Hank Schrader

June 22, 2023

River Cruise Routes

French River Cruises

Hank Schrader

June 22, 2023

River Cruise Routes

French River Cruises

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

There are 3 distinct rivers in France that provide exceptional river cruising opportunities. These rivers are the Seine, the Rhône and Saône, and the Garonne.

The Seine, a slow flowing river, is 485 miles long, is the longest navigable river in France, and empties into the English Channel.

The Rhône and Saône link northern and central France from the Burgundy region to the Provence Region and finishes off into the Mediterranean Sea.

The Bordeaux region cruise consists of 3 rivers—the Dordogne ,the Garonne, and the Gironde (actually Europe’s largest estuary) and is in the southwestern part of France.

You can sail from 7-days to 22-days by combining these 3 river routes which provides you a great opportunity to see a lot of France easily and adding a pre or post land extensions will make it a fabulous vacation.

So, let’s learn a little about some of the sights and reasons to take one of these 3 French cruises.

Seine

The Seine is usually a 7-day round trip cruise into Normandy, often starting and ending in Paris but some lines now offer a Paris to Honfleur one way option, with a return in the opposite direction.

The cruise highlights are Monet's village of Giverny, the harbor town of Honfleur, Rouen, the historic capital of Normandy and the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431 (also of special note is the 700 restored half-timber buildings in the old quarter), as well as a chance to visit the medieval towns along this scenic route and see some of the most important sites of D-Day at the Normandy beaches area.

Various lines have some visits to the Château of Versailles, and Le Harve with land extensions in St. Malo and Mont St. Michel.

This is a gentle voyage along farmland and meadows, historic towns, and good food such as brie and camembert cheeses, Calvados (apple brandy) and Normandy cider.

If you like history such as the 100 Years War between England and France, want to learn more about the largest amphibious landing in history at the D Day beaches, and like impressionist paintings, this is the cruise for you.

Rhône and Saône Cruises

Route Map of a Rhone and Saone from AmaWaterways

The Rhône—most of these cruises go from Lyon to Arles (or the reverse). Starting in Lyon, the gastronomical capital of France, you cruise through France's legendary wine growing regions of Beaujolais and Cote du Rhone, observe medieval villages in the Provence region of France; then on to the Papal town of Avignon and finish in Arles, where Vincent Van Gough spent much of his time.

The cruise then changes direction from Arles to Lyon for the next 7-day cruise. You will sample great wines, visit Roman ruins, and learn about the cuisine of Provence, among stunning scenery—fields of purple lavender, yellow sunflowers, and vineyards. We have sailed on this route several times and each time it was awesome—we are ready to return anytime.

Some of the highlight ports are:

Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital. It was founded by the Romans in 43 BC, on the junction of the Rhône and Saône Rivers and is a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture.

Tournon, a medieval treasure with a fascinating 16th-century castle.

Avignon to see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes, which is the largest Gothic fortress in the world; home to a famous destroyed bridge that is part of a famous French song, and even a huge Roman aqueduct over the Pont River.

Arles, and Vienne which have excellent Roman ruins.

*Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia in Vienne—it dedicated to the cult worship of Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia*

There are excellent wines and food to learn about and sample while here.

The Saône is often added to some lines offerings and now even has some lines focusing solely on the Saône. The key ports are:

Macon, to tour the city or visit the Cluny Abbey.

A bridge over the Saone in Macon, France. Photo Anne Schrader

Tournus to take a city tour or visit the Château Cormatin and its wonderful gardens.

***Château Cormatin Photo Anne Schrader***

***Some of the extensive Château Cormatin gardens. Photo Anne Schrader***

Chalon-sur-Saône, where guests can tour the city or take the Beaune visit which includes the famous tiled roof of the Hotel-Dieu

Bordeaux River Cruises

The newest river cruise in Europe for most lines is in the Bordeaux region of France on the Garonne River and Dordogne River. It is a round trip cruise out of Bordeaux and features wine tastings, chateaux and abundant vineyards along the Garonne and its tributaries.

The Bordeaux estuary is unique since both river cruises and ocean cruises can sail to some ports here—we first visited Bordeaux on an Azamara ocean cruise before taking a river cruise that started and ended in Bordeaux. In Bordeaux, you can stroll down the wonderful gardens near the river or visit the museum of wines.

The usual port cities of Cadillac, Pauillac, Blaye, Bourg and Libourne are included in most sailings of this region.

In Cadillac, you will visit an interesting château in the town or perhaps the castle fortress Roquetaillade;

Blaye is home to a huge citadel fortress;

Libourne is near the quaint town of St. Emilion with its old timber houses and famous wines;

Bourg is a former walled city with an interesting carriage museum.

This is an important wine region of France, and you will experience tastings of some of the most distinguished wines including Sauternes, Medoc, and Bordeaux wines.

If you like wine, cognac, oysters, truffles, chateaux, and the grand buildings of Bordeaux, this is the cruise for you.

Our Final Thoughts

Sometimes, focusing on just one country on a river cruise becomes a fabulous trip and any of the these 3 are great options. Go to France on a luxury ship and learn about these 3 great regions of France on one or more of these excellent choices.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise specialists, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

ANNE has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Serving as the President of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC, since 2016, she is uniquely experienced professional travel advisor with over 26 years’ experience in the travel industry. Among her numerous certifications, she is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification and she is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA. Having traveled often to Europe since 1989, she has expanded on her certification as a Destination Specialist in Western Europe (DS) with extensive first-hand experience in luxury vacations. She holds numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors. An expert photographer, she delights in capturing the true essence of destinations to share with all.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 50 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

June 1, 2023

River Cruise Routes

The Wachau Valley--An Awesome River Cruise Experience

Hank Schrader

June 1, 2023

River Cruise Routes

The Wachau Valley—An Awesome River Cruise Experience

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

There are 3 incredibly scenic sections of Europe Rivers that are cited by most travel writers as sites on their “must-see” experiences.

On the Rhine River, the Middle Rhine’s 40 castle stretch is always on their lists.

On the Danube, there are 2 sites—the Iron Gates of the Lower Danube and the tranquil Wachau Valley on the Upper Danube.

So, let’s explore together and learn about the Wachau Valley on the Danube River.

Where is the Wachau Valley?

The Wachau Valley is a 30 km (19 miles) part of the Danube River from Melk to Krems. Monasteries, grapes and apricots, tranquil vineyards and some scattered castles make this an area of beauty, a little intrigue, and a place to slow down and enjoy some Austrian good life.

It is a UNESCO heritage site, in recognition of the agricultural history of the region and the architectural significance of unique abbeys and other buildings in the region.

It is famous for high quality wines, and apricots. The small villages dot the countryside, and the steep hills help make this a scenic area a great place to sail through on a river cruise.

Abbeys

There are 3 main abbeys in this region. Melk Abbey, Göttweig Abbey and the Stiftkirche in Dürnstein are stunningly beautiful.

Melk Abbey, located on a high hilltop (748 feet above the Danube River.), was built in 1702, and refurbished between 1715 and 1733. It is a massive baroque Benedictine monastery (17,500 square meters).

The Melk Abbey complex is built around 7 courtyards and stands out due to its mustard yellow paint on the structures. There are 88 imperial guest rooms in the abbey. The library of the monastery has over 100,000 books and manuscripts. There are significant art paintings and frescoes in the abbey. The church area is stunning in its detail and glittering gold adornments.

Göttweig Abbey, another Benedictine monastery is near Krems. It is often visited by some river cruise companies. Painted a pale pink, with a distinctive red roof, it is known as the “Austrian Montecassino”, a reference to the original Benedictine monastery in Italy. With towers and defensive walls it is a spectacular site

Göttweig became famous as a center of earning and strict monastic life up until the 15th and 16th centuries, but by 1564 there was not a single monk left at the abbey.

The abbey has a library of 130,000 books and manuscripts. It also has an important collection of religious engravings, antiquities, a rare coin collection, and musical manuscripts.

The Stiftkirche in Durnstein, has what is considered by most to be the one of the finest baroque towers in all of Austria. Resplendent in blue and white, it dominates the small village as you approach towards the docking port. The entrance way to this abbey is quite ornate.

Castles

There are some fascinating castles on this part of the river—three castle ruins and a castle built right on the river.

Schloss Schonbuhel is built on a rock about 130 feet above the Danube River that is on the riverbanks. It began as a defensive fortress in the 12th century. It is nick named the “Watchman of the Wachau”.

Burguine Aggstein castle is 15 km from Melk and built about 300 feet above the riverbanks on a rocky ledge. It dates from 1180. It is notorious for being inhabited by “robber barons” who imprisoned rivals for ransoms (they apparently tied victims to the rocky ledges around the castle and threatened to throw their captives off the ledges to their deaths) and exacted tolls from boats sailing in the area around the castle.

In Dürnstein, the ruins of Kuenringerburg, a hilltop castle above the town where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades, is often offered to guests as a hike up to the former castle site.

The story of King Richard I dates to the 3rd Crusade dispute between Richard and Leopold the Virtuous. During the crusade, Leopold was offended during Battle of Acre, where his standard (flag) was thrown off the walls of the city and he also suspected Richard ordering the murder of his cousin. A huge ransom was paid for Richard’s release—35,000 kg of silver.

From the top of the hill, the views of the river and valley are glorious after a 20-minute hike up to the ruins.

Hinterhaus Castle was built in the 12th century and is first mentioned in writings in 1243. It is near Spitz. It has been besieged and destroyed several times—1409, 1504, 1620.

Hinterhaus is said to be haunted by the ghost of a lady who appears annually on the date of her husband’s death. Today tours are possible for visitors to see the remains of the castle.

Melk

Melk is the start of the Wachau Velley. It is larger than most other towns and villages in the area and has a population of around 5,257. It once was a walled city. The city has an interesting city town hall square with a beautiful fountain.

Spitz and Weissenkirchen

Spitz is an attractive wine village. It has a population of only 1,627. The Spitz Parish church was once a fortified church and some of the defensive walls still remain.

In Weissenkirchen, population 1,291, has a fortified parish church that is surrounded by vineyards.

