Hank Schrader

January 18, 2024

River Cruise Reviews

Jimmy's Restaurant on the AmaMagna

Hank Schrader

January 18, 2024

River Cruise Reviews

Jimmy’s 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 2023 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.

Since we have already written about the Al Fresco Restaurant and told you about the Chef’s Table, the only missing restaurant is Jimmy’s.

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

Overview

Jimmy’s Wine Bar and Restaurant is located on the Deck 1 of the AmaMagna. It is a unique small restaurant. The concept here is a family style meal served at long tables family style. It is open only for dinner. For dinner, you need reservations.

The concept of Jimmy’s is a testament to the late Jimmy Murphy’s love of family. He was a co-founder of AmaWaterways, and the restaurant was named in his honor. Jimmy’s offers a family-style restaurant experience designed to bring everyone together at one table, as if you were dining at Jimmy’s home.

So, get ready to enjoy a variety of shared dishes delivered right to your table on self-serve platters—you get to eat, drink and be merry here with your fellow AmaWaterways travelers—Jimmy’s is a venue the Irishman Jimmy Murphy would be proud of—family is the heart of the travel experience for him, and this continues his 50-year ethos –nothing is more important than family!

Here are some pictures of this cool venue:

A wonderful way to remember one of the co-owners of AmaWaterways—Jimmy’s Wine Bar and Restaurant

These photos are a wonderful tribute to the Murphy family

Dinner

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

Here is the Menu we experienced:

Appetizers

We had 3 choices. They were:

“Raifart Panana Cotta a la Truite Fumee”.

This was a smoked trout rillette, horseradish panna cotta, cucumber-macha Coulis, tomato chips and micro-herbs dish.

“Salad Nicoise Nouveau”

This was lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, string beans, potatoes cubes, boiled eggs, olives, and a crispy tuna spring roll.

Our other choice was “Classic Caesar Salad”, with crispy bacon, garlic croutons and parmesan cheese.

Each of us got to select our appetizers and they were served individually to us by the great waitstaff.

Our Main Courses

All of these were served family-style on large platters, so we could pass them around and enjoy each other as we selected our food. Here is the 3 choices for the meal:

“Fillet de Fletan Breton”

This was pan-fried halibut filet, tomato beurre blanc, braised fennel, and Parisienne potatoes.

“Medaillons D’Agnneau en Croute Moutarde”

This was mustard crusted medallions of Lamb, thyme sauce, ratatouille, artichokes puree and potatoes gratin.

“Tomato Tarte Provencal” which was served with wild broccoli, pumpkin mousse, and ricotta cress. AmaWaterways always serves an excellent vegetarian choice during meals.

Wines

There were 2 good wine selections from France.

The white wine was a Louis Eschanauer Chardonnay from the Pays d’Oc vineyards (the Rhone River area) Grape: Chardonnay.

It was very good with young fruits, a light, soft taste, and noticeable acidity.

The red wine was a Louis Eschanauer Bordeaux, from the Bordeaux region and the grape was Bordeaux. This was my favorite wine, as it had an intense, and elegant taste, had a wonderful deep ruby color, you could taste blackcurrants and dark cherries and had a great nose that made you realize it was going to be an excellent wine.

Both wines paired well—the chardonnay went well with the fish course and the Bordeaux was a good choice for the lamb dish.

If either of these two wines did not appeal, there were 2 California wines also available.

Desserts

Our fun, lively evening ended with “Crepe Suzette”—the well-known thin pancake topped with orange-Cointreau, caramel, vanilla ice cream and fresh seasonal fruits.

They also served a selection of European Cheeses and biscuits.

A Few Photos to Share About our Experience

We are lucky to be part of the AmaWaterways family. Here are 3 photos about the wonderful folks at AmaWaterways

The radiant Kristin Karst, on of the co-owners of AmaWaterways. In the background our two traveling friends—Lenny the Leopard and Little Bear

Alex Pinelo, Senior VP of Sales with Lenny and Little Bear

St. Patrick’s Day on the AmaMagna in 2023. From left to right Diane, Jasmine,, Hank, Anne Kristin, and Cesario.

Our Final Thoughts

We really enjoyed the lively atmosphere of the restaurant, and the food was excellent. I think you can see how this restaurant could capture your taste buds and you will get to meet some fellow travelers. It is a great place to go with new or old friends but not a romantic, quiet place to dine.

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@visitdd.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

January 11, 2024

Scenic Squares You Can Visit on an AmaWaterways Cruise

Hank Schrader

January 11, 2024

Scenic Squares You Can Visit on an AmaWaterways Cruise

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

In almost every town in Europe, there is a square. Squares have always been important to cities and their citizens.

AmaWaterways is running a free land extension promotion on new bookings made by 31 March 2024 on select cruises, and instead of telling you about all the sights of a city, I decided to provide a good look at the central hub of some of these destinations—their squares.

So, I thought you might enjoy hearing my thoughts and seeing some pictures about some of the most scenic squares in Europe you can visit on an AmaWaterways cruise. There are so many, I will be sure to not be able to report on all of them, but this is a good start.

Are you ready for our personal square tour?

Why Squares Are Important

Town squares are a unique Europe innovation.

They go by many names, such as: agora, forum, piazza, plaza, Platz, or market place

These town squares often are the most important place in a city. Many have town halls located on them and are ringed by other buildings. Most have restricted entrances, and are enclosed spaces which, in essence, makes it an outdoor building.

They helped cities develop a sense of community, often display culture items, important business buildings and foster democracy as a meeting place. Most also have at least one important religious building, sometimes more.

Perhaps more importantly, this gathering place is an ideal venue to exchange ideas and viewpoints. This area serves so many functions—people watching, political discussions, all sorts of markets, and fosters a sense of belonging because of these interactions.

Austria

Our first look at squares is in Vienna. There are 3 important squares in this capital city.

The best-known square is St. Steven’s Plaza in Vienna. It is a large square in the start of a pedestrian only zone in the heart of Vienna. The soring church is one of the most iconic sights in all of Europe. St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the symbol of Vienna—the amazing roof tiles proudly display the crests of the rulers and the Empire of Austro-Hungary. The tower is 136 meters high and is the tallest church in Austria.

Maria Theresa Platz is a huge open area in the museum district. It often hosts festivals and has a large Christmas Market area. This area used to be the royal stables. In the center of the Platz is the Maria Theresia Memorial statue. Two great museums are here—the Kunsthistorisches is an art museum of world renown. The Naturhistorisches displays examples of wildlife and insects of the world.

The Rathaus Square is another Christmas Markets favorite. It is a magical place at night to visit among the crowded but friendly festival time. During the summer, they often have outdoor movies for folks to enjoy.

10 of the 11 Danube cruises on the Danube visit Vienna, so there is ample opportunity to see some or all of these squares.

Linz has an important square that is very large. The Hauptplatz (main square) is an impressive sight with a Trinty Column that is 20 meters high. Trinty columns are an important symbol of gratitude for surviving disasters of fire, war, and plague. Twice a week it becomes a lively food market and is another great Christmas marketplace.

Belgium

There are 3 great squares in this small country you can visit on an AmaWaterways cruises on the two northern cruise offered by AmaWaterways.

Antwerp is our first stop. The Grote Markt square has an impressive town hall and the wonderful statue of Barbo.

Barbo statue. According to the legend, a terrible giant, called Druoon Antigoon, lived on the banks of the river Scheldt. He demand tolls, when refused he cut off the hands of offending sailors. A Roman soldier, Silvius Brabo, killed the giant and by cutting his hand off, he ended his reign of terror.

With a legend like this, great place to visit!

Brugge is next up.

The best place to start are the two squares—Market square and Burg Square. Markt (Flemish) or Market Square is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the well preserved medieval buildings and famous belfry. You can climb the 366 or so stairs for awesome views of the city but we prefer to listen to the bells from the ground of the square.

Burg Square houses the city hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood (built by a Crusader to store drops of the blood of Jesus he brought back from Jerusalem). You can easily see the wealth of this city at one time by studying the opulent, gilded buildings. The city hall is a Gothic structure that was built in the late 1300s, making it the oldest town hall in Belgium. Don't miss the upstairs Gotische Zaal (Gothic Room) with its ornate decor and wall murals depicting highlights from Bruges's history. Most spectacular of all is the vaulted oak ceiling, dating from 1402, which features scenes from the New Testament. Here are some photos of Burg Square:

Brussels is the 3rd square in Belgium. The Grand Place (Grote Markt)—a fine medieval square—considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. It is a pedestrian only zone, North West of Central Train Station. The square has a daily flower market and a weekly bird market. From April through September, there is a music and light show.

One of the buildings on the square is the Gothic Town Hall—the town hall was the only building left intact when the Grand Place was destroyed by the French in 1695. On top of the slim tower on the hall, St. Michael, the patron saint of Brussels, protects the town. Limited English tours (40 minute). Admission charge for the tour.

My favorite building on the square is the Municipal Museum in King’s House—this is not a royal residence, but a civic museum. It is located opposite the Town Hall across from the Grand Place. Among its collections are 18th and 19th century ceramics and tapestries. It also holds the collection of the costumes for Manneken Pis—that’s why I like this museum so much!

Czech Republic

In Prague, the wonderful Old Town Square is fun to visit.

Old Town Square-- famous for its historical monuments, Old Town Square is a Prague must-visit. Climb to the top of the 660-year-old Old Town Hall Tower for spectacular views of the Baroque-style St. Nicholas Church (north corner of the square, it has a fine interior),

Gothic-style Church of Our Lady Before Tyn (twin towers) and Old Town itself.

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

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

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

We have visited several times, and led tours here at all times of the year. It never gets old—especially during the Christmas markets.

France has many important squares, but I’d thought I would just highlight a few.

Paris has many important squares but perhaps the most impactful is the Place de la Concorde. It is the largest square in France. It does have a dark history—it was the site of many public executions during the French Revolution. Actually, the name of the square changed to Place de la Revolution during this period of unrest and rebellion. Among the notables executed were —King Louis XIV. Marie Antoinette and Maximillien Robespierre. According to Wikipedia, 1,119 were guillotined in this square.

Bordeaux has a large square with a very large fountain. The name of the square is Place des Quincoces. It has two 21-meter rostral columns which symbolize commerce and navigation.

A magnificent sculpture in the square is the Girondists monument, in memory of the Girondists who were killed during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution. Today it is an important transportation hub in Bordeaux.

Strasbourg on the Rhine River cruises has a large square around the massive cathedral. Cathedral Square is an important area in the old town area and always an interesting stop for shopping, eating, and visiting the massive cathedral.

Germany

4 great squares make my list in Germany you can visit during many cruises on the Rhine and Main Rivers. While there are squares, I want to highlight 4.

Let’s begin with Freiburg.

Münsterplatz is a cobblestone square in front of the Freiburg Münster (Cathedral of Freiburg). This quaint churchyard has plenty of colorful buildings, most of which were reconstructed following the end of WW II. Besides the church, the Historical Merchants' Hall and Wentzinger House are some of the many historical buildings within the square.

Münstermarkt Freiburg is an open-air farmer’s market that takes over most of Münsterplatz. Normally, there are about 65 stalls selling fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables, and food items such as pastries, wines, and sausages. There are vendors selling woven baskets and other items. We bought some wonderful wooden utensils during one of our visits.

Next up is Munich.

Marien Platz—old town square, since 1158, is the place to gather in Munich. It is host to many festivals, and markets, especially the Christmas markets. It has a famous glockenspiel (1908), which performs at 1100 and 1200 all year. The story is of a 1500 wedding, of a Bavarian Duke (blue & white) and his French bride (red & white), knights and celebrations. The inspiration for this unique device is that jousting tournaments used to be held in the square.

In the center of the square is a statue dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Nuremberg also ranks high with me. The Market Square is a place of constant activity. It is home to one of the best Christmas market in all of Germany.

If not being renovated, the Schoner Brunnen--the Beautiful 19 meter Fountain on the edge of Market Square is quite impressive. There are two rings on the fence that are some popular legends about the power of the fountain. One is that if you turn the “golden ring” and make a wish, it will come true. The black ring, is said to bless women with children.

The market also has an impressive church on the square. Church of Our Lady constructed as an imperial royal chapel. Every day at noon the "Männleinlaufen" (mechanical clock and glockenspiel) chime to the delight of watchers below.

I can’t miss one of my personal favorites—the town square in the walled city of Rothenberg.

The picturesque buildings surround the square, and the highlight is the Town Hall and its astronomical clock. The legend here is the mayor who saved the town from destruction by Swiss by Imperial General Tilly—Master Draught—he drank a3 ¼ litters of wine in one gulp (ok, he chugged it) and won the bet to save the city in October 1631.

Hungary

In Budapest, there are 2 important squares to visit near the Danube.

The first is the Holy Trinty Square on the Buda side that is protected by the Fisherman’s Bastion. The square has an important Trinty Column in tribute to the people who died from the Black Plague—some estimates claim from 30% to 60% of all European died during the plague from 1691 to 1709. Matthias Church with is ornate roof is also located here.

Heroes Square--The monumental square at the end of Andrássy Avenue sums up the history of Hungary by displaying statues that honor Hungary’s heroes. The millennium memorial commemorates the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of the Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin. The Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Fine Arts are also located on this square. It is the entrance to the City Park. It is on the Pest side.

While not as important as these other two squares, the Jozsef Nador Square is one of the important Christmas Markets stop and we have visited them several times.

Vorosmarty Square has an important landmark in Budapest—the Gerbeaud Café is famous for its handmade desserts and is an elegant old-world coffee and dessert café. It opened in 1858 and has been a favorite of Budapest ever since then.

You can visit most of these place on a post or pre tour if you have not seen them during your cruise.

Romania

The city of Brasov in Romania is square that I really enjoyed. The main square of Brasov is a great place to see people, eat and enjoy the buildings around this area. Town Hall Square has colorfully painted and ornately trimmed baroque structures. Perhaps the most famous sight is the Black Church, the largest gothic church in Romania. Its name comes from damage caused by the Great Fire of 1689, when flames and smoke blackened the walls of the church. The interior of the church is well kept and houses one of the largest organs in Eastern Europe.

You can visit Brasov as a pre/post land excursion on any AmaWaterways lower Danube cruises.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—I hope you enjoyed this tour as much as I enjoyed writing it!

This is an amazing collection of squares but by no means the only one’s worth seeing in Europe. The hardest part of writing this was whittling down to a manageable number. AmaWaterways offers many great options to see these squares and their current promotion is an excellent value you might want to consider,

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

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

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

January 4, 2024

Best Value Travel

How We Protect Your Trip When You Choose to Use Us as Your Agents

Hank Schrader

January 4, 2024

Best Value Travel

How We Protect Your Trip When You Choose to Use Us as Your Agents

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Sometimes in our role helping you get the best possible trip; it is often not apparent about the way we handle your requests in a professional manner to protect you.

There are really 8 ways we add a layer of protection to help ensure your trip is an excellent experience and to help avoid the pitfalls that can happen during travel.

So, let’s learn together about our best practices and it should help you realize why our policies and practices help protect you when you decide to use us,

1. We Emphasize Terms and Conditions so there is no Confusion about our Policies and the Suppliers’ Policies.

No one really likes to read the fine print, but it is essential to know what you agree to when you make a deposit to a travel vendor.

