Hank Schrader

July 13, 2023

Europe Destination

My Favorite 6 French Palaces and Castles

Hank Schrader

July 13, 2023

Europe Destination

My Favorite 6 French Palaces and Castles

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

The 14 of July is Bastille Day in France. It is the National Day of France and commemorates the Storming of the Bastille (a prison garrison which held political prisoners held on arbitrary royal indictments) on 14 July 1789 during the French Revolution and one year later the unity of the French nation in a festival that continues today.

This was a history changing day, so let’s learn together why today we get to visit many of my favorite palaces and castles, since the French overthrew their royal rulers, ultimately making their palaces open for us to visit. Their lifestyle in their palatial, over-the-top residences is almost unimaginable to us today, as it was during royal rule. I plan to start with these fairy-tale residences--3 palaces and then 3 forts.

Versailles

This is the palace that every King wanted—opulent, innovative rooms like the stunning Hall of Mirrors, gardens, statues, and fountains made of gold—there never has been a palace that displayed the wealth and power of the royals like Versailles. The palace was abandoned by the royal family in 1789.

*Outside the entrance to the palace. This is a good picture capturing the immense size of Versailles*

The Latona fountain in the foreground, honored Lontona, the mother of Apollo and Diane, who after being insulted by the peasants of Lycia, turned them into frogs. This picture is also a great view of the statues lining the walkways. in the background at the very top of the picture, is the artificial lake named Piece d’eau.

*Part of the massive gardens of Versailles*

*Part of the manicured gardens of Versailles*

*Statue of Louis XIV near the front gates of the palace*

It is hard to grasp how large and extravagant this palace is. It has 2,143 windows, 1,252 fireplaces, 67 staircases and 5 chapels. The gardens and fountains are exceptional—there are over 400 sculptures (one source said it is the largest open air sculpture museum in the world) and 1400 fountains.

This is the holding basin reservoir and is the supply of water for some of the fountains in Versailles. 2 water jets sent water high in the air so it could be easily seen from the palace. This bronze sculpture is called Nymph and child.

Sometimes, as many as 5,000 people were residing in the palace. It deserves a full day and is a relatively easy day trip from Paris, France.

The Apotheosis of Hercules ceiling painting in Versailles. It depicts the gods and goddesses of Olympus gathered together honoring Hercules after he finished his labors and was raised to the level of a god. There are over 140 figures in this ceiling painting. Apotheosis means the elevation of someone to divine status.

Versailles is the symbol of the absolute monarch–home to Louie XIV–the Sun King. Every morning when this guy woke up, several nobles surrounded him to wish him good morning–they waited for their king to wake up! Power and influence among the nobles depended upon favor of the King and most would do anything to get a higher position.

Tours of Versailles start with the Ambassador’s Staircase, then touring the King’s state apartments, the Queen’s apartments, and the chapel. Then most enjoy the extensive gardens.

*The staircases in the gardens of Versailles*

*Hercules Lounge. The painting is Rebecca at the Well*

*The painting is Meal in the House of Simon the Pharisee*

*This is a photo of the Venus Drawing Room. The statue is of Louis XIV dressed as a Roman Emperor*

*Abundance Drawing Room Cieling Painting Versailles. The title is the Figure of Royal Magnificence, Immortality and Progress in the Fine Arts*

*Painting by Rousseau in the Venus Salon. It is called the Perspective of the Gardens*

*Council Chambers in the Palace of Versailles. In this room, the King would meet with his counselors and sometimes, with other subjects during audience time.*

My favorite room is the Hall of Mirrors. It is 250 feet long, with 17 windows and has stunning garden views. There are 17 arched mirrors combined with 24 candelabras; busts of Roman Emperors; along with painted ceilings telling the story of the Sun King’s battle victories. It was often filled with noble ladies in silk gowns, and men in wigs and fine clothes who loved to look at themselves in the mirrors.

*Chandilier and ceiling painting in the Hall of Morriors*

This is the room where the Treaty of Versailles was signed that ended World War I. This was symbolic location because in 1870 and 1871, Versailles was occupied by the German Army and William I of Prussia was crowned Emperor of Germany.

Chateaux Chenonceau—a Woman’s Palace

Built over the Cher River, this is an impressive chateau that I intuitively knew was going to be a special visit. From the entrance to this historic site, it is about a 15-minute walk to the chateaux through some wonderful gardens, a cool duck pond and a carriage house with splendid examples of horse drawn transportation and farming carts of the era. Here are some of our photos:

***Chateau de Chenonceau is built over the Cher River***

The first views of the palace, it is just stunning—it is built over the river and looks like a fairy tale castle. As you approach the palace, the forecourt has the Marques Tower, the old keep of the fortified castle that was demolished as the new chateau was built. The main door is made of wood and wonderfully painted. Here are 2 photos:

The first room we saw was the Guard Room. Here soldiers we ready to protect the royal family as needed. The huge fireplace was delightful on the chilly day we visited, and the Flemish tapestries highlighted some of the past events of this Chateaux.

The next room was the impressive Chapel. It was decorated for the Christmas season. All here is original to the 1500s except the stained-glass windows that were added in 1954. Here is a photo:

We next visited Diane De Poitier’s Bedroom, the Green Study, and the Library. Diane De Poitier is an interesting woman—she was the mistress of King Henry II and he gave her the palace in 1547. When Henry died as a result of a jousting tournament accident in 1559, Henry’s wife, Catherine de Medici’s, quickly made sure Diane was no longer welcome and she took control of the Chateaux.

My favorite room was the 200-foot-long Gallery. It instantly reminded me of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles except with 18 windows instead of mirrors. The Gallery is actually the bridge over the river Cher. The dazzling chandeliers and tufa and slate floor of black and white tiles is stunning. It would be easy to imagine a wonderful evening ball here—there would be plenty of room to dance and socialize and this was exactly how this area was used by the royals for lavish parties.

There are several bedrooms on the second floor. They include the 5 Queen’s Bedroom, Catherine de Medici’s Bedroom, Cesar of Vendome’s Bedroom, and Gabrielle D’Estrees” Bedroom.

On the third floor is the black bedroom. It is the mourning retreat of Louise who lived here after the assassination of her husband King Henri III.

My research of Chenonceau reveals that this is the third most popular chateau in all of France behind Versailles and Fontainebleau. It is well worth a visit.

Chambord—a Man’s Palace

One of the largest Chateaus in all France, Chambord has 440 rooms and 365 fireplaces. It was created as a hunting lodge and to impress visitors. On first sight, it does just that—this place is massive. 80 of the rooms are on display. This is a notable example of French Renaissance architecture. There are 4 main areas of interest of this palace.

We entered and went up the double-helix staircase, the first of the must see in the chateau. It was designed so users could pass without seeing each other since there are two flights of stairs. It is rumored to be inspired by Leonardo De La Vince and some say it was designed so the King’s mistress and the queen could pass without having to meet.

The second area of great interest is the furnished apartments of the first floor. These are lavishly decorated and have furniture fitting for a king (although they are recreations—most of the original furnishings were looted during the French Revolution).

*Some of the outer building and the vast hunting grounds*

The third area is the keeps—the vaulted rooms of the second floor. The symbol of the king was the salamander and there are many carved into the walls and ceilings.

The fourth area is the terraces. The sweeping views, the turrets, the walkways are really special. In the center of the terraces is the lantern tower crowned with the fleur-de-lis.

The gardens are beautiful. The surrounding wooded areas were ideal for hunting and still are used today for that purpose—it is Europe’s largest enclosed forest park.

***The Gardens viewed from the terraces***

This massive palace does impress—Francois I, the absolute monarch, invited the most powerful king of his day, Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, to visit and he accomplished his mission to prove his power and wealth. A visit here will help you understand what power and wealth can build.

Mont Saint-Michel

The Abbey-Fortress, about a half a mile off the coast of Normandy, dates back to the 8th century. It is located on a tidal island and has a 1000-year history. It was once a famous center of learning, noted for scholarly work and especially for the artistry of the Abbey Monks for their excellent manuscript illustrations.

*The tidal area of the sea around Mont St. Michel*

It is just a stunning location. Part fort (to protect from the English invaders in the endless cross English Channel conflicts), an important pilgrimage site, sometimes a prison, and a center for learning, not only is it fairy-tale like in appearance, but it is also an important site in the history of France.

Construction of the site is said to be based on a vision to Bishop Avranches from the Archangel Michael requiring him to build a church on the island in the sea in the 8th century. In 966, the French kings and dukes of Normandy, allowed the construction of the Benedictine abbey on the island. St. Michael was the patron saint of the French kings, and this helped make it favorite places for royalty to visit.

*This wall sculpture depicts the visitation of the Archangel Michael to Bishop Aubert*

Part of the mystery of Mont St. Michel is the epic tides, which cover 8 miles in each tidal cycle. Adding to the speedy tides, quicksand is another peril to access this small island fortress. Combine these obstacles with fog that often occurs here, it is easy to see why this palace developed mystical place in the minds of the population and the pilgrims who were trying to get closer to God during their journeys. Adding to this legendary status, in the 15th century when the English conquered Normandy, they were never able to conquer Mont St. Michel during the Hundred Years War, so it is easy to understand the importance the French place on the island abbey-fortress.

*This is a good picture showing part of the tidal area of the sea around the island Abbey* *and some of the defensive positions*

*This is a good view of some of the defensive fortifications surrounding Mont St. Michel*

It is a steep hike up to the Abbey, which takes about 20 minutes. Touring the Abbey takes about an hour to an hour and a half. There are no English explanations in the Abbey.

*The crowded pathway up to the Abbey with its shops and restaurants*

In the Abbey, there is a church, the cloisters (an outdoor area enclosed with columns), the Guest’s Hall, the Ossuary and the Scriptorium Hall where the monks worked illustrating manuscripts.

*Scriptorium Hall were the monks illustrated manuscripts*

*The cloister has a garden surrounded by 137 pink granite columns*

This treadwheel crane was installed when Mont. St. Michel was a prison and was used to bring supplies up to the prisoners. It was powered by some of the prisoners inside the large wheel, who walked to rotate it.

Carcassonne

This huge fortress in the south of France is a like no other fortress in France--It is the largest walled city in Europe. It was built on a trade route that was used between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is a fortified city with 52 towers and barbicans and has 2 defensive walls. There are over 2 miles of walls, and it has 4 city gates oriented to the north, east, south and west.

Why did cities put up walls around their city? Simple–a defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements.

Almost every town in medieval times that could build defensive walls did so for protection, as medieval cities were often attacked. Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands.

In its present form it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defenses encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings, its streets, and its fine Gothic cathedral.

The story of Lady Carcas is one of my favorite tales about Europe—it tells how Carcassonne got its name. According to the legend, the city was under siege by Charlemagne’s troops,and during the fighting, the king was killed defending the city. His wife, Lady Carcas became the leader of the town. The siege lasted for 5 years and as the city was running out of food, Lady Carcas had one of their last pigs thrown over the walls from one of the towers. The soldiers left, believing the city had enough food to outlast them.

*Narbonnaise Gate Carcassonne* is *the main gate to the city*

Lady Carcas had the city bells in celebration as the soldiers left and one exclaimed “Carcas Sonne” which translates to Carcas rings! Not missing this legend as it became a tourist destination, you can see her sculpture on one of the town’s walls.

*Another view of the main gate entrance*

Some of the best sights in this fortified city include the Château Cometal (the Count’s Castle), the cathedral and walking the ramparts for views of the countryside and the Aude River.

Part of the Chateau Comtal. It was built on the steepest part of the hill, helping in the defense of the castle. It has 9 towers. These towers defend the bridge over the moat that was the entrace to the castle.

Carcassonne is crowded with tourists during the day, but is a delight at night, so a visit here is best when you stay longer than a daytime visit.

Roquetaillade

You may not know much about this castle, but it is on the list of Historic Monuments of France that was established in 1840. Roquetaillade, near Bordeaux, was a wooden castle originally built by Charlemagne, but only some ruins remain. In 1306, a new castle was built with a square design, which featured 6 towers and a central keep (the main tower).

*This is a good picture showing the keep tower in the center of the Roquetaillade Castle*

*This is part of a clever escape route from the castle. While we were inside the castle, our guide pulled a lever mechanism and the red door completed this bridge, to become an escape route.*

*Another Interior picture of the castle*

Roquetaillade in French means carved out of rock and comes from the caves under the castle complex. It has been owned by the same family since 1306.

After the Middle Ages, there was not any military need for the castle and the castle was modified and updated to make it a more comfortable residence. The insides are full of decorative art, thanks to the transformation made by the famous architect Viollet le Duc, and it is the beginning of the Art Nouveau style in France.

Perhaps this is why I like this castle so much, thinking it would be stark due to its outward appearance, it was a beautiful castle with rich interiors. Along with the splendid interiors, my favorite was the kitchen area and the gleaming copper cookware.

Sadly, no pictures are allowed inside of the castle.

Most folks visit this castle on a river cruise from Bordeaux and I would recommend you visit here.

Our Final Thoughts

Perhaps you have other palaces and castle to add to my favorites list—there are endless choices. There is just something about these 6, in my opinion, which make them special and a delight to visit. 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 52 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

July 6, 2023

Best Value Travel

How Do You Value Time on Your Vacation?

Hank Schrader

July 6, 2023

Best Value Travel

How Do You Value Time on Your Vacation?

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Throughout our careers as professional travel consultants, I believe the real value of using us to plan your vacation is saving you time and hassle. You have a fixed amount of time for your trip and using your time wisely will enhance your experiences during the trip. Getting it right usually turns a good trip into a great trip.

So, let’s explore the value of time in travel and try to answer the question—How Do You Value Time on a Trip?

A Starting Point—Opportunity Time Costs of Travel

Most travelers have a set amount of vacation time for a trip. As a result, we make decisions about travel that are time and comfort related. Some will want to spend more to arrive faster or travel more comfortably during the trip (for example, a direct flight with no layover or taking first class versus a different level of service); or some will accept a delay for a lower cost (for example, accept a layover flight); or even delay parts of their trip for compensation (for example, the airlines pays you money to take a later flight).

Another way of saying this is how much would you be willing to pay to save time and how much would you want as compensation for your lost time?

While this may seem fairly simple, there are other factors involved. Saving time may increase your ability to see more, or it could just make your travel less stressful or safer. In short, there are always tradeoffs we need to manage, as few of us have unlimited time or money to travel.