Dürnstein

This small village numbers only 600 residents. A Dürnstein visit will allow you to take a closer look at its 16th-century Baroque houses and 13th-century Romanesque church on a walking tour along cobblestone streets, that you can experience on many river cruise companies’ visits to this area.

There are great chances to taste wine here and apricot products.

Krems

Krems is the center of the wine trade in this region. One of the most important sites in this town is the Steiner Tor, a preserved city gate, dating back to the days when Krems was a walled city.

Our Final Thoughts

You should sail through the Wachau valley and visit as many of the sights in lower Austria.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 51+ years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

May 25, 2023

River Cruise Routes

Exclusive Experiences on AmaWaterways Cruises

Hank Schrader

May 25, 2023

River Cruise Routes

Exclusive Experiences on AmaWaterways Cruises

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

After 24 Europe River Cruises, we have been fortunate to participate in several experiences that are unique to AmaWaterways. We have written about some of these in other blogs but never put together a report about the unique features that are exclusive to river cruises offered by AmaWaterways.

We have several clients who will get to experience these events in 2023 and 2024, and we want to get them and you excited about what is possible on some AmaWaterways cruises.

So, let’s explore together and learn about some of the Exclusive Experiences offered by AmaWaterways. To organize this blog, we will present our experiences in the order we were able to participate in these unique offerings.

2009 and 2015—Zell

We experienced this small village on our Europe’s River and Castles cruises.

Zell is famous for its white wine (Riesling) Zellerschwartzkat (Zell’s black cat).

It is a small town of about 4,300 people. Among the sites to see here include an interesting market square, and the town hall has a wine museum. However, it is really famous for its brand of white wine and there is an interesting story about how the wine was named.

According to legend, a large quantity of local wine was being stored in barrels in a regional cellar. When people approached, a black cat jumped on the barrel from Zell and started hissing to protect its contents. Seeing the hissing, it caused the wine merchants to believe the wine from Zell was special and better quality than the other wines stored in the wine cellar building and they bought all the wine.

Today the black cat is the symbol of this town. It was a walled city but not much of the old walls remain.

AmaWaterways has an exclusive wine festival celebration in Zell. The local children, dressed up like black cats, provide a performance that everyone who has visited Zell on AmaWaterways will remember. I heard Kristin Karst, one of the co-owners of AmaWaterways, describe how special and unique this visit and performance is during a webinar—it instantly brought back great memories of this port stop.

AmaWaterways has a wine festival here, but the real treat is the children who visit the ship and perform songs and dances. It is a lot of fun and you will fall in love with this unique little wine village along the Moselle River.

The festival queen leads 2 children dressed as black cats from our 2009 cruise.

These pictures are from our 2015 cruise of the kids performance.

The town water fountain features the Black Cat.

Here were some of the wines we could taste during this festival:

2017 Bourg Wine Festival

Another AmaWaterways exclusive is a wine festival in Bourg. We got to experience this on our 2017 cruise called A Taste of Bordeaux.

Bourg is pleasant and picturesque small town perched on the banks of the Dordogne River.

This area produces excellent red French wine including merlot, malbec, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc.

The wine festival was held at the House of Wines. It was a lot of fun and we had a small band in period clothing to help us celebrate.

A view out of the back portion of the building towards the river at sunset.

2019 Lahneck Castle Tour

On the Enchanting Rhine, the Treasures of the Main & Rhine and other routes, there is an exclusive Lahneck Castle tour.

This is a great castle to tour, as it combines medieval fortifications, and great interiors. It was built in 1244 and destroyed in the Thirty Years War (1633). In 1852, it was rebuilt and fully restored in 1937.

It is a very interesting and pretty residential castle.

The stained-glass windows of the chapel date to the 1400s.

There is even a portrait of Queen Victoria, painted in 1840.

It is full of fine furniture, porcelain, ceramics, a 15th century kitchen complex and a fully furnished 3-story doll house.

2021 Nefertari’s Tomb

We got to experience this ancient Egyptian tomb on the Secrets of Egypt and the Nile cruise in December 2021.

The tour starts in the Valley of the Queens. We started day 5 of our cruise in the Valley of the Queens to view Queen Nefertari’s Tomb. Nefertari was the wife of Ramses III and his favorite wife. He made her a deity during his reign; she lived an elegant life; and expected an elegant life in the afterlife.

You are limited to only 15 minutes during your visit (the tomb can’t hold more than a limited number of tourists), and the Egyptologist guide is not allowed inside with their escorted group (they explained to us the questions that guests have often caused the group to stay beyond their allotted time). The Egyptologist encouraged us to take photos and he would answer our questions after we left the tomb to explain what the paintings symbolized.

After descending some very steep stairs, a wonderland of color and detail emerges—it was almost overwhelming—you will see the queen’s life journey symbolized by her interactions with the gods of that era.

Flash photos are not allowed and many sites in the tombs only allow cell phone pictures. The policy is unevenly enforced and often even if you pay a fee to use a 35 mm camera, the officials at the entrance to the site may deny permission to take photos with larger cameras.

Nothing remains in the tomb but the wall paintings. No other Egyptian tomb has this quality of preserved art works on the walls of the tombs in either the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings. They are stunning; detailed; and the best-preserved wall paintings of the various tombs we visited—we could really see and understand Nefertiti’s journey to the afterlife.

Here are the pictures of Queen Nefertari’s Tomb. The paintings on the tomb depict her journey to the afterlife and her life in Egypt during her reign as queen.

The valley of the Queens desert burial area

The steep stairs leading to her burial chamber

Nefertari before Thoth (god of the moon, wisdom, and knowledge) in the upper annex room

Nefertari making an offering to Ptah (on the right). Ptah is the creator god and the patron diety of craftsmen and architects.

Nefertari (on the right) making offerings to the gods.

This painting shows Ra, the sun god with the red circle over his head

2022 VolKach Wine Festival

This exclusive experience is part of the Medieval Treasures cruise we took in 2022. We attended a wonderful wine event in Volkach, Germany.

It is an exclusive event where the small town puts on a wine festival with grilled brats, white and rose local wines, hosted by the mayor with a band and traditional dancers.

It was a lot of fun—here are some pictures:

The town Hall and square where the festival took place

This was the singing and dancing group that entertained us

2023--2 Great Experiences on the AmaMagna

Wine Festival in Spitz

Spitz is a small village in the Wachau Valley. In an old monestary that has been converted to a wine cellar and restaurant, there is a lively wine tasting, complete with traditional music and some good white wines.

It is another fun celebration and an excellent glimpse of the culture of Austria.

Here are some photos of the event:

The outside of the winery and restaurant

Our hostess explaining the wine we are about to taste

One of the best wines grown in the region—Gruner Veltliner

Our host singing and leading us in toasts in German

Octoberfest in Vilshofen, Germany

Another great exclusive on AmaWaterways is Octoberfest in Vilshofen. Instead of just limiting the celebration to Munich during the last weeks of September and early October, the local populace of Vilshofen decided to greet guests who want to start their cruise in their small town with an Octoberfest celebration.

There are several benefits of starting a cruise in Vilshofen—the primary benefit is that it avoids a low water point on the Danube in Regensburg, so many cruises will not be disrupted by the lack of rain.

So, here is our experience in pictures from March of 2023 in pictures.

Anne with the festival queen dressed in traditional clothing

Prost! Anne, Cesario (our cruise manager) and Hank with good beer

Each of the tables had pretzels and we were served beer

Anne and Hank in front of the AmaMagna after the Oktoberfest party.

Our Final Thoughts

We all crave exclusive experiences. As you can see, there are multiple opportunities to participate in curated tours that will exceed your expectations.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

March 9, 2023

River Cruise Routes

Better Than an AmaWaterways Brochure

Hank Schrader

March 9, 2023

River Cruise Routes

Better Than an AmaWaterways Brochure

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Perhaps you would wonder why we think we have a resource better than an AmaWaterways brochure or even their route descriptions online. The reason is really very simple—we have decided to provide you a comprehensive day-to-day itinerary of every route offered by AmaWaterways in Europe with our pictures of the port stops.

To say the least, this has been a huge undertaking but it really is necessary to provide you the best possible, current information on the routes offer by our favorite river cruise company. While it is not totally complete, we have finished 24 of the routes and all the rest are in draft form, so in a couple of weeks or so, this will be completely finished.

These guides are a report of our 23 Europe River Cruises with AmaWaterways and experiences of traveling to Europe for 51+ years. By my count, there are 31 different routes offered in 2023 in Europe by AmaWaterways. We have sailed on all rivers with AmaWaterways except the Seine and Douro (most multiple times). And even though we have not sailed these two rivers, we have experience in both Normandy (ok, we led two tours the 70th and 75th Anniversary of D Day) and Portugal, we have visited the sites of the pre-trip land package.

Overview

There are at least 20 to 45 or so pictures in each presentation—almost all ours—as you know, Anne, our company president, and my boss, is an amazing photographer and she is responsible for most of these photographs!

Our last cruise was on the Danube in 2022 for the start of the Christmas Markets—it was very cool to experience these markets again, after they were cancelled during most of 2020 and 2021. We are going this month to a river cruise expo in Budapest and will have the chance to sail on the AmaMagna—more chances for us to excel with new presentations.

So, let’s explore together and learn about our newest resource to better help you decide if this is the right company for your trip and the details of each route.

How We Organized this New Material

You will find 4 new pages on our website. Each new page is organized around a major Europe River system, which makes it a little easier to find a route or cruise that may be the perfect fit for your next vacation. It will also let you dream of a new trip that is possible with a cruise line that never disappoints.

To help you learn a little about this great new resource, I will feature one route of each section, so you can get an idea of the quality of these presentations.

AmaWaterways Danube Cruises (page link AmaWaterways Danube Cruises )

AmaWaterways offers 11 different routes on the Danube. 9 are completed, one is in draft form and the Grand Danube is a combination of two routes already completed, so I chose to create this one last.

I have chosen this route as a good representation of this section.

Melodies of the Danube

The Watchman of the Wachau—this is one of my favorite pictures taken by Anne but it is hard to chose from the more than 5,000 she has taken and we get to share with you.

