Hank Schrader

February 15, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

Comparing Rhine River Cruise Itineraries

Hank Schrader

February 15, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

Comparing Rhine River Cruise Itineraries

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

We always say that the most important reason to go on a river cruise is what you get to see and experience. The Rhine River Route from Amsterdam to Basel or the reverse is the second most popular route for US guests. The route allows guests to see 4 different countries and many of the cruise companies stop at common ports.

There is a significant difference between company offerings, when you consider what tours are included in the cruise fare and which lines charge for optional tours.

So, let’s explore together to compare the offering of various lines and learn about tours on the Rhine River.

Rhine River Overview

Born in the heart of the Alps, the mighty Rhine flows through 4 countries—Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. On this amazing journey, you will travel through the famous Alsace region of wine and quaint villages, sail the stunning Rhine River Gorge to view the 40 castles that dot the hillsides, and port in both Cologne and Amsterdam.

River Cruise Ports and Sights on the Rhine

To name the ports, I have decided to sail from north to south for most of these Rhine cruises. Here is a list of prime ports:

Amsterdam, Cologne, Koblenz, Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim, Mainz, Speyer, Strasbourg, and Basel are actually on the Rhine or very close like Strasbourg.

There are several sights that are near some of the ports that can enhance your trip. Stops like Lahneck Castle, Cochem Castle and Marksburg Castle have tours of some very interesting fortifications that you can visit inside the castle. There are tours to Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Riquewihr, a visit to the Black Forest and Frieberg.

Note that not every port is available on every sailing, as a few sailing trips are themed cruises.

The offerings are also changing due to weather conditions, water levels, and other factors.

For each line, I have provided a Day-by-Day Route Summary with our Port Pictures. This should make the comparisons far more meaningful.

AmaWaterways

The two routes are called the Captivating Rhine (north to south) and Enchanting Rhine (south to north). AmaWaterways does not charge extra for any tours on these 2 routes. Ports are Amsterdam, Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim, Speyer, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Riquewihr, Freiburg and Basel (only tours on the Enchanting Rhine route of Basel). On the Enchanting Rhine there is an exclusive Lahneck Castle tour.

Most stops offer 3 tour options at each port. They are particularly strong in active bike and hiking tours and are the only cruise line with a dedicated wellness host who conducts daily classes and escorts the hiking and biking tours.

Amawaterways also has themed cruises on this route. Our favorite is wine themed cruises that have a onboard wine host who offers tastings and usually a wine pairing dinner.

There are pre and post tours. They include Amsterdam. Lucerne, Zurich and Lake Como on the Rhine Castles and Swiss Alps itinerary.

The Captivating Rhine

Avalon

The most booked route on the Rhine River offered by Avalon is named the Romantic Rhine.

The ports visited are Amsterdam, Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim, Mainz, Strasbourg, Briesach (gateway to the Black forest and the route ends in Basel).

Avalon has 3 types of tours. They are Classic, Discovery, and Active. They also have themed cruises on this route.

There are some optional tours that require an extra charge. During the spring, they offer a Kurkenhof gardens tour.

Romantic Rhine

Emerald Waterways

Jewels of the Rhine is the route that goes from Basel to Amsterdam. There are 5 included tours, 3 active tours and 2 Emerald Plus tours included in the fare. Tours to Freiburg, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Cologne city tour and extra cooking demonstration tour) and Amsterdam.

Extra charge tours include Riquewihr, and Cochem Castle.

The Jewels of the Rhine

Scenic

There are 20 included tours in the Rhine Highlights itinerary. In Amsterdam there are 3 tours—city tour or ,canal cruise or bike tour and excursion to Edam and Volendam. There are 3 tours offered in Cologne. Also 3 tours in Koblenz include a visit to Cochem Castle. In Heidelberg you can visit the castle or tour the old town, that night there is a special private evening concert at the Baroque Palace of Rastatt. At the Baden-Baden port stop, you can visit the famous spa town, or take an active hike or visit the Mercedes-Benz factory. In Strasbourg, you can tour the old town or go on a wine tasting Mittelbergheim in the Alsace and sample some of the best wines the region has to offer or tour the Black Forest. Your final port of Basel is just to disembark.

There are no extra charges or optional tours—all tours are included with Scenic.

Rhine Highlites

Tauck

Tauck’s route is called the Romantic Rhine. The tour in Amsterdam starts with a city drive, then a canal boat tour and a visit to the world famous Rijksmuseum. Next, in Cologne, you will visit the old town by bus and take a walking tour of this unique city. That evening there will be a Tauck Exclusive private evening featuring a cocktail reception, dinner and entertainment at Schloss Ehreshoven. In Koblenz, you can either take a bike tour or a tour of the old city. You have 2 great choices in your next port—Speyer or Heidelberg. In Strasbourg, you will have a morning tour of the old town, In the afternoon you can stay in Strasbourg or visit the spa town of Baden-Baden. On your last day of touring, you will have the choice of visiting Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus or you can take a wine tasting at Château Haut-Koenigsbourg along the Alsace Wine Route.

There are no optional tours or extra charges on your Tauck cruise.

The Romantic Rhine—Amsterdam to Basel

Uniworld

The Castles Along the Rhine is the name of the route offered by Uniworld. Your tour starts in Cologne with a walking tour of the old town. There are 3 choices in Boppard for Day 3 of the cruise. They are Koblenz walking tour; Marksburg Castle Visit; and a Boppard Village Stroll. On Day 4, after sailing on the Rhine Gorge, you have a Castle Vollrads wine tasting. Day 5 is their signature visit to the Weinessiggut Doktorenhof estate for a special vinegar tasting in their Make Travel Matters program. Day 6 is a walking tour of Strasbourg. Day 7 is a tour of Freiberg or a visit to the village of Kaysersberg. The tour ends in Basel where you disembark.

There is a special Generations program focusing on families on this route and have special tours.

There are optional tours that require an extra charge. There is a Gourmet Vinegar Cooking Class and a Romantic Heidelberg tour choices on Day 5. On Day 6 there is a Natural Beauty and Living History which includes a walking tour of the Vogtsbauernhof outdoor museum.

Castles Along the rhine

Viking

The Viking route is called the Rhine Getaway. As with the other lines it covers 4 countries. Viking only has 6 included tours—the other tours require an extra charge. Day 2 is a visit to the famous windmills at Kinderdijk. On Day 3, you will arrive in Cologne and the included tour is a guided visit to the Old town On Day 4, you will have a walking tour of Koblenz in the morning or a chance to see Marksburg Castle. Later in the day, after sailing through the Rhine Gorge, you will have free time or optional tours in Rüdesheim. The Day 5 tour is a tour of Speyer. Day 6 is a guided tour of Strasbourg. Day 7 is a tour of the Black Forest.

On this route, it is quite possible to get per person charges of more than 500 Euros per person, depending on your choices.

Rhine Getaway

Our Final Thoughts

This may be an excellent start to understanding the difference offered between the 7 companies we follow.

I think you can see why we are in the business—it just is awesome to help folks have a great vacation. We hope you enjoyed this report.

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!

ANNE has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Serving as the President of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC, since 2016, she is uniquely experienced professional travel advisor with over 26 years’ experience in the travel industry. Among her numerous certifications, she is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification and she is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA. Having traveled often to Europe since 1989, she has expanded on her certification as a Destination Specialist in Western Europe (DS) with extensive first-hand experience in luxury vacations. She holds numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors. An expert photographer, she delights in capturing the true essence of destinations to share with all.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 50 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

February 8, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

Budapest, Hungary

Hank Schrader

February 8, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

Budapest, Hungary

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

This is a port guide about Budapest.

So, let’s explore together and learn about this wonderful city.

Overview

Perhaps the most stunning city on any river cruise, Budapest is actually 2 cities rolled into one. By far the most impressive city on the Danube, Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a town we love to visit.

Hungary is a landlocked country with no access to an ocean or sea, so the Danube River is a vital part of the country, and many important cities grew up along this key waterway along with Budapest.

It is really two towns that were separate but later became united—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. We have led tours here, but the most important sights are around the Danube River area—anything that requires a longer distance than the river area is difficult to see on your own without transportation.

Some History of Budapest and Hungary

Perhaps the best place to start is with the Magyars who started settling the area around Budapest in 896. The Magyars were nomadic tribes constantly on the move around the Caucasus and Káma River areas. In 1000 the first king of Hungary, Stephen I began consolidating power. Then came a series of conquests of this area—first the Mongols in 1241 who sacked and almost completely destroyed the city.

The next invaders were the Ottomans who took Pest in 1526 and 15 years later conquered Buda. The Ottomans were driven out by the Hapsburgs around 1780. Hungary and Budapest then became part of the Austria-Hungary Empire who ruled the country until 1918. After a short attempt at democracy, in 1919 Hungary had a revolution which brought a communist regime to power and the country became known as Hungarian Soviet Republic.

WW II first resulted in German control of the city, then the Soviets after WW II until 1989.

What are Some of the Key Sights to See in Budapest?

I have tried to organize the sights into the way river cruise companies typically visit them on their tours in Budapest. There are two common tours—a bus ride up to the Castle District and then a walking tour and a panoramic bus tour of the sights on Andrassy Avenue. There are often onsite visits to St, Stephen’s Cathedral, perhaps the opera house, or the Central Market.

The Castle District

Buda Castle Hill--Elevated 168 meters (551 feet) above sea level, this striking area of Buda--the historic area of Buda--offers visitors the medieval Buda Castle, the Vienna Gate, the Magdalen Tower, and visits to two good museums.

The two best museums in the Buda Castle complex are the Hungarian National Gallery Museum and the Castle Museum.

If you are not on a river cruise tour, the easiest and most scenic way to the Buda Castle is to ride the Buda hill funicular to the top.

Fisherman’s Bastion--the cobblestone streets of the Fisherman's Bastion (the name of the bastion comes from Guild of Fishermen, who were responsible for defending that stretch of the city walls during the Middle Ages) on the Buda side, lead to a series of seven neo-Gothic towers. The seven towers of the Bastion represent the seven Magyar tribes that helped to settle the Magyar people in the Carpathian Basin. The structure provides an awesome panorama of the Danube River, the Parliament building and the Pest side of Budapest. Take bus 16 or 16A to Castle Hill if you are not on a river cruise tour.

Matthias Church—was founded in the 13th century. It is an impressive structure and was rebuilt several times during the tumultuous history of battles for control of this area.

Perhaps the most distinctive feature is the roof that is covered with the famous Zsolnay ceramic tiles, manufactured in the Hungarian town of Pecs.

Gellert Hill and the Citadel--For the best panorama of Budapest, Gellért Hill definitely is worth a visit. The old fortress and the statue of Liberty can be seen from a great distance. They are an important part of the cityscape. It is on the Buda side. Take bus #27 to get to this location.

Typical Driving Tour Sights Offered by River Cruise Companies

Most river cruise companies like to drive on Andrassy Avenue to get a good overview of sights not near the Danube River. Andrassy Avenue is a broad promenade of breathtaking neo-Renaissance architecture and home to many of Budapest’s must-see sites. Most pass by Heroes’ Square, the Franz Liszt Memorial House, the House of Terror, the Szechenyi Baths, and the City Park.

Heroes Square--The monumental square at the end of Andrássy Avenue sums up the history of Hungary by displaying statues that honor Hungary’s heroes. This iconic monument features depictions of the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars, who are believed to have led the Hungarian people from central Asia to the Carpathian basin. The millennium memorial commemorates the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of the Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin.

The Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Fine Arts are also located on this square. It is the entrance to the City Park. It is on the Pest side. To get there take Metro to Hosok tere (yellow line)

City Park--The largest green area of Budapest conceals the Castle of Vajdahunyad (www.mmgu.hu) (a castle with 21 types of architecture, it was created for an exhibition), the Széchenyi thermal bath (one of the largest and most famous thermal baths in the world), and the Zoo and the Amusement park. It is a beloved corner of the city for walking and relaxing. It is on the Pest side. Metro Széchenyi furdo (yellow line)

House of Terror—you need a strong stomach to visit this museum. This is the former headquarters of the ÁVH secret police. This building is witness to some of the darkest days of 20th-century Hungary. Exhibits have English signs. Metro stop Okyogon (Yellow line). (www.houseofterror.hu)

Dohány Synagogue Built in 1859, this is the second-largest working synagogue in the world (the largest is in New York City), and the second-oldest large building of those still standing. The synagogue has a rich, but tragic history; it was one of many detention areas for Jews during the Holocaust. A Jewish Museum next door traces the origins of Hungarian Judaism and features exhibits of ceremonial Judaica throughout the centuries. The museum periodically puts on excellent temporary exhibitions. The Holocaust Memorial and Heroes' Temple in the courtyard are well worth visiting.

Walking Tours and Sight Visits in Pest

St. Stephen’s Basilica--The largest Catholic Church in Budapest, where the most important relic of the Hungarian Catholicism, the Holy Right Hand of King St. Steven is kept. The panorama terrace offers a great view of the city if you are willing to climb the 142 steps to the top. It is on the Pest side.

The interior of the cathedral is a masterpiece of dramatic arches, marble and liberally applied gilding. Inside is one of Hungary’s most sacred artifacts, the Szent Jobb—meaning “Holy Right Hand—is the mummified right hand of St. Stephen.

Central Market Hall--the Central Market Hall is like a large treasure trove of fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, and culinary delicacies. The spacious market at the Pest end of Liberty Bridge (Szabadság híd) however is famous for its architecture too. Built at the turn of the 19-20. Centuries, it was one of the most modern indoor markets not only in Budapest but in the whole world. It is on the Pest side.

Hungarian Parliament--the monumental building of the Parliament is one of the biggest attractions of Budapest. The parliament building is the largest building in Budapest and the third largest parliament building in the world. Here are some facts about the size of this building—it has 691 rooms, 10 courtyards, and 12.5miles worth of stairs.

It hosts the diet and the crown jewels. Guided tours are organized 4 times a day. It is on the Pest side. Here are 3 pictures Anne took inside the parliament building on a tour:

Vaci Street and Danube Promenade--The bustling walking areas of the downtown offer famous cafés, terraces, elegant shops, boutiques, and theatres. There are great views of the Castle from the Danube Promenade. It is on the Pest side.

