Hank Schrader

March 17, 2021

Europe River Cruise

AmaWaterways 46-Night Europe River Cruise

Hank Schrader

March 17, 2021

Europe River Cruise

AmaWaterways 46 Night Europe River Cruise

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

AmaWaterways has done it again—a bold new program that is unmatched in European River Cruising. No wonder their slogan rings true—“Leading the Way in River Cruising”

Taking a note from the popular world ocean cruising offerings, AmaWaterways has created their version of a “world” cruise in Europe on a 46 night adventure using 4 different AmaWaterways riverships.

Please read this whole blog—I have some real new news about a second cruise that were released about 1 hour ago on 18 March 2021—a new opportunity to an added chance for a second added sailing that is slightly different!

The cruise will start on 1 June 2023 and is open for reservations on 15 March 2021.

So, let’s explore together and learn about this unique opportunity to visit 14 countries on 7 different rivers—you won’t be disappointed!

Overview of the Cruise

Map of the entire route. Image from AmaWaterways who gave us permission to use in this blog.

The 7 rivers of this unique sailing are the Seine, the Rhône, the Saône, the Rhine, the Moselle, the Main and the Danube Rivers.

The 14 countries on this trip are: France, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic (if you take the Cesky Krumlov tour), Slovakia, Austria, Hungry, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.

The French Part of the Cruise—14 days

The Seine route is a 7 day round trip cruise into Normandy, starting and ending in Paris. The cruise highlights are Monet's village of Giverny; the harbor town of Honfleur; Rouen, the historic capital of Normandy and the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431 (also of special note is the 700 restored half-timber buildings in the old quarter); as well as a chance to visit the medieval towns along this scenic route and visit the D-Day Normandy beaches.

Statue at Normandy Beach in 2014 in France

This is a gentle voyage along farmland and meadows, historic towns and good food such as brie and camembert cheeses, calvados (apple brandy) and Normandy cider. If you like history, such as the 100 Years War between England and France, want to learn more about the largest amphibious landing in history at the D Day beaches, and like impressionist paintings, this portion of the cruise will especially appeal to you.

The first leg of the journey will be on the AmaLyra.

**Our first river cruise was on the AmaLyra in 2009—what a great experience—it got us hooked on river cruising and AmaWaterways**

When you arrive in Paris after completing the Seine portion of the cruise, you will then take the TGV to Lyon for the second leg of the France portion of the cruise. The transfer will be seamless—AmaWaterways will handle all the luggage and you will be escorted to the TGV high speed train. We have experienced a transfer similar to this on a previous AmaWaterways cruise in this region and it is a very easy process—professionally handled as you would expect from AmaWaterways.

The Rhône and Saône cruise goes from Lyon to Tarascon, France (Tarascon is about 14 miles south of Avignon). You will sail on the AmaKristina.

Starting in Lyon, the gastronomical capital of France, the cruise goes through France's legendary wine growing regions of Beaujolais and Cote du Rhone, and allows you observe medieval villages in the Provence region of France.

Truffle Dog during one of our 3 Provence river cruises.

Then on to the Papal town of Avignon.

Wine regions of the Rhone River Valley. Image from AmaWaterways

You will sample great wines, visit Roman ruins, and learn about the cuisine of Provence, among stunning scenery—fields of purple lavender, yellow sunflowers and vineyards.

We have sailed on this route 3 times and each time it was awesome—we are ready to return anytime.

From Tarascon, you will take the TGV to Mulhouse Germany.

The Middle Leg on the Rhine and its Tributaries—17 Days

This is combination of the best voyages on the Rhine, the Moselle, the Main and the uses the Main-Danube Canal to reach the Danube.

You will sail this leg on the AmaPrima.

The first part sails from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam (it is a version of the Enchanting Rhine itinerary). The first part of this cruise is a visit to the Alsace region of France for Strasbourg and Riquewihr or to Freiburg in Germany. At the port of Ludwigshafen, guests can take a trip to either Heidelberg or Speyer.

Strasbourg France canal—you can see the famous cathedral in the background.

Then to the Rhine River Gorge, with its 40 castles guarding the steep banks after a visit to Rüdesheim.

Among the many highlights of this leg is a visit to Lahneck Castle tour (a unique exclusive private tour only available on AmaWaterways). The last two stops are Cologne and Amsterdam. We hope you like our pictures from previous cruises:

Now, back south on the Rhine again, through the Rhine River Gorge again and off to the Moselle. Key port stops are Cochem, Bernkastel, Trier and Luxembourg.

Then back up north on the Moselle, with a chance to visit Berg Eltz, again, unique to my knowledge in the river cruise industry.

Here are some of our favorite pictures from the Moselle:

Now, a chance to explore more of Germany on the Main River, after a visit to Koblenz (the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine) and a third trip past the Rhine River Gorge (trust me it never gets old—most folks consider this the best stretch of sights on any river in Europe).

Port stops on the Main include Miltenberg, Wertheim, Wurzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg before cruising the Main-Danube Canal with a final stop in Vilshofen. I really like the Main tributary and here are a few of our favorite pictures of this great leg:

The Final Leg on the Danube—14 Days

At Vilshofen, you will make a transfer to the AmaVerde (we haven’t sailed on it so no personal picture of this 135 meter rivership).

The Upper Danube is the other great route on Europe rivers (it is the single most popular river cruise route in all Europe—it has about 30% of all river cruise passengers that take a Europe river cruise every year)—and it goes from Vilshofen to Budapest on the first 7 day leg of this 14 day cruise segment. You will get to visit 4 countries (the four are Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, but you can up it to 5 countries if you take the Cesky Krumlov excursion in the Czech Republic), 3 capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest), castles, Abbeys, wine-sloped terraces and even quaint villages--it is a great voyage.

**Schonbuhel Castle —The Watchman of the Danube**

The lower Danube is the gateway to Eastern Europe. This segment begins in Budapest and ends near the Black Sea. It starts with the rolling hills and vine-clad slopes of the Pecs in Hungary; then moves to the boundary waters that separate Serbia and Croatia; then traverses the narrow gorges of the Iron Gates, a stunning passage that divides the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains and ends near Bucharest, Romania.

What is included in this Epic Journey?

This cruise will have a dedicated cruise manager for the entire 46 night journey. Gratuities are included for the ship crew and for all the 130 included tours. Each ship will have all the standard wonderful offerings of AmaWaterways—great staterooms; awesome dining with included regional wines, beer and other beverages; Sip-n-Sail happy hour; complimentary laundry; free Wi-Fi; seamless transfers between ships; and included chef table at no additional costs.

Costs and Availability

The cruise is limited to 144 guests. Prices begin at $25,999 per person with $1350 port charges (also per person) for a fixed window stateroom. French balconies start at $34,988 per person with port charges of $1350 per person. Balconies start at $48,988 per person with port charges of $1350. There was a pre-cruise waiting list offer and currently AmaWaterways is contacting those on the list to apply their refundable deposit of $4,800 to the cruise.

As of 17 March 2021, according to a webinar I attended from AmaWaterways, there still are openings for this cruise—if you are interested, we suggest you contact us quickly!

Added Epic Cruise in April 2023 (20 April to 4 June) BREAKING NEWS!

This was announced last week (10 March 2021) during a weekly webinar for travel agents only by the AmaWaterways leadership—a slightly different version of the 46 night unique journey. This version will include only the Rhône cruise as the first leg and expand the Rhine leg by adding a Tulip Time route in the Netherlands and Belgium. The rest of this section will use the same route described above. The last segment will be on the Danube but use the double wide AmaMagna.

3 ships only on this route, so only one transfer by TVG from the Rhône to the Rhine. Reservations have not opened up yet and my friends at AmaWaterways gave me some amazing pricing just before I was about to send out the blog.

There is some amazing pricing for this trip. Each person has to pay $1350 port charges.

Cat E (fixed window) $24,999 Total Price with port charges $26,349

Cat D (fixed window $28,398 Total Price with Port Charges $29,748

Because their are different types of riverships on this cruise, balcony prices have a total range as follows:

$33,348 $35,348 $36,348 $40,348 $41,348 $43,348 $44,348 $51, 348

For those of you who want the ultimate suite staterooms, here are the prices (note very limited):

Suite/GS $57.384 total Suite/OS $62.348

Learn more About this Amazing Cruise

Here are some pictures and a map of the Tulip Time route:

My Final Thoughts

What a great adventure—a world cruise on Europe’s Rivers—just another reason we love the Old World of Europe so much!

We have sailed on all these rivers except the Seine and from personal experience can testify this will be a trip of a lifetime, unmatched by any other river cruise company. We hope you enjoyed these pictures as much as we enjoyed seeing them during our travels.

We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise specialists, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 49 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

March 11, 2021

Europe Destination

St. Patrick's Festival in Ireland

Hank Schrader

March 11, 2021

Europe Destination

St. Patrick’s Festival in Ireland

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

“Everyone is Irish on March 17!”

One of life’s great experiences in Europe is to visit Ireland during St. Patrick’s Day. It is always on 17 March each year.

So, this week, I thought I’d tell you about 3 great adventures you should try in Ireland during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

So, let’s explore together and learn about these 3 great adventures—you won’t be disappointed!

Celebrating on St. Patrick’s Day

Throughout all Ireland, there are really fun parades, dancing and music—the country comes alive. It is a spectacle not to be missed. Some of the country has turned the celebration into a 5 day event, especially in Dublin.

It didn’t start out that way though—St. Patrick’s Day originally was only a religious feast day, celebrating the missionary who brought Christianity to the Emerald Isle. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland and this festival celebrates his death in the fifth-century.

Paddy’s Day as it is called in Ireland, has evolved more into a secular event but in Ireland it really is more a day that is celebrated with the whole family and is a way to showcase Irish culture.

There is some heavy drinking in some places, especially the Temple bar area of Dublin, full of tourists, but the parades are family friendly, and if you pick the right place, you can actually meet some locals like we were able to do in Dublin in a great pub during the festivals 5 days.

Adventure One—See a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland

One of the great festivals of all time is to get to see, or better yet, march in a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland. The largest parade is in Dublin and covers 2 miles. Almost every town has a parade, especially the larger ones, the color of the day is green and families gather together for a few drinks together and probably a family meal.

There are shamrocks displayed everywhere. According to the legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) by using the 3 pedals of the Shamrock as his visual aid.

There are parades throughout the country which are as equally festive and fun.

We got the chance in Silgo to march in one with a group of travel advisors on a tour of Ireland in 2010. Here are some photos of the locals getting ready for the parade:

**A bag pipe band getting ready for the parade**

**Irish school kids formed up to march in the parade**

**A rescue Golden Retriever rescue dog plays with the handler before the parade**

Our group theme was to dress as a Disney character. Here are the photos of our group and some others in the parade:

**Cruella de Vil and a Dalmatian—characters from the Disney 101 Dalmatians film**

**Alice and the Mad Hatter from the Disney film Alice in Wonderland**

**Captain Jack Sparrow and mate from the Disney film Pirates of the Caribbean**

Anne (dressed as Jessie—she made her costume) & Hank (dressed as Buz LightYear) just prior to marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sligo Ireland 2010.

**Buzz LightYear (Hank) and Jesse (Anne) from Disney film Toy Story**

What smart Irish parade marchers do right after the finish of the St Patrick Day’s Parade–they have a pint or two! Sligo Ireland

**These 5 Leprechauns having a pint—they found their own pot of gold!**

Adventure 2—Visit a Pub when Ireland is Hosting a Rugby Match during the Six Nations Tournament

We were lucky one year to be in Dublin during the Six Nations Rugby Tournament. It just so happened that Ireland was hosting Scotland in 2010.

The 6 Nations Matches usually end right around March 17, so there is excitement of possibly being the winning side for Ireland as the overall Trophy winner, or perhaps the Triple Crown winner (best results of Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales) and maybe just a solid win in their last match.

Here is a picture of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin where the matches are played when Ireland hosts one of the other sides:

So on 20 March 2010, what a surprise—Anne and Hank found a great pub—full of locals to enjoy Dublin life. It was even better—Ireland was playing Scotland in the 6 Nations Rugby Test Matches and most fans were getting ready for the game with a couple of pints. Before the match, it was shoulder to shoulder, with all decked out in Scottish kilts, or rugby jerseys —what a blast!

Kehoes is a Traditional Irish Heritage Bar, established in 1803.

As I have said, the place was packed, both sides had excited fans and the Guinness flowed.

**Bartenders at Kehoes—the Guinness and other beers flowed before the rugby match**

Kilts on the Scots mixed in with Green Irish team jerseys and the banter was non-stop, pointing out the merits of one side versus the other side deficiencies.

**Two local gents we struck up a conversation at Kehoes Pub. Please look carefully in the background—you can see the green Irish rugby jersey front and back over the bar.**

By the way, Ireland lost later in the day in an upset to Scotland (23-20)!

There could not have been a better pre-game event—Scotts dressed in Kilts, pubs packed with friendly rivals almost shoulder-to shoulder (pre-COVID-19 Days), all drinking copious quantities of beer, and an electric atmosphere.

The real thing was the display of national pride by both sides. This is what really makes it special and a memory we won’t forget.

Adventure 3—Visit Guinness Storehouse

Guinness Storehouse tells the story of brewing Guinness beer. In the exhibit, it tells about how the beer is brewed and information about its founder, Arthur Guinness and other family members who controlled the business.

This is not the actual brewery—it occupies several city blocks on the river. Here is a photo of the massive brewery complex:

**Part of the huge brewing complex for Guinness Beer**

You know you must be famous when your country-men crate a statue to commemorate your brewing skill—this is located at St. Patrick’s Church grounds. This is the grandson of Arthur Guinness, Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, who developed a large export business for his stout beer and made the beer famous. Okay, he also was a representative in Parliament, a Baronet (a British hereditary dignity) and the wealthiest man in Ireland and brewed great beer—he certainly deserves a graveside statue in my book.

**The graveside marker for Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness**

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin—it is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Sir Benjamin Guinness donated the money to make a major restoration of the national cathedral and it is why his grave site is on the grounds.

While Guinness beer is world famous, in a brilliant marketing move in the 1950’s, they started to publish The Guinness Book of World Records—all to answer trivia questions of the pub patrons in Ireland and England. Happy patrons drink more beer!

The Guinness Storehouse is located in an old brewery in the St. James section of Dublin that has been repurposed to tell the story of the Guinness brew. It is especially festive during the week of St. Patrick’s Day celebration, and there are added attractions, music, and it is a fun celebration that aren’t available during other times of the year.

**Anne ready to go into the Guinness Storehouse.**

While this venue is available year round, it is still really worthwhile to learn about the signature beer of Ireland during any visit if you can’t make it during festival time. I promise you, even if you don’t like the Guinness style stout brew, it just tastes better in Ireland.

There are 7 floors in this venue, which has been open since 2000. It is fun to see the history of the Guinness brew, explaining the 4 ingredients—water, hops, yeast, and barley (both roasted and malted barley are used) ; looking at the ways they transported the breverage to market ;and the advertising methods.

**Part of the Tasting Experience on the 2nd floor.**

**Display of the heating elements used to make Guinness**

**Old time train engine used to transport Guinness to market.**

Made of More sculpture—this 12 ft tall carved wood sculpture tells the 250 year history of Guinness Brewery. It was carved by Jonathan Santana. It is displayed on the 2nd floor of the Guinness Storehouse.

**Anne is posing with her friend a turtle transporting a pint of Guinness, part of the 3rd floor World of Advertising display**

The tour includes a Guinness poured on the 7th floor Gravity Bar, which has an excellent glassed in 360-degree views of all of Dublin.

**Anne with her Guinness in the Gravity Bar.**

On the 5th floor, there are 2 upscale restaurants. We chose the 1837 Bar & Brasserie over the Brewers Dining Hall, where Anne and I ate a great meal—Guinness Beef Stew served with Guinness Soda Bread for me.

**Hank with his Guinness ready to go into the 1837**

**The staff is placing our order at the 1837 Bar & Brasserie**

**My Guinness Beef Stew—I liked the way the served it traditional style with mash potatoes and a whole carrot on top of the rich, hearty stew.**

My Final Thoughts

What a great adventure—Ireland during St. Patrick’s Day—just another reason we love the Old World of Europe so much! We hope you enjoyed these pictures as much as we enjoyed experiencing them during our travels. Festivals like this are experiences well worth your travel dollars—you will never forget how fun they are.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

March 4, 2021

Europe River Cruise

Why it is so Hard to Determine the Best River Cruise Company?

Hank Schrader

March 4, 2021

Europe River Cruise

Why it is so Hard to Determine the Best River Cruise Company?

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

In 2016, I wrote a blog about what is “luxury” in river cruising and which lines should be classified as luxury lines. It seems that some version of this question keeps popping up over and over again. It is clear there is a lot of confusion and conflicting opinions about choosing the best river cruise company.

It has happen in our business recently. Several recent inquiries from clients and potential clients want help in deciding this question--What is the best river cruise company line?

The problem is there is no single best line for everyone.

So, I thought maybe we could provide some answers by helping match the features of various cruise company lines to help you make an informed choice.

Snippets from my old Article

In 2016, the Editor-in-Chief of Travel Age West Magazine, a publication for travel professionals, posed this question to his readers and asked for comments from the field. He basically challenged us to explain how we explain “luxury” river cruising to our clients. He also asked if we have any amenities that we feel are mandatory to classify a river cruise line as “luxury”.

Before we begin, it is important to decide what luxury is. The American Heritage Dictionary defines luxury as: “1) Something that is not essential but is conductive to pleasure and comfort. 2) Something that is expensive or hard to obtain. 3) Sumptuous living or surroundings.”

Are there any “Luxury” River Cruise Lines?

We think we cannot define or segment river cruise lines using the “luxury” classification.

We feel that each client has different ideas of what luxury is, so a label of luxury has little meaning to most of our clients, if it does not include what is luxury to them.

Here are 2 important reasons why:

Reason # 1 Most River Cruise Lines are already in the Premium Oceangoing Category—Defining What is Luxury or Not Luxury is Difficult at Best

A problem, when trying to place a river cruise company in the luxury category and trying explain what is luxury river cruising to clients new to river cruising, is that the starting bar is already very high. By 2021 all of the eight major lines that market to US clients (AmaWaterways, Avalon, Crystal, Emerald, Scenic, Tauck, Uniworld, and Viking) have good accommodations, free Wi-Fi, wine & beer with lunch and dinner, limited entertainment and tours included in their base fare.

