The Great Rivers of Europe (2012)

The two tours planned in Vienna were not a good value in our estimation. The Schoenbrun Palace and Egg Festival should have been one of the tours. Luckily Karin [our Program Director] took all of us out to see it. We also thought a tour of the Opera House should be included.

Traveler: Laura Leister from Fort Myers, FL traveled on March 12, 2012

The experience on the bus was much too long and too often. The main reason we signed up for this particular trip was the opportunity to visit Nürnberg and the Documentation Center. This optional tour was canceled so we were very disappointed!
Staying in hotels, and being on the bus so much was not our idea of a pleasant vacation.

Traveler: Ursula Friedeberg from San Jose, CA traveled on March 22, 2012

This trip was a unique combination of European hotelery and cruise line hospitality that delivered an absolutely delightful experience travelling through what I consider the best part of Europe.

Adding a bit more ability for internet connection would be good for those more attached to the cyberworld but we were more than very happy maximizing our time enjoying the sights, cuisines, sounds and cultures of the regions visited.

Traveler: George Hemond from North Smithfield, RI traveled on April 29, 2012

We really enjoyed our first cruise with Grand Circle, Great Rivers of Europe. The scenery of castles and churches and villages along the Danube and Rhine were so memorable.
The Danube was blocked for 5 days but Grand Circle did a wonderful job making alternate plans with bus trips and hotel stays and even gave us a partial refund. Our program director, Jutta, made the tour so interesting with her combination of humor and all her knowledge of the area.
My husband has physical problems and all the walking on cobblestones was hard on him and he was unable to take some of the tours.
I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who is in good physical condition. We are so glad that we had this experience.

Traveler: Nancy Heckman from Atglen, PA traveled on March 22, 2012

I have traveled many times with GCT and OAT, and the trips were always well organized and enjoyable. I have met delightful people and visited places where I have never been before and most probably will never see again.That is the bittersweet but exciting part of travel. My most recent trip was my first river boat cruise- and I am now convinced that this is the way I choose to continue traveling....no packing and unpacking- no riding on buses and no decisions on where to eat our next non-included meal. The Great Rivers of Europe cruise provided 3 gourmet meals a day, excellent well informed ( and charming!) guides to shepherd us through the delightful old towns ,and evenings with professional entertainment. Our lounge provided live music and platters of goodies to share upon our return from local excursions.Every comfort was anticipated and we were treated like royal guests. I loved every minute of it!!!!

Traveler: Joan Howe from Annapolis, MD traveled on March 26, 2012

It was a wonderful trip. Our Tour Director Vlad was fantasic and the ship was really great.
This was our 5th Grand Circle trip and was definely the be best.

Traveler: Pascal S Brock from Lugoff, SC traveled on March 23, 2012

Our very first River Cruise and first trip with GCT is worthy of too many superlatives to mention! Great advice from a cousin who recommended GCT included booking a room below the balcony floor both for more room and quietness. With a March 8 departure we packed lots of warm layers and umbrellas, but really lucked up on the weather. Light rain one afternoon when we were sailing, did nothing to dim our enjoyment. We made some fantastic friends with whom we enjoyed conversation and games! Everyone on the ship's staff was so nice and efficient and our Program Director Johannes was absolutely super. He had a fun sense of humor and such in depth knowledge of history that all of his tours were great. Each of our stops was unique and interesting-don't miss the optional tour to the Nuremberg Documentation Center. Plan on taking the extended trip in Vienna. What a beautiful place with music, museums, palaces and food and shopping. Go too the Ticket Office on Sunday morning by 10:30 am to hopefully get seats for the Spanish Royal Riding School performance.Our next trip may be a land tour, but we are also looking forward to planning our next River Cruise.

Traveler: Sally Wilson from Jamestown, NC traveled on March 08, 2012

This was our third river journey with GCT and were delighted with consistent performance of all levels of staff. Our tour guide, Michaela, added so much to the itinerary with her spontaneous wit and curiosity as well as the atmosphere on the ship.

We chose the deck below the balconies and were glad for the extra space in the room.
Meals were consistently good, with many choices available for all palates. We are not talking "mess hall" here, but dignified four-course meals with amiable staff, who anticipated needs after only a few days.

The passengers were diverse and friendly, with the majority seeking out new dining partners at each meal. (This doens't always happen.) Fellow travelers are a treasure trove of information as well.
The lounge and deck areas are great places to meet passengers.
The itinerary is varied, with on-ship commentary in scenic areas and good walking tours, using wireless listening devices.
It's imprtant to "pick and choose" optional excursions. Read reviews and talk to friends who have "been there". We learned so much from touring the Documentation Center in Nuremburg, wishing for more time. On the other hand, Melk Abbey can be accessed on foot with certain areas available. However, you will miss the library in that case. We felt "Baorque & Beer" a pleasant pastime, but only fair value.
River trips are less active than the usual OAT journeys. Our preference is more OAT oriented, but again, consider the difference between 16 and 140 travelers.
All in all, we found our trip delightful.

Traveler: Theodore Brandley from Summerfield, FL traveled on March 05, 2012

This was our first rrip with Grand Circle and it was great, there was a problem on the river and the company took charge and bussed us to many cities in Germany and treated us to a wonderful vacation. the tour directors were fantastic. Having traveled with another company that had a problem which they did not handle very well, we were very impressed with the way GCT took care of us. We got back on the boat 4 days later up river. The Captain and crew seem to really be glad to see all of us and we had a very good time.

Traveler: Mary Greene from Greenville, SC traveled on March 22, 2012

MAYBE I AM BIASED.OR PREDJUDICED BUT WE ARE NEVER DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RIVER TRIPS AND THIS WAS NO EXCEPTION. FROM THE TIME WE SET DOWN IN VIENNA AND WERE MET BY OUR TOUR DIRECTOR ,ISTVAN PINTER,AT THE AIRPORT WE HAD GOOD VIBES AND IT JUST CONTINUED ON. .WE WERE GREETED BY ALL THE STAFF WHEN WE BOARDED THE SHIP ARIA. IT JUST SO HAPPENS WE WERE THE FIRST ABOARD THE SHIP FOR ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE THIS SEASON. MORE GOOD VIBES.WE WERE GREETED LIKE ROYALTY.THIS WAS A DUPLICATE OF OUR ORIGINAL TRIP WITH GCT TEN YEARS AGO WHICH WAS OUR INTRODUCTION TO RIVER CRUISING ADVENTURES. THE FOOD AND SERVICE IN THE DINING ROOM IS OUTSTANDING. WE WILL BE RETURNING SOON FOR OUR 19TH TRIP. ACCOLADES TO ALL AT THE SHIP ARIA.

Traveler: Jack Stoff from Mamaroneck, NY traveled on March 18, 2012

This was our second river cruise with Grand Circle in four months. That alone should say something about river cruises and Grand Circle in particular. We did a pre-trip in Vienna on our own, which was thoroughly enjoyable. Vienna is one of the loveliest cities in the world. It was a shame that those who did not come early had VERY little time to appreciate Vienna. Upon boarding the Aria, we were happily greeted by Michaela, the Assistant Hotel Manager, who we had met on the River Rhapsody in November. She is a treasure and made us feel right at home.
In November on the Rhapsody, we had had a balcony cabin, which was lovely. This time we were one deck below on the Seranade Deck The difference in space was dramatic! There was more storage than we could even use. This is the way to go, especially in the off-season when it is too cold to enjoy the balcony.
The itinerary was excellent, with a few exceptions. There were some stops where we had too much time. There were stops where it seemed that if you didn't go on the "Optional Tour", there was very little to do in the town where we were docked.
The food, with a few exceptions, was VERY good. Unfortunately at the pasta station on the lunch buffet, the people cooking the pasta had no idea what the recipes were supposed to be. This was the first cruise of the season, so hopefully that will improve.
When we first entered the Dining Room, we saw our waiter from the Rhapsody, Santoso. He is a superb waiter, who had our iced teas ready at every meal and bent over backward to please everyone.
ALL the staff- cabin stewards, Dining Room Staff, etc. were fabulous! They were led by the extremely capable and personable Florin, the Hotel Manager.
The four Program Directors, Silviya, Susanne, Jakob, and Istavan were all most friendly and helpful.
The passengers were, as always, a very diverse group, making for interesting conversations. Once again, we made what we hope will be life-long friends.
Booking last minute (a week before departure) created some problems. We did not receive our handbook and information book until we returned home. I had to call to remind Grand Circle that we were departing early and needed our travel documents. Also flight connections left a lot to be desired, but it was last minute.
All in all a Grand Circle cruise is the very best way to see Europe.

Traveler: Diane Steiner from Clifton Park, NY traveled on March 18, 2012

We loved our trip through Germany and as always the trip leaders and staff of our ship were beyond excellent. However, while they caution fellow travelers about getting sick and using the hand sanitizer, provided freely and conveniently throughout the ship, some travelers have no regard for the crew or fellow travelers when they get sick. While I know you paid to enjoy your trip, not staying in your room, especially the first few days, when you catch something on the plane, means everyone else gets to share your illness. One or two passengers on our trip came aboard with the usual respiratory virus and by the end of the trip at least one third of the ship had it. I watched them mingle around coughing and sneezing (usually into thier hands!) and going on about enjoying their trip while spreading their sickness to everyone else. Please exercise some courtesy when traveling in group settings and staying in your room away from other passengers when you get sick. Some folks on our tour ended up in the hospital because of one or two of our fellow passengers not wanting to miss any place or MEAL they paid for!!!

Traveler: Vivian Forbes from Reno, NV traveled on March 08, 2012

Normally, I would not go on the same trip twice, but this time we went with 19 of our friends. 15 of those were from our street. We had a grand time.

Mother nature was really good to us as we only had one day that it rained lightly, and it was in the mid 60's most every day.

The ships crew was overall the best of all of our trips. The crew, including the captain, hotel manager, the restaurant manager (David), our two waiters, and our program director Rudy were really great.

Many of my friends had not gone with GCT before, but they are all enthusiastic about River Cruises now and GCT. We took the extension to Belgium and loved Bruges and Delpt. We will add Bruge to our next trip.

One day, there was a problem due to a transportation strike and we could not get through the locks, so the program directors added plan B that took us to a town not originally on the trip which was great fun.