In a typical offer we provide you, we explain the included invoice, to emphasize the dates of travel, the trip booked, the deposit amount (including any non-refundable portion of that amount), and final money due dates. It is a double check for both of us to avoid any possible mistakes or misunderstandings.

We also emphasize the key points of the contract and clearly advise you to read these carefully. Here is an example of this in an offer email we send to clients:

“Please also understand this is a binding contract and once you make the deposit, you agree to accept the terms and conditions listed in the 8 pages of this offer. Please read them carefully. This is really no different than any other travel company, but we want to point this out, so there are no surprises, and you understand what terms you are agreeing to, if you accept the offer.”

We also clearly explain our roles and responsibilities as your agent. Here is a typical example that we use in most offers:

“One last point--we are not providing any travel services; we are acting as your agents to help you make the best possible decisions for your wonderful trip, but we accept no liability if the services are not properly delivered. Please rest assured this is a great company and we expect they will exceed your expectations. Again, this is to point out the scope of our services.”

While you might think this is legalese for us to avoid liability, it is just the opposite—we are providing you an objective criteria to determine if our services are proper for you to use. We offer many benefits to you based on our expertise and vast experiences, but the vendor delivers the travel services, sets the prices and is the responsible party. We often need to remind you that they control your travel experience, not us. It also put the onus on us to only use the best suppliers, which benefits us both—there is no way the average consumer can determine which company can best fit their desired travel style. We can and vdo ett them and help increase the chances your trip will happen without major problems.

2. We Inform and Update You to Changes in Your Trip,

Our expertise benefits you to the changing conditions that could affect your travel experience if we have been notified by the vendor or from other sources. As travel industry experts, we can help you learn about changes in the trip, both minor and major, that will affect the quality of your travel experience.

Most conditions are minor—maybe a switch in hotel due to renovations that have only a minor effect on your travel experience, but sometimes it is quite a change, such as a last-minute change of a sailing vessel with less stateroom space than the original ship. Sometimes, these details are not properly reported to you the traveler, and that is where we spring into action.

No one likes surprises that change the quality of the trip, but we can help you be informed and help you gain a refund for lesser services if possible. We recently just had that happen to a client and we successful in resolving the refund issue quickly, despite our previous experience with a much slower process from the same company.

3. We Vett Our Suppliers and Explain the Key Points of Their Contract During the Offer Stage

It is amazing that many do not understand contracts of carriage (the legal term for the binding contract you are entering into with the supplier) and we work to help understand these finer points that are most likely to affect your travel experience.

Some areas are penalties based when a traveler decides to cancel their trip, responsibility to have proper travel documents, and the right of the company to change itineraries due to weather or circumstances beyond their control such as low/high water on rivers, damaged locks, restrictions by port authorities and other factors. These can really change the quality of the trip and we look for companies that have plans to minimize these travel situations.

We can’t prevent these problems, but we can tell you which suppliers handle these problems better than others. Quality comes in here—does the company recklessly schedule a trip in a known problem area on a river cruise at the most likely problem time, or do they modify their schedule to avoid these possible problem areas? Are their tour/cruise managers skilled enough and empowered to make wise decisions to keep the promised quality of the trip or do they accept the problem or are not empowered to make changes?

4. We always offer travel insurance and explain vendor provided insurance.

Travel Insurance is a confusing subject. Some think it is too expensive and a waste of money, but we feel it is essential protection. I often ask folks if they can roll down their car window and throw out $10,000 to $15,000 dollars then it may not be necessary for them, but we can’t! No one wants to lose money, but the point we make crystal clear is that we offer you trip insurance, and you must decide what risk you want to take or cover or not to cover for your trip. Also, we advise of the possibility of current coverage with a credit card.

Another confusing part of this is exactly what is covered by the companies. While we are both licensed to represent travel insurance companies, we cannot and will not try to tell you what is covered or not covered—only the insurance company can explain this based on your specific questions. It is another safeguard for you and part of our responsibility to you. For example, many are surprised to learn that Medicare usually can’t be used outside of the United States to cover health care issues and they might need additional coverage for accidents or health problems that might arise.

Also, in the past, we have helped some who have run into difficulties and had to end their trip early. We can help facilitate contact with the insurance company, perhaps find out what actions are best for the client to follow and perhaps help make sure the required documents are secured during hospital appointments or other evidence to help support a claim.

This may not ensure a favorable result, but it does increase the chances a claim will be supported.

5. We Help You Avoid Transportation Risks

Part of our due diligence is to recommend you use common carriers with good safety records and practices to help avoid transportation risks. Accidents involving buses, planes or sailing vessels can be quite serious or even life-threatening, so we avoid companies without a good safety record, or who we cannot learn enough about to help keep you safe during your travels.

There are those who want to use locals, who we can’t vett. This is why we recommend using cruise managers for transportation transfers and hotel staff. These folks know who is reliable and safe, and they won’t allow these vendors overcharge you.

Kris, an AmaWaterways cruise manager, is an excellent source to help with transfers during a river cruise.

6. We Only Use Companies that have Good Safety Practices for Activities that Have Higher Risks

This is more than just signing a waiver form. We investigate how companies conduct higher risk activities, so we can be sure their practices provide a reasonable level of safety during higher risk situations during your travels.

While we do not book high risk adventure travel, even something as simple as using bikes on a river cruise requires us to look at the procedures and determine if they are generally safe or not. Do they let you use a bike without first ensuring it is safe for you based on your physical condition and experience? Do they use bike helmets? Do they provide you with a waiver to sign, explaining the risks? How do they conduct the bike excursions—is there a safety plan for accidents or folks exceeding their capabilities? These are reasonable procedures that good companies follow.

7. We Protect Your Privacy

You never need to worry about us providing any personal information to anyone except as required by vendors. On or website, we indicate that we only collect necessary information, never provide that information to 3rd parties with the only goal of improving our service to you and to allow us to aid in the performance of the contract for the travel services you desire. It is on the bottom of every page of our website, in the footer section of each page.

We also respect your right to ask us to delete any personal information or unsubscribe from any of our electronic communications with you. While we can’t delete any past trip information in our data base (we are required by law and our insurance policies to keep records of past travel arrangements we have made on your behalf), we can make you an inactive member, so you will not receive any more offers from us.

In short, we respect you and your privacy.

8. How We Handle Credit Cards

We follow very strict practices about your credit cards to protect you from possible identity theft and unauthorized uses. Here is an example of how we inform you of some of our credit card practices:

“Once you make this decision, we will handle this purchase on your behalf with your credit card for any services you request. We always take credit card information over the phone for your safety and protection.”

We also never make any credit card charges without your permission. After trips are completed, we shred any credit card written records. We do not store any credit card information electronically.

Our Final Thoughts

You may not have understood our role as professional travel advisors and just how much responsibility we have besides providing great trips—we have important legal responsibilities to protect you and provide you with better service. We hope this blog helps you better understand how we approach this important part of our business relationship.

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@visitdd.com . We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

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

Hank Schrader

December 21, 2023

Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Hank Schrader

December 21, 2023

Holidays

As 2023 winds down, we want to wish you all a safe and happy holiday season!

So, raise your glasses all, to toast with us,

“True Christmas Cheer, Happy Holidays, and to a Prosperous New Year.!”

We are so thankful you trust us and we got to help you with your travels.

We look forward to helping in the future as need

We hope you enjoy these pictures of the holidays and since we can’t toast you in person, please let our pictures be the next best thing!

Remember:

Savor life…make memories….Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

Anne and Hank

Santa joins us in Kastel Engleberg for a formal dinner on Christmas Eve 2018 in the Netherlands.

2019 Christmas Cruise Anne and Hank with Santa on AmaWaterways on the AmaSonata

Our 2023 Cunard Sailing in our formal wear—Anne (stunning, isn’t she!) and Hank on Masked Ball Night.

A few Christmas Decorations on our fireplace mantle—even our German nutcracker wants to toast you!

A toast to you from Brugge, Belgium during the Christmas Holidays

Santa giving out presents in 2015 on an AmaWaterways Christmas Markets Cruise on the AmaPrima.

Anne and Hank with our new hats we bought in Regensburg, Germany with the owner of the Hutkonig , who made our hats. We are at the Thurn & Taxis Christmas Markets.

2013 Anne in a toast to you from Koblenz, Germany

2023 another toast to you from Vilshofen, Germany

2021 Frankfurt Christmas Markets—Anne lets Little Bear meet her Cousin Big Bear

Hank Schrader

December 14, 2023

Best Value Travel

Come Sail with Us in 2025!

Hank Schrader

December 14, 2023

Best Value Travel

Come Sail with Us in 2025

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

In 2025, we will have been in business for 30 years, and to help celebrate this milestone, we are planning a river cruise on the Danube on the best ship sailing on Europe’s rivers—the AmaMagna.

We would like to invite you to join us for an awesome celebration cruise of unparalleled excellence on the AmaMagna, much fun and laughter, and we will be adding an optional post cruise Christmas Markets land package guided by us in Regensburg to visit the Thurn & Taxis Christmas Markets and other sites in this unique German city..

Anne, Cesario (the cruise manager) and Hank celebrate Octoberfest in Vilshofen during our cruise trip on the AmaMagna in 2023..

The AmaMagna ported in Budapest in 2023.

The sailing dates are 30 November 2025 to 7 December 2025 from Budapest to Vilshofen.

Here is a picture of the Thurn & Taxis Christmas Market in Regensburg, where we will be offering a post trip guided by us.

The AmaMagna

The AmaMagna has 4 restaurants, great facilities and is a double wide ship,

We were fortunate to sail on the AmaMagna in March of 2023. It was our 24th river cruise. For those of you who have never sailed on this ship, you are in for a rare treat if you join us..

There is so much to see and learn about this cruise we have provided you with two pdf slide shows about the day-to-day route and the facilities on the AmaMagna.

Magna on the Danube

Amamagna Ship Tour

Here is the current offer for this sailing which expires on 31 December 2023, however the cruise can still be booked with us after that date. We think the Triple Saving Offer will probably expire, so if you are really interested, please don’t wait and miss these savings.

Christmas Market Cruises onboard the AMA Magna

November 30, 2025 (cruise) Budapest to Vilshofen.

Celebrate Dream Destinations 30th Anniversary with Hank and Anne Schrader of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC

Embody the spirit of the holidays while experiencing the beauty of Europe in winter.

Participate in festive traditions and meals with all the trimmings onboard, (plus browse enchanting markets filled with handicrafts from late November through December 22.

Earn Triple Savings on your holiday cruise when you book categories BB and above*.

· $2,000 savings per stateroom

· $100 per stateroom onboard credit

· Complimentary category upgrade

You can add 2 nights in Budapest pre-cruise and/or 3 nights in Prague post-cruise with AmaWaterways or take advantage of our post cruise guided trip in Regensburg.

*Terms & Conditions:

All rates are per person in USD for cruise only, based on double occupancy in a BB category stateroom (AB category for AmaMagna) unless stated otherwise. Holiday Triple Savings is applicable to cruise only; valid on select 2025 Europe sailings for new FIT and Group reservations only made between July 1 -December 31, 2023; and is based on double occupancy. Onboard credit of $100 per stateroom for 7-night cruises and $200 per stateroom for 14-night cruises is based on double occupancy in USD and can be applied towards all onboard purchases; Solo occupants receive half of the stated Onboard Credit. Complimentary upgrades applicable to categories BB – AB (AB – SB for AmaMagna); applies to one category upgrade, based on availability; not applicable to Suites, AA+, A+, CA/C, CB, D, and E categories. Offer varies for Solo occupants; ask for details. Offers are combinable with AmaWaterways’ Loyalty Benefits Program and Future Cruise Benefit Program. Offers are limited to availability, capacity controlled and subject to change/termination without notice. Port charges, optional land packages, airfares, transfers, and gratuities are additional. AmaWaterways reserves the right to correct any errors or omissions at any time. Other restrictions apply. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the state of California. CST#2065452-20.

Our Final Thoughts

We really hope you can join us—we promise a lot of laughter and fun exploring the Christmas Markets with us. With the additional Europe Thurn & Taxis and the glowing open-air fires creates experiences you will long remember—a great cruise on an awesome ship and celebrating Christmas in Europe that is unmatched for festive spirit and fun.

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@visitdd.com . We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

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

Hank Schrader

December 7, 2023

Europe River Cruise Ports

Christmas Markets Port Pictures

Hank Schrader

December 7, 2023

Europe River Cruise Ports

Christmas Markets Port Pictures

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Christmas is a good time to celebrate joy and the beauty of the season.

So, I thought I’d provide you with some pictures of the many Christmas ports you can visit on river cruises. We all know pictures are the best way for us to really understand how we might get to experience these wonderful and colorful markets.

My hope is that these pictures might inspire to take a river cruise on one of these two rivers to experience the magic of the season in Europe next year or the coming years

We will start on the Rhine and then go to the Danube.

Cologne, Germany

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

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

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

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

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

Rüdesheim, Germany

The town of Rüdesheim is a charming wine village.

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

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

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

Ludwigshafen, Germany

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strasbourg, France

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

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

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

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

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

Breisach, Germany

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

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

This city among other claims to fame is said to the sunniest city in all of Germany. Located on the southern edge of the Black Forest, and near the Rhine River, it was a good trade location and rich burghers, and the mercantile guilds were the original political force in the city.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Basel, Switzerland

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

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

Now, we are off to the Danube.

Nuremberg, Germany

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

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

Regensburg, Germany

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

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

Passau, Germany

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

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

Melk & Dürnstein, Austria

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

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

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

Vienna

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

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

Bratislava

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

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

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

Budapest

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

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

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

Two Great Side Trips

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

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

Our Final Thoughts

There are sure a lot to choose from among these two rivers. Each has their own character and charm. All I know is enjoying the season during the Christmas markets season is an experience you should go on and we would be glad to help you get there!

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@visitdd.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 29 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.

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

Hank Schrader

November 23, 2023

Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving 2023

Hank Schrader

November 23, 2023

Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving 2023

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

2023 has been a very good year for us in our travel business, and it is all because many of you have trusted us with your travel plans. We are humble and grateful for the trust and hope we had added value to your trip plans and travel experiences. It is just one of many things we have to be thankful for in our lives.

So, I thought I would pass on some random facts about a proclamation 234 years ago from our first president and thoughts about Thanksgiving.

George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789

At the urging of both Houses of Congress, President George Washington declared “Thursday the 26th Day of November to render “sincere and humble thanks”. The message was primarily praise of Almighty God, but 2 parts stood out to me.

First, President Washington, after the end of the Revolutionary War states that after the conclusion of the late war “for the great degree of tranquility, union and plenty which we have enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been able to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness” as a good reason to be thankful.

Second, later in the proclamation, he adds he wishes that “to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to preform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all people by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed.” Again, another reason to be thankful.

These are some amazing words at the foundation of our nation, from a man who many wanted to be King instead of an elected president.

We are lucky in many ways to have the opportunity to enjoy the freedoms our system of government allows; despite the very partisan divisions we face currently and many challenges we face as a nation. We are thankful we have this system of government, as should you be thankful also.

Things We are Thankful for this Thanksgiving.

I guess to start with things I am thankful for every Thanksgiving Day, it would be the 3 F’s—Family, Food and Football. Despite some strong personalities, and differing beliefs in many families, it is family that is the fabric of life—close relationships so vital to the human existence. Anne and I are thankful that we can share our lives with our family members.