I have said over and over again—there is no bad river cruise, all are very good. Most ocean cruise lines charge extra for many of the included items by all of these 8 river cruise lines.

Each river cruise company offers suites on their riverships, so if a suite moves the needle to luxury, so be it.

This is a suite bath tub on an AmaWaterways suite. Most staterooms on river ships only have showers, so a suite bath tub might move this into the luxury category.

Does included all alcoholic drinks make it luxury? Does the quality of wine make it luxury? Does included gratuities make it luxury? Does a butler make it luxury? Does no extra charge for any tour make it luxury?

How about the food?

Seafood buffet on the Scenic Opal—lobster thurmidor is one the menu—one of my personal favorites!

Does the breakdown of the nationalities make it luxury—does the guest want to be with Americans or other nationals? Does one factor outweigh the others and make it luxury? Do you have to have a specific number of these factors to make it luxury?—we just do not presume to guess our clients preferences.

Reason # 2 There are no true Luxury River Cruise Ships like there are in Ocean Cruise Ships Due to Lack of Luxury Facilities on Riverships Except the AmaMagna

This is a pretty bold statement, but true.

The biggest reason for this is due to rivership size limitations. The most common rivership size is 110 m (361 feet) or 135 m (443 feet) longships and they are all 11.58 m (38 feet) wide or so. The size limitations are necessary so riverships can fit into most of the various locks in Europe, especially the Main-Danube Canal.

They also can only be 3 decks tall to fit under some bridges—while there is a roof sun deck 4, all items on the deck, including the navigation cabin can be lowered, so the rivership is only 3 decks in height when passing lower bridges.

The Tauck Treasures river ship. It is easy to see the 3 passenger decks. Level 1 is at the water line with fixed windows. Levels 2 and 3 are French Balconies. At the front is the lounge area.

The Emerald Sun lounge (top level) and dining room below on deck 2.

It was completion of the Main-Danube Canal that was the impetus for modern river cruising—pioneers like Rudi Schreiner realized this canal completion could offer a boat tour of unparalleled experience that would be far better than a bus tour along most of the heartland of Europe.

Hank and Anne with Kristin Karst of AmaWaterways

River cruising went from pretty sparse overnight accommodations in the early 1990s to really nice staterooms and riverships in the later 2000s.

A typical Scenic luxury balcony stateroom. This ship is the Scenic Opal.

AmaWaterways twin balcony stateroom—looks like luxury to me!

Riverships must use the limited amount of space to decide what to include with their onboard facilities. River cruise ships have smaller suites sizes; are missing many onboard upscale facilities found on oceangoing vessels (casinos, multiple restaurants, multiple shopping areas, huge entertainment areas, several pools and large gyms and large spa facilities) and there are no large entertainment shows.

A small exercise area on the AmaKristina rivership. This Compact exercise room is very small compared to the massive workout areas on ocean cruise ships.

These luxury items are common are oceangoing vessels, and are lacking on riverships. This is one reason the luxury designation is not a good term to use when describing river cruising.

Only AmaWaterways has found a way around this space problem by creating a double wide river cruise ship and sail it on only the Danube River. It was completed in 2019 and is widely accepted as close to luxury available on European rivers by most river cruise authorities.

An artist drawing of the double wide AmaMagna. Image used by permission of AmaWaterways.

Crystal tried this approach by refitting an oversized, older vessel, to get closer to the “Crystal Experience” that their clients have come to expect on their two Crystal oceangoing ships. The Crystal Mozart went into service in 2016 and they finally decided to remove the larger ship in 2019—it had constant maintenance problems and now Crystal sails 4 normal sized riverships with king sized beds, and walk-in closets.

The only problem with this approach to improve the onboard facilities with a double wide ship, is that now the destinations the ship can visit are limited to only the Danube River. It really is not that much of a problem, as there are a lot of smaller sized riverships to cruise the other rivers of Europe.

Our 2020-2021 River Cruise Company Comparisons

This is so complex a subject that only a complete comparisons like our 86 slide 2020-2021 River Cruise Company Comparison Guide adequately address these questions (there are 17 comparisons charts in the presentation).

Here is the link to this Guide:

2020-2021 River Cruise Comparison Guide

One Reasonable Segmentation Method: More Inclusive vs. less Inclusive River Cruise Companies

There are 4 more inclusive lines (Crystal, Scenic, Tauck, & Uniworld), but even on these lines, there may be extras, especially on Crystal (helicopter rides, speed launches, private tours, and an extra charge for exclusive dining).

There are butlers on Crystal, Uniworld and Scenic.

Our butler (left) doubled as a waiter at Portobellos on our Scenic cruise.

On Scenic, the butler service increases in relation with cabin category selected. For example, the Diamond category guests on Deck 3 have better butler services, and a unique dining experience (unfortunately in the same main dining room as the other guests).

Often these lines charge $1500--$2000 per person extra for minor perks and clients would come out ahead pricewise on other lines with as good or even a better cruise experience. If a butler and room service is luxury, then that may make it a luxury cruise to some and worth the extra price.

Even more inclusive lines may own or lease their ships—again a subtle difference—Tauck leases its ships and their ships just do not match others in the all-inclusive category.

Each river cruise line has its distinct advantages and disadvantages—it all comes down to the perception of value by each client.

We do not classify river cruise lines—we talk about their advantages and disadvantages, but most of all, what will be the experience for our clients.

Here is a link to one of our most popular blogs about the advantages and disadvantages of a river cruise:

River Cruise Advantages & Disadvantages

How we help Our Clients Navigate the Maze of River Cruise Companies

This is part of a blog I wrote earlier about the maze of river cruise companies.

“Here is how we start the process. Our first step is to match you with the available options.

We first learn who you are, visit with you by asking lot of questions about what you like and do not like and then find the best options.

We have developed a great Europe River cruise questionnaire that will help us learn what you really want on your river cruise.

We spend our time doing the research for you, so you can spend your time dreaming about the memories you are going to make.”

We never address luxury directly, we address the advantages and disadvantages of each line and what is included and how the line will best match their preferences. Then we discuss value—is the extra price worth the extra perks?

Our European River Cruise Questionnaire

Besides basic contact info, here is the absolute minimum info we need to help our clients get the best possible river cruise—previous cruise experience, days available for the trip, activities (we ask about 14 activities), what you like to see and where you want to go, how many Europe countries previously visited, how important is wine and food, passport data and special meal requirements and any physical mobility problems.

Then we start expanding on these responses until we get the perfect trip described from our clients in their own words.

Then, using our knowledge of all European Rivers, who sails them, and what factors are important to the client, we match them to the right company. Having written 50 Europe city guides, earning 6 river cruise specialist designation from all of the previous 8 mentioned lines that currently offer specialist programs and personally sailing on 18 river cruises, makes this process easy for us. We have also written 51 river cruise port guides that are available to you by request on our website.

Here is the link to our Questionnaire:

River Cruise Questionnaire

Destinations—the Number One thing to Decide on Selecting a River Cruise Company

The primary consideration for taking a river cruise, in my opinion, are the destinations—what you will get to visit and see.

Budapest Parliament Building at night on the Danube River—an amazing destination!

The Roman aqueduct—pony du Gard—difficult to see on your own but easy on a Provence river cruise.

This is a great look at just how large this engineering marvel of thebPont du Gard

Most companies use a pool of similar guides—we have seen the exact same guide led a tour from AmaWaterways one day in Nuremberg, Germany and the next day for Viking—pretty hard to miss a 6 foot 8 inch former pro basketball player holding a lollipop AmaWaterways sign one day and a Viking sign the next.

The real question boils down to what you will get to see and visit and if there are any exclusive tours or experiences that only the river cruise line you are considering to travel with offers.

Here is a unique tour—this is a trained truffle dog finding truffles buried—the guests just loved her! We took this tour on an AmaWaterways cruise on the Rhone River.

At present, only Tauck uses on-board guides, so if that is important, maybe it becomes more in the luxury category.

Does AmaWaterways Late Riser tours or Limited Edition tour make it luxury?

This is our tour guide on a late risers tour on AmaWaterways. There were only 3 of us—it was like hiring a private, professional guide but it was included for free!

Here is Hank on a food tour in Nuremberg with their famous sausage at a brewery. Again an included tour in the cruise fare.

Does Scenic’s Sundowner experience make it luxury?

This is a Scenic special Sundowner celebration in Durnstein, Austria. We had great music from these 2 gentlemen.

Here was our Sundowner meal spread, served with beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. It was a really fun experience, with tasty food and included at no cost to the guests on that sailing.

How about concerts in an exclusive location, like Tauck and Scenic offer or after-hours access to sights offered by Uniworld—are these luxury?

River Cruise Company Cruise Travel Industry Awards and Brochures Make it Difficult for Consumers to Decipher Claims About who is the Best River Cruise Line

When defining luxury cruise line on ocean going ships, the luxury lines usually have smaller ships (less passengers), offer better food and premium service, may include alcoholic beverages and spend more time in port and there is less emphasis on selling extras—there are more inclusions and they command a higher price point. The problem when trying to apply this to river cruising is that most all river cruise lines already include many of the distinguishing features of luxury cruise lines in their base fare.

Most river cruise lines have won several awards and selected as best in reader polls. Again, this confusion makes it very hard for the consumer to objectively evaluate the highly competitive Europe River cruise companies. Adding in world river cruises like the Nile, Amazon, Africa and Asia adds a whole other dimension to trying to segment river cruises into a luxury category—each area of the world is quite different and the experiences they provide are quite different.

Brochures often claim they are the best but the truth is there is no best river cruise for everyone.

The Bottom Line

Using a term like a luxury river cruise line and trying to put them into distinct categories does not translate well to river cruises—it is such a distinct product, that all lines fall into the premium category at least and most really are pretty much luxury in the Europe market, just different degrees of luxury depending upon one’s personal definition.

We prefer not to segment—we prefer to explain the advantages and disadvantages of each line.

The only thing that works for us is matching client expectations by knowing exactly what they want to experience and having an exceptional knowledge of what each lines offers. This is where we shine—we know Europe River Cruises better than most travel professionals.

My Final Thoughts

We hope this helps sort out a confusing subject—there is no short, easy answer. Focus on features about the varying offerings by the 8 major lines who focus on US clients and it is far easier to decide what is best for you.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

February 25, 2021

Europe Travel

What Was Your Favorite Meal in Europe?

Hank Schrader

February 25, 2021

Europe Travel

What Was Your Favorite Meal in Europe?

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

The idea for this blog came from Valentine’s Day and wonderful meals most of us celebrate. Anne and I started to think about great European meals we have shared together alone and with friends.

It got delayed a little bit by the weather here in Texas—hard to write a blog without power and post it on our website but we are finally back to near normal and hope our many Texas friends and clients have recovered and are well.

There are so many great meal experiences, I decided to describe some memorable meals and dishes from European countries we have visited—with the help of Anne’s pictures. Since cuisine and meals cross borders, we might even let you know about the same dish in two or more countries!

To make it easier, this blog will be organized by country and perhaps our favorite meals just might be one of their most famous dishes. Although we always add wine or beer to our meals, to keep it simple, I am focusing on just the food except for special beverages.

We then have a request—please share with us a memorable meal you had, why it was so good and pictures if any. Then with your permission, we will post them on a new web page on our website.

So, let’s explore together and learn about some of these meals we remember from our travels, as we wait anxiously for your responses.

Austria

In a land that has Sachertorte, Apfelstrudel, and Spargel (white asparagus), the most famous dish is Wiener schnitzel.

Apple Strudel—this is from Koblentz Germany

We have had some great meals here, but one stand out has to be Figlmüller Restaurant on Bäckerstraße, near St. Stephens Cathedral. The star here is Wiener schnitzel—many believe they make the best Wiener schnitzel in all Europe. This breaded pork cutlet is amazing and it is giant—so big it covers the entire plate.

Compare this to an earlier meal in another part of Vienna—I think I’d go with the bigger version, wouldn’t you?

Another Weidner Schnitzel at a different restaurant in Vienna

However, for Anne it is liver and onions—another house specialty.

Belgium

Food and drink in Belgium is a pure joy. We constantly enjoy great dishes in this small country. Maybe we should start our day on a cold morning with a great coffee in Brugge.

A great way to start the day with a wonderful pot of coffee

Belgium waffles, and chocolates are great. We had some on a wonderful special tour on an AmaWaterways tour—enjoy this picture:

Belgium Waffles in Antwerp—this was on an AmaWaterways tour

The fries are worth standing in line at a food truck in Brugge, as we have done numerous times. Over 1000 beer varieties are available.

But there are 3 standout dishes here—mussels, carbonnade (beef and beer stew) and fresh lobster. Here are some of our pictures of these great meals:

It is easy to have a special night—here is our New Year’s Eve dinner in Brugge in 2019—one of the best meals we ever had!

Fire roasted Camembert cheese—Anne could have made a whole meal of this on the baguette!

My Chateaubriand with Bernaise sauce—center cut tenderloin—out of this world good!

Croatia

It stands to reason that with its many miles of coastline, fresh seafood is a delight here. Here is a meal we enjoyed in Dubrovnik in 2009—Anne had fish and I had prawns. We also shared some mussels. It was really good!

Czech Republic

Hearty meals here are quiet common and pork served in a variety of ways is always a great treat. Pork is commonly served with dumplings and cabbage.

Some of the best traditional dishes can be found in a brewery restaurant like Privnive Stupartska 1869. These pictures are from a 2015 visit during the Christmas Markets with our travel chums, Mark and Denise.

A meat lovers plate—pork ribs and a shank

But there is also luxury dining here in Prague. The following pictures are from Tersa U Zlate stude, in a 16th century building with views of Prague. This is an upscale fine dining restaurant

England

Fish and Chips, Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding are great traditional foods but for me, it has to be both a full English breakfast and in a pub, Bangers and Mash and Shepard’s Pie.

The English also love deserts—here is traditional sticky toffee in York.

In Scotland, we found a special restaurant in Edinburgh—Wildfire, a Scottish Steak and Seafood Bistro.

France

There are so many great choices here, it will be hard to pick only one or two, so I’ll tell you about several of our favorites. Here are just some—Boeuf Bourguignon (beef stew with red wine, pearl onions, mushrooms and bacon);

Coq au Vin (chicken cooked in wine); Potatoes Lyonnaise;

Cog au Vin—we made this dish in Wales for Anne’s 60th birthday at a cooking school!

Cassoulet;

Chicken Cordon Bleu;

Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame;

Anne’s Croque Madam and my omelette in Paris at Danton’s

Jambon Beurre (a great ham sandwich on a baguette); croissants;

Lyonnaise salad;

Profiteroles; and

Soufflés.

And, of course. crepes.

Crepes restaurant workers in Brittany, France

I do want to mention a great afternoon we had in Vienne—a bottle of great wine, and cheese, cold cuts and baguette slices—it is perhaps one of our favorite memories of the perfect afternoon picnic style lunch.

Germany

Let’s start our culinary trip in Germany with breakfast

Next is favorite foods in Germany. Shall we begin with brats and all types of sausages?

Oldest sausage house in Germany in Regensburg

Hank with a Nuremberg Sausage and a red beer on an AmaWaterways tour

spätzle (traditional Swabian egg noodles),

Käsespätzle (cheese spätzle)

A street vendor during the Christmas Markets in Strasbourg—not surprising to see wonderful German food in the Alsace

Schweinhaxe (pork knuckle)

Brezel (pretzels);

white asparagus;

sauerbraten;

schnitzel with all types of sauces (my favorite is jaeger schnitzel);

Berliner meatballs;

roulade; sauerkraut; German potato salad (2 styles northern with mayonnaise and pickles, while the southern one has bacon, vinegar and most often served warm); roulade; goulash and black forest cake—my mouth is watering!.

Hungary

In a country where paprika is so readily available, beef goulash has to be the standout.

Beef Goulash at the Strudel House in Budapest Hungry

Of course, I had to finish with Apple Strudel at the Strudel House!

I also like the chicken Paprikash (chicken in a sour cream sauce spiced up with paprika).served with noodles, smoked sausages and cabbage rolls

One rare treat is chimney cakes baked over an open fire—Kürtőskalács is the correct name in the Hungarian language.

But be careful sometimes, the cuisine may not be your liking—this sign requires special taste buds

Ireland

Soda bread, all manner of shellfish (oysters for Anne), potato dishes, boiled bacon and cabbage, smoked salmon, and lamb are all good choices, but for me the Irish beef stew is amazing here!

Anne ready to order in the 1837 restaurant in Dublin

The staff at the 1837 restaurant—they are getting ready to serve my Guinness Irish stew

We recommend having it at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin in the 1837 restaurant—it just doesn’t get better than that. The Guinness beer used just sends this dish over the top. How could a meat and potatoes guy like me not like me not like a stew made of beer, beef with bacon, in a rich, complex gravy served over mash potatoes?

Italy and San Marino

Let’s begin by just listing the wonderful foods of Italy and see our pictures. Famous foods include:

Pizza, lasagna, risotto, ossobuco (bone-in veal shank),

Focaccia (and other breads),

Focaccia bread often is served all over Europe—this is from Brasov Romania

tiramisu and great coffee are just some other wonderful Italian foods. It should be finished with gelato and a digestivo (limoncello, grappa, amaretto and maybe even Sambuca)!

Gelato shop in Rome from a food tour we took

Great desserts in this traditional gelato shop

In Italy, for us, you just have to go with one of their amazing selection of pasta dishes and with the many regions in this great food country. There are a lot of good choices but our personal favorite is Carbonara. This delightful, simple dish egg, pasta, usually a cheese blend of Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Regina and pancetta or lardons (the meat component) is our constant choice.

Carbonara in Florence and another pasta dish

Another favorite is tortellini—here is a dish Anne enjoyed in the country of San Marino, an enclave of Italy.

This peninsula nation is also famous for fresh seafood, and depending upon your tastes, you should try some. Here is great couple of pictures of prawns we enjoyed in Portofino after a great wine tasting while on a SilverSea cruise.