AmaWaterways French Cruises (page link AmaWaterways French Cruises )

There are 5 routes in this page. 2 are completed, one will be posted shortly and 2 are in draft form. I have chosen this route as a good representation of this section.

Colors of provence

AmaWaterways Main Moselle and Rhine Cruises (page link AmaWaterways Main, Moselle and Rhine River Cruises )

There are 7 routes on this page. All 7 routes are completed. I have chosen this route as a good representation of this section.

Vineyards of the main and moselle

Lahneck Castle Tour—an AmaWaterways exclusive!

AmaWaterways Rhine Cruises (page link AmaWaterways Rhine Cruises )

There are 6 routes on this page. All 6 are completed. I have chosen this route as a good representation of this section.

Rhine Castles and swiss alps

Lucerne—it is our 2nd favorite town in Europe!

AmaWaterways Douro Cruises

This page is not live yet but will feature the 2 routes offered.

Our Final Thoughts

This has been a true labor of love—that’s what Ama means--love. It was very important to update older presentations and create new ones, so you have an easy way to learn more about the routes offered and to help you really understand the value AmaWaterways brings to their guests.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

January 19, 2023

Europe River Cruise, River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways Sails 2 Rivers to Help You See the Best Castles in Europe

Hank Schrader

January 19, 2023

Europe River Cruise, River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways Sails 2 Rivers to Help You See the Best Castles in Europe

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

While all 7 river cruise companies we follow sail on the Rhine and through the Middle Rhine or, as it is more popularly known, the Rhine Gorge with its 40 castles, they usually sail from Amsterdam to Basel (or reverse) on a 7-day route. But expanding the usual Rhine route by blending this more traditional 7-day route of these awesome castles with a cruise on the winding Moselle in a 10-day cruise and suddenly this becomes the best castle watching opportunity on Europe Rivers. The result is the best castle experience in Europe on the rivers.

The added bonus is a combination of small, charming villages, cool castles, the oldest city in Germany and finally the canals of Amsterdam. Add a visit to Lucerne and Zurich, for a taste of Alpine German speaking Switzerland on a land extension and this becomes an epic journey.

So, let’s explore together and learn about the port stops of 2 great routes—Rhine and Moselle Delights (starting in Basel) and the reverse right the Rhine and Moselle Fairytales

Rhine and Moselle Fairytales (Amsterdam to Basel)

Since the routes are so similar, I will report on the port stops of just the Rhine and Mosel Fairytales. I hope by the time I finish you will want to go on this route.

There are only 6 sailings on this route in 2023—so after reading this you should quickly reach out to us (sailing dates are at the end of April, 2 dates in May, 1 in June, 1 in August and 1 in October). Space fills up quickly and some dates have the special free land extension promotions going on right now but please remember they are capacity controlled and have limited space.

Amsterdam, Netherlands. This ringed city of canals is unique to say the least. A land of bikes, canals, and a free-wheeling culture, we have visited Amsterdam several times and escorted folks there. This is a city of 165 ringed canals, a population of 750.000 (it has as many bikes as people) and always full of tourists.

It is the capital of the Netherlands, with two world class art museums. It is a major port; once the wealthiest city in the world; and residents and visitors live with a tolerant atmosphere.

The tour today is a view of Amsterdam on a scenic canal cruise—it is a neat experience.

Gabbles are unique architecture in Amsterdams

Cologne, Germany. The huge Cologne Cathedral, with its twin pointed towers, is the best-known landmark in Cologne. Construction of the cathedral begin in 1248 and took the next 600 years to complete.

Next door to the Cathedral Romano-Germanic Museum which has artifacts from the old Roman town, including part of an old Roman villa.

Hohenzollern Bridge--This is one of the 7 bridges that cross the Rhine in Cologne. About 1200 trains pass over this bridge daily in route to the main train station.

The old town square is also another good site to visit.

There are 3 tour options today. They are: Join a guided tour through the Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated cathedral. Continue on to the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall, and take in other local sights.

For a different view of the city, visit a local tavern to taste its famous Kölsch beer, only made in Cologne, and reibekuchen mit apfelmus, potato pancakes typically served with applesauce.

Or, take a Cologne Bike Tour.

Lahnstein is a port near the Moselle and Koblenz. Here you will get the chance to tour Lahneck Castle, either by tour or take a hike up the castle. Lahneck castle was built in the 13th century above the confluence of the Lahn River. It was heavily damaged during the Thirty Years war in 1633 by Swedish soldiers. Later it passed in private ownership and has been family owned since 1907. The tour is an exclusive feature of the tours offered by AmaWaterways. The next 8 pictures are about this wonderful tour:

Anne took this photo in 2013 of Lahneck Castle on a gloomy day in March

For the slightly more daring adventure, take a cable car ride from Koblenz across the Rhine River to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is the 2nd largest preserved fortress in Europe. It stands 120 meters (360 feet) above the Rhine River.

The Deutsches Eck (the German Corner) is located at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers

For the more active, there is a “Two Rivers” bike tour.

Cochem, Germany, on the Mosel River, is a former walled city. It has a population of about 5,800 and is a traditional old German town. The town has many fine buildings, quaint cottages, guild houses, and winding cobblestone streets. The town square, lined with half-timbered houses, is a wonderful, scenic area of this small town.

Schloss Reichsburg stands watch over the village of Cochem

In Cochem, if you go on an AmaWaterways cruise, you will enjoy a guided tour of Cochem that takes you to the spectacular hilltop Reichsburg Castle (also known as Cochem Castle but the correct name is Schloss Reichsburg). It has fantastic views of the river valley below. Touring inside the castle is great!

Schloss Reichsburg as we viewed it during a walk down to the village of Cochem.

There are two other options here—a visit to Cochem Mustard Mill and, for the more active, a Cochem bike tour.

On the way sailing to Trier, there are 10 wonderful castles, most that are visible from the Moselle River. One of my favorites is Thurant Castle with its twin castles. Here are 2 pictures to show you how scenic and beautiful this route is:

The ruins of Thurant Castle on the hills. The village in the foreground is Alken with an estimated population of 640

Trier was an old Roman outpost which was first settled by the Roman in 17 BC. It is the oldest city in Germany, and is near the Luxembourg border—in fact, one side of the Moselle River is Trier, Germany and the opposite other side is the tiny country of Luxembourg. Anne & I first visited here in 1989.

Important Roman sights include the Roman Baths, an amphitheater, Basilica of Constantine (it was the throne room of Emperor Constantin), and the huge city gate, the Porta Nigra gate, that dates back to 180 A.D. It has earned the nickname of “the Rome of the North.”

Other sights are the Trier Cathedral (it is the oldest Cathedral in Germany) and the ornate Trier Electoral Palace and gardens. Also worth a visit is the old town area of the main market (Hauptmarkt)—besides people watching, the backdrop is the Porta Nigra and the large square is lined with a variety of architectural styles and is quite colorful.

There are three tours at this port stop. First is the “Ancient Tales of the Porta Nigra” and for the active, two options--a Petrisberg hike or a Trier Bike tour.

Bernkastel is a wonderful town of around 8000. It is located about halfway between Cochem and Trier on the Mosel River. There are many half-timbered buildings, especially around the market square. Easily seen from market square is St Michael’s church, built in the 14th century that had a dual purpose— it served as a house of worship and its tall bell tower served as a watch tower in the old city ramparts. The city has some wonderful fountains—they include St. Michael's fountain on the Market Square, the bear's fountain, and the doctor's fountain. Overlooking the town is the Landshut Castle ruins. It was first built in 1277 but was ruined by fire in 1692.

When sailing from Trier, the Castle and bridge are a dramatic introduction to Bernkastel!

Bernkastel is located in the middle of the Mosel wine-producing region. This area has been producing wine for over 500 years. You will get to experience a guided walking tour through the old town center and a winery visit to sample several different regional vintages are scheduled for this portion of your cruise if you go on an AmaWaterways cruise.

Not to be overlooked, there are two active tours—a hike up to Landshut Castle or a Moselle bike tour.

Rhine Castles. Prior to arriving at Rüdesheim, you will marvel at the Rhine Gorge. Long before modern river cruising, in 1971, I first sailed this route on a day cruise on a KD ferry ship. After maybe 7 or 8 times cruising this stretch of the Middle Rhine, it still holds the wonder it had for me back in 1971.

Photo Anne Schrader of Katz Castle in the Rhine Gorge

A photo from 2015 during a cruise through the Rhine Gorge

Stahleck Castle in the Rhine Gorge. Photo Anne Schrader

Rüdesheim, Germany. The town of Rüdesheim is a charming wine village.

It is famous for the great white wines grown in the region, along with a special coffee drink, aptly named Rüdesheimer coffee (Flambé Asbach brandy, sugar cube, coffee garnished with whipped cream).

A lively lane, the Drosselgasse, is lined with taverns and wine-cellars.

The tours here are a Gondola ride and wine tasting, a vineyard hike, a Schloss Johannisberg bike tour, a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum or tasting Rüdesheimer coffee. There are certainly a lot of options here!

Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum

Hank and Jim drinking Rüdesheimer coffee—it is awesome!

The crowded Drosselgasse Lane in Rüdesheim

Ludwigshafen, Germany

You won’t really visit anything in Ludwigshafen because it is the gateway to two great tours—Heidelberg and the Mannheim Baroque Palace.

Heidelberg is a historic university town. Top sights in Heidelberg, include a visit the red-walled Castle ruins, with its Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th century wine cask. There are beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below.

The old town area is a great area to explore. Heidelberg is charming--where narrow lanes, shops and pubs housed in 17th-century structures in the Altstadt are kept lively by the cadence of student life. It also has the longest shopping street in Germany.

You can also chose an active tour in Heidelberg by hiking the “Philosopher’s Path”, where scholars at this university town have wandered when thinking about academic pursuits.

Mannheim Baroque Palace is one of the largest residences in Europe. It was built to highlight the important role of the Prince Electors to the Holy Roman Empire. In 1720 the palace replaced Heidelberg Castle as the residence of the Prince Elector.

The interiors of the palace are magnificent, especially on the main floor which you will see on your tour. The building was severely damage during WW II, but it has been restored to its former glory.

There are 2 other options here—a visit to Schwetzingen Gardens or a Landenburg bike tour.