Let me give you a really good example to make this point more clearly—my travel to Europe throughout the years. My first trip to Europe was right after graduation from West Point, 52 years ago in June and July 1971. I went with a friend (a fellow West Point graduate), we each had backpacks, a Euro Rail Pass and sort of followed the guidebook Europe on 5 Dollars a Day. It was a great trip, low budget, lots of hassles (no reservations), very flexible, more a wander than a planned trip. The key was we had 6 weeks and not a lot of money. Saving time was not as key as saving money.

*A postcard from my 1971 trip to Europe*

As you can imagine, with age and more resources, Europe travel became more about saving time while traveling, reducing stress, and making it more fun, more comfortable, and elegant. However, we seldom get 6 weeks to go to Europe—it usually is for 2 or 3 weeks nowadays. Saving time is often more important than saving money.

Opportunistic Time Costs

In travel, I believe there are things you can do that will increase the value of your time. Some may cost more money; some may just involve careful planning, and some may just be a special opportunity that suddenly comes up. While planning a great trip, I think you need to balance all three of these factors to get the best results.

So, how do you make the perfect balanced trip? I think the first step is to identify your core values of travel—why are you going and what do you want to experience?

My Core Values for Travel

Here are my core values when I travel or think about planning a trip—perhaps these will help you understand why you travel and what you want to experience on your future trips.

When I travel I do so for several key reasons. They are:

To add balance to my life, to look for beauty, to satisfy my curiosity about a place,
to help me grow as a person with new experiences and cultures,
to help me to gain knowledge and learning,
to help me seek pleasure, happiness, and wisdom.

These values, for me, answer the question of why I travel.

But they do not answer what I want to experience. To answer that question, I need to research the destination and then evaluate what I will get to see and experience and how this destination will match my core values. So now, travel outcomes become more complicated.

To add to this problem, I also have to evaluate the services that vendors offer—will their products and services match my expectations?

My Core Values for Vendors

When I travel, I want to be treated with fairness, honesty, and respect. These core values are a must. Once I am confident of the level of services and manner I will be treated, now I look for the most important item—what value does the vendor add to my travel? What is their level of service, how will they enhance my comfort when I am away from home and what will they let me experience?

*A vendor we trust—AmaWaterways will give you a great vacation and save you time and provide unmatched experiences. This is a GS category stateroom on the AmaMagna during our trip in 2023.*

*Hotel Manager Miguel, toasting us during an AmaWaterways cruise in 2022.*

I hope it goes without saying, this is exactly how we treat you when you use our services—with honesty, fairness, and respect. It is all about trust—will you trust us to deliver what we say we will, and will we deliver on time?

Time Stressors for Travelers

There are many time stresses when you travel. Moving from one place to another in an uncomfortable or rushed manner is often a big stress factor and can make the trip really horrible.

Let me share a story about traveling way back in 1990—we were in Europe during the World Cup soccer tournament. To save money, we decided to take an overnight train from Paris to Amsterdam. Seemed like a great idea—we would save one night’s hotel cost. The only problem was that our sleeping compartment was not for us alone—when we got on the train, we found we were sharing the compartment with 2 strangers from Argentina. It was a very uncomfortable situation to say the least, but luckily since I am fluent in Spanish, we were able to communicate our discomfort and work out who would sleep where.

The train was not air conditioned or it was not working, so our options were a very hot night of little or no sleep or constant screeching noise with the windows open as other trains roared past us. When we finally arrived the next morning and found a hotel in a smaller town outside of Amsterdam, we sleep for a whole day. And to add to our discomfort, we both had heat rashes on our legs.

So, we saved some bucks but lost almost 2 days of our trip. This is poor travel. Now we use overnight trains on occasions but have learned to carefully research all the details and levels of service—a great lesson learned!

*A much better train compartment in 2021 on the night train from Munich to Budapest—it had air conditioning that worked and a compartment to ourselves!*

Another time stressor is searching for the right hotel. If you are winging it, this can be another problem. If you expect a certain level of accommodations, you could be aced out. Another stress factor is spending too much or being located in an unsafe part of town—trust me we had also made this mistake.

*The elegant Hotel Eden Palace in Montreux, Switzerland*

*Anne on our balcony with the beauty of Sienna as our view!*

Even if you get the moving from place to place right, and find the right place to stay, perhaps the biggest stress factor is missing a chance to see what you came to see or waiting in long lines to see or experience the sights. Most key sights are closed on certain days or holidays and can require advance reservations.

For example, few people want to stand in line to see the Vatican Museum for 4 or more hours in the blazing sun during July in Italy—we have witnessed many who have made this travel mistake—if they had the proper reservations, they would have skipped the line altogether. Again, a trade-off—more cost to save time.

Another stress factor is making your own plans. Will your selections match your expectations? Will you miss out on a key experience you did not know about? Did you forget the transfer from the airport to your hotel? Did you allow enough time to make a train connection? Are you in the right place on the right day of your cruise to see the sight you just spent thousands of dollars to see? The list goes on and on.

Addressing the Stress Factors

To me, this all boils down to two factors—trip satisfaction and convenience. Every time we plan our own travel, and I see how complex it is to get the trip right, I just can’t understand why some folks believe they can achieve trip satisfaction by doing their own planning. Maybe they get satisfaction from extensive research, or fear losing control of trip decisions, or really don’t know exactly what they want and have difficulty expressing it to us—I’m just not sure.

Time value experts often ask this question when evaluating convenience and satisfaction—what would you be willing to pay someone to do the work for you? This is a great question in my mind when trying to decide if you should use us to help you, and my answer is even better—it usually costs you nothing extra, as the vendors pay us—the price of our services is already factored into the vacation price and we seldom charge extra fees.

The reason is simple—travel vendors alone can’t reach enough folks to sell their products by themselves, so they use travel professionals like us, to find customers for them. It is a huge win-win—you are hiring us as your travel expert for free in most cases.

As Anne likes to say, “Free is good!”

Why not just buy my trip online?

I am amazed at the number of folks who think they can plan travel better than we can. “Oh, I’ll save money and everything I need to make a decision is on the internet”—this is some variation of the responses I have heard. This must be a really strong belief—only about 31% of travel is booked by travel agents, according to many industry sources I have read.

My response is you just can’t match us for several reasons. Here is my reply—there are 4 reasons you should use us instead of doing it yourself. They are

It will be less stressful,
We will get you a good value for your money (often matching or even less than you found) and avoid pitfalls of products that look good but aren’t quite like that in reality,
We will make it an enjoyable buying experience
We will make your lives better through our knowledge of the right travel products for your trip.

Perhaps, most importantly, you will have a real human being to help you—we can answer your questions and understand your needs. If things go wrong, you have an advocate in us to help solve the problem.

Our Final Thoughts

Time during travel is precious. Trip planning is not easy. Time and money issues are complex—we all want the best at the least possible price. We help you solve those complex issues, saving you hassles, time and worry.

We hope this blog will make you think about how you value time during your travels. Don’t hesitate to use us to help you save time on your future trips.

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

Hank Schrader

June 29, 2023

Europe Destination

The Cat and Mouse Castles of the Rhine

Hank Schrader

June 29, 2023

Europe Destination

The Cat and Mouse Castles of the Rhine

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Whenever I get stumped about what to write in our weekly blog, I somehow always think about castles. So today’s blog is about two feuding castles.

The two Rhine River castles, Burg Katz and the smaller Burg Maus got their name from two feuding lords in the late 1300’s. Their different size and proximity to each other makes them a special part of the lore of the over 40 castles in the Rhine River Gorge.

To understand the rivalry of these two castles, many of these castles were constructed on this stretch of the Rhine by competing factions trying to gain more wealth and power. Burg Katz, across the river from Rheinfels castle, was built by to support Rheinfels fortress, while Burg Maus was built by the Electorate of Trier (one of the 7 voters for the selection of the Holy Roman Emperor) near Katz castle to undermine its’ power by also collecting tolls from the river merchants.

Burg Katz was built in 1371 to collect tolls on the Rhine River. The official name of the castle that overlooks the village town of St. Goarshausen is “Neukatzenellbogen”.

Here are some photos of Burg Katz, all taken by Anne:

The castle was built by the Counts of Katzenelnbogen, so it is easy to see how the name was shortened by locals to Burg Katz.

In 1626, the castle was besieged by the Electorate of Cologne and while courageously defended by 10 cannons and 80 soldiers, surrendered after 5 weeks when they ran out of ammunition. The 7 electors of the Holy Roman Empire were constantly trying to increase their power and ranking among the 7 Electors, so armed conflict was just one means of getting more power.

France always feared a strong Germany, and they invaded this region in an effort to assert its superiority and dominance of the small, un-unified German kingdoms. Both Germany and France wanted control of the Rhine River. This important transportation river soon became an area of international conflict.

The next siege came in 1692 by the French. The castle survived other attacks until in 1806 it was ordered blown up by Napoleon.

By 1770 it was in total decay. It has been restored and now is used for a holiday center for German financial authorities. Burg Katz is closed to the public.

Burg Maus (officially Thurnberg Castle) is much smaller than Burg Katz but is higher on the hillside and looks like to me, taunting the larger Katz Castle to come and get me.

Here are some photos of Burg Maus taken by Anne:

*The Map shows how close these two castles are.*

It overlooks Wellmick village and construction began on this castle around 1356. The castle has a massive shield wall, and the keep (highest tower) is part of this wall. Directly opposite this smaller castle is Rheinfels Castle.

Burg Maus was built to secure the borders of Trier against the Counts of Katzenelenbogen’s territory and to collect tolls. Burg Maus was never destroyed.

Today it is used as a falcon training center and is open for visits.

Our Final Thoughts

A lot of Europe history is about conflict, and power. In these 2 castles, it is a microcosm of these conflicts. We hope you enjoyed this report and learned something interesting about these 2 castles.

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

Hank Schrader

June 22, 2023

River Cruise Routes

French River Cruises

Hank Schrader

June 22, 2023

River Cruise Routes

French River Cruises

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

There are 3 distinct rivers in France that provide exceptional river cruising opportunities. These rivers are the Seine, the Rhône and Saône, and the Garonne.

The Seine, a slow flowing river, is 485 miles long, is the longest navigable river in France, and empties into the English Channel.

The Rhône and Saône link northern and central France from the Burgundy region to the Provence Region and finishes off into the Mediterranean Sea.

The Bordeaux region cruise consists of 3 rivers—the Dordogne ,the Garonne, and the Gironde (actually Europe’s largest estuary) and is in the southwestern part of France.

You can sail from 7-days to 22-days by combining these 3 river routes which provides you a great opportunity to see a lot of France easily and adding a pre or post land extensions will make it a fabulous vacation.

So, let’s learn a little about some of the sights and reasons to take one of these 3 French cruises.

Seine

The Seine is usually a 7-day round trip cruise into Normandy, often starting and ending in Paris but some lines now offer a Paris to Honfleur one way option, with a return in the opposite direction.

The cruise highlights are Monet's village of Giverny, the harbor town of Honfleur, Rouen, the historic capital of Normandy and the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431 (also of special note is the 700 restored half-timber buildings in the old quarter), as well as a chance to visit the medieval towns along this scenic route and see some of the most important sites of D-Day at the Normandy beaches area.

Various lines have some visits to the Château of Versailles, and Le Harve with land extensions in St. Malo and Mont St. Michel.

This is a gentle voyage along farmland and meadows, historic towns, and good food such as brie and camembert cheeses, Calvados (apple brandy) and Normandy cider.

If you like history such as the 100 Years War between England and France, want to learn more about the largest amphibious landing in history at the D Day beaches, and like impressionist paintings, this is the cruise for you.

Rhône and Saône Cruises

Route Map of a Rhone and Saone from AmaWaterways

The Rhône—most of these cruises go from Lyon to Arles (or the reverse). Starting in Lyon, the gastronomical capital of France, you cruise through France's legendary wine growing regions of Beaujolais and Cote du Rhone, observe medieval villages in the Provence region of France; then on to the Papal town of Avignon and finish in Arles, where Vincent Van Gough spent much of his time.

The cruise then changes direction from Arles to Lyon for the next 7-day cruise. You will sample great wines, visit Roman ruins, and learn about the cuisine of Provence, among stunning scenery—fields of purple lavender, yellow sunflowers, and vineyards. We have sailed on this route several times and each time it was awesome—we are ready to return anytime.

Some of the highlight ports are:

Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital. It was founded by the Romans in 43 BC, on the junction of the Rhône and Saône Rivers and is a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture.

Tournon, a medieval treasure with a fascinating 16th-century castle.

Avignon to see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes, which is the largest Gothic fortress in the world; home to a famous destroyed bridge that is part of a famous French song, and even a huge Roman aqueduct over the Pont River.

Arles, and Vienne which have excellent Roman ruins.

*Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia in Vienne—it dedicated to the cult worship of Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia*

There are excellent wines and food to learn about and sample while here.

The Saône is often added to some lines offerings and now even has some lines focusing solely on the Saône. The key ports are:

Macon, to tour the city or visit the Cluny Abbey.

A bridge over the Saone in Macon, France. Photo Anne Schrader

Tournus to take a city tour or visit the Château Cormatin and its wonderful gardens.

***Château Cormatin Photo Anne Schrader***

***Some of the extensive Château Cormatin gardens. Photo Anne Schrader***

Chalon-sur-Saône, where guests can tour the city or take the Beaune visit which includes the famous tiled roof of the Hotel-Dieu

Bordeaux River Cruises

The newest river cruise in Europe for most lines is in the Bordeaux region of France on the Garonne River and Dordogne River. It is a round trip cruise out of Bordeaux and features wine tastings, chateaux and abundant vineyards along the Garonne and its tributaries.

The Bordeaux estuary is unique since both river cruises and ocean cruises can sail to some ports here—we first visited Bordeaux on an Azamara ocean cruise before taking a river cruise that started and ended in Bordeaux. In Bordeaux, you can stroll down the wonderful gardens near the river or visit the museum of wines.

The usual port cities of Cadillac, Pauillac, Blaye, Bourg and Libourne are included in most sailings of this region.

In Cadillac, you will visit an interesting château in the town or perhaps the castle fortress Roquetaillade;

Blaye is home to a huge citadel fortress;

Libourne is near the quaint town of St. Emilion with its old timber houses and famous wines;

Bourg is a former walled city with an interesting carriage museum.

This is an important wine region of France, and you will experience tastings of some of the most distinguished wines including Sauternes, Medoc, and Bordeaux wines.

If you like wine, cognac, oysters, truffles, chateaux, and the grand buildings of Bordeaux, this is the cruise for you.