Our group wants to do another trip next year and will begin planning which one in the next few months. Looking forward to traveling with GCT once again.

Woody Reaves

Traveler: Sherwood Reaves from Jacksonville, FL traveled on March 09, 2012

First, let's get rid of all the bad things,.... OK, that's out of the way. This started off in slighty murky weather in Amsterdam and ending in sunshine in Vienna.At this time of year spring was making an appearance along the river and indeed was welcomed.
All the stops featured either a stroll around with a program director or a local guide. We thought our PD, Gigi, did a wonderful job, her knowledge of the various ports was extensive and appreciated.
We did not take a lot of optional tours but we did enjoy the Documentation Center in Nuremberg, very informative, as well as a sobering experience.
As for included tours, Heidelberg was outstanding as was Cologne, in fact, in my opinion, there was not a bad stop anywhere.
Food, when one asks if it's time to eat again, I guess that answers the question of " How was the food ? " The tiny kitchen turns out outstanding meals on a consistant basis.
This was our second time on the River Melody and it was nice to see many familiar faces including "our" cabin steward.
I have no hesitation in recommending this cruise to anyone contemplating a European River Cruise.

Traveler: Jeannine Martell from Chicopee, MA traveled on March 08, 2012

Cruisin’ down the river on a winter afternoon. Baby it’s cold outside, but who cares? We returned on Nov. 28, 2011 from the “Great Rivers of Europe” and enjoyed it immensely. Winter is the perfect time to miss the crowds that abound in the summer. And like Mama always said “just put that hat on and bundle up, my dear.” So that is just what we did.

Every gentle bend of the river revealed picturesque landscapes as our riverboat cruised its way along 948 miles of the storied rivers of the Danube, Main and Rhine. The storybook towns lured us from the river bank and we were enchanted as we strolled along the ancient streets. The essence of the Old World was certainly enjoyed on this our 29th trip with Grand Circle TravelOverseas Adventure Travel. As an added bonus, Christmas Markets were opening and we delighted in the sights and sounds of merriment as we experienced Christkindlmarkt in five festive towns along the way.

Stroll the streets, sit down in a old historic town center and fix your eyes upon the loveliness of your surroundings. Buy a cappuccino and the warmness of the cup in your hands will also warm your spirit as you enjoy the ambiance of a place that you thought you would only read about in a book. But you are now a character in that storybook setting.

Please check out my travel blog of the “Great Rivers of Europe.” With my short narration and by looking at the pictures I think you can appreciate the beauty of these lovely towns. http:thefarmersmeanderings.wordpress.com

Traveler: Marilyn & Jim Farmer from Altoona, KS traveled on November 13, 2011

Having wanted to take a riverboat cruise for a long time, this was my first experience with this type of travel and GCT. It goes without saying, it will not be my last. This trip exceeded my expectations in each and every way.

Our program director, Petra Holl was a huge part of making this trip so memorable. Her enthusiasm, knowledge and positive outlook were so refreshing.

Captain Juraj was a constant presence and very approachable and informative.

Having toured Europe by both land and sea numerous times, the riverboat concept and pace really appealed to me. The meals were a delectable treat every day. The staff was most accommodating and friendly and the cabins were very comfortable.

Every day was a history lesson made up of touring, commentary and on-board lectures and demonstrations.

I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the other passengers, most of whom have traveled numerous times with GCT. I believe these repeat passengers speaks volumes for the quality of GCT tours. Although this was my first venture with you, I can promise you that it will not be my last!

Traveler: Sue Mclaughlin from Hermitage, PA traveled on October 30, 2011

If this individual had stopped talking and devoted some time to listening, she might have learned something. Our tour director, Gigi, was outstanding. Very personable and very knowledgeable about the history and architecture of our visitation sites. We were on this trip and enjoyed it very very much.

Traveler: Merton Robinson from North Attleboro, MA traveled on October 12, 2011

What a wonderful experience! Exceeded our expectations for traveling comfort. Not having to pack or think about meals made the trip effortless. Our travel director was never lost for an explaination. The food was perfect at every meal along with the wine. The easy way to see much of Europe. Helen & Ned Hackett

Traveler: Edward Hackett from Hobe Sound, FL traveled on October 02, 2011

Our experience on the actual cruise almost made up for our very disappointing experiences with the GCT home office. I have sent my detailed comments to GCT in your evaluation request wiith reference to my two letters to Mr. Lewis concerning our "bumping" from a reserved cabin on the 2011 trip and our 2010 experience with Air France. It appears that letters like these are probably buried in the GCT mill and not read and acted on by a GCT supervisor.

Traveler: Samuel Fletcher from Williamsburg, VA traveled on September 22, 2011

Traveling by river boat is an excellent way to see the countryside of Europe and to explore some quaint medieval towns.

However, I have to say, the trip was only good, when it really could have been great!
I was very disappointed in our Program Director. She gave us so little information - that when you had free time to explore - you wasted so much time trying to find your way around. The maps provided were second rate - as they were bw photocopies of color tourist maps.

If major sites were listed on the back of the map, their location was not always noted on the map, nor hours or fees listed.

So if Grand Circle wants to improve the trip, they need to make sure the Program Directors are committed to providing much more information, allowing each person to maximize their experience.

I realize not everyone wants a great deal of information - but for those who do - it just wasn't provided. I feel I should have done all my own research before the trip instead of depending on Grand Circle to provide it.

Traveler: Brenda Reynolds from San Diego, CA traveled on October 12, 2011

On September 29, 2011, I returned from my 6th trip with Grand Circle, “Great Rivers of Europe”. Generally, I prefer OAT trips that are billed as adventurous, have smaller groups and more opportunity to get to know traveling companions. But OAT is a little more demanding and I felt my friend and I could use a more relaxing cruise. And that it was and much more!! I am amazed that GCT can give such an incredible value for a luxury trip. Aside from the air travel to Vienna (changing terminals at Charles de Gaulle was a nightmare), we never had a stressful moment. Every meal (they are all included) was a delicious culinary event served by waiters who were polite, attentive and friendly. Every day the chef prepared local delicacies or standard “American” fare that was always available – everything cooked to order and served promptly. The Captain, Executive and all our staff were professional and responsive to our requests. They worked smoothly together as a team and let us know we were valuable guests.

The Program directors worked very hard to inform us and make our trip interesting. Sometime we learned more than we wanted to know, but they did their job well but not always with the sensitivity one finds with a smaller group.

We saw a variety of quaint German towns, lots of castles and enjoyed excellent shopping. I found treasures for all the members of my extended family and I learned a lot – especially at Nuremburg. I wish we had more time in Amsterdam – loved the canal ride and the Rijksmuseum. I intend to return, as there is much more to enjoy there.

On reflection, “Great Rivers of Europe” was one of my best GCT trips – but I say that about all of them!

T. Adams

111111

Traveler: Thayer Adams from Gwynedd Valley, PA traveled on September 14, 2011

First time great time. We were very surprised at the quality of our Tour Director and Crew. Dina Ebeid, Tour Director, was outstanding,and the Cap't was great , helped with questions on all subjects. The passengers were very interesting, some of us even formed a breakfast club, just the guys.
One suggestion - keep a worksheet page in the catalogues, so we can compare dates and prices, and plan our adventure!
We like to do it all over again.

Traveler: Diane ,HarryLindsey, from Monroeville, PA traveled on September 28, 2011

Trip on boat was wonderful, but air connections on return trip were too tight. Almost missed flight from Paris to Atlanta. We trusted Grand Circle to make reasonable arrangements, but you dropped the ball. We made our flight in Paris by one minute after changing lines at security and running through the airport! I think the only reason the flight was held was that the people we were running through the airport with to make the flight were first class, and the airline didn't want to leave the big spenders behind. You need to leave more time in connecting airports!

Traveler: Kenneth Barnett from Carlsbad, CA traveled on October 02, 2011

As usual we rate this trip excellent just as we have the many other cruisetours we've experienced with GCT. We did notice this time that among the passengers there were several groups. I know GCT has been encouraging such so I was pleased to see that the promotion appears to be working, but the presence of multiple groups can have a negative impact on the ways travelers interact. Our PD's and the hotel manager were forced to make two announcements regarding open seating and requested that dinning room tables andor seats not be reserved. We use the passenger list during a trip and try to at least meet and greet every person by the trip's end and have almost always discovered mutual friends or acquaintances. We realize some are uncomfortable meeting strangers, but we would argue that the benefits derived from meeting and getting to know new people can create lasting memories and contacts that may most likely last longer than our memories of the 8th cathedral visited or even a home-hosted visit on the trip. PD's should encourage groups to split up at least once a day to facilitate mixing. We recently received a brochure from a Detroit based travel group (NextTours) that was trying to recruit 30-40 passengers to travel as a group on a GCT cruise. I hope that if larger groups become common GCT will make sure that the groups (much like pre-trip groups) are encouraged to mix with the others. I realize this isn't a true "review" so I won't feel hurt if this doesn't appear (even edited) on the Review lists.. but I wanted someone at GCT to know of our concerns. You've got great tour experiences put together and we'd hate to see them impacted negatively. PS, Barbara was fantastic as our PD and will remain on our Special Friend list for a long time. It was also fun to have Frances as one of the PDs for the third time.

Traveler: John Herold from Ann Arbor, MI traveled on October 02, 2011

For me, carefree and river cruises are synonymous.

No packing or unpacking, no where or when do we eat, no timetables to consult or conveyances to arrange.

Just the sheer delight of sitting on deck watching a picturesque world glide by. When the boat docks, I step off into whatever adventure I choose: exploring, walking, cafe sitting, picture taking, poking around, shopping.

When on board, I experience the services of a first class hotel that floats. A very capable, experienced crew and staff who are welcoming and attentive to my needs.

River cruises take me to places I want to be with no hassle and with the most pleasure.

Traveler: Barbara Gautier from New York, NY traveled on September 26, 2011

This trip could not have been much better!
Ship and it's crew were outstanding and exceeded our expectations, food was outstanding. Vienna, a truly fascinating city,
was a fine starting point for our tour, we recommend the extra time of a prepost visit. Going on with 11 stops and then Amsterdam with each having it's own wonderful history made for a jam packed exciting trip. So many highlights I can't list them all - but don't miss the Abbot Eustasius on the optional Bavaria: Baroque & Beer tour. If you want to see "old Germany" this is the tour. WONDERFUL!

