Christmas Markets Along the Danube (2012)

A real concert in Vienna would have been nice. What we were taken to seemed very touristy and cheesy.
I attended a concert on my own at St. Stefans - Advent Concert. It was beautiful! Something like that would have been preferable to me instead of what was offered through the "Musical Vienna" optional tour.
Also the hotel in Vienna - bad location, poor quality, dirty.

Traveler: Claire Mak from Bloomfield Hills, MI traveled on December 02, 2011

This is one of the best trips we ever took. We are looking forward to take it one more time,since we really enjoyed the trip,

Traveler: Christa Bobinger from Salem, MO traveled on November 21, 2010

Directors need to float in the lounge to talk to groups as boat travels the river. You had to go find them if you had a question. Need to share info about towns & how people earn their living's along the river. They were always at the desk talking amongst themselves.

Traveler: Helen Stevens from Dover, DE traveled on December 08, 2011

... Reconsider the amount of time necessary to travel through some of the airports to make connecting flights.

Traveler: Carole Jean Clark from Bristol, ME traveled on December 02, 2011

Our program director Dina and her fellow P.D.'s Susanna,Jakob and Markus were outstanding.
Each city had its own charm and many places of interest and historical significance. The cruise ended in Vienna but we had signed up for the three night post-trip extension. We transferred to our hotel with Dina, our P.D. who lives in Vienna. Her knowledge of the city and the subway system helped immensly. All in all, this was a great trip! However, be wary of CDG flight connections. Bad News!!

Traveler: James J Putrich from Cadiz, KY traveled on December 02, 2011

This was our second time on the Danube Christmas Markets cruise. We went to Munich first and were able to go to the main market there. I was interested in the "Manger Market" and was able to purchase several unique nativities. We spent our 49th wedding anniversay at Neushwanstein Castle. What a beautiful castle - however it was covered with scaffolding but still beautiful inside. All of the Christmas Markets along the Danube are very unique and each one has a different flavor. However, this trip sure gets you into the Christmas Spirit. This time we were able to get to Salzburg and the Christmas Markets there. Salzburg is just beautiful. Last time we were stuck on the Danube just after Regensberg as the Danube overflowed and we were unable to continue under one of the low bridges. But this trip was great. The weather was cooperative. We had some rain but it wasn't cold at all. All in all, this was a wonderful trip and we will do it again. I love the Christmas Markets in Europe. I wish we had something like this in the U.S.

We had a wonderful Program Director, Dina, who made this trip unique. She was able to find the most unique places to eat. She also took us on an excursion in Vienna to several of the markets that are not visited as much. Grant Circle sure has a great group of Program Directors on their cruises. We haven't had a bad experience yet, with 12 trips.

We traveled on the Ms. Aria. This was our second trip on her and find her to be a great ship. The cabins are very comfortable and the crew is exceptional!!

We look forward to many more cruises with Grand Circle and their great group of Program Directors and ship's crew.

Traveler: Nancy Mijer from Covina, CA traveled on November 29, 2011

There is but one word for this trip - Awesome! My sister and I took this trip Dec 15th - the 23rd. and found everything to be wonderful from beginning to end. What a magical Christmas trip. I would have to say our most favorite part of the trip was the opional tour to Salzburg. We truly thought we had died and gone to heaven - what could be more magical than driving through the Alps, during a picture perfect snowstorn, listening overhead to Edelweiss. The markets were spectacular, only wish we had had more time to enjoy them. Excellent staff and food - the staff were there to help us with our every need. It seemed incredible that within a day of our arrival the girl at the front desk recognized us by sight and knew our cabin number as well. Everything about this trip was A+. It was not my first trip with GCT and I can assure you it will not be my last. It was a trip I will always remember.

Traveler: Patricia Collins from West Springfield, MA traveled on December 15, 2011

