Table Of Content
After dinner, we were treated to a classical concert (think Mozart and Strauss, not classic rock) performed by a Viennese orchestra. That’s another optional tour; no need to endure it if you’re not a fan. We chose to take the optional afternoon tour to Schönbrunn Palace. It is called the “Versailles of Vienna” due to its massive size (1,441 rooms!), and it qualifies as a UNESCO site as well. Many of our fellow passengers spent the afternoon exploring Vienna on their own. If you do that, make sure to set aside some time to relax in one of Vienna’s traditional coffee houses, just as the locals do.
Travel through the heart of Europe
Tomorrow, our Grand European Tour river cruise would begin with a full day of sightseeing before we even got underway. The Christmas season adds another layer of beauty to the already romantic charms of Budapest. Nestled in the heart of Pest lies Vörösmarty Square, home to the city’s largest yuletide market. The enticing aroma of national specialties permeates the air as vendors display traditional and contemporary handicrafts.
Across Europe - Amsterdam/Budapest Amsterdam - Budapest (16 destinations)
Budapest To Amsterdam - Journal & Topics Newspapers Online
Budapest To Amsterdam.
Posted: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The second evening in Budapest began with a Welcome Reception. Consider it an official opportunity to chat with your Program Director and traveling companions. Our Program Director promised that our first dinner on board would be special, and it was. They offered a traditional Hungarian menu, accompanied by local wines and beers. Many people don’t know that Hungary has 22 wine regions and produces a number of excellent vintages. Tokaj and Bulls Blood are probably the best-known wines, and Hungary’s Tokaj wine region is so phenomenal that it is a bona fide UNESCO site.
New Emerald Waterways Active Excursions for Europe 2018
With the help of Viking reservations, I pre-reserved a driver to meet me at Budapest’s historic Keleti station. As a solo traveler and someone who doesn’t fly, it was a challenge to figure out how to get to Budapest. After one night in Munich, Germany, it was an eight hour train ride to Budapest. Cruise past hilltop castles along the Rhine, stopping in Koblenz to visit Marksburg Castle, the only Rhine fortress never destroyed.
Recommended Reading
The capital of the Netherlands is a great starting point with plenty of canals to explore on your way to the Anne Frank House or the Van Gogh museum. Hungary's capital city boasts plenty of attractions such as the Fishermen's Bastion or Buda castle, making it an excellent point to end your journey. A city of charming canals, elegant gabled houses, splendid museums and abundant bicycles, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam is a delight to explore. Its patchwork of waterways forms about 90 islands connected by 1,500 bridges. Discovering Amsterdam is a pleasure best pursued on foot; visitors line the tranquil canals and linger over Dutch pancakes, or take a stroopwafel to go.
Viking Skadi Cruise Review by JJ678 - July 15, 2023 - Cruiseline.com
Viking Skadi Cruise Review by JJ678 - July 15, 2023.
Posted: Sun, 06 Aug 2023 22:46:18 GMT [source]
Then the ships do a U-turn and continue on the route of the original river ship. Viking had this ship exchange experience down to a science. I had been through this river ship shuffle three times in the last few years so I knew what to expect. There’s nothing you can do when there’s a flood or a drought except board a bus and change ships.
Day 12 – Upper Middle Rhine Valley + Mosel River + wine tasting + Koblenz
Once you’ve finished your beer and extras, take a walk across the Old Stone Bridge. Built between 1135 and 1146, it was the bridge used by the knights on the second and third Crusades to the Holy Land. As we made our way up the Danube, I started to watch the water’s edge.
I divided my Viking Grand European Tour river cruise into two parts. Viking Skadi, on its way south from Amsterdam, couldn’t get past Nuremberg for the same reason. While we were in Regensburg, Viking Lif sailed from Straubing to Regensburg to meet us. This was a chance for passengers who simply yearned for a quiet day onboard to just cruise. The restaurant is usually packed with tourists throughout the summer but this rainy October day, I had no problem getting my own indoor table.
Danube Waltz
Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. We left late and could have one last enjoyable breakfast, once again with local breads, cheeses and other specialties. As we had seen the castle on our previous Rhine River cruise, we opted to join a couple dozen other passengers for the optional Moselle wine tour. Our route took us along along the Mosel River, which offers a landscape of terraced vineyards punctuated here and there by typically German towns. Most cruising is done overnight, unless it’s through a picturesque area.
It’s full of medieval architecture, dark and narrow lanes, and strong fortifications, and that’s what makes it a UNESCO site. The crown jewel of Melk is its abbey, an incredibly ornate 900-year-old Benedictine monastery. Melk Abbey also has wonderful frescoes, as well as a library that holds an extensive collection of medieval manuscripts.
It had been a busy, long day from one end of the city to another. From the beautifully baroque Schönbrunn Palace to a peek at the Spanish Lipizzaner Horses, Vienna has something surprising or magnificent around every corner. I had about an hour to get acquainted with my cabin and Viking Lif river ship before the first pre-dinner meeting.
In First Class on trains in Europe, you’ll find many English-speaking passengers from North America. It was easy to strike up conversations with fellow travelers and the eight hours quickly passed. See the Palace of Justice, old town and Market Square in this history-filled city.
Stroll the medieval, UNESCO-listed city’s streets and learn about Regensburg’s history. We enjoyed a final dinner on board and our last evening together as we cruised on to Amsterdam. If you’re claustrophobic, have mobility challenges, or have already visited a real Dutch windmill, there’s an alternate tour. Passengers who would prefer an alternative can join a tour to watch Dutch cheese making. Holland is famous for Edam, but the cheese farm we visited specializes in Gouda.
No comments:
Post a Comment