Food is the source of joy and necessary to our survival and plays a key role in our lives and travel business. As we enjoy these wonderful delights today and other days, I am constantly reminded of how lucky we are to indulge and have great empathy for those who don’t have enough. We are thankful we get to enjoy this bounty and hope in some small way we can help others enjoy good food during their travels and our small donations help to feed others.

Football is a constant in my life—I will never forget my first live football game of Army vs. Navy in my sophomore year of high school, which in many ways, led me to choose to go to West Point. I played football in high school and coached at the high school level for 16 years after retiring from the Army and am thankful many parents trusted me to help young boys grow into better young men to help our nation. We all need some form of emotional experiences in our lives and football for me has provided a lifetime of ups and downs, yet it is only a game and should be looked at in that manner—there are many things far more important about who wins or loses. Still, it is fun to root for your favorite team on turkey day.

Our Clients

We would not be in business without you, our loyal travelers. We have always looked at you as friends, not clients, who deserve our best efforts. You are a demanding lot, as it should be, and our only goal is to provide with the best travel experience, we can.

We are so grateful—you folks rock!

Our Final Thoughts

We all have many things to be thankful for. It is a time to reflect and express your thankfulness for your many wonderful things that are part of your life.

Please reach out to someone today and every day you can to tell the people in your lives you love them, appreciate them and are thankful you know them.

So, from both of us, thank you from the bottom of our hearts—please be safe, healthy, happy, and prosperous—it is our wish for all.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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@visitdd.com . We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

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

Hank Schrader

November 9, 2023

Veterans

Veterans Day 2023--Some of My Life's Guiding Principles I Learned While Serving in the US Army

Hank Schrader

November 9, 2023

Veterans

Veterans Day 2023—Some of My Life’s Guiding Principles I Learned While Serving in the US Army

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

This Saturday, 11 November 2023 is Veterans Day. It will be a Federal Holiday on Friday 10 November this year.

I always try to write something meaningful about being a 20-year US Army Veteran (1971-1991) on Veterans Day. I doubt anyone who has ever served in the military has not been changed in some way, regardless of whether they liked or disliked their service time. It is not a job that is right for many, as the sacrifice and demands seem endless.

Some will be disappointed about us not writing about travel, but the experiences gained from my service and Anne’s experience as a spouse and civilian employee of the Army, are part of the values of our company. Reflecting is an important part of life and I want to share my thoughts with you.

So, I thought I’d pass on a few thoughts about My Guiding Principles I learned as both a West Point cadet and an Army Officer. All these principles have carried through after I retired from the Army and went on to other jobs. I’m sure many Army Leaders used most of these characteristics during their service.

Being Physically Fit

The Army is a demanding physical profession. We often carry 40 to 80 pounds of gear, work with little sleep and then have to perform with others shooting at us. I knew, if my men depended upon me, I had to be the one in the best shape of all of them.

I guess this just came naturally—I ran the 440-yard dash on the Army Track Team in my 4 years at West Point. played rugby until I was 41, sometimes at a high level and loved working out. It wasn’t just okay to be good; I tried to be the best.

Army-Navy Indoor Track meet 1968. I ran the second leg of the mile relay and have just taken the baton from my teammate. We won the event.

Outdoor Army-Navy meet 1969. I ran lead-off leg of the mile relay which we won.

As a young 2nd lieutenant during the 12-mile march as part of the EIB (Expert Infantryman Badge), requirements, the standard was carry full gear and complete the march in under 3 hours to pass (a 4 mile an hour pace). There were over 300 candidates line up at the start and I finished first of all of them in 1 hour and forty-nine minutes—better than 6 miles an hour pace with all the gear. It wasn’t about bragging rights; it was about performance and dependability.

My Battalion Commander told me after that event, he knew who to count on for the toughest job and that held true for all the time he was in command—he depended upon me, and I performed.

Leading From the Front and Loyalty

As a leader, you set the standards. I never asked my men to do anything I would not do. Men respect leaders who care for their soldiers. What attitude do you display in the front of your soldiers—when you are dirty, tired and the tasks become more difficult, do you gripe, or do you inspire? Trained properly and with good leaders, soldiers can achieve way more than they thought they could.

I am leading my soldiers in a parade as commanding officer of B Company, 4/20th Infantry.

I guess it goes without saying you must be competent in your craft—understanding tactics, doctrine and concepts is vital. You must know how to maintain and properly use the equipment and arms in your unit and the unit you command or support.

Track Swim of B6, my command vehicle in Panama 1979. We had just completed swimming my M114 armored carrier in Gatun Lake.

Our West Point Cadet Prayer said this rather succinctly, “Encourage us to live above the common level of life”—it means for me lead from the front and try to achieve better results than most and attain at least the set standards, no matter how high or difficult it is.

Being the example and role model requires discipline and vision—where do you want your soldiers to go? It also requires consistency—you can’t be good one day and sloppy the next. You also must have a goal or standard to reach and decide what is your vision to achieve that standard.

Communication is important—it must be effective and meaningful. Leading from the front also means you set the standards and then empower your soldiers and give them the chance to achieve the unit and individual goals. It is not always easy but necessary to be an effective unit.

Leading from the front also means loyalty to your superiors and to your men—good leaders know how to balance loyalty both ways up the chain of command and down the chain of command.

This is a picture from 1977 Founders Day in Panama. Loyalty means honoring traditions. From left to right, Hank, and my 2 West Point Class of 1971 classmates Rich Zimmerman and Larry Boice.

Honor and Integrity

West Point teaches us to become leaders of character. Many of us, and even our children and spouses often cite perhaps the best-known line of the Cadet Pray “Make us chose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won” as a great guiding principal of their lives.

You are always tested throughout an Army career, with chances to cut corners or just try to avoid the whole truth. Most of the time, it was just clear-cut—this is wrong regardless of the consequences.

I once faced a very difficult decision as a new S-3 (Operations Officer). I was a major. On our first field training exercise, I had to develop an operations order (you military folks know this as the 5-paragraph operations order). I prepared the order, showed it to my Battalion Commander (an LTC) and he made some major revisions to clear up the instructions. He was an awesome ops guy—he took my correct instructions to all the units and made them textbook perfect. With the updated order, I then had to brief our Brigade Commander (Bde) about the plans.

The briefing went better than I could have expected, it was a sure homerun. Our Bde Commander then stated it was the “best op order he had ever heard” and praised me for writing such a great ops order. Without hesitation, I responded “Sir, this is not my work alone, my Bn Commander rewrote a lot of it.” In a highly competitive environment of field grade officers, this could have cost me a chance for promotion to LTC. I can never be sure, but that day forward there could be no doubt from anyone in the 7th Infantry Division (Light) I would not take credit for something I didn’t do or have help with.

I know I made the right decision—the truth is always the proper path regardless of the consequences—I like to say, “bad news never gets better with age”.

Courage

Courage is a hard thing to define. Maybe it is a lack of fear, maybe it’s overcoming fear. I guess in some form it is confronting a difficult situation seeking a solution. The higher the difficulty of the situation (in the military we often refer to this as conditions), the resolve required for a successful outcome is a measure of courage. There is both mental courage and physical courage.

The Cadet prayer defines courage as “Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy.” This part of the prayer talks about the mental challenges of courage. It requires a lot of judgement to decide what is “noble and worthy” and excellent critical thinking skills.

It takes courage to assess what is wrong and fix it—we often don’t like confrontations. True leadership is making corrections and retraining to attain or surpass the desired outcomes. The result is a better trained unit and will ultimately save lives as a deterrent or in actual conflict. The right approach results in unit cohesion and superbly trained soldiers. On way I approached this was not to present problems to my superiors, but to present a problem and a possible solution. As you can imagine, it was a constant in my military career.

As a major (O 4), while the Chief of Investigations and Assistance of the 7th Infantry Division (Light), I routinely advised the 2-star Division Commander (0-8) about situations and violations of regulations. Most senior officers I had to confront were very receptive and appreciative to resolve problems before they became issues. I was not as fortunate with a One-star (07) who was incorrectly punishing a soldier and was not following the regulations for the situation. He refused to take my advice and berated me repeatedly—he felt it was his prerogative and I was not going to usurp his power or decisions. I calmly replied, “Sir, you can either take my advice, or you will receive a call from your 2-star commander who will order you to comply.” He refused. 20 minutes later, the 2-star commander called him and ordered him to comply.

This was about me taking power and decision making from superior officers—it was about doing what was right and following our written regulations, but it did require courage on my part to do what was right and confront a superior officer. You should realize that that is one way our Army is great—even high-ranking officers or senior enlisted are not above the regulations.

We know all about physical courage under fire. We often recognize these feats with medals—the Bronze Star with V device (Valor), the Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Medal of Honor and with combat badges. As the popular saying of today is, these heroes ran towards the sound of gunfire, not away from it.

I always are in awe of these soldiers—I never served in an offical combat zone and respect and admire those who served and displayed courage under fire.

This is a summary of my career. The 4 medals are from left to right Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters (oak leaf is used to designated another award of the same medal), an Army Commendation Medal, an Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the National Defense Service Medal. Just above my name tag is my Airborne Wings, my Expert Infantry Badge and my cloth Ranger Tab. Also on this carboard display is my Infantry Branch Crossed Rifles, my Major Golf Leaf rank insignia and my Inspector General Branch insignia. The other pins are units I served in during my 20 year career.

Decisiveness

Good leaders have the ability to determine the correct course of action or to readjust if things are not working out right. Judgement is very important, good leaders evaluate and respond appropriately.

Making sound and timely decisions is the key. Evaluating situations and deciding how to solve the problem or confrontation facing you. Calmness and poise under pressure are awesome characteristics of leaders. It saves lives in combat and training is stressful situations is important part of developing the confidence to be decisive.

My Final Thoughts

I’m proud to be a veteran, it was an honor to serve my country. I can promise you the sacrifices and conditions of military service pale to what I gained. I learned how to perform under pressure, to achieve goals and standards, and developed into a leader of character. Many along the way helped mentor me, demanded more of me and taught me to be a better leader. The soldiers I served with helped me by supporting and preforming as required. I was just a small part of a much bigger service force that protected our country during my 20 years of service.

Maybe the next time you run across a veteran, thank them for helping to protect our nation. They all need to be remembered, for they made our country safe and allowed others to pursue their dreams, raise families, and grow our nation.

Thanks for reading, and if you are a veteran, currently serving, or part of an active or veteran family, thanks for protecting our country. You are all very special and have my utmost respect.

Major (retired) Henry “Hank” Carl Schrader, Jr, Infantry Officer 1971-1991

Hank Schrader

November 2, 2023

Travel Planning

AI Thinks We Are Cool!

Hank Schrader

November 2, 2023

Travel Planning

AI Thinks We Are Cool!

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

A few days ago, Anne got an AI generated description of our company and brand.

Here it is:

“We've been following Visit Dream Destinations Dba Dream Destinations with great interest and have come across some remarkable reviews from your satisfied clients. From being European River Cruise Experts to providing top-notch travel planning services, your dedication to delivering the highest quality experiences is evident. Anne & Hank Schrader, as certified travel professionals, have undoubtedly created an exceptional brand.”.

While we appreciate this awesome review, I’m not sure this review is based on any personal knowledge of who we are—they just scanned our website and maybe some blogs and generated the summary.

You may wonder why we would tell you this—AI is going to be part of travel and there is concern among travel advisors that it is a threat to our profession.

We are not concerned about this, as we have weathered a lot since our start in 1995, but we need to explore this further and learn together the advantages and disadvantages of AI in the travel industry.

What is AI?

AI is the abbreviation for artificial intelligence. There are 2 main types of AI—generative AI (gen AI) and machine learning (ML). Some folks in our industry think that AI will result in reimagining what it means to book, plan, and experience travel.

This would be a newer way to interact with customers. I’m not so sure AI will revolutionize our role as travel advisors, but there can be no doubt that the digital age has made the industry better. There will be changes and it is probably too early to predict all the changes but perhaps just a recap of our experience in the digital age can provide us with some clues to the future.

The Human Touch

In our industry, there is one constant—quality interaction between us and our clients and potential clients. Could this interaction be replaced or enhanced using AI?

Some possible uses of AI are to create digital assistants that could plan, recommend. book, and monitor travel during the trip. It would require knowing a client so well that you could segment a clients’ desired trip preferences by their searches and digital presence.

In theory, sounds like a great idea. For simple trips, it probably is the wave of the future—"recommend 4 hotel rooms near the city center at this price range” (your query) would be an appropriate use of AI, as they could quickly scan options and respond to the query. That could certainly reduce your search time.

Again, it raises the question about the quality of information used to curate a response—all of us have seen information in a digital format that is inaccurate or misleading at best. Eventually it will get to the point that it is very useful and works to the satisfaction of the user, but, in my opinion, we are not there yet.

I have read that currently only information from 2021 or earlier is available for AI use, but I have no way to confirm this, and if true, a lot has happened since then in the travel industry—most river cruise lines were requiring us to wear masks to sail in 2021, and that is no longer required as just one example of how relevant and timely the AI responses are. It does raise the point that timeliness and accuracy of the responses is a potential problem area.

Marketing Using AI

The concept here is called: hyper-segmentation” where AI would respond to the queries and selectively determine the best trip based on your responses. Segmentation is not a new concept—we classify travelers by their preferences, but I find the idea of too much segmentation can result in a bombardment of unwanted marketing messages and offers by travel professionals searching for new clients. Not sure this will happen, but the potential worries me. Maybe this is why there are so many warnings about AI.

I prefer our approach—you opt in for our blog or visit our website and then reach out to us.

Our Logo

Here is part of our home page on our website www.dreamdestinations.com

AI for River Cruises

I’m not sure it is the answer for river cruises. In the UK, I just read an article about a new agency that relies on on-line responses to make decisions about which river cruises to book and the whole process is online.

The real question is—where do they get their information to filter and make recommendations? Here are a couple of examples:

So, do they rely on Conde Nast Readers Survey published on 3 October 2023 to make the decision on which line to use for a potential river cruise client? I disagreed with the results only last week in a blog post. Who is right—neither of us. It is my opinion and as I say over and over, all river cruises are great options. No matter how hard machine learning tries, when there are split opinions, they can’t solve the problem accurately. After all, AI data will only spit out what it has been fed in developing the answers to your query.

Do you rely on awards won, or cruise critic? Are they using published reviews influenced by advertising dollars? AI can only scan the information and process it, then make judgements based on the algorithms programed into the response.

If I’m spending $15,000 to $20,000 on a river cruise vacation, I want someone to explain what is the best use of my money that matches my travel style—not a machine that says X number of people picked line Z, so you should also.

So, what do you do? You must talk with an advisor (hopefully us) and determine if they are better than AI.

ChatGPT for Travel

ChatGPT is both generative AI (gen IA) and machine learning AI (MI). Why? It starts off as answering questions or prompts with answers that are generated. As the process continues, it learns more and refines it responses., making it machine learning. You may already be using a form of AI for customer service, where the computer begins the conversation and when enough information is gathered, then a customer service representative takes over the conversation and provides the action required.

