Five Things We Love About River Cruising

My husband, Charlie, and I have been on four river cruises – three in Europe and one in the U.S.  We’ve sailed from Burgundy to Provence in France on the Soane and Rhone Rivers, from Prague to Budapest on the Danube River, and from Amsterdam to Basel on the Rhine River.  We’ve also sailed from St. Louis to Louisville on the American Queen steamboat.  All four of these cruises have been unique.  The scenery on each was extraordinary.  The ships had their own personalities in their layout and design.  The itineraries, needless to say, cannot be compared, as each was so different.  From the vineyards, lavender and sunflower fields in France, to the castles along the Rhine, to the history of World War II along the Danube, to the flavors of the small cities of the U.S., we found that there were similarities on all of them.

River cruising is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry.  We are booking more and more of these types of vacations weekly.  A number of the river cruises in Europe, especially, are already booking up quickly for 2013.  China, Vietnam, Egypt and the Nile and the Zambizi in Africa, as well as the Po River in Portugal are fast becoming exciting river cruise destinations.

Why is this form of cruising becoming so popular?  Here are five things we love about river cruising:

1.       All-inclusive Value – River cruises typically include shore excursions in the cost of the cruise.  This is a tremendous value.  And, most of the river cruise operators (Avalon Waterways, Viking River, Tauck River Cruising, and American Queen Steamboat Company, to name a few) include wine and beer with lunch and dinner.  Many river cruise lines even offer complimentary Internet access as well.

2.       Easy to Go on Your Own – River cruises typically dock within walking distance of a city or town along the river.  This makes it very convenient if you want to explore on your own, or enjoy a lunch or dinner in town.

3.       Smooth Sailing – There is no motion on a river cruise, and for one who has an issue with motion sickness, this is a major plus.  So, if you are sensitive to motion, a river cruise is definitely something to consider.

4.       Relaxed Liquor Policy – River cruise lines are much more accommodating when it comes to consuming alcohol that you bring onboard.  If you purchase a bottle of wine in port, you can bring it back onboard and enjoy it up on the sun deck or in your cabin.

5.       Casual Dress Code – There are typically no “formal” nights on a river cruise.  The atmosphere is classy or “Country Club Casual”.  This makes it much easier to pack for your vacation.

If you haven’t tried a river cruise, now is the time to look at 2014 and a new adventure. 

A Taste of the Good Life

Cruising grows in popularity every year, as more and more travelers discover the flexibility and value a cruise vacation provides. Once onboard, there is a wealth of intriguing activities from which to choose.

A culinary cruise is the perfect way to combine ones love for travel and fine food into one incredible cruise experience. For those with the love of cooking and dining, a big part of the cruise experience is to sample local dishes and taste local wines.  River cruising, especially in Europe, has gained in popularity in the past few years, and the culinary experience on these ships is everything one would expect in the finest restaurants across the continent.  The cuisine and wines served onboard are indigenous to the country visited, whether sailing in the south of France, on the Danube in Eastern Europe, or the Rhine in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. 

A Culinary Cruise offers both the love of cooking, fine dining and so much more. Often on a Culinary Cruise celebrity chefs demonstrate their techniques, share their menus and let you participate in the process. Imagine taking a tour of a local market with a culinary expert! Culinary cruises take immersion into a local destination to a new level.

Here are five of the best ocean-going cruise lines to cook up your culinary education:

Crystal Cruises – In addition to hands-on instruction, days at sea feature chefs’ demos, wine tastings, pairing sessions and lessons in the art of the perfect cocktail.

Holland America Line - The Culinary Arts Center, a first-class “show-kitchen at sea” presented by Food & Wine magazine, integrates your love for fine food and wine with a unique and entertaining experience.

Oceania Cruises - Aboard the fleet’s newest ships, the Marina and Riviera, you can become immersed in the joy of cooking gourmet cuisine at the Bon Appétit Culinary Center, a hands-on culinary studio featuring 24 individual cooking stations.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises - At Regent’s Le Cordon Bleu Workshops, celebrated chefs provide a hands-on introduction to the art of French cooking.

Silversea Cruises - This luxury cruise line offers a broad curriculum of tantalizing culinary events designed exclusively for the first Relais & Châteaux L’École des Chefs at sea.

Isn’t it time that you had a “taste” of the good life?

Top Eight Things You Must Pack When Traveling Overseas

A week before we left for Europe last fall, one of our friends called and asked me if I was packed yet.  Packed?  Of course not.  Made my list of what I was planning to take?  Definitely.  It was just a matter of collecting everything and putting it into the proper bag.  One thing we learned the hard way is to pack half of my things into one bag along with half of my husband, Charlie’s.  We can usually get by on a 10-12 day trip with two large checked bags and a carry-on each. 

When I make my packing list, here are my top ten things that I pack first before anything else:

1.    Books/magazines or any other type of reading material.  The thing about travel is that there is a lot of sitting.  And waiting. And sitting while waiting. It seems like a minor thing to pack, but trust me, when you’ve got hours to kill on a plane or train, you’re going to want that book.  Having an e-reader eliminates having to pack heavy reading material. 

