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#11
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Rhein cruises
On 8/28/16 1:57 PM, Erilar wrote:
Martin wrote: On Sat, 27 Aug 2016 16:10:51 -0500, Erilar wrote: Looking for suggestions. I've been playing around with river cruise websites, for a future(2018?)trip with a friend who does not speak German along the river I know best, but she is a much better walker than I am. Viking requires everyone to pay in advance for all their hikes(aka "walks"), so they're off my list automatically. I've found several that seem to race from Amsterdam to somewhere in Switzerland or vice versa, stopping briefly in the wrong places. I'd really prefer one that covered less river unless part of it was also along the Mosel. Beginning or ending in Köln, Koblenz, or Mainz(or Frankfurt) would be even better. If excursions were wheeled, it wouldn't matter if they were in German, because I could translate for her, but if much walking is involved, they'd have to be in English so she could go without me. I'd like suggestions of lines I may have missed. Note: I could be the tour guide if I could hike the way I could a few years ago 8-/ I've done it by travelling with KD and staying in small hotels overnight. http://www.kdrhine.com/ How can anybody charge you for a hike? Viking requires all excursions be paid for along with the cruise price. It took a mess of emailing to get all the details. There is no provision for non- hikers. Are these guided hikes or hikes on your own at scheduled free time at ports of call during the cruise? The commercials make it seem like you get to see more of the cities than you would on a regular cruise. Well if you really want to see the cities, why not stay in some of them for a few days each? |
#12
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Rhein cruises
On 8/29/16 2:26 AM, tim... wrote:
"Happy.Hobo" wrote in message ... On 08-27-2016 16:10, Erilar wrote: Looking for suggestions. I've been playing around with river cruise websites, for a future(2018?)trip with a friend who does not speak German along the river I know best, but she is a much better walker than I am. Viking requires everyone to pay in advance for all their hikes(aka "walks"), so they're off my list automatically. I've found several that I'd bicycle from port to port rather than pay cruise prices. And I'll get there before my friends on ship. Unfortunately a large amount of the "value" of a cruise is seen to be the on board activities and they are timed, and priced accordingly Personally, I don't see any value in that at all, and as soon as someone starts up cruises where the focus is on the on-shore attractions with no need to pay for on board activities that I have no interest in, I will sign up but on the odd occasion when companies have tried that approach, they have failed to be profitable tim Some people have rationalized cruises, not river cruises, as being cheaper if you consider that cost of accommodations and transportation over a similar period, not to mention the included meals. And those onboard activities sound hellish, forced participation in activities when presumably your main interest is to tour the cities. Not to mention, in this day and age, being cut off from Internet, phones, etc. for swaths of time? |
#13
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Rhein cruises
On 08-29-2016 13:54, poldy wrote:
Not to mention, in this day and age, being cut off from Internet, phones, etc. for swaths of time? Internet may be a bit slower if you use the ship's satellite connection. But on a river cruise, you have at least as good a connection as you would driving the roads that follow the river. Besides, if you're addicted to internet, you should buy a house and not leave it. But here's a tip: I've been off-line for more than a week MANY times since I hit the road two years ago. And believe it or not, I'm still breathing. |
#14
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Rhein cruises
JohnT wrote:
"Erilar" wrote in message ... Looking for suggestions. I've been playing around with river cruise websites, for a future(2018?)trip with a friend who does not speak German along the river I know best, but she is a much better walker than I am. Viking requires everyone to pay in advance for all their hikes(aka "walks"), so they're off my list automatically. I've found several that seem to race from Amsterdam to somewhere in Switzerland or vice versa, stopping briefly in the wrong places. I'd really prefer one that covered less river unless part of it was also along the Mosel. Beginning or ending in Köln, Koblenz, or Mainz(or Frankfurt) would be even better. If excursions were wheeled, it wouldn't matter if they were in German, because I could translate for her, but if much walking is involved, they'd have to be in English so she could go without me. I'd like suggestions of lines I may have missed. Note: I could be the tour guide if I could hike the way I could a few years ago 8-/ You really want this one: http://www.tauck.co.uk/tours/europe-...Page=Itinerary Not France! But I'll look again at Tauck. -- biblioholic medievalist via iPad |
#15
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Rhein cruises
Martin wrote:
On Sun, 28 Aug 2016 14:15:26 +0100, "JohnT" wrote: "Erilar" wrote in message ... Looking for suggestions. I've been playing around with river cruise websites, for a future(2018?)trip with a friend who does not speak German along the river I know best, but she is a much better walker than I am. Viking requires everyone to pay in advance for all their hikes(aka "walks"), so they're off my list automatically. I've found several that seem to race from Amsterdam to somewhere in Switzerland or vice versa, stopping briefly in the wrong places. I'd really prefer one that covered less river unless part of it was also along the Mosel. Beginning or ending in Köln, Koblenz, or Mainz(or Frankfurt) would be even better. If excursions were wheeled, it wouldn't matter if they were in German, because I could translate for her, but if much walking is involved, they'd have to be in English so she could go without me. I'd like suggestions of lines I may have missed. Note: I could be the tour guide if I could hike the way I could a few years ago 8-/ You really want this one: http://www.tauck.co.uk/tours/europe-...Page=Itinerary For Erilar the Francophile? :-) They have Rhein cruises, too. But they don't seem to stay on the river, and what I like about river cruises is that my hotel and restaurant travel with me. -- biblioholic medievalist via iPad |
#16
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Rhein cruises
Happy.Hobo wrote:
