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River Cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam 2017 |
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River Cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam 2017 |
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Our river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. On the recommendation of Trailfinders, we chose APT, a company we were familiar with from our Australia and New Zealand trip last year. They did a really great job as covered in the Summary.
The cruise was on an APT ship and they arranged a chauffer driven pickup. The driver was very professional and got us to the airport in good time. The flight was pretty much on time all the way but we were the last ones to meet our pickup in Budapest as our luggage was late off the carousel.
Our cabin was better than we had expected after our sea cruises as we thought that being on a smaller ship it might be a bit cramped, in fact it was a better size in many respects.
After dinner, there was a cruise along the river and Budapest is a particularly lovely city at night.
Margaret Bridge
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Elizabeth Bridge
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Chain Bridge
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Liberty Bridge
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Parliament Building
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Former Royal Palace
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Technical University
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The 140 passengers were split into four groups. The tour was a mix of driving and walking. We met at 12.45 to return to the boat and set sail for Vienna, some twenty three hours away.
Gill booked for a massage later in the week and we dined at the Chef's Table in the evening. There were just two tables of twelve for a special menu and it was excellent. Booked again for next week!
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Statue of Liberty (Budapest version)
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Opera House
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KGB Building
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Heroes Square
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Art Gallery
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Holocaust Memorial - Steel Silver Birch
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Synagogue
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Fishermans Bastion
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St Mathias Cathedral
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After travelling through several locks overnight, we arrived in Vienna just before 1pm. In the afternoon we were bussed into the city for a walking tour after which we returned to the ship for dinner. In the evening we we taken back in to the Palace of Liechtenstein for a private concert performed by The Palace Orchestra. The palace was restored in 2013 and the gilding alone required 54,000 hours of work and used 150,000 sheets of gold leaf weighing 1.5 kilos.
A fishing lodge alongside the river
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Passing through one of the locks.
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Parliament Building
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Opposite
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The Cathedral
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Technical authors who follow my site will know I sometimes suggest using the term "redrabbit" to find out what files the term ends up in. I was amused to see this red hare!
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At the Palace of Leichtenstein
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We chose the coach trip to Bratislava in Slovakia and were lucky enough to get front seats on the coach and one of the best tour guides we have ever encountered. George (Jurai) had a wealth of knowledge that he imparted with a great sense of humour. At one point he told us we might meet some politicians where we would be walking. Without a pause for breath, we were told to watch our valuables! After a driving tour of the city, we then went on a walking tour before being given a couple of hours for lunch and some free time.
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We woke to find we were moored at Durnstein so after breakfast we walked into this traditional Austrian village. Today was Corpus Christi so the cobbled streets were strewn with grass and there was a parade.
After lunch the ship set sail for Melk where we chose the Melk Abbey tour rather than the tour of the town itself.
Overnight the ship moved on to Linz.
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Between Durnstein and Melk
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If you could see the height of this building above the Danube, these high water marks would be even more remarkable.
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From Linz we had an exclusive train journey to Salzburg and then back to Passau, the ship having sailed on during the day. The train journey was aboard the Majestic Imperator, a recreation of one hundred year old carriages. This trip is exclusive to APT as they book the train for the whole season, which helped save the operator from financial difficulties.
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We understand this is the oldest convent still in use
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One of the Sounds of Austria singers on the return journey
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A railway worker's idea of health and safety on a hot day
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We arrive back at Passau
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We sailed overnight towards Regensburg but we were behind schedule. The train yesterday had returned late causing us to miss a slot for one of the locks. Our cruise director arranged for us to stop at Bach from where we were coached to Regensburg as that would get us there quicker than on the ship. Whilst the passengers were then back on schedule, the ship sailed on to Regensburg where we rejoined it after our tour.
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The evening entertainment back on the ship was an electric violinist
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Nuremburg was the most damaged city in Germany during World War 2 and our guide explained how it had been rebuilt to look as much as possible as it did before the war, at least as far as the facade of the buildings was concerned. Behind the facade the buildings were, of course, constructed to modern standards.
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Aquaduct
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Tiered tanks to balance water in lock
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Inside Hitler's Party Rally "Building". The roof was never constructed as the manpower was required elsewhere.