My wife and I traveled from December 9th to December 16th, 2011 plus a 3-day extension in Munich. Our ship was the MS Adagio. We had a cabin on the Sonata Deck . The cabin was very comfortable and had an extra large window. We would highly recommend this trip from Vienna to Nuremberg by ship and Nuremberg to Munich by bus. The Melk Benedictine Abbey was one of the highlights of the trip. The approach to Passau from the water [it is on three rivers] was spectacular. Seeing the statue of Richard-the-Lionheart on the banks of the Danube, near the village where he was held captive after a Crusade, was another bonus. The City Museum in Rothenburg is a treasure. The Vienna and Nuremberg Christkindl Markets were outstanding. The townspeople at all the stops were friendly and we had no trouble understanding them,or they us. There were 25 Christkindl Markets in Munich and we managed to visit four of them. Everyone of them was different and offered unique selections. The food on the ship was top-of-the-line. We always had lots of fresh fruit. The captain, crew, and staff were approachable and very friendly. The guides were knowledgeable and went out of their way to help us.
Our Program Director, Barbara was excellent and when my suitcase was lost somewhere on the flight from Pittsburgh to Washington to Frankfurt to Vienna [it actually went to Chicago], Barbara got on the telephone to the airlines and kept after them until the suitcase arrived in 2 days. In the meantime the GCT agent at the Vienna Airport walked me though the lost suitcase department and stayed with me until all the forms were filled out and I had received an emergency travel kit from Lufthansa. On the ship, Barbara arranged for me to have two days of free laundry service and another emergency travel kit. Grand Circle took care us every step of the way. Two items that you will find useful are good walking shoes,a travel alarm clock and a folding umbrella.

Traveler: Norbert and Charlotte Pilewski from Pittsburgh, PA traveled on December 08, 2011

I loved this river cruise. I traveled on November 24 from Vienna to Nuremburg. From the time I boarded the boat, I felt welcomed by the crew and fellow passengers. There was always someone ready to share a meal or just quiet conversation. I had worried about feeling left out since my husband wasn't traveling with me. This was my first trip with GCT, but it will not be my last. I would even feel confident enough to travel alone should the opportunity arise.

I traveled with another woman and always felt safe. Robert, our guide, was always available to answer questions and he was very knowledgeable about the customs and various towns we were visiting. To say the passing scenery was beautiful is simply not adequate! The landscape, towns and especially the Schonbuhel Castle are breathtaking.

The River Adagio offers very comfortable staterooms, ours had a balcony. Although the staterooms are not as large as on the big cruise ships the storage space was adequate (with a little planning) and the bathroom was a good size.

My only recommendation would be to CAREFULLY check your flight arrangements and if you travel through Paris, try to get that changed. de Galle Airport is a nightmare. We had so many connections both coming from Dallas to Vienna and returning home that it was exhausting. I learned while on board I could have requested that the Air Travel Dept. look into making our flights a bit more direct. I would have been willing to pay additional airfare for a better flight schedule. Ours required that we leave the boat at 2:30 a.m. to go to Nuremburg Airport which did not even open for about 2 hours after we arrived. This part of the trip was not pleasant and I believe could have been handled better. However, I learned a lesson. Next time, I will make sure to get the best possible flights and not take unnecessary connections.

Traveler: Patricia Cruse from Garland, TX traveled on November 24, 2011

This was a great experience to visit all of the Christmas Markets with all of their Christmas decorations and goodies. Although it did rain for several days during the trip, it was still a very nice trip. The crew on the ship, as usual on all of the GCT ships, was outstanding. We only have one major recommendation and that is: The stop at Melk Abbey was a duplication of a stop made on another GCT trip. This stop was on a Sunday and all stores were closed as usual for Sundays. There was no Christmas Market in the town. Would have been better planning by GCT to not have stopped at Melk, but instead either stayed longer at another port or gone further into Germany and stopped at another towncity that did have a Christmas Market. Our Program Director did not impress us with her hospitability or friendship. In our prior trips with GCT, we were very happy with the Program Directors we had. Not so this trip!

Traveler: Johnny Oliver from Suffolk, VA traveled on December 09, 2011

Carol and I just returned from the Vienna pretrip and 7 day cruise on the Danube. Wonderful experience, the ship, crew, guides, and food were the best, our 7th trip with OATGCT. KLM air was on time and excellent. Left Dec 6th, returned home Dec 17th. No snow this time but the Christmas Markets in Germany were the best we have ever seen. Bring your umbrellas however! Two disappointments: the optional trip to the Best of Vienna tour was not worth the cost at all, an $85 walk through a small museum, and the Vienna hotel was again (like Paris & Prague) a modern hotel nowhere near the city center, no way to walk at night and enyoy the food, culture, or sites. GCT needs to use hotels in city center even if we pay a little more, nothing to do at night without bus, taxi, or subway trips.

