- I AM CRUISING SCENIC IN OCTOBER. WHY IS IT RANKED SO LOW ON RBR? SHOULD WE BE WORRIED ABOUT THE WAY THEY MIGHT HANDLE OUR UPCOMING DANUBE CRUISE?
Q – We are scheduled to join friends on our first river cruise with Scenic. We are scheduled to sail out of Passau and “float” down to Budapest. We found that all of the river cruise lines smelled like cinnamon until we came to your site. You have some very nice things to say about Scenic but they are ranked below several other lines. We’re committed to this cruise and if we have to “sail along” on a 40-passenger bus I am sure it will be an adventure and we’re up for it. (we live in Northern California and we tend to roll with the punches) But just wondering what we’ve stepped into as river levels decrease and we’re booked on a river line you identify as having customer service issues?
A – Good to hear from you and congratulations on your low unemployment and a record-breaking budget surplus. You’ve asked a fairly complex question. Here are one or two observations we hope will be useful:
Scenic is based in Australia. It has, in the past, taken a fair amount of time to make decisions regarding water levels so guests can “be in the know”. Everything had to go through the home office.
The Scenic product is currently under review and we believe they will be rising in the ratings. They have beautiful ships, a rare contemporary feel, and some of the best cuisine on the rivers. They also hire and train their own crews.
It is true that Scenic has enjoyed a reputation for screwing up last-minute bus touring when water levels prevented sailing. We do not, at this time, feel that they handle last-minute planning any worse than anyone else and they may have one advantage. You see they recently lost a class action suit brought by a large number of Aussies who felt that their bus touring was not at all what they had paid for. The court in Australia agreed. Now, Scenic has that legacy to live down so we believe they may strive a bit harder than the next bloke to make things right when the rivers go amiss.
You should also be aware that Scenic has been more proactive than its competitors in canceling cruises on the Rhine when the river became clearly unnavigable.
Stay chill and keep the attitude.
- WILL BUDAPEST BE OK? WE HEAR PROBLEMS ARE LIMITED TO THE RHINE
8.19.22 – Q – We are desperately trying to get information about our Danube Cruise on Scenic that begins in Budapest in two weeks. Nothing from Scenic yet and the news reports we have been reading seem to specify the Rhine. Can you help us understand the situation in Budapest? Great site!!!
A – The Danube is challenging to describe for one primary reason – the river flow in Austria is well-managed with a number of dam projects in place to assure smooth river cruise passage. This is not the case in Hungary where major projects to deal with low or high water issues have just not been in Orbin’s “front of mind”. (We realize there is an interesting assumption in that statement).
Right now, on stretches of the Danube in Hungary, 1600 ton vessels can only make it along the low water if they are not carrying cargo. Just north of Budapest, some stations located between Szentendre and Visegard, where the Danube takes a major loop, have been closed for two weeks. There are current reports that some Danube river passengers have discovered that their ship could not make it to Budapest. Instead, guests have been bused to Komarno to board their ship. This port is an hour outside Budapest in Slovakia. They will tour Budapest by bus and then be bussed back to their ship in Slovakia.
- WE ARE LOCKED INTO A RHINE RIVER CAGE AND CAN’T GET OUT
Q – Our travel agent told us that mid-October was a great time to do the Rhine because the tourists have left and the temperatures are cooling off. So here we are, scheduled to leave on October 13th on Viking with no recourse until they, on their own, decide to cancel our cruise – which of course they won’t, given how much money is at stake. So we are, according to our agent, facing some likely changing of boats or, worse, ending up on a bus tour from hell. We are going with another couple and they are having tee shirts made that will read “I paid $16,400 and all I got was a lousy bus ride”. We will wear them when/if appropriate. Comments? Should we change travel agents – perhaps working with you instead?
A – We would not suggest changing travel agents yet. Our clientele does not wear tee shirts in public so we may not be a good fit. Actually, your agent tried to have you avoid the drought – although October is often a time of high water levels as the rains come to northern and central Europe. You were given factual information about Viking’s policy – full cancellation charged unless they cancel your sailing. So, yes, a bus tour is totally possible, at least for a part of your journey. Going forward, and looking at current weather patterns, we prefer to have our river boat guests back home no later than October 20th. But that is an arbitrary figure and very subject to environmental change.
- WONDERING IF YOU SAW THE CNN PIECE AND WHAT YOU THINK OF IT?
August 17, 2022 – Q – My family and I have been really upset by the article we read from CNN Travel which came out quite recently. It seems to say that river cruising is, for all practical purposes, over with. This article makes us think that our planned family cruise next August along the Seine River may be inoperable. Wondering if you have seen the article and wondering if you agree with its premise. Really enjoy your websites.
A – This article, by Julia Buckley, has gone “mature people viral”. The title of the piece, “Europe’s Drought Could Signal the Death of River Cruising” is, we think, based on fact, along with some opinions by a professor of tourism. The conclusion seems to us to be rather dark.
The first paragraph states that “Europe is having another cataclysmic summer”. Given that 63% of the land mass across the EU, as well as Great Britain, is operating under drought warnings or the more serious “alerts” we think this is quite literally true. Add in the record-breaking heat waves and we have to wonder what river cruising in the seasons to come will look like.
This is a big topic and we don’t want to spend a lot of time responding to a piece on CNN written by someone who does not, as far as we know, work in the industry. But at its heart, the article correctly points out that the management of these river cruise lines has nothing but the ravages of climate change to work around. Next summer may be much better. And even the summer after that. But sometime in the near future, this will happen again and with more severity and riverboat companies on Europe’s rivers will have to re-examine their business models.
From our perspective, this will not mean the end of an industry. It will, we think, mean a reallocation of seasons. October may become the most desirable month to cruise the Rhine or the Danube, or perhaps April before the drought has typically begun.
The Seine is still standing at the moment. France always survives and there are many harder-hit localities. Continue planning what we are certain will be a really enjoyable family vacation.
- SET TO SAIL WITH UNIWORLD AND WANT TO CANCEL DUE TO WATER LEVELS – WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Q – 8.19.22 – In four weeks we are supposed to be off to Budapest to begin a Danube Cruise. The little I have read about this on some of the “boards” has me really scared and my husband and I want to cancel for a refund. Some of the “boarders” seem to suggest that Uniworld will allow us to either get a refund or switch to a similar sailing next year. If we have those options – great. But can you verify this information?
A – We would love to – but we can’t! The information is totally bogus. The policy at Uniworld, and most of their competitors, is that they will cancel any sailing where passage and the delivery of a satisfactory experience is in peril. If they cancel, they will move you to another date in the future and they will price protect – this represents significant savings.
Unless Uniworld specifically announces cancellation, their stated cancellation policies will remain in effect. Going forward, the vast majority of guests booked on European rivers have made full payment and so are in full cancellation.
Sorry about the posted misinformation on the site you were looking at. One reason we do not open our Q&A to unknown posters is that there is absolutely no way to verify the information presented. Much of the travel chatter originates overseas where some folks are simply thrilled to see their thoughts posted on a well-read American site.
- WHAT IS CURRENT STATUS ON RHINE RIVER? WE ARE SCHEDULED TO SAIL IN MID OCTOBER FROM AMSTERDAM TO BASEL ON VIKING
Q – August 9, 2923 – We are looking for some straight answers about our upcoming, and rather expensive, Viking River Rhine Cruise. I have been on one of the cruise “boards” and it is sounding as though we may be in for a partial bus tour. My wife and I have just hung up after speaking with our Viking travel agent and we were told that no one knows for sure what will be operating in mid-September. Meanwhile, I keep reading the accounts of travelers who are on the river now and they are having a terrible experience staying at cheap hotels and doing longer bus tours with some nights on a stationary Viking ship. Is there a department at Viking I should be speaking with and why doesn’t anyone give us straight answers? Will our ship operate – yes or no?
