River Cruise, how about sailing the Elbe.

Over the last few weeks I have spoken to a number of people about European River Cruises, most have some knowledge about the Rhine and the Danube, but less about the Elbe and Portugals Douro.

So I thought I'd do a little review on the Elbe, with your holiday starting in Berlin and ending in the Beautiful city of Prague.

You will discover the natural beauty of former East Germany’s dramatic landscape, tour the opulent palaces of Saxon monarchs and stroll through beautifully landscaped gardens; sail between the dramatic sandstone cliffs of Germany’s “Saxon Switzerland.” Marvel at the baroque splendour of Dresden and see how Meissenware porcelain is produced. Walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther in historic Wittenberg and learn about the Protestant Reformation.

 

This trip is a Viking River Cruises itinerary on Viking Schumann, and there are a number of sailings during the year. As with all river cruises some of them operate in the reverse direction.

Viking Schumann

Day 1 Berlin, enjoy free time to get acquainted with the city—or join an organised tour.

Brandenburg Gate Berlin

Day 2 Potsdam & Magdeburg, tour either Sanssouci Palace, a perfect example of German rococo architecture, or the nearby New Chambers—both built by Prussian King Frederick the Great in the 18th century. Later that day transfer to Magdeburg to embark your ship

Magdeburg Cathedral

Day 3 Dessau, visit Wörlitz Park, Germany’s first landscaped park with English-style gardens and tour the castle.

Day 4 Wittenberg & Torgau, follow in Martin Luther’s footsteps to view many of Wittenberg’s historic landmarks. Later that day have an evening stroll to see fortified Hartenfels Castle, Market Square and the riverside monument commemorating the historic 1945 meeting between Russian and American troops.

Day 5 Meissen, visit the Meissenware factory, which has produced fine porcelain since the early 1700s. Later enjoy a short cruise to a glorious evening arrival in Dresden.  

Albrechtsburg Castle, Meissen

Day 6 Dresden, nicknamed “Florence on the Elbe.” See the the 19th-century residential area to the Dresden Castle complex; enter the Green Vault to see a comprehensive collection of the Saxon monarchs’ crown jewels; and of course the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) with its distinctive bell-shaped dome, which survived the World War II bombings but collapsed the following day and was later rebuilt.

Day 7 Saxon Switzerland, stunning scenery from the ship as you cruise through the magnificent, soaring rock formations of the Saxon Switzerland region. You will also see  the famous rock tower known as the Bastei (bastion), formed by water a million years ago, to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Elbe. 

Saxon Switzerland from the Bastei

Day 8 Litomerice, one of the prettiest towns in the Czech Republic. See St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Jesuit Church, historic Market Square and many residential buildings from the baroque, Renaissance and Gothic periods.

Day 9 Melnik & Prague, disembark for transfer to Prague were you will have a guided walk through Old Town  and be able to take some free time to explore on your own. Then ride to Hradcany Castle for a tour through the castle’s interior, before heading to your overnight hotel.

Day 10 Prague, check out and proceed to the airport for your return flight.

As you may be aware I did a River Cruise on the Main/Danube Canal a couple of years ago, why not read my review. If you have never done a River cruise, they are great for seeing the scenery and travelling along at a leisurely pace, so why not give it a try and give me a call.

River Cruising, whats it all about?

Sorry but it is a few weeks since I wrote my last post, so back into the rhythm now and thought I'd write something about River Cruising.

So don't we tend to associate "cruising" with getting on a huge ship filled with thousands of people and sailing to foreign ports of call in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska or Far East. But what are if any, the other options?

Well it is interesting that most people ignore the most original form of travel on water, river cruising. It is safe to say that mankind was moving goods and people up and down rivers and canals long before ocean travel came into fashion. In fact, the majority of cities and towns throughout the world (up until 100 years ago or so) were constructed on or near a river or major water source, so before the railroad, rivers and canals were the lifeline to commerce and travel.

