Roll Call - Christmas Markets 2009 - all dates, all lines

[catkoe1]

well, we are packed, have tickets in hand and going out the door for the flights. Everyone have a safe and happy journey until we meet on the AMA AMALYRA on December 7th

[Maggie Mae]

Need some help...we took our first river cruise this past summer and loved it. What I would like to know is how different are the Christmas Market cruises from the normal itinerary? Do you get the same tours + market time? I don't see how they can do both. We would love to take a Market cruise, but don't want to sacrifice tours for shopping...but want to shop. What a dilemma!

[AZPam]

Need some help...we took our first river cruise this past summer and loved it. What I would like to know is how different are the Christmas Market cruises from the normal itinerary? Do you get the same tours + market time? I don't see how they can do both. We would love to take a Market cruise, but don't want to sacrifice tours for shopping...but want to shop. What a dilemma!

 

Since I've ONLY done the Christmas Markets trips, I don't really know how they handle a "normal" itinerary. What I can tell you is how they handle the Christmas trips.

 

What a normal day would be like is after breakfast everyone heads off for some sort of tour, whether it's a walking tour or something else. Most days they would have us back at the boat for lunch and then either an additional tour after lunch or free time to visit the Markets. Most days we were docked within a short walk of the markets, so very easy to come and go as you pleased. On the Rhine trip with GCT, there were a couple of optional tours that were bussed out for the day such as Heidelberg. We also were bussed for trips into the Alsace region in France and into Baden-Baden in Germany. Both of those days included time to visit the markets at those stops.

[Shugahpie]

Hi There,

My name is Sally and I'm going on my first Christmas Market River Cruise and am really excited about! I've been to the Nuremburg market about 18 years ago and thought it was magical ... always wanted to go back so when I saw a Danube River cruise, I couldn't resist. I'll be traveling alone, which I don't mind really because I'll meet other people on the cruise. I'd really appreciate it if you would share some of your experience about the cruise. I leave from Vienna on the 13th of December and cruise until the 18th.

 

Thanks!

[Shugahpie]

Yes, I'm excited... very excited. I'm not sure I know how to access any responses that I get to my replies .... I haven't had much time to be on line experimenting with this site.... techno challenged as I am, I'm going to keep at it!

[odblnt]

Greetings to everybody from Prague. AMA has their tours staying in the President Hotel and it is wonderful.

 

We had our first official tour from our Christmas Market "Cruise" today. It started out a little wet but turned into a beautiful day.

 

 

We're off to a Czech Dinner this evening (optional excursion) and then to Nuremberg tomorrow.

 

Pete

[Topaz_M]

Hi There,

My name is Sally and I'm going on my first Christmas Market River Cruise and am really excited about! I've been to the Nuremburg market about 18 years ago and thought it was magical ... always wanted to go back so when I saw a Danube River cruise, I couldn't resist. I'll be traveling alone, which I don't mind really because I'll meet other people on the cruise. I'd really appreciate it if you would share some of your experience about the cruise. I leave from Vienna on the 13th of December and cruise until the 18th.

 

Thanks!

 

Hi Sally,

Are you going on the Viking River cruise that departs Vienna on 13th December? If so my daughter and I will be on that one. We are spending a few extra days in Vienna beforehand arriving this Wednesday evening (tomorrow).

 

Have a great cruise which ever line you're taking.

 

Cheers,

Moira :)

[odblnt]

There's something for everybody at the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt.

 

 

Pete

[AZPam]

Keep the pictures coming! I really enjoy seeing them and wishing that I was there! Hope you all are having or had a great time!

[Topaz_M]

LOL Pete re the sushi pic.

 

I'm currently in Vienna and after visiting the Schönbrunn Palace yesterday, walked around the Christmas Markets there.

 

Some of the more popular foods were baked potatoes from Euro4, extra large pretzels for Euro2.50 and roasted sliced potatoes E2 or potato wedges with garlic sauce or ketchup E3. All delicious!

 

We tried the chocolate with nuts and pizza pretzels - YUM. Thez also had choc with coconut and apple flavours ... my German for food items is improving by the day.

 

The weather here is 5C or 6C and getting colder with snow predicted for this Saturday. We cruise in only two days now.

 

Cheers,

Moira :D

[cp556]

This was our first riverboat cruise, following many ocean cruises. So we were interested in the differences we'd experience. We chose Vantage because of a last-minute email offering suites at excellent low rates.