Traveler: Jon Schneider from Port Charlotte, FL traveled on September 19, 2011

this trip was beyond my expectations.magnificent in every waygrand circle really takes good care of you.

Traveler: Charles Myers from Osage Beach, MO traveled on September 26, 2011

Such incredible scenery all along the rivers. Can't think of a better way to totally unwind and relax than to sit in a comfortable chair and watch the world go by.

Traveler: Jackie Rubinelli from Vancouver, WA traveled on September 17, 2011

Very good trip with outstanding food and food service. Beds surprisingly comfortable as fold down wall units. Housekeeping done very well and overall ship service is friendly. Local guides on tours were excellent and educational speakers brought on board at ports did very well.

Audio receivers used by GCT guides at port visits are adequate but need upgrading. GCT guides are very knowledgeable but you may need to ask questions to get beyond the basic "spiel".

I would definitely recommend the trip.

Traveler: Philip J Tobin from Wadsworth, IL traveled on September 08, 2011

I was verry pleased with my roommate provided through Grand Circle. The ship Rhapsody, was beautiful. Fabulous staff, so very well trained. The meals were excellent but I have a problem with salt and didn't know I could ask for a low salt diet. As a result my blood pressure shot up and I had to borrow some pills from a fellow traveler. The weather was perfect and sunny. What a beaautiful river and the area surrounding it. The little towns with walls were the highlight for me. I do wish there were more free optional tours, however.

Traveler: Betty Free from Carlsbad, CA traveled on September 17, 2011

This was a fantastic trip. The ship's captain and whole staff were friendly, personable and very accomodating. The food was superb and where possible, reflected foods from the region we were ln. The tours were also very well done.

Traveler: Clifton Phalen from Bradenton, FL traveled on September 14, 2011

What a great way to see Europe! Our cabin on the River Concerto was pleasantly roomy for a riverboat and though we were on the lowest deck, our window gave us a water level view of the river which was quite interesting.

The crew from the Captain on down were friendly and helpful. They would go out of their way to help you with any issue you may have.

We took the trip in September and had lovely weather with only one day of rain. It was a little cool especially on the river and early in the morning so we wished we had brought more warm clothes.

We did the route from Amsterdam to Vienna and were pleased with the wonderful sights and side trips we took. Sailing the Rhine River and seeing all the quaint small towns with churches and castles everywhere was quite impressive.

Our tour guides were all very friendly and helpful. They spoke English well and were knowledgeable about the areas we were visiting.

The only thing I would change is more time in Vienna. If you do not book the extension trip, you only get one short evening in Vienna. The optional trip to Musical Vienna was great and we got to see some of Vienna on our way back to the boat, but we could have spent much more time there. Booking the Vienna extension is one way to do that but I think cutting out one of the small towns and getting to Vienna a day earlier would be nice.

The meals were good and the entertainment was fun. We were busy from morning until night and had a great time. Even if just sitting on the top deck and watching the landscape go buy you saw wonderful sights at every bend in the river.

I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who has never gone on a cruise, there is no feeling of motion, no bouncing or wave action so it is perfectly comfortable.

Having your room travel with you is great. No moving from hotel to hotel every night. No packing and unpacking. You can get comfortable and settle in for an enjoyable 2 weeks on the river.

I plan to travel with Grand Circle again in the future, they are truly a great travel company.

Traveler: Andre Robert from Dalton, MA traveled on September 12, 2011

This trip in September of 2011 was a highlight of the year for us. The ship(Concerto) was in perfect condition and was a beautiful home away from home. It was the crew, however, that made our cruise so special. Captain Gabor and Hotel Manager Vasily knew our names and saw that all of our needs were taken care of. These two gentlemen set the tone for the rest of the crew. The head chef provided the most delicious meals and was always available to see that we were pleased. We can't say enough about the Concerto crew.

Our program guides, Markus, Carla, and Anja, were wonderful. They saw to it that we were always being educated and that our needs were being taken care of. We learned so much about Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Beautiful scenery!

Keep up the good work, guys, you gave us a trip that we will never forget.
Donald and Elisabeth Stocker
Trinity, Florida
9 times Grand Circle Travelers

Traveler: Donald Stocker from Trinity, FL traveled on August 29, 2011

The Great Rivers of Europe was by far the most enjoyable and memorable of our six trips with GCT. Everyday brought us a new experience. Traveling from the Netherlands to Germany to Austria gave us a wonderful taste of different cultures. The people were warm and friendly in every city that we visited. The crew on our ship made this trip very special. The crew was talkative and made you feel like family. The memory of going over the Continental Divide with Champagne and singing at 11:00 p.m. in a lock of 82 feet will stay with us forever.

Traveler: Roger Gregorio from Shallotte, NC traveled on August 15, 2011

My husband and I cannot say enough great things about our excellend adventure! The ship was wonderful, my husband is 6'4" and I am 5'11". We had no problem with sleeping accomodations at all. The bathroom was a good size also. Staff on the ship are very friendly and bend over backwards for you. The program directors are fun and knowledgable. Going down the river and seeing those tiny villages with castles popping up between them was breathtaking. We felt like we were in a fairy tale. The food was great and the wait staff were always right there ready to pour another cup of coffee or clear your plate. It was a dream come true. We are know looking through the brochure planning our next wonderful getaway! We met some wonderful people on this cruise also. It was the ultimate vacation!!!

Traveler: Nina Brandt from Thousand Oaks, CA traveled on August 29, 2011

Memorable Moments Staff efficiency. Much more comraderie than on land tours. More relaxing. Visit German family a nice touch. Communities, churchs, castles, etc had their own identities. Staff lectures factual and educational. Evening programs varied, some unusual. Boat Crews version of Happy Birthday and my 94th. Evening of Viennese waltzes. Invited by three different groups to last evening dinner.

Advice For Fellow SOLO Traveler

When unloaded from bus in Amsterdam,saw a couple, asked them if I could join them and we were together on all unguided off boat activities. On boat, mingle, socialize,get acquainted, make friends.

Traveler: Kenneth Snavely, Dayton, Ohio traveled on August 15, 2011

I cannot say enough about Grand Circle Tours My husband, Bill, and I have never experienced such fun, beauty of any one country and professionalism shown by the entire crew of the River Concerto.

It has been several weeks now since our return home, and our traveling companions on this trip and ourselves just met last evening to share laughs, experiences, and now memories.

What a great time we had. Look forward to our next Grand Circle Adventure.

Traveler: Eleanor V Allen from Calabash, NC traveled on August 15, 2011

The title says it all. We traveled The Great River in 2001 and did the reverse from Vienna to Amsterdam this time. While the trip now includes several Optionals that were then included in 2001, we still found it one of the best River trips that GCT offers.
We were pleased with the substitute ship
The Royal Crown, having just 88 guests it was a treat and unsurpassed luxuery, plus the best chief and best food ever. You cannot beat unpacking once in two weeks and have your hotel take you to a different spot each day. The cities visited on this trip are all unique from small villages to major cities. They all offer a view of old and modern Austria, Germany and Netherlands.
If you can only do one trip, Do This One!

Traveler: Thomas Wood from Hendersonville, NC traveled on August 01, 2011

pace of travel was great, not to fast or to much shopping time. I prefer GCT ships, the entire ship staff were great. (Except)

It seemed the Capt was not concerned about customer enjoyment. While traveling in an area of low bridges on a hot sunny day, he would not allow at least one sunshade raised eventhough at times we went several hours between bridges. His reason was it took 4 deck hands to raise and lower it.

The dock's used were so convient to the towns and cities, I really enjoyed the small towns we stopped at.

Traveler: Robert Welch from Excelsior Springs, MO traveled on August 16, 2011

A wonderful experience. The itinerary was well organized and the tour directors were superb. The boat was very comfortable and the food was quite good. As a single male (recent widower) I had no problem mingling. You could not experience the intimacy we all had on a big cruise ship. The highlights for me were the home visit and the stop at Nuremberg. My one disappointment was not having any time to see more of Vienna.

Traveler: Robert Birnbaum from West Hartford, CT traveled on August 15, 2011

The host visit to the Peter home was one of the highlights of the trip. Our group were not ready to leave yet when the bus arrived to take us back to the ship. It was most enjoyable.

Traveler: Janet Parks from Boise, ID traveled on July 26, 2011

With a pre trip in Prague and a post trip in Brussels and the Great Rivers cruise we came home declaring it was our best trip ever! There was a good balance of organized tours and free time in each city. There was quite a bit more walking than I expected so take good walking shoes. Our PD, Gigi, had a contagious sense of humor and shared many personal tales of her native Germany. One of the most fun evenings was the optional to the Drosselgasse wine alley in Rudesheim. Don't miss it!

Traveler: Joanne Pawsat from Maysville, KY traveled on July 28, 2011

Richard Carlson's evaluation (from Arlington, VA ) was so unfair. We went on this cruise in Oct. of 2010 and the staff could not have been more helpful with times and places. They even helped us to set up a time to go to my brothers town that he lived in when he was working in Germany. All you had to do was ask.......that is the key. If you want help they were definitely there for you.......Loved every minute of this trip.

Traveler: Judith Haller from Henrico, VA traveled on October 14, 2010

I just finished this cruise and loved it. Everything about it was wonderful: the ship itself, the ports of call, the staff (household, kitchen, and wait) was excellent. We ate well and were never at a loss for something to do. We actually felt catered to. Our Program Director was a real help. She was professional and personal at the same time. A great combination. Oh. And the scenery and cities we saw along the way were wonderful, too. We're already thinking of a companion cruise for next year, on Grand Circle, of course.

Traveler: Barbara Mcnicol from Corvallis, OR traveled on May 17, 2011

My wife and I were on the Sept.5, 2010, departure of the River Aria for Great Rivers of Europe.

The trip hits many attractions – at least one a day! We got to see eight sites recognized to be of world-class cultural interest to be on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The GCT staff were able to accommodate passengers with wide mobility capabilities. There were canes, walkers and wheel chair-assisted passengers, while the staff gave recommendations to those who wanted to climb hills and take longer walks.

A ship means that you unpack in your cabin at the embarkation and don’t have to pack again until the night before debarkation 14 days later. It also means -- should you need to -- that you may stay in your cabin if you should feel ill some day. The cabin keeps up with the tour!