A – We think not. The level of rain required in the next three weeks to make the Rhine fully navigable is highly unlikely. The “Travel Agent” you spoke to at Viking was reading off a prepared script. That person is paid by Viking to say whatever Viking wants them to say. The reality is that we are now experiencing the most serious drought in modern European history along the Rhine, the Elbe, the Main, the Rhone, and the Danube.
We think you should work with your travel agent more closely. They should be providing you with updated information that may be very different than what Viking is saying for public consumption.
You will need to find out if Viking will be enforcing its cancellation terms or if you qualify for a future credit based on the money you have paid.
- IF CRYSTAL IS REALLY GONE WHO TAKES ITS PLACE AS # 1?
Q – 2.17.22 We are long-time followers of your consumer travel group and we read all of your sites – getting information none of our friends on the “let’s be a critic” sites seem to have. We’ve taken one river cruise on Viking because we were under the impression that every boat in Europe’s rivers was owned by Viking. We had discovered your praise of Crystal and were looking forward to a Fall cruise.
We have taken your advice and read all that you have to say on cruisetruth.com in the Q&A section and we must commend you on coverage that goes way beyond anything the consumer press is reporting. In fact, as an attorney, I am really rather flabbergasted that the press like the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times has largely ignored the complete failure and dissolution of the world’s top cruise and riverboat brand.
My question has to do with what next? Who inherits the RBR mantle as Europe’s top-rated river cruise line. Because whoever you say it is – that is who we are going to sail next. Thanks for all that you do to keep us informed.
A – You have, counselor, asked a rather important and complex question. The best way to answer it is with a bit of perspective.
On our cruisetruth site, evaluating the top cruise line rankings is an arduous task requiring many hours of research from the United States and Abroad as well as analyzing reports from our team of CSI ship inspectors.
The fact is that the top four cruise lines in the world are bunched up fairly tight at the top. Since the arrival of Crystal that was not, in our view, true in the riverboat sector. With its newly-designed boats carrying far fewer guests on a truly all-inclusive basis. Crystal has not had any competition in the top spot since its arrival.
The service was wonderful but there are other lines like AMA Waterways, Tauck, and Uniworld that excel in service. The hardware on Crystal was unmatched. Guests loved the king-size beds that faced the water, the butler sevice in every stateroom, and the cooked-to-order meals in kitchens that were 300% larger than kitchens on competing vessels.
But the fact is that everyone seems to love their first river cruise and the repeat factor is actually higher than it is on ocean-going cruise ships. There are some wonderful riverboat options and no one line will dominate our ratings as Crystal did under the direction of its manager, Walter Littlejohn. In selecting the very best riverboat for your family we would suggest carefully going through our comprehensive reviews before speaking to one of our award-winning riverboat advisors.
For Comprehensive Information about Crystal Cruises and Riverboats please go to the Q&A section of www.cruisetruth.com
- WE LOVE CRYSTAL’S RIVERBOAT PRODUCT – ANY IDEA WHO MIGHT BUY THEM?
Q – As absolutely devoted Crystal Riverboat fans, having sailed then four times and ready to repeat the Danube itinerary until the sad news of Crystal’s demise, I am wondering who you think might end up purchasing these “almost new” deluxe vessels.
A – The parts may be separated with the riverboats going to one entity while the cruise ships go to someone else. Who will own our Riverboatratings top-ranked line is speculation at this point ut we will go on record with two possibilities:
The Sycamore Group: This is a strong private equity group that is anxious to get into the leisure travel industry in a major way. They purchased Azamara Cruises from Royal Caribbean and added a fourth vessel they purchased from Princess. This would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase one of the industry’s top ocean and river brands.
The Heritage Group – This is a company belonging to Manfredi Lefebvre who recently sold Silversea Cruises to Royal Caribbean. Then, this group purchased 85% of Abercrombie & Kent, a worldwide luxury brand that could be an excellent marketing partner in a Crystal acquisition. The offer for Crystal has already been made so one could day Heritage is “first in line”. The understanding we have is that Heritage’s offer includes Crystal’s two cruise ships, the expedition vessel, as well as the riverboats.
- BOOKED ON CRYSTAL AND WAITING FOR REFUND
Q – 2.17.22 We are booked on a Rhine Cruise with Crystal in October of this year. We are getting nervous that it will not operate and we are now decided to seek a refund. We can’t get Crystal to respond to the phone. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
A – We have been warning our clients and guests on this site about Crystal weakening financial outlook since October 2020. The company is now disbanded and in receivership. Crystal river cruises and ocean cruises are out of business and their fate lies in the hands of a three-judge panel in the Bahamas handling the details of selling all of the company’s assets. The Chairman of Crystal’s parent company, Genting Hong Kong, has resigned, the President of Crystal Cruises has resigned and all company employees have been let go. No one is left to answer their phones.
The outlook is not, however, completely bleak. At least one possible purchaser of the Crystal fleet has come forward and the representative for Crystal “creditors” has been appointed by courts in Florida where Crystal owes substantial fuel purchase bills in excess of $1 Million. The Assignee is Michael Moecker & Associates in Miami.
We are informed that a special website for those owed money by Crystal will be set up in the near future. Creditors (guests owed money) will need to register on this site. It is likely that future credits will not be honored for any cash refund.
RATHER THAN REPLY TO AN AVALANCHE OF QUESTIONS WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING FROM OUR VARIOUS CHURCHILL & TUREN CONSUMER MEDIA SITES ABOUT THE CRYSTAL SITUATION, WE HAVE CONSOLIDATED ALL OF OUR RESPONSES ON OUR CRUISETRUTH SITE.
SIMPLY GO TO WWW.CRUISETRUTH.COM AND THEN CLICK ON THE Q&A SECTION WHERE YOU WILL FIND COMPREHENSIVE ANSWERS TO YOUR CRYSTAL QUESTIONS.
WWW.CRUISETRUTH.COM
- ARE YOU STILL RECOMMENDING CRYSTAL RIVER CRUISES?
Q – We had a scheduled sailing in early May on the Crystal Mahler canceled due to Covid three weeks ago. I keep checking but no refund yet. I’ve called them several times and am assured that everything is fine. They seem very nice but I have an uneasy feeling about this. Our friends took the re-booking offer instead and are scheduled to sail with Crystal in May 2022.
I suppose we are not well-traveled and this was a first trip to Europe for us. Really disappointed and wondering if we made the wrong decision by canceling. Any advice would be appreciated. We had booked directly with Crystal to save some money but they seem kind of vague in their responses as to when we will have our money returned. We are owed more than $4,000.
A – Your note saddens us. You may have to say goodbye to your $4,000. Crystal is, we believe, in serious financial trouble. They have guests who have not been refunded for more than ten months. A good part of their staff in the US has been laid off, some of the leading travel agency consortiums will no longer market their products, and two of the major travel insurance companies will no longer include Crystal in supplier default policies. Those are serious red flags.
We have received numerous questions from travelers related to Crystal and its problems as well as its likely future. In order to avoid confusion, we have collected all of our Q&A related to Crystal and posted it on the www.cruisetruth.com web site. If you go on that “sister site” you will learn more than you might wish to know about Crystal.