This AI will be best, in my opinion, for simple trips that already have folks using OTAs (online Travel Agency’s)—Expedia and Kayak already have plugins, but you have to use ChatGPT Plus. ChatGPT is great for simple input--where do you want to go? how much do you want to spend? Give me 6 suggested cruises—they can handle that. The idea is to have human-like conversations with the computer to assist you. There is a ChatGPT app but make sure it is created by OpenAI (free but there is a subscription option that costs $20 a month) but already there are fakes out there. The real advantage of ChatGPT is speed—in seconds it can respond to the query.

You may be wondering—why not just use search engines? The short answer is that ChatGPT is designed to have a conversation, while a search engine uses indexes of web pages to find the information requested. For now, it is clear that search engines provide the best up-to-date and accurate information. As I told you earlier in this segment of the blog, there is a service called ChatGPT Plus which also includes scanning the internet, which will probably provide better quality results.

A limitation of ChatGPT—it uses servers and could get overloaded if too many people are online, so the system tells you are at capacity. Another limitation—ChatGPT does not provide sources for its answers.

Determine which cruise line is best for me—too hard at present—all have earned awards; digital articles pick a wide variety of options, and all are good. Whose opinion is right?

Another use of the ChatGPT that is already in place on river cruise company websites, is pop-up responses trying to get more information and direct you to a desired trip. I would recommend caution here—the cruise lines have a vested interest to get you to book as quickly as possible and may narrow your search too quickly. Remember, AI on a company website can’t answer questions that require a human touch and judgement yet. Also, travel is an emotional experience, and the machine does not have the ability to make truly emotional responses like we can by listening to you.

So, How Do You AI In Your Travels?

Carefully is my advice. One thing AI can’t do well is apply human judgement. AI might speed up the research process, but it can’t pick the right cruise for you on a river cruise. It might be able to tell you what the lowest price is but can’t tell you the value of the cruise for your travel style.

Our Final Thoughts

We never panicked when the internet went worldwide—it just made our clients more astute and interested in travel. I think for now our jobs are safe from AI. To be candid, we were never worried about it. Let the online agencies use AI but we will only use it if it is reliable and improves our response time on our end to find you the best options quicker. Even then, we will need to insert our human judgement to ensure you get the best trip. You will never see a ChatGPT on our website or a way to book online from our site—you need our human judgement and interaction.

I don’t think you would want it any other way. This is still a people-to-people business and will stay that way. Even now, we often find clients who say they are confused by all the information—it is just too complicated for most. Don’t worry—we can and will provide you clarity if you decide to use us to plan your trip—honest, fun, and reliable with your best interest at heart.

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@visitdd.com . We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

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

Hank Schrader

October 26, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

Another River Cruise Rating Article--No Wonder There is So Much Confusion!

Hank Schrader

October 26, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

Another River Cruise Rating Article—No Wonder There is So Much Confusion!

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Another river cruise rating article was recently published—this time it is in the respected Conde Nast Traveler. The Conde Nast readers ranked the best small cruises with 500 or fewer passengers in their 2023 Reader’s Choice Awards. The 3 categories were 1) The Best Small Cruises, 2) The Best River Cruises and 3) The Best Expedition Cruises.

According to the survey and Conde Nast, this is the longest-running recognition awards in the travel industry. There are so many categories in their survey that it is hard to tell how many people voted in the small ship category, so the number of 526,000 voting certainly does not mean that many voted in these 3 categories. In fact, one source said only 27% of the readers went on a cruise last year.

I will only share with you the results of The Best River Cruises and my opinion of these choices—I did not vote in this survey, but I am going to vote my rankings for the 7 lines we follow. If I don’t give the line a max score in the categories, I will explain my reason for the less than perfect score. If I also don’t have personal knowledge of a category, I gave them an excellent score (5) and provided a reason for this rating.

The Citeria for the Cruise Category

There were 5 areas the readers voted on in this survey. Each of the five areas were rated on a five-point scale that was then converted to a percentage. The scale was excellent (5), very good (4), good (3), fair (2) and poor (1).

To be listed in the awards, each line had to receive a minimum number of responses and a minimum overall score to be listed in the rankings. The exact number of responses needed is not disclosed by Conde Nast in each category. Another interesting fact is that this survey is often used in mathematic classes to assess the reliability of the data and to calculate the standard deviation of responses, but I will leave that to others with far more mathematics ability than I to evaluate the responses and data.

Since I don’t have a copy of the questions, I must rely on what others have reported about the rating areas used and even if they are not correct, they will prove useful to understand the methodology used. The five categories are cabins/facilities; food; itineraries/destinations; excursions/activities and value.

The Best River Cruises Ranking

The Reader Choice Awards top 5 results are 1) Viking (97.32); 2) American Cruise Lines (96.66); 3) Tauck River Cruising (96.14); 4) Oberoi (95.91); and Les Bateaux Belmond (95.90). Other lines we follow received this rating 8) Uniworld (93.24); 10) AmaWaterways (93.09); 11) Scenic (90.09); 13) Avalon Waterways (88.09) and 14) Emerald (86.54).

Since some categories on the list had only 3 or 4 winners and 16 were listed in the best river cruise rankings, tells me how close the voting was and the small differences between the listed lines. My guess is the cut off was 70% or higher to be listed. No real surprise for me—river cruising is often one of the best vacations available for our clients and the large number of different lines receiving votes supports our thoughts about the overall value of this great vacation.

Viking (97.32)

As the largest river cruise company that sails in Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America, it is easy to see why most readers would select Viking just based on their sheer size. Viking has close to 100 total ships sailing in the expedition, ocean, and river cruise types of vacations. About 70 ships are on the rivers and they have the largest footprint in Europe.

Using the max 30 points. Viking had to score at least 29 points, with a lot of perfect scores. I’m not sure how you could max them out in cabins (45 of the 95 are between 135 sq. feet or at the waterline and they carry 190 passengers on their longships—maybe Conde Nast folks only sail in their larger staterooms). I’ll provide you with more thoughts later on this line.

It is also possible that people who voted for Viking had done another cruise on Viking (either ocean and expedition) and assumed the river cruises would be as good--brands tend to influence responses.

American Cruise Lines (96.66)

American Cruise Line has 35 US river cruises on the Mississippi, Columbia & Snake Rivers. It also sails in New England and Alaska. They have 17 ships, but one was recently damaged due to a generator fire, so I believe only 16 are currently in service. It is unfair for me to evaluate this line, as we have never sold it and it does not operate in Europe.

Tauck River Cruising (96.14)

With its cult like following, very small passenger counts (often 130 or less), this is a quality river cruise line. Again, to get this high a ranking, Tauck would have to get a little less 29 total points (okay for all you math folks 28.84 points)

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts (95.91)

Oberoi is a luxury hotel operator with 32 luxury hotels and 2 river ships. Both ships, the Zahra (27 cabins) and the Philae (22 cabins) sail only on the Nile River. It is hard for me to believe that with only 2 ships and limited staterooms, that many folks would rate it so high—makes you wonder how many votes it would require to be considered.

I don’t doubt it is luxury, but most newly built Egyptian River ships are equally luxurious, and these ships were built in 1996 and refurbished in 2015. I’m not exactly sure of how many newer ships have been added to the Nile River fleets of other lines, but it is more than 4—AmaWaterways and Viking have newer ships in service since 2015.

Les Bateaux Belmond (95.90)

This is a barge company that ranges from 4 to 12 passengers. It has 7 barges—6 are available as private charters and only one, the Nepoleon, allows you to book an individual cabin. They sail only in France.

Again, it is hard to understand how there could be so many folks taking barge trips, so they meet the minimum required submissions—even if Conde Nast are very high-end travelers.

As my lovely wife Anne pointed out to me, many could have voted for this company based on reading about them—since barge cruises are almost exclusively charter operations, these become tailored vacations, with itineraries decided by the guests and even meals are customizable—I can really understand how that would appeal to the readers of Conde Nast for their upscale vacations, and they could have received votes based upon reading about these experiences.

Now My Ratings

To make this clear, I will list what Conde Nast readers rated the 7 lines we follow and then provide my rating using the 5 to 1 scale reported earlier in this blog post.

Viking—Conde Nast Score 97.32

My Viking Score 76.00 (19/25) cabins/facilities (3); food (4); itineraries/destinations (5); excursions/activities (3) and value (4).

With 190 passengers, many small staterooms I can’t go higher than 3 (good) for cabins/facilities. Having eaten on a Viking ship, can’t go higher than 4 (very good, especially if you consider wine in this category). For excursions/activities, there are too many extra cost excursions that are limited or unknown until after booking your cruise—3 (good) is generous, but reasonable as some routes have excellent included excursions. Unless you get a great sale, I have a hard time rating the value much above a 3 (good)—almost everyone spends more on-board than they expected—sometimes as much as $1,500 to $2,000 more.

A good look at the balcony staterooms on a Viking longship. The port side (this view) is the larger Veranda Staterooms (205 square feet)

This is a picture of the small 135 square feet French Balcony (sliding glass window) stateroom. There are 22 of these staterooms on the 95 cabins on a Viking longship.

A chef makes carbonara on a Viking longship in March of 2023. I love this dish and am sad to tell you it was just so-so at best. This is one reason I cut them a point on food. I also don’t like the lower quality wines included in the basic fare—you have to buy a silver beverage package to get better drinks.

Tauck—Conde Nast Score 96.14

My Tauck Score 88.00 (22/25) cabins/facilities (5); food (5); itineraries/destinations (4); excursions/activities (4) and value (4).

Having never sailed on a Tauck ship, but with extensive knowledge of their cabin/facilities, I rated them with an excellent (5) due to the fewer passenger cabins and the most innovative water-line deck loft cabins, which are the best water-line cabins in the industry. I rated Tauck excellent for food (5) but I have never eaten on their ships and I was influenced by the fact that they are all-inclusive with drinks. I rated itineraries very good (4) since there is a small number of ships compared to other lines. Perhaps the most interesting cut from excellent (5) to very good (4) is the on-board tour guides—I like locals, who often have more in-depth knowledge, but many disagree with my thoughts. The value cut to very good (4) is the price for cruises—with 130 passengers, Tauck is often the most expensive river cruise line when comparing identical routes.

The Tauck Treasures rivership sailing on the Danube.

The Reception Area on the Tauck Emerald while ported on the Saone River

Uniworld—Conde Nast Score 93.24

My Uniworld Score 84 (21/25) cabins/facilities (4); food (5); itineraries/destinations (5); excursions/activities (3) and value (4).

I can’t go higher than a 4 (very good) for the overdone cabins—you either love them or detest them. I have never eaten on Uniworld but gave them an excellent rating (5) since they are all inclusive and most alcoholic drinks are included. My biggest problem with Uniworld—claiming to be all-inclusive, there are still some excursions that require an extra charge, so they only earned a 3 (good) from me. These 2 reasons cause me to lessen the overall value of this cruise to a 4 (very good).

The Uniworld River Royal ported in Bordeaux.

AmaWaterways—Conde Nast Score 93.09

My AmaWaterways Score 100 (25/25) cabins/facilities (5); food (5); itineraries/destinations (5); excursions/activities (5) and value (5).

Compared to the other lines we follow, 5 are justified in each category –all excellent!

The AmaCerto ported on the Rhine River at Basel.

An Amawaterways Balcony stateroom. This is 235 square foot stateroom.

A great desert to finish the meal—the food is the best of all other river cruise lines we rate.

Anne and I enjoying a great meal on AmaWaterways

Scenic—Conde Nast Score 90.09

My Scenic Score 92.00 (23/25) cabins/facilities (5); food (4); itineraries/destinations (5); excursions/activities (5) and value (4).

While most meals are great, they sometimes just don’t have consistent food. Also, one of their specialty dining is not sperate from the rest of the main dining room. For those two reasons, I rated the food very good (4). We find it very expensive unless you hit a sale and often pay a year early while other lines have a 90-day final payment as their standard practice, so they earned a very good rating (4) from me.

The seafood buffet was wonderful but they lost a point from me as next night’s dinner was not as good—others told us the meal just wasn’t as good as other days, so the lost one point from me when I rated the food.

Avalon—Conde Nast Score 88.09

My Avalon Score 84.00 (21/25) cabins/facilities (5); food (2); itineraries/destinations (5); excursions/activities (5) and value (4).

The food just doesn’t match the other lines—can’t go higher than 2 (fair), even though they have a very good vegetarian food program. I debated in my mind to take one point from either excursions/activities category for the cost of some extras, but I like their variety and active & discovery options, so I took the point off for the value from excellent to very good (4).

The Avalon Impressions ported in Vienna.

Here is the lunch meal buffet we ate in March of 2023 in Budapest during the ASTA River Cruise Expo. The carving station meats were good but the rest of the meal was not up to other river cruise company standards in both food quality and selection. This was my lowest score of all of the 7 ships we rated—I gave it a fair rating for 2 points in the food category..

Emerald—Conde Nast Score 86.54

My Emerald Score 88.00 (22/25) cabins/facilities (4); food (4); itineraries/destinations (4); excursions/activities (5) and value (5).

While not the flashiest cabins, they are modern and sleek, but it only cost them one point from excellent to very good (4) and they do have a covered pool that converts to a movie theater at night. The food is better than Viking in my judgement, so it only lost a point from excellent to very good (4). The small number of ships (9) was the reason for the one point cut in itineraries/destinations to very good (4).

This is the awesome covered pool that converts to a movie theater at night—How cool is that!

This is stateroom 318, a Panoramic Suite on the Emerald Sun. The size of the cabin is 180 sq. feet.

Here is the Recap with my Scores—AmaWaterways 100; Scenic 92, Tauck 88, Emerald 88, Uniworld 84, Avalon 84 and Viking 76.

Our Final Thoughts

Isn’t amazing how different I perceive these lines compared to the readers of Conde Nast. Part of the problem is that all river cruises are good vacations, and readers often only have the chance to sail on one line and tend to rate it highly as a result. The other problem is that Conde Nast are the high-end travel folks, who favor all-inclusive products.

This just goes to show how little value these ratings have for us—it is so much better to match your travel style to the vendors—don’t be swayed by these reports. We hope you enjoyed this report—it was fun and challenging writing it.

Even cruise lines and vacation recommendations from friends and family should not be your sole reason to choose a certain line—everyone has certain travel expectations and just because they enjoyed it, you may not. You should use a seasoned travel professional like us, with in-depth knowledge to help you find the right cruise for you that matches your travel style.

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@visitdd.com . We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

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

Hank Schrader

October 19, 2023

Best Value Travel

Quality Counts

Hank Schrader

October 19, 2023

Best Value Travel

Quality Counts

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

We just returned from a 2-week working vacation in Canada and the US. Our trip started on 30 September 2023 and ended on 13 October 2023.

We took the trip for 2 reasons—first to celebrate my 74th birthday and our 36th Wedding Anniversary, but also to learn about the vendor travel company, Uncommon Journeys.

The first week was a train trip and land package starting in NY City and visiting 4 cities in Canada.

On the second week, we boarded the Cunard Ocean Liner Queen Mary 2 in Quebec.

The entire tour was fully escorted by a professional tour manager, and Teresa, our tour manager, did an excellent job but was challenged by many last-minute changes by the tour operator.

My hope in writing this blog is to evaluate the trip in detail and see if we would recommend this company to our clients.

This blog will cover the land portion of the trip and the next blog, the cruise.

Overview

First a little background—we had originally consider a shorter train trip to see some of the National Parks out west, but on closer inspection, learned it was primarily a bus tour, which did not have as much appeal to us.

