Bucharest to Budapest November 22, 2013

[roberts2005]

The sun cam out ant the temperature went up to 43 for our visit. A nice visit. Their last show of the season.

 

Today we are at LeMiridean in Budapest

[Sparky333]

We enjoyed Le Meridien other than a phone call in the middle of the night asking if we'd ordered room service. Silly how middle of the night calls are so scary for no real reason! Have fun in Budapest - it's lovely.

 

p.s. did they serve turkey on the ship on Thanksgiving?

[roberts2005]

We enjoyed Le Meridien other than a phone call in the middle of the night asking if we'd ordered room service. Silly how middle of the night calls are so scary for no real reason! Have fun in Budapest - it's lovely.

 

p.s. did they serve turkey on the ship on Thanksgiving?

 

Budapest has been great. Cold but dry. Hotel is in a good location.

 

Yes we had a full turkey dinner. They even had traditional leftovers the next day for lunch in the Aquavit Lounge

[Sparky333]

Nice! Turkey dinner + leftovers...very thoughtful. Hope they served pumpkin pie.

[roberts2005]

Nice! Turkey dinner + leftovers...very thoughtful. Hope they served pumpkin pie.

 

Yes they did, even had cranberry sauce

[alexandra cruiser]

whew,those cold temps would do me in.I m used to warm weather in FL.haha.

Loved the HOHO bus info.

Also got a brochure on Romania,by googling tourism office.

Only have 2 days there and HOPE to see it all.

Love Budapest,esp.the lites on river at nite.:)

[Sparky333]

roberts2005 - you might be headed home and not see this for a while --

but can you comment on the group size on your excursions? Was it 4 full buses with around 40 people each? And staying in those groups of 40 for the excursion, not breaking up into smaller groups?

[roberts2005]

roberts2005 - you might be headed home and not see this for a while --

but can you comment on the group size on your excursions? Was it 4 full buses with around 40 people each? And staying in those groups of 40 for the excursion, not breaking up into smaller groups?

 

 

Presently in Vienna. We did our own extension. Took the train from Budapest to Vienna foe 13 euros each. Cabs on either end cost about the same.

 

There were four buses for everyone. We always took bus C and never felt crowded. We also always sat in the back. Lots of empty seats and easy to use back door.

 

When I get home I will post what I thought of each excursion. Some I liked, some I thought were a waste.

 

Wanted to see Romania and Bulgaria, but see no reason to go again

[Sparky333]

Ah, enjoy Vienna. Good on you for maximizing your time in that area.

 

I thought the buses were fine, didn't mind them being full. But I did think 40 in a group walking around was too many. I talked to a Viking rep about that afterward and was told that was not the norm so I wondered if it was just a fluke on our trip or if they use groups of 40 every time - maybe only on that particular itinerary.

 

I know what you mean about some excursions being not as good as others. The one where we went to a guy's house which was set up as a store and watched a tourism video (it was in Croatia I think) was really a joke when I think back on it. I understand at some ports there are not tons of things to do/see so they have to make do but that in particular was not my favorite!

 

Safe travels on the rest of your trip -

Leslie

[roberts2005]

Ah, enjoy Vienna. Good on you for maximizing your time in that area.

 

 

I know what you mean about some excursions being not as good as others. The one where we went to a guy's house which was set up as a store and watched a tourism video (it was in Croatia I think) was really a joke when I think back on it. I understand at some ports there are not tons of things to do/see so they have to make do but that in particular was not my favorite!

 

Safe travels on the rest of your trip -

Leslie

 

I also thought the Croatian tour was a waste of time. First we rode to a church and a town which they called a "fortress". Never saw the fortress that went to the guys house where he told silly stories, showed a video and tried to sell souvenirs.

 

Could have skipped it.

[woolfy]

We are looking at this cruise in late October of 2014. How was the weather in November? Was it difficult to be on a river boat with cold weather?

[roberts2005]

We are looking at this cruise in late October of 2014. How was the weather in November? Was it difficult to be on a river boat with cold weather?

 

The weather was not a problem if you are dressed properly. We had decent weather except for wet snow in Bulgaria.

 

It does impact in that you do not use the upper deck It is open but most times to cold to stay up there long.

 

My biggest disappointment with a late season itinerary was that the sun goes down early. In some places sunset was at 4:00 PM. Some of the tours finished up in the dark

[Sparky333]

woolfy - we did it at the end of Nov, beginning of Dec and the temps weren't that bad. I think I mainly wore a trench coat not a real winter coat. Some days it was still warm enough to go without a jacket at all (at the start of the trip in Budapest). I would think October should be okay - but then it's always a guess with the weather.

