Palace of Parliament

The last stop on our Gems of Southeastern Europe river cruise was Bucharest, Romania, a little over an hour’s bus ride from Giurgiu on the Danube.  So, we bade farewell to the river and headed to the country’s center of government.   Although communists took power here in 1947, it was under President Nicolae Ceausescu that Romania steered its own course, refusing to 

On the Parliament balcony

participate in the Warsaw Pact.  (It joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.)  This didn’t mean
Ceausescu didn’t have his own ambitions.  The Palace of Parliament is considered his masterpiece architectural contribution and was named the largest and most expensive civilian administrative building in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records.  It boasts twelve stories above ground and another eight below.  He apparently intended the building to house ministries, Communist Party offices, and official apartments, but that dream disappeared with his subsequent demise and the fall of the party.  Now it houses the senate and parliament, but tours and special events help supplement the enormous funds required to maintain the building’s pomp.  Bart Connor and Nadia Comaneci held their wedding receptions in one of the most opulent halls.  Another interesting fact:  everyone must go through required passport control just to enter the building.Also in Bucharest we bundled up and visited the outdoor National Village Museum, an unusual assortment of traditional dwellings, churches, and other buildings found throughout the regions of Romania in years past.  Before departing Bucharest for Transylvania, we passed Revolution Square; the country’s own “triumphal arch” built in 1936 on Ceausescu’s own Champs Elysees ; and the former secret police headquarters that has kept its original design as a reminder of the secret police work, but touts modern glass upper stories showing that the country was moving forward with democracy.

View from Cantacuzino Castle

The plains outside Bucharest quickly gave way to the hills leading up to Transylvania, and fog soon obscured higher elevations of what were surely majestic views.  En route to Dracula’s digs, we stopped to tour Cantacuzino Castle in Busteni.   Built in 1911 by the castle’s namesake, Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, aka the “Nababul” because of his enormous wealth, the structure features only the best in oak, Carrara marble, Italian ceramics, and mosaics.  The main attraction, however, is the gallery of murals painted on Cordoba leather of twelve prominent members of the family.

One of Bran's narrow stairways

Then it was on to the highlight of our land extension, Bran Castle, home of Count Vlad Dracul, fictionalized by author Bram Stoker in his classic Count Dracula.  Actually, the man wasn’t the blood-sucking villain portrayed in the movies; rather, he simply had a novel way of protecting his revered region from invaders: he impaled them; hence, his nickname Vlad the Impaler.  The castle itself is quite the place—lots of elevations, steep stairs, displays of reproduction costumes and weapons, and incredible views in all directions that almost make up for the cold, biting winds often greeting those who venture to a balcony to see them.  Tourism has made its mark now, with special parties offered at Halloween/All Saints’ Day and more kitschy souvenirs than you can count.  Worth the visit, though?  Absolutely!  The castle was ahead of its time with ceramic heaters and other conveniences.

Ben, Angie, Lynn, Alex

As I’ve mentioned before, Ben and I have now sailed on nine river cruises with AmaWaterways.  We actually began with them when the company was still fledgling after its co-owner Rudi Schreiner left his management position at another leading river cruise line to create what he envisioned a river cruise company should look like.  Now AMA consistently wins the highest awards and accolades from the travel community and continually improves its ships and experiences.  Also from the beginning, Ben has booked our groups with the young woman who headed the group department and who has become a close friend over the years.  Angie Avalos happens to be a native Romanian (now living in Southern California), and she vowed that if we ever sailed this part of the Danube she’d meet us there to show us her country.

Angie's Romanian Family



And so it came to pass that this delightful, charming redhead met us at Dracula’s Castle to escort us around the land of her birth.  Ben, Angie and I said goodbye to our friends and traveling companions and drove in her cousin’s car to a small village above Rasnov in Transylvania to spend the night at the home of some of her relatives.  What delightful, friendly people!  Plum brandy is the national drink, and the home brew came out in force along with lots of traditional food, and interspersed with a sharing of family photos and English and Romanian lessons. 