Traveler: Gary Sims from Kingwood, TX traveled on December 06, 2011

This was our first cruise with Grand Travel and we loved it. We visited Christmas Markets in Vienna, Salzburg, Linz, Passau, Regensberg, and Nuremberg and have Gluhwein mugs to prove it! The ship, River Adagio was wonderful, only out done by the friendly crew and outstanding food. Our room on the Cantata deck had good windows, comfortable beds, and private bathroom. The reason to take the trip is the port stops that were informative and well planned, but always left time for time for individual pursuits. A special highlight was the Regensberg Boys Choir one evening in an ancient church. Our program director, Robert, was well versed in history, and at many towns a local guide would join the group with specialized knowledge. Every meal seemed more special than the one before. Luckily there was a workout room on board! Dress warmly and get in the spirit of Christmas on this cruise!

Traveler: Janet and Rick Sitts from Davis, CA traveled on November 24, 2011

This was my first cruise on GCT. and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. I traveled with 7 women friends. We left from Newark on Lufthansa Air. A wonderful airline....treated us very well, including excellent food and drink (free).
After arriving in Germany, we took another plane for the short trip to Vienna.
We were met by a rep from GCT, who took us to the bus that took us to the Riverboat, Addagio.
That is when our advenure began. What a lovely ship! Our room on the 3rd floor had a huge picture window with alot of storage space for our things. The bathroom was a good size (much larger than regular cruise lines bathrooms.)
We spent time in the lounge and then it was time for lunch. The diningroom was so nicely decorated, and the food was excellent. Everyday there were so many choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The staff was very attentive, and by the 2nd day knew us all, and anticipated our needs.
The stops at each of the Christmas Markets was delightful. Our program director, Hans, was very knowledgeable and helpful. We saw so many lovely areas, as well as the sights and narratives as we traveled from one place to another. We were kept informed each evening about the next port we would be visiting.
When were toured Melk Abbey in Austria, we were suppose to have an organ concert, by the organist was not able to perform. Since that didn't happen, GCT arranged an organ concert at a Church in Nuremberg, Germany for us.
I can't say enough about this travel company, and when I am able to take another trip, it will definitely be on GCT.

Traveler: Duane Mary P. from Monroe Township, NJ traveled on November 24, 2011

i would highly recommend this trip to anyone who would like to see why Vienna is the classical city of Europe We did the 3 day extension and want to go back there some day. The River boat MS Adagio was perfect and the captain and the crew were excellant. The side trip to Salzburg is a must as well The Christmas markets were fun to see the local people supporting them. The special foods and crafts of the area were inticing. As we went up the river they got to be more fun. Language was never a problem as all people we encountered switched to English to accomodate us. The Nurnberg market square was the best one. All of this trip was made possible by the interesting talks by our tour guide Yutta who was very proficient in explaing the historical cultures that lived along the Danube and she was very accomodating to help us to tour on our own. I would recommend this tour to anyone of any age.

Robert Peterson

Traveler: Robert Peterson from Hilliard, OH traveled on November 21, 2011

I have done this cruise on two occasions. I cannot imagine a more wonderful way to enjoy the beginning of the holiday season. The entire experience from the moment you step on board your ship brings a smile. Cobble stoned streets, the smell of mulled wine, gingerbread ornaments, happy faces and slipping past castles via ship all create a memory to last a lifetime. The staff works very hard to make every minute of your cruise one that etches a time and place into your memory. The food is delicious, travelers congenial and the entire experience is that "w" word....wonderful!!!!!

Traveler: Kay Ransom from Good Hope, GA traveled on December 03, 2004

We had a wonderful time on our Christmas Markets Along the Danube cruise. This was our first trip with Grand Circle Tours and we have been discussing which GCT trip will be our next. Our itinerary was Nurnberg to Vienna on the River Concerto in early December, and we added the Munich pre-trip so we could see more of Germany and allow a little time to deal with jet-lag. It also gave us the chance to become acquainted with our program director, Jutta, and several of our fellow travelers.
Weather presented us with some challenges, even before we arrived in Germany. Flights were delayed or rescheduled and we were beginning to wonder about the wisdom of trying to travel to Europe in the winter. Once we arrived in Munich and Jutta took charge, we put our worries behind us. The Munich part of our trip went perfectly, and the optional trip to Neuschwanstein was everything we had hoped for. My wife and I have since agreed the brief time we spent that day in Oberammergau, walking the quiet streets and the rustic Christkindlmarkt, was the high point of the entire trip for us.
As we came closer to joining the ship for the actual cruise, it became clear that our trip was not progressing according to the original plan. The early rains and snow continued to cause the river to rise, making it impossible for the Concerto to reach Nurnberg. Jutta was in constant contact with the ship, and even though there were many changes in our itinerary to cope with weather related problems, we did not miss anything which had been planned. More time was spent on buses than we liked, but we also found we were seeing more of the German towns and countryside than if we had simply sailed down the river.
Once aboard the Concerto, we quickly fell into a routine and the Captain and crew took extremely good care of us, welcoming us back from shore excursions with warm cider and hot towels. The Chef and kitchen staff outdid themselves and I wondered if I would ever be hungry again. Our trip down the Danube through Austria went smoothly. Linz and Melk slipped past much too quickly and we found ourselves wishing we had signed up for the Vienna post-trip extension.
Very little of our trip was not affected by the weather. Many plans were changed, adjustments made, times altered. All without sacrificing any part of the trip. As we left the ship in the early morning hours to go to the Vienna Airport, we kept chuckling to ourselves as we remembered Jutta’s oft repeated words…”Anyone can take a Christmas trip, you get to have a Christmas Adventure!”
For anyone seeking a “Christmas Adventure”, I can heartily recommend the GCT Christmas Markets Along the Danube.