We can not say if your friends made a wiser choice. We believe that Crystal is too valuable a brand to slowly fade away. They are owned by a huge leisure group based in Hong Kong called Genting. We believe that Crystal will slowly recover as advance bookings look strong. If you paid with a Visa or Mastercard your refund may be delayed indefinitely. As you booked directly, no travel consultant can access your record or communicate on your behalf with the Crystal Call Center. You are entitled to a full refund plus, in our view, the refund of the travel agency commission that Crystal definitely charged you. And believe us, you did not save any money by failing to use a travel consultant.
- UNSURE ABOUT UNIWORLD DECISIONS
Q – We are 90 days out from our Uniworld Enchanting Danube trip which I’m confident will be cancelled. The first Enchanting Danube cruise listed on the updated Uniworld site starts on September 6. We were wondering what our best option is. I believe if we cancel with Uniworld within 90 days, we get 80% back. Would that be a cash refund?
At this point, as much as we love Uniworld, we are concerned about a different cruise experience or their solvency…. It was recommended that it would be wisest for us to wait for Uniworld to cancel. Does that still hold true considering their cancellation policy?
A – We want to be sure that you are clear that if you cancel today you would lose 35% of the cost of the cruise fare as well as your insurance. However, Uniworld is not going to keep that 35% – instead they will retain it as a future credit. This is much more generous than many of their competitors are offering.
If you cancel within 89-60 days from the departure date you will receive 65% of the fare back to the credit card with which you paid and 35% (the “penalty”), will be held as a Future Cruise Credit. The entire penalty schedule is as follows:
- 119 – 90 days 20% of the fare
- 89 – 60 days 35% of the fare
- 59 – 30 days 50% of the fare
- Less than 30 days 100% of the fare
They do have another offer that may work very well for you. If you choose to move your current sailing and cabin category to the same sailing next year, they will honor 2020 prices and allow you to switch with no increase in fare. In fact, you can switch to almost any comparable seven-day sailing (other than September 2021) and book it at 2020 fares.
We don’t have the financial crystal ball your question requires but we can tell you that Uniworld is part of a large, successful travel group: The Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is located in Los Angeles and the company operates a fleet of 21 river-cruising cruise ships along the rivers of Europe, Russia, Egypt, and China. Uniworld also has operational offices located in the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, and China. The company is part of The Travel Corporation group, which also includes businesses such as Trafalgar Tours and Contiki Tours.
The consumer media is not reporting one important aspect of this situation. Riverboat bookings in Europe in 2021 are currently running 6-9% ahead of this same time last year. At Churchill & Turen, we are running into any number of sold out or category unavailable situation in prime season Rhine and Danube sailings. That leads us to not worry very much about the river boat sector as opposed to Meeting Planning or Business Travel operators.
On the other hand, it appears that Uniworld has furloughed about 50% of its US staff. It is difficult to get anyone to answer their phones and refunds, please note, are taking as much as three months to process.
So what do we think you should do? Given the stress this has caused you, together with the fact that the cancellation fee will be set up as a future credit anyway, we would forego the extra 10% you would save by waiting and go ahead and cancel now. But, again, understand that the refund will take several months.
- ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT CRUISING THE NILE ON A US APPROVED RIVER BOAT?
Q – We started out along the Seine, what’s not to like, we then brought our Bubba along on a cruise out of her native Budapest, we then took a chance and actually sailed the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar. And you know what – we loved them all. We’re in our mid-sixties, we retired smart, and now we want to “glide” through the world’s most interesting locales. All of which brings us to Egypt, always one of the first locations on any of our many bucket lists. But problems of safety are always there and we are wondering if there is a product that might come close to Avalon or Uniworld, two lines we’ve tried and enjoyed immensely. Is Egypt safe enough to consider a visit there, a sailing visit, in the next 24 months?
A – AMA has announced it will be launching a ship along the Nile in 2021 to compete with the placement of ships on the river by Viking and Uniworld. So you will have several options.
The fact is that, despite the street demonstrations and the headlines, Egypt has come roaring back and 2020 and 2021 are expected to be record years. One of the world’s top tour operators in the region recently told us that Egypt is so popular that they have run out of qualified guides – the good ones are fully booked many months in advance.
You will note security aboard your riverboat and also ashore. There will be tours accompanied by armed guards. But Egypt isn’t a destination easily replaced by some other place with a camel population. The story of how Egypt has come roaring back, despite its problems, is one of the major travel news stories of the year.
Given your positive experience in Myanmar, not exactly an example of a shining light of democracy, we think this is one dream you might want to pursue. Do look carefully at AMA Waterways.
- WHICH SPECIFIC CABINS SHOULD WE AVOID WHEN BOOKING CRYSTAL?
Q – Any big difference in the S1 or the S2 staterooms on the Crystal Ravel? Any locations in either category we should be avoiding? Thank you for the best, most helpful sites for travelers seeking straight answers minus the advertising hyperbole.
A – Both stateroom categories are identical at 253 sq. ft. and King beds, believe it or not, facing the water. Both come with push-button panoramic balcony windows which are much preferable to ting walkout balconies. The only difference is the deck location. The S1’s are on the top passenger deck and the S2’s are on the deck below which, on every other riverboat would be the middle deck. Crystal does not sleep guests on a third deck. They reserve that deck for the crew which essentially means that much of their crew sleeps one deck higher than they would on other lines.
In S1, we want you to avoid # 300, 301 and 311. In s2 Category try to have your consultant stay away from 200, 201, 215, and 217.
Never let a call center “cubicled head-set” choose your cabin assignment. Only amateurs do that. And never assume they’ve sailed your vessel. The chances are they have not.
- WHICH IS MORE FINE ON THE RHINE – AMA OR UNIWORLD. THEY BOTH SEEM TO WIN ALL THE TOP AWARDS.
Q – Trying to decide between AMA and Uniworld for a “Most Fine” Rhine Cruise. They each seem excellent and win many travel awards. Any hints as to how we might consider the differences?
A – It is a tough choice and you will do extremely well no matter which you choose. AMA owns their own ships and we find their product to be a bit warmer than the Uniworld experience. Uniworld seems very much like a lovely, intimate British Hotel with lots of rather opulent furnishings and décor. NBA players sailing the ships have to be warned about low-handing chandeliers.
AMA is a sleeker, more contemporary riverboat product and their average customer is a few years younger than you might find on Uniworld. Neither line is wholly inclusive.
They are both among the most respected lines in the industry and our Certified Inspection Reports indicate a positive trend in most areas of operation. Uniworld is owned by a large Travel organization with holdings in many areas while AMA is still family-owned and not part of a larger product mix.
It is true that each has won numerous “Best in Class” recognition from the consumer travel press where they are heavy advertisers. We think that their rankings are so close together that it would be best for you to make a choice based on the style of the ship and overall product as well as the specifics of the itinerary. We suggest that you go to youtube and watch two or three videos showing life aboard the ships of each line. There is lots of silly advice and amateur video on youtube related to river cruising. Choose the ones produced by each line. Pay attention to the décor and overall feel of the product. We think you will quickly arrive at a preference. If not, contact us and we can help you pin down the best option. But first, forgive us for not attempting to do a “fine rhyme.”
- AMAZON RIVER VERSUS IRRAWADDY? WHICH DO YOU RECOMMEND MOST ENTHUSIASTICALLY?
Q – We are enthusiastic followers of your various web sites. Traveltruth is our favorite and we love the fact that it covers anything remotely limited to travel. We love to go to exotic locales where we have a serious chance of catching something that might bring us down for a few days or longer. But the fact is that when it came to exotic travel, the risk is well worth the reward. So now, we are looking at a river cruise on the Amazon or something to Myanmar. Love to have specific recommendations. If it helps, we in our early forties, in good shape, and we can afford to travel well. We’re a bit too young to join the country club but it wasn’t so very long ago that I caddied.