Bran Castle View

We made the tourist rounds in and around Rasnov first and then Brasov, Angie’s hometown.  We visited Valea Cetatii Cave near the Rasnov citadel (not yet at top tourism standards, but nice—especially, we understand, during weekly classical music concerts) and Rasnov Fortress located on a steep cliff above the town.  The fortress is dotted with numerous small shops and

Gheorghe and Angie

 demonstration/reenactment studios to enhance visitor experiences.  Wouldn’t you know we’d run into an old friend of Angie’s, Gheorghe Samoila, who delighted in a photo session with her and laden Ben and me down with tourist information about his reenactment performances.

Brasov is a beautifully quaint city, and the hotel Angie had found for us was conveniently located right in the middle of the Council Square.  A top tourist destination itself, the city is home to the first Romanian school; the famous 600 year-old Black Church; stunning Saint Nicolae Church; an impressive synagogue; the most beautiful covered bridge I’d ever seen; and Tampa Mountain (though "hill" to the locals) that we reached via cable car for views (on a clear day, no less) of the plains below.  We fell in love with this little city.

Lovely Brasov, Romania

Our last stop in Transylvania was to the mind-boggling Peles Castle near Sinaia, built by Carol I, the first Romanian King, in 1874 to serve as a summer residence of the royal family.  Constructed in the German new-Renaissance style, this stunning castle is filled with some of the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, and Cordoba leather covered walls found anywhere.  Each of the 160 rooms bears of theme beautifully carried out and with modern conveniences inviable at the time, from the first elevator in Europe to a double organ between two concert rooms .  It was the first castle on the

continent with full electrical power and one of the few with central heating.  Thanks to Angie, we were given a private tour of the upstairs rooms.  It will remain one of the most elegant castles we’ve ever seen.  We spent the night in Sinaia, a lovely ski resort town, and Angie and I left Ben behind (okay, so it was cold and drizzling rain) and walked to the Sinaia Monastery where a visiting choir broke into song while we were inside a chapel.  A perfect way to end the trip.

Heartfelt thanks to our friend Angie and her colleague Alex Stan who made this very special time in Romania possible.  Before tourism takes too great a hold on this country, go and enjoy her beauty.



With our Cruise Manager Peter Whitehead

To conclude this travel piece I must give another huge shout to both our cruise directors, Matyas Keresztes on our first Danube itinerary and Peter Whitehead on the second.  As usual, food and service onboard were excellent, and the AmaSonata sailed like a charm—a beautiful ship.  Ama contracts with some of the best local tour guides available and adds special touches to excursions whenever possible.  Admittedly, passport control between some countries was more stringent than usual on the lower Danube, but the ship’s staff ensured smooth transitions in all situations.



Our Southeastern Gems Group!

We look forward to our next AmaWaterways cruise to Bordeaux in 2018!

Danube Christmas Markets Cruise 2013-1

Budapest-Sausage Booth

Is January really almost over?  We returned from our Christmas markets cruise December 13, anticipating the birth of our grandson any day.  He finally entered the world on December 27 after Christmas...and after his uncle and aunt had already flown back to Pennsylvania; but it was a season of joy for all of us!  We hope you had a wonderful holiday season, too. 

After the damp cold in Europe and added snow in Austria, we thought we’d be pretty much done with the worst of our 2013-14 winter experience way down here in San Antonio.  Then came the polar vortex that keeps extending its fingers into South Central Texas, and as I post this today, the city is virtually shut down due to ice on overpasses and bridges. I’m thinking winter won’t go away until I complete my blog on this Christmas markets cruise, not to mention before I forget it all!   

Ben and I had thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas markets cruise we took down the Rhine several years ago and couldn’t wait to try the Danube version.  On this cruise there was clearly a greater variety of markets since we spanned four countries (Hungary, Austria, Germany, and Czech Republic) rather than the two countries visited on the Rhine:  The Netherlands, and Germany—plus Paris where markets are not the big tradition.   We found in general that markets in non-Germany cities focused more on food and local crafts, whereas Germany markets are filled with well crafted wooden ornaments, nutcrackers, nativity scenes, and a host of other traditional Christmas products, plus stall upon stall of gluhwein (hot spiced wine), beer and food.  Each type of market bore its own charm and own version of hot, spiced wine. 
 

Budapest from Buda Castle on the Buda side;
Parliament is across on the Pest side

We began our trip with a two-night stay in Budapest to once again take in the Buda Castle, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and Matthias church, as well as sail past the magnificent Parliament House at night.  One of the Christmas markets was located just a few steps from our hotel, but we found others perched on nearby during squares during evening strolls.  All exuded a warm, cozy ambiance.  One included a stage where a traditional folk group performed.  I felt I was back at the Texas Folklife Festival. 