Traveler: David Haley from Lampasas, TX traveled on December 09, 2010

This was a delightful cruise. The Christmas markets in Vienna, Nuremberg, and Munich were wonderful. I also enjoyed the smaller markets in Linz, Passau, and Regensburg.

An organ concert in the Melk Abbey was a highlight of the trip.

The food was excellent and there were always extra things they offered such as appetizers in the lounge during the port talks.

Because of high water on the Danube, the itinerary had to be adjusted, but the captain and the program directors kept us informed and handled everything smoothly. We had to go to Nuremberg by bus and spend the last night in a hotel, but it was fine. We were given a monetary credit and a voucher toward a future trip because of the inconvenience - which I thought was very generous.

The pre trip in Vienna and the post trip in Munich were very nice as well allowing for as much free time as you wanted to do your own exploring.

I was traveling alone so I used Grand Circle's roommate matching service. I also did that two years ago when I took the Christmas Markets on the Rhine cruise. Both times it worked out fine.

Traveler: Phyllis from Vicksburg, MI traveled on December 05, 2010

We took the Danube Christmas Markets Cruise in December, 2009.

From the moment we boarded the Adagio, in Vienna, I knew this was going to be something special.

We arrived at the ship early, as we were traveling independently and were already in Vienna. We were immediately warmly greeted upon boarding the ship.

Of course our room was not ready, so we were offered refreshments in the lounge. We attempted to move our luggage out of the way, but were told we were on vacation now, and that they would do that for us. We were told they would find us when our room was ready.

We made our way to the lounge, and were met by the bartender, Georgi who was one of the friendliest people I have ever met. From that moment on, he remembered our names, and always greeted us by name with a warm smile.

When our room was ready, the young lady found us, and led us to our room. Along the way, she pointed out facilities on the ship. Our luggage was taken to the room for us. I offered a tip, but it was declined with a warm smile.

I cannot say enough about the genuine warmth and friendliness of the entire crew - from the mechanics to the captain. All were very warm and friendly. Crew members went out of their way to be helpful and informative. Whenever we were near, or passed, a crew member, they would always greet us.

The food in the dining room was excellent, with excellent, friendly service. Again, the wait staff made the effort to get to know us.

The ship, itself, was beautiful and immaculately clean. It was decorated in a festive Christmas manner. It was very steady, and we would never know we were on a boat if we didn't look around.

The towns that we visited were all lovely, and each one unique. Each was decorated for Christmas. This made for getting everyone in a festive mood. the local people we met were very friendly, and were patient and appreciative of my attempts to speak German and wish them a "Merry Christmas". As well, the food and drink we sampled in each town was very yummy. Each town had specialty items uniquely theirs - which we managed to purchase for Christmas gifts.

The local demonstrations on the ship were very informative, and a lot of fun.

A nice surprise onboard was the celebration of the feast of St. Nicholas. Everyone put a shoe outside their room upon retiring for the evening. Upon awaking, like little children, we dashed to the door to see what St. Nicholas had left us. We were not let down by receiving coal. Instead we got a Christmas bag filled with all kinds of goodies.

Our fellow passengers were quite nice, as well. It seemed everyone was there to have a good time. People were positive and very friendly.

On the last day we walked out of the dining room with the captain. we talked to him about how much we had enjoyed ourselves, and our wish to once again sail with him. He gave us both a hug, thanked us for sailing with them, and wished us a safe journey home, as well as a Merry Christmas. He is a genuine person who is very warm and kind. He was like that throughout the cruise.