A – At the moment, large portions of the Amazon rain forest are in flames so the decision is rather easy. Brazil suffers from leadership by ego – a condition, of course, that we know nothing about in the States, But, in the best of times, Seeing the Amazon River on a small boat gives us caution. Aqua is a wonderful Expedition River Cruise Line and they do the Amazon better than anyone else. But you will really feel the contrast of wealthy Americans and Europeans visiting small villages where locals exist on a bare subsistence, hawking small curios to the rare visitor. It can be upsetting to some although there are programs set up that, we suppose, can justify a visit to the area.
Myanmar also has its political issues. The best boat is Belmond’s Road to Mandalay but the Sanctuary is another top choice. We are, quite frankly, surprised that this area of the world is not even more popular with riverboat enthusiasts. The sightseeing can be memorable, the boats are smaller and more luxurious than those in Europe, and there is a sense of place and spirituality that impresses many visitors. We hear repeated compliments about the crews aboard these boats. They are dedicated to war, top-of-the-line service and they seem motivated by more than money. We suggest you do Asia before doing the Amazon.
- WHY THE RATINGS DOWNGRADE ON SCENIC?
Q – We’ve been following your reviews closely and you helped us plan our last two Riverboat vacations. But, as we sailed Scenic twice and loved the experiences, we couldn’t help but notice that they have come down a notch or two in the rankings. We’d love to know why as we are contemplating our third.
A – The Scenic on-board product has not deteriorated. Scenic has an excellent crew training program, better-than-average food, and modern design with great appeal to many American travelers sailing this Australian company. Scenic has been downgraded by our Team primarily on the basis of its poor handling of consumer issues and its reactions to water-level itinerary changes. The fact that top management is based outside the United States seems to result in a lag time when decisions need to be made quickly aboard ship. There have also been frequent management changes at the company that has been unsettling. Shore excursions have not stood out in any memorable ways. On-board lectures are minimal or non-existent.
By way of full disclosure, we have a bias toward Scenic riverboats. One of our owners is the “Godmother” of one of the line’s newest ships. We are sure you will love your third Scenic experience but we thought your question deserved a truthful response.
- OUR KIDS ARE EXCITED AND NOW WE HAVE TO DISAPPOINT THEM
Q – Q – We have been planning on taking our two kids, ages 13 and 14, on a two-week special Viking River Cruise on one of their new Longboats in the summer of 2022. We have all the Viking brochures and as the largest line, they seem to have some economy of scale resulting in much better pricing than most of their competitors like Tauck, Scenic, and Crystal.
One of our neighbors in Austin just returned from a Viking cruise in Germany and she said that there weren’t any kids at all on her sailing even though she went in August. I am not working with an agent and have been depending on the mountains of materials Viking has been sending us since our initial inquiry. The kids read all the brochures, they have scored great grades, and I really want to take them. But we don’t want to put them in a situation where they will be uncomfortable. I think your response could be helpful to many other families planning a similar river cruise.
A – Viking has made your decision rather easy. Viking River Cruises raised the minimum age for passengers from 12-years-old to 18-years-old, effectively banning kids from all future voyages. The new zero-children policy, which the company said was in response to customer demand, will mirror that of Viking Ocean Cruises, which debuted in 2015 with the same anti-kid animus.
We would discuss this carefully with your agent and we suspect they may end up recommending AMA Waterways. AMA, by the way, does do programs aboard certain sailings in conjunction with Disney. That would likely be your perfect solution if you can abide a 140 Guest ship with about one-third of them under the age of eighteen. European Riverboats operate on the assumption that, given the size of the boats and the low passenger counts, the presence of young children could be an unpleasant distraction. The difference between Viking and the others is simply Viking’s Norwegian bluntness.
- BEING PUSHED TOWARD AMA ON THE DUORO: SHOULD I BE WINE-TASTING ON ANOTHER LINE?
Q – We are extremely interested in a Duoro River Cruise. We are thinking about a Tauck unless you think there is something better. If we wait a year or two is it likely that Crystal will enter this market. They seem to be among the three top lines. My TA belongs to a larger travel consortium that just declared AMA the best company and they also do the Duoro. That is who she is recommending. Are we the only ones confused by these marketing “geniuses”.
This will be a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary and it needs to be really special. We are drawn to the Duoro because it seems to a quieter, less touristy destination and we are into warm reds with lasting notes and lingering “fruit on the tongue”. It also seems that the ships that do the Duoro are smaller. Love some feedback from your excellent team.
A – Travel marketing is designed to confuse you. Ads sell the dream, the perception of perfection, and the stated or implied value. No one in marketing is an upside/downside personality. It is sales nonsense penned by some of the same people who were hawking dishwashing detergent and Cialis commercials in a previous life. So, yes, confusion is an induced travel state brought on by a glut of phony advertising aided by travel writers doing payback for their own free travel. There is now an entire sub-culture of “bloggers” who get paid to travel and tell you what a great time they are having.
The Duoro itinerary has special appeal to those who appreciate grape juice. More than the places you will visit or the tastings you will experience, the Duoro River Valley route passes numerous vineyards instead of Castles and fairy-take villages of the type seen along the Rhine or Danube routes. AMA is a wonderful semi-inclusive product with some of our highest CSI Rating Reports. But for this special celebration, we like the new Tauck ms Andorinha, the company’s new Douro riverboat, has been completed at the Vahali Shipyard in Serbia, and the hull was recently transported by tug to Hardinxveld, the Netherlands, where final outfitting will occur.
The new ship will have a crew of 36, and it will measure 263 feet in length with a beam of 38 feet. Guests are accommodated in 42 cabins, including 12 300-square-foot suites on the upper Diamond Deck, and 20 225-square-foot staterooms primarily on the vessel’s Ruby or mid-level deck. The remaining accommodations – six 200-square-foot cabins and four 150-square-foot cabins – will be on the lower or Emerald Deck. The ms Andorinha will also feature a Panorama Lounge, Compass Rose restaurant for fine dining, and a second dining venue, Arthur’s (named for company chairman Arthur Tauck Jr.), serving more casual fare.
To ensure a relaxed and intimate ambiance, Tauck is intentionally limiting the ms Andorinha’s capacity to just 84 guests; far fewer than other Douro ships of similar size which accommodate up to 112 passengers. And while the ms Andorinha will have far fewer guests than other ships, it will still have more director-level personnel to ensure Tauck’s guests enjoy the highest levels of care and service. As on Tauck riverboats fleet-wide, the newbuild will be staffed by a Tauck Cruise Director and three Tauck Director guides.
AMA Waterways is an excellent line representing true value. For a majority of first-time river cruisers, it is the best choice so we fully understand why your TA recommended it. But Crystal and Tauck are the two top-tier lines in Europe and Crystal does not sail the Duoro – its ships are too large to navigate the river and its bridges. The clear best option for you is Tauck.
- CAN WE ACTUALLY GET OFF THESE RIVER BOATS TO ENJOY SOME OF EUROPE’S NIGHTLIFE?
Q – We are talking with friends at the Club about doing a river cruise next summer, perhaps doing something along the Danube River for about ten days. There has been one possible objection – one of our friends feels that river boats are too restrictive and will not allow us the opportunity to go off the ship to have dinner ashore, something we would really enjoy doing. I told them I would check with the experts. Wish there were more sites like this. My favorite is your site totally devoted to travel Q and A. Really enjoy the mix of topics. Keep it up.