A wonderful wine tasting with traditional Italian cold cuts. This was on a tour on our SilverSea cruise

Netherlands

There is one king food here—cheese! But other good ideas include bitterballen (deep fried breaded meat balls usually served with mustard for dipping), stroopwafels (a thin waffle like cookie), Dutch pancakes (more like a crepes topped in various ways), jenever (a strong gin type alcohol drink made from juniper berries—we had some on an AmaWaterways cruise tour), apple pie, raw herring (for Anne not me!), kibbeling (battered fried fish, usually cod—again an Anne dish), and maybe a visit to an Indonesian restaurant.

For cheese, maybe try Gouda, Geitenkaas or Maasdammer, but it is all amazing!

In Edam. while on an AmaWaterways Tulip Time cruise, I got a chance to visit an actual old cheese market—here are two great photos.

A historic cheese market shop in Edam—it was part of an AmaWaterways tour

Display in the historic cheese shop with the traditional cheese making equipment

But don’t think chocolate is not readily available—as in all Europe, good food does not have country boundaries!

Romania

We stayed a couple of days in Brasov after an AmaWaterways river cruise and learned about a dessert that is out of this world—paparasi! These are a donut like desert covered with sour cream and jam. Trust us, it is great.

My Final Thoughts

What a great culinary trip—we just miss these wonderful meals and the great folks we often get to share them with during our travels—just another reason we love the Old World of Europe so much! We hope you enjoyed these pictures and you will send us some favorite memories of your meals in Europe.

Hank in Milan enjoying an al fresco meal

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

February 11, 2021

Europe Travel

Seeing Double in Europe

Hank Schrader

February 11, 2021

Europe Travel

Seeing Double in Europe

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

After traveling several times to Europe, we would often think that we had seen something quite similar to the new site we were currently visiting.

So, I thought I’d write an unusual blog about seeing double in Europe—places that either had a twin or similar site or does a double duty in its function.

Don’t expect that this is a scientific study—this is our picture report of how one site reminded us of another place or does a double duty.

So, let’s begin our mystery tour of Europe.

A Famous Bridge that has a Twin

One of the most interesting bridges in all of Europe is the Charles Bridge in Prague. It is pedestrian only and adored with statues of 30 Saints. Construction of this bridge started in 1357 and was completed in the early 1400s. Here are two pictures:

**People on the Charles Bridge—you can see the castle in the background**

However, this bridge has a twin—in Würzburg, Germany. The old bridge was constructed from 1473 to 1543. There are 12 statues of Saints and is pedestrian only, just like the Charles Bridge.

Take a look and see if they look very similar to you with these 2 photos.

**People on the Old Bridge in Würzburg**

Double Duty Clock Towers

There are several impressive clocks that served in medieval times to tell time and provide additional information—usually astronomical information.

First up is the clock in Prague. The Astronomical Clock (Orloj)--on the side of the Town Hall Tower--consists of an astronomical dial embellished with zodiac symbols, a calendar dial and colorful, moving sculptures. As the clock chimes, biblical figurines come out, and spectators may watch the "Walk of the Apostles." An hourly bell toll features a figurine representing death. The clock comes to life from 0900 to 2100 daily.

Next up are two towers in Munich in the Old Town Hall and the New Town Hall in Marianlatz.

In the Old Town Hall the clock tower has a clock and an astronomical clock. The Old Town clock tells time; indicates the moon phase on a rotating ball; and has a zodiac on a fixed ring within a 12-hour dial. Here are 2 pictures of the Old Town Hall and its double duty clock.

On the New Town Hall, there is a tower with a famous glockenspiel (1908), which performs at 1100 and 1200 all year. The story is of a 1500 wedding, of a Bavarian Duke (blue & white) and his French bride (red & white), knights and celebrations. Enjoy these photos of this unique Munich spectacle.

**Clock on the New Town Hall in Munich**

**People Waiting for the Glockenspiel Performance—you can see the figures on the left tower**

An easily missed astronomical clock tower is in Hampton Court, just outside London. On the inside of the main gate house, there is an astronomical clock. The time clock is on the other side.

**Inside of the Main Gate with the Astronomical Clock**

Lesser known clock towers are also worth knowing about.

In Dubrovnik, the clock tower also has another function. The rotating moon ball shows the lunar phase.

In the island of Malta, a clock on a church does double duty by telling us the time, the day of the week and day of the month. Here are 2 pictures of the St. John’s Co-Cathedral (this is another similar named St. John’s Cathedral on the island):

**St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta**

In Venice, many don’t realize there is an astronomical clock on a beautiful building—the St. Mark’s Clock Tower. This tower has several functions. Part of the reason is you have to examine closely the whole building tower to see all the functions of this clock tower.

The first clock is not a dial type in the higher portion of tower—there are numbers in two blue panels that tell the hour (in Roman numerals) and 5 minute intervals (in Arabic numbers).

Below the panels is a large clock that is a 24-hour dial type clock with Roman numerals for each hour. The dial is a gold pointer that represents the sun and tells the hour of the day. It also has all the signs of the zodiac, and a moon phase clock.

Please take your time to study these pictures to learn more about this wonderful clock tower.

In Old Town Lyon, the St. Jean Cathedral has a clock and also has astronomical clock. It has an astrolabe dial (an instrument to measure the position of sun and prominent stars) and a calendar dial. On the front portals are medallions depicting the signs of the zodiac, the Creation, and the life of St. John.

While this clock is not a double duty clock, it does have a special feature. Located in Novi Sad, in the Petrovaradin Fortress, this clock tower has reversed clock hands to help fisherman on the Danube River—the hour was more important than the minutes, as it was for soldiers stationed in the fortress. It is a four sided clock, so it can be seen from many different vantage points.

The numbers on the clock are huge—around 2 meters or 6 feet. This was a clock designed to be seen at great distances.

Tile Roofs

Glazed tiles make roofs highly decorative and add to the importance and splendor of buildings. Sometimes, even plain tile roofs can tell a story. Here are some famous examples—do many look similar to you?

So, let’s learn more about tiled roofs.

The Gothic towers and tiled roof of St. Stephen’s Cathedral still dominates the skyline of old Vienna. Visitors can climb to the top of the south tower for a splendid view of the city. The north tower has a 22-ton bell nicknamed the boomer (Die Pummerin).

But the most distinctive feature of this cathedral is the tiled roof of this 364 foot long structure. My research found that the roof has over 230,000 tiles in distinctive patterns. The roof is sharply pitched to keep snow off the roof and to allow the rain to clean the tiles. On one side is the double eagle, the symbol of the Hapsburg Empire.

**St. Stevens at night, Vienna, Austria**

There are also 2 other mosaics, depicting the coat of arms of the city of Vienna (right side) and the Republic of Austria (on the left in the picture below), with single headed eagles.

**South side of St. Stevens with mosaics of the coat of arms of Austria and the city of Vienna**

Our next stop is in Budapest to see two tiled roofs. The first is on the Buda side at St. Matthias Church. The tiled roof is stunning, made with tiles from the famous Zsolnay porcelain factory located in Pecs, Hungary. Here are two pictures:

**Matthias Church on the Buda side of Budapest**

The next roof in Budapest is the Central Market (it is also called the Great Market Hall). You can clearly see the similar tiles in these two pictures—it should come as no surprise the tiles came from the Zsolnay porcelain factory.

**Close up of the tiled roof—just stunning!**

Now, we are off to Serbia and the town of Novi Sad. The Name of our Lady Catholic Church in Liberty Square has a tiled roof made with Zsolnay tiles. Here is a picture of this splendid roof.

Our last stop is a look at roof tiles that tell a story of a war. We are going back to Dubrovnik, where the roof color tells us about the damage war brings to the old town area. The lighter colored tiles were not damaged, as you can see in this picture.

Looking at the city, the distinctive red roof tiles stand out among the stone buildings. According to one source I read, 70% of the roof tiles were destroyed in the 1991 war and replacing them cost 9 million dollars for the needed 200,000 or more red tiles.

**All bright red roofs—these buildings all were damaged during the shelling**

As you look at these pictures, it reveals the vast amount of the destruction the shells caused to the city dubbed “The Pearl of the Adriatic”. It is a somber reminder of how fragile our world really is.

**A great photo by Anne that captures the contrast between the undamaged roof in the foreground and the extensive damage towards the back of photo.**

A Tiny Statue that has a Twin

Perhaps one of the best love sculptures in Europe is a young naked boy taking a piss—we know it as Manneken-Pis. It has become the symbol of Brussels because it represents for the Belgium people their sense of humor and independent thinking.

This bronze statue was designed by Jerome Duquesnoy in 1619. It is an iconic landmark and people have fashioned an extensive set of costumes for the 24 inch figure.

**Manneken-Pis on display—most are surprised at how tiny he is!**

His costumes have its own museum but he is not alone in Europe.

**Manneken-Pis in the hospital with an IV at the Museum Display**

**Manneken-Pis Museum—you see the rows of display cases—a great visit in Brussels**

There are several official copies of the little guy. One is in Colmar, France.

Here is a picture of his twin in Colmar.

**Manneken-Pis in Colmar—this is an official replica**

My Final Thoughts

What a great adventure—seeing double in Europe—just another reason we love the Old World of Europe so much! We hope you enjoyed these pictures as much as we enjoyed seeing them during our travels.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

February 4, 2021

River Cruise Routes

2 Awesome 14 Day Cruises on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader

February 4, 2021

River Cruise Routes

2 Awesome 14 Day Cruises on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

As we all wait anxiously for the return of river cruise travel to Europe in 2021, one of the biggest trends at AmaWaterways is how easy it is to combine back-to-back cruises with their usual 7 day routes.

We have been doing this with clients since 2015, but it has evolved into a much better process with a lot more options than we used to have 6 years ago.

Just to show you how vast the options are, we actually have a client doing an AmaWaterways Nile cruise (new for 2021) and then off to Christmas Markets cruise on the AmaMagna on the Danube—talk about temperature extremes!

This blog will focus on the Danube and French cruises. We have sailed on all except the Paris & Normandy route, since as many of our readers know, we have led 2 anniversary tours focusing on D Day beaches in Normandy. Also, we have helped several clients sail on these 14 day routes, so rest assured we will know how to help you get the best trip on these combination routes.

Any combination of two 7 day cruises will result in a 10% discount for you on the second cruise—another sound reason to consider this option.

There is a lot to cover here, so we’ll try and make it easy by providing route maps and Anne’s wonderful pictures. You can also visit our website for more in-depth info on our river cruise pages at www.dreamdestinations.com –it is very comprehensive and we are very proud of the great content.

So, let’s explore together and learn about these 2 routes—there are so many options I can’t cover them all, so I will highlight these two we consider among your best options—you won’t be disappointed, I promise!

The Grand Danube

This is one great look at the heart of Europe. It starts in Germany and winds up on the Romanian/Bulgarian portion of the Danube close to Bucharest.

It is really a combination of 2 routes—the Upper Danube and the Lower Danube. The Danube is 1,170 miles, making it the second longest river in Europe after the Volga River in Russia.

Along with a great route, you will remain in the same stateroom for the voyage—it just doesn’t get easier than this to see 8 countries in Europe in a meaningful way—you will spend your time seeing and doing, not packing and unpacking.

This route is served by 3 AmaWaterways ships—the double wide AmaMagna, the AmaBella and the AmaVerde. The sailing season is scheduled to go from 28 March to 21 November in 2021 but we think sailing will resume sometime this summer due to the pandemic.

The Upper Danube is the most popular river cruise route in Europe --typically from Vishofen to Budapest.

You will get to visit 4 countries, 3 capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest), castles, Abbeys, wine-sloped terraces and even quaint villages-it is a great voyage.

**Schonbuhl Castle—the Watchman of the Danube**

This area has rolling hillsides, lush vineyards, and medieval castles, and the cruise allows you to visit four different countries—Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungry.

The Lower Danube is the gateway to Eastern Europe. You will visit Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.

**Route Map of the Lower Danube. Image from AmaWaterways used with their permission.**

This segment begins in Budapest and ends near the Black Sea. It starts with the rolling hills and vine-clad slopes of the Pecs in Hungary; then moves to the boundary waters that separate Serbia and Croatia; then traverses the narrow gorges of the Iron Gates, a stunning passage that divides the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains; and ends near Bucharest, Romania.

It is perhaps the best overall look at Europe by providing you a fascinating look at key parts of Western Europe and Eastern Europe.

Combining Cruises in France

Combining French river cruises is an easy option but requires a change of ship. The great news is you get to ride the TGV—the fast Europe rail which is our favorite way to travel after river cruising—to the next ship.

If you love France and want to explore it, sailing on 2 of these routes is the solution for a vacation you will never forget.

The easiest combination is to combine the Seine cruise with either a Rhone cruise or a Bordeaux cruise.

However, you could combine a Bordeaux cruise with a Rhone cruise which would have special appeal to wine lovers as this would represent the two most important wine growing regions except for the Champagne region near Reims (sorry Anne to skip her favorite beverage but just add it on at the end of the cruise).

There are three great rivers that AmaWaterways cruises in France. They are the Seine, the Rhone and the Garonne River Basin around Bordeaux.

**Seine Route Map. Imagine from AmaWaterways used by their permission.**

The Seine-route which is best for a combination 14 day cruise is the 7 day round trip cruise into Normandy, starting and ending in Paris. The route name is Paris & Normandy and you will be sailing on the AmaLyra.

The cruise highlights are Monet's village of Honfleur, Rouen, the historic capital of Normandy, as well as a chance to visit the medieval towns along this scenic route and a full day visit the D-Day Normandy beaches.

**Rhone Cruise Route. Image from AmaWaterways and used with their permission.**

The Rhone cruise goes from Lyon to Arles on the Colors of Provence route on the AmaKristina. Starting in Lyon, the gastronomical capital of France, the cruise goes through France's legendary wine growing regions of Beaujolais and Cote du Rhone, and allows you observe medieval villages in the Provence region of France. Then on to the Papal town of Avignon, where it finishes.

The new for 2021 route, Essence of Burgundy & Provence starts in Chalon-sur Saone and finishes in Arles, where Vincent Van Gough spent much of his time. You will get to visit Beaune, Tournus, Macon, Lyon, Vienne (one of our personal favorites), Avignon and Arles.

**A Taste of Bordeaux route. Image from AmaWaterways and used by their permission.**

The final river cruise is in the Bordeaux region of France on the Garonne River on the route named A Taste of Bordeaux. It is a round trip cruise out of Bordeaux and features wine tastings, chateaux’s and abundant vineyards along the Garonne and its tributaries. You will sail on the AmaDolce.

My Final Thoughts

What a great adventure—a chance to see a lot of Europe in luxury on a trip of a lifetime!

You really should consider this option if your vacation plans have time for a 2 week or more vacation and want to visit Europe in affordable style with fascinating tours, awesome food and a crew that will become your friends.

We hope you enjoyed these routes and our pictures as much as we enjoyed sharing them with you.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

January 28, 2021

Europe Travel

European Small Vehicles

Hank Schrader

January 28, 2021

Europe Travel

European Small Vehicles

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

We always find one of the most fascinating aspects of Europe is how well all seem to use the limited space in the cities and villages—it is amazing!

The one most interesting things to Anne and I, is how well small vehicles thrive in the densely packed cities.

For Anne especially, tiny is cute. but more than that, they are useful and not wasteful—efficient, compact and great to look at.

Don’t expect any real rhyme or reason or great organized method to this collection of pictures—they just caught our eye and we were fascinated seeing them used in the daily lives of Europeans.

So, let’s explore together and learn about these small vehicles—you won’t be disappointed!

Our Pictures of Small European Vehicles

**Amsterdam Truck—unique to say the least!**

**Vintage Cadillac on display in the Car Museum in Brooklands, England**

**Cochem Germany Pizza and Pasta Delivery Truck**

**Guildford England X-Ray Engine Diagram Mini Cooper**

**Vintage Mini in Munich—we watched in amazement a family of 4 (2 teen age daughter and a husband and wife) get in and drive away!**

**Royal Gardens Ice Cream Truck, England**

A Lada in Budapest, Hungary. These are the old mass produced Soviet Era cars, which were very unreliable. Our guide told us a joke “What is the difference between a Lada and a Golf Ball? You can drive a golf ball!” — **A Lada in Budapest, Hungary. These are the old mass produced Soviet Era cars, which were very unreliable.**
**Our guide told us a joke “What is the difference between a Lada and a Golf Ball? You can drive a golf ball!”**

My Final Thoughts

What a great adventure—little vehicles—just another reason we love the Old World of Europe so much! We hope you enjoyed these pictures as much as we enjoyed seeing them during our travels.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

January 21, 2021

Europe Destination

Prague

Hank Schrader

January 21, 2021

Europe Destination

Prague

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

One of the most interesting cities to visit in Europe is Prague.

It is a great pre or post city visit after a river cruise.

We have led several clients on visits to this city and wanted to share a tour of this awesome city in the Czech city from our eyes.

So, let’s explore Prague in the Czech Republic together and learn about what to do and see here—you won’t be disappointed!

City Overview

A former member of the Warsaw Pact countries of the Iron Curtain, this vibrant city has thrived after the Velvet Revolution of 1989. It has historic roots that are really interesting to learn about but it is also just a fun place to explore its mixture of historic sights, great shops and hearty food.

The town center has most of the interesting sites and the good news is it is relatively compact, and easily walkable except for the steep walk up to the Castle Quarter (not to worry we have done it several times!).

The key sights are divided into zones. They are the Castle Quarter and the Little Quarter on the west side of the Vltava River. On the east side of the river is the Old Town, Jewish Quarter and the New Town.

They are linked by several bridges, but one the most important and interesting bridges in Prague and all of Europe, the Charles Bridge, is bustling with activity and serves as a monument to 30 Saint Statues on this pedestrian only crossway.

For centuries, this bridge was the only link between Lesser Town on the left bank of the Vltava River on the way up to Prague Castle and Old Town on the opposite side.

Here are some pictures of this famous bridge:

The Castle Quarter

Situated on the high ground above the west bank of the Vltava River, the Castle complex dominates all of Prague.

Here are the key sites:

St. Vitus Cathedral--The largest and most important church in the Czech Republic, the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral stands within the confines of the Prague Castle and is one of Eastern Europe's finest examples of Gothic architecture.

