plan and how it worked out. In short days MDW and I go on our fourth long European vacation, this time including a Rhine river cruise, days in Belgium, and a intense cruise to Norway from Amsterdam. Last summer I took my immediate family (7 adults, 3 children) on a RT Seattle Glacier Bay Alaska cruise and everyone had a great time (poured into three adjoining balcony cabins with children either on excursions with family, at camp on board, or going in and out of cabins from the joined balconies. In 2016 we plan to revisit our Barcelona/Venice cruise with our oldest and her boys who will be 9 and 15 years. On a cruise like this time spent in planning port activities is far more important than food -- although with a group I would never do "anytime" dinning and would at least review possible ships to locate best cabin options. Another issue is to look at possible specific cruises and map them out on a calendar to see where Sundays and Mondays fall. You are likely to find that activities possible on these days are often limited.

DJ:)

Assuming you are on a cruise and starting from La Havre, one option is to form a small group and obtain a taxi driver for the day (we had a group of 8). In seeing Rouen, we did art museum, cathedral, and the contemporary church dedicated to Joan of Arc (beautiful stained glass, not to be missed) and then did a late lunch and walk-around in Honfleur. One good option instead of Paris or Normandy.

The issue of the value of such a quick "visit" to Paris can be a topic as divisive as clothing standards for formal nights on board. Obviously, the amount of time you have can be controlling here. Don't think that Paris can be experienced through a global bus ride and return! With the true wonder of western Europe's train system, several popular ocean (and river) cruises can be paired with time in Paris, and a stay in Paris can easily be combined with a day at Versailles or elsewhere. We tied our last visit to Paris (VRBO rental in the Marais district) with a Thalys train from Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal to direct walk onto a Celebrity Baltic Cruise that completed with another VRBO week rental in Amsterdam. (So that air travel was "open jaws" flight into CDG and out of AMS.) Works great if you have the time? (Same airfare and meals simplified by morning "home-cooked" breakfasts and cold dinners "at home.") A more genuine feel for a city may be achieved not only at tourist spots, but rubbing shoulders with locals at the neighborhood grocery buying eggs, break and milk. [i guess the most genuine would be going to work for a year or more, but such goals are now beyond my ambition!] Those with such time (and able to read this note) also have the ability to research TripAdvisor, VRBO, and Google Maps and Streetview in the months before a trip. Our most recent trips have also brought London, Barcelona, and Venice into our Paris and Amsterdam city experiences. The planning efforts have always been worth the extra time! Good luck.

DJ:)

Am now subscribed to this thread, but have no idea where it is and how to get to it -- searching your name only brings up the one for your trip where we have talked in the past.

I assume our 13/20 June cruise will be a little warmer and the days a little longer? Did you have a balcony cabin (starboard) that would be facing the sunset? We will be facing the other way as sailing towards Amsterdam.

My deal is to walk into Bresaich in the morning and take a tour of Colmar in the afternoon, hoping to visit art and sculpture museums. Museum option interesting. Hope to visit the major Wallraf-Richartz at Cologne to combine with Reijksmuseum and Ghent and Bruges experiences. Currently watching lectures on the Northern Renaissance.

Have a chance to visit your roll call, interested in weather/clothes report.

Very good!

DJ:):):)

My DW is also a teacher. We weren't even looking at the Christmas Market cruise but were thinking about Christmas week. The one we are thinking about is Amsterdam to Basel. I guess you're saying that we are less likely to sit on deck if the temperature is somewhere between 15 - 40 deg F. Something to consider, although the price (including air) is about half what it is in the summer.

Thanks for the input.

Last year followed one Rhine Cruise the week before Christmas and the pictures were very useful: snow and ice on the top deck and people in ski jackets -- no kidding (no one sitting outside as the boat moves down the river?). Our experience from last August was that I had a hard time finding an open cabin on the Basel/Amsterdam route the following June! Was quite a shock considering how negative folks are here on having to pay 100% upfront! Sometimes price fluctuation represents demand and sometimes you are able to plan a vacation and come out ahead (last year we did a week's cruise out of San Juan that started 14 December and then a week in a convenient condo the following week: that cruise week cost about half the price on the following week, and we were able to fly nonstop from Houston and go directly onto the ship, which was the first day my wife could get away.

If I could get my wife to fly to Europe in December, I'd consider a variety of alternatives where inside time would be great (Paris, London) or weather would be at least likely to be temperate (Greece, Turkey) no so certain about Israel as last winter wasn't good for a vacation!