Chain Bridge--This was the first permanent bridge built across the Danube in Budapest. It was built between 1840 to 1849. It is 375m long and 16m wide. This bridge connected the towns of Buda and Pest and was a major reason the two towns became Budapest. In 1989, it was a site of protest for freedom and independence from communist rule. Today, the bridge is a symbol of Hungarian liberty.

Opera House--the Opera House has a fantastically ornate interior featuring frescoes by two of the best-known Hungarian artists of the day, Bertalan Székely and Károly Lotz. Outside of the building, you can see statues to Ferenc Erkel (composer of the Hungarian National Anthem) and Ferenc Liszt (Hungarian composer).

Guided tours are given daily at 3pm and 4pm (these can be arranged in English) are the only way to see the interiors unless you buy a ticket to a performance. Metro stop Opera (Yellow line). (www.opera.hu)

Have a dessert in Gerbeaud Cafe—famous for their handmade deserts. It opened in 1858 and has been a favorite of Budapest ever since then. (www.gerbeaud.hu/en)

Try Strudel at the First Strudel House of Budapest—located in an old building, this establishment is part theater and great strudel. The chefs make the strudel behind a display kitchen area. The strudel is excellent—we try to stop by each time we visit Budapest.

Eat in Karpatia restaurant—the motto here is “the only king here is you”—great Hungarian food. A city landmark since 1877, you will experience traditional and contemporary Hungarian food, with a spirited gypsy band playing amidst historic walls. (www.karpatia.hu/en/)

Shopping--Just off exclusive Váci Utca Boulevard there are courtyards studded with boutiques and shops selling handmade leather gloves, intricate Halas lace and Herend porcelain. Pricey antique shops and galleries cluster along Falk Miksa Utica near the neo-Gothic Parliament and just steps from Katti Zoób, Hungary's leading design diva. Taste Hungary's finest wines at laid-back Bortarsaság near the Castle District.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a great port stop. We have been to Budapest several times and it is always interesting, vibrant, and fun. We hope you get a chance to visit—it is our guess you will want to come back just like we do!

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

Hank Schrader

February 2, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

Bratislava, Slovakia

Hank Schrader

February 2, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

Bratislava, Slovakia

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Of the 4 countries on an upper Danube route, probably the least known country is Slovakia. It was once a part of the Hapsburg Empire, then part of Czechoslovakia, and finally became independent in 1989.

Bratislava’s city limits actually share the borders of Austria and Hungary..

So, let’s explore together and learn about Bratislava and its key sights.

Bratislava Castle-- The massive Bratislava Castle is located on a hill that has been populated as early as in the Stone Age. The Celts built a fortified stronghold here in the 1st century BC. The Romans, the Germans, the Slavs, the Hungarians and the Austrians have ruled the area in the later centuries. Bratislava Castle became the residence of the Hungarian Kings and was repeatedly rebuilt in various styles.

The most famous residence of the castle was Maria Theresa, who used the castle as her official seat to rule the Kingdom of Hungary.

Bratislava Castle. Please look closely at this photo Anne took. At first glance it looks like there are turrets at the corners, but the closest turret is attached to the roof and the far turret is a real turret.

From the exterior, it looks like a square with 4 turrets at the corners, but inside it has irregular shapes, gardens, and other buildings other than the castle. Again, even the turrets are deceiving. 3 are attached to the roof, while only the turret on the southwest corner is an actual turret. The actual turret is 47 meter tall (over 141 feet).

This famous landmark almost did not survive after it burned down in 1811. It lay in ruins until 1953, when reconstruction began.

Today it houses the exhibition of the Slovak National Museum and serves as a state function venue. The museum entrance fee is currently 10 Euros. Many river cruise companies offer hikes up to the castle as part of their active wellness offerings.

St. Martin's Cathedral is the most important church in Bratislava. This 3-nave church, with its Gothic Dome, was build in the place of an Older Romanesque church. It was consecrated in 1452.

Inside the Cathedral, on the altar, there the 18th century statue of St. Martin and the Beggar equestrian statue sculpted by famous baroque sculptor Raphael Donner. St Martin is wearing the traditional Hungarian Hussar clothing.

St Martin’s Church. Please look carefully at the cupola—it is a replica of the crown of Hungary.

As Bratislava became the capital of the Hungarian Kingdom in the 16th century, the Cathedral was the coronation place for Hungarian Emperors. There were 11 Hungarian Kings and 8 queens crowned here between 1563 and 1830.

On the top of the church tower, some 85 meters (280 feet) above ground, there is a 1 m high copy of the Hungarian royal crown that weighs 300 kilograms.

Michael's Gate is the only surviving gate of the former walled city of Bratislava. Medieval Bratislava was entered through four gates, and Michael’s Gate is the northern entrance.

The 3 other gates were Vydrica (the western gate), the Laurinc (the eastern gate) and the fisherman’s gate, which was added to the original gate system.

Not only was it an entrance to the city, but it also served as the watchtower of the original city fortifications. Over 50 meters high, the tower was built in the early 14th century, and was rebuilt many times since its original construction.

As it is no longer needed as a watchtower, it now serves as a museum and has a collection of medieval arms and town fortification on display. The tower also offers a stunning view of the city for just a few euros.

The following 2 pictures are about the Laurinc Gate that was built in the 14th century. The gate was demolished by the order of Maria Theresa, as the walls of the city were limiting growth of the town. It did not have a tower on top of the gate.

The Old Town Hall with the clock tower, and the romantic courtyard with renaissance arcades, makes it one of the most appealing historical buildings of Bratislava.

It is a complex of several construction styles.

Today, the Old Town Hall houses the City Museum with a large collection documenting Bratislava’s history. The Old Town Hall is located on the main square, which is used during the Christmas season as some lively markets.

The old town hall clock tower is 45 meters tall (over 135 feet).

This unique tiled roof is part of the old town hall

The Primate's Palace The 18th century Palace in the spirit of French Classicism is one of the most beautiful attractions of Bratislava. This Archbishop’s residence also welcomed the Hungarian Kings when the Castle was burnt down in 1811.

The palace also has an important role in European history. In 1805 Napoleon and Emperor Franz I of Austria signed the Treaty of Pressburg in the Mirror Hall Room. The treaty was a result of the Battle of Austerlitz, in which Napoleon crushed the Russian and Austrian forces. The treaty resulted in significant loss of territory by the Austrian Empire and reparations of 40 million francs paid to France.

Detail of the roof on the Primate’s Palace

In 1903, the palace was bought by the city and today it serves as the residence of Bratislava’s mayor. The historical interior conceals the exhibition of the European paintings as well as the set of 6 English tapestries from the 17th century.

There is also a beautiful Baroque fountain in the courtyard.

The fountain of St. George, showing the knight slaying the dragon.

St John of Nepomuk with angles outside of the Primate Palace

Slovak National Theatre is situated in the lovely restored Hviezdoslavovo square. The historical building of the Slovak National Theatre is the gem of the Neo-Renaissance architecture built by the Viennese architects F. Fellner and H. Helmer between 1884 and 1886.

There is a lovely Ganymede’s fountain in front of the building. The beautiful interiors of the theatre house are an acclaimed venue for Opera and Ballet performances.

A good photo of the fountain outside the Slovak National Theater

Grassalkovich Palace is still in use today. --This impressive Rococo palace was built as the summer residence of Count Grassalkovich in the 18th century (it was finished in 1760). Quickly It became the center of the Hungarian aristocracy social life and was also visited by the Empress Maria Theresa. The palace was used for parties and balls by the Habsburg royal court.

Maria Theresa Statue on the promenade alongside the Danube River

During the communist era, after first being used by the Council of Commissioner (a quasi-government of Slovakia), the palace was used as an activity center for Bratislava schoolchildren, known as the “House of Pioneers and Youth”.

After its reconstruction in 1996, the Grassalkovich Palace became the residence of the Slovak Republic's president. Its excellent garden is now a public park.

Chatam Sofer Memorial--The Jewish community has always played an important role in the life of the city. Although the historical Jewish quarter under Bratislava Castle was destroyed, the most significant Jewish funerary shrine and place of religious worship still can be found in the Castle Hil.

There is a preserved part of original Jewish Cemetery with graves of rabbis including the famous Bratislava rabbi Chatam Sofer, the most important figure in the history of Jews in Bratislava.

The Blue Church (its proper name is Church of St. Elizabeth) is very different from the old town portion of Bratislava. It is an Art Noveau style that was built in 1913.

According to the Bratislava tourist office website, the blue church is a popular place for wedding and baptisms.

Curious Statues of Bratislava--Three life size bronze statues hidden in the streets of the Old Town have lately become the biggest attraction for visitors of Bratislava. They are:

Cumil-The Peeper (on the corner of Panska and Rybarska brana streets),

French Napoleon Soldier (on a bench on the Hlavne namestie - Main Square),

Schoener Naci - Beautiful Ignaz (on Rybarska brana street).

There is actually a sad story behind the inspiration for the greeter statue, but no one knows for certain the truth of this story. While there are various versions of the story, the greeter went mad at the loss of a woman he loved. The story becomes clouded here—did she not respond, was his lady deported by the Nazis in WW II to a concentration camp? The greeter, berefted with grief, is said to have dressed each day in tails and offer flowers to all the ladies he encountered wandering the old town square area.

The UFO Bridge, as it is popularly known, has an observation deck that looks like it came from outer space. The bridge is 95 meters tall (285 feet tall).

The UFO Bridge with our rivership, the AmaCerto in the foreground

Even with all the fun of visiting this capital city, along the promenade, I was reminded in this former iron-curtain country, how they feel about there freedom. Here is a ponient reminder of the cost of war and freedom. It is a picture of several Ukrainian women who lost their husbands in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

A political message about the cost of the Ukraine War during our 2022 visit. The six ladies all lost husbands during this conflict.

Our Final Thoughts

It is a wonderful thing to visit the former iron curtain countries and learn more about them. Bratislava is a blending of the old and new and until recently been ruled by kings and queens and later under communist domination. This is an upbeat, thriving country eager to put its past domination as only a history lesson and they look to a bright future.

We hope you enjoyed this report and learned something about this country.

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

Hank Schrader

January 26, 2023

Rhine River Cruise Ports

Koblenz, Germany

Hank Schrader

January 26, 2023

Rhine River Cruise Ports

Koblenz, Germany

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

This is a look at Koblenz, Germany as both a port for many river cruise ships and as a base to explore some of the best castles in the area around Koblenz on the Moselle and Middle Rhine.

Koblenz is located at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers. It is a great base to explore parts of nearby castles and quaint towns—we used it as a base of operations and enjoyed it very much during a trip in 2013.

Koblenz is one of the oldest towns in Germany and its strategic location had two different influences upon its history—it was a great place to collect tolls and both Germany and France wanted to control these valuable waterways and the land near it, so many castles were built to defend the area by the Germans. France attacked and burned these defensive positions as they vied for control of the area during the reign of Louie XIV, the Sun King.

Key sights in and near Koblenz include Deutsches Eck, Lahneck Castle, Stolzenfels Castle, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, Berg Eltz, Cochem Castle, Marksburg Castle, and the Electoral Palace.

So, let’s explore together and learn about Koblenz as a base for a couple of days or just for a port stop on a river cruise.

Castle Exploration Base

There are several ways to see some castles in the area using Koblenz as a base. In the Spring of 2013, we did just that using buses, hiking and trains to get to these sights. The 3 castles in this section allow independent tours inside the castles, which make them well worth the visit.

Schloss Stolzenfels—the castle is located approx. 5 km to the south of Koblenz, which was originally built as a customs fortress and was destroyed by the French in 1689 in the Palatine War of Succession. It was rebuilt according to the plans of the Berlin master builder Schinkel and is now open to the public. It houses a number of valuable furniture pieces and a collection of armor and weapons. Here are some pictures:

Anne took this picture from Lahneck Castle for an excellent view of the **Stolzenfels** Castle in 2021

This is a scan from a postcard we bought at the castle

Here is how we got there: Bus connection: From Koblenz Hbf (abbreviation for Hauptbahnhof in German or main train station) the bus terminal is outside the rail station building. Take Bus-Bahnsteig ‘H“, Bus-Linie „650 Boppard“bis zur Haltestation „Stolzenfels-Schlossweg” (the signs will be in German)“. Translated it means Bus Platform "H" bus line "650 Boppard" to the holding station "Stolzenfels-Schlossweg". Der Fußweg zum Schloss ist ausgeschildert (again the German words on the sign). The walk to the castle is signposted. Also, you can take a boat to Stolzenfels stop. Closed on Mondays.

For those wanting a more active way to see this castle, you can hike part of the Rhine Castles Trail to Stozenfels Castle and then take the train or bus back.

We used trains and some hiking to visit Marksburg Castle and Burg Eltz from Koblenz.

Marksburg Castle is the only castle that never was sacked or ruined among the 40 some odd castles along the Rhine Gorge stretch from Koblenz to Rüdesheim. It is above the town of Braubach. Marksburg was built and served as primarily a fort and often these countryside castles lacked the grandeur of royal palaces. The construction of Marksburg was intended to defend the town and after entering the castle the first area is the Great Battery with its firing positions designed to protect the Rhine and town from enemies.

This photo shows the fields of fire for the battery to protect the town and approaching enemy on the Rhine River.

The next area on the tour is the wine cellar.

The gothic Hall was the kitchen area of the castle fort.

The next area was the sleeping area.

Next is the Chapel

Now the Armory Museum.

Finally, the Horse Stables, which also was used as a prison complete with torture devices.

Burg Eltz, Moselkern, near Cochem: Its multiple turrets and towers, which rise amid a thick forest near the Mosel River, evoke the chivalry and poetry of the Middle Ages. This is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Germany. Trains stop at Moselkern hourly from Koblenz or from Cochem/Trier. It is a 3 mile hike to the castle. Here are some photos of the burg:

This was the first view of the castle after our 3 mile hike.