Some other posts have called the river boats small. At 418 feet I find them quite large. We had 158 passengers on board, as there were six cabins with single occupancy.

For comparison, OAT has sent us on an Intercontinental Ocean Cruise Ship that was 286 feet long and had sixty passengers. The GCT river boats are not small in my opinion.

There were 53 out of 158 passengers with Inner Circle status as they had had three or more trips with GCT or OAT. GCT knows how to please their market.

Our cabin was a “Sonata Deck” one according to the marketing people and a “300-deck” cabin according to the ship crew. It was the largest interior space category cabin on the ship. The large window was nice in the brief periods we were in the cabin. We enjoyed the cabin but didn’t want to linger there. We spent our time in the public spaces. We never watched the TV.

We took the post trip to Brussels and were very glad we did. We found Delft, Bruges and Antwerp charming. In Brussels, our Program Director, Nico walked with us to the European Parliament. At our request he led us back through the Congolese section of Brussels.

We took the Rothenberg and the Marksburg optional tours, both of which were a little short for our tastes. In Melk, we walked up through the village and visited Melk Abbey on our own. We went through the major rooms on our own and took pictures while they were empty of other visitors and then we went through again with the English-speaking guide. We spent 4.5 hours total in Melk Abbey and the gardens. In Kelheim we walked up the 2 km paved path to the Hall of Liberation and enjoyed the views down toward the Danube Gorge and the ship on the RMD canal. We got different opinions from Germans visiting the Hall about the wisdom of building the RMD canal.

The trip allows flexibility for those who want a planned itinerary and those who want to do some things on their own.

Traveler: Alan from New York traveled on September 04, 2010

Service on the River Aria was FANTASTIC, especially from restaurant and bar staff and officers -- the captain even helped to offload luggage when we arrived in Amsterdam.

A serious problem is the comfort of the cabins, but this cannot be remedied untilunless GCT builds a new ship. Cabins have small day sofas, very uncomfortable for readingnapping. One can always lower the sofa to make a (narrow) bed during the day, but there still is not comfortable place for sitting in privacy during the day.

My major objection, which can be remedied, is lack of detail about the schedule of the 2-week cruise. The "detailed" schedule provided us in advance was very vague about arrivaldeparture times in all the ports, which prevented advance planning for individual sightseeing, attending cultural events, arranging to meet friends, etc. The standard GCT response is that the schedule is subject to change depending on the weather, water level, etc. True, but the captain readily admitted to us that the lock schedule (and there are many of them between Vienna and Amsterdam, something like 62) is so rigid that it is set at the beginning of the season, so he knew the schedule well in advance of this cruise. Things can always change, but GCT should make the very little effort of providing more detail about the estimated arrivaldeparture times at all the various ports.

A prime example is the starting port of Vienna, where we were told to embark in the early afternoon. If we had known the ship was not going to sail until 3 o'clock the next morning, we could have obtained tickets for wonderful productions at Staatsoper (State Opera) or Volksoper (Folk Opera) for that evening of embarkation.

Another example was Frankfurt, where if we had known we were going to arrive in the early evening and not depart until the middle of the night we could have made arrangements to have dinner with very good friends there.

So, if you are a first-time, unadventurous traveler to this area, GCT will take good care of you. But if you want to do some things individually and want to plan for them in advance, hold GCT's feet to the fire and get more details on the schedule!

Traveler: Richard Carlson from Arlington, VA traveled on September 01, 2010

We recently returned from our second Great Rivers of Europe trip. Our first was in 2004. This trip was even better. We went the reverse (Amsterdam to Vienna) and chose the ParisBrussels pre-trip and the Prague post-trip.

The weather left a lot to be desired but the trip itself was great. We were on the River Adagio (which we hadn't traveled on before) and found it to be a terrific ship. The crew was fantastic and the Captain was as well.

The itinerary was excellent as well. We have been on the Rhine several times and it never ceases to amaze me when we sail through what I call "Castle Alley" . The scenery is beautiful and a castle on both sides of the Rhine and the commentary from the bridge is so informative.

Traveling on the RhineMainDanube canal is another experience altogether, with all the locks to go through. My sister who was traveling with us for the first time was so interested in the locks and how they worked. 66 in all.

Our Program Directors (3 of them) were all terrific. One of our group had some health problems as did my husband but they were dealt with so well. I cannot say enough about the quality of program directors that Grant Circle hires. They are tops.

Our post trip in Prague was wonderful, especially the Charms of the Czech Countryside optional. It was new from our last trip to Prague and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to Petr, who was our guide in Prague.

The Great Rivers of Europe is a fantastic trip and one not to be missed.

Traveler: Nancy Mijer from Covina, CA traveled on May 04, 2010

The trip of the Great Rivers of Europe was great with a few exceptions. We took the pre trip tour of Prague which was great. The bus trip to Vienna stopped in Bratislava with a city walking tour and lunch. This stop was too long and we did not get to Vienna until a little before 5 PM. This left us only one hour to see any of Vienna. The second thing that we did not know was the optional trip to Rothenberg has very little free time after the walking tour. If you are touring from Amsterdam in the other direction, there is more free time which is needed.

Traveler: Robert Little from New Bern, NC traveled on March 22, 2010

Traveling as a single senior lady, I found this trip safe and interesting. Our Program Director, Alex, was exceptional, fellow travelers were friendly and fun. Nearly all the ports were walking distance to the beautiful towns. Every person on the crew did their best to ensure a wonderful trip for all travelers. Most travelers these days want easy, free Internet access, and this would be something GCT could provide on the boats. You can't go wrong taking this cruise.

Traveler: Sandra from Oxford, MI traveled on October 26, 2009

Our Great Rivers of Europe trip this year was all we expected and more. We so enjoyed vilsiting towns we had never been to before such as Melk and Passau. Our pattern is to take the included city tour whenever onei s offered, and then take off on our own with recommendations for sites and restaurtants where the "locals" go, not tourists. We find wine shops and grocery stores that are amazing. Wertheim was a wonderfulnew town for us. Karl Ittig from Glashaus Wertheim came aboard ship and demonstratede his glass blowing art. His shop in Wertheim was incredible. We found wonderful Christmas gifts at Glashaus Wertheim. Thank you, Grand Circle, for introducing him.
We also enjoyed revisiting places we'd been in the past such asothenburg and Heidelberg whee we lived many years ago when Paul was a student at the University of Heidelberg..
We found a wonderful shop in Rothenburg fetring music boxes. A few dollars were spent at Friese Kabalo OHG in Rothenburg. The carrieage ride around Rothenburg was terrific. It is a terrific walled town.
Heidelberg was special. We left the group and found places we had lived as young newly-weds some fory plus years ago. The restaurant that Grand Circle cose for lunch, the SCHNOOKELOC, believe it or not, was the place Paul and three of his fellowstudents in 1964 spent several evenings after theirexams and before eachwas to be married. It wa their last blast as single students. What fun we had reminiscing and reliving our younger days. We would have loved more time in Heidelberg.
In Amsterdam we left the boat for a wonderful visit to the Ann Ftank Haus - well worth seeing. Grand Circle might well include this historic site ib Amsterdam tour.
When Paul was a student at Heidelberg, there were discussions on howto connect the Danube and the Rhein Rivers. We would like to have seen the high point during the dayh, but we passed it at night.
This trip should be on everyone's list. It was well worth it.
Fran and Paul Mathews
4 time travelers

Traveler: Paul from Conroe, TX traveled on November 09, 2009

We traveled late October, early November. The fall foliage was spectacular but weather was quite chilly. Be prepared. We packed using the weather guides and could have used a few more warmer items. Hats and gloves a must as well as a warm all weather coat.
That said, the trip was fabulous. The River Concerto was a comfortable ship and the Captain and crew outstanding. They went out of their way to accomodate my dietary need and a sister's handicap.
Our group leader really gave us a perspective of historical and modern Germany.
We did not do the optionals. There was plenty to see and do on our own in the various towns .
This was our fourth Grand Circle trip and we would definately travel with them again.

Traveler: Bobby from Hoodsport, WA traveled on October 26, 2009

This was my third GCT and my husband's first. There is nothing to say other than fantastic when talking about this particular trip. Our program director Marcus was an extraordinary bonus on a journey that took us to beautiful historic towns, abbeys, vinyards and cathedrals. The icing on the cake was the musical evening in Vienna. I would strongly recommend this trip. As I am writing this my husband is browsing through GCT catalogs trying to decide where to travel to next. The personnel on board the ship ,beginning with the captain and the hotel manager and including all aother staff members, were professional, personable, and a pleasure to be around. The food was delicious and suited every taste.
We strongly recommend this trip, it is one of our favorites.

Traveler: Victor & Carol from Garden City, NY traveled on October 26, 2009

Many things will amplify the value of a tour. Certainly the towns, history, weather, personal, food, cost and tour guides all play a part. In our case, the tour guide, Herbert, was very instrumental in pointing out little known facts, contributing history, meaningful stories and life-like characters. All of these components were presented in a factual and concise manor. The tour guide can "make it or break it" and in Herb's case it was a slam dunk!! Mike Volk

Traveler: Michael from San Diego, CA traveled on October 02, 2009

My husband and I have traveled with tours as well as on our own. Now that we're both in our 70s, we're ready to let others do the planning.

River cruising is the best! The advantage of unpacking only once is great. River cruising is more scenic than ocean travel--there's something to see if you look or go outside, other than a big expanse of water.

Port stops every day gave us the opportunity to get off the ship and see the local color.

Food was wonderful--comparable to ocean going ships, with enough choices to satisfy most tastes.

Travelers should heed the advice to bring clothing to layer up. Our October trip required it. (They did sell fleece jackets on board for people from warmer climes.)

Personnel we encountered were smiling and helpful, eager to meet our every need. On one occasion I didn't want the cream based soup offered, and asked for plain chicken broth. When it came, it was that plus a few vegetables and parsley. And it came quickly.

Fellow travelers were congenial, and well traveled. About half of the 120 or so passengers were Inner Circle members, meaning that they are repeat customers of Grand Circle Travel--and willing to tell about previous experiences if asked.

Another time we might travel a month earlier. The October weather was unusually cool.