A – Your friends do have a point but there are some strategies. Some of the lines, particularly Crystal, are including a fair number of overnight stays in cities like Vienna, Budapest, and Amsterdam. In addition, in the smaller towns like Krems, Lintz, and Melk, you can remain ashore, have a lovely dinner, and then hire a taxi to take you to the dock where your river boat is spending the night. The distances covered on river cruises are not great and re-connecting with your vessel, though involving a potentially steep taxi fare, is not particularly challenging. Crystal’s on-board Concierge Team will arrange dining reservations and even transportation ashore.
- ACTIVE RIVER BOATING ON AVALON AND WATER LEVEL CONCERNS
Q – Two questions,
1- We want to book a river cruise for next October 19th on Avalon’s Active Discovery from Prague to Budapest We are getting a bit anxious about the low water levels this year, but of course realize that no one can predict next year’s level.
Another option is for us to go in June. Any recommendations for the best chance to avoid inadequate water levels, whether high or low?
2- Any reviews on Avalon’s Active Discovery Cruises run by Globus?
Thank you so much for a prompt reply.
A – The reviews for Avalon’s Active Discovery Programs have been good. The line has done an excellent job branding the kinds of physically active activities offered by many of their competitors. It is the way that river cruising will attract a younger demographic and it is what river boat executives are talking about in their boardrooms. We are seeing a decline in interest in traditional historical touring within Europe and the riverboat experience is part of that trend.
Avalon has designed a number of programs that include hiking, biking, and kayaking. One of their competitors, AMA Waterways, has teamed up with famed adventure travel company Backroads to create unique activities for travelers who want to get out and explore on foot and on bike without the need to sit in a tour bus for several hours.
We are not particularly enthusiastic about your intended travel dates. Our rule of thumb, when it comes to the Elbe, Danube, Rhine, or Moselle rivers is to have our clients home by October 15th. The rains can be bothersome during the last two months of October and all of November. We feel that these are times best avoided on the rivers. As the rain increases, so can the condition of the locks along the route. Flooding is not predictable but a late October departure increases the odds of a water level issue. That is one reason that you see price breaks during this period.
- NOT AT ALL CERTAIN THAT WE CAN HANDLE A RIVER CRUISE AND THE WALKING
Q – How active are the daily walking tours? My wife & I are somewhat challenged by long walks. We can easily do a mile or 2 per day but must move slowly. My wife wears a “boot” that restricts ankle movement due to multiple surgeries & I have lower back issues that prohibit long walks without periodic rests.
A – Without knowing your travel profile and health history, we really can’t offer a meaningful recommendation. We will tell you that, based on the information you have provided, we think that you should avoid river cruising unless you are willing to have your advisor arrange private drivers in each of the major ports. Even the slowest walking tours offered by the various lines will be inappropriate for your back and your wife’s “boot”. You will need frequent bench stops that would slow down the rest of the group. You sound like perfect candidates for private driver/guide arrangements that are suited to your specific medical conditions. Our concern is that the amount of walking that forms an important part of ever river boat itinerary is either going to be impossibly difficult for you or injurious to your conditions.
Your advisor may be willing to take on the challenge of private arrangements but this will be a rather significant additional vacation expense. There are firms that specialize in travel programs for guests with impaired mobility issues. You may be a candidate.
- THIS FARMER JUST AIN’T GONNA WEAR A TUX – REGARDLESS OF RIVER
Q- Please help me get the lowdown on an issue of great importance to me and the possible preservation of my marriage. My sister-in-law has put it in my wife’s head that we need to join them on one of these fancy river cruise boats in Europe. I farm for a living and I just don’t have any objection to making my wife happy, to endure her sister and her husband, and to relax on a boat for a week. I hear that most everything is included – all fine. But we just received the Avalon brochure and it looks like some of the folks wear a coat and tier for dinner etc. I do own a sports jacket but I haven;t had a tie around my neck for about thirty years. Just how dressed up would I have to get on a Rhine River cruise and will most of the men be bringing along tuxedos? Appreciate your time.
A – You’re going to be fine – no ties required and no tux ever. A sports jacket with an open collar shirt is as fancy as you need to get on Avalon. Some folks go in a few days early and like to dine in fine restaurants ashore but even then, you will have no worries. Some of the major cruise lines do have designated “formal nights” but even then you can dine in a specialty restaurant where the dress is more casual.
The trend, on both oceans and rivers, is away from formal dress. The problem for the cruise lines is that they do often appeal to an international clientele that prefers dress-up dining. But no issues at all on river boats. Best, however, to leave the overalls at home.
- IMPORTANT EUROPEAN RIVER UPDATE NOVEMBER 16, 2018
WE HAVE BEEN DELUGED WITH QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, AND REPORTS FROM FRUSTRATED RIVER CRUISERS AND THEIR TRAVEL AGENTS REGARDING THE STATUS OF UPCOMING FALL AND CHRISTMAS SAILINGS. THE CONSUMER PRESS AND THE SELF-PROCLAIMED ‘CRITICS’ ARE PROVIDING A FAIR SHARE OF MISINFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT. FOR THE BEST PROSPECTIVE, WE URGE READERS TO REFER TO TRAVEL WEEKLY, THE MOST RESPECTED INDUSTRY PUBLICATION, THAT HAS JUST PUBLISHED THE FOLLOWING UPDATE: (Protected by Copyright – Northstar Media – Reproduction or use of this material is Prohibited)
NOVEMBER 16, 2018 – CURRENT WATER LEVEL OVERVIEW
AMSTERDAM — A record hot, dry European summer has persisted into fall, leaving river cruise lines scrambling to reroute ships and keep customers sailing. That is particularly true on the Rhine, which is so low that historical relics and a World War II bomb have been found along its dried-up riverbed.
While high and low water levels are cyclical, causing river ships at times to reroute or to temporarily bus passengers to different ships or hotels to complete their itineraries, it is almost unheard of for such low levels to carry into October and November.
Earlier in the season, the Danube and the Elbe were most affected, and there are still scattered issues on those rivers. But last month, the Rhine hit a record low, forcing river lines to abandon their popular Basel-to-Amsterdam sailings when the port of Cologne, Germany, was shuttered.
Photos reveal that the river, which is a key commercial shipping route, looks more like the southwestern U.S.’s perpetually dry Rio Grande — which many New Mexicans sarcastically refer to as the ‘Rio Sand’ — than like one of Europe’s main waterways, on which you can now see huge, exposed sandbars; wide, dry banks; and exposed river bottoms.
In some places, the water is so low that you can practically walk across, according to river cruise employees on recent sailings. Late last month, a bomb was found on the dry riverbed in Cologne. And in Budapest, a ship from the 1600s with 2,000 gold coins was discovered, according to news reports.
While this year’s weather is extreme, high and low waters are cyclical, much like snowfall for skiers or hurricanes for beach vacationers. Because issues can pop up every few years, river lines always have extensive backup plans that include everything from simple cancellations and refunds to swapping passengers between ships at points that become impassable.
The river lines use motorcoaches and hotel stays to keep tours moving on their scheduled routes, and they develop alternative itineraries that keep passengers sailing, albeit to sometimes unexpected ports of call.
How dramatic the impact is on guests, who have already paid thousands of dollars for their vacation, depends largely on the cruise line.
Viking, which has the largest European river fleet, declined repeated requests for information about how many cruises have been affected this year and about how they handle refunds, changes and cancellations.
A spokesman for Tauck, which has eight ships on Europe’s rivers, said the company had been forced to cancel three sailings this year, one on the Danube in August and two on the Rhine in October, as it prepared to close out the season.