This is a scan from a postcard we bought at the castle, as no pictures are allowed during the tours.

This is also a scanned post card. This the Knight’s Hall Room

We could take pictures at the treasury room of the burg.

Sights in Koblenz

Deutsches Eck (the German Corner)—is a monument built where the Rhine and the Mosel join. Kaiser Wilhelm I equestrian statue is featured here. It was first erected in 1987, 9 years afte the death of the Kaiser to honor his role in unifying Germany. It was damaged during WW II and in 1993 was reconstructed with a replica statue and now is proudly on display.

This picture taken in 2021 for our rivership gives you a good look at how large this monument is. It is 37 meters high (over 111 feet)

St Castor’s Basilica is on the backside of the triangular Deutsches Eck. The Basilica was consecrated in 836 and is the oldest surviving church in Koblenz. The Treaty of Verdun was signed here and this treaty help create the countries of Germany and France, as the aftermath of Charlemagne’s death and the war between his 3 sons..

Fortress Ehrenbreitstein--The Fortress rises 118 meters above the Rhine and dates back to the year 1000. Over the centuries the building was extended by the Electors of Trier. After its destruction by the French, the Prussians rebuilt the fortifications and the result, one of Germany's strongest fortresses, is today open to the public. It is the second largest fortress in Europe (Gibraltar is larger). (www.diefestungehrenbreitstein.de )

Directly across the Rhine from Koblenz, the fortress is on the right bank of the Rhine. To reach the fortress, make the 3.50€ one-way passage across the river from the main Rhine dock. Ferries operate mid-March to late November daily 9am to 5:15pm.

This sign tells you about the distances to important hiking sites around Koblenz. Rheinburgenweg tells us that the distance to the Rhine Castle Trail which is on the left bank of the Rhine is 5.1 km. Rheinsteig (Brucke) is the bridge and Fahre is the Ferry. This is part of the 21 sections or stages of the Rhinesteig—the part around Koblenz is section 10

You can also take the Koblenz Cable Car, and get a ride that takes you 367 feet above the Rhine and the ride is about 3000 feet in total distance and takes about 5 minutes to cross the river. The aerial cable was built in 2011 and connects Koblenz near St Kastor Basilica to a plateau in front of the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. The more adventurous might want a car with a glass bottom. The chairlift operates daily from April to October from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Round-trip tickets cost 8€ for adults, 5€ for children 13 and under.

One of the towers of the Koblenz Cable Car. According to the tourist information site, the cable car can transport up to 7,600 people per hour.

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). The next 3 pictures are the buildings surrounding Jesuit Square.

Here is an interesting weinstube that caught Anne’s eye.

The exterior of the Hotel and Weinstube Kornpfort

Winniger wrought sign—it is a weinstube.

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 three-dimensionally. It covers 2000 years of the history of Koblenz.

Liebfrauenkirche—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 (an inside area of the church near the altar) began in 1404, while the baroque onion towers date back to 1693.

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.

Electoral Palace--The Elector Clemens Wenzeslaus built this palace from 1777-1786. Prince Wilhelm, later known as German Emperor Wilhelm I, officiated here as the Prussian military governor from 1850 – 1857. The palace now houses the administrative offices and is not open to the public. Located on Neustadt Street.

Bundesgartenschau--The “Empress-Augusta-Gardens” located on the Rhine banks 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.

Eat at the Altes Brauhaus, If you want some excellent German food try this fun place, Here are some pictures:

Our Final Thoughts

Koblenz is a good port stop or a good base. We hope you enjoyed this report. Please enjoy Koblenz—we did!

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.

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

Hank Schrader

January 19, 2023

Europe River Cruise, River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways Sails 2 Rivers to Help You See the Best Castles in Europe

Hank Schrader

January 19, 2023

Europe River Cruise, River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways Sails 2 Rivers to Help You See the Best Castles in Europe

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

While all 7 river cruise companies we follow sail on the Rhine and through the Middle Rhine or, as it is more popularly known, the Rhine Gorge with its 40 castles, they usually sail from Amsterdam to Basel (or reverse) on a 7-day route. But expanding the usual Rhine route by blending this more traditional 7-day route of these awesome castles with a cruise on the winding Moselle in a 10-day cruise and suddenly this becomes the best castle watching opportunity on Europe Rivers. The result is the best castle experience in Europe on the rivers.

The added bonus is a combination of small, charming villages, cool castles, the oldest city in Germany and finally the canals of Amsterdam. Add a visit to Lucerne and Zurich, for a taste of Alpine German speaking Switzerland on a land extension and this becomes an epic journey.

So, let’s explore together and learn about the port stops of 2 great routes—Rhine and Moselle Delights (starting in Basel) and the reverse right the Rhine and Moselle Fairytales

Rhine and Moselle Fairytales (Amsterdam to Basel)

Since the routes are so similar, I will report on the port stops of just the Rhine and Mosel Fairytales. I hope by the time I finish you will want to go on this route.

There are only 6 sailings on this route in 2023—so after reading this you should quickly reach out to us (sailing dates are at the end of April, 2 dates in May, 1 in June, 1 in August and 1 in October). Space fills up quickly and some dates have the special free land extension promotions going on right now but please remember they are capacity controlled and have limited space.

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.

The tour today is a view of Amsterdam on a scenic canal cruise—it is a neat experience.

Gabbles are unique architecture in Amsterdams

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.

There are 3 tour options today. They are: Join a guided tour through the Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated cathedral. Continue on to the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall, and take in other local sights.

For a different view of the city, visit a local tavern to taste its famous Kölsch beer, only made in Cologne, and reibekuchen mit apfelmus, potato pancakes typically served with applesauce.

Or, take a Cologne Bike Tour.

Lahnstein is a port near the Moselle and Koblenz. Here you will get the chance to tour Lahneck Castle, either by tour or take a hike up the castle. Lahneck castle was built in the 13th century above the confluence of the Lahn River. It was heavily damaged during the Thirty Years war in 1633 by Swedish soldiers. Later it passed in private ownership and has been family owned since 1907. The tour is an exclusive feature of the tours offered by AmaWaterways. The next 8 pictures are about this wonderful tour:

Anne took this photo in 2013 of Lahneck Castle on a gloomy day in March

For the slightly more daring adventure, take a cable car ride from Koblenz across the Rhine River to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is the 2nd largest preserved fortress in Europe. It stands 120 meters (360 feet) above the Rhine River.

The Deutsches Eck (the German Corner) is located at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers

For the more active, there is a “Two Rivers” bike tour.

Cochem, Germany, on the Mosel River, is a former walled city. It has a population of about 5,800 and is a traditional old German town. The town has many fine buildings, quaint cottages, guild houses, and winding cobblestone streets. The town square, lined with half-timbered houses, is a wonderful, scenic area of this small town.

Schloss Reichsburg stands watch over the village of Cochem

In Cochem, if you go on an AmaWaterways cruise, you will enjoy a guided tour of Cochem that takes you to the spectacular hilltop Reichsburg Castle (also known as Cochem Castle but the correct name is Schloss Reichsburg). It has fantastic views of the river valley below. Touring inside the castle is great!

Schloss Reichsburg as we viewed it during a walk down to the village of Cochem.

There are two other options here—a visit to Cochem Mustard Mill and, for the more active, a Cochem bike tour.

On the way sailing to Trier, there are 10 wonderful castles, most that are visible from the Moselle River. One of my favorites is Thurant Castle with its twin castles. Here are 2 pictures to show you how scenic and beautiful this route is:

The ruins of Thurant Castle on the hills. The village in the foreground is Alken with an estimated population of 640

Trier was an old Roman outpost which was first settled by the Roman in 17 BC. It is the oldest city in Germany, and is 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.

Important Roman sights include the Roman Baths, an amphitheater, Basilica of Constantine (it was the throne room of Emperor Constantin), 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. 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.

There are three tours at this port stop. First is the “Ancient Tales of the Porta Nigra” and for the active, two options--a Petrisberg hike or a Trier Bike tour.

Bernkastel is a wonderful town of around 8000. It is located about halfway between Cochem and Trier on the Mosel River. There are many half-timbered buildings, especially around the market square. Easily seen from market square is St Michael’s church, built in the 14th century that had a dual purpose— it served as a house of worship and its tall bell tower served as a watch tower in the old city ramparts. The city has some wonderful fountains—they include St. Michael's fountain on the Market Square, the bear's fountain, and the doctor's fountain. Overlooking the town is the Landshut Castle ruins. It was first built in 1277 but was ruined by fire in 1692.

When sailing from Trier, the Castle and bridge are a dramatic introduction to Bernkastel!

Bernkastel is located in the middle of the Mosel wine-producing region. This area has been producing wine for over 500 years. You will get to experience a guided walking tour through the old town center and a winery visit to sample several different regional vintages are scheduled for this portion of your cruise if you go on an AmaWaterways cruise.

Not to be overlooked, there are two active tours—a hike up to Landshut Castle or a Moselle bike tour.

Rhine Castles. Prior to arriving at Rüdesheim, you will marvel at the Rhine Gorge. Long before modern river cruising, in 1971, I first sailed this route on a day cruise on a KD ferry ship. After maybe 7 or 8 times cruising this stretch of the Middle Rhine, it still holds the wonder it had for me back in 1971.

Photo Anne Schrader of Katz Castle in the Rhine Gorge

A photo from 2015 during a cruise through the Rhine Gorge

Stahleck Castle in the Rhine Gorge. Photo Anne Schrader

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 tours here are a Gondola ride and wine tasting, a vineyard hike, a Schloss Johannisberg bike tour, a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum or tasting Rüdesheimer coffee. There are certainly a lot of options here!

Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum

Hank and Jim drinking Rüdesheimer coffee—it is awesome!

The crowded Drosselgasse Lane in Rüdesheim

Ludwigshafen, Germany

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

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. Heidelberg is charming--where narrow lanes, shops and pubs housed in 17th-century structures in the Altstadt are kept lively by the cadence of student life. It also has the longest shopping street in Germany.

You can also chose an active tour in Heidelberg by hiking the “Philosopher’s Path”, where scholars at this university town have wandered when thinking about academic pursuits.

Mannheim Baroque Palace is one of the largest residences in Europe. It was built to highlight the important role of the Prince Electors to the Holy Roman Empire. In 1720 the palace replaced Heidelberg Castle as the residence of the Prince Elector.

The interiors of the palace are magnificent, especially on the main floor which you will see on your tour. The building was severely damage during WW II, but it has been restored to its former glory.

There are 2 other options here—a visit to Schwetzingen Gardens or a Landenburg bike tour.

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg’s old town is a wonderful stop. After several visits to Strasbourg, it still beckons us back. Our first visit was on Bastille Day (14 July) over 30 years ago 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.

Anne took this picture of the huge spire of the Strasbourg Cathedral. The spire is 142 (466 feet) meters high. It is considered one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in Europe.

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

There are 2 options here for tours—the “Gems of Alsace” tour or a Strasbourg bike tour.

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.

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.

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. The next 3 pictures are just some of the colorful structures in Riquewihr.

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!

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

The regular tours are a Riquewihr walking tour, or an excursion to Freiburg. The active tours are a Black Forest hike or a Breisach wine country bike tour.

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. There are no tours here, as it is time to disembark your wonderful cruise.

You will sail under this bridge right near the old town—perhaps now you understand why river cruise ships have only 3 decks!

For a truly immersive experience, there is a three-day Amsterdam pre-cruise land extension and ta 4-day Switzerland post cruise land extension that spends 2 days in Lucerne and 2 days in Zurich.

Our Final Thoughts

This is an exceptional opportunity to see some of the most fascinating and interesting sights in Western Europe. We think this cruise is unique and really deserves consideration for your European travels. We hope you enjoyed this report.

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

Hank Schrader

January 12, 2023

River Cruise Advice

Helping You Get the Right River Cruise--Our Sales Process

Hank Schrader

January 12, 2023

River Cruise Advice

Helping You Get the Right River Cruise—Our Sales Process

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

In 2022, we helped 50 couples and 1 single to either sail on a European river cruise or put down a deposit on a sailing for travel in 2023 or 2024. Perhaps the most interesting fact about these folks we helped is that we have never personally met 83% of our clients.

These are pretty amazing statistics for our small 2-person operation or as my lovely wife Anne likes to say that we are a “small volume, high touch agency.”

So, how do we help these folks who do not live in Pearland Texas (the greater Houston Texas area) get the right river cruise for their river cruise vacation (my unofficial count is residents of 25 different states)? Why do they use us instead of a local travel professional? How do we/they find us?

So, let’s explore together and learn about our sales process and how it helps the folks we serve get better river cruise vacations.

How Do Folks Find Us?

There are 2 main ways we get potential clients—they find us on the internet, or they are referred by past clients. We do not advertise and are lucky to have 2 key internet search articles that are number 1 on Google—our 2022-23 Europe River Cruise Company Comparisons (since 1 January to 12 January 2023, 1,217 folks have opened this article) and our Best River Cruise Routes Guide (since the start of January 2023, 490 folks have read this article).

Past clients are very good about referring us to their friends—it is a very high compliment they liked our past services to recommend us. We take this very seriously to help these folks get the right vacation on a river cruise.

So, now you know how they find us, the most important question is why do they use us instead of a local travel professional or do it on their own?

Why Do Folks Use Us?

I believe most folks use us because we have excellent knowledge about river cruises (okay I’ll say it—we know more than almost every travel professional in the US) and they can trust us.

Knowledge of the river cruise vacations we sell requires us to constantly keep updated about travel products, and the vendors who sell them. We must be able to match our clients to the best product for them.

But our knowledge is not just inside our heads—we have so many great content items about every possible phase and aspect of river cruising on our website—www.dreamdestinations.com it is astounding! Our clients and potential clients don’t have to remember what we tell them—they can read about and reference it later.

Here is just a partial list of items: an overview of Europe River cruising, Egypt cruises, route guides, port guides, company comparisons, FAQs (frequently asked questions), onboard reviews, stateroom comparisons and tours, blogs about our river cruise services, comparisons, advice, and reviews of routes, trip itineraries wellness offerings and the vibe of each line—over 50 blogs by my count! I have never found a resource so complete except for a small number of travel writers who travel for free—we have paid for all the 24 river cruises we have taken—I think it makes us not as biased as some others. Often their work is not as detailed as ours.