Good luck,

DJ

Thanks for the detail. We are thinking of doing this cruise in late December and are reading mixed reviews. You give a pretty good impression of what it will be like on this cruise.

We often select travel times just because they are available. In the future I hope to take advantage of some off-peak very good price options and some seasonal experiences that don't work with MDWs continuing teaching schedule. What I've discovered so far about river cruises, however, is that the same length of river can be covered in both a shorter and a longer time period. Both may offer the same ports, but one might mainly move the boat when its passengers sleep, while the other anchors the boat at night and travels more distance during the day time.

I think that sitting on the top deck after dinner and watching the world go by might be a lovely experience? By selecting a time of year with the longest days, there will be daylight during long evenings (hope then for blackout curtains?). As we follow this 13/20 June river cruise with days/evenings in Ghent, Brugges, and Amsterdam, walks after dinner are a good possibility, followed by an extended cruise to Norway (26 June/8 July) were evening hours on a balcony (and hopes for a dark cabin!) have us expecting bright evenings maybe past 11pm?

DJ

Thanks for the detail.We are thinking of doing this cruise in late December and are reading mixed reviews. You give a pretty good impression of what it will be like on this cruise.

Have read several descriptions of "holiday market river cruises" and I suggest you do the same? If you like the idea of dealing with bad weather in your holiday fun, I'll bet a rail pass or rental car with cozy nights in local hotels will be your cup of tea.

We'll be on this boat in a couple of weeks and I'll be pleased to report back how much time we spend on the top deck versus reports of snow/ice and limitations. Get to leave home with all that heavy winter clothing as well. My preference for winter travel (unless you do winter sports?) is warm, balmy, tropical or south of the equator?

DJ

This was probably my least favorite day on the entire cruise. Your morning is basically free, as you are traversing the Rhine on your way to Kinderdijk. In the morning, breakfast is the usual – starts at 6:00 am for early risers, but the buffet begins at 7:30 am. Morning activities include a presentation on Dutch Water Management, followed by a Dutch table shuffleboard game called Sjoelen. I did not attend the talk on Dutch Water Management. After a leisurely breakfast, I decided to have quite time on my balcony with a strong cup of coffee. It was a very enjoyable morning watching the landscape sail by from the balcony.

I also used this free time to repack my suitcase, as our luggage had to be out at very specific times the next morning (depending upon our after-cruise plans). Viking’s plans were to leave luggage tags with the schedule for transferring bags in your room during the evening dinner. With the farewell dinner that night, I needed time to pack my bags.

 

Lunch was served at 12:30 to 2:00 pm in the restaurant or Terrace. After lunch, Ryan our Program Director, presented a talk on all things Dutch, including Dutch painters and cheeses. The Gullveig arrived in Kinderdijk at 2:15 pm. The shore excursion of the windmills began at 3:00 pm and ended at 5:00 pm. This excursion required a lot of walking. The terrain was flat, but it was a fairly good distance. I did not find the windmills that interesting and could have skipped this excursion. The Gullveig cast off for Amsterdam at 5:30 pm. Evening activities included a farewell reception at 6:30 pm and farewell dinner at 7:00 pm. The reception and dinner were great fun with new friends from around the world.

Regrets for the day – going on the Windmill excursion

Best part of the day – the farewell dinner with new friends

Good to see that your balcony (on the right/starboard side of the boat?) got some use? Were you often tethered to another ship and therefore "shared" someone else's cabin? Perhaps your relative lack of interest in windmills was not shared by your companion? I have found that guys love stuff like the Panama Canal and the Vasa Museum (Stockholm). I wonder what else was possible (or just an earlier arrival in Amsterdam)? Seems like Kinderdijk is also part of other Amsterdam-based tours (like spring Dutch flowers). Your commentary and our hearing directly from the hotel director on the ship have contributed to our preparatory comfort. Much thanks!

DJ:)

Thank you for this wonderful description. A couple of questions: was the Gullveig positioned so that a walk back towards the cathedral (and the several museums near the cathedral) was a reasonable activity after lunch? When the evening of sampling beers from a number of inns was described as an optional outing, were you told that an alternative was a classical concert on the boat?

DJ:)

I am spreading my effort between becoming more prepared for this river cruise, a 12-night cruise to Norway from Amsterdam, and current family life and all that preparation to relocate to Europe for a few weeks!

