Donnabarlowtravel



Report on Evergreen European River Cruise, Nuremburg to Budapest May 30 to June 6 2015The ship was just as we’ve seen in the brochures and videos – fantastic!!I shared an Emerald Balcony Suite on Horizon Deck, cabin 317, with another travel consultant. We had the drop down window which we used most of the time, except sometimes in Germany where it was a bit cooler.On first arriving on the ship we were greeted with welcome cocktails and warm moist hand towels! There was also a hand sanitizer spray machine at entry to the ship and another at entry to the Reflections Restaurant.The crew were truly exceptional – friendly, helpful, professional, nothing too much trouble. I was particularly impressed with Patricia, the Cruise Director. She was outstanding – warm, friendly, helpful, energetic, professional, organised, amazing attention to detail. Every aspect of the tours, connection to flights, any questions asked were attended to perfectly. Nothing was too much trouble for her.The “Hotel Manager”, (can’t remember his name or correct title), was also particularly friendly, energetic and helpful. All food and drink staff, waiters/waitresses were friendly, helpful, and professional and set a relaxed, friendly atmosphere on board. Cleaning staff were also friendly and helpful.The tours were good; two were particularly good because of the guides. One guide was a feisty German woman,?who must have been in her seventies, and guided us around Regensburg. She moved her arms and upper torso about with energy and gusto and made the history come alive. Another woman, who guided us around Passau, oozed passion and enthusiasm for the history and culture so that it was so easy to take in.I also really liked the hosted afternoon in Bratislava. It was a restful retreat into nature after the hustle and bustle. I also loved Vienna and Budapest with their enchanting, charming architecture. But having said that all tours were good.In Budapest the ship was docked for the day and night opposite the grand Parliament Building, view unimpeded! The finale the last night, once dark, was a cruise up and down the river to see all the castles, churches and bridges brilliantly lit up with their lights reflecting golden and sometimes pinks and purples in the river. Truly spectacular!!!FoodThe four course, (one evening six course) a la carte dinners were stunningly presented: classy, stylish and sophisticated, particularly the appetizers, often with a mix of crisp and soft, contrasting colours and sauce as decoration. Also meal delivery to the tables by the waiters was very impressive. Depending on the number of guests seated at a table 2, 3 or 4 waiters would arrive together, carrying the same course, and simultaneously placing the meals on the table for each guest!! At any one table all guests could start their course at the same time without waiting for companions’ meals to arrive!!Positive passenger commentsOne passenger commented on the “quietness” of the Emerald Sky. He said the acoustics on the older ships in not so good and sometimes it is difficult to hear people talk. The Emerald Sky is really good – you can’t hear the motor or feel any vibration. In fact the only way you can tell it is moving is to see the scenery passing by! Some passenger Issues:Tours – time on own.One man said he’d been on Avalon and liked the way the cruise guide stayed with them the whole day, as opposed to Evergreen where guides tour with you some of the time and then you are on your own. He said he and his wife lost their way back and almost missed the ship.Name Evergreen/EmeraldAnother passenger, after getting off the flight into London looked for Evergreen at London airport and couldn’t find it. After much panic and almost missing the connecting flight he found out it was Emerald. He said customers should have been warned re Emerald vs Evergreen.Cruise vs sight-seeingI would recommend to prospective passengers that have the time and money that they include additional time, either before or after the cruise, to immerse themselves in at least one city/country. The cruise gives a taste of what one may like to come back to see, but doesn’t allow detailed sight-seeing as when on your own and staying in any place as long as you need.Cabins on Riviera deck. Although they don’t have the drop-down window, the cabins are still quite appealing with lots of light and the modern, clean-lined, spacious feel of the other deck cabins. I measured the bottom part of the glass as starting at my eyebrow level. Where the ship was docked in Budapest, opposite the Parliament Building, I could see the upper part of the walls and roof of the building.Single CabinI believe it would be fine for someone who is cost-conscious and on his/her own. Although small, it has everything one needs and is clean-lined, modern, bright and cheerful.WashingNoted a pull-out clothes line that could go across the top of the shower.DestinationsNurembergRemember clean, green, lush vegetation. Part of the city has the German chocolate box buildings look. Lots of flower and fruit and veggie stalls in the market. Learned that Hitler had lived most of his life in Linz and planned to retire there.Kelheim, BavariaHall of Liberation Inside Hall of LiberationLearned that the Hall of Liberation was built by the Bavarian King Ludwig 1st. He ordered it to be built to commemorate the victories against?Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation that lasted from 1813 to 1815. The 18 monumental statues inside are allegories of the German tribes. Our guide explained that Oktoberfest was the wedding feast of Ludwig 1st! It is now the world's largest funfair held annually in Munich from late September to the first weekend in October with more than 6 million people from around the world attending the event.Weltenburg Abbey, Kelheim. -635720090000 The monastery was founded by Irish or Scottish in about 620. Around 1000 AD many monasteries started to make beer. Bavarian beer is produced at the Weltenburg Abbey, on the outskirts of the town Kelheim. Weltenburg Abbey brewery is said to be the oldest monastery brewery in the world, having been in operation since 1050Baroque style.left000Enjoying the monastery’s bread and beer!Regensburg 0-18732500The German lady who guided our tour of Regensburg was fantastic – fiery and passionate about the history and culture. She oozed enthusiasm and made history come alive. Learned that Regensburg had 60 millionaires each with a tower, which means there are 60 towers, all in competition with each other. If a millionaire fell on hard financial times he would sell off the top part of the tower and the material would be used to build a house for the person to whom money was owed. Therefore often the height of the towers would increase or decrease depending on the financial position of the millionaires!View along the riverRegensburg Old Town Old Town Hall Regensburg cathedral. PassauOur guide for Passau was also fabulous; passionate and enthusiastic about German culture and history. She explained baroque style. The style started in the middle ages after 30 years of war between the Protestants and Catholics. People were so happy when the war ended that they celebrated with their architecture - bringing heaven to earth. The higher up the building the more elaborate it gets i.e. closer to heaven. Glass is usually never stained as clear glass was wanted to let the light in.Around Passau were found skeletal remains of people going back 25,000 years!! 19431007175500 Plague door in Passau.The Plague door in Passau opened from inside + outside. People could pass food into plague ridden home. Used pole i.e. “wouldn't touch with 10 foot pole.”St Stephen’s Cathedral, Passau Baroque style Largest organ outside US, and largest church organ in world.Melk, Austria.Melk has a population of 5,257 (as of 2012). Best known for the massive?baroque?Benedictine?monastery?named Melk Abbey.Melk Abbey – above - walking to it. Melk Abbey – small part of outside inside and one corridorleft1333500Maria Theresa with her husband Frances 1. Maria Theresa,?1717 -1780,?Vienna),?archduchess of Austria and queen of Hungary and Bohemia for 40 years, wife and empress of Emperor Francis I, who reigned for 20 years. Maria had 16 children, one of whom was Marie Antoinette!Dürnsteinleft23304500 Dürnstein is a small town on the Danube River in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is a well-known wine growing areaDiscover more tour – CeskyThe travel agents who went to Cesky said it was really worthwhile. Involved a 2 hour bus ride. They warned there is quite a bit of up and down walking on cobblestone streets and a reasonable level of fitness is required.ViennaVienna, the capital of Austria, lies in the country’s east on the Danube River. Its artistic and intellectual legacy was shaped by residents including Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud! The city is also known for its Imperial palaces. Through the guide I learned:- Bavaria is the largest state of Germany, with a population of 12 million.- The population of Austria is 8 million- Vienna 1.8 million- Salzburg 350,000- Linz 200,000 Lipizzaner?horses0-127000 In Vienna the tradition of Lipizzaner horsemanship endures to this day. The Lipizzaner?horses, are Europe's oldest domesticated breed of?horse,?Imperial Palace05969000For more than seven centuries, the great empire of the Habsburgs was ruled from the Imperial Palace. Today, the Gothic Imperial Chapel, where the Vienna Boys’ Choir performs during High Mass on Sunday, is a remnant of the Imperial Palace during the Middle Ages.In the evening we attended a Viennese concert with music from Mozart and Strauss performed by young musicians and a passionate, good looking conductor! Whilst it was not at the world famous Opera House, it was a wonderful performance by an 8-piece orchestra in a charming, intimate concert hall, just big enough to seat the 50 ships’ guests!-63522288500BratislavaPic of our guide in Bratislava.Bratislava has a population around 500,000. Occupies both banks of the?Danube River and the left bank of Morava River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava's long history - as home to Celts, Romans, Germans, Hungarians, Jews, and of course Slovaks - means there is an impressive range of architecture, languages and cuisine. Old town Bratislavaleft4445000 Statue of Schone Naci, the Man with a hat. Bratislava Statue of Hans Christian Anderson. Bratislava Our guide explained that Sch?ner Náci was the son of a shoemaker and grandson of a famous clown, also Ignác Lamár, and was inspired by the latter's example to bring happiness to the streets of the city. He walked around the?Old Town in top hat and tails, greeting women with the words, “I kiss your hand” in?German,?Hungarian?and?Slovak. He received free food from several of the city’s cafes, and supported himself with occasional cleaning work.?enkvice38671506350000-33337512065000 Our host’s home and vineyard was in Senkvice, a?village?in western?Slovakia on the outskirts of Bratislava. It has a population of roughly 4400 people. Host’s cellar Enjoying host’s wine and cakeBudapest, HungaryLast destination was Budapest, the ship docked right opposite the stunning Parliament Building, view unimpeded! I hadn’t realised previously that Buda and Pest are two cities separated by the river. Buda is the hilly side and Pest the flat side. Spent a whole day and night anchored there.CitadellaHeroes' Square? left-317500Millennium Column part of millennial monument Citadella is the Hungarian word for Citadel.Kind of fortress; on top of Gellért Hill. View of Parlilament Building from inside cabin during day.Same view at night!Once darkness had fallen in Budapest the ship sailed up and down the river. We could then take in the spectacular view of brilliantly light castles, churches and bridges showing off their splendour with the golden and sometimes pink, blue and purple lights reflecting glowingly into the river. Chain bridgeRoyal PalaceA spectacular finale!! ................
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