Trust is the other cornerstone of our business—are we who we say we are, do we tell the truth, can you trust your hard-earned dollars for a vacation we recommend?

I also think there are 2 other factors that help clients decide to use us.

First, do they like us—are they comfortable with our methods, processes, demeanor, and our relatability to get their desired river cruise vacation?

Second, do they care about us?

So, let’s see together if our knowledge, our likability, and our empathy towards our clients can help them towards the goal—to get the best river cruise experience for them.

How Do We Help Our Clients Get the Right River Cruise for Their Trip?

The process starts by our potential client reaching out to us for help by phone or email. Most have never taken a river cruise, but they are well traveled, often have taken an ocean cruise and think a river cruise would be an excellent vacation but are not sure how to start. They have already done their homework—a river cruise looks like a promising vacation option for them, but they are not sure about how to get the right one for their preferred travel style.

It probably helps that this is an expensive vacation (I like to say river cruising is an expensive hobby) and for that amount of money they are willing to get help—a lot of our clients plan their own vacations and are not totally comfortable giving up control. They also usually have not used a travel professional and want to know the value and cost to use us (there is very good news here—we do not charge any fees and feel the river cruise companies fairly compensate us with their commission structure which is already built into the cost of the cruise, so they in essence get our services for free).

Our first telephone conversations are always very interesting—we met some fascinating folks. They are sizing us up—knowledge, trust, care, and likeability by how we interact with them. They are always a little apprehensive—after all, there is a lot of concern that we will not get them the right river cruise and their first interaction with us is probably on the internet prior to the first phone call.

Imagine you are in their shoes—can these dudes really help us? On our end it is really simple—our superior knowledge of the river cruise industry and the routes put them at ease. It is not unusual for us to spend over an hour or more on a phone call.

I like to say we are the real deal—about 99% of their questions we can answer without notes and references. Here are their most common questions:

Which company would you recommend? Why?

What is the best route for a first-time river cruiser? Why is it better than other routes?

Have you ever been on a river cruise? Have you sailed this route?

What is the daily itinerary on route_____? Is there a lot of bus rides? Guided tours? Free time? How many different tours per port? What are the best ports? Why?

Is it regimented—what is the daily schedule?

What is included in the cruise?

How about food and wine and drinks? How many dining options? Can they handle my diet restrictions?

What type of stateroom should I pick? Do I need a balcony?

I’m very active—are there bikes and wellness activities? How good are they?

I have limited mobility—is a river cruise right for me?

What about high/low water?

What is the dress code?

What about pre and post trips?

What does it cost to use your services? Why should we use us?

What about travel insurance? What does it cost?

Now that we have gotten the myriad of questions answered, we start the process. First, if they have not done so yet, we require a completed travel request on our website for first time potential clients. We need to know who they are, where they live and what they want to do, why the want to go on a river cruise, and when they want to go.

With that in hand, we offer ideas of the best route—river cruising is first and foremost about the destinations. Once we have settled the route question, it is on to the company that best matches their travel style.

Now it is our turn to research their desires and match their needs to what products are available in their desired travel time frame.

After we discuss options, if necessary, and then we move to a formal quote. We provide a quote document, explain the key terms and conditions, and always explain the travel insurance offered by the vendor.

Now, it is decision time. They now need to accept the offer or decide it does not work for them, regardless of the reason. If we can resolve the issues—maybe a different cruise date or a different stateroom, we will attempt to fix it. Sometimes folks just say no—usually it is too high a cost for them. Since our mantra is always to do what is best for the potential client, we understand that it always does not work out and we are okay with that result.

Now, we make the deposit on their behalf using their credit card we have taken over the phone. We then make the deposit for all requested services. Once complete, we send a copy of the invoice to them.

Once we have completed the deposit, now we handle the details—transfers, pre and post arrangements, perhaps flights thru the vendor (we do not book air directly), or hotels.

We will help them during the pre-cruise planning phase and during the actual cruise.

About 90 days out, it is final payment time. Excitement builds.

Now comes the best part—usually a totally satisfied client, whose expectations were exceeded!

How cool is that—we hope it ends that way but sometimes there are bumps in the road (very seldom) and we try to fix the problem or improve for the next trip. Part of the reason it usually turns out favorably is that, as I like to say, “there are no bad river cruises in Europe and these vacation experiences are probably the best trip you will ever take!”

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a process!

I think you can see why we are in the business—it just is awesome to help folks have a great vacation.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 51+ 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 5, 2023

Europe River Cruise

Who is #1 in 2023--Comparing River Cruise Companies

Hank Schrader

January 5, 2023

Europe River Cruise

Who is #1 in 2023—Comparing River Cruise Companies

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

A year ago (early 2022), I wrote an article for Travel Weekly magazine for their digital publication (they also have a print publication), about the search for the number one river cruise line. The premise of the article was that you really don’t have to know who is number one—you should be more concerned about getting a line that matches your desired travel style.

While primarily aimed at travel professionals, if you would like to read this short article, here is the link:

https://www.travelweekly.com/Articles/How-to-choose-the-right-river-cruise-line

Yet, there is always that fear among our clients that they didn’t get the best. We all want the best—more value for less money if that is possible. It is difficult to find what the best option for many is—it is confusing to many professional travel advisors, so I’m not surprised if you have ever wondered—how can I solve this problem and get the best European river cruise for me?

So, let’s explore together and learn about who is # 1 in 2023 among river cruise lines, or better yet how can I get the best river cruise company that matches my travel style?

They all look very similar—there are differences between lines!

Overview—Why Trust Us About River Cruise Comparisons?

It certainly is a fair question to ask—why care about our opinion? Here are a few facts about us—as a friend once told me “It ain’t bragging if you’d done it!”:

Last year (2022) we helped 34 couples going on river cruises. Already in 2023, we have booked 17 couples who will take a river cruise (if you are a good mathematician, that means we sold 51 river cruises in 2022 but 17 haven’t traveled yet). We have booked folks on 5 of the 7 lines we follow and offered a quote on each of the 7 lines since we have been selling river cruises.

To provide some clarity about this in terms of other travel professionals who sell river cruises, according to Travel Weekly’s Annual Report on Travel Agent bookings (all these statistics are from their report), only 47% of all agents specialize in selling river cruises. Among home-based travel professions, we book more travel than about 76% of our peers, and that number is only for total sales—almost 95% of our business in 2022 was from booking river cruises.

In 2022, our article Europe River Cruise Comparisons 2022-2023 was opened on the web 19,237 times. Our Best European River Cruise Route Guide has been opened 8,148 times.in 2022. Both rank # 1 on Google searches.

We have been on 24 River Cruises. There is an excellent chance we have either been on a route you are interested in or have sold the route to a client. Experience counts!

So, the bottom line is that we really know about river cruising and are well positioned to help you get the best match for your river cruise vacation.

Why is it so Confusing to Evaluate Europe River Cruise Routes and Cruise Lines?

There are really three reasons, in my opinion, for the confusion about Europe River cruising.

First, a simple answer is that good advertising and a good overall product make all lines sound great. For example, almost all have heard of Viking due to its homerun decision to advertise on PBS, especially on Downton Abbey—the stunning video clip still resonates today even for me who has seen and visited ever sight on the short video clip—it is just a great chance to see some of the most interesting places in Europe in an easy vacation.

But does that make Viking the best cruise line? At least 6 other good lines (they are the main Europe River cruise companies in the US market) sail the exact Upper Danube route where the majority of the Viking Ad takes its video scenery from for their TV Ads. Now it starts to get confusing!

Second, few folks have been on more than one river cruise line and/or on multiple Europe Rivers used by the 7 companies that we study almost daily. Most who have taken a river cruise in Europe think it is such a good vacation, that they tend to remain loyal to their first cruise line, without really investigating other companies. But could there be a better option? —more confusion!

Third, there is no standard way to evaluate differences among suppliers. All have won some type of award or are rated the best in one phase or another of their product offerings. I recently had a great conversation with another travel professional, who ranked our second-best line as her number one. But one thing was clear the differences were so minor, the ranking was essentially not important—all that mattered was the client experience. We both agreed however, that many travel writers who cover river cruising, tend to hype all and the lines are not all equal. What was clear to me, she had an excellent grasp on the industry and the advantages and disadvantages of each river cruise company—far more important than ranking lines.

We had a client last year take back-to-back river cruises on our 2 highest rated lines. He told me it really was a toss-up, but he favored our second rated line. His rating was that they were both so good, he didn’t think it would matter to most folks which line they chose.

It just reinforces for us what a good vacation river cruising is for the majority of our clients.

So, what is the solution to this confusion?

Our Approach to Determining the Best Match for your River Cruise Vacation

There are really 4 areas we try to explore with potential clients to determine their best match for taking a river cruise vacation. They are:

Why do you want to go on a river cruise?
What routes are you interested in?
What are the specific benefits to you from a particular river cruise company—do they match your expectations?
Are you a good fit for a river cruise?

Why Folks Go on River Cruises?

There are 6 main reasons folks go on river cruise. For us, the destination and itinerary are almost always the most important factor among our clients

The second reason is the perceived value of this luxury vacation—it is almost all inclusive on all lines and even though, as I like to say, an expensive hobby, there is a great perceived value for all that is included in the fare.

Most like the combination of smaller towns and visiting the great cities of Europe.

The included tours and land programs are very important, and we find it a key difference between lines.

Smaller ships, intimate atmosphere and ambience is a major appeal, especially after the pandemic.

The services by the caring staff always resonate—most would like to take some home with them if they could.

It is hassle free, convenient, and fun and you often travel with likeminded people.

What Route Interests You?

There are many great rivers in Europe, some more navigable than others, available to choose from. The variety of routes makes repeat sailing, especially in Europe, an attractive option for folks. Each route is different, the seasons make the experience different, so for many of our clients it is not a one and done option.

I’m sure now you can understand why we wrote our Best Route Guide to help you learn about these different options.

Along with that guide, we have created 51 port guides along these routes, with our pictures.

The bottom line—we have the knowledge to match you with the right route for you.

Here are some pictures about the many places you can see on a river cruise:

What are Your Travel Expectations?

Matching your travel experience with the various vendors will make a difference. Stateroom amenities, ambience, crew interactions, port stops, food and wine, themed cruises, promotions, and perceived value all factor into an informed decision.

There are differences between lines. Here is a simple comparison on balconies—would you prefer a half balcony with a push button window (the Scenic picture) or the twin balcony (the AmaWaterways picture)?

Sorting all this out requires extensive knowledge, perceptive questions, and a connection to your advisor, in our opinion. While 6 of the lines we follow sell directly to customers, I just can’t understand why some try to do it on their own—control I guess, or fear someone is trying to sell them something they really don’t want.

Buyer be warned—direct sales folks have one mission—sell quickly. You are far better off connecting with a professional who takes your concerns and wants and then matches your expectations to the correct vendor.

Just remember all agents are not created equal—some, like us, are the real deal!

Are You a Good Fit for a River Cruise?

We find that most of our clients who enjoy a river cruise have some or all of these characteristics in common:

Well-traveled, having visited Alaska/Hawaii/Europe previously
Age 60 or older (although recently, we've noticed this trending younger)
Retired
They enjoy small villages/historical sites
In the $80,000 median annual income range
Veterans of a seven-day or longer ocean cruise
Willing to spend $400 or more per person, per night, if the value is there
Celebrating a milestone event
People who enjoy good food and wine

Perhaps you share some or all of these characteristics—then you’re a great fit for a river cruise!

As with any type of vacation, a river cruise is not for everyone. Folks who don't like schedules, have mobility challenges, want huge staterooms or are looking for the Vegas-style night entertainment ocean cruises often feature may find river cruising a poor choice to take a river cruise.

Our Final Thoughts

As you can see—it doesn’t matter who is number one—it only matters that you get the right river cruise vacation that matches your travel style. As, I like to say, “There are no bad river cruises, all lines probably will provide you the best vacation you will ever take!”

Bottom line? If you: desire fine dining; a hassle-free vacation that is easy to plan and arrange; want to discover leisure destinations that they may later want to return to and explore in-depth; are looking for good value; and seeking a reliable and safe vacation, then European river cruising is a great choice for you.

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 give 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 with 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!

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

Hank Schrader

December 22, 2022

Holidays

Merry Christmas 2022

Hank Schrader

December 22, 2022

Holidays

As 2022 winds down, we want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Travel finally returned to almost normal and we were honored to help many folks travel this year and have many other folks planning to travel in 2023 and 2024 with our help.

We value you so much, it is beyond mere words to express our appreciation and love for you.

We got to take 3 business trips this year. We thought we could share some of our joy of travel by these pictures of our adventures and perhaps put a smile or two on your face as you browse them.

We wish you all health, peace, prosperity, and safety in the 2023 and in the future. It is with deep gratitude and respect that we feel for all of you who trusted us with your travel plans and dreams, that makes us want to continue trying to help you all have best trips possible. We stand ready to help in the future when the need arises to have journeys that are meaningful and memorable.

Thanks for your trust in us! Please share a toast to you and your families during these holidays. We promise we will toast you all during our celebrations!

Remember to: Savor Life . . . Make Memories . . . Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

Anne and Hank

The entrance to the dining room on the AmaSonata decorated for Christmas. It was our 7th Christmas Markets cruise,

Our October cruise on the Essence of Burgundy cruise.

Hank and Anne at the Chef’s Table on the AmaSonata.

Libby, who doesn’t get to go on our adventures, wants us to come back soon, so she can chase burger (in her mouth) and play with us again.

Little Bear gets to go. He really like Munich and likes to pose with beers.

Little Bear really likes to meet other bears. He especially liked this friendly bear in Rothenburg ob Tauber, Germany.

Little Bear and Lenny (he doesn’t always get to go) ready for a nap in Regensburg, Germany.

Little Bear wondering where we will all go in 2023—he’s ready!