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg’s old town is a wonderful stop. After several visits to Strasbourg, it still beckons us back. Our first visit was on Bastille Day (14 July) over 30 years ago and the floodlights on the Cathedral were breathtaking.

There are several main attractions. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame is massive, and the Cathedral square always has lots of life.

Anne took this picture of the huge spire of the Strasbourg Cathedral. The spire is 142 (466 feet) meters high. It is considered one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in Europe.

Wander down to Petite France—the home of tanners, fishermen and other artisans—the half-timbered areas are just stunning.

There are 2 options here for tours—the “Gems of Alsace” tour or a Strasbourg bike tour.

Breisach, Germany

Breisach is another gateway city—there are another two great options here—Freiburg, Germany and Riquewihr, France.

Freiburg, Germany (the official name is Freiburg-im-Breisgau) is a blend of old and new.

This city among other claims to fame is said to the sunniest city in all of Germany. Located on the southern edge of the Black Forest, and near the Rhine River, it was a good trade location and rich burghers, and the mercantile guilds were the original political force in the city.

It is a university town (started in the 1400s), once was a walled city but its number one sight is the Freiburger Münster (Freiburg Cathedral) (started in the 1300s). The cathedral was completed in 1513.

Riquewihr is a constant splash of colors, half-timbered buildings and wine shops jumbled together that just is so charming you will not know where to look next. The next 3 pictures are just some of the colorful structures in Riquewihr.

This medieval walled city still has most of its walls. There is a watch tower that today houses a museum about the defensive structures of the city, the people who manned the defensive structures and the weapons they used.

Don’t forget to shop, enjoy the food or a snack and sample the white wines this region is so famous for and brought wealth to this village!

Try some food here—the blend of German and French food results in dishes you won’t soon forget.

The regular tours are a Riquewihr walking tour, or an excursion to Freiburg. The active tours are a Black Forest hike or a Breisach wine country bike tour.

Basel, Switzerland

Basel is the 3rd largest city in Switzerland. The historic old town area, on the left bank of the Rhine, was once an old Roman citadel on the high ground. The Munsterplaz (cathedral square) hosts the large church and some wonderful Christmas Markets. There are no tours here, as it is time to disembark your wonderful cruise.

You will sail under this bridge right near the old town—perhaps now you understand why river cruise ships have only 3 decks!

For a truly immersive experience, there is a three-day Amsterdam pre-cruise land extension and ta 4-day Switzerland post cruise land extension that spends 2 days in Lucerne and 2 days in Zurich.

Our Final Thoughts

This is an exceptional opportunity to see some of the most fascinating and interesting sights in Western Europe. We think this cruise is unique and really deserves consideration for your European travels. We hope you enjoyed this report.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

August 18, 2022

River Cruise Routes

Medieval Treasures

Hank Schrader

August 18, 2022

River Cruise Routes

Medieval Treasures

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

We are taking a new route on AmaWaterways in the summer of 2022 that is called Medieval Treasures (we sailed in early August 2022).

So, let’s explore together and learn about this new route—perhaps you might want to try it out after reading this report.

Overview of Our Cruise

Starting in Switzerland in Basel, we will cruise to Strasbourg “The Gem of the Alsace” in France and then on to Speyer in Germany.

We will get to experience Europe on the picturesque meandering Main River beginning with Rüdesheim and finishing in Nuremberg.

Along the way, we will be captivated by the storybook villages of Wertheim and Miltenberg.

We will get to marvel at the Residenz Palace or visit Rothenberg.

Another highlight will be to savor the wine of the Rheingau; the smoked beer in Bamberg and the famous Rüdesheim Coffee.

Here is the route map:

Embarking the AmaPrima

Tonight, we gathered on board for a “Welcome Aboard” Wine Toast as we commenced our wine-themed itinerary through some of Europe’s most enchanting and historic wine regions.

We only boarded in Basel—there are no tours, but I thought you might like to see a couple of pictures of this wonderful city.

A bridge over the Rhine near the old town in Basel

Strasbourg

Our first port stop is in Strasbourg. It is the Alsace’s principal city and is situated on the Ill River (downstream it flows into the Rhine at the German border). Here are our options:

This morning, we could take a tour through this charming town lined with narrow cobblestone streets. Our visit will include the “La Petite France” district, where we can see the sandstone Gothic Cathedral with its famous astronomical clock, timber-framed buildings, covered bridges and medieval watchtowers.

A canal in Strasbourg. In the background is the cathedral spire

As an alternative, we could take a guided bicycle tour (capacity controlled) past the Orangery, the town’s oldest park, the European Parliament, and Place de la Republique.

Ludwigshafen

There are some interesting options here for tours. Here are the options:

We could visit the Mannheim Baroque Palace or go on the “Secrets of Speyer” tour or visit the Speyer Technical Museum.

Here are a few pictures of the Mannheim Palace (the tour we chose).

Here are some pictures of Speyer (from a previous visit):

Then we will sail to Rüdesheim.

Rüdesheim

Our first tour will be a wine tasting after dinner. We overnight, so we could visit other parts of the village such as the Drosselgasse a lively lane, is lined with taverns and wine-cellars.

In the morning, we could take the gondola ride to the Niederwald Monument or take a hike in the vineyards or visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum

Niederwald Monument commemorates the unification of Germany

The outside of Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum

Miltenberg

The old town of Miltenberg is about 150 meters wide but about 2.5 Km long from to banks of the Main River up the hillside. There are over 100 half-timbered houses in this scenic town.

This is a place time seems to have stood still—almost all the older buildings have survived. Its market square is often cited as one of the most attractive in all of Germany. And, to just round out the fairly-tale feel of the city, there is a castle perched on a hillside.

Our tour options are taking the “Pearl of the Main” tour, or a Flavors of Miltenberg or a Miltenberg Castle hike.

Colorful timbered homes. In the background is the castle

St Jacobs Church. Again in the background is the castle

For the active folks who like bike tours, they can pedal between Miltenberg and Wertheim. We will take the bus to Wertheim.

Wertheim

Wertheim is located where the Tauber River and the Main River meet. Overlooking the town are ruins of castle that was built in the 12th century. The old town and its market square are ringed with several half-timbered houses.

The Wertheim Castle is high on the hill.

This old walled city has an impressive watch tower that remains--the 115-foot tall Sprizer Turm. It dates to the 1200s and was one of the original 18 watch towers that ringed this city. The tower is 36.5 meter high (116 feet) and the tower can only be entered by ladder at 10 meters (33 feet).

Our tour options are a Wertheim walking tour, or a pretzel bakery visit and tasting or a hike up to the Castle.

After this tour, overnight, we will sail to Kitzingen. When docked here are some very good options. We could take an all-day tour to Rothenburg or visit the Residenz Palace after a walking tour of Würzburg. The bike riders can take a ride between Kitzingen and Volkach.

Let’s take a closer look at the hardest choice on this sailing—do you go to see the palace or go to Rothenburg?

Würzburg

Würzburg is in the heart of Franconia’s wine country. As you move to the town from the port, your first sights are the Marienberg Citadel and the old stone bridge to enter the town.

The key sight in Würzburg is the baroque Residenz Palace and its amazing gardens. The tour the of the palace is excellence —about 40 of the 360 rooms are available for visitors. Here are some pictures from a previous visit:

Rothenburg

Rothenburg, Germany (the correct name is Rothenburg ob der Tauber—, ob means above the Tauber River), is one of the most visited towns in Germany. We chose this tour.

This walled city has all its ramparts intact, has massive gates, and many folks walk the walls or part of the walls as I did during our previous visit. Its medieval past is everywhere—the impressive town hall, half-timbered buildings, a criminal museum, a carved wooden altarpiece masterpiece in St. Jacobs Church--all are surrounded by massive fortifications.

Here are some pictures of this interesting walled city:

This is from an earlier visit prior to us starting our travel agency

Many of you have seen this photo—it is the most famous picture of Rothenburg. Translated from German, Plönlein is actually the small square at a fountain”, not the lone timbered frame yellow, crocked tiled house and has 2 towers in the square area. On the left is the Siebersturm Tor and on the right is Kobolzeller Tor which opens to the Tauber Valley.

Burger Gate (Castle Gate). This gate was built around 1460 and is the western gate entrance. It is the highest gate tower of the town fortifications.

Volkach

We attended a wonderful wine event in Volkach. It is an exclusive event where the small town puts on a wine festival with grilled brats, white and rose local wines, hosted by the mayor with a band and traditional dancers. It was a lot of fun—here are some pictures:

There were several traditional dances performed by the wonderful dance group

4 awesome ladies enjoying the festival. From left to right, Bianca, Jennifer, Marcia (standing) and Anne.

The local Silvaner wine we drank—it was very good.

Bamberg

Bamberg is about 7 Km from the Main River, in the Upper Franconia region of Bavaria. It has a wonderfully preserved old town area on the west bank of the Regnitz River.

The key sights of Bamberg include the Altes Rathaus (old town hall), the Bamberg Cathedral, and the Neue Residenz (home of the prince bishops).

Bamberg has a special beer—it is a historic smoked beer.

Nuremberg

We will disembark today. It was awesome trip and a lot of fun.

Our Final Thoughts

What a cool new route. It is not offered often, so if you are interested, get hold of us so we can advise of the dates it is offered in 2023.

We hope you enjoyed this report—this route is really packed with great port options and enough free time to get an excellent feel of the charming villages, towns and treasures of a time past.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

May 13, 2021

River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways Enhances 3 River Cruise Routes

Hank Schrader

May 13, 2021

River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways Enhances 3 River Cruise Routes

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

I attended two AmaWaterways webinars this week and realized I had not told my readers a little about how AmaWaterways has tweaked some of their previous river cruise itineraries to offer a slightly different route with options that are very interesting to us.

I’m sure you will enjoy comparing these 6 great vacation river cruise offerings.

So, let’s learn about 3 area routes that have some new options—it should be fun!