Prague Castle--In spite of many wars and fires, the Prague Castle has grown into a unique architectural complex. It contains the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, a convent, several towers and many palace wings. It includes the only privately owned building, Lobkowicz Palace, with its highly acclaimed museum (art works, porcelain, firearms and musical instruments). There is an admission charge to visit some of the sights.

Golden Lane--is a small picturesque street with colorful wooden houses. The legend is that alchemists attempted to turn metal into gold here, but in fact the alchemists lived elsewhere at the castle. It was actually goldsmiths living here in the 17th century who gave the street its captivating name. There is also an admission fee here to visit this small lane.

The Little Quarter

This area below the castle complex is where merchants and the wealthy lived. This neighborhood has a wonderful High Baroque church—the Church of St. Nicolas.

The other really interesting site is the Nerudova Street—the step, cobblestoned roadway, lined with interesting doorway signs, shops, and foreign embassies.

The Old Town

The commerce center of Prague in times past, is now one of the most visited sites in Europe.

Here are some of the most important sights in the old town:

Old Town Square--Famous for its historical monuments, Old Town Square is a Prague must-visit. Climb to the top of the 660-year-old Old Town Hall Tower for spectacular views of the Baroque-style St. Nicholas Church (north corner of the square, it has a fine interior); Gothic-style Church of Our Lady Before Tyn (twin towers) and the Old Town itself.

Church of St. Nicholas--There are plenty of impressive Baroque churches in Prague, but the St. Nicholas church at the Old Town Square is one of the most beautiful thanks to the colorful frescoes, intricate ironwork and stucco that decorate the interior.

Old Town Hall--Prague's old Town Hall was built in 1364. The astronomical clock in the town hall's tower is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. Originally the building served only as the city hall of the old town, but later became the city hall for all of Prague. It is now only used for ceremonial functions.

The Astronomical Clock (Orloj)--on the side of the Town Hall--consists of an astronomical dial embellished with zodiac symbols, a calendar dial and colorful, moving sculptures. As the clock chimes, biblical figurines come out, and spectators may watch the "Walk of the Apostles." An hourly bell toll features a figurine representing death. The clock comes to life from 0900 to 2100.

In the center of the square is the Jan Hus Monument, the first to rebel against the total authority of the Catholic Church. He was the first Protestant Priest, a college professor and ultimately burned at the stake.

From Old Town Square, a walk along the posh Parizska Street (Paris Street) with it’s over the top shops will lead to a somber sight—the Jewish Quarter. Here are some pictures of this grand avenue:

In part of the Old town is the Jewish Quarter—the Jews were pushed into a small marshy area near the bend of the Vltava River—it is one of the best preserved areas of Jewish life in all of Europe.

Josefov, also known as the Jewish Quarter or the Prague Jewish Ghetto, dates back to the 13th century and presents visitors with the opportunity to see a little of what life was like for Jews of that era. This small 3 block area was once walled in by order of the pope who declared that Christians and Jews should not live together with 6 exit gates.

But things changed in 1897 with the destruction of the walls and new buildings—now this area is primarily Art Nouveau buildings.

With its much more pleasant look of today, it still is somber to remember the 120,000 or so Jews living in Prague in 1939 in the start of WW II were reduced to only 10,000 by the 1945 liberation of the city.

The New Town

Basically this area surrounds the old town area and follows the outer walls that used to protect the city.

The most important sight here is Wenceslas Square--Wenceslas Square was originally conceived in the 14th century as a horse market. The large square, measuring 750 by 60m (2500x200 ft), evolved into Prague's central boulevard.

Prague Cuisine

This a land of hearty food—pork, cabbage, great beers and potato dishes. Among our favorites are the pork knuckle, beef tenderloin in cream sauce and almost any pork dish.

Here are some of our pictures of the food of Prague:

The food is even better if you get to share it with close friends, like our travel chums. Here we are in 2015 during the Christmas Markets

Don’t think there is only hearty food here—we escorted a close friend and client to a 3 star restaurant in Prague with food and a view beyond compare. Here is some pictures:

My Final Thoughts

Prague is just a great visit—it just doesn’t get boring and we always look forward to returning!

What a great adventure—this town will give you views and experiences you will never forget.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 48 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

January 14, 2021

River Cruise Routes

Rhine Christmas Market Cruises on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader

January 14, 2021

River Cruise Routes

Rhine Christmas Market River Cruises on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

Last week I wrote about Danube Christmas Markets cruises. As promised, today we are going to learn about Rhine Christmas Markets cruises.

One of the hottest trends in European River Cruises is the 2021 Christmas Markets cruises on AmaWaterways.

If you love Christmas and want to celebrate the magic of this special holiday season in Europe, there is no better place than on a river cruise.

We have been on 6 river cruises during the Christmas market season and they are fabulous! There are two main routes that offer the best experiences to celebrate the season where most of our Christmas traditions originated.

The two rivers to visit the most Christmas Markets are the Rhine and the Upper Danube.

So, let’s explore the Rhine routes together and learn about Christmas Markets.

A quick piece of advice—they are selling briskly—my guess is folks are tired of not traveling form the pandemic and November and December of 2021 seems likely to be a time that travel can resume safely.

What are Christmas Markets?

In Europe, many squares are used for various street markets. At Christmas time, these squares are transformed into one unique blaze of color, goods and foods from small vendors.

It is a social gathering where hot mulled wine, beer and street food and all seem to get along as they browse the various vendors.

Christmas markets date back to 1300 or so and started in Germany, Austria and the eastern portion of France. The season usually starts about November 25 and lasts until 23 or 24 December, roughly following the Advent 4 week season.

Even for a person like me who does not really like shopping, this is so much fun that everyone should try this at least once. Unlike American Malls, this is not combat shopping and crowds of hassled folks; this is a gathering of folks socializing with food and drink, music, and buying gifts at a much gentler pace.

Seeing the decorations alone is worth the trip but many booths have handmade items that are unique and priceless. Most sell only on cash, so make sure you have enough local currency to get your purchases.

And, as we have learned though our own mistakes, if you see something you like, buy it or you will often miss out. Most markets open around 10:00 AM and close around 9:00 PM but it varies a lot and it is not uncommon for booths to close down for short periods to take a break or get something to eat or an owner to take a day off and not open their booth.

As long as you dress warmly, these markets offer a cultural experience second to none—it is an adventure not to be missed!

The Rhine Route Overview

This route is the second most popular river cruise in all Europe.

The 820 mile Rhine actually passes through 6 countries, but most folks consider it a German River, since so much of its banks are on German soil. The middle Rhine and especially the Rhine River Gorge, has the greatest concentration of scenic banks and castles in all Europe. It never gets old!

The main route usually starts in Amsterdam and continues to Basel Switzerland on the Rhine, (or from Basel to Amsterdam on the next 7 day cruise), using both the lower Rhine and the upper Rhine. The upper Rhine is defined as from Koblenz, Germany to its source in Lake Constance, Switzerland--remember it flows north into the Baltic Sea.

This cruise begins with legendary canals and the colorful surroundings of Amsterdam, past the majestic Cologne Cathedral and on to the Black Forest region of Germany and the Alsace region of France. The best stretch is the Rhine River Gorge with its’ 40 castle dominating the hillsides—unmatched anywhere in the world.

Port of call include Cologne, Rüdesheim, Ludwigshafen, Strasbourg, Breisach and Basel

Many folks start their trip with a stay in Amsterdam in a pre-cruise for a couple of nights, then enjoy the cruise and stay a couple of extra nights in Lucerne and Zurich, Switzerland.

If you sail this route, you will usually get to visit 4 countries (the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland), see awesome castles in the Rhine River Gorge, wine-sloped terraces and even quaint villages--it is a great voyage!

Amsterdam, Netherlands

This ringed city of canals is unique to say the least. A land of bikes, canals and a free-wheeling culture, we have visited Amsterdam several times and escorted folks there. This is a city of 165 ringed canals, a population of 750.000 (it has as many bikes as people) and always full of tourists.

It is the capital of the Netherlands, with two world class art museums. It is a major port, once the wealthiest city in the world and residents and visitors live with a tolerant atmosphere.

This is one place you will not find Christmas Markets.

Cologne, Germany

The huge Cologne Cathedral, with its twin pointed towers, is the best known landmark in Cologne. Construction of the cathedral begin in 1248 and took the next 600 years to complete.

Next door to the Cathedral Romano-Germanic Museum which has artifacts from the old Roman town, including part of an old Roman villa.

Hohenzollern Bridge--This is one of the 7 bridges that cross the Rhine in Cologne. About 1200 trains pass over this bridge daily in route to the main train station.

The old town square is also another good site to visit.

It is famous for its many Christmas markets—we have visited several times and love the hustle and bustle of the season. Our favorite is area around the old town square. Please enjoy these pictures:

Rüdesheim, Germany

The town of Rüdesheim is a charming wine village.

It is famous for the great white wines grown in the region, along with a special coffee drink, aptly named Rüdesheimer coffee (Flambé Asbach brandy, sugar cube, coffee garnished with whipped cream).

A lively lane, the Drosselgasse, is lined with taverns and wine-cellars.

The Christmas Markets are small here but a lot of fun.

Ludwigshafen, Germany

You won’t really visit anything in Ludwigshafen because it is the gateway to two great tours—Heidelberg and Speyer.

Heidelberg is a historic university town. Top sights in Heidelberg, include a visit the red-walled Castle ruins, with its Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th century wine cask. There are beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below.

The old town area is a great area to explore. This especially true during the Christmas Markets. Here are some great pictures of the wonderful Christmas Markets, which was even more fun when it snowed during one of our visits!

Speyer is a German town famous for its large Romanesque Cathedral. It is the largest in Europe. Speyer is part of the historic pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela.

This once walled city had 68 towers guarding it. The most important tower still remains and at 188 feet, is one of the tallest defensive watch towers in all of Germany.

The Christmas Market area is near the Cathedral and we were especially impressed with the food booths.

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg’s old town is a wonderful stop but especially so for Christmas. After several visits to Strasbourg, it still beckons us back. Our first visit was on Bastille Day (14 July) and the floodlights on the Cathedral were breathtaking.

There are several main attractions. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame is massive and the Cathedral square always has lots of life.

Wander down to Petite France—the home of tanners, fishermen and other artisans—the half-timbered areas are just stunning.

Try some food here—the blend of German and French food results in dishes you won’t soon forget.

The Christmas decorations in Strasbourg are excellent in the old town area. The narrow lanes just add to the ambiance.

Breisach, Germany

Breisach is another gateway city—there are another two great options here—Freiburg, Germany and Riquewihr, France.

Freiburg, Germany (the official name is Freiburg-im-Breisgau) is a blend of old and new.

It is a university town (started in the 1400s), once was a walled city but its number one sight is the Freiburger Münster (Freiburg Cathedral) (started in the 1300s). The cathedral was completed in 1513.

We have visited several times and especially like the 3 Christmas Markets area here.

Riquewihr is a constant splash of colors, half-timbered buildings and wine shops jumbled together that just is so charming you will not know where to look next.

This medieval walled city still has most of its walls. There is a watch tower that today houses a museum about the defensive structures of the city, the people who manned the defensive structures and the weapons they used.

Don’t forget to shop, enjoy the food or a snack and sample the white wines this region is so famous for and brought wealth to this village.

This may be the most charming Christmas village you will ever see—maybe this picture will convince you we’re right!

Basel, Switzerland

Basel is the 3rd largest city in Switzerland. The historic old town area, on the left bank of the Rhine, was once an old Roman citadel on the high ground. The Munsterplaz (cathedral square) hosts the large church and some wonderful Christmas Markets.

A short walk from this square leads to the other good Christmas Markets of Markplaz (Market Square).

My Final Thoughts

Christmas on the Rhine—awesome!

What an experience—the Rhine River is awesome and deserves to be sailed by you—it is the best way to see this area of Europe. This river will give you views and experiences you will never forget.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

January 7, 2021

River Cruise Routes

Danube Christmas Markets on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader

January 7, 2021

River Cruise Routes

Danube Christmas Market River Cruises on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

One of the hottest trends in European River Cruises is the 2021 Christmas Markets cruises on AmaWaterways.

If you love Christmas and want to celebrate the magic of this special holiday season in Europe, there is no better place than on a river cruise.

The two rivers to visit the most Christmas Markets are the Rhine and the Upper Danube. So, let’s explore the Danube routes together and learn about Christmas Markets.

Next week I will write about the Rhine River route.

A quick piece of advice—they are selling briskly—my guess is folks are tired of not traveling from the pandemic and November and December of 2021 seems likely to be a time that travel can resume safely.

What are Christmas Markets?

In Europe, many squares are used for various street markets. At Christmas time, these squares are transformed into one unique blaze of color, goods and foods from small vendors.

It is a social gathering where hot mulled wine, beer and street food and all seem to get along as they browse the various vendors.

**Some of the treasures Anne has found at the Christmas markets on our mantle**

As long as you dress warmly, these markets offer a cultural experience second to none—it is an adventure not to be missed!

The Upper Danube Route Overview

This route is the most popular river cruise in all Europe. It usually starts in Nuremberg or Vilshofen and ends in Budapest, Hungary. Ports of call include Regensburg, Passau, Melk, and Vienna.

Many folks start their trip with a stay in Prague in a pre-cruise for a couple of nights, then enjoy the cruise and stay a couple of extra nights in Budapest.

If you sail this route, you will usually get to visit 4 countries (Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungry), 2 or 3 capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest), castles, Abbeys, wine-sloped terraces and even quaint villages--it is a great voyage!

Sailing to the capital cities is wonderful, it is not the only good reason to sail this route. The other highlights include sailing the Wachau Valley, perhaps a visit to Salzburg, Austria and the 900 year old Melk Abbey.

Nuremberg, Germany

The old walled city of Nuremberg is one of my favorite places in all Germany. It has an impressive castle, is crisscrossed by a river and has some cool old buildings. The central market square, with its, beautiful fountain, is another great place to see and this square hosts one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany.

It is famous for its many Christmas markets—we have visited several times and love the hustle and bustle of the season.

Regensburg, Germany

The town of Regensburg is located on the northern most point of the Danube River. It started out as a Roman town, has a medieval stone bridge the crusaders crossed on their way to the Holy Wars (which is guarded by an impressive watch tower), and has a good old town area. Anne’s favorite hat maker is here, so we find this one of our favorite Bavarian towns.

The Christmas markets are awesome—there are at least 3 or 4 but our favorite is the Thurn and Taxis—it is an old fashion market, with blazing fire pits and has an entrance fee which AmaWaterways includes in your voyage. It is romantic and has some very good quality goods for sale.

Anne and Hank with the owner of the Hat King with our new hats in 2019

Passau, Germany

Built on a tapering peninsula of land, the old town portion of Passau is located right at the German and Austrian borders. Three rivers join here—the Danube, the Inn, and the Ilz. On the high left bank of the Danube (sailing downstream), a fortress dating back to the 1400’s, overlooks the old city center. There are several impressive churches worth a visit.

There is one really good Christmas market in the main square—Anne found some great gifts on a recent trip.

Melk and Dürnstein, Austria

Melk is famous for its impressive, huge abbey and collection of rare books and manuscripts. The abbey was initially built in the 11th century and has been updated several times, and the last major improvements to this baroque structure were completed from 1702 to 1736.

There is a small market in Melk but we enjoyed it—we watched a blacksmith work on handmade gifts.

Later as you cruise through the one of the great scenic waterways of Europe, the Wachau Valley, you will arrive in the charming village of Dürnstein (about 600 population). The blue tower of the Abbey, the cute little shops and the castle ruins on the hillside (where Richard Lionhearted was held in prison for ransom), make this a favorite of many river cruisers. It is so small there are not any real booths for Christmas but the shops often have special Christmas items

The Wachau Valley

The Wachau Valley has to be the one of the best segments for just enjoying the upper Danube. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so there are no bridges to interrupt the views. Unlike the Rhine River Gorge, with castles dotting almost every hill, the region has only three or four great castles. But the quaint villages, sometimes dominated by a fortified church complex, and the steep vineyards provide a relaxing and fun sailing experience—the castles are not missed.

Vienna

Vienna is the capital city of Austria (it once the capital city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), is a city of impressive palaces, great museums and good food. It is also known as home for the great composers of classical music and many go to concerts in Vienna while on their cruise.

There are several great markets here but the two best are at the Rathaus (town hall) and the famous summer palace of the Hapsburgs—Schönbrunn Palace. There are lots of booths in each market—you won’t go away disappointed!

Bratislava

The capital city of Slovakia is a fun place to visit. Located at the border of Austria and Hungary, this is a newer country (it declared independence in 1993) in Europe.

For much of its history, it was in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then a part of the Czechoslovakia. The symbol of Bratislava is the fortress that overlooks the city. It is also known for its whimsical bronze figures, which delight cruisers in the old town area.

The old town area has a great Christmas market and there are also a good one in the new town area.

Budapest

By far the most impressive city on the Danube, Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a town we love to visit. It is really two towns—the high town of Buda that overlooks the banks of the Danube and Pest on the flat land. They are united by several bridges but the Chain Bridge is the most important and is a symbol of the city.

Both sides have some awesome structures—among them Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion (Buda side) and the Parliament building (Pest side). Once you visit, you will want to come back.

The best Christmas markets are on the Pest side—a highlight is the food, especially the funnel cakes baked over a charcoal fire.

Two Great Side Trips

Along this route, there are two great cities that are optional trips on some lines or can be included. They are not actually on the Upper Danube but are easily accessible by coach (bus) during your Danube cruise. Both are awesome, so let’s see what it might be like to visit both Salzburg, Austria and Cesky Krumlov.

Here are two great photos, which may make you want to include these two medieval towns as an addition to your cruise. Both have good Christmas markets but the Salzburg one is larger with more booths.

My Final Thoughts

Christmas on the Danube—awesome!

What an experience—the Danube River is awesome and deserves to be sailed by you—it is the best way to see this area of Europe. This river will give you views and experiences you will never forget.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

December 17, 2020

River Cruise Comparisons

AmaWaterways Wins 5 Readers Choice Awards from TravelAge West Magazine

Hank Schrader

December 17, 2020

River Cruise Comparisons

AmaWaterways Wins 5 Readers Choice WAVE Awards from TravelAge West Magazine

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

I guess it is no surprise to me that AmaWaterways is in the winner’s circle again—we consider them the best river cruise company among a lot of good choices for European river cruises.