Walter Littlejohn, head of Crystal River Cruises, which has five vessels in Europe, said he had lost count of how many itinerary changes Crystal had made this year in an effort to keep passengers off buses and on the water.
AmaWaterways, with 16 ships on affected rivers, has had a combination of ship swaps and slightly disrupted itineraries. The focus has been on developing new itineraries to keep guests sailing.
CroisiEurope reported that it spent most of the summer swapping passengers between ships running from opposite ends of the unpredictable and extremely low Elbe.
And Avalon said it has used a combination of cancellations, ship swaps and moves to land-based itineraries.
Cost to cruise lines
Steve Born, chief marketing officer for the Globus family of brands, which owns Avalon, said, “When there are conditions that compromise a portion of a river, we create an alternative on land that still gives our guests all of the included destinations and experiences. In these cases, our Globus operations base comes in very handy … to allow us to quickly react.”
Born added, “If the conditions require that we are forced to overnight in a hotel as opposed to the ship, we make those arrangements and work out guest compensation at that moment with the guests directly on the cruise.”
James Hill, a U.K. agent who has been selling river cruises for more than 12 years, said that low water is not a new problem. And the costs to river lines are “not inconsiderable.” Those costs include moving or renting motorcoaches, hotel rooms and meals, putting together new excursions on short notice and extra administrative and operations expenses for altering itineraries and notifying guests.
Additionally, many companies offer customers compensation for “lost days,” either as a cash refund or as a future cruise credit.
Hill said a cash refund “comes straight off the bottom line,” whereas a future cruise credit is “meant to get the client to book a further cruise, albeit at a lower cost, thus deferring the cost to the bottom line to later years.”
“The hidden cost of a long season of low water is that people looking to book their first river cruise may well read reports of dissatisfaction on the various websites and decide not to book at all,” Hill said. “Those who have had a couple of successful trips may well count themselves as having been lucky and call it a day!”
Indeed, many companies are hesitant to share too many details of their compensation policies with the news media for fear of scaring off customers.
For example, when asked for details on the impact of low water on their sailings, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection CEO Ellen Bettridge said simply, “We always proactively share updates with guests and partners, and in most cases, for the limited number of cruises impacted, are able to seamlessly alter small sections of the trip to offer an equally rewarding itinerary.”
Still, there is no end in sight as river cruise operators head into the Christmas market season. AmaPrima captain Ron Schuegard said the Rhine would need at least two weeks of nonstop rain for things to get back to normal.
Alternative itineraries
But that doesn’t mean the season is over. AmaWaterways, Crystal and some others have restaged their Amsterdam-Basel routes to the picturesque towns of the Netherlands and Belgium — basically the spring tulip route without the tulips — and are prepared to continue altering itineraries as the fast-changing rivers allow.
Passengers aboard a recent AmaPrima sailing that was rerouted through the Netherlands seemed more than pleased, not only with the company’s generous compensation offers but also with the opportunity to visit towns they might not ever otherwise have seen.
Heading into the holiday season, said Susan Robison, a spokeswoman for Crystal, “We have multiple contingency plans if needed, including a Moselle itinerary that features a number of picturesque villages and cities that have some of the most charming and atmospheric Christmas markets in Germany.”
By River Cruise Editor Jeri Clausing
- HOW DO WE FIND OUT WHERE OUR RIVER BOAT WILL BE PARKED?
Q – One thing no one seems to ever address is just where the river boat lines will dock their ships in cities like Vienna, Budapest, or Passau. We’ve been on several Seabourn Cruise and one Crystal and our TA was able to get us docking information. But we’re having a tough time figuring out where our river boat will dock. To us, this is really important as we want to be centrally located for walking and shopping. We’re likely going to book Viking River and were wondering how we might find out.
A – You are wasting your time. The local harbormaster determines docking just hours prior to a boats arrival. Most of the boats share the same downtown docking area and they are usually bunched quite close together. When they are tied up to the same berth station, there is no way to know positioning in advance. As we have pointed out, multi-berthing is going to become even more the norm as new ship-building has far outpaced the construction of additional dock space. You will likely be walking through your next door neighbor’s “den” en route to your floating hotel on the river.
- STARTING WITH THE BASICS: WHICH RIVER IS BEST FOR US?
Q – We have sailed with Silversea to four continents and now want to try River cruising in Europe. But we must admit to several levels of confusion regarding the “personality of each river. My husband is 63 and has been retired for almost 20 years. I am also in my sixties and currently work as a technology instructor at a local college. We live just outside of Seattle, and we would look forward to traveling with some Trumpies as long as they don’t wear their red hats into the dining room. Our intention would be to pass on most shore excursions and go on long walks by ourselves. One of the things we are most looking forward to is the ability to relax and enjoy watching life on the river. We would likely select the highest level stateroom so we can have our privacy and not have to go up on the top observation deck with everyone else. Any of your wonderful advice would be appreciated.
A – It seems to us that you are assuming more cruise time on the river than is typical of many itineraries. The river cruise ships are typically tied up all day and night with just a few hours of cruising. So look at times in port carefully. The Rhine is the busier of the waterways. It is wider and has all sorts of traffic on the river and some industrialization. For river “watchers” it can be the most exciting. You will pass many vineyards on the Duoro River in Portugal. The shoreline is more serene and less trafficked. The rivers in France tend to be narrower and pass idyllic villages and towns. But you won’t find castles up on the hill. You will, however, see barges traversing the river. The Danube runs through some of Europe’s greatest cities and is relatively quiet and narrow.
You might want to look at one of the two owners suites on the aft end of the Scenic boats. Their positioning allows you to view both sides of the river. Crystal has the best suites on Europe’s rivers. We would urge you to be open to the idea of sitting up on the top observation deck with 360 degree views. The upper deck is often not crowded.
Do check itinerary times carefully to be certain you have the time to enjoy sailing along whichever river you choose.There is our advice and all we ask in return is some advice from you about how your husband was able to return at age 43. Are you in the Witness Protection Program? Did your husband hang out with Bill Gates in his garage back in the day?
- WATCH OUT RIVERS – HERE WE COME!
Viking Longships Aquavit Terrace
Q – Well congratulations, it looks like you have done your job and now I may have to sell my house, empty my 401 K, and tell the kids to pay me back their college tuition! We just returned from our first river cruise on Viking River and my wife absolutely loved it – so did I. River cruising is so tranquil, so warm and friendly, and you really do feel that you are silently sailing through the beating heart of Europe. This site convinced us to try the experience and we loved Viking’s combination of contemporary design, some drinks, a free shore excursion in every port, and pricing that actually comes out to less than a nice vacation in southern California. We’re absolutely hooked on the concept. So here is my question. Given our age and inclinations, we will be going on two or three river boat cruises a year into the foreseeable future, (We know we will be repeating itineraries but we are looking forward to trying identical itineraries with different lines). I think it might make good sense to get enrolled in the Frequent Flyer Program of the airline that serves most of the cities Riverboats sail from so we can begin to accumulate miles. Which airline would you choose going forward?
A – Lufthansa. For central European destinations they have excellent connections through Munich or Frankfurt. But that is a general answer – we would really need to know your gateway city to properly respond. Lufthansa is most involved with river boat lines.
- WILL AMA WATERWAYS PROTECT OUR PRICE IF IT GOES DOWN?
Q – We are three couples and we are about to book an AMA river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest, an itinerary I know you rate quite highly. This trip is going to be about 14 months away and we see there is a reduced airfare offer on this sailing. But wondering if we book now whether that reduced rate airfare could become “Free Airfare” if the ship is not selling? We can well afford this trip but it would bother us if there was a later, better deal. How does this really work on AMA and some of its competitors. I think other RBR followers might like to know.