Hank Schrader

December 15, 2022

Europe River Cruise

Danube Christmas Markets on AmaWaterways in 2022

Hank Schrader

December 15, 2022

Europe River Cruise

Danube Christmas Markets on AmaWaterways in 2022

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

This is a report of our 23rd Europe River Cruise. We are back on the Danube and it is just the start of the Christmas Markets after being cancelled during most of 2020 and 2021.

So, let’s explore together and learn about Christmas Markets in 2022 on the Danube and in Southern Germany.

What are the 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 are served 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 experience not to be missed!

Munich

Before the start of our cruise, we visited the Christmas Markets in Munich. It was overcast, sunny then thunder showers. Right after it rained, we got this picture of the Christmas Markets in front of the new Rathaus with a rainbow over it.

Budapest

Another picture of the markets taken by Mark Thomas.

Bratislava

This capital city of Slovakia is a great gathering place at night for folks during the Christmas Market season, as you can see from this picture.

Vienna

We visited 3 Christmas Markets in Vienna. We took the excellent subway system out to the markets at Schönbrunn Palace. The first 2 pictures are of this excellent market.

The next 2 pictures are at the markets around St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Passau

The markets in Passau are among our favorites—we always seem to find great gifts here in this small market.

Nuremberg

Nuremburg is famous as one of the best and biggest Christmas Markets in Germany. Here are some pictures:

The famous Nuremburg sausages on the grill.

Regensburg

Our favorite Christmas Market is in Regensburg. It is on the grounds of the Thurn & Taxis palace grounds. The next 4 pictures are of the wonderful market—we highly recommend you visit it.

Across the famous stone bridge is a market that features a lot of good food and drink—it was small and packed with folks having a good time.

No trip to Regensburg would be complete unless Anne got a new hat from the Hutkonig. It is her 7th.

Our Final Thoughts

The Christmas Markets in Europe are special—we highly recommend you enjoy them on a visit to the Old World. We have have enjoyed them at least 6 times and plan to return—they are that much fun.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

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

Hank Schrader

December 8, 2022

Europe Travel

An Overnight Train Experience in Europe

Hank Schrader

December 8, 2022

Europe Travel

An Overnight Train Experience in Europe

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

While in Europe, we love riding the trains. A unique experience is taking an overnight train in Europe.

So, let’s explore together and learn about riding the rails at night—you won’t be disappointed!

Overnight Train Basics

There are two types of sleeper cars. They are sleeper compartments with sleeping berths and couchettes.

A couchette is a seat that converts into a bunk. Usually there are six to a compartment. This is the bare bones bunk with a pillow and blanket. Sometimes they are segregated by gender, other times not.

On our first trip by couchette in 1990, we were paired with 2 guys from Argentina, complete strangers, who were surprised by the mixed genders, and at first a little awkward for both of us. Fortunately for us, I speak fluent Spanish and we agreed to who got which sleeping bunks.

There were two problems—first no air conditioning, so the compartment was so hot, sleep was fleeting at best (perhaps said too gently—it was horrible). Second, they both smoked, so they opened the door to our compartment often to go have a smoke in the train corridor.

Opening the window to let some fresh air in was not a solution either, as passing trains roaring by created deafening, sudden noise that jolted us awake from what little restless sleep we had that night.

Although not on the Paris to Amsterdam overnight train we took in 1990, this is the typical tight corridors on overnight trains. At the end of this passageway, is the toilet (WC).

Along with that, in the old days, there was a passport check at each country border. Here is the bottom line—we hoped to save a day of hotel expenses but wound up sleeping a whole day after checking in to our hotel.

By far, your best choice is a sleeping berth. This is a separate compartment with limited facilities.

So, let’s look what an old railcar on the overnight train looks like, and document our experiences on this adventure.

Our Route

We are on a route using the EuroNight sleeper train. It is called the Kalman Imre and links Munich and Budapest. The train is named after the composer Emmerich Kalman.

On the sign you can see, we departed at 2330 (the second line on the track sign). The good news—the train started in Munich, so boarding was a lot easier with a stopped train instead of rushing to get on.

The reason, this overnight trip was a good idea, is that we stored our luggage in the Munich Station. Each large storage area cost 3 Euros for 6 hours storage (you need Euro coins and exact change). Here is what the storage area looks like.

The luggage storage boxes in Munich. You can clearly see the 3 Euro cost on the right side of the picture.

What our Sleeper Cabin Was Like

We were in compartment number 11, 13 and 15. Trust me, it was tight space for 2 and unless a small child, really not feasible for 3 adults unless you are on a bare bones budget, in my opinion.

Here is the number display outside our compartment.

Our car had air conditioning, an essential, in my opinion, even in winter.

A sign telling us about the heating/air conditioning controls in the room. Note the sign is in different languages, one thankfully is English.

What the compartments looked like with just our coats hung up. You can see the temperature control in the middle upper portion of this picture,

The coat racks and ladder storage area when not in use.

The ladder set up, so Anne could get up on the top bunk. We brought our own small silk sleeping travel sheets (the crumpled blue item on the lower bunk)—a great idea!

The sink area after opening up the green cover (note the water is not for drinking)

Train Tips/Lessons Learned

Here are some good tips you might want to consider if you want to take advantage of a night train.

1) Don’t expect a fancy car and realize you will be comfortable enough to sleep with some loud noises with train cars added and taken off the train.

2) We chose a second class berth over the first class berth, as the cost was not worth the minor upgrade.

3) Luggage storage is going to be a problem if you have more than 3-4 suitcases. The overhead racks are good but limited by the small compartment size.

4) The bathroom WC is not in your compartment—reminds me of my early days of travel, so plan accordingly and expect some wait times.

5) Don’t expect working electric outlets in the compartment, especially on the older trains. We found one inside the mirror and had to rig a way to charge our electronic devices.

Our old car had only one electrical outlet. It was inside the mirror. Since we brought a European adaptor with USB outlets, we were able to charge our devices during the trip.

You may wonder what this picture is all about! Here Anne has plugged in her portable fan, suspended it from a bungee cord, so she could experience her fan during the night. Pure genius, from my creative wife

There was a small breakfast included in the trip. Here is the menu:

Each of us got to select 7 items from the menu. Our conductor brought us the breakfast about an hour prior to our arrival at Budapest.

Our Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed this report.

Overnight train travel has some real advantages. During our trip, we stored our luggage in the Munich Main Train Station (Haptbanhof) and visited the Christmas Markets and had a great German meal before departure. We saved a hotel cost but it certainly is not the most comfortable way to travel.

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

Hank Schrader

November 22, 2022

Thanksgiving 2022

Hank Schrader

November 22, 2022

We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! It has really been fun helping so many folks travel this year. Travel has rebounded in 2022 and we are thankful we have many new delighted folks who have trusted us to make their travel plans and shared with us that they had great experiences, as well as our many friends who have done multiple trips with us and have traveled with us this year. We also are thankful for those who have booked with us in 2023 and 2024.

We all have a lot to be thankful for in our lives. Please reach out to your friends and family and tell them you love them and value their friendship.

May your travel dreams come true in the future. Please remember to:

Savor Life . . . Make Memories . . . Visit Dream Destinations! Your Journey Begins Here!

Anne and Hank

Hank Schrader

November 17, 2022

Europe River Cruise

AmaWaterways Land Extension Promotions in Europe for 2023

Hank Schrader

November 17, 2022

Europe River Cruise

AmaWaterways Land Extension Promotions in Europe for 2023

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

AmaWaterways currently has an excellent offer. It is called the Complimentary Land Package. The package includes a free 2-3-or 4-night land package. The promotional package ends on 31 December 2022 and is available on many 2023 sailings.

I have included the normal cost of the land extension to help you see the amazing value of this promotion.

So, I thought I’d write about the different land extensions available and a little bit about the cities included.

Benefits of the Complimentary Land Package

The package includes the following:
Stays in 4- or 5-star hotels near the major sights
Daily breakfast
Guided tours and excursions
Transfers between your hotel and the ship
All packages include an on-site cruise manager to assist you

Featured Land Packages

There are many options here and it is beyond the scope of this blog to include every sailing. However, never fear, I will organize the land package options by the river and tell you a little bit about each extensions that are available, using our pictures and guides, so you can see if one option is available to enhance your river cruise to take advantage of this promotion.

Rhine

On the Rhine, there are 3 land package options available. They are:

Amsterdam (valued at $1,190 per person)

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. On this 2-night extension you will have a walking tour of the city and a visit to either Haarlem or Zaanse Schans.

Lucerne and Zurich (valued at $1,680)

You will spend 2 nights in Lucerne and 2 nights in Zurich. The Zurich portion includes a guided tour of the old town area. In Lucerne, a visit to the alpine old town area, a visit to the Lion Monument and a scenic cruise on Lake Lucerne are some highlights of this extension.

Lake Como (valued at $1,440 per person)

Lake Como, in the Northern area of the Lakes Region of Italy is a place of spectacular scenery. Included in this extension is a scenic boat ride on Lake Como to the stunning port of Bellagio.

Danube

On the Danube, 4 land extensions are available. They are:

Prague (valued at $1,320 per person)

The city of 100 spires is fascinating and interesting—good sights and bohemian culture, make it one of our favorites in Europe. Prague is organized into 4 quarters and most folks spend their time in the Castle Quarter and Old Town Square area. On this extension, you will get to visit Prague Castle, cross the St, Charles Bridge, visit Old Town and see the famous Astronomical Clock and get to taste Czech beer. On the way to the ship, you will get a stop in Regensburg during the transfer.

Budapest ($840 per person value)

Perhaps the most stunning city on any river cruise, Budapest is 2 cities rolled into one. 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 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.

Vienna (valued at $980 per person)

Vienna is a true treasure—the importance of this city on history cannot be overstated—it once was the capital city of the Hapsburg Empire of Austria-Hungary. Palaces, great museums, great shopping, and good food make this an easy choice for an extension. This package is a 2-night extension. It features an “Imperial Vienna tour.”

Romania (valued at $1,800 per person)

You will spend 2 nights here in Bucharest and 2 nights in Brasov. Bucharest is known as the “Paris of the East.” We visited it as part of our Black Sea voyage on AmaWaterways.

Brasov is one of the best cities in Romania. Your tour will start in Sinaia at the Peles Royal Castle on your way to Brasov. On day 2 you will tour Brasov and visit the birthplace of Dracula in Sighisoara. Next, is a visit to Dracula’s Castle in Bran. Then off to Bucharest for a tour.

France

On French River Cruises, the main land extension is Paris, but some new extensions are available.

Paris (valued at $1,340 per person).

This 2-night land package has excursions to Montmarte and Atelier des Lumieres. The extension starts with a city tour of the city of lights.

Barcelona (valued at $1,770)

This extension is a 3-night stay in Barcelona, Spain. This extension includes the “Best of Barcelona” tour and a visit the next day called “The Mountains and Abbey of Montserrat.

Bilbao and San Sebastian Spain (valued at $1,760 per person)

This is a 2-night package in the Basque region of Spain. The tour starts in Bilbao with a Guernica walking tour and an introduction to tapa, and a visit to the Guggenheim Museum. In San Sebastian there is a tour of the city.

Geneva, Switzerland (valued at $2,000 per person)

This is a 3-night extension in Geneva. The tour includes a city tour of Geneva, a visit to Annnecy in the French Alps and a visit to Chillon Castle.

French Riviera visit to Nice and Monaco (valued at $1,980 per person)

This is a 3-night land package. The package includes a Nice city tour, and an Eze and Monaco tour.

Loire Valley, France (valued at $1,800 per person)

This is a 2-night land extension. It visits Chateau de Chenonceau, Du Clos Luce, and Chateau d’Amboise on the first day. Then the second day includes Chateau de Chambord and Bois.

St. Malo, France (valued at $1,720 per person)

This is a 3-night package. This tour includes a visit to Fourgeres during the transfer to St. Malo, tours of St, Malo, Dinard and Dinan, and a visit to Mont St. Michel.

Douro

Prior to the 7-day cruise on the Douro, you will have a wonderful 3-day land extension in Lisbon.

Lisbon (valued at $1,380 per person).

This land extension spends 3 nights in Lisbon before the 7-night Douro cruise. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and is located on the Tagus River.

Key sights include the Alfama (oldest section of the city, with a Moorish feeling, has cobblestone streets and white-washed houses), St. George’s Castle, and the Tower of Belem.

The land extension includes a tour of the city of 7 hills, the excursion to Sintra to visit Pena Palace, a visit to Tomar Castle, and the transfer to Porto for the cruise.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what an offer! This promotion is a great way to save money, extend your trip and add value.

We hope you enjoyed this report and can’t wait to help you select one of these cruises for your next vacation.

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

Hank Schrader

November 10, 2022

Veterans

Veterans Day 2022

Hank Schrader

November 10, 2022

Veterans

Veterans Day 2022

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Retired US Army Major Infantry Officer

www.dreamdestinations.com

Tomorrow is Veteran Day, 11 November 2022. This is a day to recognize the service and sacrifice of the folks who pledged to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic” by raising their right hand and were required to recite these words of allegiance to our country.

Counting my 4 years at West Point, I spent 24 years of my life in a uniform and serving my country. It was an awesome experience and I’m glad I made that choice. It was a honor to serve our country.

Military service changes all who serve, and most aspects are positive. We gained maturity quickly, learned many new skills, tested our resolve, became resilient, learned how to handle extreme stress and trauma, and made sacrifices to defend our country. Not all of us handled it the same—some still have problems associated with their service.

It’s been 31 years since I served. I went on to teach and coach for another 20 years before working full time in our travel business. The lessons learned from my military experience govern all aspects of my life—character and action count more than words.

A phrase from the West Point cadet prayer has always been very meaningful to me, as it has served as a summary of how I wanted to live my life and I thought you might like to know about it. Here it is

“Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole truth can be won.

Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy.”

Those are difficult goals to achieve and my personal guidelines to live by every day. I have tried to and hope I have been successful but there is always room for improvement.

Just reading my thoughts and seeing how my service changed me, you can understand better how each who has donned the uniform might have developed in their lives. They have done more than defend our country. They usually set higher standards, have good work ethics, and make us a better nation.