Netherlands and Belgium

Tulip Time Route. Map image from AmaWaterways and used by permission

In 2013, we took the Tulip Time route and it was a wonderful look at this northern region of Europe. The only problem was that this was a limited time cruise, only offered in the spring to view the tulips as a primary focus. The 2022 sailing season is March to April, just as it has been in the past (it will include the once a decade Floriade in 2022 starting on 14 April). Ports on this 7 night cruise are Amsterdam, Hoorn, Middelburg, Ghent, Antwerp, Rotterdam, the windmills of Kinderdijk and ends in Amsterdam with the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens to view the tulips and a canal cruise. It is a great cruise!

But river cruise operators realized during some low water problems in 2018, that the only region of Europe that never had any water level problems was the Netherlands and Belgium. Why?—these folks have been managing water levels for many, many decades, reclaiming land and draining swamp lands and could handle fluctuations in water levels seamlessly. Thus, was born the idea of sailing to this region without the flower shows as part of the cruise. It was a great decision!

The Best of Holland & Belgium Route Map. Map image from AmaWaterways and used by permission.

This resulted in the new itinerary the Best of Holland & Belgium (a 7 night cruise). The cruise starts in Amsterdam with a canal cruise, on to Utrecht (a chance to see the spectacular Castle de Haar which is on my personal bucket list as we have not visited it yet); then on to Veere (a great medieval harbor town); off to Ghent for a walking tour or on the Brugge (Anne’s favorite European city), then on to Brussels; the next port is Antwerp; on to Dordrecht (“Holland’s Oldest City”); on to the windmills of Kinderdijk and again ends in Amsterdam.

A great picture that really captures Amsterdam—canals and bicycles!

Both cruises allow you a pre-cruise visit in Amsterdam on the land extension. It is a must for those who want to see the world famous Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh museum, the Anne Frank House (get your tickets at least 2-3 months on-line before the trip or you will miss this experience) and a visit to Haarlem (we stayed there on one of our visits and it is a great Netherlands town).

Which is the best route? This is a toss-up, in my opinion, the deciding factor is the time of year and your interest in flowers. Both are great—either choice will result in a great vacation experience, especially if you add the land extension to visit Amsterdam in depth. And to make it even better, let us plan at least two days or more for you in Brugge, to make this a perfect trip package.

Here are some pictures of the ports we have visited:

New Rhine and Moselle Combinations

In 2009, when we took our first Moselle and Main cruise on AmaWaterways, there was little chance to combine it with a Rhine cruise. Now there are two good options to combine these two wonderful rivers. Basically, the popular Rhine River route is split in two and added to the Moselle River.

Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle

Wine Regions. Map image from AmaWaterways and used by permission.

This is a 7 night cruise from Amsterdam to Luxembourg or in the reverse direction. The Rhine River portion includes Cologne, the Rhine River Gorge, Rüdesheim, and Mainz. It then visits the Moselle with two ports stops (Cochem and Bernkastel).

The land extensions for this cruise includes the Amsterdam tour described above and the post extension in Reims (2 nights) and Paris. Reims is in the champagne region of France, and it provides you a worthwhile worthwhile chance to learn about and taste champagne on the Routes of Champagne tour and see the Cathedral where the French kings were crowned in coronation ceremonies.

Rhine & Moselle Splendors

This is a 7 night Luxembourg to Basel Cruise, starting on the Moselle and ending on the Rhine, turning south from Koblenz to Basel. On the Moselle, the ports are Trier, Bernkastel, and Cochem.

On the Rhine, the ports and sights are the Rhine River Gorge, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Riquewihr and it ends in Basel.

The pre cruise land extension is the Paris and Reims tour described above. The post cruise tour is in Switzerland to Lucerne (it includes a Lake Lucerne cruise) and then on to Zurich, which has a good old town area in this bustling banking town.

While both are excellent, I lean toward the Rhine & Moselle Splendors, as it visits more of the quaint villages and towns I just love and Lucerne is one of our favorite Alpine cities. Combine that with the Reims visit and your vacation is over the top—a pure homerun!

Adding More Saône Ports to the Rhône Route

Colors of Provence Route Map. Map image from AmaWaterways and used by permission.

The Rhône route of the Colors of Provence has always been one of my favorites—I always use the term A Wine Lover’s Route. Ports are Lyon, Vienne, Tournon, Tarascon (gateway to Arles or Les Baux), and ends in Avignon (Palace of the Popes or Pont du Gard). You will sail on the AmaKristina for this 7 night cruise.

Wine Regions Map of the Saône and the Rhône . Map image from AmaWaterways and used by permission.

Since wine is such an essential part of both of these cruises, wine lovers need to study this map of the wine regions here—if one type of wine is your preference, the best cruise will become clear to you as the best choice for the vacation. To make it even better, combining either route with a special wine cruise, will help make this even more special for wine aficionados! We have been on several wine cruises offered by AmaWaterways, and they are just fabulous experiences, especially on the Colors of Provence cruise.

The Essence of Burgundy & Provence Route. Map image from AmaWaterways and used by permission.

The Essence of Burgundy & Provence has 3 days on the Saône River and then on to the Rhône. This cruise gets you the added advantage of exploring the Burgundy region of France. It is even better if you include the 3 day pre-cruise city of Geneva, Switzerland (visits to the Peace city on a tour, an Annecy excursion (known as the “Pearl of the Alps”) and a visit to Chillon Castle) because you also get a chance to visit Dijon (we were there in 1990) on the way to the AmaCello, your cruise ship.

Geneva—statues are the founders of the Protestant Religious Movement

The post excursion is in Barcelona (3 nights), with a stop in the old Roman town of Nimes.

Outside the food market of Barcelona on the Ramblas

While both are very good land extensions, the new Geneva tour really excites me—it is just loaded with very good sights and many have not visited this interesting area of Switzerland and France—I know we have not seen many of these places or it was so long ago, that this will high on our list of land extensions to try.

Sailing north to south, you will embark at Chalon-sur-Saône. The cruise starts off with a chance to visit the city tour with a local market, or Beaune on a walking tour (this would be my choice as the city has a wonderful medieval hospital with a famous multi-colored tile roof) or the Chateau de Couches—all included.

The next day is in Tournus, an important monastic town, to visit the Abbey of Saint Philbert, or Chateau Cormatin or a visit to medieval Brancion.

Once in Lyon (arriving late on day 3 of the cruise with an illumination cruise) there is a city tour on day 4 (1/2 day tour), on to Vienne (1/2 day tour) where you will port overnight. The next port is Valence (a city tour, bike tour or learn to cook French food at a cooking school, which would be our choice), then on to Avignon (Place of the Popes) and finally to Arles (great Roman ruins).

Both cruises rate very high with us (we have escorted clients on the Colors of Provence route), but I will lean towards the new route, as we have not seen all the sights, but as with all AmaWaterways cruises, there are no clear winners here—they are all great, so whatever choice you make will still be the trip you always wanted to take.

My Final Thoughts

What a great adventure—3 new regional river cruise route itineraries —just another reason we love the Old World of Europe so much! All six cruises described here and the land extensions offer vacations and experiences you will long cherish—you will experience the trip of a lifetime on AmaWaterways!

We hope you enjoyed these pictures and description of the new features as much as we enjoyed seeing them during our travels and telling you about the new changes.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 49+ years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

February 4, 2021

River Cruise Routes

2 Awesome 14 Day Cruises on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader

February 4, 2021

River Cruise Routes

2 Awesome 14 Day Cruises on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

As we all wait anxiously for the return of river cruise travel to Europe in 2021, one of the biggest trends at AmaWaterways is how easy it is to combine back-to-back cruises with their usual 7 day routes.

We have been doing this with clients since 2015, but it has evolved into a much better process with a lot more options than we used to have 6 years ago.

Just to show you how vast the options are, we actually have a client doing an AmaWaterways Nile cruise (new for 2021) and then off to Christmas Markets cruise on the AmaMagna on the Danube—talk about temperature extremes!

This blog will focus on the Danube and French cruises. We have sailed on all except the Paris & Normandy route, since as many of our readers know, we have led 2 anniversary tours focusing on D Day beaches in Normandy. Also, we have helped several clients sail on these 14 day routes, so rest assured we will know how to help you get the best trip on these combination routes.

Any combination of two 7 day cruises will result in a 10% discount for you on the second cruise—another sound reason to consider this option.

There is a lot to cover here, so we’ll try and make it easy by providing route maps and Anne’s wonderful pictures. You can also visit our website for more in-depth info on our river cruise pages at www.dreamdestinations.com –it is very comprehensive and we are very proud of the great content.

So, let’s explore together and learn about these 2 routes—there are so many options I can’t cover them all, so I will highlight these two we consider among your best options—you won’t be disappointed, I promise!

The Grand Danube

This is one great look at the heart of Europe. It starts in Germany and winds up on the Romanian/Bulgarian portion of the Danube close to Bucharest.

It is really a combination of 2 routes—the Upper Danube and the Lower Danube. The Danube is 1,170 miles, making it the second longest river in Europe after the Volga River in Russia.

Along with a great route, you will remain in the same stateroom for the voyage—it just doesn’t get easier than this to see 8 countries in Europe in a meaningful way—you will spend your time seeing and doing, not packing and unpacking.

This route is served by 3 AmaWaterways ships—the double wide AmaMagna, the AmaBella and the AmaVerde. The sailing season is scheduled to go from 28 March to 21 November in 2021 but we think sailing will resume sometime this summer due to the pandemic.

The Upper Danube is the most popular river cruise route in Europe --typically from Vishofen to Budapest.

You will get to visit 4 countries, 3 capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest), castles, Abbeys, wine-sloped terraces and even quaint villages-it is a great voyage.

**Schonbuhl Castle—the Watchman of the Danube**

This area has rolling hillsides, lush vineyards, and medieval castles, and the cruise allows you to visit four different countries—Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungry.

The Lower Danube is the gateway to Eastern Europe. You will visit Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.

**Route Map of the Lower Danube. Image from AmaWaterways used with their permission.**

This segment begins in Budapest and ends near the Black Sea. It starts with the rolling hills and vine-clad slopes of the Pecs in Hungary; then moves to the boundary waters that separate Serbia and Croatia; then traverses the narrow gorges of the Iron Gates, a stunning passage that divides the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains; and ends near Bucharest, Romania.