Statue of Archduke Charles
Heldenplatz, Vienna

There is always so much to do and see in Vienna, our next stop.  An optional tour was offered to Schonbrunn Palace, but Ben and I had visited there previously and stuck to the city tour with visits to the Vienna Opera House, marvelous St. Stephen’sCathedral, the city’s historic center, and visits to a couple of Christmas markets along the way.  Both were lively even during the day, and several craftsmen occupied booths demonstrating their skills and sometimes personalizing their wares for guests. 
 


Say the word Vienna and music comes first your find.  Mozart, Haydn, Gruber, Schubert, Strauss—the list of famous composers who were born or lived in this city goes on and on.  While on our first trip there in 1972, I even got Ben to an operetta and he continues to enjoy sharing  classical music events with me in many of the countries we visit.  On this trip, AmaWaterways had arranged a special concert for us in the lovely Palais Auersberg featuring the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss selections—an excellent ensemble of singers and musicians.   

Melk Abbey

As we sailed overnight toward Melk, the weather worsened, ushering in cold winds...and snow.  After breakfast we bundled up and headed out into elements and up to our waiting motor coaches, trudging against the cold, blowing snow.  A few backed out and retreated to the warmth of the ship, but we knew our delightful Melk  guide from two previous tours and anticipated seeing her again on what was sure to be a picturesque day at the famed Melk Abbey.  We were not disappointed.  Because it was winter (and perhaps partly due to the weather), crowds at this famed 11^th century Benedictine Abbey were sparse, thereby allowing clearer unobstructed views of the magnificent medieval manuscripts, frescos, and religious artifacts that chronicle the history of one of Europe’s largest and most revered Baroque monasteries.  Blanketed with the new-fallen snow, it looked straight out of a fairy tale. 
 

With our wonderful Austria Guide
Lisi Alscher-Bruck, Melk

From Linz, Austria, guests could choose between a walking tour of Passau or an excursion to Salzburg.  I never miss an opportunity to visit that Sound of Music city nestled in the hills against the backdrop of the Alps, so off we rode.  Salzburg is magical, just magical.  Our tour led us to the Mirabell Gardens where Maria and the children sang “Do Re Me”; to Mozart’s birthplace and Salzburg Cathedral where he once served as court organist; through the charming pedestrian streets and alleys to the city’s own Christmas market.  At this point, Ben and I broke from the tour to peruse the market, walk up toward (but not all the way TO!) the impressive Fortress Hohensalzburg standing guard over the city as one of the largest medieval castles in Europe, for a glass of the city’s famed local beer at StieglKeller.  En route, Ben was charmed by a street violinist whose repertoire ranged from classic to popular.  We each relive that free concert each time we play his CD. 



Fortress Hohensalzburg

Those in our group opting to stay onboard and take the Passau tour learned that it is also known as the “City of Three Rivers,” because it lies where the Danube is joined by the Inn and Ilz rivers.  St. Stephan’s Cathedral is home to one of the largest pipe organs in the world with 17,774 pipes and 233 registers.  Pretty impressive. 

Next up:  Regensburg, Germany

The CruiseOne/Cruises Inc. National Conference is now in the books, and what a wonderful week we enjoyed on the

Breakaway in Bermuda

brand new Norwegian Breakaway!  This year’s event sailed from New York City to Bermuda and was filled with general sessions, workshops, training seminars, and cruise line presentations—all mixed with interaction with our headquarters staff, fellow agents, and cruise line representatives.   Our Catalina, Combs & Associates franchise (now Combs, Catalina & Associates) was honored to again be named in the coveted Circle of Excellence by topping a million dollars in sales.  This is quite an honor on both since there are now over 800 CruiseOne franchises and only 1% are selected for Circle of Excellence.  We also received the top producer award again for AmaWaterways river cruise line, which is always an honor.    We cannot tell you how fortunate we feel to be part of our parent company World Travel Holdings with the support our owners and executives consistently give us.  Thank you, WTH and CruiseOne/Cruises Inc.!