If you have read our 2020-2021 company comparisons, there are many factors that make AmaWaterways a special company and they deserve the recognition from these awards.

This is the real deal folks—there are many good options and 5 worthy contenders in each category, yet AmaWaterways is consistently voted the best by travel agents during the Wave (Western Agents’ Votes of Excellence) Awards.

We know a lot about how hard these awards are to win—we won a Trendsetters Runner-Up Wave Award for Best Targeted Marketing Idea in 2018.

Here are the categories they won, based on voting by travel agents—the folks who are the most knowledgeable about the best river cruise companies:

River Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction

Best New Ship (River Cruise) AmaMagna

Best Onboard Dining (River Cruise)

Best River Cruise Line for Families

River Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support

**This slide was created by AmaWaterways and they kindly gave us permission to use it in this blog**

Ready?—let’s go together and learn all about the awards.

River Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction

We all know how much satisfied customers means to any business and AmaWaterways excels consistently with guests.

Basically, this means that the products and services of AmaWaterways meets or exceeds customer expectation.

Our clients often feel the same way—it is one reason so many of our river cruise clients chose to sail with AmaWaterways.

Best New Ship (River Cruise)—the AmaMagna

There is only one true Giant on the Danube—the AmaMagna, the ultimate European river cruise ship. She sails the upper and lower Danube River routes.

Built in 2019, the magnificent AmaMagna has 96 staterooms and carries 196 passengers. She is a long ship (443 ft long or 110 meter) but double wide at 72 ft—most other river cruise ships are only 38 ft wide. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, she will not carry a full 196 passengers.

It is the largest river cruise ship in Europe.

Here is a quick summary of the dining options:

There are 4 dining options—the main dining room, Jimmy’s Wine Bar, the Al Fresco dining area and the chef’s table.

**Al Fresco Dining Area. Photo from AmaWaterways**

•Regionally inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients

•The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant

•Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, Captain's Cocktail and Gala Dinner

•La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs exclusive dining experience

•Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner

•Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast

•Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks

•Tapas, sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge

There is a lot of personal space, as the suites range from 355 sq ft to 710 sq ft, most featuring full balconies.

Other onboard features include an upper and lower lounges (with intimate pockets to relax unhindered); a water sports platform (it has a Sundowner vessel for an excursion at no extra charge); a Zen wellness studio with fitness center offering exercise classes led by a professional wellness host, 2 massage rooms plus manicure and pedicure services; and an expansive sun deck with a large heated pool and a pop-up sky bar.

Trust me—there is nothing like this sailing on any European Rivers by any other river cruise company.

Best Onboard Dining (River Cruise)

After sailing on AmaWaterways 17 times, we agree wholeheartedly with this award. There is no extra charge for all these options, so this makes it even a better deal.

The main dining room serves most of the meals you will eat on board this river ship. Breakfast and lunch used to be buffet style with options to order off the menu, but now all items are served to guests.

Most days I select the Eggs Benedict along with complimentary unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juices to start my day. All breads are freshly baked every day and they even make homemade ice cream for dessert at lunch.

Here is a sample lunch menu (quite an impressive selection, in my opinion):

Every evening on the dinner menu (a 4 course affair of an appetizer, a soup or salad course, a main course and dessert), there are 3 Entrée’s choices—usually a meat dish, a fish dish and a vegetarian option.—all are excellent! Here are some of our meals—they were awesome!

There is an Always Available Menu that features a steak, a grilled chicken breast, and a vegetarian or pasta option.

The lunch and dinner meals feature a white and red wine from the region you are sailing thru and they change daily (not every river cruise lines changes wines every day or offers included wine and beer). There is also beer and other beverages.

One item of note—portions are slightly smaller in recent sailings and for the baby boomers of our generation, this is a smart move. You can always have more food, but even for big eaters like me, the portions were properly sized.

I do have to point out that on the Always Available Menu, I usually get the steak once during the cruise. It always is large, and very tasty. Here is a photo—looks very good, doesn’t it!

The Chef’s Table. In Europe, each AmaWaterways ship has the chef’s table specialty restaurant. This small dining venue (usually no more than 28 guests) features a kitchen where your meal is prepared right in front of you. This unique menu is paired with carefully selected fine wines. It is truly a great experience. At least each year the menu changes, so we will look forward to our next sailing to see what great new features will be added to this fun dining experience. Here are some pictures from our past Chef’s Table experiences:

AMA spends more than most other river cruise lines on the food and wines and it shows, especially in this unique dining venue. We always go during our cruises and always arrange for the groups we led to dine together—it’s always a superb experience!

But that is not the only culinary achievement—they are the only river cruise line inducted into the La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, a prestigious international gastronomic society dedicated to fine cuisine.

The entire European fleet and President Rudi Schreiner were honored. According to the AmaWaterways website, the society was

“Founded in Paris in 1950 to honor the royal Guild of Goose Roasters (whose origins date back to the 13th century), it is the oldest and largest food and wine society in the world. Membership to La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is by invitation only and is extended to those possessing world-class culinary acumen.”

If you want good food and wine on a river cruise, go on AmaWaterways—it seems a lot of other travel advisors share our opinion! Pretty easy to see why the won the Best Onboard Dining Wave Award for River Cruising in 2020.

Best River Cruise Line for Families

We have seen first-hand how well AmaWaterways helps families have superior vacations.

Here is just a partial list:

Flexibility—multiple tour and activity options help make all ages enjoy the trip-it could be active with the bikes or hiking, seeing and touring castles, a wine tasting for adults, seeing sights you have only read about in in a safe, organized tour. Multi-generational family members do their own thing yet get to share the overall experience.

Wellness--Almost all raters of Europe river cruising companies, cite AmaWaterways for their active and wellness program. All European riverships have a wellness host—leading exercise classes, bike tours and hikes—we have seen this program in action and it is excellent.

Adjoining accommodations—since 2016 several staterooms have these adjoining staterooms—sure makes easy to travel with the family.

Hassle free—unpack once for 7 days and spend your time having fun—meals, tours are included.

Here are 4 great ideas from AmaWaterways for family friendly cruises (these 4 slides are from AmaWaterways and we were given permission to include them in this blog):

River Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support

Again, with our great partnership with AmaWaterways has helped our customers have the best possible vacations.

I just can’t say enough how all are always ready to go the extra mile for our clients—the can do friendly spirit is always there in all our dealings.

It starts with my group coordinator’s—Kristie, Jennifer (my two past group coordinators) and now Brandon and the highly responsive groups department—you folks rock!

Our Business Development Manager, Sheila, is a gem—fully of energy, great ideas and suggestions—makes our business better with every idea and actions on our behalf.

The responsive Marketing Department helps us tell the AmaWaterways story properly.

Upper level managers Janet, Alex and co-owners Gary and Kristin (one of the co-founders with Rudi) have created a company our clients want to sail on and a company all can be proud about.

In all our dealings with AmaWaterways, even if we only sold one or two river cruises at first, we were and continue to be treated like we are the most important partner in whole world. Believe me, not all vendors treat us this way.

No wonder they are voted the best at providing support to the travel age community.

How these Awards help you decide on the Right Vendor for your next River Cruise Vacation

There are a lot of good options for a river cruise vacation but knowing who does it best helps you make good decisions and add value to your vacation purchase by spending your dollars wisely.

AmaWaterways business culture benefits you, our clients and potential clients—they have the right product for you in most cases and now, since you are the right person to take a river cruise, we just have to figure out when the time is right for your vacation.

And, here is a quick reminder—along with the right company, we are the right folks to help you—please just read our qualifications in the next paragraph.

Our Primary Specialty--Are We the Right Folks to Plan your Next European River Cruise?

Our knowledge of Europe river cruises is exceptional. We are primarily partnered with AmaWaterways because they usually provide the best option for our customers.

We have been on 18 Europe river cruises, written over 60 blogs about all aspects of Europe river cruises, have 3 items on the first page of Google, we have 51 port guides (they are free) for you, and we have helped dozens enjoy river cruising in Europe.

And if that we not enough, we have 50 free guides to most Europe Cities you might want to visit before or after your Europe river cruise.

My Final Thoughts

Wow! What great travel partners—AmaWaterways and us—Visit Dream Destinations, LLC!

Why don’t you give us a call today—let’s start planning your river cruise in 2021 or 2022 now!

We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise experts, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations. As you can see, our full service agency can get you to almost anywhere you desire to travel and provide you a great experience and vacation.

When you are spending your hard earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 48+ years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

December 10, 2020

Reflecting on 25 Years in Business

Hank Schrader

December 10, 2020

Reflecting on 25 Years in Business

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

Today is the 25th Anniversary of us being in business—yes, our journey has been full of amazing events, highs and lows, and, most of all, helping some great people travel better.

We have evolved in an environment of constant change in the travel industry.

Not only have we adapted, we believe we now thrive, but to say the least it has not been an easy journey.

So, this week, I’d like to write about our journey.

But, before we start, we never could have achieved one success without your help and trust—we never will forget you have made us what we are—THANK YOU!

Ready?—let’s go together and learn all about our 25 years!

How did the Idea for our Business Originate?

Martha Anne Schrader has a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. I have an MBA.

While in the Army, in my last assignment, I was the lead instructor of the US Army Fitness School and constantly on the road. My travel plans were constantly changing and Anne would research and often purchase tickets for me to meet the Army’s needs.

Later, while employed at Kalmbach, she handled their corporate travel.

We felt this background, with specialized travel industry training, could help us start a profitable business.

Our Short History of 25 Years

We started off as a hosted agency affiliated with Summit Travel in 1995. We have always been home based, but few were in the travel industry in 1995. Now, more than 60% of all travel agents are home based.

Our business first started in Wisconsin, and then move to the state of Washington, as I pursued my football coaching career.

We had to start over with each move, as our ability to find new clients became quite a challenge. Somehow, we managed to balance these challenges with the demands of a football coaching career.

We survived the elimination of airline commissions, the terrorist attack of 9/11, the 2009 recession, and now COVID-19 travel conditions, each obstacle making us a stronger and better business to serve you.

Now, we reside in Texas, but only about 11% of our clients reside in the greater Houston area.

We are a mom and pop business. Both of us are certified, professional travel agents. Over the years, we have grown a small but highly devoted groups of clients.

**Hank and Anne in Regensburg, Germany, with their newly purchased hats in 2019 during the Christmas Markets**

We are now considered leading experts in European River Cruising and European Tours by our industry.

**At the Captain’s Table on an AmaWaterways river cruise**

Our Qualifications

Martha Anne Schrader has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management.

She is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification. She is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA.

She is also a Destination Specialist in Western Europe. She hold numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors.

**My beautiful and talented wife, Anne—I sure am a lucky man!**

Henry Carl Schrader, Jr. has earned 3 college degrees. I graduated from West Point in 1971. I also have earned a master’s degree from the University of Washington in Physical Education and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Long Island University.

I am also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), and a Destination Specialist in Western Europe. Prior to my entry as a full time travel advisor in 2011, I retired from my high school teaching career. I am a former World Geography and Advanced Placement Human Geography teacher. I have earned 6 vendor specialty certificates from river cruise vendors.

**I was a guest speaker on a Webinar Wednessdays for AmaWaterways in July of 2020, to help other travel agents sell river cruises.**

How do our Clients see us?

We have numerous client testimonials on our website and on Google.

We have around 40% repeat clients, which is considered very high in our highly competitive industry.

Many cite our personal on site experiences, our knowledge of vendors, and, most of all, their trust we will do the right thing for their benefit.

Perhaps the best of all, our clients have learned we get them the best value trip for their money, and this is most cited benefit we provide to those who use our services.

Our Business Achievements Since 2016

Most notable was the 3 years required to plan and execute our 2019 75th Anniversary of D Day tour. This was for many an “once-in-a-lifetime trip”. We were able to lead 33 great folks on this adventure.

We organized as a LLC in 2016.

We are accredited members of the Better Business Bureau since 2017, so you know we are a vetted business.

We started to emphasize our niche of luxury trips, emphasizing European river cruises, European tours led by us and Luxury Ocean cruises to benefit you, our clients.

We emphasize group travel—it often is more fun for you to travel with friends, families or like-minded folks.

We added our blog to the website instead of on a different platform, which resulted in huge SEO gains for key search terms associated with our niche and resulted in large increases of visits to our website—all to benefit our current and future clients.

We added both a River Cruise Questionnaire and an improved Travel Request Form to our website, making it easier for you to tell us about your wants and needs for an upcoming vacation.

We created and added 50 European Travel Guides Request forms to the website as a way to help you learn more about a destination you may want to visit.

We created and added River Cruise Port Guides Request forms to our website as a method for you to learn about stops during your cruise and to determine if the route you are considering is the right route for you.

Our Unique Qualifications

As stated earlier, we write a weekly blog, usually 2000 words or more, full of our personal pictures to stay in front of you.

We want to help you have the right vacation, at the right time.

We have good results from our website and blogs which provides us over 6000 search engine visitors to our website annually.

For specialized trips, we use targeted client lists of our past and potential clients. We also post special group European river cruise and tours on our Specials page of our website. This helps you not waste time and learn about trips that really interest you.

In 2018, we received a national level Trendsetter’s award as runner up for the best target marketing program from TravelAge West Magazine for our special 75th anniversary of D Day tour we led in 2019. We were featured in their magazine along with the other 8 winners.

**Holding our TravelAge West Award in 2018**

Our Primary Specialty--Are We the Right Folks to Plan your Next European River Cruise?

Our knowledge of Europe river cruises is exceptional.

And if that we not enough, we have 50 free guides to most Europe Cities you might want to visit before or after your Europe river cruise.

My Final Thoughts

Wow! What an amazing journey! 25 years helping others have great trips to savor life a little more, and make memories.

By visiting Dream Destinations, and trusting your vacation to our professional skills, your journey to a great trip begins here!

Bur we will never forget, we never could have come this far without you, our wonderful travel friends. The friendships we have created a special: Thank You So Much!

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

December 3, 2020

Europe River Cruise Ports

6 Historic Cities in Germany You Can Visit on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader

December 3, 2020

Europe River Cruise Ports

6 Historic Cities in Germany You can Visit on AmaWaterways

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

I have strong German roots on my father’s side of our family—my grandfather came to the US from Germany on 23 August 1893 at the age of 18 with his brother Carl. He became a naturalized citizen on 31 March 1902 (thanks Anne for her research on Ancestry.com!). My grandmother arrived in the US from Germany 13 February 1904 at age 22. My Dad was born on 5 January 1918 in Chicago.

So, it stands to reason, I have a real interest in Germany and its history.

There is a lot to learn about Germany, so I thought I’d tell you briefly about the key historic periods in Germany history and then tell you about our visits to 6 historic cities in Germany.

There are many lists of historic cities and their importance in history, culture and food, beer and wine, but I have selected just 6 for today’s blog, since we have or could have visited all on an AmaWaterways cruise.

So, let’s learn about 6 of the historic cities of Germany after a brief history lesson about the significant ages of Germany history.

Key Periods in German History

German history can be divided into the following time periods:

• The First Reich 843-1806—was established by Charlemagne during his reign as the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. In this period of history, Germany was a true feudal system—it was said the nobles were to protect, the clergy to pray, and the peasants were to work. Charlemagne is recognized by most as the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire but some historians claim it started after Charlemagne. The Empire controlled most of what was to become the German state and lasted until 1806 but never was able to unify the country as in other European countries like France.

The Emperor was elected by the 7 most important nobles, called prince-electors, and several of the historic cities below played an important role in the Holy Roman Empire structure and governance.

By 1789 there were over 1700 kingdoms, duchies and principalities. Germany never became a unified country until 1871. Religion played a central role during most of this period—the belief system was that “one’s role was determined by God and could not change”.

But change came with the Protestant Reformation (1571-1648). Martin Luther began this with his differing religious views. Along the way, there was the Peace of Augsburg (1555) that granted religious legal status to the Lutheran Religion (“Whose realm, his religion”); there was a counter reformation to imprison and discourage heretics (non-Catholics); and the 30 years’ War from 1618 to 1648 (one of the most destructive wars in all of Europe’s history caused by the struggles between the Catholics and the Protestants and their rights to worship).

Then came the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815). Later the Prussian Empire, led by Fredrick the Great, emerged around the Protestant Berlin and Potsdam region and ther were more battles. The Industrial Revolution started slowly in Germany in the 1830’s. Change was slowly coming.

• The Second Reich 1871-1918—is often defined from the unification of Germany following the Franco-Prussian War (1870 - 1871) and crowning of Wilhelm I as German Emperor at the Palace of Versailles. The other key leader was Otto von Bismarck as the first Reichskanzler (chancellor—the head of the government). It was a period of German Imperialism and a rise of German military strength—the army was the best in world according to many observers and the navy second only to Great Britain.

Prussian dominance was evident—over 2/3 of the population lived in the Prussian principality and almost all key military leaders were Prussian. It was a period of complex European alliances, aimed at keeping the balance of power from tipping too much in the favor of one country over another.

Sadly, in 1914 war erupted and ended 4 years later. This period lasted until the end of WW I with the abdication of Wilhelm II in 1919 following the German defeat in the Great War.

• The Weimar Republic 1919-1933—after their defeat in WW I, the Weimar Republic was Germany’s attempt to establish democracy and end the out-sized influence of the nobility and the military. But the crushing war debt, hyperinflation and more than 3 million out of work caused this government to ultimately collapse.

• The Third Reich 1933-1945—the austere conditions in during the Weimar Republic in Germany led to the rise of the Dictatorship of Adolf Hitler and WW II. He managed to conquer most of the continent of Europe but ultimately was defeated by the allies in WW II. His leadership resulted in the murder of millions, countless war dead, and the utter destruction of almost all of Germany.

• Post World War II and the Reunification of Germany 1945-1990-Present—while there is a lot of relevant items such as the Cold War conflict, with Germany divided into East and West Germany after WW II, I just cannot escape two personal facts here.

As a LTC at the end of WW II, my Dad was the occupation commander of the northern region of Germany that our family immigrated from to the US. All our relatives except one died during the war. It was sad yet uplifting that after all the carnage, there was hope and rebuilding.

I remember one night, talking about our German roots right after the fall of the Berlin Wall and my Dad told me he never thought he would see unification of Germany in his lifetime. He told me a little about reconstruction efforts, the Marshall Plan to rebuild Germany and joy to see the resilience of the German people. Germany has once again become a world power and a leader in the democratic world.