Our Final Thoughts

Sometimes, focusing on just one country on a river cruise becomes a fabulous trip and any of the these 3 are great options. Go to France on a luxury ship and learn about these 3 great regions of France on one or more of these excellent choices.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

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

June 15, 2023

River Cruise Reviews

Little Bear and Lenny Meet the AmaWaterways Staff on the AmaMagna

Hank Schrader

June 15, 2023

River Cruise Reviews

Little Bear and Lenny Meet the AmaWaterways Staff on the AmaMagna

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Some of you may know how great the AmaWaterways’ Staff and Leadership Team are for curating luxury cruises for our guests and supporting those of us in the travel industry.

You might get tired of us telling you about their wonderful cruise line and why you should travel on it, so we have two unbiased friends, Little Bear and Lenny the Leopard, although very shy, to help us—they have agreed to tell you about the wonderful folks at AmaWaterways.

They have even decided to let you see their pictures on several river cruise ships and to tell you why the folks on AmaWaterways are special.

Both would also like to tell you about why they think the AmaMagna is the best rivership they have sailed on in Europe—and wanted you to see Den Mother Anne’s pictures of all the staterooms, so you might select the right den for your next cruise on the AmaMagna.

Leadership

Little Bear and Lenny knew about the warm leaders of AmaWaterways but weren’t quite sure if it was okay to meet them in person, as they think they aren’t very important, and these are busy, and important folks. But they found out how friendly and welcoming these key leaders are to all—even to our friends Little Bear and Lenny (they told us you would be treated the same way).

They just wish they could have met more folks, but sometimes, it is just too much for them to handle and they have to go back to the den.

Lenny the Leopard and Little bear enjoy a special drink made just for them on the AmaMagna

Lenny and Little Bear like to relax just before sleepy time—they like their nightcap drinks.

Here are some of the wonderful leaders they met:

Kristin Karst, with her sparkling smile and instant warm manner, greets all with the pride and love she has for those who river cruise with AmaWaterways. She is the co-founder of AmaWaterways and strives to make all who sail with her company surprised and delighted with their luxury vacation. They were so excited to meet her—they even ask for a photo so they could remember the occasion:

The radiant Kristin Karst, hosting a party on the AmaMagna in March 2023

Alex Pinelo is the VP of Sales, and very well respected in the travel industry. He loves working for AmaWaterways and always finds time to respond to all, despite his busy schedule. He is a passionate fan of AmaWaterways.

Alex enjoyed the company of Little Bear and Lenny

Diane Marie Horan has been working for AmaWaterways since 2011—our friends Hank and Anne met her early during their first trips on AmaWaterways. She is the director of Strategic Accounts and loves AmaWaterways—she has even written a book of how AmaWaterways seems to create lifelong love connections among the employees. Little Bear and Lenny love her book and rejoice in the stories she wrote about to share with others.

Alex and Diane relaxing with our two animal friends on the AmaMagna

Jazzmine Douse is the Director of National Accounts for AmaWaterways. Smart, vivacious, and full of energy, she helps bring an enthusiastic dynamic to AmaWaterways, helping all to enjoy these great vacations, especially to help diversify the clientele on AmaWaterways, where all are welcome.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on the AmaMagna. From left to right, Diane, Jazzmine, Hank, Anne, Kristin, and Cesario (our cruise manager) Little Bear and Lenny are resting in their stateroom

Meeting the Bar Staff on the AmaMagna

The hard-working crew of the AmaMagna loved Little Bear and Lenny.

The bar staff on the AmaMagna loved Little Bear and Lenny

Our two heros are ready for a refreshing cocktail on the AmaMagna

Little Bear and Lenny love having their photo taken with the friendly staff

Little Bear Sometimes Ventures Out With Shy Lenny During the Day

Little Bear is very curious. He likes people, especially if he can learn more about their jobs. He especially likes seeing how the ship is steered, and how many warm, welcoming staff he can meet.

He got his Den Mother to take him out one day on the AmaMagna, with Lenny. It was very important to him to let you see these wonderful people, who take such great pride in their jobs, who wanted their pictures made with him.

The captain and first mate helped Little Bear and Lenny learn about how these skilled professionals steer the AmaMagna

The hard working gents in the reception area liked being introduced to Lenny and Little Bear

Our friendly onboard musician liked meeting Lenny and Little Bear

Little Bear Sometimes Goes Out on his Own

Little Bear likes to tour, especially if he can meet his other bear cousins in Europe. He most often gets to do it on an AmaWaterways ship, but sometimes he goes out during the pre or post trips. He wanted us to share some photos of him in action, before he goes to hibernate until his next trip.

Before his Christmas Markets cruise in December 2023, Little Bear cuddled with Lenny in Regensburg. He loves the Christmas Markets, but sometimes it is too cold for Lenny to go out.

Little Bear on the Treasures of the Main and Rhine Route in the summer of 2022.

While most folks would think that in Rothenberg is very picturesque, Little Bear was more thrilled to meet his giant cousin. He was proud his cousin lives in such a great place that lots of folks like to visit.

While this is a beautiful medieval town to tour, and it is very easy to do on the included tours on an AmaWaterways cruise, Little Bear liked the visit, but really liked meeting his cousin bear more.

Why They Like the AmaMagna Staterooms so Much

Little Bear and Lenny really felt safe, loved, and respected on the AmaMagna, as they have on other AmaWaterways 135m and 110m ships. They especially like the cozy staterooms, that are elegant, yet so functional. Both decided to share with you why it is a perfect den for them and for you.

Before we tour some of the staterooms on the Magna, Little Bear wanted you to see his sleeping bag, so here is a picture of him ready for a nap. He didn’t want to hibernate on his trip, because there is so much to do during the cruise on the included tours, so he was very careful to sleep well, but not sleep for the whole 7-day Upper Danube Cruise!

Little Bear in his sleeping bag—it is warm and cozy for him.

Little Bear wants you to see the different staterooms, so here they are:

Here is what the Grand Stateroom (474 square feet, GS category) looks like from Anne’s pictures:

It has an excellent tub and a separate shower.

Here is what the Suites SA/SB (355 square feet) looks like:

Wonderful luxury in stateroom 206 on the AmaMagna

Twin sinks and an excellent shower in this stateroom

Here is what the AA/AB Category (252 square feet) looks like:

Floor Plan of the AB Category Stateroom 230

The bathroom area that has an excellent shower

Here is what the fixed window category (205 square feet) looks like:

Lots of light in this fixed window stateroom

Our Final Thoughts

Little Bear and Lenny are home now and safe with Anne. They hope you enjoyed this report. They are ready for more adventures and new dens, especially on AmaWaterways. Maybe you should try this great river cruise company also—tell them Little Bear and Lenny sent you!

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

Hank Schrader

June 8, 2023

Veterans

The Significance of D Day 6 June 1944

Hank Schrader

June 8, 2023

Veterans

The Significance of D Day 6 June 1944

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Tuesday 6 June 2023 was the 79th anniversary of the D Day Invasion. As most of you know, we have led 2 tours during the 70th (2014) and 75th Anniversary of D Day (2019). It was an experience hard to repeat, as it is both a celebration and a somber event. Conflicts and wars result in suffering and loss of life that is sobering and causes me to have a lot of reflection about world events.

*Overview of the D Day Invasion Plan Portsmouth D Day Museum 2014*

My hope in writing this blog is to recount how the events of the D Day invasion changed world history in Europe and in many ways shaped our present-day world. It is also to recognize the sacrifice of the soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the allies to stop the aggression and occupation of Europe by the Third Reich of Germany.

Once you understand the consequences of this day in history, I think you will be compelled to visit Normandy to see for yourself the area of conflict that these brave, scared souls achieved on that fateful day.

This was a history changing day, so let’s learn together about this massive invasion, why it was so important, and why you should see the key sights in the Normandy battlefield beaches area.

What was the state of war in June 1944 in Europe?

The war was not going well for Germany in June 1944, as they were being pushed back on the Eastern Front by the Russian Army. They also knew that there was an invasion coming from England—they were defending one active front and trying to prepare for a second active front.

In November 1943, the Big Three (Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill) agreed in a conference in Tehran, that the Western Forces of the United States and Britain would invade France in 1944 and open a second front against the German Fortress Europe.

The clock was now ticking for the D Day invasion of France. It was a race between German defenders and the Allied invasion force.

The ideal strategy was simple for the planners of the D Day amphibious invasion—attack lightly defended beaches, secure the beach, and move men and supplies quickly inland.

Next, establish or capture a port to reinforce with more men and supplies.

Then, defeat the German forces and win the war.

Executing it proved to be one of the most difficult military tasks ever attempted.

During the massive planning operations, Pas du Calais (the most favorable landing site) and Normandy were under consideration. Both had enough good characteristics to work for an amphibious landing. But Normandy was the best choice, 1) as in 1943 it was a lightly defended part of the German Atlantic Wall and 2) the Germans anticipated an attack at Pas du Calais and fortified it and moved more soldiers into defensive positions.

The German Defenders

The Germans realized they weren’t prepared to properly defend the vast Atlantic Wall in 1943. The German commander, General Gerd von Rundstedt, drafted a report to Hitler about the scant fortifications and poor-quality units defending the area. Hitler responded by adding General Erwin Rommel (known popularly as the “Desert Fox” for his Africa campaign) to oversee improving the defenses.

The Germans knew an invasion was coming—they just didn’t know where or when. The choice that the Germans believed the Allies would select was an invasion of Pas de Calais, as it was the most logical invasion site—only 20 miles from England and had 20 miles of good landing beaches.

The allies bolstered that illusion by creating a fake force under the command of LTG George Patton, complete with fake equipment, field barracks and even docking areas near Dover. They relentlessly bombed the Calais area in the build-up phase, as well as other targets in France.

In an unusual operation, they also dropped dummies by parachutes, to harass and confuse the Germans.

*dropped dummies by parachutes, in the deception program*

Field Marshal Rommel was also convinced Calais was the prime invasion site and deployed the 208,000-man 15th Army to defend this area. The deception plan of D Day was working as hoped for by the Allies.

The first priority for the Germans was protecting the major harbors, as any invading forces would need constant supplies, more men and equipment. After securing these major ports, they then began building “Widerstandnesten” (resistance nests) along the beaches. These were a series of pillboxes, gun positions, anti-aircraft weapons and trenches. The beaches were littered with obstacles, mines (over 4 million mines). Inland, flooded lowlands and stakes were planted in the ground to cut into gliders during landings and make parachute operations more dangerous.

*Machine gun bunker guarding the beach and D-1 Draw on Omaha Beach. Taken during our 2014 tour*.

A key concept for the Germans was to stop the invasion on the beaches, so all defensive resources were placed at or near the beach areas and no defense in depth was planned. There were reserve units to stop breakthroughs, but the best reserve unit of panzer tanks could only be released by Hitler. If the Allies could breach these tough defenses, and cut off the reserve forces, they would have a good chance of success.

By June 1944 all the beaches used for the D Day landings in Normandy had at least some of these defensive measures in places.

Unknown to the allies, the best defended beach in Normandy was Omaha.

The stage was set for that fateful day 6 June 1944.

Concept of the Overlord Operation

You might be surprised to know the last successful armed assault across the English happened in 1066 (yes, the famous Battle of Hastings). 8 centuries later, this was about to change.

Amphibious landings are complex operations. Trying to attack with 5 divisions over a 50-mile front in Normandy, from a base in England, would require naval forces, air forces and army units from British, Canadian, and American forces. The allied armies and massive equipment needed to ensure success only added to the complexity. 150,000 soldiers would be required, with a fleet of 5,333 ships and an air armada of over 12,921 planes.

Synchronizing an operation of this size remains one of the most amazing military feats in the history of the world.

An Overview of the Invasion

Operation Overlord, the code name for the D Day invasion, was a complicated multipart attack. To soften up and destroy some of the defending German forces, the area was bombed for about 6 weeks prior to the invasion.

On the early morning hours of 6 June 1944, American and British paratroopers parachuted and later landed in gliders to secure the western flank (American forces) and the eastern flank (British forces).

Then, prior to the start of the landings, a naval bombardment of about 30 minutes in duration started, followed by an aerial bombardment.

Next, the amphibious landings took place on the 5 objective beaches. The 3 beaches in the British Second Army sector, were Gold, Juno, and Sword. They were attacked by British and Canadian units.

The 2 American beaches, under the U. S. First Army (commanded by Lt. General Omar Bradley), were Omaha and Utah

*Unit Patches from the Attacking American Forces at Utah, Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beaches*

Reflecting on the Significance of D Day

Some historians claim this was the most important day in the history of the last 100 years. The victory of the successful invasion was symbolic, strategic, and operationally sealed the fate of the Nazi regime. It would also change the course of world history.

Symbolically, it put forces governed by democratic systems into the decisive ending of the war—essentially Russia and their totalitarian regime would not control all of Europe if the Western Allies had not invaded and Russia defeated the Germans alone.

Strategically, the war in Europe expanded with a second front, and the resources of the American, British, and Canadian forces executed the “Germany First” political strategy to finish off the German Army and then on to defeat Japan in Asia.

Operationally, it relieved pressure on Russia on the Eastern Front and required the Germans to defend with over 400,000 soldiers on a second front.

The result of the successful invasion made America a world power and led to the stability and wealth of future Europe. Totalitarianism was not going to be the model of all Western European countries, yet some would suffer under the rule of Russia’s Iron Curtain in the war’s aftermath. This ideological conflict would quickly develop into the Cold War after the end of World War II.

D Day also was a key event in the global balance of power of nations. The resolve of the British in 1941 to return to the European continent was a crucial part of the conduct of the war prior to America entering into the conflict. After D Day and the conclusion of WW II, America emerged as the most powerful nation in the world, followed by Russia. Britain was the third most powerful nation. All 3 of these nations projected their influence on the world stage today, but it was especially true at the war’s end.

Ultimately, it ended in the Yalta conference with the Big Three to discuss the postwar reorganization of Europe. Despite promises by Stalin to allow democratic elections in territory such as Poland, he broke all his assurances of the agreement. The start of the Cold War was on.

So, Why Visit the Key D Day Sites

Strategy and higher-level planning provide resources for an invasion of this magnitude, but it is the soldier on the ground that executes the planning. How they achieved their tasks, and the terrain can not be fully understood until you actually visit the site of the conflict.

There is probably no Europe battlefield as well preserved as the D Day landing areas and fighting sites in Normandy.