After placing a deposit on the park trip, we were able to switch to this 2-week adventure. This was handled reasonably well. The brochure of the Royal Canadian Holiday offered us a journey that “combines four of our most popular Canadian destinations—Niagara Falls, Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City—into one stylish trip complimented by a fifth stellar setting, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, on a 7-night passage from Quebec City down the St. Lawerence River and East Coast to New York City.” We liked the idea of train travel combined with the cruise and a lot of free time to explore on our own, so it sounded like a good fit for our travel style.

Our autumn adventure was called the Royal Canadian Holiday.

The First Week

We joined the trip in progress in Albany, NY instead of starting in NY City. Our first adventure was on an Amtrak train from Rensselaer. NY, where we took a 6-hour train ride in up-state NY on the Maple Leaf over the Water Level Route of the former New York Central Railroads and crossed the US-Canada border by train. I should point out that originally, we were to start in Albany, NY but it was changed to start in New York City. It was the first on many changes to the itinerary that were not provided to us in a timely manner. Our documents were late before we started the trip and we felt incomplete as compared to other vendors we have used for clients. Start and ending times were not listed on the information we received and seemed to change, so we often had to check and worry if we would be on time to leave or what time we would arrive at our new destination.

The Maple Leaf train on Amtrak was a comfortable ride, with some good fall colors but the peak colors had not arrived yet. As we had hoped for, the train ride did offer excellent views and scenery along the Mohawk River. There is one major difference between train travel in the US and Europe—Amtrak prohibits drinking your own alcoholic beverages onboard, so unlike Europe, where we often share a bottle of wine as the scenery rolls past, we had to rely on the snack car for beers, as the wine selection was less than stellar. Here are some pictures:

Anne in her seat on the Maple Leaf train

Rolling down the tracks with the Mohawk River outside

Fall is slowly change to brilliant colors

An old engine from the New York Central Train Line

Crossing the Niagara River—our first glimpse of this powerful river

After clearing Canadian customs, our group of 12 was transported by taxi to our hotel. The transfer was difficult since the taxi cars were small and there was a lot of luggage—a 2-week cruise with 2 formal nights always requires a lot of extra luggage.

In fairness to Uncommon Journeys, they did suggest we limit the amount of luggage for the train potion but allowed up to 4 pieces per person for the cruise (Cunard’s allowance). There was no sound plan to allow for these differences, which added to the chaos during transfers.

Our original itinerary stated we were going to get off in Buffalo, NY, and drive to Niagara Falls—the constant theme was changes and slight deviations during the land portion of the trip.

Niagara Falls, Canada

Upon arriving at our hotel, we found a new hotel that was substituted for the Doubletree by Hilton at the Falls. We stayed at the Crown Plaza Niagara and the rooms were adequate but not the upscale experience we were expecting. In one of the most scenic places on earth, with dramatic falls, the view from our room was a parking lot. Here are 3 pictures:

Anne couldn’t resist placing this brochure on our view window—not much of a view!

The tour the next day, after one of the poorest buffet breakfasts meals we have ever eaten, for most of our group was on the Maid of the Mist boat tour to see the falls up close and personal. This is a similar boat or may be the boat our group took.

We avoided this wet adventure and made some reservations for our clients. You might be surprised by this—we often have deadlines, new reservation requests we need to book, and clients that need help during our travels and we try to keep fully operational but sometimes are a little slow responding.

Arriving on a Saturday, with very warm temperatures and lots of tourists, made this a less than an ideal start of our tour.

The next day (Sunday) we skipped breakfast and enjoyed a day exploring the falls on our own and we had an excellent lunch at the Secret Gardens. Here is the view we had during our lunch, as we were on the outside terrace.

Somehow, maple ice cream makes everything better and a couple of local tap beers helped improve our mood. With less people, the trip improved and the powerful falls were spectacular, yet there was not much else to see or do after about an hour of walking along the river. Here are some pictures:

The American Niagara Falls and the small Bridal Veil Falls

Niagara Falls—from left to right American Falls, Bridal Falls, and Horseshoe Falls

At 1000 AM on Monday, we took a comfortable coach (bus) to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. Prior to the visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake, we stopped twice. The first stop was to see the whirlpool on the Niagara River and the second stop was a winery.

The whirlpool is caused by the huge volume of water rushing over Horseshoe Falls as it crashes into the narrow Niagara the narrow Niagara Gorge.

The winery stop was confusing—it was supposed to be a bathroom break but also a wine tasting, but since the winery didn’t know we were coming, they decided it was too much trouble to pull together a quick tasting for us. Here are some pictures:

Peller Estates Winery near Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake was my favorite stop on the land portion of the trip. The nickname of the town is “The Loveliest Town in Canada”. For me, it lived up to this claim. It is a charming, quaint place that has a George Bernard Shaw Festival, great restaurants, and pubs. Small boutique shops are the norm here and wineries dot most of the landscape. At a local hat shop, I bought a replica hat of the famous Indiana Jones hat—a little cheesy, but most think I looked pretty good in it. After our short visit, a good lunch at a pub, we were off to Toronto. Here are some pictures.

George Bernard Shaw statue in Niagara-on-the-Lake

While not in this stop, here is my new hat:

Toronto

We got into Toronto in the evening and stayed at the Radison Blu, right on Lake Ontario. The room was a nice upgrade from our previous poor accommodations, and the included breakfast excellent.

We also had an included dinner at the Amsterdam Brewery, food only and no drinks included. Great place, but since we didn’t know in advance our dining location, we had just grabbed a quick pizza at the brewery before the meal for a late lunch snack. Fortunately, the food was great, the beer excellent, so we didn’t feel upset about our second meal, but we really didn’t need it as much as others in the group. It does bring up a minor problem—the lack of a clear itinerary and last-minute changes, caused confusion that could have been totally avoided.

Again, we didn’t take the tour here as we worked on reservations and both of us had visited Toronto, Canada’s largest city before—I took our daughter up to the soaring CN tower on a previous trip and we all saw The Phantom of the Opera play—Toronto is often the opening for plays in North America that eventually get to Boardway in NY City.

We enjoyed the Amsterdam Brewery so much; we ate al fresco the next night with great views of Lake Ontario. Here are some pictures:

Lake Ontario viewed from the Amsterdam Terrace

Hank with his traditional beer picture in the Amsterdam Terrace

plane flying out of Toronto Airport over Lake Ontario

Montreal

We went to Montreal by train aboard Via Rail Canada. The transfer to the train station was by some large Uber sedans, and as seemed the norm, the transfer was chaotic. Because there was no central drop off point at the large train station, we had to scramble to get the group together, and find our train car. We found out later, the tickets were bought only the day of the departure instead of buying them earlier, as Uncommon Journey’s should have done.

The train was a good experience, comfortable and still great patches of color, but still not peak conditions. A good point of reference here—the peak fall colors seem to be later and later recently but as we often say, Mother Nature decides the weather and climate conditions, not us.

In Montreal, we stayed at the Omni, and it was a nice hotel and easy walking distance to great restaurants, bistros, and Brasseries. The Omni Mount Royal Hotel is located on Sherbrooke Street—this is the most exclusive and wealthiest area in all of Canada before WW II, and it was fun exploring this part of the city.

I really enjoyed the stay here—Montreal is very walkable as we stayed near McGill University, and it was fun and lively. We love wandering and finding great eating places. There was an included meal on the second night of our stay, but we skipped it and ate on our own, as we just enjoyed wandering so much and had a late lunch at a great Brasserie with a brew pub.

Quebec City

Our transfer from Montreal to Quebec could not have gotten any more confusing, as two groups joined our band of 12—4 in one group and 13 in another, all set to cruise on the Queen Mary 2 with luggage everywhere. Anne bravely jumped in to help load the luggage compartment of the coach. Ultimately, we got it all in and took a 4-hour ride into Quebec. Apparently, another tour group guide from Uncommon Journey’s had a personal emergency, so Teresa now had 2 extra groups to deal with for our final day of the land tour. The first part of the coach ride was colorful, as you can see by this picture.

There we did a bus tour of Quebec City and arrived at the port on 6 October, my birthday. The coach tour included seeing the old town, the Plains of Abraham (a large outdoor park), and the Citadel. We were supposed to have lunch, but that didn’t happen as most of us just wanted to board the Queen Mary 2 and eat onboard.

A good picture of Quebec City port area. In the far right is the Citadel and the large hotel on the left is the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. Quebec is the only fortified city in North America

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is the most famous landmark in Quebec City. This luxury hotel was designed to fit in with the old town Quebec surroundings as a prestigious place to stay during a visit to Quebec City.

A panoramic view of the Port of Quebec City

Boarding the Queen Mary 2 was very efficient, but that may be because many were on a 14-day cruise that started in NY City, so less folks had to board in Quebec City.

Our Final Thoughts

Uncommon Journeys had a great trip planned for us, but it just wasn’t executed properly. There were just too many last-minute changes and a lack of timely information. That being said, it still was a good trip. Having seen how other luxury tour operators handle their trips, we found them lacking—quality counts! This tour may be right for some, but I think most of our clients were prefer a smoother operation.

You can make your own judgments, but at $15,418 for both of us for the two weeks’ vacation, it just did not deliver the quality and attention to detail we expect from a luxury trip.

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!

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

Hank Schrader

September 28, 2023

River Cruise Advice

The Problem with Best Lists for Europe River Cruises

Hank Schrader

September 28, 2023

River Cruise Advice

The Problem with Best Lists for Europe River Cruises

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

I think we have a big problem about travel writers selecting the best cruise for different cruise guests based on the reason or circumstances the cruiser has taking a wonderful river cruise vacation—one size never fits all cruisers.

Often these are short on facts or in-depth comparisons. As we always say, all river cruises are probably the best vacation you will take, so many of my comments are rather picky, but when you are spending between $15,000 and $25,000 for a vacation, the differences matter.

A Recent Article to Emphasize Why In-Depth Analysis is a Better Approach

I recently read an article in Cruise Critic UK (published on 22 September 2023) that advised folks about which cruise lines they should take for 10 cruising situations. The title of the article was “The 10 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe for Every Traveler”. The article was designed to help you “decide the best river line in Europe, depending upon your travel style.”

I am not bold enough to say her choices are wrong, but rather they are not in-depth enough to make good decisions for our clients. I will provide you with our thoughts about 3 of her recommendations and how we would approach 3 of the categories cited in the article.

Category 1—Best River Cruise for First Timers: Viking River Cruises

The authors defend her selection by stating that Viking’s “well-tested river cruise recipe of the world’s largest river cruise line” includes one excursion in each port” and “offers a wider variety of river cruises than others.” They have 70 river cruise ships sailing in Europe and a total fleet of 100 ships.

Most of these statements are correct but a little misleading. Viking does offer 19 different cruise route itineraries in Europe in their brochure (this doesn’t count the Christmas Market season cruises, which I have not included in any of these numbers).

By my count, Avalon offers 36 itineraries in their brochure; AmaWaterways offers 29 itineraries and a 7-Rivers Journey in their brochure; Emerald with only 7 ships has 18 itineraries in their brochure; Scenic offers 17 itineraries in their brochure with only 11 ships; Tauck offers 21 itineraries in their brochure with only 9 ships; and Uniworld offers 16 itineraries by their fleet and 2 cruise & rail in their brochure.

Maybe the fact that Viking is one of the 2 lines that sails on the Elbe increases their variety in her judgement, but we would never recommend sailing on the Elbe, the Loire or the Po as these rivers often have conditions that cause them to cancel or modify the cruise with bus tours substituted for a port stop.

Viking longships have space for 190 passengers. I have been in the lounge with about 190 other travel agents, and it was crowded and felt cramped during a presentation about Viking River Cruises.

A Viking Longship Lounge—felt crowded to me.

To accommodate the 190 passengers, many of the staterooms are quite small. There are 90 staterooms on their signature longships. 50 staterooms are very small compared to other cruise lines. 25 fixed windows staterooms on the first deck at the water line are 150 sq feet and 25 French Balcony staterooms are 135 square feet. Neither of these are acceptable for the majority of our clients.

135 square feet French Balcony stateroom—very tiny.

Balcony Staterooms on a Viking long ships. The tiny windows on the first deck at the waterline are the 150 square foot staterooms.

The final reason I would not pick Viking as the best for first time cruisers is the lack of excursions included in the fare. On a normal 7-day cruise, there are only 6 excursions included in the fare. Sometimes as many as 6 different options are offered at an extra cost and often these are capacity controlled or quite expensive. It is also difficult to determine the exact cost for these options or to learn about them, as the costs change, are not published before the cruise. It is not uncommon for a guest to pay an extra $500 to $1,500. Almost every other lines offers more included choices.

I have told this is a huge money-maker for Viking but not very client friendly for our clients.

So, I will not be so bold to tell which line to pick for first time cruisers—we match you to your style with in-depth knowledge about the river cruise industry—one size does not fit all!

Category 2 Best River Cruise Line for Active Travelers: Avalon Waterways

The author picks Avalon for its Active & Discovery options as her reason to select them as the best line for active cruisers. Of the 36 offerings by Avalon, 8 itineraries are Active & Discovery in their brochure. Most require an extra fee.

While this is a very good selection, it does not consider the AmaWaterways program, which has a dedicated wellness host on-board with a master’s degree in physical education. All 29 AmaWaterways itineraries offer active options.

A group from an AmaWaterways cruise riding in the Wachau Valley on the Danube

I will tell you the AmaWaterways program is better—I have a master’s degree in physical education and the AmaWaterways program is excellent, age appropriate, and offers good variety for guests.

Len and Jane, our clients ready for a bike ride along the Moselle River

Wellness Host in yellow jacket—highly professional staff

I would place Avalon’s program second to AmaWaterways for these reasons but either line offers better options than most other cruise lines.

Category 9 Best European River Cruise Line for Unique Destinations: CroisiEurope

She cites cruise on the Loire, the Elbe, the Guadalquivir and the Vltava Rivers sailings as her evidence to sail on this line for unique destinations, but I have already pointed out the problem with water conditions on 2 of the rivers and you can add the Vltava to the list. The Guadalquivir is quite large and can even accommodate larger ships, as we have sailed on this river with an Azamara Ocean cruise. So, again it is unique but for our guests, probably not their best option—we would recommend visiting areas of the Elbe, Loire and Vltava Rivers on a land based extension.

This is probably a good selection for some but ignores some difficulties for most of our clients for some other reasons. First, the language on-board is French, and they provide an English translator to their English-speaking guests, but this is very awkward at best.

Two other factors here—all guests are served the same meal unless earlier arrangements are made, requiring constant vigilance for lunch and diner meals to not get a meal you wouldn’t like. Also, the staterooms are functional but not really luxury—they are rather sparse.

Our clients would not like this—for most good food and wine are important factors and this line just doesn’t match their desired travel style.

Our Final Thoughts

Our advice—just do not accept best cruise line lists—for most of you they are opinion at best or poorly researched and perhaps even biased. Just remember, most folks who search for river cruise information add the word best to their search, because we all want the best. Please read these list critically—look for facts and try to distinguish what is fact and what is opinion.

My hope in writing this blog is not to criticize river cruise lines, or criticize the authors, it is to educate you that an in-depth knowledge of the river cruise industry is required for an advisor the truly help their clients. We have that knowledge and only worry about the best match for you on your vacation, not a blanket statement about which line is best for you.