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Opposite Zeppelin grounds
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Road in Nuremberg named after former Israeli Prime Minister
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Courtroom 60 - Nuremberg trials
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Views from the castle
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Around town
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Photo of war damage to cathedral
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The cathedral now
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In contrast to Nuremberg, Bamberg suffered virtually no damage. After a guided walk, we enjoyed some free time in the shopping area.
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The Rose Garden
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Note the Wedgwood house
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Council Offices
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A memorial to the man who tried to blow up Hitler
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Area known as Little Venice
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Dinner at The Chef's Table
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Today's tour options were walking tours of either Wurzburg or Rothenburg (pronounced without the H). As we were going to be moored long enough to go on the Rothenburg tour and then have our own time in Wurzburg, we decided that Rothenburg was the better option. Rothenburg is considered the best preserved medieval town in Germany and we would not argue with that.
In the afternoon we walked into Wurzburg but Gill found the 30 degree heat too much and returned to the ship. I was looking for a few items of shopping and not only found all of them, I also found some extra items that were good value. However, the heat was such that I soon followed.
Wurzburg Castle as we arrive
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Rothenburg
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Need a cuckoo clock?
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Inside one of Kathe Wholfahrt's Christmas Shops...
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... arguably one of the best I have seen anywhere
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The windows open on the hour to show figures drinking wine
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Back in Wurzburg
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We arrived in Miltenburg about lunchtime. With a forecast temperature of 35 degrees, we decided to forego walking around this small town.
We had moored overnight at Rudesheim and in the morning we took the "train" ride to the gondola, one of today's tour options. After that the ship set sail for Andernach passing through the Rhine Gorge, arguably one of the prettiest parts of the cruise. I have never seen so many castles so close together and we were warned we would be ABC'd out. (Another Blooming Castle, or similar!)
In the late afternoon we moored at Andernach where one of the cruise highlights awaited us, dinner at Namedy Castle, hosted by the owner, Princess Heide von Hohenzollern. Between courses we were entertained by Yuhao Guo, one of the Young Piano Masters who perform at the castle. His performance was excellent and we could happily have listened to much more. It was a wonderful evening.
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Lorelay Rock...
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... the narrowest and deepest stretch of the Rhine
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Namedy Castle
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Princess Heidi
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A Rick Stone lookalike (Chris from Tasmania with wife Sally)
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Click here to see and hear a small part of Yuhao Guo's performance. It may take a few minutes and is best done on wifi rather than your phone network.
Having been to Cologne on previous visits to Germany, we opted for the trip to Bonn - a more compact city.
Cologne Cathedral
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Bonn
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Back in Cologne
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Rick's lookalike in party mode
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Entertainment provided by fellow passengers...
Click here for the video, it's hilarious. It may take a few minutes and is best done on wifi rather than your phone network. |
... with music from the ship's hotel manager, Milton, and Kalin on piano.
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Our final stop! We opted for the canal cruise and it was a very nice way to see Amsterdam. On foot Amsterdam is a very busy city with cyclists coming at you fast and furious.
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Needless to say, we had to be taken to a windmill
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A stork's nest nearby
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Rembrandt statue
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Amsterdam is a stag night city and today was Saturday!
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One of a number of cycle parks. This picture does not capture the full size.
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Sadly our journey comes to an end.
The organisation of this holiday was faultless, APT could not have done a better job. Everything went like clockwork. We were aware of the APT brand from our Australia and New Zealand Holiday last year and we were grateful that our travel agent, Trailfinders, recommended them for this cruise.
Trailfinders told us that APT's cabins were larger and we were very pleased with our choice. The cabin was a good size as was the bathroom. We knew the tours were all included in the price but we hadn't expected them to be as special as some were. One day they chartered a historic train to take us to and from Salzberg, one evening we were taken to an exclusive concert in a palace and there was the dinner at Namedy Castle with a brilliant pianist.
The cruise director was Cheri Coll and she did a wonderful job. We were never left wondering what would be happening the next day, where to meet up and suchlike. At the same time, things were always relaxed. A real professional. I joked with Cheri that the only complaint was that there was nothing to complain about!
The ship's crew were also excellent. Always quick to deal with any question or get what you needed.
Amsterdam apart, the sun shone everyday. Fabulous holiday.