Here are some sites we recommend you visit:

Pointe du Hoc

Pointe du Hoc is actually not changed much at all since 1944—the gun emplacements, the bomb craters, and the steep cliffs the rangers had to climb under intense fire, make their exploits come to life—how did they take this area given the natural defenses of this place? Those of us, who are ranger qualified like me, realize at best a 100-foot climb of a 90-degree slope to the top of the bluff peninsula with a full combat load of equipment would be a daunting physical challenge under any circumstances, but to do it under fire is a testament to the sheer bravery and intense training of the soldiers who accomplished this mission.

*The sheer cliffs of Pointe du Hoc. Notice the narrow landing area. It is easy to understand why the Germans believed it was not feasible to attack from the sea. This is from our 2014 tour.*

*A really good view of the bomb damage craters at Pointe du Hoc*

*Pointe du Hoc during the 2014 celebration.*

*One of the 6 gun emplacements at Pointe du Hoc. From our 2019 tour.*

*This is the Observation Post Bunker at Pointe du Hoc. It is the present day site of the Ranger Bayonet Monument on top of the bunker*

*Bayonet Monument on Pointe du Hoc. From our 2019 tour.*

Omaha Beach

This was the most daunting of the 5 landing beaches during D Day—the bluffs provided clear fields of fire for the German defenders. With favorable terrain for the Germans to defend, and airstrikes that missed the majority of the defensive positions, this landing site was in doubt as secured for most of the day on 6 June 1944.

Military trained personnel will quickly appreciate the open 300 yards or so, with no natural cover—it was a true “killing zone.” It turned out to be the most heavily defended of the 5 beaches during the invasion.

When the first soldiers hit the beach, the beach erupted into withering fire from all directions—it was utter chaos! Success at Omaha was still in doubt 6 hours after the attack began.

The chaotic battlefield resulted in over 2,000-2,500 men killed, wounded, or missing at Omaha—no one is really sure due to the confusion of this intense battle site.

As I walked the beach, I couldn’t help but wonder how anyone survived that day.

*Part of Omaha Beach as seen from the American Cemetery—these were good defensive positions for the German defenders to engage the American soldiers.*

*Western sector of Omaha Beach. Taken during our 2014 tour.*

*Sculpture on Omaha Beach, from our 2014 tour.*

*Les Braves sculpture Omaha Beach 2019.*

*Memorial on Omaha Beach 2019. This is located on the Les Moulins Draw.*

Utah Beach and the Airborne Combat Parachute Assault

Utah was a great success but a lesson to all leaders about the tenacity of the American soldier and decisive leadership.

Operation Neptune was the code name for the airborne and glider assault during the D Day invasion.

The Airborne Forces, though initially scattered (one account I read reported 75% were dropped at the wrong drop zones), performed with great success one of the most daring behind the line’s attacks in the history of warfare to secure their blocking positions.

There were two reasons for their success, in my opinion. First, the scattered forces confused the Germans—they could not focus their forces on one single area. Second, the resolve of the soldiers and their leaders—makeshift units operated to accomplish their missions, when unit cohesion was lost. Again, the individual fighting spirit of the soldiers to do the job despite the difficulties won the day.

It was not easy—after a week of brutal fighting about 2,500 were killed wounded or missing in action from the 2 Airborne Divisions.

*The sign marking the site of Iron Mike,—it is one of the most powerful messages I have ever read about D Day.*
*Part of this sign reads “*THIS MEMORAL SITE SERVES NO PURPOSE OTHER THAN TO ETERNALLY REMEMBER THE PRICE PAID IN BLOOD FOR FREEDOM AND PEACE. IN PERPECTUAL HONOR TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED THERE WAS NO BETTER PLACE TO DIE THAN THE LA FIERE BRIDGE AND NO BETTER REASON THAN THE LIBERATION OF NORMANDY.”

Iron Mike is a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives capturing and defending the bridge at La Fiere. It was part of the mission to capture and secure the river crossings during the D Day airborne landings. The original statue is at Ft. Bragg, NC, home of the 82nd Airborne.. From our 2019 tour. Fort Bragg has just been renamed to Fort Liberty.

*Paratrooper equipment and uniform on display in the Airborne Museum—this is what a typical soldier wore to jump into the Normandy countryside.*

Utah Beach

The story of Utah beach is different than Omaha. It started out by a mistake--the planned landing site was off 1000 meters when the first landing craft approached the beaches.

It turns out this lucky mistake put the Americans at a lightly defended portion of Utah, with fewer obstacles, as compared to the more heavily defended planned landing site. A quick change of plans happened—the Americans took advantage of the poorly defended area and began pushing inland.

BG Teddy Roosevelt, Jr, assistant division commander, who landed with the first wave on Utah, recognized the error but also quickly realized the poorly defended area was a huge advantage and as we like to say in the military, “seized the initiative”. He and Col. James Van Fleet, commanding officer of the 8th Regiment, started sending troops inland on route #1 and pushed into the other route causeways. By 1100 hours, exit causeway route #1 was secure—the soldiers of the 4th had linked up with soldiers of 101st. Around noon, all 4 causeway exits were secured.

Utah turned out to be a roaring success. As the darkness started, around 23,500 troops and 1,700 vehicles had landed.

*Utah Beach—as you can see, the terrain is not as favorable to defend as Omaha was for the German forces.*

*Utah Beach in 2019. The monument in the background is the sailor’s monument.*

*Higgins Landing Craft on display at Utah Beach*

*A Sherman Tank on display at Utah Beach*

*Tank outfitted to swim. From our 2019 tour. Photo Hank Schrader*

Going inland on causeway #1. This is the Leadership Monument. The WW II Foundation selected Maj. Dick Winters of Easy Company as the symbol of leadership during the D Day Invasion. It was dedicated on 6 June 2012. Many learned about Major Winters and Easy Company from the series Band of Brothers.

Arromanches Artificial Harbor and Arromanches 360

While there are scant remains of this site in the ocean, building a harbor as a temporary port is a genius idea that worked. In the span of 6 days, this site brought about 300,000 soldiers, 54,000 vehicles and 104,000 tons of material to the Normandy battlefield theater.

We toured the Musee de Debarquement in our 2019 visit. It tells the story of the artificial harbor (the formal name is Mulberry Harbor, named after the towed parts of the harbor that were used to create this temporary port), from concept, to execution, to success. The port was named Port Winston after Winston Churchill.

*Part of the remains of the artificial port in the oceans*

*The D Day 75 Garden, near the 360 theater. In the background, you see some of the remains of the artificial harbor.*

*A monument to the engineer units. In the background is a mobile bridge to help soldiers and vehicles cross river obstacles.*

Overlooking this tiny village, is the Arromanches 360 Theater. For a 20-minute experience of 360-degree explanation of the 100-day battle of Normandy, this theater is shocking and spellbinding—we also have done it in 2014 and 2019 on our tours.

Longues-sur-Mer Battery

Located between Gold and Omaha beaches, this 4-gun installation is the only remaining coastal artillery site that remains in Normandy. It is well preserved and a stark reminder of the defensive power that faced the Allied attackers.

5 reenactors posed for us on our 2014 tour. Notice the strong fortifications to protect the gun enplacement.

The Airborne Museum in Ste. Mere Eglise

There is no better place to be on 6 June in Normandy than in the first liberated village in France. This is a festival, with parades, and reenactors. It is also home to the Airborne Museum.

The 3-part museum is fascinating and dedicated to the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.

The first area of the museum is the Waco building, dedicated to the glider units.

*Entrance to the Waco building in the Ste. Mere Eglise Airborne Museum*

*Sargeant’s jacket and slide rule used during the glider operations displayed in the Airborne Museum, Ste. Mere Eglise*

There is also a C-47 building, dedicated to the plane used by the paratroopers and displays of their equipment and training.

*C 47 Jump plane on display Airborne Museum 2019*

Mannequins dressed in uniforms are used to simulate a loading scene prior to the night jump of D Day. To get a better view of the hanger space, visitors can climb an observation deck above the C 47 airplane

*Thompson .45 cal. Machine gun and ammo used in the D Day Assault. This is on display in the Airborne Museum in Ste. Marie Eglise, France.*

*Weapon’s Display in the C-47 Building on display in the Airborne Museum in Ste Mere Eglise*

The last part is called operation Neptune—using technology, you can experience a night jump into the square of Ste. Mere Eglise.

Here are some pictures from the festival, with displays, reenactors and festival folks celebrating the liberation of the village.

*DUKW landing craft on display in Ste Mere Eglise 2014*

*Reenactors in Ste. Mere Eglise during the 2014 D Day Festival*

*This is a display from the only French Airborne Artillery Unit in the French Army, from our 2014 tour.*

*Part of the parade during the 2014 D Day Festival in Ste Mere Eglise*

*Ste. Mere Eglise church steeple with the replica of a dangling PFC John Steele*

*Waiting in line for grilled meats, D Day Festival 6 June 2014 in Ste Mere Eglise*

*Drink Tent Ste. Mere Eglise D Day Festival 2014*

Normandy American Cemetery

The Normandy American Cemetery, perhaps the best known of all WW II cemeteries by Americans, is the final resting place for 9,385 killed and 1,557 reported missing during this campaign. It lies just yards from the Omaha Beach area.

Experiencing this area is special—the rows of dignified markers honor these dead. It was the first cemetery established in Europe by the Americans.

Walking this hallowed ground is a stark reminder of what it took to invade Europe—the sheer number of markers is just overwhelming. Anne & I led a tour here in 2014 for the 70th Anniversary of D Day (June 6, 1944) and in 2019 for the 75th Anniversary. During the 2014 and 2019 ceremonies, each gave site was marked with a small American and French flag. It was indeed memorable and touching and a fine tribute to our lost soldiers.

*This photo taken by Anne captures the vastness of this grave site and honors the religious afiliation of the deceased soldiers buried here.*

*Visitors paying tribute to soldiers with flowers. Many residents of Normandy have adopted a gravesite and leave flowers at individual grave markers. The French motto: NEVER FORGET*

*This photo does a good job capturing the precision the graves have been placed on this former battle site. It adds dignity to the cemetery.*

*A grave marker of an unknown soldier. The inscription reads “Here Rests In Honored Glory A Comrade In Arms Known But To God”*

*A concert during the 2014 Ceremony honoring the lost lives and soldiers at the American Cemetery in 2014*

I don’t think you can visit here and not feel that freedom is not free—it is earned by sacrifice.

Our Final Thoughts

D Day was a success but what really stands out to me is the resolve of the soldiers, sailors and airmen who made the operation work. Heroic, innovative and resourceful, these military forces should be honored for their deeds. They did not really see themselves as heroes--most just wanted to live to see 7 June 1944.

The war’s end would not come for 336 days of more combat. It would have never happened so soon, if these forces had not taken the first step on 6 June 1944 that ultimately ended the German occupation of Europe and opened a second front.

History was made that day, as the future of Europe would require the Allies defeating the Germans. Europe changed from occupied lands and countries to some free democratic countries and some under communist control. Today’s Europe could have been quite different if the invasion had failed.

We have led two tours in Normandy in 2014 and 2019 and those experiences have made this operation much more real for me. We owe a debt of gratitude to these folks—their sacrifice and courage will stay with me for the rest of my life.

If you have never been to Normandy and seen the D Day Beaches, I would encourage you to go.

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

Hank Schrader

June 1, 2023

River Cruise Routes

The Wachau Valley--An Awesome River Cruise Experience

Hank Schrader

June 1, 2023

River Cruise Routes

The Wachau Valley—An Awesome River Cruise Experience

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

There are 3 incredibly scenic sections of Europe Rivers that are cited by most travel writers as sites on their “must-see” experiences.

On the Rhine River, the Middle Rhine’s 40 castle stretch is always on their lists.

On the Danube, there are 2 sites—the Iron Gates of the Lower Danube and the tranquil Wachau Valley on the Upper Danube.

So, let’s explore together and learn about the Wachau Valley on the Danube River.

Where is the Wachau Valley?

The Wachau Valley is a 30 km (19 miles) part of the Danube River from Melk to Krems. Monasteries, grapes and apricots, tranquil vineyards and some scattered castles make this an area of beauty, a little intrigue, and a place to slow down and enjoy some Austrian good life.

It is a UNESCO heritage site, in recognition of the agricultural history of the region and the architectural significance of unique abbeys and other buildings in the region.

It is famous for high quality wines, and apricots. The small villages dot the countryside, and the steep hills help make this a scenic area a great place to sail through on a river cruise.

Abbeys

There are 3 main abbeys in this region. Melk Abbey, Göttweig Abbey and the Stiftkirche in Dürnstein are stunningly beautiful.

Melk Abbey, located on a high hilltop (748 feet above the Danube River.), was built in 1702, and refurbished between 1715 and 1733. It is a massive baroque Benedictine monastery (17,500 square meters).

The Melk Abbey complex is built around 7 courtyards and stands out due to its mustard yellow paint on the structures. There are 88 imperial guest rooms in the abbey. The library of the monastery has over 100,000 books and manuscripts. There are significant art paintings and frescoes in the abbey. The church area is stunning in its detail and glittering gold adornments.

Göttweig Abbey, another Benedictine monastery is near Krems. It is often visited by some river cruise companies. Painted a pale pink, with a distinctive red roof, it is known as the “Austrian Montecassino”, a reference to the original Benedictine monastery in Italy. With towers and defensive walls it is a spectacular site

Göttweig became famous as a center of earning and strict monastic life up until the 15th and 16th centuries, but by 1564 there was not a single monk left at the abbey.

The abbey has a library of 130,000 books and manuscripts. It also has an important collection of religious engravings, antiquities, a rare coin collection, and musical manuscripts.

The Stiftkirche in Durnstein, has what is considered by most to be the one of the finest baroque towers in all of Austria. Resplendent in blue and white, it dominates the small village as you approach towards the docking port. The entrance way to this abbey is quite ornate.

Castles

There are some fascinating castles on this part of the river—three castle ruins and a castle built right on the river.

Schloss Schonbuhel is built on a rock about 130 feet above the Danube River that is on the riverbanks. It began as a defensive fortress in the 12th century. It is nick named the “Watchman of the Wachau”.

Burguine Aggstein castle is 15 km from Melk and built about 300 feet above the riverbanks on a rocky ledge. It dates from 1180. It is notorious for being inhabited by “robber barons” who imprisoned rivals for ransoms (they apparently tied victims to the rocky ledges around the castle and threatened to throw their captives off the ledges to their deaths) and exacted tolls from boats sailing in the area around the castle.

In Dürnstein, the ruins of Kuenringerburg, a hilltop castle above the town where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades, is often offered to guests as a hike up to the former castle site.