We had a great time on this cruise and highly recommend it.

We are anxious to take another cruise with Grand Circle because we know we will be well cared for, and will have an exceptionally good time.

Traveler: Gregory Henning from Sandy, UT traveled on December 03, 2009

I could not find enough words to say how wonderful this trip was. The food was wonderful although the Thanksgiving dinner was not quite up to snuff but everything else was great. I do appreciate the effort that went into making
Thanksgiving seem like home. Everyone on the ship was very friendly-workers, other passengers etc. The trips into towns were outstanding. The tour guides were very informative. I LOVED IT.

Traveler: Jo Ellyn from Austin, TX traveled on November 24, 2009

What a fantastic trip! I have been on many vacations but never one which was as totally relaxing as this one. From the moment we boarded our plane to Germany, we were completely "taken care of".

The food was incredible, the staff extremely knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. The itinerary was perfect, with plenty of time to spend wandering the markets and the towns at our leisure.

The optional tour that we took was an excellent day and superb value.

We are already anticipating our next Christmas trip on the Rhine in 2011. Thanks Grand Circle for making this an outstanding, truly memorable experience.

Traveler: Heather from Leander, TX traveled on November 24, 2009

This was our second cruise with GCT (we did Christmas Markets along the Rhine last year), and despite a couple problems this time we will be cruising with them again in the future.

The cities and markets were beautiful and fun. Each town has it's own feel, so even though you could find many of the same items in each market, there was always something new to be found, that no other market or city had to offer.

The crew and our program director were both great. Knowledgeable and friendly.

We did feel a bit more rushed than last year's trip, particularly on the day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle on the pre-trip in Munich.

There were quite a few people on our ship who became ill (probably norovirus according to the doctor I saw in Vienna), my wife and I included. I feel GCT should have policies in place to help limit the spread of these types of illness once they become evident on the ship. The only change to the routine on our ship was the removal of cookiestreats at the entrance to the lounge pre-dinner, and the appearance of a second hand-sanitizer at the doors leading to the dock. All other food for breakfast and lunch continued to be self-serve, which left many opportunities for infection (see below).

A hand sanitizer was present at the entrance to the dining room, but set off to the side, so many people ignored them when entering the dining room. On cruises with other companies, there was a staff member to ensure that people did use them to halt the spread of disease. In one case I witnessed a program director (not ours thankfully) enter the dining room without using the sanitizer, and the several passengers with this person also by-passed it as well.

After we became ill, the ship's crew and the program directors did a very good job of seeing that we were transported to the hotel (we became ill the last day on the ship) and summoned a doctor to our hotel room to certify us fit-to-fly.

Thankfully the stomach distress was short-lived (about 24 hours) and we were able to return home with no lasting ill effects. As I said at the beginning - all in all it was a good cruise, and I'm sure we will travel again with GCT.

Traveler: Ron from Port Orchard, WA traveled on December 07, 2009

My wife and I traveled on the River Aria on the December 16 cruise from Nuremberg to Vienna. The trip was fabulous. It actually was much better than we expected. This was our first GCT cruise but we have traveled on 40 other cruises. We will certainly return to GCT. Everyone on the ship was superb and had a great sense of humor. The Program Director, Alex was a real charm. He was informative and helpful as well as being a friend. Everyone, from the Captain to the Hotel Manager Volker, was always available, even the chef.
The food was excellent although we did miss not having Weiner Schnitzel or apple strudel. It was a pleasure having the excursions included. The weather was cold but what we expected for December and the light snow gave a real Christmas spirit. The Christmas Markets were charming and each one a little different. We ate our way around each one trying the sausages in Nuremberg and Regensberg and declared them a tie for taste. We even got to meet the KhrisKindle in Nuremberg where she interviewed my wife for German TV. The other passengers were very friendly and eveyone got along well. We made some new friends and have shared pictures. Santa even visited and left us beautiful gifts and so did the Program Directors. We will ceratinly travel again on GCT with the Christmas Markets along the Rhine a real likelyhood.

Traveler: Ronald from Norristown, PA traveled on December 15, 2009

I loved my December 2009 "Christmas Markets Along the Danube" river cruise and have already booked for 2010 along the Rhine. The various Christmas Markets in each city we visited offered some unique shopping; there are "special treasures" to be found by the selective shopper, most of the items small and easy to fit in luggage for transport home. Sure, there are plenty of unique larger items if your luggage space allows.