It is perhaps the best overall look at Europe by providing you a fascinating look at key parts of Western Europe and Eastern Europe.

Combining Cruises in France

Combining French river cruises is an easy option but requires a change of ship. The great news is you get to ride the TGV—the fast Europe rail which is our favorite way to travel after river cruising—to the next ship.

If you love France and want to explore it, sailing on 2 of these routes is the solution for a vacation you will never forget.

The easiest combination is to combine the Seine cruise with either a Rhone cruise or a Bordeaux cruise.

However, you could combine a Bordeaux cruise with a Rhone cruise which would have special appeal to wine lovers as this would represent the two most important wine growing regions except for the Champagne region near Reims (sorry Anne to skip her favorite beverage but just add it on at the end of the cruise).

There are three great rivers that AmaWaterways cruises in France. They are the Seine, the Rhone and the Garonne River Basin around Bordeaux.

**Seine Route Map. Imagine from AmaWaterways used by their permission.**

The Seine-route which is best for a combination 14 day cruise is the 7 day round trip cruise into Normandy, starting and ending in Paris. The route name is Paris & Normandy and you will be sailing on the AmaLyra.

The cruise highlights are Monet's village of Honfleur, Rouen, the historic capital of Normandy, as well as a chance to visit the medieval towns along this scenic route and a full day visit the D-Day Normandy beaches.

**Rhone Cruise Route. Image from AmaWaterways and used with their permission.**

The Rhone cruise goes from Lyon to Arles on the Colors of Provence route on the AmaKristina. Starting in Lyon, the gastronomical capital of France, the cruise goes through France's legendary wine growing regions of Beaujolais and Cote du Rhone, and allows you observe medieval villages in the Provence region of France. Then on to the Papal town of Avignon, where it finishes.

The new for 2021 route, Essence of Burgundy & Provence starts in Chalon-sur Saone and finishes in Arles, where Vincent Van Gough spent much of his time. You will get to visit Beaune, Tournus, Macon, Lyon, Vienne (one of our personal favorites), Avignon and Arles.

**A Taste of Bordeaux route. Image from AmaWaterways and used by their permission.**

The final river cruise is in the Bordeaux region of France on the Garonne River on the route named A Taste of Bordeaux. It is a round trip cruise out of Bordeaux and features wine tastings, chateaux’s and abundant vineyards along the Garonne and its tributaries. You will sail on the AmaDolce.

My Final Thoughts

What a great adventure—a chance to see a lot of Europe in luxury on a trip of a lifetime!

You really should consider this option if your vacation plans have time for a 2 week or more vacation and want to visit Europe in affordable style with fascinating tours, awesome food and a crew that will become your friends.

We hope you enjoyed these routes and our pictures as much as we enjoyed sharing them with you.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 49 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

January 14, 2021

River Cruise Routes

Rhine Christmas Market Cruises on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader

January 14, 2021

River Cruise Routes

Rhine Christmas Market River Cruises on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

Last week I wrote about Danube Christmas Markets cruises. As promised, today we are going to learn about Rhine Christmas Markets cruises.

One of the hottest trends in European River Cruises is the 2021 Christmas Markets cruises on AmaWaterways.

If you love Christmas and want to celebrate the magic of this special holiday season in Europe, there is no better place than on a river cruise.

We have been on 6 river cruises during the Christmas market season and they are fabulous! There are two main routes that offer the best experiences to celebrate the season where most of our Christmas traditions originated.

The two rivers to visit the most Christmas Markets are the Rhine and the Upper Danube.

So, let’s explore the Rhine routes together and learn about Christmas Markets.

A quick piece of advice—they are selling briskly—my guess is folks are tired of not traveling form the pandemic and November and December of 2021 seems likely to be a time that travel can resume safely.

What are Christmas Markets?

In Europe, many squares are used for various street markets. At Christmas time, these squares are transformed into one unique blaze of color, goods and foods from small vendors.

It is a social gathering where hot mulled wine, beer and street food and all seem to get along as they browse the various vendors.

Christmas markets date back to 1300 or so and started in Germany, Austria and the eastern portion of France. The season usually starts about November 25 and lasts until 23 or 24 December, roughly following the Advent 4 week season.

Even for a person like me who does not really like shopping, this is so much fun that everyone should try this at least once. Unlike American Malls, this is not combat shopping and crowds of hassled folks; this is a gathering of folks socializing with food and drink, music, and buying gifts at a much gentler pace.

Seeing the decorations alone is worth the trip but many booths have handmade items that are unique and priceless. Most sell only on cash, so make sure you have enough local currency to get your purchases.

And, as we have learned though our own mistakes, if you see something you like, buy it or you will often miss out. Most markets open around 10:00 AM and close around 9:00 PM but it varies a lot and it is not uncommon for booths to close down for short periods to take a break or get something to eat or an owner to take a day off and not open their booth.

As long as you dress warmly, these markets offer a cultural experience second to none—it is an adventure not to be missed!

The Rhine Route Overview

This route is the second most popular river cruise in all Europe.

The 820 mile Rhine actually passes through 6 countries, but most folks consider it a German River, since so much of its banks are on German soil. The middle Rhine and especially the Rhine River Gorge, has the greatest concentration of scenic banks and castles in all Europe. It never gets old!

The main route usually starts in Amsterdam and continues to Basel Switzerland on the Rhine, (or from Basel to Amsterdam on the next 7 day cruise), using both the lower Rhine and the upper Rhine. The upper Rhine is defined as from Koblenz, Germany to its source in Lake Constance, Switzerland--remember it flows north into the Baltic Sea.

This cruise begins with legendary canals and the colorful surroundings of Amsterdam, past the majestic Cologne Cathedral and on to the Black Forest region of Germany and the Alsace region of France. The best stretch is the Rhine River Gorge with its’ 40 castle dominating the hillsides—unmatched anywhere in the world.

Port of call include Cologne, Rüdesheim, Ludwigshafen, Strasbourg, Breisach and Basel

Many folks start their trip with a stay in Amsterdam in a pre-cruise for a couple of nights, then enjoy the cruise and stay a couple of extra nights in Lucerne and Zurich, Switzerland.

If you sail this route, you will usually get to visit 4 countries (the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland), see awesome castles in the Rhine River Gorge, wine-sloped terraces and even quaint villages--it is a great voyage!

Amsterdam, Netherlands

This ringed city of canals is unique to say the least. A land of bikes, canals and a free-wheeling culture, we have visited Amsterdam several times and escorted folks there. This is a city of 165 ringed canals, a population of 750.000 (it has as many bikes as people) and always full of tourists.

It is the capital of the Netherlands, with two world class art museums. It is a major port, once the wealthiest city in the world and residents and visitors live with a tolerant atmosphere.

This is one place you will not find Christmas Markets.

Cologne, Germany

The huge Cologne Cathedral, with its twin pointed towers, is the best known landmark in Cologne. Construction of the cathedral begin in 1248 and took the next 600 years to complete.

Next door to the Cathedral Romano-Germanic Museum which has artifacts from the old Roman town, including part of an old Roman villa.

Hohenzollern Bridge--This is one of the 7 bridges that cross the Rhine in Cologne. About 1200 trains pass over this bridge daily in route to the main train station.

The old town square is also another good site to visit.

It is famous for its many Christmas markets—we have visited several times and love the hustle and bustle of the season. Our favorite is area around the old town square. Please enjoy these pictures:

Rüdesheim, Germany

The town of Rüdesheim is a charming wine village.

A lively lane, the Drosselgasse, is lined with taverns and wine-cellars.

The Christmas Markets are small here but a lot of fun.

Ludwigshafen, Germany

You won’t really visit anything in Ludwigshafen because it is the gateway to two great tours—Heidelberg and Speyer.

Heidelberg is a historic university town. Top sights in Heidelberg, include a visit the red-walled Castle ruins, with its Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th century wine cask. There are beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below.

The old town area is a great area to explore. This especially true during the Christmas Markets. Here are some great pictures of the wonderful Christmas Markets, which was even more fun when it snowed during one of our visits!

Speyer is a German town famous for its large Romanesque Cathedral. It is the largest in Europe. Speyer is part of the historic pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela.

This once walled city had 68 towers guarding it. The most important tower still remains and at 188 feet, is one of the tallest defensive watch towers in all of Germany.

The Christmas Market area is near the Cathedral and we were especially impressed with the food booths.

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg’s old town is a wonderful stop but especially so for Christmas. After several visits to Strasbourg, it still beckons us back. Our first visit was on Bastille Day (14 July) and the floodlights on the Cathedral were breathtaking.

There are several main attractions. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame is massive and the Cathedral square always has lots of life.

Wander down to Petite France—the home of tanners, fishermen and other artisans—the half-timbered areas are just stunning.

Try some food here—the blend of German and French food results in dishes you won’t soon forget.

The Christmas decorations in Strasbourg are excellent in the old town area. The narrow lanes just add to the ambiance.

Breisach, Germany

Breisach is another gateway city—there are another two great options here—Freiburg, Germany and Riquewihr, France.

Freiburg, Germany (the official name is Freiburg-im-Breisgau) is a blend of old and new.

This city among other claims to fame is said to the sunniest city in all of Germany. Located on the southern edge of the Black Forest, and near the Rhine River, it was a good trade location and rich burghers and the mercantile guilds were the original political force in the city.

We have visited several times and especially like the 3 Christmas Markets area here.

Riquewihr is a constant splash of colors, half-timbered buildings and wine shops jumbled together that just is so charming you will not know where to look next.

Don’t forget to shop, enjoy the food or a snack and sample the white wines this region is so famous for and brought wealth to this village.

This may be the most charming Christmas village you will ever see—maybe this picture will convince you we’re right!

Basel, Switzerland

A short walk from this square leads to the other good Christmas Markets of Markplaz (Market Square).

My Final Thoughts

Christmas on the Rhine—awesome!

What an experience—the Rhine River is awesome and deserves to be sailed by you—it is the best way to see this area of Europe. This river will give you views and experiences you will never forget.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 48 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

January 7, 2021

River Cruise Routes

Danube Christmas Markets on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader

January 7, 2021

River Cruise Routes

Danube Christmas Market River Cruises on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

One of the hottest trends in European River Cruises is the 2021 Christmas Markets cruises on AmaWaterways.