The story of King Richard I dates to the 3rd Crusade dispute between Richard and Leopold the Virtuous. During the crusade, Leopold was offended during Battle of Acre, where his standard (flag) was thrown off the walls of the city and he also suspected Richard ordering the murder of his cousin. A huge ransom was paid for Richard’s release—35,000 kg of silver.

From the top of the hill, the views of the river and valley are glorious after a 20-minute hike up to the ruins.

Hinterhaus Castle was built in the 12th century and is first mentioned in writings in 1243. It is near Spitz. It has been besieged and destroyed several times—1409, 1504, 1620.

Hinterhaus is said to be haunted by the ghost of a lady who appears annually on the date of her husband’s death. Today tours are possible for visitors to see the remains of the castle.

Melk

Melk is the start of the Wachau Velley. It is larger than most other towns and villages in the area and has a population of around 5,257. It once was a walled city. The city has an interesting city town hall square with a beautiful fountain.

Spitz and Weissenkirchen

Spitz is an attractive wine village. It has a population of only 1,627. The Spitz Parish church was once a fortified church and some of the defensive walls still remain.

In Weissenkirchen, population 1,291, has a fortified parish church that is surrounded by vineyards.

Dürnstein

This small village numbers only 600 residents. A Dürnstein visit will allow you to take a closer look at its 16th-century Baroque houses and 13th-century Romanesque church on a walking tour along cobblestone streets, that you can experience on many river cruise companies’ visits to this area.

There are great chances to taste wine here and apricot products.

Krems

Krems is the center of the wine trade in this region. One of the most important sites in this town is the Steiner Tor, a preserved city gate, dating back to the days when Krems was a walled city.

Our Final Thoughts

You should sail through the Wachau valley and visit as many of the sights in lower Austria.

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

May 25, 2023

River Cruise Routes

Exclusive Experiences on AmaWaterways Cruises

Hank Schrader

May 25, 2023

River Cruise Routes

Exclusive Experiences on AmaWaterways Cruises

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

After 24 Europe River Cruises, we have been fortunate to participate in several experiences that are unique to AmaWaterways. We have written about some of these in other blogs but never put together a report about the unique features that are exclusive to river cruises offered by AmaWaterways.

We have several clients who will get to experience these events in 2023 and 2024, and we want to get them and you excited about what is possible on some AmaWaterways cruises.

So, let’s explore together and learn about some of the Exclusive Experiences offered by AmaWaterways. To organize this blog, we will present our experiences in the order we were able to participate in these unique offerings.

2009 and 2015—Zell

We experienced this small village on our Europe’s River and Castles cruises.

Zell is famous for its white wine (Riesling) Zellerschwartzkat (Zell’s black cat).

It is a small town of about 4,300 people. Among the sites to see here include an interesting market square, and the town hall has a wine museum. However, it is really famous for its brand of white wine and there is an interesting story about how the wine was named.

According to legend, a large quantity of local wine was being stored in barrels in a regional cellar. When people approached, a black cat jumped on the barrel from Zell and started hissing to protect its contents. Seeing the hissing, it caused the wine merchants to believe the wine from Zell was special and better quality than the other wines stored in the wine cellar building and they bought all the wine.

Today the black cat is the symbol of this town. It was a walled city but not much of the old walls remain.

AmaWaterways has an exclusive wine festival celebration in Zell. The local children, dressed up like black cats, provide a performance that everyone who has visited Zell on AmaWaterways will remember. I heard Kristin Karst, one of the co-owners of AmaWaterways, describe how special and unique this visit and performance is during a webinar—it instantly brought back great memories of this port stop.

AmaWaterways has a wine festival here, but the real treat is the children who visit the ship and perform songs and dances. It is a lot of fun and you will fall in love with this unique little wine village along the Moselle River.

The festival queen leads 2 children dressed as black cats from our 2009 cruise.

These pictures are from our 2015 cruise of the kids performance.

The town water fountain features the Black Cat.

Here were some of the wines we could taste during this festival:

2017 Bourg Wine Festival

Another AmaWaterways exclusive is a wine festival in Bourg. We got to experience this on our 2017 cruise called A Taste of Bordeaux.

Bourg is pleasant and picturesque small town perched on the banks of the Dordogne River.

This area produces excellent red French wine including merlot, malbec, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc.

The wine festival was held at the House of Wines. It was a lot of fun and we had a small band in period clothing to help us celebrate.

A view out of the back portion of the building towards the river at sunset.

2019 Lahneck Castle Tour

On the Enchanting Rhine, the Treasures of the Main & Rhine and other routes, there is an exclusive Lahneck Castle tour.

This is a great castle to tour, as it combines medieval fortifications, and great interiors. It was built in 1244 and destroyed in the Thirty Years War (1633). In 1852, it was rebuilt and fully restored in 1937.

It is a very interesting and pretty residential castle.

The stained-glass windows of the chapel date to the 1400s.

There is even a portrait of Queen Victoria, painted in 1840.

It is full of fine furniture, porcelain, ceramics, a 15th century kitchen complex and a fully furnished 3-story doll house.

2021 Nefertari’s Tomb

We got to experience this ancient Egyptian tomb on the Secrets of Egypt and the Nile cruise in December 2021.

The tour starts in the Valley of the Queens. We started day 5 of our cruise in the Valley of the Queens to view Queen Nefertari’s Tomb. Nefertari was the wife of Ramses III and his favorite wife. He made her a deity during his reign; she lived an elegant life; and expected an elegant life in the afterlife.

You are limited to only 15 minutes during your visit (the tomb can’t hold more than a limited number of tourists), and the Egyptologist guide is not allowed inside with their escorted group (they explained to us the questions that guests have often caused the group to stay beyond their allotted time). The Egyptologist encouraged us to take photos and he would answer our questions after we left the tomb to explain what the paintings symbolized.

After descending some very steep stairs, a wonderland of color and detail emerges—it was almost overwhelming—you will see the queen’s life journey symbolized by her interactions with the gods of that era.

Flash photos are not allowed and many sites in the tombs only allow cell phone pictures. The policy is unevenly enforced and often even if you pay a fee to use a 35 mm camera, the officials at the entrance to the site may deny permission to take photos with larger cameras.

Nothing remains in the tomb but the wall paintings. No other Egyptian tomb has this quality of preserved art works on the walls of the tombs in either the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings. They are stunning; detailed; and the best-preserved wall paintings of the various tombs we visited—we could really see and understand Nefertiti’s journey to the afterlife.

Here are the pictures of Queen Nefertari’s Tomb. The paintings on the tomb depict her journey to the afterlife and her life in Egypt during her reign as queen.

The valley of the Queens desert burial area

The steep stairs leading to her burial chamber

Nefertari before Thoth (god of the moon, wisdom, and knowledge) in the upper annex room

Nefertari making an offering to Ptah (on the right). Ptah is the creator god and the patron diety of craftsmen and architects.

Nefertari (on the right) making offerings to the gods.

This painting shows Ra, the sun god with the red circle over his head

2022 VolKach Wine Festival

This exclusive experience is part of the Medieval Treasures cruise we took in 2022. We attended a wonderful wine event in Volkach, Germany.

It is an exclusive event where the small town puts on a wine festival with grilled brats, white and rose local wines, hosted by the mayor with a band and traditional dancers.

It was a lot of fun—here are some pictures:

The town Hall and square where the festival took place

This was the singing and dancing group that entertained us

2023--2 Great Experiences on the AmaMagna

Wine Festival in Spitz

Spitz is a small village in the Wachau Valley. In an old monestary that has been converted to a wine cellar and restaurant, there is a lively wine tasting, complete with traditional music and some good white wines.

It is another fun celebration and an excellent glimpse of the culture of Austria.

Here are some photos of the event:

The outside of the winery and restaurant

Our hostess explaining the wine we are about to taste

One of the best wines grown in the region—Gruner Veltliner

Our host singing and leading us in toasts in German

Octoberfest in Vilshofen, Germany

Another great exclusive on AmaWaterways is Octoberfest in Vilshofen. Instead of just limiting the celebration to Munich during the last weeks of September and early October, the local populace of Vilshofen decided to greet guests who want to start their cruise in their small town with an Octoberfest celebration.

There are several benefits of starting a cruise in Vilshofen—the primary benefit is that it avoids a low water point on the Danube in Regensburg, so many cruises will not be disrupted by the lack of rain.

So, here is our experience in pictures from March of 2023 in pictures.

Anne with the festival queen dressed in traditional clothing

Prost! Anne, Cesario (our cruise manager) and Hank with good beer

Each of the tables had pretzels and we were served beer

Anne and Hank in front of the AmaMagna after the Oktoberfest party.

Our Final Thoughts

We all crave exclusive experiences. As you can see, there are multiple opportunities to participate in curated tours that will exceed your expectations.

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

May 18, 2023

Veterans

Armed Forces Day 2023

Hank Schrader

May 18, 2023

Veterans

Armed Forces Day 2023

American Cemetery Omaha Beach Photo June 6 2014

This is a departure from our usual blog about travel to help recognize the contribution of our Armed Forces to our Nation.

As many of you know, I served for 20 years as an Infantry officer and was proud to help defend our country.

So, I thought I would provide you some facts about today’s military in my humble salute to the men and women who defend our country and perhaps help you remember the service and sacrifice of those who defend our freedom.

It is probably best to start by explaining the major military recognition celebrations in America and then concentrate on the Armed Forces Day.

There is a lot of confusion to the exact purpose of three major recognition days for all US military members and former members. Armed Forces Day honors those currently serving in the military. Memorial Day honors those who have died while on duty in the military services. Veterans Day is a tribute to all who have previously served in our armed forces.

Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday of May, as part of Armed Forces week. It honors the Army, the Air Force, the new Space Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard.

The first 5 service branches are organized under the Department of Defense, while the Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security. There are more than 1.4 million on active service and more than 1.1 million national guard and reservists.

In 1949, Armed Forces Day was first established when the Army, Navy and Air Force were organized under the Department of Defense, instead of each service just marking their own individual recognition day. The Marines did not come under this initial new holiday, and keep their separate celebration. They later joined in. In 1961, Armed Forces Day became a National Holiday.

Each year Armed Forces Day has a unique theme—some past themes are Dedication and Duty, Freedom and Patriotism.

Some Interesting Facts About our Armed Forces

The Department of Defense (DOD) is the largest employer in the US—there are about 1.4 million on active duty, 1.1 million serving in National guard and Reserve units and 700,00 civilians working in the DOD.

Here are the numbers of active duty—Army over 482,000; Navy over 343,000; Air Force over 328,000; Marine Corps over 179,000; Coast Guard over 44,000 and Space Force over 1,600.

Here are the numbers of reserve forces—Army National Guard over 337,000; Army Reserve over 184,000; Air National Guard over 108,000, Air Force Reserve over 70,000, Navy Reserve over 57,000, Marine Corp Reserve over 35,000 and about 7,000 in the Coast Guard Reserve..

31 of 44 Presidents served in the Military—30 were officers (James Buchanan was enlisted) and Teddy Roosevelt earned the Medal of Honor for action in the Spanish-American War.

Within 48 hours, the US Military is capable to reach any place on earth to provide disaster relief and international aid.

Only 28% of American aged 17-23 are eligible to serve in the military.

Many do not realize how few folks served in our military compared to the overall population--.4 percent (1,4 million are currently serving)

Our military is more educated than the general population. 99% of the military have successfully completed their high school education, while only 60% of the general population of the US have a high school diploma.

In many ways, the military has been leaders in our country by desegregating before other public institutions and opening full opportunities to women.

My Final Thoughts

Words do not adequately honor those who served, suffered, died, were wounded and sometimes disabled—they are for the most part the best our society has among its citizens.

They learned to work for a common goal, perform their assigned mission despite harsh conditions, sometimes under hostile fire and responded when no other organization could or would.

They are often deployed for long periods of time, away from their families, who support them during their long hours and often absences. We must also remember their families who support their soldiers, sailors, and airmen.

Please just remember them—maybe attend a parade, display your flag, visit a cemetery, thank a member, or just think about a service member.

Let’s be sure their bravery, strength and sacrifice do not go unnoticed—we owe a debt of gratitude to them and their families to help keep us safe.

Thanks for reading!

Henry Carl “Hank” Schrader, Jr Major (Infantry) Retired

Hank Schrader

May 10, 2023

Europe Destination

Siena, Italy

Hank Schrader

May 10, 2023

Europe Destination

Siena, Italy

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Siena is one of the hill top villages in Tuscany. It is in the northern part of Italy.

It was a rival of Florence during the Middle Ages but lost the battle of economic and political superiority, even though at one time the population was over 60,000, until the black death killed off over 1/3 of the population.

As often happens in well preserved medival towns, a historical event changed its course of history. In this case, it was later conquered by Florence in 1550 and became a much smaller player in Italy political and economic life.

Many think Siena is the best preserved medieval city in Italy. This town is built on three hills; has winding lanes and dramatic up and down small roads that require strong legs to walk; and is charming beyond belief!

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

Dramatic Veiws of Siena

It is amazing how jumbled yet dramatic this hill town is—it has amazing views, up and down hills with twisted paths and narrow roads.

This is one of the most relaxing places we have ever visited. There are 3 important sites which require about half a day to see and then experience dolce vida—the good life.

Here are some pictures:

Siena’s Main Square—the first key site.

The main square is pedestrian only. The city hall and its 330 foot tower that dominate the square. The tower is atop a chapel that today is only used to bless the horse racers of the Palio horse race.

The tower’s name is the Torre del Magnia on the Public Palace. The Public Palace still houses the municipal offices that are used today to govern Siena.

The Palio horse races are scheduled annually on 2 July and 16 August.

The Palio Horse Race

The Palio horse race is a contest between 17 different neighborhoods, complete with mascots and unique colors to identify the contestants, but only 10 get to compete in the actually race—they are drawn by lot. The seven losing neighborhoods are automatically in the next race, so in any given year all 17 get to complete (remember there are 2 races each year) but the lucky neighborhoods may get 2 chances in a given year.

The neighborhoods are called contrade, and the race winner gets a palio, or painted flag with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The race consists of three laps around the square and the jockey does not have to be on the horse to win—a riderless horse can win the race.

The race has been held since 1665.

This may be the most unusual horse race in the world where conspiracy and bribery are not only common, they are in couraged so long as a disliked rival doesn’t win. Rivalry is fierce—think about college or pro football competitions.

Here are the 17 different flags of the neighborhoods. This vendor sells the small flags for 8€, the big ones for 10 €.

It is quite common for businesses to display the 17 neighborhoods as we can see from this picture.

