SOShrink

I hope they dock all 3 days at the Riva Sette Martiri location right on the Canale di San Marco in Castello. How cool would that be! To be able enjoy an evening out at the opera or church concert or drinks at Piazza San Marco, and be able to leisurely stroll quayside back home or take the Vaporetto number 1 practically anywhere. How civilized! If it were a matter of money, I would gladly pay more to Uniworld to have them dock in a better location, but I know it's not that simple. When we were in Paris, it was perplexing to me that Viking and AMA were moored so much closer to the Eiffel Tower than we were on Uniworld. And I thought to myself "who makes these decisions?". Is there some little old guy in a bow tie, smoking a cigar in some back office who has to be paid off? I'm sorry, I just don't think it's as complicated or mysterious as everyone makes it out to be, and in this day and age of advanced communication and satellite mapping, they should be able to lease a berth where they dock with more consistency.

We will be on the April 12th sailing (in 10 days!) and we have a balcony so I will immediately let you know if it was worth it. The way I see it, the balcony ( or veranda) is worthwhile not only when you are sailing but also when you are docked especially if you have a nice view. For example, in Budapest, we had a gorgeous view of the Hungarian Parliament Building lit up at night right from our balcony, and in Cochem, we lay in bed with the balcony door open and saw the Reichsburg Castle to name a few. I can only imagine that in Venice we can at least see the boats go by from our balcony but for all I know we may have our view blocked by cranes or large cruise ships at the Marittima Port so I will let you know by posting during the trip (time permitting).

Roaming Kiwis or anyone else that has done this cruise, I have a question about the private evening sojourn to St. Mark's Basilica. I understand there is an early dinner followed by the tour. Do you happen to remember what time the Basilica tour ends? There is a 9 PM Vivaldi concert at the nearby San Vidal Church we were hoping to make. Also, I'm sure some folks will want to linger around Piazza St. Marks after the tour before returning to the ship.

That was very helpful , Roaming Kiwis. I'm thinking seriously of skipping Padua and just lounging around Chioggia and the ship for the day as the rest of the trip will involve some serious sightseeing (unless I get motivated and arrange ahead of time to see the Scrovegni Chapel (just seems too rushed). By the way, we just saw a whacky film from NZ called What We Do In The Shadows, a mockumentary vampire movie (takes place in Wellington but you don't get to see much of the city). I think I'll just stick to the spectacular scenery of Lord Of The Rings!

A few blocks away from the Opera House is Liszt Ferenc ter (a popular square named after Franz Liszt, the famous composer) where you can have a drink or coffee or eat at one of several popular places before or after the performance). We ate at a place called Menza which to this day has the best goulash ever had! You will probably pass by this square on your bus tour and it is also a Hop-on Hop-off stop as well.

Papa, I can help you with the Hungarian Opera House. Do not miss the opportunity to see ANY production there. It is one of the most spectacular opera houses in the world. The tours usually drive by it but do not go in and you really need to see the interior. You will see Tchaikovsky performed in an Eastern European city! They take it seriously over there. It's the real deal! It would be a long walk from the dock especially if you're docked across the river, but you can do it. Also know that if you really want to get adventurous, you can take the metro to the OPERA stop. But if you are all dressed up, why not take a cab (the front desk can call one for you and it won't be that expensive, since it is located not too far up Andrassy Avenue (Utca).

Rick Steves has a whole chapter devoted to the thermal baths in Budapest. It is extremely helpful and also hysterical! Between reading that and your concierge, your should be more than prepared. We were afraid to bring our cameras in for fear of getting them wet, but regret to this day not having photos of us at the baths. So, I recommend purchasing a waterproof cheap disposable camera before you leave home (too expensive there) if you plan on going!

When joining a discussion about Budapest, I always put a plug in for the Thermal Baths. You can soak in the outdoor pools in any weather. Watching a bunch of local guys in a heated chess match while luxuriating in the SZECHENYI Thermal Baths was one of the highlights of our trip...