A – River boat companies, the better ones like AMA, rarely do late discount offers. They just don’t need to. In fact, river boat executives often complain about the fact that their boats are all going out full, a wonderful thing, but they just don’t have the space to accommodate the number of travel agents and travel writers the Marketing and Sales Departments would like to experience the ships. The best pricing is usually given to the first 40-50% of those who book. Discounts are normally pulled after a certain period of time rather than added at the end when early bookers might get really upset. If, in the rare case, that your small group is affected by a special offer from the line for new bookings, your travel consultant will have the kind of relationship with the lines they sell to have the price matched. There are lots of reasons to book through a professional – but price protection is one of the better ones.
Finally – one caveat: River boat lines only carry quite limited number of guests. They often sail in and out of non-competitive destinations like Venice or Budapest. The lines are not really in the position to negotiate great contract pricing with the airlines, so always check out any river boat air deal carefully.
- HOW MUCH WILL 50 SOMETHINGS STICK OUT ON U?
Q – We sort of like the concept of cruising with younger folks on a more active itinerary and were wondering if you think U could be a good time for us. We are mid-fifties, both optometrists, heavy-duty Seattle area bike riders, foodies, and weekly long hikers. We voted for Bernie and we don’t want to be surrounded by racially prejudiced types. Hope this helps.
A – Well that’s pretty clear. Why not not load up at Whole Food and go cruising on Portage Bay? We’ve received quite a few notes from folks worried that their cruise or riverboat vacation will be dominated by discussions of the Second Amendment and why we need a wall. Actually, it is far more likely that conversation will revolve around Tiger Woods comeback and and the fact that The Google seems to know an awful lot about us.
U by Uniworld is trying very hard to appeal to 21-45 year-olds. You are definitely not too old to give this line a try. Shore excursions might include a pub crawl in Rouen or a rooftop tour of Paris. You might favor paragliding over the Vexin Nature Park. There are single and triple rooms and a room-share program so you might encounter some noise at night. Choose your stateroom carefully.
- ARE THE CATEGORY 6 STATEROOMS ON TAUCK REALLY THAT NICE AFTER THE REDESIGN?
Q – We are thinking about booking a Category 6 stateroom with Tauck on a France itinerary. We understand the cabins have been redesigned somehow and we are wondering if they are improved enough to make them a sound choice/investment. I look at investment carefully and want to see what I am getting for my money, as you can well understand. Should we invest in Tauck?
A – Sorry – Tauck is a family-owned company. They are not publicly listed. That means your “investment” would be in renting one of their cruise staterooms. The fact is that Tauck is one of the very top-tier lines. You might want to peek at our reviews. As a rule we recommend that you never make any major travel choices based primarily on cost. If you do, you will be sharing an island that floats with folks who were also buying on price. It will be a floating Dollar Store.
Here are some highlights of the updated Category 6 staterooms:
- The bed is now turned toward the water.
- There are fewer on-board guests – 98 instead of 118. That can make a big difference.
- Large bathroom with extra large shower featuring rain head and hand-held hardware
- Nespresso coffee machine and refrigerator.
- Larger sliding glass doors.
- Additional drawers and counter space
- More contemporary furnishings in neutral tones.
- QUICK PRIMER ON BARGE VERSUS RIVER CRUISING
Q – We are about to make a decision on doing a river cruise vacation with our college-age children. There would be five of us. We obviously want to spend time together, enjoy fine food and wine, and explore the villages on bicycles or hiking. A floating senior citizen center where no one gets off the boat to explore is something we are hoping to avoid. Our agent is trying to convince us to do a cruise ship because the crowd will be much younger. But we’ve just had a friend who says we should talk about barging, something we know nothing about. The kids were more interested in sailing a river than an ocean or the Med but now we’re really confused. Seems like we have three options. Price is not so much important and we’re fairly well-traveled. The kids have all been to South America and Europe and my wife and I have spent time in Southeast Asia. Any recommendations for my dilemma? Love the site. You have no ideas how helpful it has been but we wish there were more on Barging.
A – The first thing you want to do is listen to the kids and forget what the agent is suggesting. The thing about cruise lines that few in the industry will openly acknowledge is that the higher up you go in quality there is a matching increase in average age. There are certain cruise lines where life is a carnival and the conga line forms about fifteen minutes before the anchor goes up. In the river boat sector the only line that caters to a younger demographic is U by Uniworld. You might want to look at it if you think you could stand being ensconced on a boat with primarily milllennials. One can only pray that the Wi-Fi is working properly or there could be Frappacino riots.
Be careful with barging. It is an incredible vacation option, particularly in the south of France, but barge staterooms are smaller than the average prison cell in California. Barging is also a form of travel Russian roulette. Our advice is to delay your barge cruise until you can travel as a party of five or six. That will enable you to charter one of the lovely 3-bedroom boats with much more room and more luxurious accommodations.
There are small cruise ship lines like Sea Dream, that have boats with fewer guests, 50 cabins, than even river boats. Sea Dream could be a wonderful option for the family, calling at ports their obese tonnage sisters have to pass in the night.
Finally, allow us to burden you with a specific recommendation. We think that AMA waterways might have appeal to everyone in the family given the line’s operation in France and superior bike and hike programs. We do want to suggest that you worry less about the presence of seniors on your trip. They really remain on-board and they may step on you in their haste to depart the ship to explore ashore.
- SEPTEMBER 19 ALERT: DANUBE WATER LEVELS
Conditions along the Danube river remain relatively unchanged, with Europe’s hot, dry summer continuing to cause low water levels in some areas. The situation has improved somewhat with recent rains, although the river is still far below its normal level. These low water levels have the potential to impact upcoming Danube cruises, particularly along the stretch between Passau and Regensburg. Conditions along the river are subject to change with short notice, and to varying degrees, select itineraries may be affected through the coming weeks. Itinerary alterations could be minimal, or more material including additional motor coach travel or other tour adjustments.
We are continuously and carefully monitoring conditions along the Danube. Should there be a major itinerary change, we will inform impacted guests as soon as those changes are known and confirmed.
If you are currently booked by another agency, your travel consultant will be keeping you appraised of the situation as information from the lines, normally minimal, becomes available. . We recommend reading our articles on this subject carefully. Booked guests should be aware that alternative arrangements are normally made by staff aboard the affected vessel in conjunction with company headquarters, Note that the ability to sail is often a matter of several inches of draft and conditions can change hourly.
Our research indicates that between 6-8% of all riverboat itineraries in Europe are altered as a result of water-level related reasons. The river boat lines do not accept this statistic. There is no statistical evidence that we have seen that would be predictive of water level issues in any particular month with the exceptions of April, late October, and, increasingly, the second half of August into mid-September where climate change is producing hotter, drier weather with less rainfall.
Questions Worth Asking Include:
- Will my insurance cover us if we cancel before leaving home? (Cancel for any reason coverage might)
- If we arrive in Europe and decide not to do a modified bus tour, what are our financial options.? Will we receive a full refund?
- Will we be switched to another company boat in the same cabin category
We regret that, for ethical and legal reasons, we are not able to provide updates or specific advice regarding a particular sailing to non-C&T guests.
- DO ANY OF THESE RIVER BOATS PROVIDE FULL ROOM SERVICE?
Q – Unlike most of the people who read this blog, we tend not to want to go out for dinner on ships. We prefer to stay in at night, stay in our shorts, having the food brought to our room. On some of the cruise ships you can order as much as you want and it will be delivered without any charge. Do any of the river boat lines provide that service and are there extra charges or limits on how much you can order?