Hoping to hear how this one river cruise ended, how Cologne and the windmill visit went. Do you enter the boat on the second or third deck (the top "sun" being the fourth?)? Thanks for the information on Marksburg Castle, great to see that the steep steps come with a handrail and the uneven surfaces into the castle do not represent a substantial challenge. Look forward to standing on those ramparts to view the river and town below!

I have a map of Basel, with St. Johanspark indicated (told two tram stops from our hotel!), and some sort of map etc. with at least English labels for Breisach, Colmar, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Rudesheim, Koblenz, and Cologne. Didn't think I could get anything about Kinderdijk (?) and have visited Amsterdam twice in the last few years (a wonderful city). Anything missing?

Looking forward to hearing more! Should I be paying attention to other threads?

My best, DJ:)

Returned on Sunday from a cruise on Carnival Pride. I upgraded myself from a French Door cabin to an aft balcony for a whopping $15. I had 4230 on Miracle, so picked 4232 for Pride. While having a balcony was a nice treat (only my 3rd in 21 cruises), I was mildly disappointed. Besides having really inconsiderate neighbors who apparently slept all day and stayed up all night, letting the balcony door slam, smoking and bellowing on their balcony (with lights on) at all hours, the cabin had a tremendous amount of shaking, much more than I'd experienced on Miracle.

It was most pronounced on the first and last night. I don't know if that was due to sailing at reduced speeds in the bay, but the shaking kept waking me up that last night, so I had a terrible night's sleep and had a 5+ hr drive home. The view is fantastic, but, sadly, I'm just not sure I'd book one of those cabins again.

Aft balcony cabins are often wonderful on itineraries like as in Europe. For example, leaving Belfast and viewing all of the details of the locations where the Titanic was built. Ports in the Caribbean not always as interesting (although the weather influences the value of such a balcony).

It is sad but true that some people board a cruise ship to "let it all out" and show no consideration for others. I've done it myself, taking a New Year's Day cruise out of our local port to locations primarily of value for their beach options. Much better when most of the folks onboard are on the cruise for what they can do at ports (and therefore they go to sleep at night!). Also, I think that the additional expense of the airfare self-selects people who want to have the port experience, not the drink and scream all-night experience!

DJ:(

In Retirement,

 

completely forgot: there is a threat for Marksburg castle. Last entered post is from 9 March. There are also several older Rhine getaway threads that might give you some more information.

notamermaid

Did the reading, have no idea if Marksburg (now routine included tour) was ever "optional." It seems one needs to obtain the physical profile of the folks who describe the difficult walk. Just like our final dozen days in Norway, some people are afraid of a two block level walk while others talk about a 3-4 mile "hike" including "bouldering" (for me, visions of a visit to an emergency room): seems its time to visit Youtube and search "Marksburg castle"? Part of planning was my logic to center around 21 June (longest day of year) and do Rhine valley and Belgium first and end with Norway (going north as weather warms up?). I figure that last May/June was very unexpected and not to be repeated this year (unexpectedly warm spring following very wet and cold winter)? As we learn, however, predictions will be very difficult as well as logical ocean rise with melting ice caps?

Much thanks,

DJ:)

Look forward to hearing about Cologne, windmills and cruise into Netherlands and Amsterdam welcome!

Our memories of Princess British Isles was great and the Roll Call eventually "woke up" and most port experiences were spectacular (hope to go back in a couple of years with family in tow). My thoughts about Cobh was the selection of ecoach was too easy and as it was the first port needing "planning" I was not persistent enough in either planning or recruiting. Ecoach uses the very efficient method of starting with a very competitive individual price and threatening to raise prices as more people sign up (like buying train tickets in Europe?). On return, would not waste time driving through Cork. No understanding of what the "experiences" there were about? Obviously, the opportunity to meet people would be wonderful -- also easily met at Dublin or Belfast! For me, just an example of inadequate planning?

DJ:o

Have to admit that these postings are timely, helpful, and I must admit (for once) that all of yesterday's emails had been answered as of this morning!

Whether starting or ending up at Basel, I'm certain that this town merits a visit, and in the broad shape of things we had considered an initial start in Zurich, but hotel rents, an absence of 4-7 night rentals, and just the complexity of it all (and the relative absence of available cabins for June 2014 on August 2013, joined forces to plan outward from Amsterdam (Belgium, Norway) than into earlier June for Switzerland.