Less than 1 % of the population of the US (0.727% in a Google search) are on active duty now. According to the US Census Bureau, there are 18.2 million veterans. AARP reports that about 13 million are 50 years or older like me.

We did not all serve under the same conditions. My father served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. I never served in a combat deployment.

While I can’t verify how totally accurate these numbers are, here are some reasonable figures for the personal cost of the 4 major wars including WW II from 1941 to present:

WW II 1.076,245 dead and wounded;
Korea 128,650 dead and wounded;
Vietnam 211,454 dead and wounded;
the War on Terror (Afghanistan and Iraq Wars) 57,614 dead and wounded.
I think these sobering figures say how lucky my Dad was to survive 7 years of combat for our nation by being deployed in 3 of these 4 conflicts.

In many ways it is ironic the public perception of military service during my service. At 18 years old as a cadet at West Point, I was called a “Baby Killer” by an angry group of Vietnam War protesters during the Armed Forces Parade in New York City in 1968. Later, the comments were almost always positive.

I guess those who protest fail to realize soldiers seldom make the decision to go to war; it is our political leaders who declare war or deploy troops. Yet we are the face of their decisions and a much more accessible target of public ire. Perhaps those who feel this way should remember we are defending their freedoms to protest government decisions.

I would be remiss if I didn’t cite the families who support our soldiers. It is a very personal journey; fear, and joy; never knowing if a loved one will come home each day. They deserve to be honored also for their sacrifice and loyalty to our nation by supporting their soldiers during their military service.

As a tribute to those who have served and are now serving, I thought I’d share with you some photos of military service, some personal, and some honoring the sacrifice of those who fought for our freedom from our travels in Europe.

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial honors the American soldiers who died in WW II. This is the final resting place for 9,385 killed and a memorial for 1,557 reported missing.

The Ranger Monument at Pointe du Hoc erected by the French government. It is located atop a German bunker and commemorates the rangers scaling the 100 foot cliffs and seizing the gun emplacements on this point and later finding and disabling those artillery pieces.

Luxembourg American Cemetery. This photo was taken in 1989. 5,075 are buried here and it honors 371 reported missing.

My Dads’ Command Photo from Vietnam. He was the Brigade Commander of the 18th Engineer Brigade from 1969 to 1970.

My Dads’ graveside marker in Arlington National Cemetery.

Anne and I at Ft. Ord CA celebrating New Year’s Eve. I was the S1 (personnel officer) of 2nd Infantry Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division when this photo was taken.

I salute my brothers and sisters in arms—you have done well and deserve recognition on Veteran’s Day.

Be safe and well—you have lived beyond the common level of life!

Henry Carl “Hank” Schrader, Jr. Major, Infantry Retired

Hank in Panama in 1978. I was the company commander of B 4 20 Infantry (mechanized).

Hank Schrader

November 3, 2022

Europe River Cruise

15 Day Sailings from Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverships

Hank Schrader

November 3, 2022

Europe River Cruise

15 Day Sailings from Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverships

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

The opening of the Main-Danube Canal, linking the Rhine and its tributary, the Main River, to the Danube, was really the central idea that allowed modern day river cruising to become a mainstream vacation for many US travelers. PBS and Viking were the other catalyst, as their sponsorship resonated with viewers.

If you could get one of the two absolute best of the European Rivers on one cruise, my choice would be either the Amsterdam to Budapest route in either direction or sailing on the entire length of the Danube. It is one of the two good options for those seeking an extended sailing experience in Europe by rivership.

The voyage goes from Amsterdam to Budapest along the Rhine to the Main River, then to the Main-Danube Canal and finishes on the upper Danube. This cruise combines the best of the two most popular river cruises in Europe—the 7-day upper Danube and portions of the 7-day Rhine and Main Rivers route.

We have never sailed this exact route but have sailed to every destination. 14-day cruises are awesome—it is even possible to create your own special cruise by combining two back-to-back cruises on the same rivership—we did this in 2015 by escorting two different groups.

So, let’s learn about this route and see if it is a good option for you to take a river cruise on this route for 15 days.

River Cruise Companies Offering the Route

6 of the 7 River Cruise Companies we follow offer this route going through the Main Danube Canal. Only AmaWaterways does not offer it as a complete route (they used to), as one of the owners, Rudi Schreiner, believes the water levels around Regensburg are often so low, it causes part of the cruise to become a bus tour. They do offer a way to avoid this by using two back-to-back cruises and skipping the problematic area. Here are the companies offering this complete route using the Main-Danube Canal and the name they use to describe the route:

Avalon Magnificent Europe

Emerald 15 Day Splendors of Europe

Scenic Jewels of Europe

Tauck Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat

Uniworld European Jewels

Viking Grand European Tour

It is really beyond the scope of this blog to try to match up each company in a comparison mode of their features, as the idea here is only report on the major port stops.

You can already see how complex river cruising can become, knowing all 7 offer good options to discover two key rivers in Europe. This is where we come in, to help you evaluate and match the lines to your travel style and preferences and budget.

General Route Overview

The route starts in Amsterdam and ends in Budapest or starts from Budapest to Amsterdam. Here are the ports, highlighted by our photos.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

This capital city is ringed by canals, has famed gabled buildings, there are more bicycles than you can even imagine—it is one unique place. Combine this with the free spirit of the residents and you will long remember this special town.

Cologne, Germany

Cologne has been a town for over 2,000 years (it used to be a Roman outpost), is the 4th largest city in Germany and is famous for its cathedral. The two 510-foot-high spires dominate the skyline of Cologne, and it holds the relics of the Magi. Cologne Cathedral is Germany’s most visited building.

We also liked the town squares, where some of Germany’s best Christmas markets fill the squares during the Advent season.

Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim, Germany

The 65-kilometer Middle Rhine Valley is the best sailing route you will ever find in Europe. There are 40 or so castles, steep riverbanks and it is simply breathtaking!

After that most scenic stretch, you will visit Rüdesheim, famed for its coffee drink flavored with Asbach brandy, the winding, narrow, Drosselgasse lane, its fine Riesling wines, and a generally friendly, welcoming village.

Miltenberg & Wertheim, Germany

Miltenberg is one of the best preserved medieval cites on the Main River. The colorful half-timbered houses are magnificent. A walk to the town square is a wonderful experience.

Later that day, you will visit Wertheim, known by its nickname as “Little Heidelberg”, and get to see the narrow lanes of this village. Wertheim is located at the confluence of the Tauber and Main Rivers. The two top attractions are the castle and its medieval town square.

Wurzburg, Germany

Wurzburg has several unique architectural buildings but is most famous for the Residenz Palace. The gardens of this palace and interiors are magnificent. This Bavarian town is also a famous wine region.

Bamberg, Germany

Bamberg is a 1,000-year-old town with interesting buildings. The most famous are the town hall, built in the middle of a river, and its beautiful cathedral. It is built on seven hills and is located where the Regnitz and Main rivers meet. It is also home to a smoky flavored beer.

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. It is also famous for its Christmas markets.

Regensburg, Germany

The town of Regensburg is located on the northernmost point of the Danube River. It started out as a Roman town, has a medieval 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.

Passau, Germany

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

Melk & Dürnstein, Austria

Melk is famous for its impressive, huge abbey. It was built in the 11th century.

One of the awesome scenic waterways of Europe is the Wachau Valley. Here are 2 pictures :

Later as you cruise through the other great scenic waterways of Europe, the Wachau Valley, you will arrive in the charming village of Dürnstein. The blue tower of the Abbey, the cute little shops, and the castle ruins on the hillside, make this a favorite of many river cruisers.

Vienna

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

Bratislava

The capital city of Slovakia is a fun place to visit. Located at the border of Austria and Hungary, this is a new country (it declared independence in 1993), as much of its history it was in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the part of the Czechoslovakia. The symbol of Bratislava is the fortress that overlooking the city. It is also known for its whimsical bronze figures, which delight cruisers in the old 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 flat land. They are united by several bridges, but the chain bridge is the most important and is a symbol of the city. Both 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.

Our Final Thoughts

This is a grand route and a chance to see a lot of Europe in a hassle-free way. For many, it is the trip of a lifetime, as you can see by the port stops.

Availability on this route, due to the number of ships dedicated to this route and the extra 7 days added to the itinerary, sometimes make it hard to find space, so if you are considering taking this cruise, we advise you to act quickly, so you won’t be disappointed—a year or more is a good idea.

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 give 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 27, 2022

French River Cruise Ports

Beaune's Hotel Dieu

Hank Schrader

October 27, 2022

French River Cruise Ports

Beaune’s Hotel Dieu

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

We just finished escorting some great clients on an AmaWaterways river cruise. The route was the Essence of Burgundy & Provence. In Burgundy, I took a tour to the famous Hotel Dieu.

This stunning place was a medieval charity hospital. It was commissioned and paid for by Nicolas Rolin, the chancellor of Burgundy and his wife, Guigone de Salins. Construction started in 1443 and was completed 8 years later.

So, let’s explore together and learn about one of the best-preserved medieval buildings in France,

Overview

By the time of the construction of the hospital, the people of Burgundy were suffering from the Black Death (plague) and the religious Hundred Years War. Estimates were that 75% of the population were destitute and many were sick.

There were few opportunities for health care during these times, so this is a rather unique facility.

The Courtyard

The tiled roof and courtyard area are just stunning. The glazed tiled roof was a symbol of prestige and wealth and these colorful patterns have earned an architectural style that has become to known as “Burgundian”. Here are some photos:

Notice the quality of the workmanship—very intricate

The workmanship is excellent and the details are everywhere

The inside courtyard, where the entrance leads to the Great Hall of the Poor

The Pauper’s Ward (The Great Hall of the Poor)

It might be hard to understand how innovative this place was in the middle ages. Normal care came by doctors visiting the sick at their homes, but few could afford care at home.

This is the largest room of the building. Each bed held 2 or more persons (our guide told us men and women were often placed in the beds together—I guess if you must go it might be nice to have a little pleasure first). This practice ended in 1658 when King Louis XIV (the Sun King) donated enough money to separate men and women.

This was not a place of recovery; it was a place for the poor to die as peacefully as possible and there were constant reminders of salvation awaited the faithful. Today we would call this a hospice. Here are some pictures:

More of the bed area—there are 28 beds in this part of the hospital for the poor

The ceiling of the Great Hall of the Poor

The Chapel

The chapel’s location allowed the patients to attend mass while in bed.

The stained-glass windows let the world know that the two patrons are included in the art provided this place for the poor.

The art work over the alter area of the chapel

St. Hugue Ward

This was award for more wealthy patients who might have a better chance of surviving.

Notice the difference in the more wealthy area of this hospital—the paintings are more about hope and recovery than the Great Hall of the Poor

St. Nicolas Room

This room has displays of medical instruments used during this time.

Kitchen

The kitchen area is very well preserved.

Pharmacy

The nuns who staffed the hospital grew herbs in the second courtyard area gardens and these medical remedies were stored in pottery jars.

More of the storage of medicines in the pharmacy

The second courtyard area where the nuns would grow herbs

Treasured Art Works

Among the magnificent art works on display are the Story of Jacob, The Last Judgement by Roger van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement (Flemish artist), and the Prodigal Son tapestry.

The folding portion of the original alter. The 2 donors are on the outside pane;s

A tapestry telling the legend of St. Eloi. According to the legend, the horse in the tapestry refused to be shod and it was believed the animal was possessed by demons. He cut the horses’ leg off, shod the severed leg and then performed a miracle by reattaching the leg back on the horse, who was now demon free.

Burgundy Wine

The hospital is supported in part by a 60-acre wine vineyard. There is a wine auction at the Hotel Dieu in November, that is famous for the barrels of high-quality wine sold (Sotheby’s organizes and conducts the auction). It raises significant money to help preserve this great museum and important historical site. It is the most famous wine charity auction in the world.

The wine is primarily Pinot Noir, with some chardonnay. The exceptional vineyard is premiers’ crus and grand crus—the best wine produced in this region.

A display about the wine grown by the Hotel Dieu vineyard

A display about some of the barrels auctioned off—these are top wines, including one of my favorites, Pommard.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a great place to visit. It is a fascinating look back into health care in the middle of France. This place was a wonderful tour on our cruise, and we highly recommend it.

We hope you enjoyed this report, and hope you want to visit here also—we are ready to help as needed.

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

Hank Schrader

October 19, 2022

Europe River Cruise

The Chef’s Table on Our 2022 AmaCello Essenence of Brugundy & Provence River Cruise

Hank Schrader

October 19, 2022

Europe River Cruise

The Chef’s Table on the AmaCello in 2022

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

The Chef’s Table on Amawaterways is always offered during their cruises in Europe and Egypt. It is always included with your cruise fare at no extra charge.

It is a multi course specialty dining venue in a separate place on the ship.

So, let’s explore together and learn about the menu and the dining experience on the AmaCello in 2022.

Overview

The Chef’s Table has seating for 28 and has a chef who prepares all 7 courses in a demonstration kitchen. There are 3 waitstaff along with the chef to make this tasting menu a special occasion.

Here are some pictures:

4 Great folks preparing and serving our meal. From left to right Tanja (Croatia), Stelyan (Bulgaria), Petra (Romania) and Chris (Romania).

Here are pictures of our 7 Course Meal and descriptions of the wonderful food for each course:

Chef’s Welcome Course 1

Concasse Heirloom Tomato ~Mozzarella Carpaccio- Basil Oil- Olive Powder

Get The Taste—Course 2

Grilled Tiger Shrimp~Tahini Humus-Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

Tease The Senses—Course 3

Cauliflower Veloute~ Pine Seeds- Ginger Oil- Dried Figs

From The Rivers—Course 4

Pan Fried Salmon Trout Fillet ~Pumpkin Mash- Braised Radish

Riesling White Wine Sauce

Sorbet—Course 5

Raspberry Sorbet ~Sparkling Wine

Country Spirit —Course 6

Argentinian Beef Short Ribs~ Natural Jus- Horseradish Purée- Sweet Potato Fondant- Heritage Carrots - Broccoli

From Heaven —Course 7

Salty Carmel Chocolate Tart ~ Lime Macron- Cherry Sorbet- Fresh Berries

Wine Pairing

Chateau Belle Cure—White Wine

This white wine from the Bordeaux , France region is a Semillion-Sauvignon Blanc Blend.