 

Two days before the cruise, the riverboat we were scehduled to be on (River Odyssey) was slammed by a cargo barge so Vantage Travel substituted an older, smaller riverboat (River Navigator). We were called by Vantage the day before we were to depart. We were told that the ship name would change, the first night would be in a hotel, but all other details would be the same as originally scheduled.

 

At time of notification we asked if River Navigator had internet access for guests and were assured OH YES. Turned out to not be the case. The crew apparently had to empty River Odyssey and truck all the soft goods (plates, kitchen stuff, bedding, towels, all office equipment and papers, napkins, cleaning supplies, etc, etc, etc ... PLUS themselves) to the replacement River Navigator. For some reason the wireless router didn't make the trip, so no onboard internet for guests. So we had to spend some of our shore time in internet cafes (business to take care of) ... not fun, since we'd planned to do our work onboard in the evenings instead of using some of our precious shore time.

 

The crew was simply superb. Hard working, service-oriented. We wanted for nothing. There were 8 suites on the first boat, and 4 on the replacement, and we got one of those. They'd sold 6 of the 8 so they had to downgrade two suites to a french balcony cabin (with appropriate compensation). Riverboat was not sold out so they didn't have to bump anyone. (But for the cruise that sailed after ours, they were sold out at 170 pax and the replacement boat held only 140 .... so they had some wheeling-dealing to do.)

 

What was funny was that throughout the cruise, the crew referred to our riverboat as River Odyssey (although we were aboard River Navigator). Since they'd come from River Odyssey and brought along all the supplies, everything (shirts, menus, schedules, invoices) read River Odyssey, not River Navigator. We joked that they were "pretending" we were aboard the River Odyssey.

 

 

We nicknamed this a River Bus Tour, instead of a River Boat Cruise. If you don't want to read the word "bussed", stop reading right now ...

 

 

We flew into Frankfurt and met at baggage claim and escorted to a motorcoach. We were bussed to Cologne, 2.5 hours, where we overnighted in the Marriott Cologne (should have boarded the boat, but it was still en route to us). Our room was the worst Marriott room we have ever had (and I love Marriott ... we are Silver Elite members). Ground floor, half subterranean with windows that did not open. HOT. We reported it and their techncian "fixed the problem, madame". The fix was a desk fan ... lol. Dinner and breakfast were provided at the Marriott, and each was just fine. I applaud Vantage for arranging these rooms at such short notice, and everyone we spoke with had a more satisfactory room than we did. Just our luck, I guess....

 

 

Next morning we toured the famous Cologne Cathedral (breathtaking). And bought sandwiches to eat on the bus that afternoon.

 

The replacement River Navigator was en route from Passau with the crew onboard madly scrambling to get it ready (it had been chartered for a year to a German company and was not in good interior shape). So, we were kinda waiting for the replacement boat to get to somewhere near Cologne where we could board.

 

Vantage's on-site program managers were excellent in keeping us informed (when they knew what the plan was, that is). We followed along like obedient little ducklings, all swaddled in our winter parkas and hats. The program managers' English was great and their coordination was very good. They were at the mercy of the situation, just as we were.

 

Next day we bussed 3.5 hours from Cologne to Karlstadt (just a place on a river) where the River Navigator was. We boarded, and there were Christmas decorations everywhere, along with the staff lined up in uniform and Santa hats. I felt like the mistress of the manor being brought home to meet the staff ... lol. The staff gave us a warm feeling as we checked in, and our carryons were brought to our cabin as they escorted us.

 

 

River Navigator started to sail toward Rudesheim immediately. We ended up at Aschaffenberg next morning (another place on a river, where they tried to drop us off at a dock at a lock) ... the lock meister said no for some reason, so we backed up, turned around, and disembarked (truly) at a trash dump dock further along the river.

 

From Aschaffenberg we bussed to Rudesheim (2.5 hours) for a day tour, then bussed (!) north to Kamp-bornhofen where we boarded a tour boat for a 1.5 hour Rhine River cruise (that was supposed to take place on the real riverboat, but that boat was still sailing to try to find us again...lol.) This section of the Rhine is where most of the castles are, and the scenery was breathtaking. We bussed back to Rudesheim for an evening Christmas Markets tour and then bussed to Mainz (about an hour).

 

Then we boarded the riverboat, spent the night in Mainz, and sailed for Heidelberg in the morning. At that point the tour was back on original schedule! Whew.