We hope you enjoyed this blog.

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

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!

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

Hank Schrader

September 21, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

3 Great Land Extensions for an Upper Danube Cruise

Hank Schrader

September 21, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

3 Great Land Extensions for an Upper Danube Cruise

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

The Upper Danube is the most popular route in European River Cruises for North Americans—about 31% sail on this route each year. The next most popular route is the Rhine River with about 29% who sail on this route.

With airfare expense part of the cost to go on these awesome vacations, I thought I’d provide a little advice about 3 capital cities you should consider to extend your trip to help maximize your investment.

So, let’s explore Budapest, Prague, and Vienna as good places to visit and enhance your river cruise experience.

Budapest

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

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

It is really two towns—the high town of Buda that overlooks the banks of the Danube and Pest on the flat land. They are united by several bridges, but the Chain Bridge is the most important and is a symbol of the city. Both sides have some awesome structures—among them Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion (Buda side) and the Parliament building (Pest side).

Once you visit, you will want to come back. We have led tours here, but the most important sights are around the Danube River area—anything that requires a longer distance than the river area is difficult to see on your own without transportation.

Some History of Budapest and Hungary

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

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

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

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

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

The Castle District

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

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

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

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

Matthias Church—was founded in the 13th century. It is an impressive structure and was rebuilt several times during the tumultuous history of battles for control of this area. Perhaps the most distinctive feature is the roof that is covered with the famous Zsolnay ceramic tiles, manufactured in the Hungarian town of Pecs.

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

Typical Driving Tour Sights Offered by River Cruise Companies

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

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

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

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

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

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

Walking Tours and Sight Visits in Pest

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

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

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

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

It hosts the diet and the crown jewels. Guided tours are organized 4 times a day. It is on the Pest side.

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

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

Chain Bridge with Buda Castle in the Background

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

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

Have a dessert in Gerbeaud Cafe—famous for their handmade deserts. It opened in 1858 and has been a favorite of Budapest ever since then.

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

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

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

Prague

City Overview

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

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

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

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

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

The Castle Quarter

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

Here are the key sites:

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

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

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

The Little Quarter

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

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

The Old Town

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

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

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

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

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

In the center of the square is the Jan Hus Monument, the first to rebel against the total authority of the Catholic Church.

From Old Town Square, a walk along the posh Parizska Street with it’s over the top shops will lead to a somber sight—the Jewish Quarter.

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

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

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

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

The New Town

This area surrounds the old town area and follows the outer walls that protected the city but have been destroyed.

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

Vienna

Vienna’s is a true treasure—the importance of this city cannot be overstated—it once was the capital city of the Hapsburg Empire of Austria-Hungary. Palaces, great museums, a vibrant music culture, great shopping and good food make this an easy choice for an extension.

Here are some of the best sights:

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

Hofburg Palace—the imperial palace and former residence of Franz Joseph and other members of the Habsburg dynasty is a complex of buildings that house a number of Vienna’s most impressive sights. You can tour some rooms.

National Library--The Austrian National Library is the largest library in Austria with 7.4 million items in its various collections. The library is located in the Hofburg Palace complex in Vienna.

The Spanish Riding School—completed in 1735, the elaborate riding hall of the Spanish Riding School is a part of the Hofburg. Here the art of classical dressage is practiced by white Lipizzaner horses. Training sessions are open to the public daily except November to March.

Museum of National History—great collection of minerals, precious stones, meteorites, fossils, skeletons of animals, displays of various insects and mammals and even some taxidermy of extinct species.

Anne outside the Museum of Natural History

Naschmark--The Naschmarkt is held on the Wienzeile Street and stretches for around 1.5km, full of stalls selling anything from fresh fruit and vegetables to herbs, cheese, and seafood.

Graben—famous shopping street

Karntnerstrasse—pedestrian zone with great shops. It leads from the Opera house to St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Opera House in Vienna on Karntnerstrasse

Museum of Fine Arts—this is one of the most impressive collections in Europe, including works by Brueghel, Rubens, Titian, Rembrandt, and Vermeer.

Ringstrasse—a broad tree-lined boulevard was built on the ramparts of the medieval city.

Belvedere Palace—in a suburb of Vienna, the Belvedere is the former summer residence of the Prince of Savoy. Two palaces grace the grounds, one that houses the Museum of Medieval Art and the Museum of Austrian Baroque; the second that houses the Austrian Gallery.

Schönbrunn Palace—this palace of almost 1,200 rooms was the summer residence of the Habsburgs. Several of the rooms and their furnishings are open to the public. There are also lavish gardens.

Our Final Thoughts

It is pretty easy to see why you should extend your trip with the help of the river cruise lines or perhaps on your own for the more adventurous. Please reach out to us for help—we love helping folks get the best value for their vacations dollars.

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!

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

Hank Schrader

September 14, 2023

River Cruise Advice

The Top 6 Reasons People Sail on River Cruises

Hank Schrader

September 14, 2023

River Cruise Advice

The Top 6 Reasons People Sail on River Cruises

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

We almost exclusively specialize in European River Cruises and European travel. It often has us researching every aspect of river cruising but since 2009 our clients have almost selected river cruising for the same 6 reasons.

Interestingly, the first top 5 reasons listed in this blog were cited in the 2022 Travel Market Report Survey of River Cruise Trends by travel agents who sell or specialize in river cruise vacations, but we also find another important factor is to celebrate a milestone event.

I should also point out that it often is a combination of these reasons, so I tried to list then in the order of importance to our clients but realize each of us is different and one reason may be more important to one client than another.

So, I thought I’d share with you the top 6 reasons our friends and clients pick river cruising for a vacation.

# 1 Destination and Itinerary of the Cruise

With good route options available to our clients, the most important factor we find is what they will see and experience during their river cruise.

River cruising is all about the destinations. Even though I have been traveling to Europe for over 52 years and we have led several group tours, I could not do what the river cruise companies do in one week—these folks are experts in showing you the best sights in the least amount of time.

It is truly a unique way to see the interior of a country. It is different from a land-based tour and different from an ocean cruise.

You usually dock very near or right at the destination of the day and there is a tour or place to see every day—no sea days like on a big ocean cruise ship. Being near or in the center of the city, town, or village you are about to explore is a big advantage. In five minutes, all guests are off the boat and seeing the sights.

Cochem, Germany—an easy walk to the old walled city after a van ride to the castle or for the more active, a hike up to the castle for a tour

Bratislava Castle—your river ship docks in easy walking distance to the old town or a more active hike up to the castle

Most lines also offer different groups during the tours—regular, active walkers or gentle walkers, so your desired way to see the destination is matched with your tour.

# 2 Combined Land Vacations of Pre or Post Land Excursions

The option of adding to their vacation with either a pre- or post-excursion is also a key motivating factor for our clients.

We find that most of our clients want a more in-depth look at some destinations and the land excursions options provide just that. There are some great places to extend the river cruise experience and it often makes sense to stay for at least a week either before or after a 7-day cruise or both, which most of our clients choose to do. Long haul flights and flying expenses make a longer stay a better overall value to most of our clients.

Maybe Paris, Budapest, Prague, Lucerne, Zurich, Lake Como, or the Lorie Valley—already you can see the great options directly added by including a tour extension with the river cruise lines or we can help tailor a trip for the more adventurous.

Prague Castle—a very popular pre or post land excursions extension is the city of Prague, Czech Republic

The wooden covered bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland—great alpine post or pre tour land based excursion add on to a river cruise

Stunning Budapest Parliament Building at night—a great extension option.

# 3 Cultural Experience with Locals

Since you often port near smaller towns, it is easy to meet and learn about how others live.

Most lines provide local cultural events with food preparations, wine tastings, music and performances or just sampling local cuisine during the voyage. Some come on-board, others are offered on site.

Wine Tasting on a France river cruise—this is one of Anne’s favorite picture of us.

How about truffle hunting? Or maybe a more active bike ride to stop and see a smaller village or tavern?

# 4 River Cruises Are a Good Alternative to Escorted/Guided Tours

Perhaps the best part of experiencing a destination is not having to pack and unpack often—the typical river cruise of 7 days helps you see more with less hassle.

Often the biggest surprise to new cruisers is how compact and well organized a rivership is—somehow putting 130-200 folks on a vessel that generally must meet size limitations to fit through the various locks with luxury accommodations and venues is hard to fathom even from pictures or videos.

Before I went on my first Europe River cruise in 2009, even after studying river cruising, I had no real concept of the overall experience. It was even better than I had imagined and still is after 24 river cruises in Europe.

Think about this—would you rather be crammed in a bus, or wandering the decks of a riverboat with a glass of wine in your hand, or better yet, lounging in a small pool in the summer watching the world go by as you are propelled to your next exciting port? You don’t have to ask my choice—where’s my wine glass?

Well not in a hot tub, but still better than a bus tour!

# 5 Luxury Experience as Part of Their River Cruise

How you travel is important—most of our clients tell us they want a well-appointed stateroom and an excellent dining experience with well prepared food and good wines.

The best ship sailing in Europe—the AmaMagna—here is a SB category suite—awesome space to relax!

Excursions, all meals, and accommodations are included on all river cruise lines. On most lines, the meals are great and there are enough choices that even the pickiest eaters will find something they enjoy. They also handle dietary restrictions well, which makes your trip easier and more enjoyable.

On river cruise lines, your food, meals with wine or beer at lunch and dinner, your stateroom and even occasional entertainment is included in the fare. There is even champagne or sparkling wine at breakfast on many lines.

The clear, upfront pricing helps make it easier to budget for your vacation. River boats are small (only 100 to 197 passengers), friendly and comfortable. The food is generally very good to excellent, but some lines are better than others.

# 6 Celebrate Milestone Events

Many of our clients tell us they want to do something special to mark an anniversary or birthday or retirement. The reward of celebrating life’s moments is noteworthy and adds meaning to the hard work or partnership of our lives.

Life is too short, and it is easy to let our everyday challenges of living stop us from appreciating how well we have faced living. Clearly celebrating success and the passage of time is important.

An Anniversary Celebration for Irene and John

One of our river cruise groups celebrating life after our 2019 D Day 75th Anniversary Tour on an AmaWaterways cruise

Birthday Celebration on an AmaWaterways Cruise 2018

Our Final Thoughts

All of this makes sense to us—they mirror our experiences with clients and are often the exact reasons we enjoy European river cruising so much.

We hope you enjoyed this report, and it helps you to understand why we enjoy helping folks experience river cruising—it packs so much in so little time yet in a relaxed and fun trip that is hassle free.

Don’t you think it is time you went on a river cruise—we would love to help you get the trip you desire!

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!

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

Hank Schrader

August 31, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

The Best 2 Excursions Worth the Long Coach Ride on the Upper Danube

Hank Schrader

August 31, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

The Best 2 Excursions Worth the Coach Ride on the Upper Danube Route

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 true joys of river cruising is sailing on the ship and then taking a very short coach (bus) rides to see some amazing sights, or just to be able to walk off the ship to see your destination stop. However, some destinations require a longer coach ride, and we are often asked is it worth the extra time to spend on the bus to see these sights.

There are 2 towns, in my opinion, that are well worth a longer bus ride since they are gems that will delight you.

So, let’s explore together the 2 best long coach rides of sights near the Danube-- Český Krumlov and Salzburg on an Upper Danube Cruise.

Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

Český Krumlov, roughly translated means “Czech Bend in the River”.

From Passau, or Linz, you will journey via coach to the Czech town of Cesky Krumlov. This delightful World Heritage-listed town is brimming with charm.

Located on the banks of the Vltava River which form a loop around the town, Cesky Krumlov is considered one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe with its vast array of well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

The dominant feature of the town is the castle. The 16th century moated castle is huge—it has over 40 buildings. The large castle complex requires a tour to see the interior, which usually is not available on the river cruise company’s tours. It features the living and dining spaces of the royals who resided in the palace. You can visit the bear pits and outside courtyards for free and these are often included in the guided tours offered by the river cruise companies.

Perhaps the most unique tour is the Baroque Theater tour—only 2 remain that can be seen in Europe that are in reasonably good shape (most of the others burned down from the extensive use of candles and fireworks for special effects).

There is a strict limit of 25 per tour and it is often sold out in advance and of limited value if you can’t get one of the tours in English but still it is a rare chance to see a historical entertainment venue and learn about their use of their use of special effects during the plays.

The best thing to do here is wander—the castle, the old town area, and cobblestone streets are just fun to view. It really looks like the town is in a time warp.

It also has a pretty good puppet museum that allows children to try and pull the attached strings on puppets.

Here are some pictures of my visit of the rest of this town:

The narrow, cobblestone streets of the town

Here on the town hall are the coat of arms of the Eggenberg and Schwarzenberg royals who lived in the castle

A festive shop during the Christmas Markets season

Salzburg, Austria

To reach Salzburg, guests will disembark from either Passau, Germany or Linz, Austria depending on which river cruise line visits this city. Salzburg is 100 km (62 miles). south of Linz

Surrounded by alpine peaks and on the banks of the Salzach River, Salzburg is best known as the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music movie.

The Baroque architecture lends itself to comparisons of Venice or Florence. It has narrow streets that open up to large squares, and the buildings are often 4 or 5 stories high in the old town area.

This storybook city has a thriving art scene, music and concert halls filled with classical music. It is quite common to find recitals and concerts during a visit.

Perhaps in the Baroque old town, the most famous building is Mozart’s birthplace. Looming over the whole old town area is Hohensalzburg, Central Europe’s largest intact fortress, which sits high above the rooftops with panoramic views of the city.

Here are some pictures from our visits:

The Altstadt (Old City) is a compact area between the jutting outcrop of the Mönchsberg and the Salzach River. The cathedral and interconnecting squares surrounding it form what used to be the religious center, around which the major churches and the old archbishops' residence are arranged (note that entrance into all Salzburg churches is free).

Let’s start with Alter Markt or the Old Marketplace. In the center of the square is St. Florian Fountain. Here are some photos:

St Florian Fountain in the Old Marketplace Square

The St. Florian Fountain has the Salzburg Coat of Arms proudly displayed on the intricate wrought iron grill surrounding the fountain

The Mozartplaz and Mozart Monument that was erected in 1841 to honor its most famous citizen

This is the new Residenz Palace and Glockenspiel in Mozart Square

Residenzplatz Square and the Residence Fountain

Hohensalzburg Fortress, built in 1077 by Archbishop Gebhard, considerably enlarged by Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach (1495-1519), is the largest, fully-preserved fortress in central Europe. The medieval princes' apartments and the Fortress Museum are of particular interest. The fortress can easily be reached by funicular railway departing from the Festungsgasse. You probably won’t get to see the fortress on a river cruise tour unless you try during your free time.

The Mozart family lived on the third floor of the "Hagenauer House" at Getreidegasse 9 for twenty-six years, from 1747 to 1773. The celebrated composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was born here on January 27, 1756.

It is now a museum devoted to Mozart. Visitors can see the original Mozart rooms at Mozart's Birthplace containing historic instruments, documents, memorabilia and most of the portraits painted during his lifetime, including the unfinished oil painting "Mozart at the Piano" painted by Mozart's brother-in-law, Joseph Lange, in 1789.

The famous exhibits include Mozart's child violin, his concert violin, his clavichord, the harpsichord, portraits and letters from the Mozart family.