So instead of looking at an Ocean Cruise, how about thinking about a River? Not just the Danube or the Rhine, you can go to China, Russia, Vietnam and even USA. I did write about an article on The Mighty Mississippi, but here I am going to concentrate on Europe, where there has been an explosion in the size of the market over the last 10 years.

European River Cruising

There are a number of companies that operate ships on the Danube, Rhone, Moselle, Rhine, Seine and Duoro in Portugal. With the European riverboats being purpose-built for modern river sailing; typically they are a long, sleek, narrow vessel with no more than four decks, which allows them to navigate the various locks and bridges found on European rivers.

A river cruise in Europe is all about the history of the land, in most stops each day there will be a Castle or Cathedral and many other historic sights to see, and you find with some lines that the days excurisons are included and usually they have options to suit the needs of all their passengers.

There are a number of European River Cruise Operators, including Viking River Cruises, Avalon River Cruises and AMAwaterways to name just a few. If you follow this link, you will find my views of the few days I spent on AMADante last year.

Advantages of river cruising

Convenience - On a river cruise, you have the ability to visit several cities, perhaps even in multiple countries, without having to pack and unpack each time you move from one place to the next. You literally wake up in a new city every day and, in many cases, you can step off the boat and walk into town or even take a bicycle ride!

Inclusive - Unlike ocean cruises, the fare your pay for your river cruise will include most, if not all, land tours and excursions, and in some cases all gratuities and pre-/post-cruise hotel stays. This makes river cruising an exceptional travel value.

Smooth sailing - You never have to experience motion sickness on a river cruise. In fact, you probably won't even know the ship is moving! It's that smooth.

No long lines - Riverboats typically carry only 100 to 150 passengers, so you will never find yourself standing in long lines.

Adult-oriented - River cruises tend to attract a more mature clientele. There are no facilities or staff dedicated to entertaining children. Therefore, a river cruise is probably not the best choice for a family vacation with the kids.

Casual - You can leave your suit and tie at home. River cruises tend to be much more casual and relaxed than ocean cruises. There are no formal nights.

So, if you are interested just give me a call to get my impartial views on what you can find.

River Cruising - a short guide

I have written a little bit about River Cruising before but since I cruised onboard AmaWaterways’, AmaDante my eyes have really been opened to this whole new world of cruising. If like me you have done the Mediterranean, Caribbean and everywhere else a normal cruise visits then a River Cruise is most definitely for you.

So come on, read on ..............
Unlike Ocean Cruising, River Cruising is more about the destination than the facilities that are available onboard. When sailing onboard a River Cruise you get to dock up close and personal with most of the ports of call, for instance experience the stunning views of iconic landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower which cannot be achieved anywhere else apart from on the river Seine.

Sail through some of Europe’s most spectacular and beautiful countryside in between calling at Europe’s major cities like Vienna, Cologne, Prague, Berlin and Russia’s fascinating cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Plus with most River Cruise Lines offering fully guided tours in every port of call included in the price, you’ll be able to fully explore these amazing cities without worrying about what time you need to get back onboard.

River Cruising isn’t just Europe though, practically where there’s a river you can sail along it! With many of the River Cruise Lines specialising in a specific rivers – like Discover Egypt , who specialise in Nile Cruises.

In July I wrote about the discussions at home about taking a Mekong River Cruise for our 30th Wedding anniversary, see my blog . With so much to see in Vietnam and Cambodia a River Cruise is truly the best way to get everything in and see all sights like the great temple complex of Angkor Wat, The Bayon Temple, Srey Temple and explore bustling cities Hanoi, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Yangtze River is another must see for any avid traveller with so much of China’s history formed around its river banks, this river will fire your imagination and stirs the spirit of forgotten eras. Visit the glistening cities Shanghai and Beijing as well as wonders of world like The Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Terracotta Army and sail through the Three Gorges. But don’t just take my word for it; see the Viking River Cruises videos below.





So has all that this talk of something different whetted your taste buds? There is only so many times you can take Med or Caribbean cruises, give me a call and lets see what we can find.