Doing the Christmas Markets in several German cities definitely got one into the Christmas mood. The shopping, local decor, wintery weather (meaning seasonal cold and some light snow) all helped set the Christmas mood. The River Aria was appropriately trimmed for Christmas with a stocking on each cabin door, pine garlands, and a decorated tree in the reception area. Very festive indeed!

We enjoyed a great group of fellow travelers on the river cruise with several of us having gotten acquainted during our Munich pre-trip experience. The stop at Rothenburg enroute from Munich to board the ship at Nuremberg was a delight--such a charming little German town. This stop was a highlight of the pre-trip optional. Those who took the optional excursion to see Neuschwanstein Castle were treated to a wintery wonderland day with fresh snow adding to the beauty of the fairytale setting of the castle on the hill.

The River Aria's crew was friendly and attentive--great service from all. The daily menus were most creative and varied; meals were beautifully plated and served by the dining room team with precision. Whether a buffet-style or plated meal, the food variety was excellent and plentiful.

Our four program directors were excellent providing helpful information and local color about each port visited and about the customs in the PD's home country. Each PD demonstrated excellent language skills and relevant historical andor local information.

Three highlights provided during the cruise for all to enjoy on the ship were the talk andor demonstration by Karl Ittig, the glassblower from Wertheim (fascinating demonstration of glassblowing complete with humorous banter), the talk on German Christmas traditions given by a lady whose name I failed to note, and the fun Crew Show put on one night by several crew members. Fun times!

I highly recommend this trip for those desiring a pre-Christmas December getaway along the Danube. Lovely!

Traveler: Linda from Prospect Heights, IL traveled on December 12, 2009

My wife and I, along with our daughter, made the most memorable Christmas trip ever on the River Adagio. After sailing from Vienna, a soft snow fell as we journeyed through the Wachau Valley. It continued as we arrived in Melk and made our tour of Melk Abbey even more special than we could have ever expected. There was snow on the ground for nearly our entire trip, and just seemed to enhance the beauty of all the Austrian and German scenery that we encountered. Linz, Salzburg, Passau, Regensburg and Nurnberg, all with their cathedrals and Christkindl Markets were more colorful and exciting than we imagined. Our time in Regensburg was made special with a performance from a boy's choir in a beautiful cathedral that had been arranged just for us. Then, a visit to the Market at the Thurn und Taxi Palace, with an orchestra playing carols, bonfires, crafts, food, and of course, gluhwein, was almost like visiting another century.
Throughout the trip, the Captain and crew of the Adagio made our floating home so comfortable and inviting. Sonny and his staff at the front desk ran everything perfectly. Every meal in the dining room was a treat, thanks to the Chef and all the wonderful staff. Our cabins were always clean and fresh thanks to our attendants hard work.
Finally, our Program Directors were all outstanding. Alex, Dina, Martin, and Thomas interacted with all of us. They were available not only on the tours they led, but as we were out and about on our own. They answered questions and gave information about any topic that concerned us. Their professionalism was also evident to us as we observed how they treated other passengers in our group. I will always remember Dina at the airport on our departure day, unloading baggage from the bus, directing passengers to the right places, and even fielding complaints from people that were not from our group! Again, a magical family Christmas for us! We definitely plan to sail again with GCT!

Traveler: John from Theodore, AL traveled on December 17, 2009

As with all our previous cruises, it was Fantastic. The crew, Volker, Goran, Milka Michael and Margarita made every day a memory. Our delightful director Becky was a bundle of information. She made our shore trips very interesting.

Traveler: Tom & Christa from Huntsville, AL traveled on November 24, 2009

We were on the 24 November-2 December, Vienna-Nuremberg trip which we loved. Grand Circle does an excellent job on all its trips. This one was no exception. Great Program Directors and crew on a commodius ship with plenty to do. The places visited and their markets were pretty and fun.

Traveler: Donald J from Starkville, MS traveled on November 24, 2009

This was our first River Cruise and vacation with Grand Circle Travel, and this definitely will not be the last one! The staff was personable and added that special touch to make our vacation just that more memorable. The cities we stopped at are beautiful and though many of the locals at the markets do not speak English, they made their best faith effort to help.

My only downside to the trip was when I became ill during the post-trip in Vienna. Our tour director went out of her way to help me and I was back sightseeing in no time.

Everyone was accomodating and made our vacation feel like an actual vacation. I made the comment while in Germany that there is so much to see and not enough time; one of the tour directors replied, "Consider this an appetizer." We will definitely be back.

Traveler: Julia from Metamora, IL traveled on December 01, 2009