Aqua Park

The Breakaway is an amazing ship.  True to Norwegian Cruise Line’s style, she offers plenty of innovative venues, dining options, and nonstop possibilities for guest participation.  The only bad thing about conference cruises is lack to time of us to take full advantage of what a ship has to offer.  Want action?  Head to the ropes course, basketball court, bungee trampoline, mini-golf course, and climbing wall.  Need to cool off?  Whiz through The Whip and Free Fall aqua-slides or swim some laps in the wave pool.  Like Jewel Class ships, the Breakaway Class has a little bowling alley, too, and she adds a wonderful water park for children.  For something a little more tame, let them eat cake by enrolling in a themed cupcake decorating and fondant layer cake class, inspired by TLC’s “Baking with the Cake Boss.”  Nickelodean characters will interact with the kiddos in a Pajama Jam buffet breakfast (reservation with fees require).   

Entertainment on NCL is quite different from other contemporary lines.  Although there were a couple of review-like shows called Burn the Floor (which we missed due to conference engagements), other options are a little edgier like the musical, Rock of Ages and The Second City comedy troupe.  For dinner and a show, don’t miss Cirque Dreams and Dinner Jungle Fantasy in the Spiegel Tent (fee applies).  During a conference session we did get a sneak preview of a Fire and Ice performance of Tina Turner hits--wow.  The gathering place for events on the ship, however, is Spice H20 on the top deck, where a huge  screen forms the backdrop for various dance parties including the Awesome 80s Party. 

To me the best thing about NCL is the variety of dining venues—28 in all, a far cry from ships of long ago that basically

Moderno Outdoor Area

offered the main dining rooms and a casual restaurant on the lido deck.  The Breakaway still includes those same complimentary dining venues plus others like O’Sheehan’s Irish pub, an ice cream bar, and a couple of grills;  but she adds oh-so-much more at a small cover charge:  the Bistro (French), Teppanyaki and Wasabi Sushi (Japanese), Cagney’s (steak), La Cucina (Italian), Moderno (Churrascaria and my favorite), Ocean Blue and Ray Bar (seafood), Carlos’ Bake Shop, Dolce Gelato.  Whew.  Some restaurants even offer both indoor and outdoor seating. Try them all and then go hit the gym hard. 

After some of the feedback regarding cabin/bathroom design on the Epic, Norwegian switched back to a standard stateroom layout on the Breakaway.  We liked this better.  Ben and I booked a balcony that gave us plenty of space, an actual decent hairdryer (a huge plus), and a bar in the shower which is handy for leg-shaving.  We had ample space for everything. 

Norwegian was the first line to offer studio staterooms that continue to be a hit for single cruisers.  A studio lounge in the studio stateroom area provides a gathering place for those who wish to mingle.  At the other end of the spectrum is The Haven, where you’ll find the three-bedroom Garden Villa and various suites with butler service, a private pool, hot tub, and fitness area, and other perks.  A great way to sail. 

Godmothers of this New York City based ship are none other than the Radio City Hall Rockettes, and you’ll find a dedicated channel on the ship’s television programming featuring these legendary performers.  Ben’s only complaint the whole week was that the Rockettes were not onboard!  (NOTE:  Two Rockettes sail every four or five weeks.) 

The Breakaway’s sister ship, the Norwegian Getaway, will begin home-porting in Miami next year, and the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders have been awarded godmother honors, as just announced this week. 

Lady Liberty

Norwegian Cruise Lines ships offer great value for families and adults alike.  For cruisers who prefer a more structured type of onboard experience, with the option for set dining times, the same waiter each night, and not as many decisions to make, this might not be your cruise line.  However, the freedom and casual nature can really grow on you.

Several cruise lines sail to Bermuda from the East Coast, but New York City offers arguably the most majestic sail-away.  It doesn’t get much better than cruising past the Statue of Liberty.  The Breakaway docked three nights at Kings Wharf in the Royal Naval Dockyard, as do most ships sailing there.  Some of the smaller guys dock at Hamilton and St. George’s, such as Regent Seven Seas.  Transportation from Kings Wharf to Hamilton is either by ferry or bus, and Ben and I tried both.  Ferry is better and faster.  Bermuda is a golfer’s heaven, boasting more courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world.  Plenty of cruisers we saw were packing their golf bags.  Snorkeling, diving, and other beach activities are just as popular. 