The limited value of these Viking Booklets (imprinted with names and reservation numbers) because the text is posted online (thanks for directions) are the phone number and the email of the ship. I can tell you that the hotel manager on the Gullvieg answered my email the next day and provided expected dock location (St. Johannspark) and was reassuring about providing support for folks with Type II Diabetis. The location of this dock is the closest to Old Town and to our selected hotel on arrival (Hotel D, Blumenrain 19). It is useful to know that Viking either brings you from Lucern to the boat, or from the airport to the boat. Either you don't see Basel or you get to experience maybe a one night of jet lag once onboard. It has been explained to me that only 25% of Viking clients make their own pre- or post-cruise arrangements. My perspective is, when I was working and raising a family, never paid much attention to planning a vacation (just lucky to have any days for a vacation and never paid attention to the process). In contrast, since retirement I've found that the more time I spend in preparing for a vacation, the more that I enjoy it! For example, if we cross the Atlantic, I'd prefer to do it with accumulated credit card purchases and would never spend less than 3 weeks. I understand that we will only see a little of the tourism strip from Basel to Amsterdam. I also know that if you want to experience the feel of a city, you need to spend multiple days to pick up a little of the feeling of daily life (not during these 4 weeks). Was really shocked to find that people would schedule a Barcelona to Venice (12 night cruise) and go to the ship directly from the airport and leave from the ship (one overnight) directly to the airport again! This means, maybe you walk the harbor at Mykonos for 2 or 3 hours and give Venice about the same time! (Sort of like my preparation for Venice that included the purchase of a city map so that I could explain to others on our Roll Call that you don't drive anywhere in Venice!)

Because I received a lovely note from Basel tourism, I now fully understand the public tram/hotel arrangement. This also fits with our intend (now fact) to purchase new 25"" travelpromagna suiters with matching carry-ons. Though these 10-pound lifetime guarantee cases were purchased for train travel to Belgium, they now also facilitate tram and bus travel (and a real motivation to eat carefully and keep clothes presentable!). Understand now Swiss (not French) immigration at airport, bus #50 to Basel train station, tram #11 to hotel. Also tram 16/15 for a city tour, and back on tram #11 to arrive at St. Johannspark. Once checked in at hotel, travel pass is good for the days registered, if you use travel before, have access to hotel reservation if requested by conductor. Intend to locate restaurant with river view for dinner that night after a city tram tour (if sufficient energy). Understand that boat will provide sandwiches and will offer an afternoon walking tour as well. Our attraction to Hotel D were pictures of a modern bathroom (modern shower, great bathroom fixtures) with a hope of a therapeutic night's sleep as well as an advertised TripAdvisor special that included breakfast!

Thanks for pointing out that the Marksburg Castle is neighbored by Braubach. Now trying to figure out why all of my notes and this booklet describe Heidelberg and Rudesheim, while the current Viking booklet posts Heidelberg and Speyer? (Time to look at a map?)

Will be interested to see if the majority of our fellow travelers will be most interested in the next meal, or the next wine or beer, or will focus on the culture and history of each location. Really interested in the quality of tours, although in a couple of hours you mainly get transportation and whatever your eyes take in? We did a 5-day bus tour from Madrid and we were only satisfied with half of our tours and very unhappy for what we didn't see. My current philosophy is not to put all eggs into the same basket: if possible, learn about a location and what you can do yourself (like places in Colmar and Breisach), put together different experiences during a vacation (like our own tour of Bruges and Ghent, and several independent port days in Norway).

Probably can tell that I'm getting excited. Really get into resolving problems and mysteries before travel!

DJ:):)

So nobody was observed post-castle wearing an orthopedic boot or using a pair of crutches? Somehow I have "Braubach" in my notes? Somewhat confused. I wonder which temperatures will be good estimates of river day/evening temperatures 13/20 June?

Although I applied too much thought to side of ship (east/west), choices by category even a year ahead were very limited, so basically had one balcony cabin (not suite) facing east (maybe shadow in late afternoon?) and one french balcony (large window at bed) facing west (on the week before the longest day of the year) could experience glare from sun or excessive heat from open window, so took the easy way out with B235?

Ever meet anyone who admitted to occupying those two giant suites at the back of the boat? I can't imagine how they market those two cabins?

:)DJ:)

Your long descriptive lists are so great as each of us can now tell when and where we will have some free time and do some individual research both through TripAdvisor and some materials in the mail.

Want to know if anyone walked to St. Stephan's in Breisach and if anyone had a tour within Colmar? Looks like I need to spend time looking over Strasbourg (after lunch) and just have an idea of what to do in old town Heidelberg.

Good to know when offered dinner out, this is a good time to stay onboard?