Now, on to the 6 cities that are part of the historical eras of Germany you can visit on an AmaWaterways river cruise.

Freiburg (Freiburg-im-Breisgau)

This city among other claims to fame is said to the sunniest city in all of Germany. Located on the southern edge of the Black Forest, and near the Rhine River, it was a good trade location and rich burghers and the mercantile guilds were the original political force in the city. It is a university town (started in the 1400s), once was a walled city but its number one sight is the Freiburger Münster (Freiburg Cathedral) (started in the 1300s). The cathedral was completed in 1513. Here are some pictures of Freiburg:

Pictured below is the Schwabentor Watch Tower Gate. It is one of 2 remaining towers in the city. The other, the Martinstor is a 13 century gate tower. The city walls are long gone.

A special feature of Freiburg is its numerous Bächle (little waterways) that are unique in Germany.

Heidelberg

The old bridge over the Neckar River and the huge palace ruins have a romantic effect on this town. Heidelberg is a historic university town, considered by many the home of Romantic Germany due to its poets and philosophers—it is not surprising one of the best ways to experience Heidelberg is to hike the Philosopher’s Path on the north bank of the Neckar—you can think about all the scholars looking for inspiration while you walk (it is an optional tour if you take an AmaWaterways cruise on some routes).

Top sights in Heidelberg, include a visit the red-walled Castle ruins (it is often more interesting than restored castles due to the detail still remaining on the walls), with its Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th century wine cask. There are beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below.

Another great site is the Church of the Holy Ghost, where you can see the tombstone of Prince-elector Rupert (King of Germany from 1400 to 1410) from the First Reich era.

The old town area is a great area to explore.

Koblenz

Located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Rhine, this city is a symbol of German unification during the Second Reich. 80% of the town was destroyed during WW II during the Third Reich. Here are some key sights (from one of our 50 European city guides):

1. Deutsches Eck—is a monument on the point of land where the Rhine and Moselle join. Kaiser Wilhelm I statue is featured here. It was erected in 1897 to honor Kaiser William I but was damaged during WW II during the Third Reich and later replaced. St Castor’s Basilica is on the backside of the triangular Deutsches Eck and has the tomb of two Trier Prince-Archbishops electors from the First Reich.

2. Old Town Koblenz—one of the oldest towns in Germany, the old town area is the charming and romantic streets between the St. Castor’s Basilica and "Liebfrauenkirche" (Church of Our Beloved Lady).

3. Goerresplaz Square—known today as Goerres Square, it is the central square of the old town. The fountain in the middle of the square with its 10m high historical columns is worth seeing. The artist Jürgen Weber tells the story of the town of Koblenz in 10 overlapping scenes presented in this three dimensional work of art.

4. Liebfrauenkirche—is a beautiful Baroque church with onion shaped domes. This basilica with five-axis pillars was built between 1180 and 1250. The new construction of the Gothic chancel had begun in 1404 while the baroque onion towers date back to 1693.

5. Schängel Fountain--The Schängel fountain is a monument to the city’s eternal “bad boy” who spits water from his mouth. Designed by Carl Burger in 1941, the fountain stands between the Renaissance and Baroque structures of the present Town Hall and the former Jesuit monastery.

6. Electoral palace--The Elector Clemens Wenzeslaus built this palace from 1777-1786 during the end of the First Reich. Prince Wilhelm, later known as German Emperor Wilhelm I (from the second Reich), officiated here as the Prussian military governor from 1850 – 1857. The palace now houses administrative offices and is not open to the public.

7. Bundesgartenschau--The “Empress-Augusta-Gardens “are located on the Rhine banks and they are some of the most beautiful gardens between Basel and Rotterdam. On the tree-lined, grassy bank you will find the monument of Joseph Görres, as well as little treasures such as the Luise Temple.

8. Fort Ehrenbreitstein--The Fortress rises 118 meters above the Rhine and dates back to the year 1000. Over the centuries the fortress buildings and fortifications were extended by the Electors of Trier. After its destruction by the French, the Prussians rebuilt the fortifications and it became one of Germany's strongest fortresses. It is today open to the public and is directly across the Rhine from Koblenz.

Regensburg

The town has a strong historical past. The town of Regensburg is located on the northern most point of the Danube River. It started out as a Roman town, has a medieval stone bridge the crusaders crossed on their way to the Holy Wars (which is guarded by an impressive watch tower), and has a good old town area.

During the 2nd and 3rd Crusades, the stone bridge was the crossing site for Crusaders off to do battle in the Holy Land and is the oldest surviving stone bridge in Germany.

There is an impressive cathedral here—please enjoy this picture!

The Old Town Hall once was the meeting place of the Parliament of the Holy Roman Empire during the First Reich. Regensburg managed to escape WW II without any real damage during the Third Reich.

Anne’s favorite hat maker is here, so we find this one of our favorite Bavarian towns.

Trier

The oldest city in Germany, established by the Romans, has always played a part in the development of Germany through the ages. Trier was an old Roman outpost which was first settled by the Roman in 17 BC. It is very near the Luxembourg border—in fact, one side of the Moselle River is Trier, Germany and the opposite other side is the tiny country of Luxembourg. Anne & I first visited here in 1989 on our own.

Important Roman sights include the Roman Baths, an amphitheater, the Basilica of Constantine (it was the throne room of Emperor Constantine), and the huge city gate, the Porta Nigra gate, that dates back to 180 A.D. It has earned the nickname of “the Rome of the North.”

Other sights are the Trier Cathedral (it is the oldest Cathedral in Germany) and the ornate Trier Electoral Palace and gardens (part of the First Reich).

Also worth a visit is the old town area of the main market (Hauptmarkt)—besides people watching, the backdrop is the Porta Nigra and the large square is lined with a variety of architectural styles and is quite colorful.

Würzburg

There is a lot to like about Würzburg. As you approach the city, two key sights emerge—the Marienberg Citadel, a Renaissance fortress and the old bridge that reminds us of the famous St. Charles Bridge in Prague.

But the star here is the Residenz Palace, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Along with the impressive palace (which can be toured on an AmaWaterways cruise), the gardens here are whimsical, and colorful. These gardens were built when the Residenz was fortified, so all the gardens had to be inside the walls. There are 2 gardens here. The first is the Court Garden, a Baroque, formal garden. The central feature of this garden are 8 large yews that shaped in perfect cone shapes.

The second garden is an English garden of meadows and small forests.

Würzburg is in the Franconia wine region is less well known producer of dry white wines made from Silvaner grapes. The official name is Grüner Silvaner. A lot of this wine is grown around Würzburg. One unique feature of this wine is its special bottle—it is in a bottle called a Bocksbeutel (in German)—a distinctive green oval shaped bottle.

One feature of wine cruises on the Main River on AmaWaterways is a special wine tasting in Würzburg’s baroque Residenz Palace. Wine in a palace—how cool is that!

My Final Thoughts

Just one more fascinating reason to visit Europe—German Historic Cities! There is a lot here that relates to the key periods of Germany history—I hope this blog helps you understand the significance of these 6 historic cities in Germany history.

Let AmaWaterways take you there—it is the right cruise line for you among many other good choices—great people on a great river cruise line with awesome food and wine—we highly recommend it!

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

November 26, 2020

Best Value Travel

Happy Thanksgiving

Hank Schrader

November 26, 2020

Best Value Travel

May you be safe, well and happy. We are so thankful for your support, friendship and trust of us.

We can’t wait to help you in the future.!!

Anne and Hank

Hank Schrader

November 19, 2020

Best Value Travel

Our Constant Search

Hank Schrader

November 19, 2020

Best Value Travel

Our Constant Search

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

The travel business could be defined as a constant search.

What is the search for? What are we looking for?

We are looking to match 3 things to help you, our clients!

We are looking for the right product or trip, at the right time, to the right person.

So, today, let examine what our search means for you.

Our Business Structure

Visit Dream Destinations, LLC is a luxury leisure travel company.

Our mission is to provide customers with the highest quality, expertly planned domestic and foreign leisure travel with a focus on Luxury Cruises, European River Cruises and European Vacations for groups and individuals. We exist to attract and maintain customers.

We want to become the trusted travel advisors of choice for discerning travelers who want a good value for their travel budgets

The Right Product or Trip

**A trip on a river cruise is almost always the right trip for many. This is the Rhine River Gorge.**

Our slogan says it all—“Savor Life . . . make memories . . .Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!” As the slogan implies, we find the right trip for each client that they will remember for a lifetime.

We are small enough to give our clients personalized service, yet big and experienced enough to them the right trip!

Finding the right trip or product vendor requires a lot of knowledge and often some detailed research on our part. The only way we will get it right is to listen very carefully to you.

In travel agent jargon, it is known as qualifying. But to us, it is listening to what you want and what you do not want.

To get started we need at least 4 things from our potential clients. They are: 1) a trip destination or transport method in mind, 2) a budget, 3) a date for travel and 4) is a good fit for us and you.

Now the more specific you can get, the better trip we can design.

Our goal is to create exceptional trips for our clients. We will accomplish this by applying our 3 core values to the sales process. Our core values are trust, knowledge and care.

We establish rapport with you by developing trust—we are who we say we are. This leads to common ground, good communication and relationships. We try to under promise and over deliver.

We next ask a lot of questions and listen—what exactly does the client want? What have been the best previous trips? And perhaps the most important—Why do they want to go?

Now we apply our knowledge and research skills—in short, our clients learn—do we know what we are talking about?

Matching the right person to the right trip at the right time is crucial for our success.

Throughout this whole process, you should be thinking--do these folks of Dream Destinations care about me and have my best interests at heart?

We want to form a partnership with you—not just sell you something.

In simplest terms we inform, handle questions and then you decide.

We also respect you, our client—there are boundaries, we use your preferred method of communication and never are pushy.

The Right Time

Timing often is everything in the travel business. It is not uncommon for folks to ask us to help them plan a trip after 9 to 18 months after they have found about our services. Some even 3 years or more after finding out about us.

Why? It is simple—travel is usually not an impulse buy! You need time to plan for a vacation window, perhaps save up for the trip, or make sure it happens on just the right time, like a milestone time or festival.

So, even after they decide to go there will be some lag time—we usually book trips 9 months or more before they go on their vacation.

These four pictures emphasize the right time—two anniversary tours of D Day we led:

**Our 70th Anniversary of D Day Tour in 2014.**

**Part of our 75th Anniversary Tour of D Day tour on 6 June 2019—we helped guide 33 on this once in a lifetime trip**

The Right Person

No matter how hard we try, we can’t be everything to all people. So we target certain travelers.

Our 3 most targeted clients are potential river cruise clients, 7 day or longer ocean cruise clients and European tour clients.

Here are the profiles of a good match for our #1 client, River Cruiser

1. 60+ but we see this trending lower

2. Many retired

3. Enjoy small villages or historic sites

4. $80,000 median income—usually higher

5. Visited Alaska/Hawaii/Europe

6. Taken a 7 day or more ocean cruise but really would like to try a smaller ship

7. Well-travelled

8. Will spent $200+ a night per person if value is there

9. Milestone life event—significant anniversary or birthday

10. Like wine/food

Here are 10 pictures of the right people—all have used us to plan their river cruises:

Here is the profile for our # 2 client Luxury Ocean Cruiser

1) Median income $97,000—could be lower on shorter cruises

2) College grads—76%

3) Median age 40—48%

4) Retired—20%

5) Married—79% and often like to bring their family on the cruise or travel with friends.

Here are 5 photos of some folks we have helped take ocean cruises:

Our # 3 Client, European tour client, usually has the same profile as our river cruise client. Here are some photos of tour clients:

Client Retention

We have 4 areas we concentrate on to enhance our client retention. They are:

1. Communication. We will contact each customer after each trip for feedback & follow up on these results. We will send a hand-written note to every person who books with us before & after the trip.

2. Content. Our website, blogs, PDF slide shows are of exceptional quality and reflect our brand and advertising.

3. Consistency. We will follow up 100% on our promises—we will return calls and e-mails as promised.

4. Create Community. We try to blog each week with high quality topics that help our clients learn more about the travel opportunities we can provide them.

Our website has over 10,440 visitors this year (as of today 19 November 2020), so it must have something worthwhile for you-- either content or inspiration—hopefully both!.

About 2,849 visit our home page and then over 7,591 have gone to another page on the website. This means they find our content worthy of a second look or they went directly to the desired page from a web search.

By far, our Best Europe River Cruise Routes Guide (2,849 visitors) and our Europe River Cruise Comparisons 2020-2021 (1,967 visitors) are the two most visited pages on our site. It is a small wonder, because we feel these are as good a resource as is available to most folks on the worldwide web.

Why don’t you read them now? Here are the links:

Europe River Cruise Comparisons 2020--2021

Best Europe River Cruise Routes Guide

We want to turn our best clients into lifetime clients. We hope you feel the same about us!

My Final Thoughts

Our goal has always been to help you travel better and get more value for your money. The right trip, at the right time for the right person.

We would like to thank those of you who have trusted us for their travel needs and look forward to helping you again and anyone else in the future who might need our help.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

November 11, 2020

Veterans

Veteran's Day 2020

Hank Schrader

November 11, 2020

Veterans

Veteran’s Day 2020--Thanks for Keeping Our Country Safe!

By Henry Carl “Hank” Schrader, Jr. Maj (ret), Infantry

On Tuesday 10 November 2020, I got an e-mail from a classmate of mine to ask if I could provide him some information about the achievements of our 1971 graduating class from West Point. He is going to be the featured speaker at Branch Night at West Point on 2 December 2020. This is where the members of the Class of 2021 will find out their branch assignments upon graduation and commissioning in the United States Army.

So, this got me thinking, I really should provide a tribute to my classmates.

This is something very personal—nothing has had as much impact on my life as serving in the military, attending West Point, and having members of my family serve in the military.

Since about 1940 or so, someone related to me has served our country and help keep it safe.

To all of you who read this and served in the military, thank you for your service—most will never know how much you contributed to the well-being of our country and keeping it safe.

So, I thought I’d tell you a little about the folks who keep our country safe and send my humble thanks to them in recognition of Veterans Day 2020.

A Little History about Veterans Day

Veteran’s Day is celebrated on 11 November each year. The significance of this date commemorates the end of the fighting in WW I. For students of history, like me, we like to say “on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month the guns fell silent”—an easy way to remember the exact date and time of the end of hostilities of WW I in 1918.

This original celebration has changed in America from an Armistice Day observance into Veterans Day, the holiday that we celebrate today.

Veterans of all our military forces should be recognized for keeping our country safe and this blog is a tribute to all who have honorably served our country.

Veterans have taken a simple Oath with a Huge Impact

Everyone who serves in the military takes an oath at a swearing in ceremony. They all swear to defend the country by these words, or similar words

“I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same”

While this not the entire oath, it is the key part—these folks are the front line of defending our way of life—pledging allegiance to the USA, and our Constitution.

Too many have paid the ultimate sacrifice with their life to make our country safe—they are special people who put others first—we have lost one member of my class in defense of our country.

For the vast majority, all the good traits that come from military service never leaves them. It is no wonder I am always drawn to these folks.

Our Family Service Traditions

Anne’s Dad, Alfred W Ludtke, served in World War II, as an officer of Gen MacArthur’s personal staff in the Philippines. After the war, he continued his service in the reserves and rose to the rank of LTC. Thank you A. W. for your service and sacrifice for country!

My dad, Major General (retired) Henry Carl Schrader, served for 33 years. He defended our country in WW II in Europe, was in the Korean War and last served in combat in Vietnam--a little over 7 years in combat. He was an engineer officer—loved to build things and he was excellent at it. You are my hero and inspiration Dad!

**My Dad’s Command Photo in Vietnam 1970**

Neither of these two brave men are with anymore—rest in peace—you made the world a better place.

**My Dad’s headstone at Arlington National Cemetery**

I served for 20 years as an infantry officer.

My nephew Lance, served in the Army as part of the 10th Mountain Division in Bosnia. After his military service, he continues to serve our nation as first a police officer and now a fireman.

**Hank, Lance (in his fire inspector uniform), Dalton and Mindy**

My niece, Mindy Kay is on active duty in the Air Force.

**Dalton with his Mom after the commissioning ceremony**

I had the honor in May of last year of helping continuing the family tradition by swearing in 2nd LT Dalton Andrews, Mindy’s son, during his graduation ceremonies from North Texas State University. He has started his active duty service as an Artillery Officer in January 2020.

Thanks for your service—you three young ones have made me proud (you can say those things when you are 71)—you helped and are helping to keep our country safe!

My West Point Class of 1971

Sometimes, the best way to describe how our country’s veterans help keep our country safe is to use examples from your own experience. Here are some of our class achievements (the data is about 95% to 99% accurate and any errors or omissions are mine alone but it still tells a great story of our class impact on the United States):

We graduated 729 men in our class of 1971.

According to our yearbook, here are the branches our classmates began their military service in: Air Defense Artillery 64; Adjutant General 4; Armor 81; Artillery Branch 148; Chemical Corps 1; Engineer 47; Finance 1; Infantry 243, Military Intelligence 33; Military Police 12; Medical Service 6; Ordnance 2; Signal 47; Transportation 7; and Quartermaster 1.

18 went into the Air Force and 3 joined the Navy. We had five foreign national cadets who returned to their countries.

We had 296 who retired from the armed forces, active or reserve (they served 20 years or more unless medically retired). Here is a breakdown of ranks achieved:

21 General officers {(3 Generals (4 stars--all foreign armies); 6 LTGs (3 stars), 6 MG (2 stars) and 6 BG (1 star)}; (one was an Air Force BG)

85 COL; 128 LTC; 30 MAJ; 1 CPT and 2 CAPTs in the Navy, (equivalent rank to an Army COL).

In the 5 to 40 years or so that the 729 members of my West Point graduating class of 1971 were on active duty, they helped keep the country safe by serving in 7 major conflicts.

Here is a list of those conflicts and the number of the class serving during these conflicts: Vietnam (12), Granada (2), Panama (9; 4 were Battalion Commanders), The Gulf War (26, 13 were Battalion Commanders), Bosnia (4, 1 was a Commanding General), Afghanistan (6, 2 were Commanding Generals) and Iraq (10, 3 were Commanding Generals).