Ben & Me and the Fish in the Sea

Based on a fun experience I had on my only other trip to Bermuda over ten years ago, Ben and I booked a helmet dive adventure with Greg Hartley.  After donning wetsuits and heavy helmets constantly provided with pumped-in fresh air, we dropped about 15 feet into Greg’s underwater schoolhouse where he taught us about coral formations and sea life and invited us to pet his friendly fish.  What fun!  Check out this video of our little group’s dive.  

 

For the past few years, our conference has chosen the Make-A-Wish Foundation as our benevolence, this year raising over $100,000 through a Zumba-at-Sea event, auctions, and Sean Tolkin's marathon-at-sea. 

Thanks, NCL, for hosting a wonderful conference for CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. on your brand new honey of a ship!

 

Important note: 

The annual World’s Largest Cruise Sale takes place this week, October 20-27, 2013.  If you have not booked your vacation for next year, NOW is the time!  Every cruise line and many land and tour operators are offering special deals such as onboard credit, upgrades, and reduced deposits on select or all sailings and destinations, depending on the supplier.  Call Susan at 866-786-6732 or Ben and me at 888-522-7447 to assist you!

 

Amadagio Provence Cruise, Part 3

Avignon

After our delightful morning at the truffle farm, we all boarded buses for the winding journey through the beautiful French countryside down to Avignon where we would meet our ship. Provence actually begins just north of Orange where the Rhone and a side canal meet at Ile Saint-Georges. By now, the temperature had warmed up a bit though there were still a few pockets of showers.

Avignon boasts a remarkable history. Occupied since pre-historical dates, the city played an important role in more than one period of time, but most notably as capital of Christian Europe and home to the papacy for 68 years. It’s often referred to as the “City of Popes” because of the presence of popes and antipopes from 1309 to 1423 during the Western (Papal) Schism when two different men claimed to be the true pope. The city actually belonged to the papacy for over 400 years until the French Revolution when it again came under French rule. Today the historic center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Notable points of interest include the well preserved ramparts, built by Pope Innocent IV in 1355, and the Palais des Papes, begun by Pope Benoit XII in 1335 and continued by Clement VI.

About a two-hour bus ride from Avignon is another USNESCO World Heritage Site, the Pont du Gard (roman Aqueduct) that is considered a masterpiece of Roman engineering. Built in 19 BC, the aqueduct provided water (about 700,000 cubic feet daily) to the fountains, baths and homes of the citizens of nearby Nimes. It is not too far from it is the medieval town of Uzes that was used as location for the film The Three Musketeers. 

Chef Ben

AMA offered tours to both of the above. For first-time visitors, a visit to the historical center is a must, of course, and that’s where Ben and I headed six years ago on our first Provence cruise. We also took advantage back then of an optional tour to Pont du Gard. This time, however, AMA lured us with yet a third option as part of the Culinary Delights series: a French cooking demonstration. What a special afternoon we shared with just seven other passengers as we followed Chef Julien Charvet through the streets of Avignon to his cafe and cooking school headquarters. This delightful Frenchman lived and worked in California and North Carolina before returning to his native country to set up shop. Collectively, we made several types of hors d’oeuvres and tapenades and then celebrated by eating our creations with glasses of wine...of course!

Celebrating our Culinary Creations

That evening before dinner, the Amadagio treated us with a sunset sail by the famed Avignon bridge (Pont d’Avignon), which served the region for over 480 years before a 1668 flood collapsed a large part of the structure and finally put it out of use.

At last we headed to Arles, a true gem of Provence, for the final night of our cruise. Once a metropolis of Roman Gaul, Arles became a symbol of ardent Christianity, and her Roman roots are still apparent in the amphitheater and Roman baths. The amphitheater, now some 2000 years old, remains in an excellent state of preservation and is currently receiving another facelift. The city is also the gateway to the Carmargue region, known for horses, cowboys, gypsies and sea salt.

Through Van Gogh's Eyes

With its vibrant landscapes and vivid colors, the South of France lured artist Vincent Van Gogh in 1888 after he met impressionist artists and perhaps at the specific suggestion of Toulouse-Lautrec. Van Gogh rented a small room in Arles and threw himself into a prolific painting binge. His friend and fellow artist Paul Gauguin spent nine weeks with him that same year. Though Van Gogh’s life ended tragically, it was this part of the world that provided inspiration and subjects for some of his best-loved pictures, many of which local guides continue to point out today. The touristy Cafe Van Gogh lays claim to the vantage point inspiring his popular work, Cafe Terrace at Night, and a bridge in the city bears a copy of one of his popular Starry Night paintings, with the view on the Rhone the artist likely captured on canvas. Read more about Van Gogh via Artsy.