 

Since we mostly were off the ship during the day doing excursions and sailed evenings/night we weren't bothered by the fact of not being able to use the sundeck that much.

 

The ship itself was kept warm -- there wasn't an issue of being on the water & feeling cold or damp. I do think the early sunset was a factor but it won't be so much one in Oct as it was for us in Dec.

[Sparky333]

roberts2005 - if you see this - I can't remember if you said already but how big were the groups on your excursions? Ours were too large at 40+ and the Viking rep that I spoke with when I got home said that should not have been the case, that they don't usually have that many in a group. But I think you might've said your groups were that large also?

 

I'm considering another Viking itinerary and really would reconsider if they do use 40 as the norm. The Portugal ship holds I think only around 90 passengers so it would make sense for them to just use 2 buses and have those big groups again.

[roberts2005]

roberts2005 - if you see this - I can't remember if you said already but how big were the groups on your excursions? Ours were too large at 40+ and the Viking rep that I spoke with when I got home said that should not have been the case, that they don't usually have that many in a group. But I think you might've said your groups were that large also?

 

I'm considering another Viking itinerary and really would reconsider if they do use 40 as the norm. The Portugal ship holds I think only around 90 passengers so it would make sense for them to just use 2 buses and have those big groups again.

 

 

I think I answered that we shared 4 buses. We always chose bus C. I would assume that is the standard. We, also always sat in the back where there were more empty seats. The group was good, never had to wait. I did think some of the bathroom and snack breaks were too soon and too long. Day two's lunch break was way too long.

 

In the future I would skip some bus tours and go out on my own

[goofy559]

I am sailing this itinerary with my mom next June. Which ports do you wish you had done on your own?

 

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[Sparky333]

Hi goofy559 -

To me, spending time in Budapest and Bucharest alone to add to what the Viking tour shows you would be a good idea but I don't think I'd do any of the other ports on my own or try to arrange another local guide. I could be very wrong but I don't think there's tons of things to see in those areas beyond what you get from the Viking tour.

 

Belgrade of course you could do/see more but I think with the Viking guide we got around and saw a fair amount and then walked back into the city on our own after lunch on the ship and explored some more.

 

I think this itinerary is unique in that most of the places the ship docks are not towns you get out and walk around in and have a lot to do - you need to take a bus ride a little away from the port to see what you're going to see.

 

So, my personal opinion is I would go with the Viking tours but try to do additional touring in Budapest, Bucharest, and Belgrade. If you haven't been to Budapest yet that's definitely worth extra days.

Edited January 11, 2014 by Sparky333
typo!

[goofy559]

Thanks! We have 4days in Budapest and 2 in Bucharest. I had read that many stops weren't in town. Thats what made me curious about the comment.

 

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[roberts2005]

Thanks! We have 4days in Budapest and 2 in Bucharest. I had read that many stops weren't in town. Thats what made me curious about the comment.

 

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I am away right now. Will try to give you my opinion later this month

[Familygoboston]

I'd be glad to hear from you too, we are booked the opposite way on an AMA cruise, but we have 2 days in Budapest and my TA felt we could easily tour on our own from the Sofitel. She's going to find out whats included in the organized 1/2 day tour so we can plan other things...so any suggestions would be great.

 

We have 1/2 day free in Bucharest I think, but will take the included tour in the AM, (I think it's a fairly lengthy bus ride from the port, is this true?) We will also fly from Bucharest to Istanbul, but I think that transfer will put us at the airport, and we won't have much time to tour that day. But if there are some ideas about what to do in a few hours, other than what the tours will cover, I'd love to hear those ideas too!

 

Thanks everyone for sharing so many ideas about this itinerary...there is not much on it here on CC.

 

I'm excited to be going to Eastern Europe on the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1 and the 25th anniversary of the fall of communism. Should make for a very interesting historical experience. Wonder if there will be many commemorative or memorial activities or exhibits going on during this time?

[Sparky333]

Familygoboston -

We were on Viking so your AMA tours will be different but here's a basic idea of what we did:

In Budapest the 1/2 day included tour is pretty basic. They took us by bus to Heroe's Square and we got out and learned a bit about the statues there then back in the bus to drive past through the nearby park and then by the large synagogue -- the guide pointed it out but we didn't get out of the bus. Then across the river. We got out there and watched the changing of the guard (President's Palace? or ? gosh how quickly I've forgotten) and then walked up to St. Matthias church where we did go inside (I've read some of the tours don't but I think that was because of renovations - but if the guide doesn't go inside make sure you do afterward, it's lovely). And from there we were cut loose to walk around Fishermen's Bastion on our own and make our way back to the bus a bit later. So...not that much of a tour.