 

 

We visited Heidelberg (charming town ... really enjoyed it. My husband had lived there in 1980-1984 so we visited the US Army post where he'd lived. Cool.) We also toured Heidelberg Castle (where Britain's Mary Stuart lived with her husband Prince Friedrich). Probably 50% ruins, 50% restored rooms. It looms on the hill, overseeing Heidelberg, and is magnificent. We also visited Hendelberg's Christmas Market, which was chock-full of wonderful stalls.

 

 

We then bussed from Heidelberg to Frankfurt where we met the boat again, and sailed to Miltenberg. The River Navigator docked in town, about a five-minute walk from the main street. WONDERFUL charming little town. Very medieval and an excellent assortment of Christmas market stalls and little shops. I'd like to visit there again.

 

Then to Wurzburg, where we bussed to Rothenberg (another hour). Rothenberg was again an ancient town, walled city, lots of cobblestones, air scented with gluhwein (spiced wine) and lots of Christmas Market stalls as well as stores.

 

Next day it rained and was cold, so we stayed onboard while others toured Wurzburg till noon. Then we sailed for Bamberg .... a medium size town with beautiful Cathedral and town hall (Rathaus).

 

Next was Nuremberg, FABULOUS 200-stall Christmas market, where we stayed overnight and awoke at 0330 to catch a 0930 flight from Frankfurt (yes, three hours on the bus from Nuremberg to Frankfurt).

 

German airport security is Tight with a capital T. No fewer than three security checks, where we were asked where our luggage had been, if anyone had asked us to carry something for them, what electronics we had packed ... even how long we had owned our luggage. Amazing.

 

General observations:

 

Food onboard was EXCELLENT. Absolutely no complaints. And they had people-moving down to a science so that there were really no lines. Dinner was one seating, preceded by a 15-minute talk on what tomorrow would bring. Breakfast and lunch were buffet-style with lots of choices. A couple of times lunch was ashore, and Vantage gave us 15 euros per person for lunch. We profited on that deal! A bratwurst at a Christmas Market Stall was 2 euros, so we made out ...

 

The boat was spotlessly clean and they staff's English very good to excellent (much better than my German). They kept asking if they could get us anything else or do anything for us. We received 4 bottles of wine, so dinnertime was a jolly event.

 

One night the shower head came off in our hands. We called the front desk and an engineer, replacement shower head in hand, arrived in five minutes. Outstanding! And the new shower head was installed immediately with profuse apologies. Another example of how great the crew was.

 

Christmas markets were wonderful ... lots of handmade items, as well as a lot of typical Christmas ornaments and stuff. We got a lot of souvenirs and gifts, all small stuff that would fit in our suitcases (I hate that 50-lb limit...).

 

My understanding, from a staffer, is that Vantage Travel has now been sold. Interestingly, when we settled our onboard account they attached a note saying "due to tech difficulties the charge will be seen on the statement as GCT and not Vantage". GCT (Grand Circle Tours) is a competitor, owned by Vantage's owner's brother (Alan Lewis ... brother of Vantage's Henry Lewis). So something's definitely up, but I was too tired to care much at that point. If you learn anything I'd be interested.

 

Would we do another riverboat cruise? Yes. But I would hope that it would be smoother-going than this trip was ...

[Topaz_M]

The last two days have seen some small snow falls in Vienna - very magical. Was assured yeserday by the cab driver dropping us off at the pier that the more we move west towards the Alps the more snow we will see!

 

Boarded the Viking Pride yesterday .. wow, it looks beautiful with all the Christmas decorations. Our cabin is lovely with all the little extras and more, nice little plate of chocolate and biscuit goodies, fantastic food for the lunch buffet on arrival and the Captains Welcome dinner. Very comfortable and the crew have been friendly and obliging.

 

Christmas cheer,

Moira :)

[odblnt]

Well, the cruise is over. :(

 

We are currently waiting in the lounge for our taxi to take us to our hotel here in Budapest. This is not a review (that would take too long to write right now), but I just wanted to get a picture posted.

 

This has to be one of the smallest CC Meet & Greets ever, especially when you consider that we had 100% attendance with our spouses. From left to right: ODBLNT (Pete), DW (Anne), CATKOE1 (Cathy), & DH (Ron).