Although the first Palio is not until 2 July, it is commonplace to see practices like these two young men with their flags working out the routines. They are the Eagle Contrade.

Another interesting feature of the square is the Gaia Fountain.

Gaia in Italian means joyous and it got its name from the joy it brought the residents of Siena when it was completed in 1342.

The panels on the outside of the fountain were added in 1419.

They have been removed to protect them and the carvings are replicas.

The scene on the panels are from the Book of Genesis.

The wolfs in front of the panel represent the she wolf of Rome.

The City Hall and the Civic Museum

This is the chapel of the building. It was built as thanksgiving for deliverance from the plague.

The first floor area is constructed in stone, and the upper floors are made with red brick.

The she wolf symbol has an interesting legend about this symbol displayed in most important sites in the city. It is said that the city was founded by Senius and Aschius, two sons of Remus (one of the founders of Rome), making them the nephews of Romulus. They fled Rome after the murder of Remus by Romulus and they took the she-wolf with them to Siena.

The round symbol in this picture is the a christogram in the symbol of St. Bernardino. This symbol was placed on the palace in gratitude for his sermons to the citizens of Siena.

Siena’s Cathedral Area—the second key site.

The Cathedral is constructed of black and white marble. It was constructed between 1216 and 1263 according to Wikipedia.

The alternating black and white stripes are the symbol of Siena.

The upper facade mosaic is the coronation of Mary (triangle at the top).

Directly below the top mosaic is a large rose window. This photo shows these features very well.

There are 3 entrances to the cathedral. The central entrance is a bronze door.

The Duomo tower is the exact height of the tower on the Palace. One reason behind this symbolism is that the church and the secular world are equal.

The detail on the church is stunning. Many statues of saints are on the facade of the church. Please note the symbol of the she-wolf on the right column in this photo.

The marble floors and interior are magnificent but we didn’t get a chance to visit.

Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico

This is the third important site of Siena.

It is dedicated to Saint Cateriniana, a peasant girl, who had visions starting at age 5.

She wrote over 400 letters to the Papal leaders urging the church to unite from the French and Italian Pope disputes.

She is credited for helping to unite the church during this conflict.

Here is a picture of her church:

City Gates

Once a walled city, there are several city gates here. The city walls are over 1000 years old.

Great Food and Wine in Siena

Eating in Italy is an art—it is so important to the culture of this country. It is a slow experience, full of wonderful tastes, and often becomes the evening entertainment along with the food.

Italian meals are usually 4 or 5 courses.

They are several meal combinations, such as Antipasti, Primi, secondi, Contorni, insalata, fromaggi, dolce, and cafe.

The primi and secondi are usually hot courses and the primi often is a pasta choice, while the secondi is a meat or fish course. Depending on the food choice you may select contorni (side dishes) or maybe the meal will have a insalata, sometimes served with the meal or as a separate course.

The meal ends with fromaggi (cheese) or fruit and for most dolci (dessert).

A proper meal ends with cafe (coffee).

Here are 3 great meals we ate at Bagoga—it was full of locals and some tourists.

First, let’s start with the owner Papa, who has ridden in the Palio and makes you so welcome. He loves his guests and treats them in the best spirits of hospitality. Here I am with him:

A great primi—tagliolini con pancetta-carbonara (for me)!

Anne had tortino caldo di fromaggio (warm cheese pie with a walnut cream sauce)— she loved it!

Our secondi was pork filets covered with a delicious thin slice of lard for Anne ( she raved about the distinctive flavors —see the first picture below) and steak in pepper sauce for me (second photo).

Our third meal at Bagoga was on a Sunday afternoon. It was a great experience—Fiorentina T-Bone Steak!

The best way to start—a special wine from Papa’s vineyard. It was expertly decanted by David our waiter.

These steaks are huge (about 2.2 lbs) and traditionally cooked rare. It is so good and tender, it melts in your mouth. These 2 pictures don’t do it justice!

A Great Wine Tasting Experience

Right across from our wonderful bed and breakfast small hotel was a fabulous wine store. The owner, Fredricco, provided us an amazing wine tasting from the Tuscany region.

He was funny, and explained what made the small batched local wines special.

Here he is bringing down the 3 bottles we were going to try.

He was an excellent host and made this a fun experience.

Here is the 3 wines we tasted.

Fredricco makes his own olive oil. We got to sample some before our wine tasting.

He had an old grape press in the corner of his wine cellar cave that was carved out in the Middle ages.

I got a new appreciation for Chianti Classico.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a report! Siena is a place to go to relax—slow down and enjoy life.

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.

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

Hank Schrader

May 4, 2023

Europe Travel

Monaco

Hank Schrader

May 4, 2023

Europe Travel

Monaco

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

There are 5 Little Treasures in Europe—countries so small they sometimes are easy to miss. We call them Little Treasures.

Monaco is one of those countries.

So, let’s explore together and learn about Monaco.

Overview

Monaco is the second smallest country in the world. It is officially called the Principality of Monaco and their official language is French. It is among the wealthiest places on earth and known for glitz, glamor, intrigue thanks to James Bond films and a Formula One race in the streets of Monaco.

It is also known as a tax haven, there are no income taxes, and it is reported that over 30% of its residents are millionaires. The government is a constitutional monarchy, but the prince wields immense power which is accepted by the populace.

One last fun fact—land and buildings are so scarce that one square foot in a building will sell for more than 100,000 Euros.

A visit to the key spots of its tourist industry and gambling industry (the most important parts of their economy) will help you understand this small, wonderful country and help you decide if it lives up to the hype as one of the most glamorous places on earth.

Key Spots to See in Monaco

Belle Epoch Monte Carlo Casino—built in 1878; the casino is the world’s largest and one of the most elegant European Casinos. Admission charged to gaming salons, coat and tie required except for the casual American Room. On the same square is the elegant Opera House.

Monaco-Ville Palace—is the home to the Grimaldi family, the oldest ruling house in Europe. The changing of the guard at the palace takes place daily at 1155 AM.

The palace is a fortress built on the Rock of Monaco—here is a picture:

According to the legend, one of the Grimaldi family captured the palace disguised as a monk and let his soldiers inside the fortress—here is the statue of that event and another outside statue:

Visitors can tour the state apartments and throne room during the tour. They provide an audio box that explains facts about the rooms.

Among the rooms available to visit include the Hercule Gallery (has some impressive frescoes),

the Blue Room which is used for state functions,

the wood-panned Mazarin Room,

and the Throne Room.

Here is some more pictures of the palace:

It is open from April 2 to October 31. Admission charge. Website: www.palais.mc/en/index.html.

Monaco-Ville Cathedral--Built with the stark white stones from La Turbie in 1875, this Roman-Byzantine-style building houses the burial places of past sovereigns, including Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. Free Admission.

Monaco-Ville Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium—founded by Prince Albert I, this museum is a testament to the importance of the sea to Monaco.

There are 3 Aquariums: the Tropical Aquarium, the Mediterranean Aquarium and the sea turtle aquarium.

We especially liked the Sea Turtle Exhibit.

There is a rooftop terrace restaurant which has great views of the coastline.

Right next to the Aquarium is the Jardins Saint-Martin. We walked down through this garden off the Rock of Monaco.

Admission charge for the Aquarium .(www.oceano.mc)

Monaco-Ville Jardin Exotique--This extraordinary garden, bringing together several million species of plants known as succulents, was opened in 1933. It was boldly planted on the rocky mountainside where it blooms superbly; it has today become the object of worldwide admiration. Admission charge. Website: www.jardin-exotique.mc/en

Princess Grace Rose Garden—Opened in 1984, this garden is a tribute to Princess Grace.

It has over 6,000 rose bushes and there are about 315 different varieties.

Anne was really impressed by the size and color of the roses.

Collection de Voitures de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco—this is a collection of the over 100 vintage cars owned by the Prince of Monaco. The collection includes famous automobiles such as Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Maserati.

The Monaco Harbor—this is a spectacular port that has some of the best yachts in the world. It has berthing space for over 500 ships.

The first two pictures are of Port Hurcle, the largest port and an amazing collection of huge yatchs.

The next picture is the port of Fontviella.

This is the view from our room at the Port de Cap D’Ail.

Jardin Japonais—this garden is designed in the Zen style. It uses water, bamboo hedges, stones and Mediterranean tress sculpted in Japanese style. The park has a waterfall, a koi fishpond with water lilies and a Japanese Tea House. The park also uses Japanese lanterns and traditional bridges to complete this excellent garden park.

I was surprised at how small this garden is.

Monaco is famous for helicopters transfers and even has a circus each year.

Some last photos—the helipad with a helicopter and two elephants in tribute to the circus.

Getting Around Monaco

The best way to get around Monaco is by bus (www.cam.mc ). You can buy bus cards, which cost 2€ per ride, directly on the bus. Bus stops are set up every few blocks on the main streets in town and buses are scheduled every 5 to 10 minutes. Buses go to all the major tourist sites; just look at the front of the bus to see the destination. There is an excellent tourist map that marks the lines by colors.

There is also a Hop-on-Hop Off bus (it is a big red bus you have probably seen in other places) that makes 12 stops. I took it and realized how spread out Monaco is with windy roads, lots of hills and tunnels—trust me the bus is your best option as taxis are few and far between and cost a flat rate of 25€.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what an interesting place—you should visit. Let Monaco transports you into a rarify world of money and glamor.

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

Hank Schrader

April 27, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

Regensburg, Germany

Hank Schrader

April 27, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

Regensburg, Germany

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

One of Bavaria’s excellent cities is Regensburg. It has nearly 1000 historic buildings in the old town area and did not suffer much damage during WW II.

So, let’s explore together and learn about Regensburg.

First Came the Romans

In 179 AD, the Romans established a settlement on the Regen river, a small river that runs into the Danube River. They stationed a legion (about 6000 soldiers) in the new town to help secure the northern border of their empire to protect from the hostile Germans.

They called the settlement “Castra Regina”—when translated into German, the town later became to be called Regensburg. The Romans remained for about 300 years and abandoned the settlement, leaving behind their stone fortress intact. This enormous stone walls attracted the Germans who settled here after the Romans left. You can still see parts of the old walls in parts of the old town.

Regensburg Becomes the First Capitol of Bavaria

Charlemagne added Regensburg into his Frankish Empire in 788. It was now an important town and benefited from favorable treatment in the empire. Regensburg grew, trade flourished, and the upper-class wealthy built large town houses and the first stone bridge in Germany.

The economy collapsed with the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Turks, as eastern goods that came up the Danube River were no longer available. Going from wealthy to poor very quickly is one reason so many of the medieval structures remain in the present-day city.

The Imperial Diet Era

Regensburg regained a little of its luster by becoming the permanent meeting place of the Imperial Diet. This organization is a little hard to understand since they were not a legislature but acted like a central forum to advise and negotiate policies as part of the Holy Roman Empire. Regardless, they were very important figures in society and there was no authority above them except the Holy Roman Emperor. They were led by Emperor’s envoy, the Prince von Thurn und Taxis.

The Imperial Diet ended during the Napoleonic era and Regensburg became part of the Kingdom of Bavaria.

The Modern Era

As Germany expanded and became unified in 1870, the history of Regensburg is very similar to all of Germany—rail lines and major roadways were established, the town suffered from the two world wars.

The town has rebounded by the establishment of the Siemens plant and a BMW plant. It became a UNESCO world cultural heritage site in 2006. It is also a favorite port stop for many river cruise ships.

The Stone Bridge

Built between 1135 and 1146, the stone bridge is an impressive site. It is about 310 meters long, has 15 arches and is the oldest medieval stone bridge in Germany.

The Brucktor (Bridge Gate) guards the southern bank of the Danube and the entrance to the old town.

The knights and soldiers of the 2nd and 3rd crusades used the stone bridge to cross the Danube on their way to the Holy Land.

Historische Wurstkitche (Historic Sausage Kitchen)

It is said this kitchen fed the laborers who built the stone bridge, but no one really knows for sure. Legend says it is oldest continuous restaurant in Germany. We sampled the grilled sausages, and sauerkraut (Anne’s favorite, I never liked it) several times.

Goliathhaus

One building that is not really that impressive a structure is Goliathhaus built in the 13th century. The building was the home of a wealthy merchant. It is the outside painting place on the structure somewhere around 1570-1580 that piques interest of visitors today.

Not the best picture, but you can see the painting in the background

St, Peter’s Cathedral

At 90 meters long, nearly 35 meters wide and 30 meters tall, the cathedral is the most impressive structure in Regensburg. Its spires are 105 meters high and is considered the purest example of a Gothic style in all of Bavaria. Construction began on the cathedral in 1273 and took over 250 years to almost complete, as the funds ran out to finish the structure.

It has a quite intricate façade and is quite interesting to study without going into the church. However, do go inside to see the sculpted Angel of Regensburg created in 1200s. The Dom has its own museum.

Porta Praetoria

The remains of this gate of a side tower of the once huge fort date back to 197 AD. The only comparable building in Germany is the Porta Negra in Trier.

Patrician Towers and Towers

There were once as many as 60 towers in Regensburg but today about 20 remain. These were built by the big merchants and businessmen—the idea was to show how important you were—the higher the tower, the more important you were. The towers were used as a residence, to store goods and for defense purposes.

The highest tower in Regensburg—the Golden Tower in Wablenstrasse

The Old Town Hall

This is the Gothic-era old town complex. The town hall can be toured—on the inside is the Reichssaal (the Imperial Hall) that was used for 4 centuries (started in the 1400s) to hold meetings of the Parliament of the Holy Roman Empire (the Diet).

The Palace of the Princes of Thurn and Taxis

Located on the outskirts of town, this castle has a great Christmas market. The castle can also be toured during the day.

Der Hutmacher Am Dom HutKoeing

The World-Famous Hat King Store—Anne owns several hats from here.

Some Good German Food

Our Final Thoughts

Regensburg is a fun city. It is historic, has great Christmas Markets, winding alleys, and Anne’s favorite hat shop. Combined with good German food, what more does a person need to enjoy life?

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

April 20, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

Octoberfest in Vilshofen

Hank Schrader

April 20, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

Octoberfest in Vilshofen

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

When you are traveling on AmaWaterways cruises that start in Vilshofen, Germany, your cruise will begin or end with an Octoberfest celebration. This Bavarian town helps you celebrate one Germany’s best parties—Octoberfest.

So, let’s explore together and learn about Octoberfest on the Danube as an exclusive feature of an AmaWaterways Cruise.

What is Octoberfest?