The impressionists remain alive and well in Arles at a very special sound and light show, Carrieres de Lumieres, projected onto a 46-foot walls, pillars, and floors of a quarry at the Chateau des Baux a few miles outside the city.  Shows change over time, but currently featured is "Gauuguin, Van Gogh, Painters of Colour.” Changing photos of the artists’ works take visitors on an extraordinary voyage seemingly deep into each piece of art. Several of our group took this tour and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The chateau is actually located a few miles east of Arles in Les Baux-de-Provence, a hilltop commune set on a rocky outcrop crowned with a deserted castle. It was probably my favorite stop on our last Provence cruise and that’s where I headed to rack up some shopping time. Delightful shops and incredible views!

Of course, with the rain now completely gone, the legendary Mistral winds made an entrance. A necessary ingredient to the production of wines in Southern France, we were told, these northerly strong, cold winds can quick-dry grapes after rainfalls. Luckily, we only got a taste of Mistral that day with more milder weather prevailing on Friday. 

Our AmaWaterways Group
With the Captains

Thursday, however, was disembarkation day and time to bid farewell to our wonderful AMA ship crew and most of our traveling friends. Many passengers onboard opted to extend their trip with AMA’s optional three-day package to Barcelona. With our pre-cruise trip to Normandy behind us, it was time for our group to head home. Most flew home from Marseilles, but one couple headed to Spain independently, another struck out on a road trip to Switzerland to trace family heritage, and six of us remained in Arles another night.

Ben found the Hotel de la Muette in a great location, although our suitcases sure did seem heavier by now and this typical European small hotel had no elevator. We loved having this extra day to eat at outdoor cafes, stroll the shops, and just enjoy the beauty of this place.

French Chic!

Then it was train travel time, as we boarded the TGV for Nimes, changing trains there for the final leg by high-speed (150 MPH+) train to Gare CDG (Charles De Gaulle Station) for a final night at the Hilton. Considering travel by train in Europe? Call us for advice!

Now to shed those French pounds....

Douro River Cruise, Part 4

[Revised to include Portgal photos.[

Ben and I arrived safely in San Antonio around midnight Saturday. Our TAP flight from Portugal had been changed, flying us into Orly necessitating a bus transfer across Paris to De Gaulle for our connecting flight to Atlanta. We had plenty of time, however, and all went without a hitch. Although we had tried our best to avoid the sneezers on the ship and tours, we knew by the time we landed that both of us were next in line for colds; hence, this delayed post. Sigh. Between this bronchitis and jetlag, it’s been a slow recuperation.

Back to Porto. The ship actually docks at neighboring Vila Nova de Gaia, smaller in size than Porto and famous for the numerous wine cellars and tasting halls. A pleasant place to stroll and take in some people watching.

Our local guide escorted us on a motorcoach tour around both areas, stopping at a lovely cathedral, and then winding our way along the seaside where the Douro spills into the Atlantic. We concluded the tour with a visit to the famous Ferreira Wine Cellar to learn about Port wine production and aging. Very interesting! Samples of both the White Port and Tawny Port awaited us for tasting. I can handle the white better than the red, but they are both pretty strong for me. Portuguese wine itself, though, is quite another story; excellent!

Despite some rain and the shortened itinerary, we thoroughly enjoyed this cruise. Our cruise director, Marion, was excellent, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. The captain himself was not the social type, but he knew his river and was passionate about it. And it was great fun to see Elisabeth again—who gave us excellent tours in Melk and Durnstein during our AMA Danube cruise in 2007, but whom AMA has now hired as a cruise director. She spent our cruise learning the ropes from Marion and will officially become a “cruise director” in June. She’ll do great!

Special thanks to Angie, our wonderful group coordinator for AMA back in Los Angeles, for her guidance and helpful preparation, not to mention the lovely birthday floral arrangement she had delivered to our cabin for me.

River cruising is a special way to see Europe, but it may not be for everyone, of course. There are no big production numbers or casinos, and entertainment is limited to local troupes. We enjoyed two: a group of fado singers and a classical flutist and guitar player. On this particular ship, I missed the small gyms available on AMA-built ships. However, the food was excellent and wine plentiful; I needed to work it off.