One of the most interesting streets to visit is Getreidegasse, which has great shops and traditional inns. The doors of the buildings often have the names and dates of the former owners displayed on plaques. The homes were often “through houses” were the front and back led to different streets.

An example of the former owner plaques displayed on a building

The best part of this street for me are the elaborate and ornamental guild signs. Here are some good pictures:

A lion guards the building and wards off evil spirits.

Even the weather station clock is ornate.

A place we missed was the Mirabell Palace and its gardens and these are included on almost every river cruise tour of Salzburg.

There are at least 4 entrances to the Mirabell Gardens—from the Makartplatz (framed by the statues of Roman gods), the Schwarzstrasse, Mirabell Square and Rainerstrasse.

Most guides will have you to enter from the Rainerstrasse and head for the Rosenhügel (Rosebush Hill) so you can see where Julie Andrews and the 7 children sang during The Sound of Music film. The hill allows you to admire the formal gardens and is one of the best views of Salzburg, as it shows how harmoniously architects of the Baroque period laid out the city.

The center of the garden is dominated by four large groups of statues representing the elements water, fire, air, and earth. A bronze version of the horse Pegasus stands in front of the south facade of the palace in the center of a circular water basin.

The most famous part of the Mirabell Gardens is the Zwerglgarten (Dwarfs' Garden), which can be found opposite the Pegasus fountain. Here you'll find 12 statues of "Danubian" dwarves sculpted in marble.

We will be sure to get some pictures on our next visit.

River Cruise Companies that visit these 2 Gems

As always, this list may not be complete but is accurate to my knowledge at present.

AmaWaterways has the most routes that include the option to see these 2 great places. You can have the option to see both on these 5 cruises: Grand Danube Cruise, Celebration of Classical Music: the Danube, The Melodies of the Danube, Romantic Danube, Magna on the Danube and Salzburg only on the Blue Danube Discovery.

Emerald offers the chance for an extra expense to choose one of these visits on its 15 Day Splendors of Europe route.

Scenic has these 2 included in their Jewels of Europe and Gems of the Danube routes

Tauck offers this option on its Blue Danube route for both and Salzburg only on its 15 day Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat and Musical Magic Along the Blue Danube routes. It also offers only Cesky Krumlov on its Heart of the Danube route

Viking has this option on its European Sojourn and Grand Europe Tour for Salzburg only at an extra cost.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a report! Both are worth the long ride but also may warrant a visit after your cruise or during a different visit to Europe, as you can’t see it all on a river cruise tour.

We hope you enjoyed this report and perhaps it will help you chose which town to visit on your river cruise..

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 or hschrader@visitdd.com . We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

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

Hank Schrader

August 24, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

Rhine and Moselle Castles You Can Tour While on a River Cruise

Hank Schrader

August 24, 2023

River Cruise Comparisons

Rhine and Moselle Castles You Can Tour While on A River Cruise

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 questions often asked us is: “Can I tour inside a castle on a river cruise on the Rhine?”

There are 5 good castles you can visit near Koblenz Germany and this report will identify which river cruise companies provide tour excursions to the castles as part of their itinerary.

One of the reasons you may want to consider using a river cruise instead of trying to visit on your own is the ease of getting to the castles. We used public transportation (trains and buses) to explore on our own to 3 of these castles. When combined with sometimes a long hike or steep climb up a hillside, which 10 years ago was quite fun and adventurous but required a lot of planning on our part and active hiking to visit these castles, this may not be the best option for you.

Koblenz is located at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers. It is a great base to explore parts of nearby castles and quaint towns—we used it as a base of operations and enjoyed it very much during a trip in 2013 to three of these castles on a land tour we organized for ourselves. We visited the other two while on a river cruise.

It is one of the oldest towns in Germany and its strategic location had two different influences upon its history—it was a great place to collect tolls from river traffic and both Germany and France wanted to control these valuable waterways and the land near it.

So, castles and fortresses were built to defend these waterways by the Germans. Later France attacked and destroyed and burned most of these defensive positions and structures as they vied for control of the area.

I decided to organize this blog by listing the strongpoints alphabetically, so not to show any favoritism towards any line and describe the castle or stronghold first and then the river cruise line that best allows you see them. A word of caution—routes change and we may have missed a route change that would present another opportunity, so please use this as a good starting point only.

So, let’s explore together and learn about 5 great castles and 1 fortress in this area and how you can tour inside these strong points while on a river cruise.

Burg Eltz is located in Moselkern, near Cochem: Its multiple turrets and towers, which rise amid a thick forest near the Mosel River, evoke the chivalry and poetry of the Middle Ages. This is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Germany.

Burg Eltz is a beautifully preserved castle, with towers, half-timbered walls, and it is seemingly in the middle of nowhere—Anne and I hiked 3 miles from the Mosel River in early March one year to visit. The family who owns this castle still lives here and has done so for 850 years in their ancestral home.

There are 2 places to visit here—the Treasury (pictures allowed) with a great display of precious items and tour of select rooms (no pictures) which takes about an hour or less. 3 families owned this castle, and each has built separate wings.

The tour includes an entrance way decorated with weapons, various gathering rooms, bedrooms, and the kitchen—all very authentic and used by the families for over 33 generations.

Perhaps the most famous room of the castle is the Knight’s room, where the 3 different families met to celebrate and work out any conflicts that might arise. It is famous for the wall decorations, which served as a reminder to the 3 families about cooperation—a jester mask (representing freedom of speech) and a large rose (representing a code of silence—items discussed in the room need to stay there).

How to Tour on a River Cruise—to my knowledge only Scenic includes this castle. It is on their “Charming Castles & Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle” route which is available as a 7-day cruise or a 12-day version with tours of Switzerland.

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

To reach the fortress, make the one-way passage across the river from the main Rhine dock. Ferries operate mid-March to late November daily 9am to 5:15pm.

You can also take the Koblenz Cable Car and get a ride that takes you 367 feet above the Rhine and the ride is about 3000 feet. The more adventurous might want a car with a glass bottom. The chairlift operates daily from April to October from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Most river cruise companies use the cable car system, which for many is a plus with amazing views, but for others, not so fun an experience.

How to Tour on a River Cruise—several river cruise companies have tours to the fortress.

AmaWaterways visits the fortress on the Rhine & Moselle Fairytales

Avalon visits the fortress on its Active & Discovery on the Rhine

Emerald visits on its Jewels of the Rhine; the Legendary Rhine & Mosel and on The Majestic Rhine

Lahneck Castle

This is a great castle to tour, as 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 finally 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.

How to Tour on a River Cruise—This is an exclusive tour from AmaWaterways. There are 2 routes: The Enchanting Rhine; Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle; Rhine & Moselle Fairytales and The Treasures of the Main & Rhine routes, that include an exclusive Lahneck Castle tour.

Marksburg Castle is the only castle that never was sacked or ruined among the 40 some odd castles along the Rhine Gorge stretch from Koblenz to Rüdesheim. It is above the town of Braubach. Marksburg was built and served as primarily a fort and often these countryside castles lacked the grandeur of royal palaces. The white pained castle with red trim is distinctive and has a butter-churn keep tower, as the lower parts of the tower are wider than the upper parts and it resembles a butter-churn devise.

The construction of Marksburg was intended to defend the town and after entering the castle the first area in the Great Battery with its firing positions designed to protect the Rhine and town from enemies.

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

The next area on the tour is the wine cellar.

The next area was the sleeping area.

Next is the Chapel

Now the Armory Museum, called the Gimbel collection, uses life-sized figurines to show the changes in armor and weaponry through the ages.

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

How to Tour on a River Cruise—here are the companies we found that tour Marksburg.

Scenic offers tours of Marksburg on the following routes: Jewels of Europe; Romantic Rhine & Moselle; and on 3 Christmas Markets Cruises on the Rhine.

Viking offers this as an included tour on these routes: Grand European Tour; European Sojourn but charges extra on some of the other Rhine cruises.

Reichsburg (also known as Cochem Castle) also deserves a tour. Standing on a hill 300 feet above the town of Cochem, this elaborately restored castle (it was destroyed by the French in 1689 by the Soldiers of King Louis XIV). It is a fun and interesting visit. It is the largest castle on the Moselle.

Many river cruise companies visit this castle. The original castle, whose first purpose like many others on the rivers of Germany was to collect tolls, was rebuilt from 1868 to 1890.

While not authentic, it is still cool—great vistas, interesting rooms, perhaps most importantly, at first glance, it is an impressive structure and I enjoyed visiting it. My favorite rooms were the Dining Hall, the Knight’s Room, and the Trophy Room.

How to Tour on a River Cruise—this is the one castle that has the best options among river cruise lines that either port in Koblenz or sail on the Moselle.

AmaWaterways tours this castle on its Europe’s Rivers & Castles; Rhine & Moselle Splendors; Rhine & Moselle Delights; Rhine & Moselle Fairytales; and Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle.

Avalon tours the castle on its Active & Discovery on the Moselle; The Rhine & Moselle route.

Emerald tours the castle for an extra charge on the Jewels of the Rhine and The Majestic Rhine as optional tours but it is included on the Legendary Rhine & Moselle and the Tulips & the Rhine routes.

Scenic offers the tour on these routes: Romantic Rhine and Moselle; Charming Castles & Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle; Rhine Highlights and on their Christmas Markets cruises.

Tauck offers this tour on its Rhine & Moselle route.

Uniworld offers this tour on its Magnificent Moselle & Rhine route.

Viking offers this tour on its Cities of Light; and Paris to the Swiss Alps.

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

How to Tour on a River Cruise

Avalon used to do a guided walk here but I was unable to find the exact cruise route in their Active & Discovery cruises.

Our Final Thoughts

I have always loved castles and like to see how these stark defensive structures were transformed into more comfortable living spaces. They offer a unique look into the past.

We hope you have enjoyed this report. Perhaps now you see the added value we bring to helping you match your desired experiences with the offerings of the various cruise lines we follow. I am certain our research into the available options is very unique, as I am unable to find as detailed a report as is contained in this blog post.

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!

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

Hank Schrader

August 17, 2023

Best Value Travel

Come Sail with Us!

Hank Schrader

August 17, 2023

Best Value Travel

Come Sail with Us!

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Today’s Blog is about an excellent opportunity for you to sail with Anne and Hank on the Seine River in May of 2024. But before I explain this option, here are 2 important announcements:

Important Announcements

First, we are having some technical issues with our emails from hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. Although you may be getting error messages about not being sent or received, we are getting all messages and it appears that you are also getting them. For now, while we sort this out, we also will text you and include an alternate email address of hschrader@visitdd.com. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Second, almost all river cruise lines have opened up their 2025 schedules and they are ready for booking. There are some strong incentives for early bookings, so if a river cruise is in your plans for 2025, please reach out to us.

Our Seine River Cruise and a Possible 2 Day D Day Tour in Bayeux.

Our cruise is on AmaWaterways, sailing from Paris on 11 May 2024 and returning to Paris on 18 May 2024. The route is the Paris & Normandy itinerary on the AmaDante. The AmaDante has a max of 144 guests, has 73 staterooms and is perfect for the Seine River as a 110 m ship.

Sailing in May is an ideal time—the weather traditionally has been mild, not too hot, or too cold. While we have not sailed this route yet, most of you know we have led 2 anniversary tours to the D Day sites in 2014 and 2019, so we are quite familiar with this region of France.

Long time readers of our blog will also know the awesome way AmaWaterways takes care of its guests—we should know it will be our 23 AmaWaterways sailing and you can anticipate being treated the same way..

To help you learn more about the itinerary, please use this link to read the day-by-day experiences you can enjoy on this wonderful cruise (although the power point PDF uses the AmaLyra , the AmaDante has an almost identical deck plan and staterooms)..

2024 Paris & Normandy

To reserve your space on the cruise, please fill out a Travel Request. We will then explain the stateroom options and provide you an exact quote, which you will have 7 days to consider if this is the right trip for you—we hope so! You should also tell us if you desire to join the optional pre-tour of D Day. Here is the link:

Travel Request

The Optional D Day Pre Tour

Since it is very difficult to obtain hotel space near the key D Day Sites during the anniversary time of 6 June, we have developed a possible 2-day pre tour in Bayeux to see the D Day sites in depth prior to the cruise on 9 and 10 May. This possible tour has room for only 10 couples. We are planning to stay in the Churchill Hotel, provided we can get enough folks to book and deposit the pre-tour by 30 September 2023.

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 with our pre-tour.

We would recommend that you arrive on 8 May 2024 in Bayeux (we can help with train reservations to Bayeux from Paris).

On the morning of 9 May, we will visit Utah Beach and the museum, Pointe du Hoc, Iron Mike Statue, and the Airborne Museum in Ste. Mere Eglise. Here are some pictures:

Point du Hoc Observation Bunker With the Bayonet Memorial on top

Iron Mike—the tribute to the 82nd Airborne Soldiers

On 10 May will visit the American Cemetery, Omaha Beach, the costal gun battery, Arromanches 360 theater and the landing museum at Arromanches. Here are some pictures:

On 11 May, we will take the train back to Paris and join the AmaDante for our 7-day cruise.

By taking this tour, you will get a much better look at the actions during the D Day operation in 1944 and can also expand your knowledge by taking the British D Day tour during the river cruise.

This is a condensed version of the weeklong tour we led in 2014 and 2019 prior to the 80th Anniversary of D Day.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what an offer!

We hope you will consider joining us—it will be fun and educational. Anne and I will work hard to make this the trip of a lifetime. You will have our travel experience, the wonderful AmaWaterways ship experience with great meals and wine, luxury staterooms, exciting ports, cultural emersion, and a somber look at what the cost of freedom was in 1944. We also think that sharing the experience with like-minded folks will enhance the trip.

Please come join us!

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

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

August 10, 2023

Best Value Travel

The Benefits of Travel--Especially to Europe

Hank Schrader

August 10, 2023

Best Value Travel

The Benefits of Travel—Especially to Europe

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Travel is good. Not only is it good, but there are also many studies that prove it has significant health benefits. For me, however, the biggest benefit is personal growth and learning. After reading this blog, I hope it stirs your passion for travel!

So, let’s examine the benefits of travel together.

One of the most iconic sites in Europe—the Roman Coliseum

Some Facts about Americans and Travel Overseas

According to a study conducted by Hostelworld Global Traveler Report, Americans are about 50% less likely to travel abroad than Europeans. The report states that 29% of Americans have never left America. The average American has visited 3 countries; UK residents average 10 countries; Germans 8 countries; and Frenchmen 5 countries.

While it is true it is easy and cheaper to travel if you live in Europe to other countries, it saddens me to know so many Americans are missing learning and experiencing most of our wonderful world.

Far too often, Americans chose Canada, Mexico and somewhere in the Caribbean for their only international visits. We hope they will expand to other worldwide locations.

We are here to help you if you are ready to explore other areas of the world, especially Europe. At least now, this trend may be slowly changing as Europe travel seems to be more interesting to Americans, especially after the pandemic travel restrictions.

I Learned at a Young Age the Benefits of Travel

My parents started my lifelong love of travel at an early age. My Dad loved the outdoors, and we often went camping as a family. As most of you know, my dad was a career Army officer. When he was reassigned to Okinawa (I was 12 years old), we visited most of our nation’s national parks on the way to the West Coast of America. We drove across America to get to a ship that took us to our new home—it sure was a great learning experience to see a lot of America.