So, getting back to the Padua question, is 5 PM the last shuttle back to the ship? I believe we are docked in Polesella until 11 PM that night before taking off for Venice. So you would think they could let you stay in Padua a little later. I'm actually trying to determine the best time to reserve the Scrovegni Chapel and be able to get back to the ship on time.

On one of the few days that our ship is not docked in Venice, we will find ourselves in Chioggia at the mouth of the Po Delta. So they give us a choice of spending a half day in this little seaside village or taking a full day excursion to Ravenna, famous for its mosaics. I know it comes down to personal preference and even how exhausted one might be midweek of a busy cruise. But I would still like to hear from travelers who have experienced both places.

Thanks! I'll take you up on that as questions arise. It's very cool that you kept a diary to refer to. Good job! Steve

Hope things are well in NZ! Thanks for the feedback. I like the choice of staying in town with a choice of shuttles. They do that in a lot of destinations and that is a nice feature.

Thank you for those encouraging words, Babcia! I'm like you. A 2 hour bus trip doesn't scare me and it IS part of the trip (scenery, talking to others or the tour guide, or glancing at your guide book to prepare for the destination, etc.) as long as they take a bathroom break!

Both excursions leave from the dock in Polesella which is an hour from Bologna and 30 min. from Ferrara so the travel time is really not an issue. I will say that the Bologna tour is a full day that includes pasta making and lunch whereas the Ferrara excursion is a half day and you are back on board by lunch.

On one of our cruise days during the Venice and Gems of Northern Italy river cruise, we are offered a choice of a full day in Bologna or a half day in Ferrara. Whereas Ferrara is a Unesco-designated preserved Renaissance city, etc., Bologna is celebrated for its cuisine, having Europe's oldest university, and for its squares and architecture, etc. I know the answer is highly subjective, but perhaps we can some insight from a cruiser's perspective.

For the precious few of you who have river cruised in Italy, on one of our days when we dock at Polesella (Venice and the Gems of Northern Italy trip), we have to make a decision. The Cruise Companion says "do you spend a full day in Bologna, the culinary capital of Northern Italy, or visit Ferrara, a beautiful preserved Renaissance city?". By the way, isn't this the sort of thing Cruise Critic is meant for rather than arguing about "snobby old tourists with cameras"?!! Would appreciate any feedback that would help us decide where to spend the day.

Some of you mentioned a Danube itinerary and that brings to mind Budapest with its House of Terror and its chilling Shoes on the Danube Promenade. I bet that with a lot of creativity, one could come up with pre and post cruise options that could spell out a good World War Two historical trip...

Thank you all, for such good advice! Obviously, it's going to take more than one cruise...Franski, as you know, I have been on your Elbe trip. If your husband is interested in WWII, try to go on one of the Third Reich or Sachsenhausen tours and visit the site of the infamous Spandau Prison in western Berlin. On the way to the ship docked in Magdeburg, you visit Potsdam with the magnificent Palaces and Gardens including Cecilienhof where the actual Potsdam Conference took place in 1945. But the quintessential metaphor for the war was seeing Dresden,which was destroyed in one night in 1945, completely reconstructed in all its magnificence. You would be lucky if you approach by night to see the bridges, opera house, churches and palaces lit up, evoking mixed emotions about its destruction and admiration for what it is today.

My son is now old enough to take a cruise with me and he happens to be a WWII enthusiast. I am trying to pick the best cruise for this. So far, the Elegant Elbe trip seems to be the best what with Berlin, Potsdam and the like, but it does not include Nurnberg. I was wondering what others think about this.

Yes, we have had the suite before. The butler was nice but not necessary as we didn't need to have our excursions booked and didn't need the little afternoon hors d'oeuvres because we were too full! The thing we loved the most was having our laundry done and brought back folded as often as we wanted along with the complimentary shoe shine! Robin, I have been on the River Baroness for that Paris trip. There have other threads about this trip but if you have any questions about the destinations or Paris, ask away! You will love it.....