2.      A universal plug adapter.  It is annoying to arrive at your destination and realize that you can’t plug in your laptop, phone or curling iron because your plugs won’t fit into the wall sockets.  Remember:  Not only are the plugs different, the power supply might be different too.  Be sure your appliance has a transformer on the power cord before you plug it in, even with the adapter.  If it doesn’t then you might be better off asking your hotel if they have a hair dryer you can borrow.

3.     Medicine.  If you’re on prescription medicine, be sure that it’s in your prescription bottles with your name on it.  This should always be packed in your carry-on bag.  You do not want this separated from you at any time.  Over-the-counter medications are sometimes just as important, although you can probably get these wherever you are going. Just be sure the dosages are the same as you are accustomed to taking.  I always take a pain reliever, an anti-diarrheal, and a small first-aid kit to be on the safe side.

4.      Camera and related accessories.  With digital cameras today, taking film is no longer necessary, but batteries for your camera are. A laptop could be classified as a “related accessory”, and I take all of the cables I need to download my pictures each day from my camera’s memory card to my laptop.  And, on the subject of memory cards, it’s a good idea to have a spare with you.

5.     Chargers.  There is nothing more disappointing than arriving at your destination, ready to get out and see the sights, and realizing that your camera battery is dead and you forgot your charger.  Moral of the story:  don’t forget any of your chargers – cell phone, laptop, camera, etc.

6.     Travel documents and photocopies of travel documents and passports.   If you’re going to travel overseas, you’re going to need a passport.  If you’ve never applied for a passport, give yourself plenty of time ahead of your trip to apply for one.  If you already have a passport, make sure that the expiration date is at least six month beyond your planned return date.  You will be denied boarding the aircraft if it isn’t.  In some countries, visas are mandatory.  Check you’re your travel agent to make sure you have all of the proper documentation.  What if you lose your passport while gone?  This is where the photocopies come in.  Make copies of your passport and put a copy in the top and bottom of each of your bags, as well as leaving a copy at home where someone can find it easily.  Make sure your travel agent has your passport number and expiration date as well.

7.     Cell phone.  Overseas, cell phone costs can be astronomical if you use data roaming.  Be sure to turn this service off before your plane leaves the U.S.  Check with your provider and ask about international data roaming fees.  You may want to disable your data roaming so you can’t receive emails or have internet access on your phone while gone, but can receive phone calls in case of emergency.

8.     An open mind.  Remember, you’re traveling abroad because you want to experience a whole new culture – and sometimes, that culture doesn’t include things like McDonalds or even Starbucks.  Relax, and soak it all in.  Plan your travel agenda with contingencies so that if things go wrong (and they just might), the result isn’t catastrophic.  And, when all else fails, just remember, you’ve made memories that will make great stories in the future.

Avalon Visionary Rhine River Cruise - Day 8

November 3, 2012 - Breisach Germany and The Black Forest

Charlie and I have been to the Black Forest numerous times.  At one time, Charlie ran a company for the Germans in Tennessee and their home office was in the Black Forest, specifically in Lenzkirch.  We have been to the area in February when there was five feet (yes, you read that correctly) of snow on the ground, and we have been there in September.  But, today, we arrived in Breisach to sunny skies and beautiful trees in full color - that is until we were taken up into the Black Forest.  When you think of the Black Forest, you think of Grimm's fairy tales, gnomes and ogres or all types.  This mysterious forest is where you might expect to run into Hansel and Gretel at any moment.

However, this beautiful area of the world is filled with quaint wooden houses with very steep roofs to keep the heavy snow from causing the roofs to cave in.  There are window boxes on the houses filled with beautiful flowers, still in bloom although they have snow last weekend.  This is farming-country with fields and fields of corn (used not for eating, but for grain for the livestock and for bio-diesel), vineyards with Riesling grapes, asparagus and cabbages.  Most of the farms will have cows for milk and dairy products, chickens for eggs (but not to eat), goats, etc. 

At special occasions, traditional costumes with red "bobble" has for the unmarried ladies and black ones for the married ones are the norm.  And, of course, there are cuckoo clocks.  We traveled up into the Black Forest to a cuckoo clock shop and were treated to coffee and a slice of their famous Black Forest cake, made with chocolate sponge cake and a filling of cream and cherries soaked in cherry brandy. 

The Black Forest reminds us somewhat of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, complete with smoke on the mountains.  This dense area of evergreen fir trees and conifers covers many of the upper slopes of its rolling hills. 

We ended our last day on our cruise with a walk into the town of Breisach before lunch.  All of the shops close on Saturday at 1:00 pm, and we got into town about 20 minutes before they closed.  However, it was a beautiful day for walk into such a lovely area of Germany.

Tomorrow we arrive in Basel, Switzerland, early, and will be off the ship and on our way to Zurich for a couple of days.  More later.