Here I am landing on Okinawa in 1962 with my parents in the background

But the real lesson was living and traveling in the Far East. You can read about a rice paddy, but until you see a small plot of land worked by hand by folks living so differently than you do, you begin to understand how complex our world really is.

Yet, you also quickly learn people all over the world are basically the same. They may look different in their outward appearances, but they have the same wants and needs as you and I do. Experiencing different ways of life, and connecting with locals, is a far better way to learn about the world than reading about different cultures in a textbook. I was lucky, I was exposed to our unique world at an early age, and it quickly changed my life for the better.

To this day, my wanderlust is still strong—thanks Mom & Dad for exposing me to the benefits of travel at an early age!

The Health Benefits of Traveling

There are several health benefits of traveling. Here are 4:

It is good for your heart health. A study of overseas travelers reported that there was a reduced risk of heart attacks in men and women.

Travel enhances your cognitive abilities—it sharpens your mind. New challenges in a different environment will stimulate your brain. It is especially true of folks who engage with the local people and their culture. Just experiencing different languages will improve your communication skills. Most travelers at least learn a few new words or phrases in a different language and are exposed to new foods, so it is easy to see how travel can sharpen your mind.

You get to relax and disconnect. Wandering old medieval towns of Europe, sharing an al fresco meal in Rome or Paris—that is my idea of relaxing—a good glass of wine and locally grown, seasonal food! Most of all, I want to slow down a little and savor life and my surroundings. I always seem renewed after travel and there is evidence that many folks upon returning from a vacation are in a better mood and more creative. I know I am.

Your Travel Experiences Will Make You a Better Person

You will become more confident. Change is difficult sometimes, but it will help you grow. When you travel, you become different. You leave your comfortable, known world and venture into the unknown. The best part is that the unknown soon becomes familiar and usually awesome.

Good or bad experiences still leave you changed, but I will tell you, most travel is great. The best part of venturing out is that you gain confidence in yourself. It is very empowering to know you can handle new experiences.

You can read about a place but until you experience it, you do not really understand it. Battlefields, Biblical sites, ancient towns, stunning structures, different food markets, and jaw dropping scenery are all different when you visit in person. Pictures and words are never the same as being there. It is amazing how many times I have visited a new place and the visit completely changed what I thought the place was like.

Omaha Beach 2019—it is hard to understand how open it was for these soldiers until you see and walk this battlefield area.

Travel will also quickly teach you how little you know about the world. Even as a former teacher of World Geography, who thinks he knows a lot about the world, I still have a lot to learn. Always after every trip I take, it just reinforces that there is so much more to learn and experience. It always makes me eager for the next adventure!

Travel will make you appreciate your life and the world we live in. You see some of the wonderful things that humans have created.

They have created amazing buildings and structures.

The Pont du Gard in Provence built by the Romans over 2000 years ago

The Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza are about 4,500 years old—photo by Anne Schrader in 2022

They have found many ways to create good, tasty meals and great beverages and when you try some of them, you will wonder why you hadn’t tried them sooner. Here are 2 photos of one of the many awesome meals we have enjoyed in Europe:

You will be amazed at how they have adapted their lives to their surroundings and environment. You will see beauty. These experiences are life changing and you will have been given a true gift—a better understanding of our world and the people who live on our planet. Travel broadens your horizons.

An amazing example of adapting to the environment—the tidal island fortress abbey of Mont St. Michel

Travel will provide you experiences that you will never forget. We have been lucky to have experienced so many, it is hard to select just a few, but I will try.

Imagine the joy of seeing our Granddaughter’s eyes light up on a Disney cruise, dressed up as Elsa—she really was a princess. Wish you could have joined us savoring excellent wine and food floating on the rivers of Europe in a river cruise boat as castles peer down on us from the cliffs.

Celebrating the holiday seasons in the many Christmas markets of Europe is always a highlight.

Watching a play in London is fun and was made even better riding the Tube (subway) with many folks dressed up as characters from The Rocky Mountain Horror Show.

Drinking beer at a pub in Dublin, Ireland with rugby fans from Ireland and Scotland just prior to their international test match later that day, is really getting down with the locals.

Gazing on some of the world’s great art in Paris, London and St. Petersburg helps you understand how creative humans can be.

Learning to cook a great meal from a celebrity chef in Wales was a bucket list for Anne on her 60th birthday.

Anne celebrates her 60th birthday in Wales at the cooking school

People watching in the many outdoor cafes of Europe can be so entertaining you will sit for hours enjoying the street life of Europe.

Walking in ancient ruins, imaging that we were famous ancients of an era long past, allowed us to bring history to life.

Anne and Hank in Ephesus—Cleopatra and Marc Anthony walked those very streets

Visiting Normandy during the 70th and 75th Anniversary of D Day during the festivals and somber remembrances.

2014 festival in Ste. Mare Eglise on 6 June 2014

Doesn’t this make you want to go—just writing my blog has stirred my desire to get back to Europe soon!

Our Final Thoughts

Travel is good! There are so many benefits of travel that outweigh the minor disadvantages of making travel arrangements (most of which we can easily solve for you), so now is the time to act!

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

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!

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

Hank Schrader

August 3, 2023

Best Value Travel

Champagne

Hank Schrader

August 3, 2023

Best Value Travel

Champagne

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Anne’s favorite drink is champagne. When we think about champagne, our thoughts go to the good life—it is elegant, sexy, cool, celebratory, and a luxury for most.

Champagne is in a class of its own—there are few alcoholic drinks you can start on early in the morning and not be classified as an alcoholic. Even better, when out, folks think you are special. We toast our successes, christen ships with it, and generally celebrate life. So, on the supposed birthday of champagne (August 4, 1693), I thought I’d write about champagne, the good life and travel, in honor of Anne’s favorite drink.

Birthday Celebration the Chef’s table for Denise’s birthday

Champagne

I’m no expert on champagne, or sparkling wine, but like most wine, I really enjoy drinking it. Wine is produced from grapes and the terroir or characteristics of the area (soil and climate are the most important items influencing terroir) in which the grapes are cultivated and that shapes the taste of the wine.

However, wine and champagne differ in how they are made by the wine makers. Without getting too technical, sparking wine is created when the CO2 gas remains in the bottled wine due to a second or third fermentation. When a wine is fermented in a sealed container during this second fermentation, the CO2 bubbles remain with the wine and are not released until you pop the cork.

We prefer dry wines—brut and extra brut in the lingo of champagne. This term refers to the sweetness of the wine due to the amount of sugar added during the fermentation process. There are 3 main types of champagne. They are 1) Prestige Cuvee, 2) Blanc de Noirs and 3) Blanc de Blanc. Prestige Cuvee is a blend wine and the best wine produced by a winery. Blanc de Noirs is white wine produced by black or red grapes. Blanc de Blanc is a white wine produced by white grapes.

Now to the important part—what glass do we drink from? There are two types of champagne glasses—the flute and the coupe. The legend of the creation of the coupe glass is that it was modeled after a mold of the left breast of Marie Antoinette’s—great story, but probably not true. One of the benefits of a coupe style glass is the wider surface area of the bulb, which allows the wine to breathe better and is recommended for older vintages of champagne. It was also the rage during the roaring 20’s and Old Hollywood

Our wine Expert Mark offer us wine with both style glasses

The classic coupe glass which has style and elegance.

Experts favor a flute (retains more of the bubbles) but who can argue with the elegant, sophisticated coupe glass? The narrow opening of the flute prevents the champagne bubbles from escaping too quickly, allowing you to savor the bubbles of the wine.

Flute glasses at the ready for an AmaWaterways welcome celebration at the start of our cruise in 2013

Both use stems, which is important as champagne should be served at cold temperatures (one article I read recommended between 49 and 54 degrees Fahrenheit, while others recommend cooler), with small amounts in the glass and the bottle kept on ice. By holding the wine glass by the stem, it keeps the wine cooler longer. Also, unlike most wines, you should not swirl champagne, as it causes the bubbles to release faster.

My advice—use both and drink more champagne and sparkling wine!

There are two other fun facts about champagne.

Legend says champagne was invented by a Benedictine Monk, Dom Perignon. There is no doubt he made significant contributions to the production and quality of champagne, but he probably did not invent champagne. Most folks know about him, since the best known of all Champagnes, Dom Perignon, the prestige cuvee from Moet & Chandon, is named in his honor. He supposedly said upon tasting champagne “Come quickly, I am drinking the Stars” but it possibly appeared in a print ad in the late 1800s (thanks Wikipedia).

The world’s best known fictional spy, James Bond, is an avid champagne drinker. Do you know his favorite champagne? The answer is both Bollinger’s and Dom Perignon (we learned this on the trivia quiz on an AmaWaterways Wine cruise).

James Bond would approve of our selection of the Bollinger Champagne

The Good Life

Life is too short not to enjoy champagne. We all work hard and need to recognize there is a need for balance in our lives. Everybody’s definition of the good life is different, but there are some common threads for most of us. These include sharing time with loved ones, family, and friends, acquiring nice clothes, homes, cars and other cool stuff, enjoying good food and drinks, and especially for us, travel to dream destinations to experience other cultures.

Most importantly, I think we need to celebrate life to the fullest—slow down a little and smell the roses, as the saying goes. One way to have a good life, in my humble opinion, —drink more champagne!

Champagne and Travel

There are many ways to enjoy champagne when traveling. Number one for champagne lovers has to be the champagne region of northeastern France. The area of chalk plains and gentle hills between Paris and Lorraine is the home to the most famous sparkling wines in the world. In fact, by European Union (EU) and most countries of the world, the term champagne to identify a sparkling wine is exclusively reserved to wines produced in the champagne region of France.

Although champagne technically only from the champagne region of France, the term is used to describe its cousin, sparking wine worldwide. According to the website About France.com, it is possible to visit 51 champagne cellars around the towns of Reims and Epernay. Besides great wine tours and tastings around Reims, another good site to visit is the medieval gothic cathedral, with its exquisite rose window. It is the location where the former kings of France were crowned, and a site not to be missed.

In Epernay, along with the wine tours, there is a champagne museum and the Abbey of Hautvilliers, where Dom Perignon created his version of champagne.

Another great way is on an ocean cruise or Europe River cruise. On our 23 Europe River cruises, all involve a champagne welcome and farewell. It is truly a great way to start and end your trip. Several river cruise companies offer either pre or post land option that include going to Reims.

A welcome reception for the start of our AmaWaterways cruise in 2013

4 champagne wines we got to sample in 2016 during an AmaWaterways Wine Cruise

Let’s all celebrate with champagne! You can be sure Anne and I will drink some today. We also hope this will inspire you to try to visit France’s wine region or go on a wine cruise and enjoy the good life--we will be glad to help!

Our Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed this report. So, to all who read this week, a toast to you—Thanks for Your Trust in Us! Be well and sip a little champagne tomorrow.

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!

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

Hank Schrader

July 27, 2023

River Cruise Advice

How to Best Enjoy Excursions on a Europe River Cruise

Hank Schrader

July 27, 2023

River Cruise Advice

How to Best Enjoy Excursions on a EuropeRiver Cruise

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

The more we study and read about river cruising and their excursions, the more we realize how confused folks are about making the right decisions to get the “best” trip possible.

My hope in writing this blog is to try and provide some advice about ways to enhance your trip by taking advantage of a sound process to determine how you should go about selecting your excursions. Along the way, perhaps I can also reveal some myths about excursions that seem to permeate new and seasoned river cruise sailors that are just not true, in my opinion.

Excursions Overview

Cruise Manager Rolf holding a sign which allows guests to program their quietvox listening devices to hear the guide’s presentation about the excursion sites.

One of the huge advantages of a river cruise is that the excursions are included in the fare. There is a huge difference in the quantity and quality of some excursions offered by various line—I wrote about the extra charges that some lines impose on their guest in a blog a few weeks ago this year—if you are interested or have forgotten about this topic, here is the link:

Understanding Extra Charges on 7 River Cruise Lines

As a starting point, there are 2 main advantages of the organized excursions on a river cruise. They are:

You will see so much in so little time.

It was over an hour bus ride to visit Cesky Krumlov, but well worth for me.

It is different from a land-based tour and different from an ocean cruise. One of the best advantages is that most often your riverboat will dock near or in the center of the city, town, or village you are about to explore. In five minutes, all guests are off the boat and seeing the sights. Most lines also offer different groups during the tours—regular, active walkers or gentle walkers, so your desired way to see the destination is matched with your tour.

Even while on board there is always something to see on the banks, as you cruise along to the next destination.

It is easy to do the Activities that Appeal to You.

Maybe the best part of a river cruise is the flexibility. Want to skip the tour—no problem! We often go off on our own, love walking the quaint towns, using the provided map or even a GPS device.

In the larger ports, it is easy to really go off on your own using subways or buses or even a taxi if time is the critical factor. How about a bike ride? Many of the better lines feature escorted bike rides or you can go on your own. Want a special excursion? Again, the better lines have good, limited tour options. Some are extra but many lines include most of the tours in your cruise price. Each year we see different options available, and they are getting better and better.

Add to this list is the theme cruises—we especially like the wine cruises on AmaWaterways and often take them, as the wine is provided by the wine host at no extra charge—what a value!

On a wine cruise with one of the hosts and Dejan (right) on the colors of Provence Cruise

Anne and Hank at a wine tasting on an AmaWaterways cruise

Myths About Excursions

There is just too much to do—I’m exhausted!

I guess I have a hard time understanding this because some truly believe they have to go on every tour, or they didn’t get their money’s worth. It is true that there are usually 2 tours per day, one in the morning, then a return for lunch and one in the afternoon but who said you had to go on every option? Just use a little common sense—if it is too much stay onboard the ship.

Don’t let FOMO rule you (Fear of Missing Out). Sometimes just sitting on our balcony with a bottle of wine and watching the ever-changing scenery go by is one of the best parts of the trip for us.

It is Too Organized, Regimented and Boring

Again, I have a hard time understanding this—if we think it is too hard to explore a place on our own, we use the convenience of the transportation to get us there if we can’t walk or take public transportation. It is our experience that only some all-day tour options, with longer bus rides could become problematic for some, but then you must weigh the inconvenience cost of getting there with the opportunity to see some amazing sites.

Many enjoy learning about the more interesting sites of new places in Europe with the help of the guide explaining facts about the sites, while others want to wander or shop—just tell the guide you are going off on your own and be sure to know where the meet up place is to get back to the ship.

There is plenty of time to shop on most Christmas Markets cruises—here we are with our newly purchased hats in Regensberg with the shop owner

A Sound Process to Select the Best Options for Your Excursions

Research a little about the ports and things to see—we have some port guides that will help and route itineraries for most cruise ships we follow on our website. Then listen carefully to the nightly briefing about the next day’s offerings. Will the pace be too difficult or challenging for your physical abilities? Is the bus ride too long? Am I going to see something by driving by it or am I going to experience something by walking and investigating the site?

Don’t be afraid to seek out the cruise manager’s help with questions about the options after the briefing—they will be glad to help.

Remember, all do not have to do the same thing on the offered excursions, as family members may have different ideas of what is best for them, so don’t be afraid to pursue different options from your traveling companions.

Our Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed this report. Your trip can be as jammed full as you desire, or more relaxed—pick the right pace for you, take advantage of the tours that are the best fit for you, and don’t worry if you might have missed something.

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!

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

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