On 08-27-2016 16:10, Erilar wrote: Looking for suggestions. I've been playing around with river cruise websites, for a future(2018?)trip with a friend who does not speak German along the river I know best, but she is a much better walker than I am. Viking requires everyone to pay in advance for all their hikes(aka "walks"), so they're off my list automatically. I've found several that I'd bicycle from port to port rather than pay cruise prices. And I'll get there before my friends on ship. As for Viking, I was very careful (as always) to say NO to advertising. That didn't stop them from dropping an expensive 20-30 page full color solicitation in my mailbox every week. Even if the cost were reasonable, I do not do business with spammers. There was a time when I traveled everywhere I went via public transport or on foot, often staying in Youth Hostels, though never on a bike. My body, unfortunately, eventually got old and now can't do such things. River cruises are about all I can manage alone. -- biblioholic medievalist via iPad |
#17
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Rhein cruises
tim... wrote:
"Erilar" wrote in message ... Martin wrote: On Sat, 27 Aug 2016 16:10:51 -0500, Erilar wrote: Looking for suggestions. I've been playing around with river cruise websites, for a future(2018?)trip with a friend who does not speak German along the river I know best, but she is a much better walker than I am. Viking requires everyone to pay in advance for all their hikes(aka "walks"), so they're off my list automatically. I've found several that seem to race from Amsterdam to somewhere in Switzerland or vice versa, stopping briefly in the wrong places. I'd really prefer one that covered less river unless part of it was also along the Mosel. Beginning or ending in Köln, Koblenz, or Mainz(or Frankfurt) would be even better. If excursions were wheeled, it wouldn't matter if they were in German, because I could translate for her, but if much walking is involved, they'd have to be in English so she could go without me. I'd like suggestions of lines I may have missed. Note: I could be the tour guide if I could hike the way I could a few years ago 8-/ I've done it by travelling with KD and staying in small hotels overnight. http://www.kdrhine.com/ How can anybody charge you for a hike? Viking requires all excursions be paid for along with the cruise price. It took a mess of emailing to get all the details. There is no provision for non- hikers. Presumably that's a special "hiking cruise" Viking have a list of weekly river cruises for "normal" tourism. tim A long email exchange with Viking gave me the information that any river cruise I might be interested in includes mandatory prepaid "excursions" with no exceptions for non-hikers, just some groups that might hike slower than others. -- biblioholic medievalist via iPad |
#18
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Rhein cruises
poldy wrote:
On 8/28/16 1:57 PM, Erilar wrote: Martin wrote: On Sat, 27 Aug 2016 16:10:51 -0500, Erilar wrote: Looking for suggestions. I've been playing around with river cruise websites, for a future(2018?)trip with a friend who does not speak German along the river I know best, but she is a much better walker than I am. Viking requires everyone to pay in advance for all their hikes(aka "walks"), so they're off my list automatically. I've found several that seem to race from Amsterdam to somewhere in Switzerland or vice versa, stopping briefly in the wrong places. I'd really prefer one that covered less river unless part of it was also along the Mosel. Beginning or ending in Köln, Koblenz, or Mainz(or Frankfurt) would be even better. If excursions were wheeled, it wouldn't matter if they were in German, because I could translate for her, but if much walking is involved, they'd have to be in English so she could go without me. I'd like suggestions of lines I may have missed. Note: I could be the tour guide if I could hike the way I could a few years ago 8-/ I've done it by travelling with KD and staying in small hotels overnight. http://www.kdrhine.com/ How can anybody charge you for a hike? Viking requires all excursions be paid for along with the cruise price. It took a mess of emailing to get all the details. There is no provision for non- hikers. Are these guided hikes or hikes on your own at scheduled free time at ports of call during the cruise? The commercials make it seem like you get to see more of the cities than you would on a regular cruise. Well if you really want to see the cities, why not stay in some of them for a few days each? The idea is NOT a series of two nights each in different hotels, but to take the hotel along. -- biblioholic medievalist via iPad |
#19
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Rhein cruises
tim... wrote:
"Happy.Hobo" wrote in message ... On 08-27-2016 16:10, Erilar wrote: Looking for suggestions. I've been playing around with river cruise websites, for a future(2018?)trip with a friend who does not speak German along the river I know best, but she is a much better walker than I am. Viking requires everyone to pay in advance for all their hikes(aka "walks"), so they're off my list automatically. I've found several that I'd bicycle from port to port rather than pay cruise prices. And I'll get there before my friends on ship. Unfortunately a large amount of the "value" of a cruise is seen to be the on board activities and they are timed, and priced accordingly Personally, I don't see any value in that at all, and as soon as someone starts up cruises where the focus is on the on-shore attractions with no need to pay for on board activities that I have no interest in, I will sign up but on the odd occasion when companies have tried that approach, they have failed to be profitable tim Actually, I have taken a couple river cruises--one German, another an English company-- that did NOT require prepaid required excursions, though one COULD book and pay for them in advance. Both stopped in a number of places for the excursions I did not join where I could just go ashore and entertain myself at a pace I could set myself. I would like to find something similar along the Rhein and possibly a bit of Mosel. -- biblioholic medievalist via iPad |
#20
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Rhein cruises
poldy wrote:
Some people have rationalized cruises, not river cruises, as being cheaper if you consider that cost of accommodations and transportation over a similar period, not to mention the included meals. Convenience more than cost. And those onboard activities sound hellish, forced participation in activities when presumably your main interest is to tour the cities. I'm very good at avoiding forced participation. Not to mention, in this day and age, being cut off from Internet, phones, etc. for swaths of time? Not totally. There is often intermittent wi-fi availability. And I don't have an international phone. -- biblioholic medievalist via iPad |
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