A – It all sounds rather elegant. We don’t know if there are quantity limitations, but room service, without additional fees, is available on Crystal, Scenic, and Uniworld. Please don’t signup for any of our personally hosted trips in 2019 – they are all rather full.
- TIME TO MEET TRUMP’S BUDDIES
Q – Well it finally looks like it is time for us to visit Russia as it would appear that they are now our closest pals. My wife and I have cruised before, mainly in France and one memorable cruise along the Duoro with AMA. We are semi-lux travelers and have reached the conclusion that Russia is a place worth knowing better since we may run into some Russians the next time we enter a voting booth. But, seriously, much of what we are seeing in Russia seems to be the “poor sister” of a major line. You just don’t see beautiful new ships being launched for this market. So, instead of wasting our time on the fake river boat channels, we’ve come to you. Please tell us the best way to see and sail the Volga. We can devote about 10-14 nights to this vacation and we would love to include some nights in Moscow and St. Petersburg. By the way, is there any way we might meet Putin. Willing to pay for it.
A – We would suggest you look at the Volga Dream’s 12-Night Program between Moscow and St. Petersburg which gives you three nights in Moscow, 3 in St. Petersburg, sandwiched around a six-night Volga cruise on the best available river boat option available. The crew is quite good as is the food, and we don’t know of any boat quite as luxurious on Russian rivers. Your travel consultant will likely recommend Abercrombie & Kent or Exeter International, two luxury tour operators that hold blocks of space on the “Dream”.
Getting Russian governmental approval to operate a riverboat with a Russian crew is quite challenging and most of the river boat companies prefer to maintain a charter or leasing operation in Russia. Meeting Putin for lunch is only possible if you agree to pay off the country’s considerable debt or if you are an actual Trump Lad. But should you take the Volga Dream, keep your eye peeled for a shirtless Putin on water skis just to the left of the vessel. It could happen.
- SEEING EUROPE ON TWO WHEELS INSTEAD OF 10 TIRES
Q – We are rather active travelers just now thinking about doing a riverboat cruise. We would be bringing our own helmets and would want to go bike riding just about everywhere along the Rhine itinerary. If there are castles to be seen, we’ll ride up the hills to see them, albeit we may stop for air once or twice. Don’t want to ship our bicycles river so our question has to do with which of the river boat lines have the best supply of bicycles so we are not disappointed and the best overall riding programs should we want to join others?
A – The best overall riding programs are going to be offered by AMA Waterways in conjunction with Backroads, a noted bike and walking tour operator. A range of AMA trips are themed “active” for people like yourselves, although many of the riders who sign up may pass you on the hill when you stop for air. Then there will also be the riders on the other end of the scale who had no idea they were booking into an active tour – they usually pass on by mile marker three. Scenic and Emerald are also very strong options for bike riders. Tauck and Uniworld also have some nice bikes available for guests. If you are looking for the best overall programs, concentrate on AMA and Scenic.
- WE SEEM TO BE HEADED FOR WATER LEVEL PROBLEMS. HELP!
Q – You may be the only person who can, or will truthfully answer my question of the viability of our Avalon Vista Cruise this Saturday, Aug the 26th leaving Budapest for 7 days, arriving in Prague. For this amount of money we do not want to be bused or in a hotel due to the low water when we should be on the cruise. We would prefer to cancel and re-book later. Please advise us. Thank you,
A – Thank you for your note. We can well understand your concern but don’t quite understand why you are posing your question online. Your travel consultant is earning a healthy commission for your booking and should be in touch with you regarding the latest water level reports about level contingencies the agency is receiving from Avalon. Avalon will be in touch with your consultant and he/she will have access to the latest information. There seems to be a very serious breakdown in communication here and it doesn’t seem fair to you. Call your agent first thing in the morning and request a status report in writing.
Our opinion is that your sailing may well be impacted. The Danube is experiencing low water between Passau and Regensberg, We don’t know what kind of insurance your travel agency recommended but we would recommend not flying to Europe to board a hastily arranged Avalon bus tour.
Again, your travel agent is the key communicator here and it is that person who will be able to get you a proper refund. As your air is already arranged, your agent should have the contacts to get you a full cancellation while arranging a proper alternative land vacation in Europe if that is what you want. This is very last minute though, so understand you owe it to your agent to give her as much time as possible for alternative planning.
We wish you luck with this. Be aware that river levels in Europe can dramatically change within any 24-hour period. Your note concerns us because there is no mention of a professional consultant who is assisting you with these arrangements. If Avalon accepted your reservation on a direct basis, they have insinuated that they will be performing the duties of a professional consultant. After all, they are definitely charging you the commission. It, therefore, falls to them to provide you with the specific information and reporting as well as assistance indicated above.
Finally, let’s be honest. You need to take on much of the blame because you thought you could manage this yourself while willingly paying the booking commission back to the company. Booking directly puts you at the mercy of the supplier. We hope there is an agent involved for your sake.
- FOR A DANUBE CRUISE OUT OF BUDAPEST DO WE WANT PORT OR STARBOARD?
Q – We couldn’t be more excited about our upcoming Avalon Cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg. The ship looks lovely and they even include wines with breakfast! We’ll be facing the water from our bed so the question as to which side of the ship is best seems rather important. Really appreciate your advice on this. Love this site, you can’t imagine how helpful it is for first-timers like us.
A – Well first let’s get the matter of breakfast wines out-of-the-way. Avalon graciously includes sparkling wine (think imitation Champagne) with breakfast. We don’t want you to think you will find couples dancing on the tables as wines are freely poured with the breakfast omelettes. Avalon is a refined but relaxed experience.
If you choose a cabin on the starboard side of the ship you might be able to see the owner of the Backerei Konditorei Mistlbacher in Melk out for his morning walk. No – only kidding. You could see locals about their daily lives on either side of the river. One should never choose a European river cruise based on side of the boat. Instead, pick the part of the boat furthest away from public room noise and the engine rooms. Your travel consultant will help you make the best choice. Enjoy your cruise and your bed.
- DO WE WANT A CATEGORY 6 OR 7 ON TAUCK?
Q – We are about to sign up for our first river cruise next July on the Amsterdam to Budapest itinerary you seem to feel is the best for first-timers. We can’t decide between a Category 6 and Category 7, their top category. It appears, from my readings, that the Category 6’s have been “redesigned” to have beds facing the windows. We also notice that the Category 7 seems to carry a supplement. Would really appreciate any comments you might offer as to the better cabin category choice. Thank you and “Let’s Make America Great Again”.
A – Thank you for your question and for helping us get that phrase right. We saw some folks from afar wearing these red caps with white (oh so white) letters and we could swear they said “Let’s Make American Airlines Great Again”. Sorry, our mistake.
Your itinerary is our favorite – but at 15 days it is a tad long for a first river cruise. If you have the time, the finances, and the desire to see the best of several of Europe’s legendary rivers on one itinerary, the Amsterdam-Budapest, or reverse, is the perfect option. The Category 7 will cost you about $1200 more per person on that route. The Category 7’s have a French and regular balcony and they are 300 square feet. Many guests love them because they are on the upper deck and have a larger bathroom than Tauck’s other stateroom categories. There is a larger seating area, a walk in closet, and you are able to order in-room breakfast service in the top suites.
Our recommendation would be to strongly consider the Cat. 7 because this will be a two-week sailing. Were you ding a more typical seven-night cruise with some land touring at either end, we might recommend the Category 6. We are providing photos of each so you can compare.
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