Thank you all for such exciting replies! Roaming Kiwis, thank you again for detailing your experience on this cruise. Papa B, thank you for the info on their future itinerary that includes Burano. Riverroad, I like that you think outside the box about the possibility of doing Padua on our own in order to see the Scrovegni. Will definitely order on line ahead of time (Rick Steves couldn't have said it better!) I have ordered tickets to museums, operas, concerts, etc. online before and have never had a problem. But there is some risk involved when you are on a cruise due to late arrival, itinerary change and the like. Kathie, thanks for getting us excited about the food on the Italy trip and to acwmom for the feedback about Chioggia. I hear it's a neat seaside village at the southern entrance to the Lagoon with a nearby beach. I hope we get a chance to walk around on one of the days we are docked there.

I have a question for the few people who have gone on a Venice/Po River cruise that includes Padua. On my upcoming Uniworld trip, I understand that the ship arrives in the small port of Chioggia after lunch and there is a half day excursion to Padua that includes a walking tour and the Basilica di Sant Antonio but not the equally famous Scrovegni Chapel which houses the 40 frescoes by Giotto. Is there enough time to see the Scrovegni? Also, is it true that no one is allowed on board when the ship transfers to the next port of Polesella? So am I to assume that everyone must participate in the Padua excursion lest they be stranded in Chioggia? I would never dream of not going to Padua, but was just wondering what someone would do if they didn't want to go for whatever reason. Just an interesting thought.

In reviewing past cruises and the upcoming cruise companion, it seems, for the most part, the included tours are usually in the morning, usually consisting of general city bus or walking tours. Then, in the afternoon, there are optional excursions offered to museums, palaces, etc. This has always been the case and has not changed even with the "all-inclusive" trips. Beer and wine has always been complimentary at meals. So, let's examine exactly what has changed with all-inclusive. Drinks are now free all day, but when you think of it, most passengers are off the ship during the day. Although I have to admit it might be nice to have an open bar in the evening and on "sea days" when we are cruising during the day. But to me, what has really changed are the included tips. And I sincerely hope this is not the cruise line not wanting to increase the salaries of their hard-working staff and thus passing the expense down to us. I think they should pay their staff well anyway and that tips should be given individually and collectively as we have always done. But I also must admit, that most passengers responding to this board have spoken favorably about their all-inclusive trips, so I will not knock it til I've tried it so I will keep an open mind about it!

Despite all that has been discussed on this issue, I still feel it would be nice if an "all-inclusive" trip included all excursions. I know some excursions are more expensive to run, but then again, some people don't drink, or some people eat double portions, others may skip meals and eat in town, and on and on.....therefore why should it matter if some excursions are worth more than others? And why pick on the museum goers in Venice? Other than a wine tasting excursion in Verona, the two museum tours are the only ones that are are optional and will cost guests 30 or 40 euros. Museum entrances fees are typically around 8 to 10 euros, and, at least in Venice, transportation is not necessary because the group walks from the ship. How can that cost more than a full day trip to Bologna with lunch which is an included excursion? And why is it that in other cities, the museum tours are included? For example, on my Parisian Winter Holiday cruise, the Musee Du Louvre and d'Orsay excursions were included. I am really not complaining and by the way, will gladly pay to join both museum tours. I was just curious how these things are decided. And I still feel that an all-inclusive trip should give you a variety of choices that you can sign up for without being concerned if they are "optional" or not, except in rare cases of egregious expense.

Cruiseryyc, now do you understand what I meant by "how it was received". We sure are finding out with these detailed and educated responses (much appreciated)! So, the conclusion is that everyone seems happy with their cruises having researched what they want out of a trip, and that perhaps, as well-meaning as it is, the term "all-inclusive" may not be the best way to describe it. I can live with that......