 

 

Those of us who are waiting around the lounge pretty much spending at least one night in Budapest. A great decision on our parts. Budapest is lovely and we saw stuff at the main Christmas Market that we haven't seen at any other location. As we pulled in yesterday there were light snow flurries and we've seen a few flakes this morning. Nothing sticking yet, though.

 

People were getting moved out for 7:00am international flights this morning (with the appropriate time adjustment to get to the airport and do the processing). Yes, that is REAL EARLY. It is much more civilized, waking up, finishing our packing, having a marvelous breakfast and waiting in the lounge for more than an hour. We're in no hurry since we can't really check in to our hotel yet (but they will hold our luggage) and the shops aren't open, either.

 

The weather app on my iTouch says that it's snowing in Munich. When we leave here we're taking the train to Munich and then down to Garmisch, so we should really see snow soon. It's been a wonderful trip so far with great excursions, wonderful accommodations and food. We spoke to the Maitre 'd and our normal waiter and told them that if we are really hungry this evening that we would be back for dinner (since their first night on the new cruise is an overnight here). They said, "No problem," that they could fit in a couple more people. Going to dinner and not having all the wine, beer, and cola you could drink plus having to actually pay when you get up to leave will be a real shock. :eek:

 

All for now. I've got other web sites to visit and the internet is really fast this morning, with no other passengers or crew fighting for bandwidth.

 

Happy cruising to all who come after us.

 

Pete

[kkbay]

I agree with AZ PAM! Everyone keep posting those pics! We were on the Viking River Cruise Christmas markets last year. Nuremberg to Vienna! Had a wonderful time.

 

I would encourage all of you to make a photo book to remember your trip. We used Shutterfly. It is one of my most treasured items. Your pics look so much better in these books. Keep them on my coffee table year round.

 

We loved Viking and will be going to China with them in March!

 

Merry Christmas everyone!:)

[catkoe1]

Pete and Anne,

It was so nice meeting you on our fabulous trip. We stayed two extra days in Budapest and had huge snowflakes. Such a beautiful sight. But alas, it did delay our flight on the return, so we misconnected, but on our new flight we were upgraded to Business Class, so absolutely no complaints here. I cannot say enough great things about AMA. The food, the staff, the tours, the itinerary was top notch and wonderful. A trip of a lifetime made even more beautiful and memorable by a fabulous organization, AMA WATERWAYS. THANK YOU TO ALL!

[Maggie Mae]

Just finalized our booking and ended up choosing Avalon's Christmas Markets cruise on 30 November from Frankfurt as we could not get the cabin category we wanted on AMA same week from Budapest.

 

We are excited to be seeing all new cities in Germany and also about the potential to visit Prague should we be able to change our flights (the inventory for mileage seats at the minimum level is miniscule).

 

So we are set to begin our trip with 4 nights in Berlin (will visit Dresden from there) and then wrap up after the cruise with 2 nights in Heidelberg if Prague does not work out.

 

Can't wait!:)

 

We have booked this cruise for 2011 so you will have to take lots of notes for us. I did my first river cruise with AMA last summer and loved it. Can't wait for this one!

[spindrift]

We just returned from our trip on the Danube on Avalon Affinity. Wonderful. Just out of Vienna, the snow began, and the rest of the trip was magical. Now, I might add that I have never been so cold. In Prague, our destination, the snow continued and was 25 below at the coldest. Didn't warm up much--not even to zero. The sights of the city from the Prague Hilton were beautiful with all the snow & glitter at night.

 

Worried about geteting out for our flight, but after deicing of the plane, and about an hour delay, we were on our way to London for our connecting flight to Houston.

 

The Affinity had excellent accommodations, food, service impeccable, tours, and whatever you would want. I can't say anything but nice things about the whole trip.

 

We have been on over 50 ocean cruises, and this was our first river (other than just a short one 4 years ago), and Avalon is a top notch company.

 

The Christmas markets were wonderful as well. We got the "prune people" at the Nurenberg market. Cute little things--a Nurenberg "must." Also, the Bohemian glass--excellent prices.

 

We had one incident in Prague where one of our passengers was mugged in front of the Opera House near the Christmas Market. Just a warning to you if you are planning a trip. Lovely city but don't have any valuables and be aware of your surroundings. Nothing was stolen from him, but he was pushed to the ground and was pretty banged up. He was with a group doing the tour, so don't consider that protection. Of course, that can happen in some cities here in the states.

 

Anyway, wonderful trip. I highly recommend it for you next year.