I can understand that the region is known for wine, but honestly my wife and I both take meds for hypertension and can't drink at lunch if followed by a 2-hour walk and no more than a glass with dinner. Although we can appreciate elaborate meals, for us a great meal is one we don't prepare or have to clean up after!

Also interested to know how much of a physical challenge it was getting around Marksburg castle, and how crowded was it? Nothing like a few well-placed hand rails to facilitate movement and avoid accidents.

Look forward to hearing how you used your free time in Cologne and elsewhere. We go directly from boat in Amsterdam to a 11:18 Thalys train to Antwerp.

Again, you are doing a wonderful service with your presentation!

Much thanks,

DJ:)

Hello,

I understand that some river cruise companies allow choice for the included tour, so you can visit either Germany or France from Breisach? I have been given the option of walking into town for the morning and taking a tour to Colmar in the afternoon. It seems that many people who fly to Europe aren't looking for a Disneyworld experience, no matter how profitable to the locals and how easily obtained by the river cruise companies. I am hoping to learn more about Colmar, see the church, visit the museum about the sculpter of the Statue of Liberty, and visit the small art museum recently described by Rick Steves. Hear anything about the "Other" Colmar tour? Were there enough people to have this tour?

Other questions: Location of your dock at Basel? If transferred from Lucerne, no local tour of Basel offered? Any issue with water level on the Rhine (too low or too high)?

Your observation about upper deck cam sounds like some fun -- thanks for the information! Will be interested to learn about if presence of french balcony (facing west) or real balcony (facing east) is of any benefit in the Basel to Amsterdam route.

Your postings are absolutely great, much thanks!

DJ:)

we want to do the flam train excursion and either hike or bike back it seems the hiking option doesnt include train all the way to myrdal but only to vatnahalsen where as the biking goes all the way to myrdal ,and advice tips etc .ps on a fjords cruise has anyone any thoughts on what would be the best boat trip excursion to take ?:)

We are on the 26 June Constellation RT Amsterdam, including 8 ports in Norway (this is the last of these cruises -- next year only shorter cruises from England).

Flam train accessed through "Visitflam" -- however, each email led to a different, always changing answer. We discovered in process that there was a Norway in a Nutshell option RT Flam that started with a cruise from Flam to Gudvagen, bus to Voss (including views) and train Voss to Myrdal and Myrdal to Voss. Those of us who have done the train before have opted for "Stalheim View and World Heritage Cruise" that is either a cruise to or from Gudvagen and a bus through Stalheim either to or from Gudvagen, for a 4-hour experience.

Really don't know if I answered any of your questions. For folks who are happy enough with a northern travel only to Molde/Kristiansund, this is still a great cruise (the end of this year's month in Europe). We have private Rodne Fjord cruise at Stavanger, Lake Loen cruise at Olden, a leased coach at Molde to Kverness Stave Church, Atlantic Highway, and lunch at Bud before Mt. Varden, at Alesund we have a leased coach to Trollstigen/Trollveggen, a bus to Mt. Dalsnibba at Geiranger, Flam, and visits to Bergen and Oslo!

DJ:)

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=bacb7356025326fa&sid=8AaMnLlyzcM2Ih

 

Here is a link to my Gullveig pix during week of apr 25. Connection is slow, so it was painful to try to add captions to each. There are abt 48 pics. I do not have any pics of dinner dining room, but know that the tables are set with lovely linens. A taste of Germany night was an awesome surprise. More on that later....

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I'm not that technical expert, but when I clicked on shutterfly, I found an album with only one picture of what looks like the cabins water-level windows? More to come?

Did you fly into Basel or take the train? Did you stay at least overnight or were you taken directly to the ship? (We always expect jet lag, and have never been disappointed!) Having a piece of paper with hotel reservation (Hotel D, Blumenrein 19) I think might get us on a bus from the airport to the train station where we would transfer to a tram (or if we aren't feeling well, just a taxi that takes a credit card)? This contemporary hotel is within a couple blocks of market square (across from university hospital) and very close to a variety of restaurants (and the Rhine). How did you know where to go to find the Gullveig? Does Viking (long silence, no communication) provide you with a phone number to call that morning for location? Do Taxis take a credit card? We will arrive 1:30pm at Basel airport and less than 24 hours later should be onboard. Plan to visit ATM at Frankfort airport for euros (first time not a prepurchase) and wonder if I am going to have trouble not having Swiss francs?

You are providing a wonderful service!

Much thanks,

DJ:)