mtebor

thanks for posting

Thanks for taking the time and doing a review. We are doing Basel to Amsterdam next year. I will make a note not to fly Air Canada out of Toronto, We are flying into Munich a few days ahead of time.

I hope the discounted cruise was worth with the more expensive airfare. Current airfare prices I see are about 700 round trip (Tor-Munich, Amersterdam to Toronto)

I booked mine 13 months out and there was limited availability as well. I booked Emerald and they offer an additional discount if paid by end of October. Otherwise, I have to early next year before final payment.

Not yet, but I booked for next year. Basel to Amsterdam

Hi all,

I find this forum fascinating and informative as I prepare for my Emerald 2018 River Cruise and I thank you all for your contributions.

I am curious though, why the lack of reviews from recent trips...especially for 1st timers?

I am so excited for my cruise even though it is almost a year away.

Emerald also offers single rooms.

It is LIS to YYZ.

I am so used to booking everything as far in advance as possible that it is tough waiting. I think I was excited on how much cheaper it is from Toronto. I have a friend who took her 3 kids to Germany and paid about $1,200-1,400 per person

Thanks everyone!

I did investigate them a little bit more on youtube last night and found that they offer several levels of ticketing.

The ticket that I am considering would get me in an exit row seat for under $400. Too bad they only offer flights to Munich on the weekends as I would definitely consider them. Hopefully, that will change soon.

That would get me round trip out of Toronto for about $800 which is much cheaper than my own airport. I am still 11 months out so will wait just a little longer.

FYI, my home airport in Buffalo has cost of 2K. Well worth the 1 1/2 driving.

We probably will stay the extra night as I don't picture us going to Europe for a while. I will have to look into things to do in Amsterdam.

Hi again.

I booked my hotels for precruise in Munich and Zurich. I still have to book Amsterdam as we are thinking of adding on more day after our emerald sun cruise next year. I am not sure if it is really necessary as the cruise is in Amsterdam on Friday before we disembark on Saturday.

I was fooling around looking at flights on that Sunday and found an airline that I never heard of before, TAP Portugal. They are offering a flight from Amsterdam to Toronto for $192.

Is anyone familiar with them? Also please comment if the extra night in Amsterdam is necessary.

thanks for sharing. We are on the Sun next year Basel to Amsterdam.

You can use Euros in Switzerland with no issues, but the rate is not particularly good. However be aware it is very expensive here. $200 is virtually CHF200, which will buy you about 1.5 (perhaps 2) fairly decent dinners, without drinks, depending on where you eat. It is not uncommon for dinner for 2 with a couple of glasses of wine to be CHF150. Big Mac menu for lunch? $15.....

thanks. wow!!

 

I got $200 Euro b4 we left so I had 'something in my pocket' on arrival

..

Just wondering where you were able to get the currency? We will be in Munich for 5 days and Switzerland for 4 before our cruise.

Thanks.

Originally when I started looking from my local airport tickets were $1,300. If I drive 1 1/2 hours and fly out of Toronto it is so much cheaper.

The transport is out of Zurich even though we toyed with the idea of skipping Zurich and staying in Basel instead. We have 3 or 4 nights to stay and only want to stay in one place. I figured Zurich is bigger and might have more to offer.

Thanks for the report.

Just wondering if you did the drink package. Compared to an ocean cruise, it looks like a great deal. I was wondering if the wine included is only the house wine that was shown in one of your pictures.

We are doing our first river cruise about a year out and will be booking our own airfare. We will be flying into Munich and will be staying there for 5 nights before heading to Zurich before the cruise leaves Basil to Amsterdam.

My question is when is the best time to book airfare?

We will be leaving Toronto Canada and I see some great rates. I am thinking that when bookings become available, it will probably about $700 pp roundtrip (which I think is a great price).

Thanks

Thanks everyone for your help.

I put down the deposit on Basel to Amsterdam next year on Emerald Sun. We are so excited!!!

Just waiting to book our own airfare as we plan on doing Munich and something in Switzerland before hand.

Can't wait!

One night in Zuerich is enough. Lucerne is surrounded by mountains, better spend 3 nights there. That gives you more time for excursions.

 

You are probably all aware that Switzerland is a high price country which will give you sticker shock.

Absolutely, when I got my estimate from my travel agent I was a little shocked. It was like staying on the Vegas strip! I did find some hotels that are close to public transportation that makes it more reasonable

Will look into Lucerne.

Thanks everyone,

Our cruise starts in Basel and ends in Amsterdam. The cruise leaves on a Saturday and my game plan was to come in 9 days before to Munich. Maybe spend 4-5 days in Munich before taking train to Switzerland. Still have plenty of time to decide as we are a year out. It is just that I am a Type A planner when it comes to vacation.

Maybe the idea then is to go to Lucerne for two nights and then Zurich for 2 nights beforehand.

As already mentioned we can do Basel on the day of the trip after Emerald takes from Airport to Ship

Booking our Emerald Cruise later on this week. My wife and I are flying into Munich and will eventually end up in Zurich.

We also want to see Basel as well and originally planning on stopping in Basel for two days and then heading over to Zurich for a few days. We will have to head to the airport in Zurich to catch the transport to the ship in Zurich. How often do transports leave, do they wait til they have a full bus?

I was wondering if we went to Zurich first and then stayed in Basel if we can head to the ship early. I would also like to stay near ship docking location.

As always Thanks!

must be a google chrome issue

link not working

I have been searching river cruises for the last few weeks and came across one line that said that their ships had a lower draft and were less susceptible to low water levels. If I can find it, I will post it here.

Of course, that wouldn't effect high water level.

thanks for the explanation.

I am looking at an Emerald that goes from Frankfurt to Basel. Just wondering how they get the boat back to Franfurt?

The for the detail review and pdf file. I really helps when planning our first river cruise.