For me, who did not serve in any of these conflicts, it is humbling to say the least.

They are perfect examples of selfless sacrifice—in the military you go where you are ordered to go. There are no excuses, you have a duty and an obligation. These guys are the rock stars of our class and I salute them!

We had 130 return to teach or support operations at West Point (some twice), to include 2 back-to-back Superintendents, and one was the Dean. 2 were Department Heads of Instruction (Math, and Law)

Six members of our class have been selected as Distinguished Graduates. The Association of Graduates (AOG) has only recognized three foreign nationals as Distinguished Grads and we have two of them in our class. Only three classes have six Distinguished Grads – 1950, 1951, and 1971. The Class of 1956 has seven.

Our class has some impressive members who have served in the Federal Government. They include: a US Senator; an Ambassador at Large, Department of State Coordinator for Counterterrorism; an Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; an Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Manpower; an Acting Director, Federal Transportation Administration; a person who served in the Department of State, an Administrator, US International Development; 2 Senior Executive Services federal employees; and 3 working in Department of Veterans Affairs.

At the local government level we have 2 state representatives, 2 mayors, a county supervisor, 2 state judges, and several who have served in various state and city level departments.

We have 21 medical doctors in a variety of specialties, 6 dentists and 1 veterinarian.

Almost all members of the class have earned at least one or more post graduate degrees. We have 17 who have earned PHDs in disciplines other than the medical field (28 total in the medical fields)—a total of 35.

We have 25 who are lawyers (probably more) and many CEOs of various sized companies and enterprises.

Several hold patents, and have written books.

We have one Olympian – Lyle Nelson (Biathlon) who represented his country 4 times—holds record for most appearances in Olympics by any West Point grad. We have one member of the class in the Army Sports Hall of Fame and he is also in the US Lacrosse National Hall of Fame.

I think it is fair to say in the soon to be 50 years since we graduated, our class has helped to make the United States a better place from the service and achievements by members of the class of 1971.

You have truly achieved a multitude of service to the nation! As the class moto says it has truly been “Professionally Done”.

A Quick Salute to Those Who Have Trusted Their Travels to Us

After all, this is a travel blog, so here are the 71 folks who have traveled with us: Steve Marsh, John Howard, Jim West, Jerry Wright, John Bantsolas, Jeff Rock, Gerry Cummins, Gordy Schnabel, Jack Pingle, Art Baker, Danton Steele, Gerry James, Ken Hartlein, Marc Erlandson, Jim Buck, Tom Mannle, Bill Barkovic, Jack Chiles. Bob Fitton, Bill Mattfeld, Bruce Litwin, Glen Barefoot and Dave Hardman. We also have 2 more classmates who have trips planned with us in the future. Thanks to my 25 classmates that put their trust in us!

Here are some photos of their trips:

**Jim, Tom, Hank and Bill are classmates**

**Hank, Jane and Len (‘75), Jim and Maureen (class of ‘71)**

**from left to right, Rand, Steve (‘71) and Barbara, Jim and Cindy, and John 2015 AmaWaterways River Cruise**

**Mary and Jack ‘71 at Angkor Watt in 2016**

**2016 AmaWaterways Cruise. On the far right John (‘71)**

**Jeff and Hank 2018 on an AmaWaterways cruise**

**Some of our 2019 D Day Tour Group. In the picture Gerry C, Jack P, Art B, Gerry J, and Jerry W. Not in the picture Gordy S all from ‘71.**

**Irene and John (‘71) on our 2019 AmaWaterways Cruise**

Our Family Support Groups

We should also recognize the families of our veterans—they also serve, maybe not directly, but they contribute behind the scenes and often make it possible for our vets to complete their missions. It is a rough life—separations, no notice deployments, constantly changing family situations that they must navigate often with little help.

There is a constant worry something will go wrong—the military is a dangerous business whose members often go in harm’s way even when just training. Stress and coping with stress is a way of life. Trust me, it is not easy.

Anne supported me 100% while at Fort Ord and until my retirement. Here is a picture of us before we were married at Fort Ord.

Here is just one example of the behind the scenes work of families (there are so many other examples I can’t tell you all of them but this one is personal)--the Arlington Ladies.

My Mom served as an Arlington Lady.

**My Mom and Dad’s Wedding Photo in 1942**

**My Mon in 2004 by her Kentucky Christmas Tree**

For those who do not know what an Arlington Lady is, every soldier who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery has a volunteer lady, who attends the service, to let our service members know their service is recognized and they are not buried alone. This is especially important for those who have sacrificed and may not have family members present. The ladies present cards of condolence to the next of kin from the military service chief and spouse on behalf of the service family, and from the Arlington Lady herself. One of the duties, is to try and remain composed, but after the ceremony, most of these ladies, cry their eyes out when alone—I know my Mom often did. I’m sure many think it could be me next getting the condolence card about a family member.

For these ladies, Memorial Day happened more than once a year—it happened every time they came to Arlington National Cemetery for a funeral.

I also know several wives of my 71 classmates have also served as Arlington Ladies.

They too, like all family members, deserve to hear “Thanks for keeping our country safe”

A Final Thought

Of all the services our government provides its citizens, there is none more important that defense of our nation and our way of life.

Today, less than 0.05% of our nation’s citizens are serving our country in the Armed Forces.

These men and women, deserve more than thanks for their service. Maybe next time you meet a veteran, why not say something like this “Thanks for keeping our country Safe!”

Trust me, those who have served will appreciate it more than you could ever understand—why not tell a vet or his family that you know your freedom and safety depends on those who serve?

For me it was an honor to serve and most vets I know feel the same way—they are proud and humble, who did what was required and made sacrifices for the common good.

To all my fellow veterans and their families and especially my 1971 West Point Classmates—Thanks for keeping our country safe!

Hank

Hank Schrader

November 5, 2020

Europe Destination

6 Nations Rugby--Great Travel Ideas!

Hank Schrader

November 5, 2020

Europe Destination

6 Nations Rugby—Great Travel Ideas

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

In a travel year like no other I can ever remember, Anne & I watched the end of the 6 Nations Rugby Tournament last Saturday on TV. England won but the real story is how different this year’s games were played and when they finished. As with everything else this crazy year, the competition started in February and was scheduled to end in March, but it was suspended until last week (31 October 2020) for the final 3 matches. There were no fans at the venues. It was strange but there was a lot of quality rugby being played by these national teams.

So, why am I writing about rugby on a travel blog? To me, it just points out how a pandemic has changed the world of travel and how much we miss visiting the 6 Nations that complete each year in my favorite rugby competition.

My game plan for this adventure is first to tell you a little about my rugby career, a little bit about the Six Nations Tournament and then how our travel has been associated with these 6 countries by telling you a favorite memory or two of our travels to each place.

It should be an interesting journey! Ready? Let’s go together!

My Rugby Career

I started playing rugby in 1972 as a member of the Ft. Riley-Kansas State Rugby Club, where I played for about 3 years and developed a passion for the game and the sport. Next was the Ft. Benning Rugby Club for 9 months or so, where I won the Coaches Award as the Outstanding Player in the Spring Season of 1976. My next team was the Monterrey Rugby Club for 9 months.

In Panama, I was Captain of the Atlantic Syndrome Rugby Club (where I won the Most Valuable Back Award) and later the Captain of Panama’s Pacific side and Captain of the Isthmus select 7-a-side team that competed in Mexico City. Then off to the Fort Bragg team for about 6 months or so. I also played for the Seattle Rugby Club while in grad school for a little over a year.

Upon arriving at West Point to teach physical education. I was fortunate enough to be selected as an assistant coach for the rugby team from 1982-1984. One of the highlights had to be escorting the team to play in England against the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst Rugby Team. What a thrill to visit the home of rugby and have our lads play at Twickenham Stadium, one of the venues of the Six Nations Championships!

**West Point Rugby Club at Sandhurst 1983**

I was also a member of the Old Gray Rugby Club.

My last team was a return to the Monterrey Rugby club and later as a member of a Monterrey Select team where we won the Inter-Service National Military Championship in May of 1985 at Fort Sill, OK.

In about 350 or so games, I think I have scored about 67 tries (like touchdowns in football), 16 Drop Kicks and 108 conversions (like a PAT in football) but I never really kept records.

The Six Nations Rugby Competition

The 6 teams in the tournament are England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Each team plays the other teams once, with home field advantage that alternates every other year. The competition began in 1883 as the Home Nations Championships with England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In 1910, France was added and it became known as the Five Nations Championship and I began following the tournament during my playing career. In 2000, Italy was added and the championship was renamed the Six Nations Championship.

It is the most important international rugby championship that is played in the Northern Hemisphere and features the key originators of rugby union play.

While the world cup championship is more important than the six nations, the six nations is for many fans the most interesting and meaningful rugby tournament—it is easy to follow since there are limited teams and rugby pride is rampant in the England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales countries—it is very much like our football super bowl.

It is my favorite rugby tournament—I just love the passion, the quality of play and the pride in supporting one’s national team! We were in Dublin at Kehoes Pub just before the Ireland and Scotland match one year and the atmosphere was electric—we had a ball!

So, with that in mind, let’s visit the six nation’s countries and learn about our favorite memories of each country.

England

It is easy to argue that England has changed the world more than any other country in the world’s history in the last 300 years. As the saying goes, the sun never set on the British Empire—at one time they ruled over 50 countries. England’s strength was and still is its sea power.

A place so steeped in history and fascinating places to visit, I’m going with a tranquil visit to the Cotswolds, a place that evokes calm and relaxation. I will say London was a close second, but somehow I think we managed to see a side of the more rural England and still visit some awesome nearby sights such as the country palace (Blenheim Palace), a great college town (Oxford) and a jaunt into Shakespeare’s hometown of Strafford-on-Avon.

The Cotswolds area in Gloucestershire is about 25 miles wide and 90 miles long. It is in the English countryside that is like stepping into a real life fairy tale area of rolling hills, sheep and quaint villages.

Our favorite village is Chipping Campden. It was a sheep market town that once was the most important source of wool in England. It was said that Cotswold wool was the best wool in the world and made many merchants here rich.

France

France is a diverse country that combines man-made beauty and natural beauty. From art, to great food, to philosophy, the French have been leaders for the rest of the world. One way to describe this country is “L’art de Vivre”—the art of living.

I could easily spend 6 months traveling around France, but I decided to pick Paris, as it is one of Anne’s favorite, there is such a wide array of things to do and see, it is near enough for great day trips but it is the small café’s and bistros I love the best.

Yes, the art of living—enjoy these pictures!

Ireland

Ireland is the 3rd largest island in Europe. It was ruled by the English until 1949, when 26 counties formed the Republic of Ireland and 6 counties became Northern Ireland. It became a member of the EU in 1973.

I’ve picked two favorites here—Dublin and a country estate—Mt. Falcon.

In Dublin, perhaps one of our best experiences was in Kehoes in Dublin prior to the Ireland vs. Scotland rugby match in 2011. This is a Traditional Irish Heritage Bar, established in 1803. The place was packed, both sides had excited fans and the Guinness flowed. Kilts on the Scots mixed in with Green Irish team jerseys and the banter was non-stop, pointing out the merits of one side versus the other side deficiencies.

Other great sights in Dublin are the wonderful painted doors, the Guinness Storehouse, and the Book of Kells.

The other memorable place was a stay in the country manor of Mount Falcon in County Mayo. This former estate of the Knox family is now a luxury 4 star resort.

Italy

This unique country with so many famous sights has 20 regions that have their own distinct character. This peninsula country is about 850 miles long and 150 miles wide. It has over 5,000 miles of coastline. It is a land of food and wine and the “sweet life” but still is the world’s 7th largest industrial power.

There are so many good choices, this was perhaps the most challenging country to narrow it down, but I decided to go with Rome. There is so much history of the ancient sights, the Vatican, the shopping but my favorites are visiting the vibrant squares that are markets during the day and al fresco restaurants at night.

**Campo de Fiori Flower Market—turns into liviey night spot**

One of our great adventures in Rome was a food tour led by Hande Leimer, owner of Vino Roma. We visited a Rome Market where all the produce comes directly from the growers. We visited the market, some food shops and cafes, and ended with a geleteria!

If you truly want to understand a different country, you have to participate in their daily lives.

Scotland

Scotland has two regions—the Lowlands, an urbanized area, and the Highlands, a nature lover’s area of mountainous type terrain, with over 280 hills and mountains over 3000 feet or more that is dotted with deep lakes called lochs.

Edinburgh is the winner here, as it has so much to see and do. Anne has some real Scottish heritage and I have been allowed to come along and learn about clans and the Scottish way of life. On the Royal Mile, you can visit 2 castles, see key sights and even buy a kilt, as we did.

If you only have a day or two, the choice has to be Edinburgh, but I’d stay longer and see some of the highlands also!

Wales

Wales is only 170 miles long and 60 miles wide. It has 750 miles of scenic coast. It has its own unique language that has survived to present day, although almost all speak both English and Welsh. It also has a passion for rugby that makes it the number one sport in the country.

I can’t do just one here, since one was among the most memorable trips we ever took.

Our most memorable trip has to be Anne’s 60th Birthday, when we stayed at a vineyard about twenty miles outside Cardiff. We attended a cooking school with perhaps at that time the most famous chef in Wales, Angela Grey. She taught us how to make some classic French dishes in her cooking school at Llanerch Vineyards. We made Coq au Vin Blanc (Chicken in White Wine Sauce), Lyonnaise Potatoes and Crêpes

The second has to be our stay in Conwy, Wales—a small walled city with a great castle (you knew somehow I had to get another castle into this blog) and a chance to really get down with the locals in their pubs.

My Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed this unique rugby tour of the 6 Nations through our eyes!

We hope this inspires you to dream about European travel—and then take action when travel restrictions are lifted! We will be ready to help!

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
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Hank Schrader

October 29, 2020

Europe Travel

Hank's European Geography Quiz

Hank Schrader

October 29, 2020

Europe Travel

Hank’s European Geography Quiz

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

Here is a little fun for you (I think we could all use a little fun right now)—25 Quiz Questions to challenge your knowledge about European Geography.

I am a former high school World Geography and AP Human Geography teacher and coupled with our travel experiences, we have learned a lot about Europe and want to share our knowledge with you--hopefully you will enjoy this quiz!

I will first ask the question—there may even be a hint to help you, then a picture related to the question, and finally the answer.

It should be fun! OK, class is in session—Good Luck!

The Quiz

1) Q. Most of us remember the oldie song “Ferry Cross the Mersey”. It was by Gerry and the Pacemakers. So if you rode this ferry, what city would you be in?

**We visited this city in 2017 on our Azamara British Isle’s cruise**

**This is a picture inside an actual ferry across the Mersey—the Zeebrugge!**

A. Liverpool, England. Gerry and the Pacemakers were part of the “Mersey beat” scene. The song refers to the River Mersey which flows past Liverpool, England.

2) Q. The Danube River starts in Germany and flows to the Black Sea. It also flows through the capitals of four nations—the most of any other river in the world. Name the four capital cities.

**You would see this castle/fortress at one of these capital cities.**

A. Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungry; Bratislava, Slovakia and Belgrade Serbia

3) Q. There are 2 countries in Europe that are on both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. They both have large coasts and famous beaches. Can you name them?

**This is a port in the Atlantic Ocean for one of these countries**

**Here is another port in a different country for this quiz.**

A. France & Spain

4) Q. Great Britain is comprised of 4 countries—England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Which country does not have its own official flag?

**London England Parliament Build with the Union Jack proudly flying above it.**

A. . The only official flag of Northern Ireland is the Union Jack. The Ulster Banner was used by the government of Northern Ireland from 1953 to 1973 but it was abolished by an act of parliament in 1973. While not the official flag, some still display it and it is sometimes used in some international sporting competitions.

5) Q. One of my favorite train rides is through the Brenner Pass. Can you name the two countries on either side of the Brenner Pass?

A. Austria and Italy. This mountain pass through the Alps is one of the principal passes in the eastern Alpine range since the mountains here are at a lower altitude than many other Alps Mountain Passes. The scenery is great during the train ride and dairy cattle graze in the alpine pastures.

6. What US state is named after a Greek Island? This Greek Island once had one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World at its harbor entrance. (Hint—my classmate from West Point is one of the 2 Senators. It is a very small state.)

Colossus of Rhodes, artist's impression, 1880. Public Domain Wikipedia

A. Rhode Island. Rhodes, Greece is a popular island and tourist destination, especially for its Medieval Old Town. In ancient times, at the entrance of its harbor was the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World.

7. Q. London and Paris are both located on rivers. Name the two rivers.

Here is one of the rivers—these love locks no longer exist—the weight keep causing the rails to collaspe!

A. London is on the Thames. Paris is on the Seine.

8. Q. There is one European country located on the Adriatic Sea that has only one island. It is not on the sea, but on a beautiful lake. Part of this beauty is the rugged mountain range near the lake, the Julian Alps. Can you name it?

This is a picture of the island. You can clearly see the steeple of the famous church on this island.

A. Slovakia. The only island is on Lake Bled, and there are no salt water islands. The island’s name is Bled Island. Located on this small island is the Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage Church. The church has a famous tradition—local grooms carry their brides up the 99 steps, while the bride remains silent during the trip—it is said to bring them happiness in the future.

9. Q. Name one of the two cities in France that is known as “the Venice of the North.” They are referred to Venice because of its canals.

**This is a picture of one of the canals.**

A. Strasbourg or Colmar. The picture is one of the canals in Strasbourg.

10. Q. There are several tiny countries in Europe—I call them Little European Treasures. Name 2 of these countries or city-states that are land locked (no direct access to the sea)

Here is a picture of one of the tiny countries I call Little Treasures

A. In Italy, the Vatican and San Marino. The other 2 countries are Lichtenstein, and Andorra.

11. Q. My father fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Most of the key fighting took part in the dense forest of Wallonia in Belgium and in Luxembourg. What is the name of this forest region? (Hint—it is also the US military official name for the battle).

**Luxembourg City—it is a short distance to this famous battlefield site.**

A. Ardennes. The Ardennes Counteroffensive was the last major German offensive campaign of WW II. The Ardennes is in the Southeastern corner of Belgium and in Luxembourg. We are working on a possible trip to this battlefield and museums in 2022 that we would escort.