If you love learning about new places, their history and architecture, want see more of inland European countries, and don’t like getting on and off buses to get to the next city, I highly recommend the river cruise experience.

Adeus!

CRUISE LINES ANNOUNCE PRICE HIKES AND 2011 ITINERARIES

Upscale line Regent Seven Seas is the latest to announce upcoming rate hikes. After March 31, prices will increase on many of the line’s voyages, although the free air offer and free unlimited shore excursions offer may still be available. Azamara’s 2-for-1 savings and $500 onboard credit offer will also expire the end of this month.

 

RSSC’s announcement follows on the heels of similar notices from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Carnival. That should tell you that cruise bookings are going very well, thank you very much, and ships are beginning to fill. Get those vacations booked now!

 

We’re also seeing the first of 2011-12 itineraries opening up now. NCL, Princess, and Oceania just announced Europe itineraries. Capacity is expanding in that region, too. Royal Caribbean, Princess, and NCL will all send more ships to Europe in 2011, with more ports of all and overnight stays—music to many a traveler’s ears. Alaska isn’t gaining any more ships, however, so plan to book that Alaska cruise as early as possible. Fewer ships mean fewer berths—and prices increase as ships fill.

 

As a matter of fact, this is a great time in general to get your 2011 vacation on the books! Remember, unless you’re booking under Carnival’s Early Saver Fare with its nonrefundable deposit (but at a big savings), your cruise deposit will be fully refundable if your plans change. We can move you to a different date or cancel you completely.

 

Please don’t buy into the notion that you’ll get a better deal by waiting until the “last minute.” Does that work occasionally? Yes, if you live near the departure port, keep a flexible schedule, and aren’t picky about cabin choice or location.

 

The risks?

• Cabin choices relegated to leftovers at the very front or back of the ship or near a noisy location
• Dining choice relegated to late (after 8 pm), when you prefer to dine early (around 6)
• Higher priced airfare to your embarkation port
• Prices were actually much cheaper 9 months out!

Four weeks from today, Ben and I will be on our way to Portugal for our AMAWATERWAYS river cruise. Watch for live blogs coming your way!

 

 

 

AMAWATERWAYS TO LAUNCH 2nd SHIP IN VIETNAM

Most of you know how much Ben and I love river cruising, and our personal favorite line is AMAWATERWAYS. We missed out on an opportunity to sail through Vietnam and Cambodia last year on an inaugural sailing of AMA’s La Marguerite. Well, this itinerary has become so popular that AMA recently announced plans for a second ship in the area, scheduled to launch in the summer of 2011. Who would have guessed?

The new ship, which has not yet been named, will be larger than the 92-passenger La Marguerite, which launched last September. The passenger load will increase to 124, and the cabin sizes will be generous: standard cabins at 226 square feet, ten junior suites at 290 square feet, and two suites at 452 square feet each. These compare very favorably with a Deluxe Ocean View cabin on the new Carnival Dream at 220 square feet and a Junior Suite on the Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas with 339 including the 66-square-foot balcony, and an Emerald Princess Suite at 496 square feet including the 496-square-foot balcony.

Like her predecessor, the new ship will also sail through Vietnam and Cambodia, with stops in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as well as numerous local villages. According to our contacts at AMAWATERWAYS, La Marguerite is already almost entirely sold out for the peak season (September through March), a fact that prompted the order for the second ship.

“The Mekong is a magnificent river, ideal for river cruising for a number of reasons,” AMAWATERWAYS President Rudi Schreiner replied to us today. “The first advantage of the Mekong is its size. The river is huge, in most places almost a mile wide, so it has a whole lot of potential. The scenery is incredible, with many small villages, islands and temples. The other remarkable thing about the Mekong is that it includes three major cities. You have Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, the metropolis of Vietnam; Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city of Cambodia, located on the river front with beautiful cafes and restaurants. And, then you have the fascinating town of Siem Reap, with the temples of Angkor."  He added, "It’s the perfect backdrop for river cruising.”

Sounds like a winner to us!  We are determined to make one of these sailings eventually. If you are interested, please email me in the field at the right, and with enough responses we’ll consider escorting a group in 2011 or 2012.