Octoberfest originated as a celebration of the royal marriage of a Bavarian Prince in 1810 in Munich. It was a 5-day celebration. In subsequent years, the party was continued in Munich and slowly turned into a festival where the beer breweries erect temporary structures that feature long tables with plentiful beer served and traditional German food specialties.

It has evolved into one of the world’s best parties--there is plenty of food and especially beer served to all (one source I read says over 2 million gallons of beer is consumed in the 2-week period). In Munich, there are parades, beer wagons and many dressed in the tradition folk clothes of the past and present day Germany. Recent numbers say over 6 million attend these celebrations and a large number are tourists.

One reason, in my mind this festival is so popular is that it represents the feeling of Bavarian sense of gemütlichkeit—cordiality. We want to share with a warm welcome to Germany and AmaWaterways on the the Danube and we’ll celebrate together in Vilshofen.

Octoberfest is celebrated in all parts of Germany—Anne took these photos in 1989 in Garmish. We were very welcome to that celebration and I think you can see how fun these events are for all.

The beer wagon loaded for the Octoberfest in Garmish

This mother allowed Anne to take the picture of her son—he was quite shy but ready to celebrate.

Octoberfest in Vilshofen

Instead of just limiting the celebration to Munich, the local populace of Vilshofen decided to greet guests who want to start their cruise in their small town with an Octoberfest celebration.

So, here is our experience in pictures from March of 2023 in pictures.

Anne, Cesario (our cruise manager) and Hank celebrate Octoberfest in in Vilshofen.

After a brief rain shower, this amazing rainbow covered the Danube over the AmaViola in port in Vilshofen,

Just what you would expect in an Octoberfest—beer steins and pretzels .

Anne with the Beer Queen at the festival

on the way to our Octoberfest celebration, this intense rainbow fascinated us.

Vilshofen sculture—in the background you can see the city watchtower

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—Octoberfest in March. This is a win-win for all—an AmaWaterways exclusive that involves the locals, is sustainable, and captures the spirit year-round of the famous Munich celebration.

We hope you enjoyed this report—it was fun to write, and share—Prost!.

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

Hank Schrader

April 13, 2023

River Cruise Reviews

The Al Fresco Restaurant on the AmaMagna

Hank Schrader

April 13, 2023

River Cruise Reviews

The Al Fresco Restaurant on the AmaMagna

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Our recent trip on the AmaMagna was an amazing experience.

There are 4 restaurants on this double wide ship, and we ate at 3 of them—we missed the Chef’s Table but have eaten in this wonderful venue numerous times on other AmaWaterways ships, so we didn’t take advantage of this option on our cruise.

Perhaps our biggest surprise was the flexibility and food offered at the Al Fresco Restaurant.

So, let’s explore together and learn about Al Fresco Restaurant on the AmaMagna.

Overview

The al Fresco Restaurant is located on the Deck 3 of the AmaMagna. It is a really impressive small restaurant, with floor-to ceiling windows. The concept here is a paried down menu, a little lighter than the main dining room. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For dinner you need reservations. Here are some pictures of this cool venue.

A front view of the AmaMagna—the Al Fresco Restaurant is on the 3rd Deck just below the pilot’s control room

Breakfast

The menu is a little reduced, but you can actually order offerings from the main dining room if it is open during your visit to this restaurant.

I came for the Late Risers Brunch. It was a very good option for me.

Lunch

You will probably notice this much lighter fare and reduced offering during lunch.

Lunch is not restricted by the light option. They usually have a pizza available. You can also order the selections in the main lunch dining room.

Dinner

Reservations are necessary to eat a night due to the limited space.

After Hours

Sometimes, there are night excursions, especially after the Vienna classical music concert. But never fear, AmaWaterways offers a midnight type, tasty snack.

Alex is ready to serve us beef goulash—it was excellent!

We are posing with Anna—the maitre’d of the Al Fresco Restaurant

Our Final Thoughts

We really enjoyed the flexibility of the restaurant, and the food was excellent. I think you can see how this restaurant could capture your taste buds.

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

April 6, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

River Cruise Dinners on 3 Riverships in 2023

Hank Schrader

April 6, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

River Cruise Dinners on 3 Riverships

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 experiences having lunch on 3 different riverships during the ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) River Cruise Expo in Budapest in March of 2023.

This is our 24th Europe River Cruise. We have just returned back from the Danube and it is wonderful as always. River cruising just never gets old, each day and season is different.

We had a rare opportunity to report on dinners from 3 different lines—AmaWaterways, Riverside and Scenic Cruises.

So, let’s explore together and learn about these meals on 3 different river cruise lines.

Overview

The design of the River Cruise Expo was to visit the ships to see their staterooms and on-board facilities, and to have a chance to eat either lunch or dinner on the different line that participated in the event. We got to eat lunch on AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, and Viking River Cruises. We got the chance to savor the cuisine offered for dinner on AmaWaterways, Riverside Cruises and Scenic Cruises.

To try to be as fair as possible, we decided only meals served during the ASTA River Cruise Expo could be compared and when possible, select an entre that was the same. Since almost everyone in the industry offers a steak, we used that as a good comparison point. Even though we sailed on the AmaMagna, after the Expo, we felt the AmaMagna had a little of an unfair advantage with its 4 restaurants, so the Expo meal we chose was on the AmaVerde.

I just couldn’t resist a couple of teaser pictures about our sailing on the AmaMagna and how lovely Anne looks in her drindl—the traditional dress worn in the German-speaking areras of the Alps. Enjoy!

Here is our report about these culinary experiences. We will first show you the exact menu we were provided and then pictures and descriptions of each dish served to us.

AmaWaterways

Since we have sailed so many times on Ama, it would be easy to be a little biased, but I think the typical offerings will provide you with a clear picture why almost every serious travel writer and industry experts rate the food on AmaWaterways as the best.

Even the best laid plans sometimes go awry—I forgot to take a picture of the menu.

2 excellent wines for us to choose for our meal

An excellent corn soup—AmaWaterways just seems to have the best soups on the river consistantly.

A stuffed chicken breast main course—I liked it very much!

Anne’s steak—the winner of the 3 we tried on each ship.

A serving of fries—most lines use these type of baskets to serve their fries.

Riverside

We had dinner on the Riverside Mozart.

According to an interview I read in Travel Weekly, Gregor Gerlach, the co-owner of Riverside Luxury Cruises, said “Food is the most important thing for us…Riverside aims to provide the best cuisine and wine cellar on the water and will place an emphasis on freshness and quailty of all ingredients onboard.”

While this was a good meal, they certainly have some work to do—some agents said their food was cold and service slow. To be fair, they are just restarting, so I expect things to improve.

Anne ready for our meal on the Riverside Mozart

Donny was our waiter—he had sailed previously with Crystal who has been very successful bring back their ols crew.

The shrimp coxktail was my favorite dish—it had a fresh shrimp paired with smaller shrimps and pineapple mixture,

i had a small pasta dish it was very good.

Anne’s Steak. It was vey tough and disappointing.

The cooper designed wine display for the meals

A protriat at the entrance of the dining room

Scenic Cruises

We ate on the Scenic Jasper and the quality of the meal was very similar to our experiences sailing on the Scenic Opal in 2015.

Scenic has consistently good food.

Gruner Veltliner is an Austrian White Wine—it is excellent!

Forest Mushroom Essence—a puff pastry dish—very tasty

Our Final Thoughts.

This was a fun and eye-opening experience. In our previous comparisons reports, we have voiced our opinions about the differences of the on-board food and our previous reporting is very, very accurate. 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

March 23, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

River Cruise Lunches on 3 Riverships in 2023

Hank Schrader

March 23, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

River Cruise Lunches on 3 Riverships

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 experiences having lunch on 3 different riverships during the ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) River Cruise Expo in Budapest in March of 2023.

This is our 24th Europe River Cruise. We are back on the Danube currently, and it is wonderful as always. River cruising just never gets old, each day and season is different.

We had a rare opportunity to report on lunches from 3 different lines—AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways and Viking River Cruises.

So, let’s explore together and learn about lunches on 3 different river cruise lines.

Overview

The design of the River Cruise Expo was to visit the ships to see their staterooms and on-board facilities, and to have a chance to eat either lunch or dinner on the different line that participated in the event. We got to eat lunch on AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, and Viking River Cruises. We also got the chance to savor the cuisine offered for dinner on AmaWaterways, Riverside Cruises and Scenic Cruises.

Here is our report about these culinary experiences. We will first show you the exact menu we were provided and then pictures and descriptions of each dish served to us.

AmaWaterways

Another picture of the dining room on the AmaMagna

The lunch menu. This typical of ever day for lunch. It is far more extensive that most other river cruise lines. It is a four course meal or you can have a sandwich if you desire less food.

Here is the appetizer for this lunch. We had Buffalo Chicken wings/Olive Spread/Potatoe Cakes/Artichoke Salad

There were 2 soup choices. I decided on the Chicken Consommé. My other choice was Creamy Cauliflower Soup. Anne and I find that AmaWaterways has exce;llent soups.

The main course was a good selection. We could have had a Sandwich of the Day wich was a Tuna Melt. We also could have chosen Bouillabasisse a la Chef or Egg Plant Curry.

Te next course was from the Front Cooking Station. This is the Tandoori Chicken Curry. I could have selected theThai Shrimp Curry.

Anne really liked the Bread and Butter Pudding

AmaWaterways pairs the wines to the meals but you can always request any of their 14 different wines.

Avalon Waterways

We had a good lunch on the Avalon Envision.

At the entrance to the main dining room, this is the wine display.

This is how the main dining room is set up for lunch

Avalon does not have an extensive printed lunch menu. The printed lunch menu is to order from the menu with the wait staff. Most guests will visit the buffet.

Here is the lunch menu. As with all lines, they also offer their menu on line to save on paper waste.

The sausage front cooking station had excellent sausages. which we both enjoyed

the sausage was excellent but I did not care for the pasta.

This is the hamburger which you can order every day at lunch.

Viking River Cruise

We ate lunch on the Viking Vali, and it also good.

This is a picture of the main dining room.

Here is the lunch menu. On this day, we had one choice for soup, 4 choices for a main course and 2 choices for dessert.

At the front cooking station, the chef prepared spaghetti a aa Carbonera. While this was good, I prefer a little less creamy sauce.

Another picture of the front cooking station

Our Final Thoughts.

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

Hank Schrader

March 16, 2023

Holidays

St. Patrick's Day 2023

Hank Schrader

March 16, 2023

Holidays

St. Patrick’s Day 2022

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

The 17th of March is celebrated as St. Patrick’s Day.

We are in Budapest for a River Cruise Expo one day before the big event—according to Wikipedia, St. Patrick’s Day is the most celebrated festival in the world.

So, let’s explore together and learn about St. Patrick’s Day.

Some Facts About St. Patrick’s Day

Gnomes decorating our home for St. Patrick’s Day 2023.

The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was in the US, not Ireland.

The are no female leprechauns.

St. Patrick was born in England, not Ireland.

Lagend has it he used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity—the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

The Chicago River is turned Green for about 5 hours on St. Patrick’s Day. In 1993, I actually marched in my first St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago as a member of the staff of St. John’s Military Academy (a private boarding school for boys—I was the athletic director and head football coach.).

St. Patrick’s Day for the Schrader’s

Our Best Adventure has to be Marching in a Parade in Sligo, Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day

**Hank (Buzz Lightyear) and Anne (Jessie) —dressed as Disney Characters from Toy Story in the Sligo St. Partrick’s Day Parade 2009.**

**A pint during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Sligo, Ireland 2009**

Our Final Thoughts

Happy St. Patrick’s Day—may the luck of the Irish be with you for the rest of your lives!

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

March 9, 2023

River Cruise Routes

Better Than an AmaWaterways Brochure

Hank Schrader

March 9, 2023

River Cruise Routes

Better Than an AmaWaterways Brochure

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Perhaps you would wonder why we think we have a resource better than an AmaWaterways brochure or even their route descriptions online. The reason is really very simple—we have decided to provide you a comprehensive day-to-day itinerary of every route offered by AmaWaterways in Europe with our pictures of the port stops.

To say the least, this has been a huge undertaking but it really is necessary to provide you the best possible, current information on the routes offer by our favorite river cruise company. While it is not totally complete, we have finished 24 of the routes and all the rest are in draft form, so in a couple of weeks or so, this will be completely finished.

These guides are a report of our 23 Europe River Cruises with AmaWaterways and experiences of traveling to Europe for 51+ years. By my count, there are 31 different routes offered in 2023 in Europe by AmaWaterways. We have sailed on all rivers with AmaWaterways except the Seine and Douro (most multiple times). And even though we have not sailed these two rivers, we have experience in both Normandy (ok, we led two tours the 70th and 75th Anniversary of D Day) and Portugal, we have visited the sites of the pre-trip land package.

Overview

There are at least 20 to 45 or so pictures in each presentation—almost all ours—as you know, Anne, our company president, and my boss, is an amazing photographer and she is responsible for most of these photographs!

Our last cruise was on the Danube in 2022 for the start of the Christmas Markets—it was very cool to experience these markets again, after they were cancelled during most of 2020 and 2021. We are going this month to a river cruise expo in Budapest and will have the chance to sail on the AmaMagna—more chances for us to excel with new presentations.

So, let’s explore together and learn about our newest resource to better help you decide if this is the right company for your trip and the details of each route.

How We Organized this New Material

You will find 4 new pages on our website. Each new page is organized around a major Europe River system, which makes it a little easier to find a route or cruise that may be the perfect fit for your next vacation. It will also let you dream of a new trip that is possible with a cruise line that never disappoints.

To help you learn a little about this great new resource, I will feature one route of each section, so you can get an idea of the quality of these presentations.

AmaWaterways Danube Cruises (page link AmaWaterways Danube Cruises )

AmaWaterways offers 11 different routes on the Danube. 9 are completed, one is in draft form and the Grand Danube is a combination of two routes already completed, so I chose to create this one last.

I have chosen this route as a good representation of this section.

Melodies of the Danube

The Watchman of the Wachau—this is one of my favorite pictures taken by Anne but it is hard to chose from the more than 5,000 she has taken and we get to share with you.

AmaWaterways French Cruises (page link AmaWaterways French Cruises )

There are 5 routes in this page. 2 are completed, one will be posted shortly and 2 are in draft form. I have chosen this route as a good representation of this section.

Colors of provence

AmaWaterways Main Moselle and Rhine Cruises (page link AmaWaterways Main, Moselle and Rhine River Cruises )

There are 7 routes on this page. All 7 routes are completed. I have chosen this route as a good representation of this section.