If you love Christmas and want to celebrate the magic of this special holiday season in Europe, there is no better place than on a river cruise.

The two rivers to visit the most Christmas Markets are the Rhine and the Upper Danube. So, let’s explore the Danube routes together and learn about Christmas Markets.

Next week I will write about the Rhine River route.

A quick piece of advice—they are selling briskly—my guess is folks are tired of not traveling from the pandemic and November and December of 2021 seems likely to be a time that travel can resume safely.

What are Christmas Markets?

In Europe, many squares are used for various street markets. At Christmas time, these squares are transformed into one unique blaze of color, goods and foods from small vendors.

It is a social gathering where hot mulled wine, beer and street food and all seem to get along as they browse the various vendors.

**Some of the treasures Anne has found at the Christmas markets on our mantle**

As long as you dress warmly, these markets offer a cultural experience second to none—it is an adventure not to be missed!

The Upper Danube Route Overview

This route is the most popular river cruise in all Europe. It usually starts in Nuremberg or Vilshofen and ends in Budapest, Hungary. Ports of call include Regensburg, Passau, Melk, and Vienna.

Many folks start their trip with a stay in Prague in a pre-cruise for a couple of nights, then enjoy the cruise and stay a couple of extra nights in Budapest.

If you sail this route, you will usually get to visit 4 countries (Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungry), 2 or 3 capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest), castles, Abbeys, wine-sloped terraces and even quaint villages--it is a great voyage!

Sailing to the capital cities is wonderful, it is not the only good reason to sail this route. The other highlights include sailing the Wachau Valley, perhaps a visit to Salzburg, Austria and the 900 year old Melk Abbey.

Nuremberg, Germany

The old walled city of Nuremberg is one of my favorite places in all Germany. It has an impressive castle, is crisscrossed by a river and has some cool old buildings. The central market square, with its, beautiful fountain, is another great place to see and this square hosts one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany.

It is famous for its many Christmas markets—we have visited several times and love the hustle and bustle of the season.

Regensburg, Germany

The town of Regensburg is located on the northern most point of the Danube River. It started out as a Roman town, has a medieval stone bridge the crusaders crossed on their way to the Holy Wars (which is guarded by an impressive watch tower), and has a good old town area. Anne’s favorite hat maker is here, so we find this one of our favorite Bavarian towns.

The Christmas markets are awesome—there are at least 3 or 4 but our favorite is the Thurn and Taxis—it is an old fashion market, with blazing fire pits and has an entrance fee which AmaWaterways includes in your voyage. It is romantic and has some very good quality goods for sale.

Anne and Hank with the owner of the Hat King with our new hats in 2019

Passau, Germany

Built on a tapering peninsula of land, the old town portion of Passau is located right at the German and Austrian borders. Three rivers join here—the Danube, the Inn, and the Ilz. On the high left bank of the Danube (sailing downstream), a fortress dating back to the 1400’s, overlooks the old city center. There are several impressive churches worth a visit.

There is one really good Christmas market in the main square—Anne found some great gifts on a recent trip.

Melk and Dürnstein, Austria

Melk is famous for its impressive, huge abbey and collection of rare books and manuscripts. The abbey was initially built in the 11th century and has been updated several times, and the last major improvements to this baroque structure were completed from 1702 to 1736.

There is a small market in Melk but we enjoyed it—we watched a blacksmith work on handmade gifts.

Later as you cruise through the one of the great scenic waterways of Europe, the Wachau Valley, you will arrive in the charming village of Dürnstein (about 600 population). The blue tower of the Abbey, the cute little shops and the castle ruins on the hillside (where Richard Lionhearted was held in prison for ransom), make this a favorite of many river cruisers. It is so small there are not any real booths for Christmas but the shops often have special Christmas items

The Wachau Valley

The Wachau Valley has to be the one of the best segments for just enjoying the upper Danube. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so there are no bridges to interrupt the views. Unlike the Rhine River Gorge, with castles dotting almost every hill, the region has only three or four great castles. But the quaint villages, sometimes dominated by a fortified church complex, and the steep vineyards provide a relaxing and fun sailing experience—the castles are not missed.

Vienna

Vienna is the capital city of Austria (it once the capital city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), is a city of impressive palaces, great museums and good food. It is also known as home for the great composers of classical music and many go to concerts in Vienna while on their cruise.

There are several great markets here but the two best are at the Rathaus (town hall) and the famous summer palace of the Hapsburgs—Schönbrunn Palace. There are lots of booths in each market—you won’t go away disappointed!

Bratislava

The capital city of Slovakia is a fun place to visit. Located at the border of Austria and Hungary, this is a newer country (it declared independence in 1993) in Europe.

For much of its history, it was in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then a part of the Czechoslovakia. The symbol of Bratislava is the fortress that overlooks the city. It is also known for its whimsical bronze figures, which delight cruisers in the old town area.

The old town area has a great Christmas market and there are also a good one in the new town area.

Budapest

By far the most impressive city on the Danube, Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a town we love to visit. It is really two towns—the high town of Buda that overlooks the banks of the Danube and Pest on the flat land. They are united by several bridges but the Chain Bridge is the most important and is a symbol of the city.

Both sides have some awesome structures—among them Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion (Buda side) and the Parliament building (Pest side). Once you visit, you will want to come back.

The best Christmas markets are on the Pest side—a highlight is the food, especially the funnel cakes baked over a charcoal fire.

Two Great Side Trips

Along this route, there are two great cities that are optional trips on some lines or can be included. They are not actually on the Upper Danube but are easily accessible by coach (bus) during your Danube cruise. Both are awesome, so let’s see what it might be like to visit both Salzburg, Austria and Cesky Krumlov.

Here are two great photos, which may make you want to include these two medieval towns as an addition to your cruise. Both have good Christmas markets but the Salzburg one is larger with more booths.

My Final Thoughts

Christmas on the Danube—awesome!

What an experience—the Danube River is awesome and deserves to be sailed by you—it is the best way to see this area of Europe. This river will give you views and experiences you will never forget.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

July 9, 2020

River Cruise Routes

The Lower Danube River Cruise Route

Hank Schrader

July 9, 2020

River Cruise Routes

The Lower Danube River Cruise Route

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

The Danube is 1,170 miles, making it the second longest river in Europe after the Volga River in Russia. This is a river of legends; serves as a borderline between countries; has four capital cities on or near its banks and romantic sights of medieval castles, baroque churches and abbeys and rococo palaces. There are 2 routes here. The upper portion is primarily in Austria and Hungry. The lower segment is in the Balkans.

The lower Danube is the gateway to Eastern Europe. This segment begins in Budapest and ends near the Black Sea. It starts with the rolling hills and vine-clad slopes of the Pecs in Hungary; then moves to the boundary waters that separate Serbia and Croatia; then traverses the narrow gorges of the Iron Gates, a stunning passage that divides the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains and either ends in Bucharest, Romania or at the Black Sea.

**The Lower Danube River Cruise Route. Photo from AmaWaterways**

Why Go on this Route?

This is a unique chance to visit some lesser known areas of Europe. Since these countries are not part of the Schengen area, it is much easier to visit on a river cruise—border formalities and many money issues are handled for you.

We enjoyed this trip, the friendly people and learning about new areas. We aren’t alone—here is an opinion from one of our great clients:

“What a great trip! I am an experienced traveler, have traveled all over the world, and this is the best trip I ever had! To be able to see 8 countries, explore a many venues and participate in a multitude of events created a unique vacation I will never forget. The food, wine, staff and overall experience was awesome! It allowed me to make a whole new set friends. I want thank my professional travel team of Hank and Anne for helping me make it possible.

— Jeff R Danube Cruise (lower and upper 2018) on the AmaCerto”

Pretty good reasons to go explore this region, don’t you think so!

The Ports

Budapest, Hungary

All routes either start or end in Budapest. It is the most interesting and beautiful city on the Danube route. It is really two cities linked by the Chain Bridge. The Pest side was the former home of the Royals and Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion are two great places to visit.

On the Pest side, my favorites are the Parliament Building and the Great Market. It is worthy of a couple of days or more.

Great Market Budapest — **Great Market on the Pest side**

Pecs, Hungary

Pecs is a city of art and history. It is the 5th largest city in Hungary. It first was a Roman city called Sopianae. The Hungarians conquered the area in the late 9th century. In the Middle Ages, Pecs was a center of learning and education. It was conquered by the Turks in 1543. When the Turks were expelled (they ruled for about 150 years), it became part of the Habsburg Empire. It has the largest Turkish ruins in Hungary. It is also famous for Zsolnay ceramics.

Here are some photos:

Old Fort Tower Pecs, Hungary — **Watch Tower of the Old Fort in Pecs Hungary**

**Fountain with Zsolnay porcelain spigots in Pecs Hungary**

Pecs Hungary — **Building in Pecs, Hungary**

Vukovar, Croatia

This is a somber stop on a Lower Danube cruise, as Vukovar is the only town since WW II that was almost completely destroyed during the Kosovo War in 1991. Vukovar held out for 3 months against an overwhelming Serbian force and many of the residents were killed.

Cross on the Danube—a tribute to all who gave their lives for a free and independent Croatia

The war sights are the main stops here. The cemetery is quite moving.

**Memorial statue in the Vukovar Cemetery. The statue has a symbolic flame at its center, and the stones present the image of the Christian cross facing outward in all directions.**

Eltz Manor Museum is the other main tourist site.

Novi Sad

Novi Sad is the 2nd largest city in Serbia. As with many places on the Lower Danube, the Ottoman Turks controlled this town for about 150 years (from 1526 to1687) and then it became part of the Habsburg Empire. Later, it was part of Yugoslavia, then a separate country and was bombed during the Kosovo War. It is now part of the Republic of Serbia.

The Petrovaradin Fortress is the best known landmark in the area. Novi Sad is also considered the cultural capital of Serbia. It has an interesting main square; the exquisite Bishop’s Palace and plenty of colorful wall paintings.

Here are some photos:

**Petrovaradin Fortress Novi Sad, Serbia**

**Bishops Palace Residence, Novi Sad. Serbia**

Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade is Serbia’s capital.