The characteristics are a dry wine with aromas of tropical fruit and flowers, light, well balanced, fruity and a slight creamy aftertaste.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir—Red Wine

This wine is from Bourgogne, France and 100% Pinot Noir.

The wine characteristics of this medium light coloed, dry bodied Pinot wine are soft blackberries, cherry and strawberry fruits with just a hint of smokiness.

A Grand Celebration

We were honored to help our dear friends Linda and John Howard celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Here are 2 pictures—the first with their son Ben and his wife Judith and the special cake the staff onboard prepared and presented them at the end of the meal. The second is the Howard’s and Alt’s before the start of the meal.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a meal!

I think you can see why we are in the business—it just is awesome to help folks experience fine dining, good tours on a luxury cruise ship like the AmaCello.

We hope you enjoyed this report and we would be delighted to help have wonderful experiences like ours on the AmaCello.

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

Hank Schrader

October 13, 2022

Europe Destination

5 Good Places to Eat in Brugge

Hank Schrader

October 13, 2022

Europe Destination

5 Good Places to Eat in Brugge

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

We visit Brugge as often as we can when we come to Europe.

Part of the reason why we like this fairytale city is the many small family run restaurants in Brugge.

Here are two pictures to remind us of how wonderful this place is:

Where else but Brugge would you find charming buildings with swans decorating the outside of the building? The roof gable is known as a step gable and quite common in Brugge.

Perhaps the most iconic picture in fairytale land—just stunning at night!

Now, back to food. Brugge has many wonderful restaurants and we want to highlight some we have found to be exceptional.

The quality is always wonderful, we have found special dishes at each place we enjoy, and often the places we have found are frequented by locals.

Don’t visit these restaurants if you are in a rush—these dining experiences will be the art of slow dining—excellent cuisine you will remember long after your visit.

So, let’s explore together and learn about 5 great eating spots in Brugge, along with our favorite spot for a light lunch or just drinks —you won’t be disappointed in our 6 choices!

Cezar

This small restaurant and delicatessen has a real local connection—we often are the only Americans in this cozy place. The dining room area is just like they describe it on their website—it is a living room in their kitchen.

Meat is their specialty. They are open for lunch from 1200 to 1400 and for dinner from 1800 to 2100 five days a week and are closed on Sunday and Monday.

They are located on Jeruzalemstraat 1 and their telephone number is 050.70.97.84.

The following 7 pictures should help you understand why we like this establishment so much!

Anne with her before diner cocktail—we really like the insides of this wonderful place

Vol-au-Vent—a wonderful Belgium chicken dish

The traditional beef carbonnade stew made with Belgian ale.

In a place famous for its’ frites, a baked potato was a delightful change.

Grillkasteetje

This is some of the best grilled meats you will probably eat in Europe. It is small, the main dining area is up some steep stairs but the food is wonderful.

With only 24 tables in this establishment, reservations are mandatory. It is only open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday from 1800 to 2200 and closed on Sunday and Monday.

We have eaten here at least 4 times and can’t wait to go again.

They are located on Gevangenisstraat 1 and their telephone number is +32 50 68 41 48.

Here are just some of our wonderful experiences and good dining we have experienced here in our 15 pictures of some of our visits:

At the grill—where the food magic happens

Part of the second story dining room—the tiny upstairs after taking some steep steps that has seating for 18.

The small dining area on the first floor has 3 tables and seating for 8.

Roasted Camembert cheese—one of Anne’s all time favorites!

Anne’s wonderful grilled to perfection steak with bernaise sauce

The wonderful limoncello dessert is finished off by this giant liquor bottle—really cool!

For me, the proper way to finish off a great meal—a Remy Martin Brandy and coffee.

Pieter Pourbus

This restaurant is named after the painter Pieter Pourbus, a Flemish primitive painter who lived in Brugge in the 16th century. He was well known in Brugge as a Flemish Renaissance painter. His two main types of painting were religious and portrait paintings. He also was an engineer, a draftsman and a cartographer (he produced many very accurate topographical maps of Brugge).

Another small place with seating for 50, the interior is what you would expect from a historic house built in 1561 that Pourbus lived in. The owners, Johan and Sofia, are wonderful people and very friendly.

The restaurant is open for dinner only Monday to Thursday from 1800 to 2130,; closed on Wednesdays and open 1800 to 2200 on Friday and Saturday. On Sundays, they are open from 1200 to 1400 and then in the evening from 1800 to 2130. We highly recommend reservations.

The restaurant is located on Pieter Pourbusstraat 1 and their telephone number is +32 50 34 11 45.

We think these pictures will help you feel the great vibe of this place—the atmosphere and the really good, consistently quality food bring us back again and again—these 18 pictures should make it clear how good a meal you can have here.

One of the 2 fireplaces in this old building with its’ wonderful exposed beam roof.

They have a special 59 Euro meal. Here is our 2021 meal:

Here is what our 59 Euro Meal was like in 2022:

Our meal started with a glass of cava (Spanish sparking wine)

Anne had the grilled prawns—the orange sauce on the right is a wonderful picante sauce that really enhances the taste of the prawns.

My grilled rib-eye steak with green pepper sauce.

Sometimes we have just ordered of the menu. Here are a few dishes we have enjoyed:

Pork stew in a rich Belgium gravy—a really good dish!

Poules Moules

The best mussels in town are at Poules Moules. The name should tell you what they specialize in—Chicken and Mussels.

We have probably eaten here 3-4 times and it is consistently good and a great value.

They are open for both lunch and dinner and unless you want to stand in line for 40 minutes or more for lunch, make reservations. Like many Brugge restaurants, they have set hours for lunch (1200 to 1400) and dinner (1800 to 2130), and are not open all day long.

They are located in Simon Stevinplein 9 and their telephone number is 003250346119.

The mussels are excellent and I have always enjoyed their chicken dishes. They really do live up to their special dishes and we hope you will enjoy this place as much as we do—hopefully we have capture their good food in these 9 pictures.

Their logo on the door. As you can see, it is closed as this picture was taken around 1500.

During the summer, this outdoor eating area is packed with hungry visitors eating excellent food.

We were photo bombed in 2021 by this friendly, hustling waiter.

Mussels are prepared 5 different ways. Anne’s dish was prepared with white wine. The other choices are natural, in Bruges beer, with pernod and with fresh basil.

Our inside meal in October 2022:

Another great chicken stew dish, full of large chunks of chicken.

There is no doubt Anne will order the mussels.

The Lobster Pot

We were told prior to our visit the Lobster Pot, it had the best, freshest lobster and seafood in Brugge. Our advisors were correct! We also got instant confirmation during our visit when we saw the owners of Pieter Porbus already eating the special seafood tower.

This is a modern decor restaurant that use IPads to order from instead of the traditional printed menus, but trust me, it is among some of the best lobster I have ever eaten in my 73 years—in fact, we celebrated my 73 birthday here and were glad we did.

They are open from 1730 to 2200 daily from Tuesday thru Sunday, and on Sunday they open from 1200 to 1430.

It is located on Sint-Salvatorskerkhof 14 and the telephone number is +32 50 66 03 59.

The seafood is as fresh as possible and the food portions are large—we are sure you will like it, if you love seafood. These 8 pictures should back up our opinions.

The outside of the Lobster Pot. The roof line is called a Dutch roof and the curved top is clearly visible.

They use IPads as menus—you can even click on the item to see a picture—how cool is that!

Anne with her bib on ready for her lobster dish.

We couldn’t resist taking a photo of this giant crab attacking Anne—looks kinda like a horror picture but we were safe. Other large crustaceans decorate the walls.

A Special Lunch Treat—Terrastje

In our opinion, there is no better place than Terrastje for a hidden gem, with owners Ian and Patricia who are very laid back and serve good drinks and tapas type finger food.

It is very small, sometimes not open, but it is so cute, locals just accept it might be open or not. We always like this laidback vibe and look forward to our times here,

Here is their story in 12 pictures

Anne on the outdoor patio enjoying a drink

One of the owners, Patricia, serving drinks to their patrons.on the outdoor patio.

Even a light rain couldn’t stop us from having a drink under the canopy.

Ian and Patricia behind the bar—two really fun people and owners who will make you feel welcome.

When we say they are laid back, just reading their opening hours statement says it all—just stop in when you see it open bur don’t expect set hours.

The food is only tapas type snacks. Here is a large menu of their offerings on the wall.

The next two pictures are of little bear, our traveling companion. Sometimes he is shy but when he comes out and shares a table with us, you know it is a great place!

Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. They go great with the tomato soup usually available.

Our Final Thoughts

Food and good drinks have always been very important to us during our travels.

Brugge can be confusing with so many choices to eat and hopefully these recommendations will help you understand why we like these places.

We hope you will one or more and find our recommendations accurate and tasty.

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

Hank Schrader

October 6, 2022

French River Cruise Ports

11 Great Things to do in Lyon

Hank Schrader

October 6, 2022

French River Cruise Ports

11 Great Things to do in Lyon France

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

This is a good chance to learn more about Lyon, France. Lyon has two great rivers running through it. They are the Rhône and the Saône Rivers.

Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France, has Roman ruins and a very good old town. The historic section of town is known as Vieux Lyon (“Old Lyon”). The Old Town is on the Saône River.

Lyon is fun, we really enjoyed the old town area and its narrow streets and colorful bouchons (small bistros) with their trademark red and white checkered table cloths.

So, let’s explore together and find 11 great things to do in Lyon.

***Saône***.River view of the old town area

3 River Cruise ships on the Rhône River.

Notre-Dame Basilica—ornate church built in 1872 as a tribute to the Virgin Mary on the orders of the bishop of Lyon for sparing the city of Lyon during the Prussian-Franco War. Free. Located on Fourviere Hill above the old town. Here are 2 pictures:

Roman Theaters and Gallo-Roman Museum—there are 2 ancient Roman theatres here along with excellent artifacts from the Roman time in Lyon. Among the highlights is a bronze chariot from 7th century BC. Good explanations of exhibits in English. Closed Monday. Admission charge. (www.musees-gallo-romains.com) Located on the Fourviere Hill above the old town—there is a funicular to get up the steep hill.

The Old Town

The best thing to do is just wander around. Here are 3 pictures—showing the winding streets and lanes. The second picture is what moving day looks like in the old town.

Shopping—shop in Vieux Lyon. Lyon is renowned throughout Europe for silk, especially silk scarves.

St. Jean Cathedral—has a 700 year old astronomical clock. This cathedral was built between the 12th and the 15th centuries, and its exceptional stained-glass windows date from the same era. Its apse is a masterpiece of Lyonnais Romanesque architecture. A highlight is the Flamboyant Gothic chapel of the Bourbons. On the front portals are medallions depicting the signs of the zodiac, the Creation, and the life of St. John. Located in Vieux Lyon.

Traboules—these serpentine passageways were shortcuts that linked the old town’s 3 main streets. Wandering these paths will allow you to discover courtyards, lovely loggias (covered walkways open on one side) and arches.

Museums and Workshops

Atelier de la Solerie—workshop demonstrating handmade silk printing and screen printing. Free. Closed Sunday.

Museum of Fine Arts--The former Benedictine abbey was built between 1659 and 1685 in the Italian baroque style. Today, it is home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which has an outstanding collection of paintings and sculpture. Closed Tuesdays. Admission charge. Metro Stop Hotel de Ville. (www.maire-lyon.fr)

Museum of Fabrics and Decorative Arts--In the 1739 Lacroix-Laval mansion by Soufflot (architect of the Panthéon in Paris), the Musée des Arts-Décoratifs contains furniture and objets d'art from the 17th and 18th centuries. The medieval and Renaissance periods are also represented. Closed Mondays. Admission charge. Metro stop Bellecour. (www.musee-des-tissus.com)

Resistance and Deportation History Center—this museum has displays and videos telling the story of the French Resistance. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission charge. Metro stop Jean Mace, turn right on avenue Berthelot and walk 5 blocks.

Lumiere Museum--Film buffs from all over the world come here. The famous Lumière family, including Antoine (1840-1911), Auguste (1862-1954), and Louis (1864-1948), once lived in Lyon. The brothers were chemists, industrialists, and motion-picture pioneers. In Lyon, they founded a factory for producing photographic plates, paper, and chemicals. They invented the Lumière process of color photography and the Cinématographe, an early motion picture camera, in 1895. Closed Monday. Admission charge. Metro stop Monplaisir-Lumiere on Metro D. (www.institut-lumiere.org)

Dining—Lyon is the gastronomical capital of France. Among the best options are bouchons (small bistros) often their red and white checker-squared tablecloths. Local specialties are plentiful and vary from the creamy cervelle de canut (fromage blanc with herbs) to salade Lyonnaise with greens, soft-boiled eggs, bacon cubes and croutons. Here are 2 pictures of bouchons and the most famous food market in Lyon:

One of the 70 stalls of Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse market place

Getting Around

If you are coming by TGV get off at the second station, Gare de Perrache (takes 2 hours from Paris).

A network of Métro lines, trams, and buses branch out to serve the city. A plan de poche (pocket map) is available at any office of TCL (tel. 08-20-42-70-00; www.tcl.fr), which handles all forms of mass transport. Tickets are valid on all forms of public transport, costing 1.60€ for the average ride or else 13€ for a carnet of 10 tickets. Most short-time visitors may want to purchase a Ticket Liberté day pass for 4.40€. For a cab, call Taxi Radio de Lyon at tel. 08-72-10-86-86).

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a great guide We have 50 guides for interesting cities in Europe.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

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

Hank Schrader

September 29, 2022

Best Value Travel

Why Do We Travel?

Hank Schrader

September 29, 2022

Best Value Travel

Why Do We Travel?

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

This is a topic I have wanted to write about for a long time. I’m not sure I’m really qualified to list all the reasons we travel but our interactions with dozens of clients does give us a little insight on why we travel.