Traveler: Mary Lou from Mason, MI traveled on October 02, 2009

My mom and I traveled from Amsterdam to Vienna in September. No reviews or pictures or pre-trip materials could have prepared us for what awaited us aboard the MS River Concerto; they paled in comparison to what we experienced. Our vacation was fantastic and exceeded my expectations! I thought the ship was a luxury floating hotel and restaurant, beautifully furnished and staffed with the friendliest, most helpful people imaginable. When I was a bit under the weather, Restaurant Manager Gabor ensured I had soup and bread sent to my room! I enjoyed the balance between sailing, onboard activities and excursions. Meals were sumptuous and we enjoyed regional specialties throughout the cruise. Each city we visited was special in its own way and the Program Directors worked hard to give us a great experience no matter where we were. My favorites were Wertheim (the home-hosted visit in a must), Bamberg, and Nuremberg. We went on most of the optional excursions and enjoyed them all. The Marksburg Castle tour with a stop at the micro-brewery was a lot of fun. Heidelberg was a really fun day; lunch was fantastic! The Baroque & Beer Tour was made ever better by the art historian who explained the abbey and it was fun to munch pretzels and sip beer in the patio before we boarded the boat for our ride down the Danube gorge. Melk Abbey was beautiful and our wine tasting (with music!) was very entertaining. Last but not least was the Musical Vienna performance, a lovely concert in the Kursalon. I almost opted out of that but the Program Directors encouraged me to stick with it and I was really glad I did. The MS River Concerto Staff and our Program Directors had some unique challenges on the way and handled them beautifully: we had passengers who needed medical attention and we were faced with low water levels near the end of our trip. The post-trip extension in Vienna almost felt like a different vacation. Gone was the luxury of the ship and the abundant food and intimate setting. We were now in a huge, busy city. We saw amazing sights and enjoyed the buswalking tour and time on our own. Schoenbrunn Palace, the Imperial Crypts and the museums at the Hofberg were among the places we explored on our own. Then our group gathered for a farewell drink with our Program Director and the vacation was suddenly over. I would highly recommend GCT and the Great Rivers of Europe trip and would love to travel with GCT again. I would also encourage more mothers and daughters to travel together; we had a ball! I think I was the youngest person on the trip (barely under 50) and enjoyed myself immensely.

Traveler: Sue from Canyon Country, CA traveled on September 11, 2009

I have just returned from the Sept. trip beginning in Brussels.
On the very first day we met Karla Vanhulle,our Tour Director. Words cannot describe what an added value Karla was to this trip, Her knowledge of all ports local and country history was invaluable.She even took our group to her family farm for a look at life in the 1700's Belgium.What a delight to have her smiling face each day.
Our Chef Jan was remarkable with his food presentation. Not only beautifully presented ,but absolutely,devinely delicious. He checked with us each meal to ask if we had any special requests.His Suckling Pig presentation was beautiful and So-ooo delicious.As every meal was.
Our waitstaff and Dining Mgr.Gabor saw that every wish was served. Fun folks!
Every person on the Concerto made all of us feel special and that is an accomplishment with a lot of Senior Citizens on board.
Thank you Concerto staff for making this a remarkable vacation.And thank you Karla for making it so personal.

Traveler: Jackie from Bastrop, LA traveled on September 08, 2009

This was our first trip with Grand Circle - but it won't be the last. We really had great service on the ship by the staff and program directors. I think the best parts of the trip was the option tour to Rothenberg and the narration of the castles going down the rhine. All the options tours would great but also the planned city tours were also very worth while. Becky, our program director also assisted me in getting to Wiesbaden when we stopped at Mainz. It would have been great to hit one of the three biggest locks during day time-maybe shift dinner hour on that night would do it. We were very please with the attention my wife was given due to a medical issue including the staff but also by our program director Becky who assisted us to the doctor in Nurnberg, I was even surprised to have GCT personnel at Dulles on a return flight making sure we made our connecting flight.

Traveler: Richard from The Villages, FL traveled on August 14, 2009

This was my first river cruise and I can't say enough good about it. The cities selected were very diverse. The program directors were very knowledgeable and friendly as was all of the staff on the ship.
The cabin was very clean and comfortable, and the food was wonderful. The dining room staff were above and beyond. I loved the travel on the ship and wish more could be done in daylight. The low bridges and locks were unbelievable. I can't wait to go again.

Traveler: Alice from Auburn, PA traveled on July 27, 2009

A hit! A palpable hit! Once again, Grand Circle, your company has dwarfed the competition by way of your professionalism, courtesy, concern and attentiveness to detail. My wife, Brenda, and I are indeed fortunate to have experienced the expertise of three top-notch program directors over the last few years: first Efi in "Athens, the Greek Isles and Beyond," then Valle Lopez in "Spain and Portugal in Depth," and, most recently, Deui Klop in "The Great Rivers of Europe." They comprise a worthy trio, each skilled in her own way to handle the particular needs of a diverse group of travelers with multiple personality types.

Additionally, the entire crew of River Adagio, particularly Sone and Anton of the wait staff, Rimi and Harvey at the front desk and Victor in the kitchen, impressed us by their willingness to extend themselves to everyone on board. We applaud their efforts and offer kudos to the Captain for setting such a positive tone for a relaxing and pleasurable trip. We hope to return to this ship for a tour of Eastern Europe and the Black Sea in the near future and hope that the staff remains intact. Bravo!

Thank you for helping us discover the scenic wonders along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers from Amsterdam to Vienna. Not to be missed are the pre and post trips to Brussels, Bruges and the extended time in Vienna. All sites in between were welcome components to a lovely and thoroughly satisfying vacation.

Traveler: Joseph Morra from Pelham Manor, NY traveled on June 29, 2009

One of the reasons I like traveling with GCT is the high quality of your Program Directors. This trip provided us with one of your best - Dewi Klop - who had the ability to describe the history and culture of the places we visited in superior style. I would like to be on a trip with her again.

The large cities visited on this trip - Brussels, Cologne, Amsterdam, Wurzburg, Nurnberg and Vienna - had numerous reasons to be on the itinerary; and I'm glad each was included. However, my greatest satisfactions occured when strolling though the smaller towns ( or riding canal boats ) - Brugge, Koblenz, Wertheim, Bamberg, Passau and Melk. Each of these left fond memories in my head and heart.

Some people travel on ships primarily for the food. While this is not such with me, I must offer the following comment. The chef on the River Adagio, and his staff, provided superb fare every meal.

For the above reasons I rated this trip excellent.

Regards, Richard DeKalb

Traveler: Richard from Warminster, PA traveled on June 29, 2009

Boats come in all sizes. Remember the little one's you made when you were a kid and sailed them down the stream thinking all the while, "I wonder what it'd be like if I could get on that boat and travel? Then, ships come in huge sizes and when you see them in a picture or in a movie, you wonder, "What would it be like to sail in that luxury and have no worries." Well, my wife and I just finished a sailing adventure that pretty much fits the ticket for both of these questions.

We took Grand Circle Travels, "Great Rivers Of Europe" trip which started in Amsterdam and finished in Vienna. Both of those places are great cities imagined by those that like to travel, and possibly even those that haven't traveled, but want to start someplace. This tour would be a good place to start.

We had a pleasant flight from Orlando, Florida which brought us to Amsterdam We boarded our cruise ship, the River Aria, and found ourselves assigned to a well appointed, comfortable cruise cabin. We had a large window where the passing countryside could be watched while your ship glided the river. Dinner was treat. There was open seating, meaning you could sit with anyone you wanted to. All meals were this type of seating. I could try to describe the quality and quantity of each meal but suffice it to say, there wasn't a meal that wasn't well prepared, well presented, well served and, finally, tasted superb. The ship was clean and up to the standards of a four star hotel. Later that day, we were offered a chance to "wander" the streets of Amsterdam where there's always something unique to see. The next day we were offered an included tour to the diamond factory and also a canal cruise around the city. Both extremely interesting. No, we didn't buy any of the $100,000 diamond jewelry.

Now came the best part, our stops along the way. Let's see, where would we like to stop in this part of Europe? Cologne, Koblenz, Mainz, Wertheim, Wurzburg, Schweinfurt, Bamburg, Nurnberg, Regensburg, Passau and Vienna were some of the places that came to mind. Well, this particular cruise stopped at all of them. Included tours were offered in most of these cities. The passengers were divided into groups of about 30 people, and provided with head-sets to listen to the guides as they walked you through the city and explained things you'd never hear about if you did this on you own.

The optional tours were well planned and interesting, although some, more than others. We particularly liked the Melk Abby Tour and the Vienna Musical tour.

The on-board evening shows were always of quality and were quite entertaining. They were also well attended by the passengers so be sure to wander down to the lounge early, get a drink and find a table. You won't be disappointed.

One thing that was disappointing, since my life runs on my computer, was that there was no passenger internet service on the cruise. I was able to compose an email for a charge and it would be sent when the ship next was able to connect to a service. Incoming emails carried no charge. However, I will say that the guides were able to point out the "Cyber Cafe's" in the various cities that allowed me to check my email regularly. Is seems the city libraries were most likely to have internet service for a small charge.

We went in May and the weather was made to order. Several rain days, but it's no fun if you can't wander through a market square at least once or twice when it's raining.

What more can we say about this trip. Well we could be much more verbose. The best idea would be to experience this trip yourselves. We've traveled to six of the seven world continents and will say that this particular trip was one of our most enjoyable. If you're planning a European trip, you owe it to yourselves to check out what Grand Circle offers. We dare say you won't be disappointed.

Traveler: Frank and Edna from Indian Harbour Beach, FL traveled on May 17, 2009

We traveled the Great Rivers of Europe with pre in Brussels and post in Vienna this past June 2009. We had a marvelous time. This was our 5th trip with Grand Circle and each one gets better than the last. Our tour directors were excellent! Martin was with us from Brussels to Vienna and the others who joined us on the MS River Adagio were just as good and worked like a well oiled team together. Our crew and ship service and food was excellent. We particularly enjoyed our time in Amsterdam and Vienna, but enjoyed the relaxation of a river cruise where we only had to unpack once. The views, the optional tours, and each town we visited, were all wonderful. We highly recommend this trip to all who want to view Europe from the comfort and ease of a beautiful river boat.