[odblnt]

Pete and Anne,

It was so nice meeting you on our fabulous trip. We stayed two extra days in Budapest and had huge snowflakes. Such a beautiful sight. But alas, it did delay our flight on the return, so we misconnected, but on our new flight we were upgraded to Business Class, so absolutely no complaints here. I cannot say enough great things about AMA. The food, the staff, the tours, the itinerary was top notch and wonderful. A trip of a lifetime made even more beautiful and memorable by a fabulous organization, AMA WATERWAYS. THANK YOU TO ALL!

 

Greetings back to you. We left the same morning as you (in the snow) but at least we took a taxi to the train station where we caught a wonderful train to Munich and then down to Garmisch where they had more snow.

 

We're back in Munich last night and tonight for our trip on Christmas day. We're hoping for Santa and the Christmas spirit to prevail and to get an upgrade like yours.

 

We agree, AMA is GREAT!

[txladycruiser]

Pete and Anne,

It was so nice meeting you on our fabulous trip. We stayed two extra days in Budapest and had huge snowflakes. Such a beautiful sight. But alas, it did delay our flight on the return, so we misconnected, but on our new flight we were upgraded to Business Class, so absolutely no complaints here. I cannot say enough great things about AMA. The food, the staff, the tours, the itinerary was top notch and wonderful. A trip of a lifetime made even more beautiful and memorable by a fabulous organization, AMA WATERWAYS. THANK YOU TO ALL!

 

 

For those of you who were on AMA Waterways, do you have any advice regarding the ship - such as room location, etc? My husband and I are planning on going on the Christmas Market cruise in 2010.

 

 

Karen

[odblnt]

For those of you who were on AMA Waterways, do you have any advice regarding the ship - such as room location, etc? My husband and I are planning on going on the Christmas Market cruise in 2010.

 

 

Karen

 

Our first cruise we were on the upper (Violin) deck about half-way back. This time we went a little cheaper and reserved on the middle (Cello) deck in room 204. Unfortunately, that room had thermostat problems, so they put us in room 220 and while it was a little bit further back than we wanted, we liked the Cello deck. I would say around 207 - 210 area is nice.

 

As you get toward the front of the ship, there is a door that is closed at night but does have some traffic through it (along with a sign asking people not to let the door slam).

[txladycruiser]

Our first cruise we were on the upper (Violin) deck about half-way back. This time we went a little cheaper and reserved on the middle (Cello) deck in room 204. Unfortunately, that room had thermostat problems, so they put us in room 220 and while it was a little bit further back than we wanted, we liked the Cello deck. I would say around 207 - 210 area is nice.

 

As you get toward the front of the ship, there is a door that is closed at night but does have some traffic through it (along with a sign asking people not to let the door slam).

 

 

 

Thanks so much. We'll definitely keep that in mind. What about the actual boat? I'm sure the food was great. Did everyone eat dinner at a set time or was dinner between certain hours and you just showed up? Did they have any native speakers come on board to talk about the area?

 

Thanks so much.

 

 

Karen

[odblnt]

Thanks so much. We'll definitely keep that in mind. What about the actual boat? I'm sure the food was great. Did everyone eat dinner at a set time or was dinner between certain hours and you just showed up? Did they have any native speakers come on board to talk about the area?

 

Thanks so much.

 

Karen

 

Dinner is pretty much at a set time, although people did wander in as they felt like. It isn't a good idea to be too late, since they have to bring the food out by courses.

 

The cruise director did the area talks the afternoon before, although due to timing sometimes it would be the day before that. We generally had entertainment in the evenings of some sort. If we were still docked, it might be entertainment from the town we had been in. The quartet from Regensburg comes immediately to mind. They had all been in the cathedral boys choir when they were younger, and their choir director was Pope Benedict's brother. They were quite good.

[caviargal]

My husband just posted photos of our Avalon Christmas Market Cruise on his website:

 

http://www.DavidGPhotoArt.net

 

Click on any photo to enter, then choose "Slideshows" from the top menu and then you will see "Avalon Germany cruise".

[txladycruiser]

We just booked our Christmas Market cruise with AMA Waterways. WE are going leaving November 26th - just 46 short weeks away!!

 

 

 

 

Karen

[pspercy]

Thinking of a Vantage Christmas Mkt tour in November this year.

 

Is this too early ?

 

Why are there so few reviews for Vantage, is it not well regarded ?

 

Any input welcome, here or add an at yahoo etc to my ID.

 

Thanks