Vineyards of the main and moselle

Lahneck Castle Tour—an AmaWaterways exclusive!

AmaWaterways Rhine Cruises (page link AmaWaterways Rhine Cruises )

There are 6 routes on this page. All 6 are completed. I have chosen this route as a good representation of this section.

Rhine Castles and swiss alps

Lucerne—it is our 2nd favorite town in Europe!

AmaWaterways Douro Cruises

This page is not live yet but will feature the 2 routes offered.

Our Final Thoughts

This has been a true labor of love—that’s what Ama means--love. It was very important to update older presentations and create new ones, so you have an easy way to learn more about the routes offered and to help you really understand the value AmaWaterways brings to their guests.

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

March 2, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

Alternative Dining on 7 River Cruise Lines

Hank Schrader

March 2, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71. Europe Destination Specialist and Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

One of the biggest changes lately on many river cruise lines is an added emphasis on alternative dining. There are several innovative changes to rivership cuisine, so here is a good update of the recent changes.

Before we start, here is a general overview. Riverboats have small galleys and little storage space. Each of the 7 lines described here uses a buffet for breakfast and lunch (some lines are doing away with buffets due to health concerns and to provide a more upscale experience) and a sit down meal for dinner—usually 3, 4 or more courses.

Most have at least one or two special meals per cruise, with enhanced food offerings. Despite the claims of 5 or more dining spaces on some lines, some of these are just small buffet style venues, usually added to the main lounge area. There is just not space for large alternative dining spaces—two distinct dining spaces is about all the size limitations on riverships can accommodate.

The exception to this is the AmaMagna, which is double wide and has 4 dining venues.

AmaWaterways Galley. We were escorted by Miguel, the Hotel Manager

Now, let’s examine food and beverage offerings of each of the 7 major river cruise lines that market to US customers and highlight the alternative dining options for each line..

AmaWaterways

Cuisine has always been very important to AmaWaterways. They consistently are cited in the travel media as having great food or the best food in the industry (they get my vote). Perhaps the biggest change is the elimination of most buffets at meal times for both health reasons and to provide a more elegant feel at meals.

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

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

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

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

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

In Europe, each AMA ship has the chef’s table specialty restaurant. This program began in 2012. This small dining venue (usually no more than 28 guests) features a kitchen where your meal is prepared right in front of you. This unique tasting style menu is paired with carefully selected fine wines. It is truly a great experience. I wrote a whole blog about the experience and it changes every year and by region, so the experience is seldom the samr.

Dessert to finish off a great meal at the Chef’s Table

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

AmaWaterways is the first river cruise line member of the invitation-only La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, one of the world’s most prestigious culinary organizations.

Avalon

Some Avalon riverships have alternative dining area called the Sky Bistro. It offers a choice of grill fare on the Sky Deck (weather permitting). You can also have light lunch in the Panorama Lounge.

Avalon is adding Avalon Fresh, which is locally sourced vegetarian cuisine. The additional dishes are the creation of Austrian chefs and brothers Karl and Leo Wrenkh. These chefs are emphasizing fun and tasty food that is both fresh and healthy. These new dishes will be added to the regular entrees for the evening meal and will be featured on the menu with a special Avalon Fresh logo.

Avalon usually gets the poorest marks for cuisine by reviewers, so maybe this new approach will improve their ratings.

Emerald

The main restaurant is called the Reflections Restaurant. They use buffets for all meals. You can also order off the menu on an a la cart menu.

You can enjoy breakfast and a light lunch on the Terrace.

In Avignon they have a special meal prepared by Fabian Morreale, a finalist from the French culinary competition . The meal is an authentic menu highlighting the tastes of the region.

Tauck

Tauck is changing its onboard menu to add healthier choices to all meals and upgrading the wine selections. They have a shore dining option offering guests the chance to enjoy regional cuisine at local restaurants and this has become a very popular feature on Tauck cruises. Some are at spectacular venues like castles and palaces. For example, on the “A Taste of France” itinerary on the Rhone, Tauck takes guests to Abbaye de Collonges, the restaurant of Michelin-starred chef Paul Bocuse.

Tauck also has its Arthur’s dining venue, a more causal alternative to the more formal cuisine in the main restaurant. In conversations with another river cruise industry expert, he told me that Arthur’s had an excellent steak dinner. This restaurant features more American fare than European style cuisine, so those looking for a more European experience may be a little disappointed in this approach.

Scenic

Other dining venues include the River Café (a casual all-day dining place), Portobellos and the Table La Rive. Portobellos Restaurant is for 32 guests at one nightly seating, and reservations are necessary, but each guest is given at least one chance to dine there during a 7 day cruise. We thought the five course Italian meal that was paired with Tuscan wines was excellent and a special feature of the cruise.

Portobellos Chef prepares our 5 course meal on the Scenic Opal 2015

Dessert at Portobello’s on the Scenic Jasper

You can also get room service from your butler, certainly not a standard feature on most river cruise lines. During good weather there sometimes are special meals served on the Sun Deck area. Some guests, on the upper diamond deck, can have a special dining experience at the Table La Rive (they have changed this option for only 10 night or longer cruises but we got to sample this on our 7-night cruise). My problem with this, is the dinner occurs in the same dining room as the other guests.

With superb dining (based on our 2015 cruise) and fine wines, Scenic has gone a step further and is introducing an on board cooking school on their French sailing ships, the Scenic Sapphire and the Scenic Diamond. This new space will be called “Scenic Culinaire”. The school will feature cooking stations and the lessons will center on the regional cuisine of the areas of France the rivership is sailing. This is an excellent addition!

Uniworld

Along with the main dining room, some ships have a Sky Lounge, glass-enclosed Lounge or have dinner on deck under the stars. There are special dinners on select riverships such as on the S.S. Maria Theresa, in the Leopard Bar. The bar converts to a special dining room that holds up to 20 guests on select nights during the cruise. I talked with a highly respected river cruise advisor, who told me the 5-course meal was excellent and one of his favorite among river cruise lines.

Uniworld’s has an “Epicurean Adventure” program on select European itineraries, that includes wine tastings, culinary demonstrations, and special dinners.

Uniworld continues to upgrade its cuisine. This will be especially true on its newer ship, the S. S. Joie de Vivre (joy of life), that will cruise on the Seine starting next month. This new rivership will have 2 dining rooms, and both will emphasize French Cuisine. Along with the main restaurant, called Le Restaurant Pigalle, there will be a private dining area featuring wines.

Uinworld’s food is inspired by Bea Tollman, whose cookbook, A Life in Food, contains many recipes used onboard. They are also featuring a wider variety of vegetarian options and a Traveling Lite menu that features the flavors of the traditional menu but with fewer calories.

Viking

Viking has an outdoor venue called the Aquavit Terrace in addition to its main dining room. It is a combination indoor-outdoor dining area. It is a more casual meal with a lighter fare. Sometimes they also serve on the upper deck (called the sun deck).

For breakfast on the Aquavit Terrace they offer a typical breakfast you might get on land in most smaller B & B places in Europe—sliced meats, cheeses, and breads. You can also order egg dishes.

Viking also has on shore dining experiences but they usually come with an extra cost. I recently wrote about some of these experiences in our blog about comparing river cruise companies on the Rhine River. Having visited many of these ports beforehand, I can promise you you can often replicate the same experience for far less cost. A great example might be flammenkuchen in Strasbourg. Not only is it easy to find in the numerous small bistros, you can control you exact cost.

flammenkuchen in Strasbourg we bought without an excursion

Our Final Thoughts

There sure are some good food on river cruises and I think all are trying to improve. The trend is towards better dining options. Food and wine are generally very important to our guests and we see improvements everywhere.

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

Hank Schrader

February 22, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

Understanding Extra Charges on 7 River Cruise Lines

Hank Schrader

February 22, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

Understanding Extra Charges on 7 River Cruise Lines

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

One of the most confusing items in river cruising is understanding what the extra charges are for a river cruise. For some, it is all about price. However, for us, it is always about value.

Although it is sometimes difficult to understand the different pricing methods of each line, without a doubt, there is so much more included in a river cruise by almost all companies as compared to most ocean cruises, that river cruising is an excellent overall value.

I will be first to admit that advertised prices sometimes do not reflect the reality of what the actual end charges will be on the final bill. Since this may cause confusion, I will attempt to explain the extra charges on each line and provide our opinion on which charges are the most aggravating to us.

This blog does not address incentive offers, which often add great value to cruises or optional pre and post land tours.

So, let’s explore together and learn pricing methods and charges on the 7 river cruise lines we follow.

How Base Prices are Determined on each River Cruise Line

All 7 lines we follow (AmaWaterways, Avalon, Emerald, Scenic, Tauck, Uniworld and Viking) list their starting price at the lowest priced stateroom. For all, this means a cabin with a fixed window on the first level of the 3-level rivership. With the exception of Tauck, which has an innovative loft stateroom on some of their ships, it is a smaller stateroom with a fixed window space that varies in size. It is on the same level as the crew quarters, and usually has the fewest number of staterooms on each ship.

Most riverships are designed to hold 2 persons per stateroom. There are few single passenger staterooms. Some of the large staterooms can hold 3 passengers. Single cruisers often pay a supplement for their stateroom.

The prices increases on the top two decks for staterooms. These may or may not include a balcony or French balcony, but even some older ships have fixed windows on the top levels. River cruise ships, for the most part come in 2 similar sizes—a 135 meter ship (443 feet) and a 110 m ship (336 feet). The size limitations are due to the constraints of the lock system on most European rivers.

So, the most significant cost increase for most when taking a river cruise is their stateroom choice. It is not uncommon to see a price range of $8,000 or less for 2 at the lowest priced stateroom to $15,000 or more for the largest stateroom.

Those new to river cruising might be shocked by these prices, but included are meals, excursions, free wi-fi, beverages, and the luxury of packing and unpacking once. The transportation feature is the key—we have arranged many land trips and train and plane costs are expensive. It is a hassle-free vacation which maximizes your opportunity to experience Europe with sights you could seldom visit easily on your own (or may even not know about) in the most efficient manner possible,

So, with this basic starting point, I will now explain charges by each river cruise company and start with the charges I find most aggravating.

Excursion Extra Charges

To me, this is a charge that should be included in the fare, although some charges are understandable and reasonable, in my humble opinion. Only Scenic and Tauck do not charge for any tours available to their guests. AmaWaterways only charges for the Vienna concert (I was told that they were losing money by making reservations for the night time concert when too many folks decided not to attend after signing up to go either from being too tired or having a bit too much to drink with dinner). To me, that is reasonable. These 3 companies get our best rating for quality and quantity of excursions.

While not a subject of this blog, the quality of the excursions offered and the quantity at each port is also a key factor in selecting your river cruise company and is also as important as the price. When you see charges that seem high for more exciting tours, it causes one to muse that the price is not what it seems to be on the advertised cruise fare,

Uniworld and Viking make my worse offenders list. Uniworld, which promotes itself as an all-inclusive line, has some significant charges on its Rhine Route for example, but at least they are up front and specify the charges online.

Viking, however, is the worse offender in my opinion—on each cruise they include only 6 excursions and the rest result in extra charges. To make matters worse, it is extremely difficult to ferret out these charges early—most guests receive a printed sheet in their stateroom of the optional charges which can add as much as 500 to 1000 euros to a fare.

Avalon and Emerald do charge extra for some tours, but most seem reasonable if you accept the fact that they will charge extra instead of including them in the fare. On Avalon for example, I read an article in Travel Weekly that there were 31 options and 23 were included on a Rhone River Cruise and they were priced between $58-$69. They seem very strong in Active and Discovery tour offerings.

Emerald charges extra for their DiscoverMore program. Some may have to be pre-booked prior to departure on the cruise. Examples are a beer festival in Passau, a guided tour to Pont du Gard or a concert in Vienna.

Beverages

During mealtimes, all lines offer complimentary soft drinks, their specialty coffees and beer and wine. Beverages are included on Scenic, Tauck and Uniworld all the time, but even these lines sometimes have a higher level package of premium drinks that are usually very high end.

AmaWaterways has a “Sip-n-Sail” cocktail hour that includes most drinks and features the drink of the day. Every day on your cruise with Amawaterways they offer 2 different wines, a red and white, that are from the region you are sailing through for lunch and dinner . There are 2 special wines are included with the Chef’s Table are excellent which is complimentary on every cruise in Europe.

Wine offerings on our Gems of SE Asia river cruise on AmaWaterways

Pouring the Chef’s Table Wine AmaWaterways

Avalon has recently added a free cocktail hour which will start in 2023.

Viking has a Silver Spirt package that costs 300 Euros per cabin. They often use the same 2 wines for the entire cruise. Beer and wine are included at meals.

One could easily argue that beverages should not be the second most problematic extra charge, but for most of our clients the quality of food and wine is extremely important.

Gratuities

Emerald, Scenic, Tauck, and Uniworld include their gratuities in the fare price

AmaWaterways, Avalon and Viking do not include gratuities.

Some clients are very worried about the extra cost of gratuities, but for us this is a not an issue. Our experience on river cruises, is that the crew earns their gratuities, and we always tend to pay the suggested amount and provide a little extra to folks that we have multiple contacts with such as the bar staff and waiters. I like to say the crew becomes your friends and you will want to take them home with you.

Port Charges

This is pretty straight forward. Emerald, Scenic, Tauck and Viking include port charges in their fares.

AmaWaterways, Avalon and Uniworld do not include port charges in the basic advertised cruise fares. One item to note—port charges are per person, not per stateroom.

All river cruise companies have expenses to use the locks and ports. We don’t see this as much of a big deal.

Laundry, Massage and Hairdressing Services

If available onboard, all lines charge extra for Massage and Hairdressing services.

Laundry is a great perk. Free laundry is offered in some of the higher cost staterooms on each line.

AmaWaterways, Avalon, Emerald, Tauck and Viking all charge for laundry service.

Scenic, in their staterooms that have Butler service, has a one-time 2-pound courtesy laundry service. Some Uniworld ships have free washers and dryers, as does the AmaMagna from AmaWaterways.

For us, the laundry service is reasonable and welcome—I use it to help reduce the amount of clothes I bring and Anne loves the fact that when we come home, it reduces the amount of washing we need to do after the trip.

In the laundry room on AmaWaterways—I’m holding my laundry request and this is the laundry guy between Anne and me

Our Final Thoughts

Money, Money, Money—we all want the best value we can get for the price we pay.

We hope you enjoyed this report and it sheds some light on our most frequently asked questions about costs.

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

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