Traveler: James from Camano Island, WA traveled on June 01, 2009

We were also on the River Aria in June of 2009. This was our first trip to Europe and our first time traveling with Grand Circle. We had been on several large ocean cruises; but this smaller, more intimate method of travel made us feel as though we were all one big family. We had no idea what river travel would be like, and the closeness of the shore and the gorgeous scenery was so much more thrilling than we ever expected!

Our Program Director, Boris, was with us on our pre-trip extension in Vienna; and he was of great assistance to us with our special plans to take a side trip to Mauthausen. Daniel, our Program Director who accompanied us on our post-trip in Brussels was also very knowledgeable, funny, and patient. Our other PD's, Dina and Briggitta, also added to the enjoyment and entertainment of the whole trip, as did our very special table waiters Egis and Abdul.

We will definitely travel again with Grand Circle. But as the last review stated, the next ship and staff may have a hard time measuring up!

Traveler: Larry & Bonnie from Green Valley, AZ traveled on June 07, 2009

We took our first GC river trip in June of '09 and it exceeded our expectations. Compared to ocean cruising this trip was more informal and intimate. The entire crew of River Aria was very professional, competent, and friendly, and the PDs--Boris, Dina, Briggitta, and Daniel, were just super. They helped make the trip very special, from their talks and antics in the lounge to expert knowledge of the cities we toured and sights we passed along the rivers.

The schedule was varied enough day-to-day that boredom was never a problem. I could go on and on, but I'll conclude with a promise that we'll return for more happy times with Grand Circle. My only fear is that after such a great experience on River Aria the next ship and crew will have a hard time measuring up.

Traveler: Terry from Somis, CA traveled on June 07, 2009

This was our 5th trip with GCTOAT and our second river cruise (Holland & Belgium the other). We were on the River Melody and the ship and crew were outstanding. The dining staff and bar staff were exceptionally friendly, courteous, and helpful. Chef Abdul prepared very delicious meals and took time to meet the passengers. The Hotel Manager, Dragan Vuckovic, and his service staff were always available, helpful and friendly. He even participated in the crew show in a show stopping number! We are not big ocean cruising fans as we don't think you get to spend enough time in a port seeing a destination, but these river cruises are perfect for seeing and experiencing a country and the unique small towns. As usual the GCT Program Directors (Peter, Eric, Karla) were outstanding. Peter was our assigned PD and Faye says he was the best ever which is really saying something since we have had excellent PDs with GCT. He was funny, friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. And thanks to GCT for the transmitters and receivers, they have really improved the walking tours so that you don't miss what is being said.
This is not an inexpensive tour, so I too must complain about the added cost of all the optional tours (8 on the cruise and 4 more in Vienna). Most are costly ($75 or more) and can easily add $1000 to the trip cost. We did 5 optionals for about $900. In particular, after we completed the Melk Abbey tour it was obvious we could have easily walked to the abbey on our own for a fraction of the cost. I believe this tour was included in prior years. We consider ourselves independent travellers, so we easily visited several of the Vienna sites (Grinzing, Naschmarkt, Opera house) on our own for a lot less. And while the Renaissance Wein Hotel in Vienna was very nice and near a subway stop, it would certainly be better if we had been located in central downtown.
BUT to return to the positives, this was an excellent and outstanding tour, and we got to see some beautiful old German towns with wonderful castles, churches, bishop palaces and cathedrals. We were also fortunate to run into local festivals in both Koblenz and Wertheim which were fun. And we tasted a lot of German beer and wine! Again we certainly enjoyed the home hosted visit and a chance to talk with a current resident in a modern house. And fortunately, the weather was good for the most part. It is obvious why the Great Rivers is the most popular GCT tour. We certainly recommend it.

Traveler: Marcus from Willis, TX traveled on June 03, 2009

Review of GREAT RIVERS OF EUROPE TRIP
AMSTERDAM TO VIENNA

By Paul & Judy Zirjacks

We took this trip from May 17th to June 1st 2009 on the River Aria. This was the seventh trip taken with Grand Circle Travel and the third river cruise in Europe. We suppose it is obvious that we like river cruises as we have done the Balkans to the Black Sea on the River Aria in 2004 and the Rhine and Mosel on the River Melody in 2005. First of all, we will mention what we consider the positive side of river boat cruising. We have taken ocean cruises on the big ships and we prefer the smaller boats. There is an atmosphere of intimacy we get from the crew and our fellow passengers that we don’t feel on the big ships. The program directors are carefully chosen and are held accountable to GCT management through the reviews we do at the end of each trip. They are always conscientious and dedicated professionals. The staff on the River Aria was great. These young men and women made our trip so enjoyable. They were very peasant and helpful. Being scientific minded, Paul loved the lock we traveled from Bamberg to Kelheim. He wished we could have done this trip in the daytime as those 81 ft locks are pretty dramatic. We both thought the personal intercom systems worked great. Paul is a little hard of hearing so it really helped him hear the tour director or guide explain what we were seeing as we walked about without getting real close to them.

Now for some things we did not like. There were nine optionals on this trip. If we had taken them all, it would have cost $1430.00. We have taken a lot of tours with several companies and this is the most optionals we have ever seen on any tour. In the after trip review, there is only five listed so I suppose the other four used to be part of the trip itinerary. We firmly believe, at least, the Melk Abby should be included in regular trip itinerary. It should not be missed. In comparison with past trips, there was a lot of dead time after dinner with only “Jan” in the lounge. We counted days 2,3,4,10 & 12, when everyone went to bed pretty early unless they could entertain themselves with cards or a book, etc.

All things considered, the positives far outweigh the negatives which is why we return repeatedly to Grand Circle Travel for another trip. Nothing is perfect but Grand Circle comes about as close as one can get for an overall pleasing experience.

Paul & Judy Zirjacks
1003 N. Walnut Street
Iola, Kansas 66749-1812

Traveler: Paul from Iola, KS traveled on May 17, 2009

As first timers with GC we can honestly say this was one of our best trips. From the ships captain and crew to the hospitality crew.....all top notch. We were pampered and informed all along the way. The program directors were walking encyclopedias when it came to information about the area and culture. Our walks into and around the small towns and cities were very informative. We are looking into another one of their river cruises for next year. Life is short and there is so much to see and do!! Karen and Peter

Traveler: Karen & Peter from Woodstock, CT traveled on June 04, 2009

This is it! The one river trip everyone wants to take. It is not to be missed, and traveling with Grand Circle is the way to go. The competitive prices are not the only reason to select Grand Circle, thought it certainly helps. The ship was spotless and comfortable. The crew couldn't do enough to be of service. They just don't smile, there is a real desire to make your experience the best it can be that drives them beyond being friendly. The Program Directors are the best we have found anywhere. Every detail of everyday is carefully planned and execcuted. Everything is done to make certain that you have a vacation experience to remember for a life time. Add in that we were granted perfect weather on all but one day and you can be certain that we will travel with Grand Circle again and again.

Traveler: Chester from Bensalem, PA traveled on May 21, 2009

We traveled with our adult children and their spouses (8) and (1) 28 year old grandson . What a great time we had.!

Our Progran Directors , ( Dewi, Marcus, and Catherine ) were very knowledgeable about the area, and They were great fun! Would love to travel with them again. They made our trip very special!!

We had some rainy weather and great days in the sun. Our accomodation , (on the Prelude deck) O f the River Harmony were much more than we had expected. space was adequate with more than enough storage.

I can't say enough about the Captain and his crew . all the crew and staff were outstanding , with smiles for everyone.
What a wonderful time they showed us and our family.

We are looking forward to our next trip with GCT

Traveler: Frank and Donna from Yakima, WA traveled on June 02, 2009

This was my first trip with Grand Circle Cruise Lines, and I was impressed with all areas of the tour. The River Aria was clean, comfortable, and the staff was always friendly and accomodating. They seemed to make a great effort to learn everyone's names and greet them personally at all times. The dining room staff in particular took great care of all the clients and frequently gave little personal touches to make the meals even more special. The food was exceeded my expectations, and I don't think anyone could possibly have gone hungry!

The program directors Rudy, Dina, Mert and Herb were all very well versed in the countries histories, cultures, things to do and see, and frequently had suggestions for special additions to the trip. The local guides were also very knowledgeable. I was impressed with the college-aged guides, the information they posessed, and their command of english. Herb, my program director was patient and accomodating with the varying physical abilities of the group, and went out of his way to make sure that everyone could participate as much as able.

As a single traveler, as well as being under 50 years of age, I was somewhat apprehensive about the trip. But everyone, including the other guests and the ship's crew were very welcoming and seemed to go out of their way to make sure I was included in all activities.

I will definitely be traveling with Grand Circle again, and would not hesitate to recommend GCCL, and the River Aria in particular, to anyone researching travel in Europe.

Traveler: Barbara from Fernley, NV traveled on May 17, 2009

This was our 3rd river boat trip with GCT and we were expecting great things. They were delivered. The M'S Aria and its crew were outstanding and the food once again was excellent. On a foggy morning on the Rhine the staff brought sausages, soft pretzels and beer to the lounge so we would not think so much about the fog.
The bridge from "hell" in Deggendorf caused disappointment for everyone but our tour directors, Britta, Helmut, and Thomas along with the GCT office made everything run smoothly with the hotels, food, tours, etc.
We enjoyed all the towns we visited but think time could be better spent than visiting the diamond store in Amsterdam. Since we were in Amsterdam while the Keukenhof gardens were open we had the opportunity to visit with an optional excursion. To wander in those gardens for 3+ hours was a wonderful experience.
We will be looking forward to another riverboat trip in the future. This was our 8th GCT trip and we have yet to be disappointed.

Traveler: Franklin from Altamonte Springs, FL traveled on April 02, 2009

We thoroughly enjoyed our river cuise, The food, ship and sights along the way were above our expectations. We were very fortunate to have wonderful weather, 20 to 30 degrees warmer than usual for that time of year, which made for great sightseeing. Unfortunately, the high temperatures led to snowmelt and higher river depth. We ended up having to tour by bus and stay in hotels for 5 nights while the ship waited for lower water to get under a low bridge. GCT handled the situation well, we still saw all the sights we were suppose to see. We really missed the ship during those days, though; sailing along the river was wonderful and the food on the ship was excellent.