12. Q. Sometimes the name of a place can tell you what you might expect to see or do at place. One our favorite German Cities is “Baden Baden”. So what does “Baden” mean? (I’ll accept one of two answers here—and it’s not the famous casino!)

A. Bath or Spa. Baden in German means “to bathe”. Wikipedia says “Baden Baden” means the town of Baden in the territory of Baden. Bad in German is translated to mean a Spa town.

13. Q. Europe is a continent of peninsulas (a peninsula has water on 3 sides)—it has 5 peninsulas. The Jutland Peninsula is the smallest. Can you name the country that occupies most of this peninsula? (Hint—a lot of Vikings came from this country).

**This is the very end of a portion of this peninsula. This is Kronborg Castle.**

A. Denmark occupies most of the Jutland Peninsula. A very small portion of the peninsula is part of Germany

14. Q, Another peninsula question—remember Europe has 5 major peninsulas. Only one of these 5 is occupied by one country and two enclaves (an enclave is a country inside another country). Can you name the country that occupies this peninsula? (Hint—the name of the country is also the name of the peninsula. I call these 2 small countries Little Treasures and one of these is the smallest country in Europe).

**This is the colorful town of Portofino**

A. Italy occupies all the land mass of the Italian Peninsula. The enclaves are San Marino and the Vatican (the smallest country in Europe).

15. Q. What mountain range separates France from the Iberian Peninsula? (Hint—the tiny country of Andorra is in this mountain range—one of what I call the Little European Treasures).

**The foothills of this mountain range**

A. The Pyrenees Mountains separate France from Spain. The mountain range is about 305 miles long and its tallest peak, Mt. Anelo, is 11,168 feet tall.

16. One of the islands of Scotland is famous for a small breed of horses—they are often called ponies. It is also known for a special breed of herding dogs—the slang name for these dogs is also a great hint to the name of this island. Can you name this northern most island of Scotland?

**A Scottish Island but it is not the island that is the answer.**

A. The Shetland Islands—home of the Shetland ponies and “shelties” or Shetland Sheepdogs. It is a popular stop for cruise ships, as many tourists like this unspoiled destination.

17. One famous square in London commemorates a famous naval battle in which the English defeated the combined French & Spanish Fleets in 1805 as part of the Napoleonic Wars. The hero of that battle was an admiral named Lord Horatio Nelson and he stands tall above the square on a column. What is the name of the square (it is also the name of the cape in southwest Spain where the naval battle took place)?

A. Trafalgar Square.

18. Q. Two European Countries claim to be the originator of French Fries (Pomme Frites)? Can you name them? What are French Fries known as in the United Kingdom and Ireland?

A. Belgium and France both claim to be the originator of French Fries. Both have reasonable claims and I don’t favor one over the other. French fries are called chips in the British Isles. They are “chips” of the whole potato—hence you might have heard of Fish and Chips, the popular pub dish in the British Ilse’s. What we call potato chips in the US are known as crisps since they are crispy!

19. Q. One of the most renowned train rides of the world starts in Paris and ends in Istanbul. What is this train rides most commonly known as? (Hint—Agatha Christie wrote a famous story about this train ride for her Belgium detective, Herucle Poirot and it has been made into several movies.)

**You might see this famous landmark in Istanbul**

A. The Orient Express. The official name of this luxury train ride is the Venice-Simplon—Orient Express. If you want to go bring your tux and formal wear and a lot of cash—it costs $19,900 or more for a suite cabin shared by two!

20. Q. One famous English King, Henry VIII, did not live in London after 1529. What is the name of the palace that Henry VIII lived in after 1529 (by the way, it’s a great day trip from London)?

**Henry VIII re-enactor at this famous residence**

A. Hampton Court Palace. The Palace was Henry VIII’s favorite royal residence. Among the highlights of the palace are Henry’s State Rooms, the vast Tudor kitchens and over 60 acres of enchanting gardens.

21. Q. One of the themes of Geography is called human-environment interaction—it focuses on how humans adapt to and modify the environment in which they live. What man-made feature (canal) allows travelers to cruise on both the Rhine and Danube Rivers without ever having to leave water? Completion of this canal was one of the reasons why so many modern luxury riverships cruise in Europe, as completion of this canal allowed for a 14 day cruise on the two rivers of the Rhine and the Danube. Did both Charlemagne and Ludwig I of Bavaria both try to build the canal prior to its completion in 1992 (True or False).

**This town on the Danube is the starting point of this canal**

A. The Main-Danube Canal connects the Rhine River to the Danube River, using the Main tributary. It is 106 miles long, has 16 locks and was completed in 1992. True, both Charlemagne and Ludwig I dreamed of linking these two rivers.

22. This city used to be called Byzantium and later Constantinople. This is where Europe meets Asia, separated by the Bosporus Strait. What is a strait? What is the name of this city today?

A. A strait is a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two larger bodies of water. The Bosporus Strait connects the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The current name of this key city is Istanbul but some countries like Greece still call Istanbul by its older name Constantinople.

23. Q. This city has been called Europe’s ultimate walled fortress city. It is located in the southeast of France. What is its name?

A. Carcassonne, France. Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands. In its present form, it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defensive walls encircling the castle and surrounding buildings, its streets and its fine Gothic cathedral. It is the largest walled city in Europe.

24. We have all heard of the pied piper of Hamelin, a fairy tale written by the Grimm Brothers and others. In what European country is Hamelin located?

The Pied Piper leads the children out of Hamelin. Illustration by Kate Greenway. Public Domain Wikipedia

A. It is located in Lower Saxony, Germany (northwestern Germany). The town of Hamelin has a fine old town area and on Sundays during the summer months actors recreate the Grimm Fairy tale of the pied piper of Hamelin. According to this fairy tale, the pied (pied means dressed in multicolored clothing) piper is hired to lure a rat infestation away from Hamelin. Using his magic pipe, the music puts a spell on the rats and the rats follow him to the Weser River, where they all drown. When the town refused to pay him the agreed upon sum, he later uses his pipe to lead the children of the town away in revenge to a cave where they were never seen again. On the main street of Hamelin, it is illegal today to play music in public except during these recreations!

25. Q. What two European Cities, located on the Danube River, where united and became the capital of Hungary? What is the name of the bridge that united these two cities (the English nickname is okay)?

**A picture of the famous bridge that unites these 2 cities**

A. Buda and Pest united to become Budapest. They are united by the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. It is more commonly known as the Chain Bridge. This was the first permanent bridge built across the Danube in Budapest. It was built from 1840 to 1849. It is 375 meters long and 16 meters wide. This bridge connected the towns of Buda and Pest and was the major reason these two towns became Budapest. In 1989, it was the site of a protest for freedom and independence from communist rule. Today, the bridge is a symbol of Hungarian liberty.

Bonus Question

26. What is Anne’s favorite Europe City (hint—it is in Belgium, begins with the letter B, has canals and can be spelled two different ways)

A. Brugge, Belgium! The alternate spelling is Bruges.

My Final Thoughts

So, how did you do? Do you deserve an A on this quiz? The good news is it is not graded—it is for fun! I hope you learned something new about our favorite travel destination--we sure miss traveling to Europe!

We hope this inspires you to dream about European travel—and then take action when travel restrictions are lifted! We will be ready to help!

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

October 22, 2020

Best Value Travel

The Benefit to You from Our Travel Experiences

Hank Schrader

October 22, 2020

Best Value Travel

The Benefit to You from Our Travel Experiences

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

Sometimes, we just have to “toot our own horn” so to speak.

We have unique first-hand knowledge about European travel and especially European River Cruises. We use that knowledge to plan great trips.

The benefit to you is a better vacation.

Our goal is simple--to help you get a better understanding of European travel and the huge value to you of a European river cruise vacation and experience based on our vast knowledge about these travel options. Then you can decide if it is the right option for your vacation.

Ready, to learn more?—let’s GO!

What We Do For You

We pride ourselves in providing travel advice that benefits you in 4 ways. They are:

We design vacations that matches your travel style.

We will help you reach your—Dream Destinations.

We are your travel solution and inspiration!

We design customized trips that are just right for you.

The Importance of First-Hand Knowledge

You want a travel professional who knows from first-hand experience what you will experience on your vacation—that’s us!

We have been on over 25 ocean cruises, and taken 18 week-long Europe River Cruises.

We try to travel to Europe 2-3 times every year, usually escorting clients nowadays.

I have been traveling to Europe for 49+ years, Anne since 1989.

We will provide you amazing information on European trips, since we have written 50 European Cities Destination Guides. We have personally visited 43 of the 50 Cities—most with several days visits. Most of our guides include a PDF slide show of the most important sights to see at that city.

Our Guides provide you a quick, portable summary of 1) the best sights and things to do, 2) transportation option to get around in the city and 3) information about possible day trips to nearby sights that can be easily visited to enhance your vacation experience.

We have written 51 European River Cruise Port Guides. These guides have great value, as they help you decide if a particular cruise route is right for your trip and to help you decide upon the included tours during the trip. It also ensures you won’t miss anything during the visit.

The bottom line is that we use this knowledge to match you to the right vendor, at the right time, to get you the best possible vacation—a true benefit to you!

This a great way to help you decide if we are the right folks to help plan your next vacation, especially for European Vacations and European river cruises.

A Blog Example—Why Buy a Europe River Cruise from Us?

As you may know, we have written over 75 blogs about European River Cruises. Here is one example, detailing why you should use us to buy your European River Cruise.

Summary--There are about 75,000 to 100,000 professional travel agents in business in the United States (at least in 2019—not so sure there are that many in 2020 due to the pandemic and resulting crippling blows to our industry).

There are also the giants of the internet (Travelocity, Expedia, etc.) and wholesalers (Costco). You can also buy direct from many travel vendors. To be sure, you the consumer, have a lot of choices and ways to buy travel.

With the plethora of options, it got me to thinking—Why should you buy a river cruise or for that manner, any travel from us, Anne & Hank Schrader, of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC?

I will begin by answering this question by explaining what the Europe River Cruise Trends are and then talk about sellers of travel (travel agents and others).

For sellers of travel, my game plan here is to define our competition first, and then tell you who we are, what we stand for and who are customers are.

Finally, I will explain why you should buy a river cruise from us.

Why it Matters—you have lots of choices and deciding if we are the right folks to use is critical to your success. Europe river cruising is a wonderful vacation but is often sold by agents who just don’t know enough about the product to make a good vacation an exceptional one that exceeds your expectations.

We gained that knowledge by earning certification as specialists in several river cruise companies but primarily by cruising the European rivers on the companies we sell. There is no substitute for first-hand knowledge.

Did we convince you that we are the right folks to use to plan your Europe river cruise?

Here is the link to this blog

Why Buy a Europe River Cruise From Us?

An Example of How One of Our Trips Enhanced a Tour We Led

In preparation for our D Day Tour we led in 2019, we made a recon visit to Bayeux, France. We inspected the hotel we had reserved (3 years earlier) for most of 33 guests that we guided on our 75th Anniversary of D Day tour. Since the hotel did not have an elevator, we selected rooms for guests that would be best for them.

**Churchill Hotel in Bayeux—this picture was taken during our 27 November 2018 recon visit**

We also scouted out restaurants to recommend to our guests during our 4 day stay in Bayeux, since meals were not included in the tour.

**La Din’nette—one of the several good restuarants in Bayeux we found**

We also determined our original plan of moving our clients on the tour from the small Bayeux train station with only stairs to Paris for the final night of the tour was not feasible or desirable. We had to get our vendor to provide a round trip motor coach for the transfer from Paris to Bayeux and then return to Paris. This visit enhanced our successful tour and prevented a potential disaster for our guests.

While some of our clients were aware of these efforts, it is the behind the scenes efforts that take a trip from good to excellent. We pride ourselves in providing exceptional experiences and work hard to deliver them to our guests.

**Part of Our 2019 D Day Tour at the Airborne Museum on 6 June 2019**

**Anne and Hank with our 2018 TravelAge West Wave Award—a huge honor for a small travel agency**

Pre and Post River Cruise Extensions—Our Knowledge will Enhance Your Trip

Most folks want to extend their stay either pre or post (usually both) in combination of their European river cruise. We excel in comparing the vendor’s offers compared to doing the trip on your own. Here is a great example of how our knowledge can enhance your trip.

**Astronomical Clock on the Town Hall in Prague Old Town Square**

Prague is a common pre or post cruise extension for river cruises. On our trips to Prague, we have guided clients and conducted recon visits to prepare our city guide.

On one trip, we were able to compare the offering of one vendor, AmaWaterways, of their extension to an independent trip by our clients or an extension led by us. We were able to go on a guided tour of some of the sights led by a guide hired by AmaWaterways and got to compare our services compared to their offering.

This is a key business differentiator between our services as compared to our competitors. We could now help our clients decide the best option for them during this segment of their vacation.

My Final Thoughts

It is my sincere hope you agree with us, that we have met our two goals of this blog—we can provide you great useful, information that will enhance your next vacation and we are the right folks to help you plan your next vacation.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, especially a pricey Europe river cruise, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

October 15, 2020

Ocean Cruise

Our Azamara British Isle Cruise

Hank Schrader

October 15, 2020

Ocean Cruise

Our Azamara British Isle Cruise

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

It has been quite some time since I wrote a blog about ocean cruising.

There is great value in smaller cruise ships and the more I thought about it, the more I need to communicate how I believe the smaller ocean cruise ships will lead the way on cruising’s return to our oceans.

So, today, I’d like to tell you about our 14 day British Isle cruise on the Azamara Journey in 2017. When you get to see all we were able to experience, I think you might want to consider this wonderful type of cruise for your next vacation when it is safe to return to the oceans and seas of our world.

Ready?—let’s go!

Overview

We sailed on the Journey in July 2017.

The voyage started in Southampton, England. We visited Ireland, Wales and ended up in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Ship Features

This is a well-designed ship. The Journey carries 694 passengers.

There are 3 dining areas. Discoveries is the main dining room. The Deck 9 buffet restaurant is called Windows. Patio is an outdoor a la carte restaurant.

The ship also features two specialty restaurants, "Aqualina" and "Prime C".

**A beef eater’s delight—my prime rib at Prime C!**

As always, Anne took a great picture of our stateroom.

Route Overview—13 Night British Open Voyage

We boarded the Journey on 19 July 2017 at Southampton, England.

On the voyage, we visited St, Peters Point, Channel Islands, Cork (Cohb) Ireland, Holyhead, Wales, Liverpool, England, Dublin, Ireland, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Glasgow (Greencock), Scotland, Isle of Skye (Portree) Scotland, Invergordon, Scotland, and Edinburgh (Leith), Scotland.

This was a special Perry Golf cruise. Many on the cruise got to play golf in most ports and they also got to attend the final day of the British Open.

St Peter Point, Channel Islands

The Channel Islands are located in the English Channel. St. Peter Point has a population of about 18,000 folks. This is a picturesque place and has a great castle in St. Peter Point.

Here are some pictures:

Cork (Cohb) Ireland

The port of Cohb was a gateway from Ireland for many who immigrated to the United States—in fact over 17 million. It is also the final port that the Titanic stopped at prior to the tragic sinking after departing in route to the United States. We took the local train into to Cork and enjoyed this visit very much.

Here are a few pictures:

**Annie Moore Statue in Cobh. She was the first immigrant to arrive at Ellis Island. The statue includes her 2 brothers.**

**Sign explaining the Annie Moore statue.**

Liverpool, England

If you are a baby boomer like me, most grew up loving rock and roll music. As I’m writing this, I’m listening to 60’s and 70’s rock, as I do most days in the office. So, a chance to see the home of the Beatles was awesome.

**Display of the Cavern Club in the Beatles Story Exhibition**

**The famous photo from an album cover on display in the Beatles Story**

Dublin, Ireland

Returning to Dublin was a treat. The capital of Ireland never gets old. We decided to visit the Guinness Storehouse and there is nothing like a pint in the home of this world famous brew.

**One of the displays on how Guinness is brewed**

**Anne with a pint of Guinness and her camera at the Storehouse**

Belfast, Northern Ireland

We had never been to Belfast and this wonderful town did not disappoint.

**Alfred Tower Belfast, Northern Ireland**

Glasgow (Greencock), Scotland

In Glasgow, I chose to take a tour and visit Stirling Castle. Stirling Castle defends the passage between the Lowlands and the Highlands and is said to be the most strategic place in all of Scotland. After two epic medieval battles, the Battle of Sterling (1297, with forces led by Braveheart, William Wallace) and the Battle of Bannockburn (1314 with forces led by Robert the Bruce), the castle became the primary residence of the Stuart monarchs.

It is huge and an impressive castle.

**One of the many halls in Stirling Castle**

Isle of Skye (Portree) Scotland

This is a remote, wild area for the most part and a unique visit that would be quite hard to do except on a cruise ship. It is nicknamed the “Misty Isle” and has some of the best scenery in all of Scotland. The village of Portree has about 3,000 folks and is the largest settlement on the Isle of Skye—the locals say there are more sheep than people on the isle.

I took the Circular Scenic Tour and Dunvegan Castle Tour. Dunvegan castle has continuously been inhabited for 800 years (most of any Scottish castle). It is the ancestral home of the Chiefs of the Clan MacLeod.

I really liked the gardens.

Invergordon, Scotland

This is a very good look at the Scottish Highlands. Here are some pictures of Invergordon:

I took a very good tour here to Cawdor Castle and Gardens, which included a stop at the famous battle of Culloden, were the forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie of the Jacobite rebellion (a struggle to retake the British throne by the Stuarts) were defeated in 1746 by the English forces. This battle ended the power of the Scottish Highlands clans and laws enacted repressed much of the Scottish culture.

The ancestral home of the Campbell’s of Cawdor, the castle complex has been inhabited for over 600 years. Located in the Scottish Highlands, it is more a mansion than castle, despite its’ outward appearance as a defensive castle, with some awesome gardens.

Edinburgh (Leith), Scotland

Perhaps one of the more interesting areas of the British Isles, we really enjoyed our chance to return to Edinburgh.

My Final Thoughts

One of the advantages of small ship cruising on Azamara is longer stays in port, and I think you can see how exciting and educational this 13 night cruise was. It was an awesome look at the British Isles

We hope this inspires you to dream about European travel—and then take action when travel restrictions are lifted! We will be ready to help!

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

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