Avalon Visionary Rhine River Cruise - Day 6

November 1, 2012

It's All Saints Day, and in Germany, and this is a holiday.  The shops and restaurants are all closed!!!  However, we arrived this morning in Mainz.  During World War II, more than 30 air raids destroyed about 80% of the city's center including most of the historic buildings.  Although there was some damage to the Mainz Cathedral (Dom), it remained almost completely intact. 

Mainz was captured on March 22, 1945, by part of the U.S. Third Army, commanded by General George S. Patton, Jr. Patton used this strategic gateway to cross the Rhine south of Mainz to drive down the Danube toward what is now the Czech Republic so that German elements in Bavaria would be cut off and would not have a place to retreat and end the fighting.

Some of the staff at the Gutenberg Museum allowed us to go to through this incredible facility.  -Johannes Gutenberg was born in Mainz, and at the museum we saw an original 42-line Gutenbeg Bible.  We also saw the moveable-type printing press that Gutenberg invented and actually saw a page printed on it.

We returned to the ship for lunch, and then took a short drive to Heidelberg.  We had been to this beautiful university city a number of years ago and had visited the Heidelberg Castle and ruins.  This time, we opted to just roam the streets.  Although most of the shops were closed, the streets were bustling with students and tourists who were taking a long weekend.  What a great place to sit in a cafe with either a local beer or coffee and people-watch the afternoon away. 

Avalon Visionary Rhine River Cruise - Day 7

November 2, 2012 - Strasbourg, France

Today was overcast when we awoke.  As we looked out our window, there were swans swimming on the Ill River, just off the Rhine.  We were docked in the enchanting town of Strasbourg on the French-German border.  Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region of France, but it is influenced by the culture of both countries. 

We started our day with a canal cruise into the city where we learned that Strasbourg is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.  We passed the United States Embassy, as well as the embassies of numerous other countries and nations. 

From our canal boat, we saw La Petite France is the former tanners' quarter on the River Ill and is a delightful maze of lanes and streets with gorgeous half-timbered houses all along them.  We arrived by boat and took a walking tour to the Notre Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg.  Because of bombing during World War II, many of the Cathedral's best exterior sculptures had had to be replaced by copies.  The stained glass windows of this church are magnificent and although some of them were destroyed during the War, they have all been replaced.  There is a wall of windows called the "Poor Man's Bible" which tells the story of Christ's life in pictures in the windows.  One of the most
incredible sites within the church is their astronomical clock.  The clock is set on Greenwich Mean Time, and we were able to see it in action.  It was amazing.

Strasbourg is a shopper's paradise with department stores and upscale boutiques all along Place Kleber.  Alsatian cuisine blends the subtle flavors of French cooking and the hefty portions you'd expect to fine in neighboring Germany.  Pate de foie gras (goose liver) or escargots (snails in garlic butter are some of the delicacies in the cafes and restaurants in Strasbourg. 

Strasbourg is also known for its kugelhopf, a circular, small bundt-type, semi-sweet cake, and these can be found in all of the many bakeries.  Our sweet delights were honest-to-goodness French beignets with a dark chocolate filling.  We brought these back to the ship, got a cup of hot cappucino, retired to our cabin and had a wonderful afternoon treat and nap.

Avalon Visionary Rhine River Cruise - Day 5

Oct. 31, 2012

We arrived very early this morning in Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers.  Extensive Allied bombing during World War II, destroyed much of Koblenz's Old City. There are some new buildings, but most were reconstructed to look as they did before the war.  We did a brief 45-minute walking tour of the city before returning to the ship a leisurely cruise down the Rhine River most of the afternoon.

The Rhine is about 825 miles long, but it is the 40 or so miles of the Middle Rhine Valley that most people recognize as the Castle Road.  The narrow gorge is absolutely beautiful this time of year with the leaves on the trees turning.  There are fortresses, quaint villages, remote chapels, and vineyard after vineyard on hillsides to add the perfect finishing touches to the Rhine's landscapes.  This region of the Rhine has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and rightfully so. 

The river's most famous legend is the 430-foot high cliff, the Lorelei, which legend has it, often caued ships to founder in the trecherous currents at this point where the Rhine narrows drastically.  The story goes that a beautiful sorceress cast herself into the river here rather than accepting her sentence of confinement to a nunnery.  She was known to be spotted sitting on this rock combing her long hair and singing, luring sailors on the ships in the river to their destruction. 

Late this afternoon, we arrived in Rudesheim, one of Germany;s most famous wine towns.  As the wine connoisseur, Charlie, has said so many times, the white wines of this area, the Rieslings,  are wonderful; the reds are like paint-thinner.  We took a small tourist train from the ship up into the town and had a delightful visit at the Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments.  Rudesheim is also known for is Christmas Market each year, and of course, we had to visit their big Christmas shop to get another ornament for our international Christmas tree.  We sampled coffee with a local brandy to warm us as we headed back to the ship. 

This was a very busy, yet relaxing day just watching the world go by as we sailed down the Rhine to Rudesheim.