Our program director, Britta, did an excellent job. She was very knowledgeable, a great guide, fun, and always available to us for questions. The "detour" in the hotels certainly made her job more difficult and added considerably to her responsibilities, but she passed with flying colors.

The Melk Abbey was one of my favorite sights. It was a 15 min. walk from the boat dock, and the cathedral, library and other rooms were very beautiful. There were many other beautiful cathedrals and castles along the way. However, we wouldn't have minded if we hadn't seen Koblenz and Mainz, they weren't as charming as the smller towns.

In summary, the river cruise was great, and we would have loved it even more if the trip had all been on the river.

Traveler: Linda from Newbury Park, CA traveled on April 02, 2009

The “Great Rivers of Europe River Cruise” is one of Grand Circle Travel’s most highly rated trips. After having the experience of this trip, I can understand why.

Captain Luderer and crew of the MS River Melody were all top-notch. The Captain displayed his skill and professionalism in navigating the ship through several bridges during high water conditions with only centimeters of clearance both on the sides and overhead. The crew treated the passengers as if each of us were royalty. The crew was always available attending to every need and comfort of the passengers during the cruise.

Our Program Director, Herb, was a professional and a “walking computer” with a wealth of knowledge of the area. His keen sense of humor and jokes kept the group entertained when we weren’t learning about the area being visited. With the Program Director living in the area, he was able to share personal insight on some of the more recent history and events over the years. Even though, I had been to Nuremberg before, this experience was very rewarding due to the knowledge of both the program director and local guide. The local guide even provided old photographs of the area during the walking tour. The photos enabled one to really visualize the impact of the devastation and events that took place where you were standing.

Being on the ship for a 14-day cruise allowed passengers to relax and enjoy the charm and distinctiveness of each of the ports visited and the scenery along all three rivers. The pace was excellent and allowed free time for passengers to participate in activities or events of their choice.

During the adverse conditions of the high water, the behind the scenes work required at the last minute of the Program Directors, GCT, and ship’s crew exhibited Grand Circle Travel’s commitment and dedication to deliver the trip as close as possible in its entirety.

Not only did the Captain and his crew welcome all back when we returned from a day of sightseeing; but Captain Luderer even wished all on the bus a pleasant journey home as we departed back to reality and to the airport for early flights at 4:00 a.m.

I would rate this Grand Circle Travel journey as “excellent” – just like so many of the other GCT trips I have experienced over the years.

Traveler: Judy from Greensboro, MD traveled on March 08, 2009

My wife and I have taken seven ocean cruises previous to this river cruise. We wish we would have gone river cruising with Grand Circle earlier. One of the most unusual and unexpected things was the way all the crew worked together to make sure everything was done to insure our comfort and make this a pleasurable and memorable experience. The words "That's not my job." were never uttered here. When our cab pulled up to the ship, the program director, Britta, helped us with our luggage and gave us a brief tour of the ship. Usually its a time consuming mad rush to get your luggage out of the cab and into your. room. I saw the captain and the Asst. Captain (not sure of his title.) also helping people with their bags. We had great weather and enjoyed sitting on the Sundeck listening to a narrative by one of the Program Directors as we sailed down the river looking at castles, small hamlets, and beautiful churches while drinking coffee or beer. The beer is the best in the world. We aren't really beer drinkers, but we drank more beer in those two weeks than in the past two years. Every dinner was a gourmet meal. They were nicely prepared and presented. I wish there had been more authentic German meals. There was a choice at dinner of Sea Food, Vegetarian or something European not necessarily German. Because of the higher than normal temps we were faced with higher than normal river depths.We were unable to get under one old railroad bridge and the ship had to wait four days to pass,The Grand Circle people turned this lemon into lemonade. They enabled us to continue our tour by taking by motor coach to the ports and putting us up in two different hotels along the way until the ship could get under the bridge and catch up. The meals were paid and this gave us an excellent opportunity to eat dinner in German restaurants. Grand Circle even gave us two free optional excursions free for our inconvenience. Another aspect of the tour that we thoroughly enjoyed was visiting a German family and being able to talk to them at length about their home, their, life, and their feelings about Americans. Many times the expectations are more that the actualities of a trip. It was just the opposite this time.. The trip exceeded our expectations by miles. All three of the Program Directors were great and we will miss them, but especially Britta that kept everything going smoothly and cheerfully. We heartily recommend this cruise with this company, Grand Circle.

Traveler: Leonard from Albuquerque, NM traveled on April 02, 2009

March 21, 2009

Ride to LAX. Everything A-OK. Flight on schedule.

Atlanta on schedule. But flight to Paris delayed because toilets in first class do not work. Flight delayed, and delayed. Captain gives occasional updates: technicians there, unit being replaced, new unit being tested, calibrated, tanks emptied for flight. Finally, takeoff. The ETA Paris about the time our connecting flight is supposed to start boarding. Possibility of lost luggage loams in my mind. While I try, I am not successful at getting some sleep for during the overnight flight. Somehow, even with effort, I am not able to sleep. I'm tired, but I cannot sleep. I cover my eyes with the eye thingies the airline (Delta) supplied. Nope. It didn't work for me. It seemed the harder I tried the less successful I was.

March 22, 2009

We land in Paris per the revised ETA. I wonder whether we'll even be able to catch the connecting flight since it is already past time it is supposed to begin boarding and we are not at the gate. It feels as if the time to the gate is an eternity... In my mind. We don't even know what our departure gate is. The captain requests those passengers who do not have to make connecting flights remain seated so those of us who do can deplane first and have a chance of making our connections. We do get off but can't see Eloise and Barbara, her sister.

We walk fast.

We are in the 'A' Terminal and have to walk to the '2D' terminal. We learn our gate is D-56 from the information display. A long walk. The walkways do not work so there is no boost in speed from that. Then immigration. Followed by one more security check point. Are we going to make it. The Captain did say something about passengers having to spend the daynight in De Gaulle for a new connecting flight.

But, the gate is still open and we are permitted to enter even though the gate is just about to close. We announce that there may be others following us. The check the roster for our flight and ask if the others are Bower and Conrad. We confirm that and they agree to keep the gate open a bit longer to give them a chance to catch up. I had thought it possible they were ahead of us since on the flight we were in the last row and they were somewhere closer to the front of the plane. But no. Somehow we passed them without seeing them. They made the gate about five minutes after we did and the plane was able to take off on schedule and even arrive in Vienna ahead of the published schedule.

Our luggage did not make it to Vienna with us. It could not run to catch our flight. It is . . . somewhere. We report our loss to the proper authorities and the Grand Circle rep adds its critical information so they could make sure our luggage finds its way to us.

Suffice it to say, our luggage did not make the boat that night – and we sailed at 10:30 pm. Our hope is that the luggage would catch up with us in Melk, our first stop. It's a good thing I carried extra underwear. But, I did not bring a change of socks, toothbrush, or shaving gear. All that stuff is packed in the missing luggage. Grand Circle offers toothbrushes and shaving gear, but Meitsu insists we don't need anything. She did have extra toothbrushes in her backpack. Good enough. Grand Circle also offered to launder our clothes. Every business does well when things are going well. The real test of any business is when things do not go as planned. I've been on airlines when things go bad. Some do good, but the actions of others make me understand why bankruptcy is now part of major airlines' business plans. In this case, Grand Circle and the crew of the MS River Harmony passed the test. Not only do they provide good travel experiences but it comes through when things don't go as planned.

I cannot keep my eyes open during the orientation in the ship's lounge by the Captain.

Meitsu kept nudging me but my eyes kept closing. I was tired. Our room is below water but has a narrow window above water. It is a narrow, panoramic picture window. It does let light in. This is the lowest we've ever been in a river boat.

March 23, 2004

Melk

I sleep well. We sleep late. We almost miss breakfast.

Melk is an Austrian town of about 3,000. Its main attraction is the Melk Abbey which is now a museum. Meitsu remembers visiting on our first trip here so we don't take the tour. She says the content of the museum consists mainly of jewelry. That's not something we're interested in, so we do not take the optional tour. But the town is walkable and within walking distance of the ship. Nice. Weather OK. Our luggage is waiting for us. It is a cute enough town. I'll remember mainly as the place where we got our luggage and a chance to shower and change. The town is a few hundred yards walk from the boat's berth. The Abbey is on a hill overlooking the town and the Danube.

March 24, 2009

Passau

We've had some weather over night. Snow. Meitsu sleeps late. I'm up first so I go up to get her a surprise Cappuccino. I think it has its affect since she wakes up and tells me we have to go get coffee. I have to tell her it is on the table next to her.

We are in the lounge as the ship approaches Passau. This is our last Austrian stop. This is a bigger town than Melk with a big Bishop's palace on one side of the river. The town itself seems compact. Its main claim to fame is the St. Steven's Cathedral. At one time Vienna was a small part of this Bishop's See. Who knew, way back when, that Vienna would eclipse Passau in importance and size. We experienced wind and snow, wind, wind and hail, and more wind and snowhail during our town walk. It was not unpleasant as it sounds. I was relieved it did not rain. At least it did not rain while we were on our walk. Rain was added to the mix as we sat safely inside the lounge looking out at the changing weather. We even had some sun, which over-warmed me in my window view seat.

This afternoon we get a history talk.

March 25, 2009

Regensburg

This morning we dock at Regensburg. Crunchy snow covers most of the ground and snow or frost is on the roofs of all the buildings. Flags flutter indicating some wind. I saw one man walk by with a furry hat wit flaps that covered his ears. Is that a sign of what our morning walk will experience?

We experienced a cold wind at some exposed spots on our walking tour. By the time of our walk the snow that remains is mostly in areas protected from the little bit of sun that manages to reach the ground. The sky, which had only a thin cloud cover when we docked is now a flat gray. There are no shadows.

The town dates back to Roman times. One wall is dated 149 ad with a name that is no longer used. Regensburg was originally an outpost for soldiers. Later it became a trading center. The townspeople were not talented at naming things. The original stone bridge doesn't have a name like the Charles Bridge in Prague. No. Their bridge is called the “Old Stone Bridge.” One street is called “Alley of Second Hand Shops.” Well, you know what you would have found there if you lived back in those old days. Animals lived in the courtyards. Pigs were used to eat garbage that collected in the streets. What the pigs did not eat was swept down to the Danube. With the very narrow streets, the air must have been ripe with aroma of decaying stuff.

