Soooo, the next suggestion I'd like to offer is to plan a wardrobe that includes sneakers, clothing that can be layered, a waterproof jacket and a small umbrella! This may seem silly to even suggest BUT, there were many on our ship that brought shorts and sandals exclusively. Do plan on something of a "smart casual" style for dinner. Many folks on our cruise brought only very casual and as a result may have felt out of place. My husband felt that the addition of a nice sport jacket and slacks would have been appropriate.
The Euro is the local currency for this trip with the exception of Slovakia and Hungary. Credit cards are the best for purchases and getting the best exchange. We stayed extra days in Budapest after disembarking so we did use an ATM to get local currency. None of this was as complicated as we had expected.
Each evening the ship has a scheduled briefing for the following day which was truly appreciated as it allows guests to know what to look forward to, meal times, special events and when to expect free time to explore as leisure.
Our days were the event filled and each one was different. One afternoon after leaving Wertheim, Germany and cruising the river, we were invited to the lounge for a glass blowing demonstration. 7th generation glass blower Hans Ittig from the Bon-Apart Gallery had set up his equipment to offer us a personalized demonstration. It was a fascinating demonstration; at lease until we reached yet another lock where he could disembark.
Another afternoon, we were treated to an apple strudel class put on by the chefs themselves. For anyone who loves to bake this made the process manageable. I do think that there were more in attendance praying for a sample and they weren't disappointed!
It was obvious that our cruise director, Jochen Kargl and his staff had carefully planned our land excursions and the local guides who would be taking us. Our cruise was all English speaking. These folks, without exception were extremely knowledgeable. There are hundreds of years of history to be told and although I am not a history buff, I found myself hanging on every word. The cathedrals of Germany are exquisite and need to be experienced. The local community color and history was explained and left each of us wanting to stay longer.
We have never been "overly anxious" to join into a group tour plan. It has had a tendency to feel like we were a part of a cattle herd. So much thought has been put into the organizing that we never once experienced displeasure. At boarding we were given a name tag to help everyone get acquainted with a number, 1 to 3. The number signified our group or bus number for the entire trip. We found that these folks became our immediate circle and offered everyone a chance to feel a part of the event.
We enjoyed time to explore shopping areas on our own and attempting to converse in the local language. Some were prepared with their phrase books but we found that English was widely used.
Evenings were always delightful. The time to get to know other passengers left a lasting impression on many. We had musical entertainment each evening. One night was a "show" put on by the crew which put all of them in a new perspective; Hotel Manager Marijan Kutnjak went from his perfect professional to comedian extraordinaire. Sorry, book the cruise if you want specifics! It was so much fun and one that this traveler will never forget.