I wrote about travel opportunities a few weeks ago, but this a more in-depth look at why we travel and a little bit about 5 travel styles.

So, let’s explore together and learn about why we travel.

Experiences

In some form or another, when we travel, we seek experiences. Experiences change us.

It could be as simple as doing nothing, clearing our minds, relaxing.

It could be active—hiking biking running or other physical activity.

It could be seeing new places, learning about the culture.

It could be achievement—visiting a high number of countries, continents, or polar explorations, or even visiting space.

It could be a combination of any or all of these.

It could be celebrating a milestone, or a bucket list item.

The means of transportation could be the experience—a luxury train, a river or cruise ship or a pilgrimage.

The only thing all these have in common is that they change us in some form—it is personal development. Some folks like to call this transformational travel.

Since we all experience travel differently, let’s explore this idea a little further and see how travel can provide us some personal development.

I’m going to take 5 ideas about travel styles and travel attitudes to examine how you can use these ideas to enhance your travel experiences and help you get more out of your travel. By using some of our travel styles and travel attitudes as a method, I hope it will help us to probe why we travel.

Perhaps, one of these styles is your preferred way to travel, but my guess is most of you will see yourself in several of these travel styles. We have experienced all 5 styles.

Can you imagine a more relaxing place like this garden in Vienne, France?

Idea #1 We Take the Same Trip Every Year—It’s Our Travel Style

All travel experiences are different, even if we take the same trip every year.

For example, my West Point Classmates (we graduated in 1971—yes, we are old!) get together once a year for a 4-day golf shoot out. In truth, although some are very competitive golfers, most go to see the old friends and classmates, retell old stories and the format doesn’t change much, but each trip is different since we change the location of the event and not all can attend every year.

So. what does this example accomplish for most of us—we get to see the folks who are important to us.

Even the same trip every year leads to personal development, much the same taking the same river cruise over the same route does—every trip is different and so are your experiences,

Every year, we try to explore our Scottish heritage during a Highland clan gathering in the Estes Park Scottish festival. We have now been there 5 times and plan to continue this wonderful festival. Here are two pictures of us there:

Idea # 2 Our Travel Style Will Require an Attitude Adjustment

Travel always broadens our prospectives. It can be fun, stressful, freeing, relaxing, or demanding.

Some love the planning process; others want nothing to do with it. We always ask how our clients feel about the travel planning process versus the actual travel. We usually find the best attitude adjustments happen when we both get involved in the planning process.

But it is out client’s attitude towards these 2 facets of travel determine how much we get involved to do it all for you or get help and collaborate with you.

One attitude adjustment is control and for some the hardest factor in personal development when traveling. We often must give up control of our routines and are forced out of our comfort zone but gain a new understanding of a new place.

Attitudes are about feelings—what did you love about your last vacation? What did you hate or dislike? Many of our feelings may not be that strong but if we want personal development, we must express our feelings about travel.

Perhaps we can help you make several attitude adjustments and provide you growth by assisting you with new experiences during your travels.

One of our most memorable trips was attending a cooking school in Wales, for Anne’s 60th birthday celebration.

Idea # 3 Your Travel Style Requires You to Dream Big if You Want Great Experiences.

One of my favorite questions to clients is where do you want to go? Followed by where do you need to go?

Why is this important? We all have travel dreams, but it is what we want to accomplish by our travels that is the need question.

Do you want to follow your ancestral family in a new location?

How about a luxury train ride?

Maybe mysterious, ancient Egypt?

Perhaps, the Vienna New Year Balls, dressed in elegant gowns and tuxedos?

We don’t always know your big dreams but are ready to help you get there someday—you must dream big if you want significant personal development.

I’m not sure either us really ever believed we would visit Egypt one day—we did dream big and made it happen!

Idea # 4 This Travel Style Requires Most of Our Clients to be Resilient—they can overcome travel barriers.

The 2020 and 2021 were some of the most challenging times we have faced in our travel business. Somehow, a few traveled, many rescheduled and we all emerged better.

Maybe the problem is not enough time, travel costs, feeling we aren’t up to the physical demands of travel, family and/or health concerns—the list could go on and on if you let it.

Barriers can be overcome in most cases—sometimes we must delay our plans a little but to give in is just wrong, in my opinion.

We can usually find a solution and the result will benefit both of us.

What are the obstacles to achieving your big dream—money, time, fear? Let us know—we understand and usually can help you overcome these barriers.

You may wonder why I would choose the picture of this iconic castle in Switzerland as an example of a barrier. The story is we had a flight from Amsterdam to Geneva cancelled and we had to take 4 different trains to get to our hotel after our overnight flight from the US. We finally arrived at 0200 to our hotel—even seasoned travels like us have to overcome barriers!

Idea 5 Your Travel Style Requires You to Adapt and Grow

Travel really does change us, especially if we embrace the opportunity. I will never forget my first trip to Europe—I fell in instant love with the Old World and have been returning for 51 years.

Another good example is—I never knew about how good a vacation a river cruise is for most of our clients until my first in 2009 and now 95% of our sales are river cruises.

Just as we have adapted to the changing environment of travel, we can help you adapt and grow in your travels.

We have the knowledge and experience to help you grow, you just must want to change.

Maybe you need a nudge or two to take that first step—we can help you overcome your inhibitions and help you grow.

Here is a post card I sent my parents in 1971 after my first visit to Paris. As you can see, I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower on 26 July 1971.

Our Final Thoughts

So, what is our role in why you travel?

For us, it is simple—we like to help you get better vacations by providing you trips that 1) will exceed your expectations; 2) help you make wise choices; 3) eliminate hassles and 4) help you get the best value for your money. All of these are personal development from your travel experiences or transitional travel.

I think you can see why we are in the business—it just is awesome to help folks have a great vacation. Regardless of your travel style, we can make it a better experience.

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

Hank Schrader

September 22, 2022

Europe Destination

The Interesting Italian Peninsula

Hank Schrader

September 22, 2022

Europe Destination

The Interesting Italian Peninsula

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Italy is always a top country to visit for Americans. Not really a surprise to me—we always send at least one couple or a group to Italy each year.

So, I thought I’d tell you about the wonders of the Italian Peninsula.

Ready to travel? —let’s go!

Overview of the Italian Peninsula

Europe is a continent of peninsulas—there are 5 major peninsulas and many minor ones. Perhaps the most popular travel destination in Europe is the Italian Peninsula—if not the top destination in Europe, it always is very near the top in travel surveys.

It is also called the Apennine Peninsula, after the mountain range that runs almost the entire length of this country. This landmass is 1000 km long—620 miles and when seen from the sky is in the shape of a boot.

This a good time to remind you that we have guides to Rome, Venice, and Florence available to help you understand some of the best sights at each city on the Italian Peninsula. Just visit our website, www.dreamdestinations.com and find the Europe pages. In the Southern Europe page, you can use our convenient order form to get your guide(s). They are free and are designed for you to print and fold up in your pocket—no bulky tour book to lug around (if you are not a current client, there is a limit of 2 guides).

So, let’s learn about Italian Peninsula and how we can help you experience this wonderful area of Europe.

Overview of the Italian Peninsula

A peninsula is a landmass that has water on three side. You may be surprised to learn there are 3 countries on the Italian Peninsula. Folks often think they would be correct in stating that it is only the country of Italy on this peninsula, but they would be wrong. This confusion results because the two small microstate countries that are hidden in Italy are enclaves—they are surrounded by the much larger country of Italy and are easy to miss.

The two microstates are San Marino and the Vatican. So, it is time to learn about these 3 awesome countries.

The Big Boy on the Block--Italy

To me, Italy is one of the most fascinating places on earth. Once, it was most dominate power on earth for 400 years or so during the Roman Empire; it was the birthplace of the Renaissance; and it finally became unified in 1860.

However, in my opinion, it was during and after the Middle Ages, when the feuding and fighting of the various city-states took place, that have shaped this country into many of its present-day charms. Regions are distinct and offer the traveler quite an array of places to visit and marvel at during their visits.

Combine this with the “Dolce Vida”—the good life--and it is easy to see why Italy is such a popular tourist destination. I think the best way to look at Italy is to divide it into 3 regions—North, Central and South, and keep Rome as a separate topic.

Rome

For anyone traveling to Europe, there are 3 cities that are the most important to visit in my mind. They are London, Paris, and Rome. The Roman civilization changed the world forever. Rome’s fantastic sights are a tangled mess of greatness—it often seems a small ruin of Rome pops up amid modern buildings. The traffic is also a challenge— it also seems everyone who drives wants to beat all others to their destination, so don’t expect drivers to always yield the right of way.

Even with these challenges, it is a magical place of history and awesome food and drink. To see most of the main sights in Rome, you will need at least 3 days, but even with over 10 visits to Rome, there is more for us to see—I doubt you will run out of places to visit and experience.

Some of the key sights in Rome are the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, the Arch of Constantine, Trajan’s Column, the Victor Emmanuel Monument, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Here are some pictures:

Northern Italy

The mountains of the Alps define this area of Italy. It is also home to the Italian Lakes Region and two of our favorite places, Lake Lugano, and Lake Como. Here is a photo at Lake Como:

Another great place is Portofino. Here is a picture

The two most important towns of this region are Milan and Venice. Milan is the regional capital of Lombardy. It is a world-famous fashion and shopping destination. In Milan, the two most famous tourist destinations are the Milan Duomo (cathedral) and the painting of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Here is a picture of the Duomo:

A word of caution about seeing the Last Supper. First, to see this famous work of art, you will require a reservation and you will have only 15 minutes to view the painting in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. There are two large paintings at opposite ends of the convent (the Last Supper is to the right as you enter) and they are very strict about their no picture requirement. We watched a tourist stripped of his camera and told to delete the picture or give up his camera. For obvious reasons, we do not have a picture to show you.

Venice is a world unto itself. This intricate area reclaimed from a muddy lagoon is a pedestrian maze of canals, bridges, and spectacular sights. It once was among the most powerful city-states of the world, and it dominated trade in much of the Adriatic and eastern Mediterranean Sea for several centuries.

The principal tourist sights are around St. Mark’s Square. They include the Doge Palace, the Cathedral of St. Mark (which contain the relics of this disciple of Christ), the markets of Rialto Bridge area and the canals. Venice is very crowded, confusing, and colorful with its trademark gondolas. Here are some pictures:

the Cathedral of St. Mark (which contain the relics of this disciple of Christ)

The Bridge of Sighs—it is legend that prisoners would get their last look a Venice as the crossed this bridge prior to being placed in windowless jail cells and sigh

gondolas. moored in one of the maze of canals

The Central Region of Italy

This region has the world-famous Tuscany hill towns and the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence. Tuscany is wine country. It has hill towns with fortified towers, left over from the conflicts between the various hill towns, that will take you back to a time long ago. There are so many to see that it would be easy to stay a week or more here. Some classic towns include San Gimignano, Siena, Orvieto and Montepulciano.

There are two other interesting cities in the region beside Florence. Pisa, with its famous leaning tower, and the walled city of Lucca also deserves a visit. But the must see in this region is Florence.

Florence, once the home of the powerful and rich Medici ruling clan, has the best Renaissance art in Europe. Key sights in Florence are the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia (David statue by Michelangelo), the Duomo and Giotto’s tower, Ponte Vecchio and the Palazzo Vecchio. Here are some pictures:

the Accademia with the David statue by Michelangelo

A word of warning about the two key art galleries—the Uffizi and the Accademia. Without reservations, you could stand in line for hours to get in. Some guidebooks recommend at least a month in advance for the Uffizi and a week for the Accademia. Even with reservations to get into the Accademia, we stood in line for an hour on a small group tour.

Southern Italy

From Naples south, the Amalfi coast has some on the most dramatic views in all of Italy. It is also home to the historical ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, these buried cities became a window into ancient Roman life. Here are some photos of Pompeii:

The Amalfi coast is dotted with towns clinging to the steep cliffs. Our personal favorite is Positano. Here are a couple of photos:

Positano.-the buildings cling to the cliffs

Sorrento is also spectacular, as you can see from this picture:

At the end of the boot, is the island of Sicily. It is the largest island of the Mediterranean. In many ways, Sicily is distinct from Italy. It has its own dialect, customs, and cuisine.

The Teatro Massimo Bellini Opera House in Catania Sicily

The World’s Oldest Republic—San Marino

The old city state of San Marino is a fun and cool place to visit. It is only 61 square kilometers in size. Although not very easy to get to without a car or tour, it is well worth the effort. It was founded in the 4th century and is a throwback to older times—it is undisturbed by the modern world. The dominate feature of this small country is Mount Titano and the 3-fortress built on the 3 peaks to protect this tiny country from invasion.

The capital city is also called San Marino and is a pedestrian only area. Inside the town walls, it is a delight to wander around. Here are some of our favorite photos:

Palazzo Pubblico and Piazza della Liberta. The building is the Government House

A guard outside the Government House in San Marino

The Cesta Tower, also known as the second tower of the 3 defensive towers of San Marino.

Noon time ceremony of citizens dressed in medieval clothes parade through the streets

The Smallest Country in the World— the Vatican City

This small area of only .17 square miles far outweighs its size—it is the center of the Catholic Church and for many years the only religion of Christianity. It is not possible to overstate its importance in the world stage—it is the religious capital for 1.1 billion Roman Catholics. The ruler of Vatican City is the pope, who is both the religious and secular leader of this tiny country.

The most important sights are St. Peter’s Square, the Basilica of St. Peter, and the Vatican Museum. Visiting the museum requires an entrance ticket and if you do not have an advance reservation, you could spend several hours waiting in line. Even to get into the Basilica of St. Peter, we waited over an hour. The lines are long, and I’m told it is a favorite area for pickpockets. Here are some photos:

St. Peter’s Square with the Basilica of St. Peter in the background

A Swiss guard outside the Basilica of St. Peter

Our Final Thoughts

As you can see, we are experts in travel to the Italian Peninsula and we would like to help you visit someday. We hope you enjoyed this report.

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

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