The Apple Store is pointed out as an Internet cafe. Later, a recommended coffee shop is pointed out. It has Wifi. I take the computer there, buy a Cappuccino and connect and send my emails. A very nice university town. Good place to visit or return to.

March 26, 2009

KelheimRiedenburg

The main item for this day is the optional excursion which goes to the Weltenburg Monastery which is the home of the world's oldest monastery brewery. Beer has been produced here for more than 1,000 years. The setting itself is quite nice on the Danube Gorge. This is a part of the river too narrow for our ship to navigate. Instead, it takes a bypass. While we are doing the tour the ship is sailing to a stop where we will meet it. We get to sample the beer and then ride a ferry up the Gorge to Regensburg where we take another bus to the Liberation Hall, a structure on the top of a hill that overlooks the river and town. Ludwig I not only built the first canal connecting the North Sea to the Black Sea, he was responsible for the Hall on the hill. The Hall is symbol of victory over Napoleon and German unification.

This is also the afternoon in Beilingries where we did the Grand Circle “home hosted” visit. This was a very pleasant experience. The lady who hosted our group prepared coffee and Black Forest cake. Wonderful.

Unfortunately, this is also the evening we have the Bavarian dinner, an over the top meal of roast pig, beef, and too much other food. We had no energy to attend the evening lecture on the technology of the canals. Overnight we we traverse the Main-Danube Canal as we leave the Danube and head for the Rhine. I should try to remember to suggest that the home hosted event not be on the same day as the Bavarian dinner.

March 27, 2009

Nuremberg

We wake already docked at Nuremberg. After breakfast we get a very good talk on the history of the city and its importance for the Third Reich and the post-war trials. Our guides (and the history professor) were very candid about Germany's history making the historical content part of the presentation very interesting. The city itself was mostly destroyed during the War and what we see today has been construction since the war. Part of the old town has been reconstructed. It's not really a pretty city. Utilitarian is the word that comes to mind to me as a way to describe it. The weather here is mostly threatening – light rain off and on (sometimes heavy) all day. I sort of look around for internet cafe or wifi hot spot but feel as if I can wait until Cologne for our next email check.

March 28, 2009

Bamberg

The highlight today is the morning city walk tour of Bamberg. It is drizzly, from mild to almost heavy. We didn’t feel the need for the umbrella, but we each had either hat or raincoat to protect from the weather. Bamberg is a World Heritage Site and well preserved. We were told this town is a favorite for Americans stationed here. I can understand why. There are lots of students because of the university. Coffee shop, next to book store, next to another coffee shop and so forth. Fun. All it needs is a little California weather. The sun does not threaten to reveal itself. It remains hidden behind the moisture heavy clouds.

We return to the ship for afternoon sailing to our next destination. Shipboard activities include galley tour and meeting with the captain. We are informed clocks – the start of daylight savings time here – are to be set ahead tonight. Great!

March 29, 2009

Wurzburg City

This is a nice walk-around town. We were promised the ship would be docked within walking distance of the town center. Instead, we docked some distance from town – a distance that encouraged the use of the now supplied shuttle service. The captain explained the river was rising and he was concerned the ship might not make it under what was then the next bridge if he didn’t pass it right away and we would be stuck on the wrong side of the bridge until the water receded. This was a good move. Another ship following us stayed on the ‘wrong’ side and did get stuck.

We almost see our shadows when we set out. But, it is cool and we keep our jackets zipped up. Somehow, we had no trouble getting up an hour early. The first stop was the ‘Residence’. This was a one-time, long ago, residence of the Bishop. These guys lived a life impossible for me to imagine. How many rooms? One length is longer than a football field. This “residence” is more like a palace for a king. Off with their heads! The French had it right.

Rothenburg - Optional tour

Nicely preserved city. Nice walks. Pretty. Good value.

March 30, 2009

Wertheim

Sun! A band is on the dock to perform and greet us. It is here because we are the first ship of the season and they want to make us feel welcome. Oom-pah! This is another, nice, walk-around town. We are docked right across the street from the town entrance. The town is so small Grand Circle does not provide a map as they deem it impossible to get lost. We didn’t, if that’s any proof. We did the city walk and then we (Meitsu and me) walked up to the castle ruins that overlook the town. The view makes the walk worth the effort.

March 31, 2009

Heidelberg

This is a fine old university town. It is not on ‘our’ river, so we have to bus into the city after the ship makes a ‘technical’ stop so those of us taking this optional tour can get off. While this is the home of one of Europe’s oldest colleges, it has also become quite touristy. That doesn’t mean it is not worth a visit. It is. It’s touristy because of its location, its access to the autobahn, and its castle ruins overlooking the town. The old part of the town is compact enough to make walking easy. It has a funicular that takes passengers from the old town to the castle. We were on a bus from the ship so we rode that up. The castle is nice enough with a couple of tourist shops, museums, and is nice to just walk around enjoying the views. One view is of a big residence further up the hill where Mark Twain lived when he was in Heidelberg. Huckleberry Finn is supposed to be named based partly on the name of the town and the town’s people are proud of that.

Oh, it is warm and sunny. A perfect day. Students lounge in the squares warming themselves in the natural heat.

Our tour included lunch at a student hangout. Stuffed pasta with a heavy sauce! Life is good. One beer provided with meal.

A car passed us as we walked River with a curious tripod contraption on top that I determined was a camera equipped for 360 degree shooting. As my eyes followed the car as it passed I say a large Google sign on the back. Could this be one of Google Earth’s vehicles recording ground level information for its map service. I’ll have to remember to check it out to look for an odd couple.

April 1, 2009

Mainz

This is the city with the Gutenberg Museum. Our city walk includes a stop at the museum. It is sunny, but the lecture inside is good to hold the attention. This morning it is windy and cool. The afternoon promises to be warmer. We spend the night.

April 2, 2009

Rhine

Today is a cruise day. We see 30+ castles and round the Lorelei. Nice view. Lots of river traffic. This is a working river. That fact is very evident today. Crew makes this part of the cruise a big deal by dressing up in costumes. As for the director pulling Lorelei duty, well, I felt sorry for him.

Koblenz

This is another reasonably cute town. It was mostly destroyed by the end of WWII because an arms factory was nearby. The result is most of the structures are fairly new. Some effort was extended at restoring the charm of the town by creating cute sculptures representing local stories, for example, the cop giving a dog a citation after the wife of a man complains the dog peed on her husband’s leg. You get the idea.

April 3, 2009

Cologne

The main attraction of Cologne is its massive cathedral. This thing is B-I-G. I think I heard it took some 360 years to complete. It is also under continual restoration. One quip is that the world ends on the day the cathedral is finished.

The train station (the biggest in Germany) is just across the street. Internet cafes are within walking distances and are now no-smoking, which is a welcome change from our our last visit.

For those inclined to shop, there's lots of shopping. It's like a very large, outdoor, shopping mall. That doesn't mean there are no museums. There are several worthwhile museums. And there is a concert hall under the walkway between the boat and the cathedral. Guards keep people from walking over a portion of the walkway during concerts or practice in the auditorium. It seems the noise of feet above is distracting to performers as well as the audience.

We sail overnight to Amsterdam, our last stop.

April 4, 2009

Amsterdam

Cold. Windy. I'm reminded of the cold and wind we experienced at the beginning of our trip. Is this an omen for our flight home? We do the requisite boat ride through the canals ending in a visit to the diamond factory. This is the usual tourist fare, nothing exceptional. Practical people. Practical architecture. Rather than take the return boat ride back to our boat, we chose to walk to the flea market and then on back to the boat. The wind picks up and it is cold. This is a cold that goes through my light jacket. I stuff my hands in my pockets and don't really notice any of the stuff offered for sale in the market. I guess I don't give it a fair chance. We were warned to look out for pickpockets, but I think they are not out in force because it is a cold day during low season. Pickpockets must be fair weather crooks. Plus, there are no crowds (because of the cold weather?) for them in which to lose themselves.

April 5, 2009

Flight home. Up early to catch our flight to Atlanta where we are processed through immigration and customs before rechecking our bags to the flight on to LAX. Everyone gets their bag on arrival at LAX except for me. My bag was placed on a later flight. On given the choice to wait for the next flight or going home and having the bag delivered to my home, I elect to go home. At this point we had been up for twenty-four hours. I feel like I need some aspirin and bed. My eyes were red. My feet were swollen.

April 6, 2009

My bag makes it home.

Traveler: Robert from Irvine, CA traveled on March 21, 2009

Why would a natve German take a trip through Germany! Here are few of the highlights.
We both enjoyed the fabulous boat with the excellent food, so elegantly presented by the Chef!
The ship and Captain Luederer and the entire staff were absolutly fabulous. With highwater on the Rhein Captain Luederer and his crew steered us through locks and under bridges. Under the Karls-bruecke in Wuerzburg he had measured the heighth and checked the depth and as we all watched, he steered us with a soft touch with only a few centimeters on either side and above under the bridge ; and crowds above the bridge cheered and clapped their hands.
For me the very highpoints were; revisiting of Museums and Churches, which I had seen in my teenage years. And especially I had looked forward to so seeing again the Isenburger Altar (Blood Altar) carved by Tilman Riemenschneider and seeing again the Bamberger Reiter( the horseman in the Bamberger Dom).

Of the optional tours two or three not to miss are the tour to the Marksburg, a casle from 1250, the tours to Rothenburg and to Heidelberg (maybe they should be included and not charged extra for) and the musical performances. Unfortunately the one in Wertheim had not enough participants. But in Vienna the Classical music of Mozart should not be missed.

The trip is called from Amsterdam to Vienna, but those people who did not book the extension, or made their own reservation for staying on in Veinna, were taken by Bus directly in the morning to the airport, without having seen Vienna. I think that should be pointed out.

We traveled along the Rhein (Rhine )and saw the castles on both sides, that was a marvellous experience. And also very memorable is the stop at the confluence of Donau, Inn and Ilz athe "Deutsche Eck" .

We have told all our friends about our experience and we rate this trip as "Excellent", just as our previous trips to Peru with OATS and to Chile and Argentina.
Thank you!

Traveler: Helga and James from Auburn, AL traveled on March 08, 2009