 

But we found the city easy to get around and saw a lot in the time we had on our own. St. Stephen's is a must to see inside. We did a tour of the Opera House (you can look online ahead of time and see what the times are for tours in English or whatever language you prefer!). We did the Terror Museum (very interesting but if you use the audioguide it does require an investment of time, it took a few hours I think at that pace, maybe better to walk through at your own pace and read the printouts in each room rather than the audio guide, IMHO). We had also booked a tour of the Parliament before we left home and that was a pretty great tour. Beautiful inside. What else...oh, we did one of the evening boat cruises on the river to see the city at night with the lights. So pretty!

I think the Viking ship will cast off at night and you do get to see some of the lights if you stay up late enough for that (haha, I think we were asleep by then).

 

We didn't make it to the big market or to a bath or to the underground hospital - which I'd try to do next time we're there (I hope we go back some day, it's a wonderful city!).

 

For Bucharest, we had booked a separate tour (it was just my husband and myself with a guide) for our free time there. We visited some of the sites which correspond to the Dracula myth. It was nice to get out of the city and see the surrounding area. But that didn't give us a chance to see more of Bucharest than is included in the tour -- but that tour does go to several sites and you drive around the city a bunch so you get an overview of it anyway.

 

The drive from the river to Bucharest was maybe an hour.

 

I wonder too if you'll see any special acknowledgement of those anniversaries.

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise!

[Familygoboston]

Familygoboston -

We were on Viking so your AMA tours will be different but here's a basic idea of what we did:

In Budapest the 1/2 day included tour is pretty basic.

 

The drive from the river to Bucharest was maybe an hour.

 

I wonder too if you'll see any special acknowledgement of those anniversaries.

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise!

Sparky

Thank you for all this wonderful info! We just booked flights and we arrive Sat night and don't embark till Tuesday afternoon, so we should have time to take in the places you suggest, as well as some time in the market, and maybe even renting bikes to go to Margaret island in the center of the Danube (Ive read its a park 2 miles long, and that would be a lovely way to tour it and get a little exercise) By the time we get to the included 1/2 day city tour we will probably have tackled quite a bit of it with our Budepest card;).

 

Wondering if anyone has used these; seems like a good deal, includes transportation for 2 or 3 days and discounts on many attractions. It sounds like you booked your tours of the various buildings ahead of time from home; I wonder of we do that if we can't get the Budapest card discount? We might need to wait till we show up with the card at the entrance.

 

Wow, Bucharest is closer to port than I was imagining, so depending on the time of our flight from Bucharest, we might have time for some additional touring.

 

I'm wondering if there might be some special exhibitions on for the anniversaries, I'm sure when we get the Budapest card, there might be some mention, and I will be watching the news and travel blogs for info too.

 

Again thanks for sharing your experiences, even of they are different ships, and companies, the places and tours they run are not all that different!;)

[Sparky333]

I didn't use the Budapest card so I don't know if that would give you a discount on a Parliament tour or not. But that's the only one I booked ahead of time at home - I do think that was recommended since the tours fill up. If you do that tour make sure you leave yourself time to get to the right entrance. Maybe the construction outside will be finished by the time you go but some of the doors (including main entrance I think) were blocked off last November and it was a little confusing getting to the tour entrance which was on one side.

 

Biking on Margaret Island sounds fun!

[Familygoboston]

I didn't use the Budapest card so I don't know if that would give you a discount on a Parliament tour or not. But that's the only one I booked ahead of time at home - I do think that was recommended since the tours fill up. If you do that tour make sure you leave yourself time to get to the right entrance. Maybe the construction outside will be finished by the time you go but some of the doors (including main entrance I think) were blocked off last November and it was a little confusing getting to the tour entrance which was on one side.

 

Biking on Margaret Island sounds fun!

 

Thanks Sparky! We just got a recommendation on another thread (where I have veered perilously off topic:p) for a guide in Budapest. I've contacted her and she is available has some great ideas for a day and a half touring, so I am very excited now! She has Parliament planned; will check if that's a walk about outside or interior tour. So much to do, we will have to make some choices of top sites for us!

 

 

Thanks again for your good advice!:D

[Sparky333]

I think having a guide there is a great idea - you'll be able to cover a lot of territory with her and see more than you could on your own - and obviously learn about what you're seeing. I try to set up private guides when we visit new cities - it's just such an efficient way of seeing a lot, IMHO. And they always know about quirky off-the-beaten path spots, etc.

Have fun!