The two key sights here are the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Sava.

The fortress, on the banks of the Sava River and the Danube River is huge and once protected an entire city inside its walls. Today it is just a park to stroll through with displays of armaments in the Belgrade military museum, Ruzica Church, the zoo, and the observatory and planetarium.

**Part of the Outside display of Belgrade Military Museum**

St. Sava Cathedral is the largest Orthodox Church in the Balkan region and the 2nd largest in the world. Its’ dome is 70 meters high with a 12 meter cross on top, has 50 bells and 18 golden crosses. It can hold 10,000 (all standing—there are no pews) and work continues on the inside with mosaics. It represents faith and freedom to the Serbian people.

**A mosaic inside the St. Sava Cathedral**

Knez Mihailova Street-- is the main pedestrian and shopping zone in Belgrade, and is protected by law as one of the oldest and most valuable landmarks of the city. It features a large number of impressive buildings and mansions built during late 1870s.

**One of the ornate buildings on Knez Mihailova Street**

Princess Ljubica’s Palace—this palace was supposed to be the lavish seat for the Serbian Court, but warfare with Turks prevented it. Today it is a museum with a series of lavishly furnished rooms.

**Outside of Princess Ljubica’s Palace**

The National Assembly of Serbia—this perhaps is the most photogenic building in Belgrade. It used to be the home of Yugoslavia’s Assembly.

Iron Gates

The Iron gates is one of the most scenic cruise routes in all Europe.

The Danube narrows into an impressive series of gorges between the mountain ranges of the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains.

**The rugged cliffs of the Iron Gates on the Lower Danube River**

The banks of the river along this natural border between Serbia and Romania are lined with sheer-faced rocks that stretch high overhead

**A convent Orthodox Church in the Iron Gates**

One of the favorite sights is the rock carving of Decebalus (the last king of Dacis, who fought against the Roman emperors Domitian & Trajan to preserve the independence of his country, which corresponded to modern Romania). He gazes down at passengers as they cruise the Iron Gates towards Vidin.

Vidin, Bulgaria

Located in the northwest corner of Bulgaria, Vidin is known as the “The Danube’s Eternal Guardian.”

The best known site is the Baba Vida Castle. This well preserved castle is fun to visit and tour.

**A great view showing how the fort could defend the Danube Waterway**

Legend says that Vida (daughter of a wealthy Bulgarian Boyar), due to the unsuccessful marriages of her sisters, rejected all proposals for marriage and built the castle to protect Vidin and remained there for the rest of her life.

Vidin is the gateway to Belogradchik (about 50 km away), a hill town that has gigantic pillars of rust colored sandstone rocks and a fortress.

Here are some photos:

Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest is known as the “Paris of the East.

We first visited to the Open Air Museum, dedicated to preserving the traditional architecture of rural Romania.

The most impressive site in Bucharest is the Palace of the Parliament only for its sheer size—it is the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon.

Another great stop is a tour or walk in the newly renovated Lipscani district, the historical center of Bucharest.

Vlad (Dracula) statue in Lipscani district, the historical center of Bucharest. — **Vlad (Dracula) statue in Lipscani district, the historical center of Buchares**t.

Ruins of the Old Courtyard in the Lipscani district, the historical center of Bucharest. — **Ruins of the Old Courtyard in the Lipscani district, the historical center of Bucharest**.

**Annunciation Church of Saint Anthony Lipscani district Bucharest**

Pre/Post Cruise Extensions

Brasov—a great place for a pre or post stay. It is a chance to see what a Transylvanian old city looked like. It is also a good gateway to Braun Castle (14 century) a military outpost controlling the entry route to Transylvania and nowadays is associated with the myth of Dracula.

**Old Gate entrance to Brasov, Romania**

I would also try to visit Peles Castle (built from 1873 to 1914) the former summer residence of the Romania Royal Family. I recently wrote about this fabulous structure in our 33 Palaces of Europe blog. It is the most visited museum in Romania.

Istanbul—the European portion of Istanbul is one of the most fascinating and interesting cities in the world. It is offered as a possible post stay to your cruise.

My three favorites were the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia and the Spice Market.

This is a city worth several days and is another unforgettable experience.

My Final Thoughts

This is a chance for folks to explore a part of Europe that once was part of the Communist Block. It is a world many haven’t seen but it is special. A turbulent history of war and conflict has shaped this area but it has a lot to offer.

We highly recommend this cruise.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

February 20, 2020

River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways New Emphasis on the Main and Moselle Rivers--Part 2

Hank Schrader

February 20, 2020

River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways New Emphasis on the Moselle and Main Rivers

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, European Destination and River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

Our first Europe river cruise was on the Main and Moselle Rivers in 2009. It was on AmaWaterways. As I have written before, I was hooked—for a person who has never taken a Europe river cruise, it is very hard to describe how good it is—I knew what the brochures said, which made it sound awesome, but it was just so much more than I expected!

The key for me was the easy access to so many wonderful sites, that would be difficult to do on your own, and luxury travel aboard the ship facilities, great food and wine all rolled into one package—it was easy and fun.

But that is not the purpose of this blog—the purpose is to tell you about the expanded options to visit the Main River on AmaWaterways. In last week’s blog, I provided you a complete overview of the 7 routes that AmaWaterways offers on 2 great rivers—the Moselle and the Main.

There are now 3 different route options that explore the Main River area better than any other of the 8 river cruise companies we follow. We have sailed every part of these 3, as well as the 7 offerings on the Rhine, Main & Moselle Rivers on AmaWaterways that I wrote about last week, and these 2 blogs will provide you some first-hand knowledge of the great ports and experiences you can expect on any one of these cruises.

Imagine sailing on the either of these 2 rivers through the legendary wine growing regions of Germany, getting the chance to sample good German wines, explore quaint villages and visit and tour castles and palaces!

Don’t let the 7 different routes confuse you—many ports are very similar on each route and if you just look at the maps carefully and our pictures, you will quickly get a great overview. And, as always, we are here to clear up any confusion.

Since there are so many ports involved in these routes, I have organized last weeks blog to provide an overview of the routes of the Moselle and Main Rivers and will provide you in this blog a good description of the ports on the Main. Last week I concentrated on the ports of the Moselle River.

So let’s sail together on the ports of the German Main River—you won’t be disappointed—it is that good!

Ports on the Main River

Mainz

Mainz is located where the Rhine and Main Rivers meet. About 80% of the city was destroyed in WW II, but they have rebuilt most of the area around market square. It was a major trade center in the Middle Ages. The 2 most famous sites are the huge cathedral and the Gutenberg printing museum—he printed the Gutenberg Bible—also known as the 42-Line Bible, for the number of lines in each column. It also has a famous stained-glass windows by Chagall in the Stephen’s Church.

Miltenberg,

The old town of Miltenberg is about 150 meters wide and 2.5 Km long from the banks of the Main River up the hillside. There are over 100 half-timbered houses in this scenic town. This is a place time seems to have stood still—almost all the older buildings have survived. Its market square is often cited as one of the most attractive in all of Germany. And, to just round out the fairly-tale feel of the city, there is a castle perched on a hillside.

Wertheim,

Wertheim is located where the Tauber River and the Main River meet. Overlooking the town are ruins of a castle that was built in the 12th century. The old town and its market square are ringed with several half-timbered houses. This old walled city has an impressive watch tower that still remains.

**Watchtower—one of the few remaining parts of this former walled city**

Würzburg,

Würzburg is located in the heart of Franconia’s wine country. As you move to the town from the port, your first sights are the Marienberg Citadel and the old stone bridge to enter the town. The key sight in Würzburg is the baroque Residenz Palace and its amazing gardens. You should tour the palace—about 40 of the 360 rooms are available for visitors.

Bamberg

Bamberg is about 7 Km from the Main River, in the Upper Franconia region of Bavaria. It has a wonderfully preserved old town area on the west bank of the Regnitz River. Key sights include the Altes Rathaus (old town hall), the Bamberg Cathedral, and the Neue Residenz (home of the prince bishops). Bamberg has a special beer—it is a historic smoked beer.

**Rose Garden of the New Residence in Bamberg**

Nuremberg.

Nuremberg’s old city has some very large protective walls and most are intact. It also has impressive Gothic churches & a castle. Nuremberg is where the Nazi War Crimes Tribunal took place in 1946. Nuremberg has a special sausage—the Nuremberg sausage. It is prepared several different ways—don’t miss it!

Port on the Rhine River

Rüdesheim

This is a charming wine village. It is famous for the great white wines grown in the region, along with a special coffee drink, aptly named Rüdesheimer coffee (Flambé Asbach brandy, sugar cube, coffee garnished with whipped cream). A lively lane, the Drosselgasse, is lined with taverns and wine-cellars. Nearby is the Germania monument, better known as the Niederwald Monument, erected in 1883 to celebrate the unification of German after their victory over France in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.

Moselle & Main Routes on the Same Cruise

Europe’s Rivers & Castles (Route 1)

There are 15 sailing dates on Europe’s Rivers & Castles route in 2020, which cruises from Nuremberg to Luxembourg. This is the cruise route we first took on AmaWaterways, and it is just so fun, we have done this route twice. The second time Anne & I were lucky to lead a group of my West Point classmates and introduce them all to the joys of Europe river cruising.

Depending on the direction you are sailing, the trip begins in either Trier or Nuremberg. I am describing the cruise starting from Trier. The only difference in sailing from Nuremberg to Trier is that docking times and days are different–you still get to see the same sights.

The trip starts in Trier, the oldest city in Germany. It continues through the meandering Moselle River Valley, its steep hillsides covered with vineyards. The German villages of Bernkastel and Cochem, with their castles overlooking the town below and Zell on the Moselle River make this stretch memorable.

Continuing up river, you’ll enter the Rhine River Gorge. Many fortresses and castle ruins are strategically placed on the steep hills. Once these castles served to defend and extract tolls, now they provide beautiful sights—it always makes the best river cruise lists of travel writers.

Along the Main River, a tributary of the Rhine, the stops include medieval towns, often with the half-timbered homes that seem to be untouched by time and important smaller cities that have unique palaces, churches and even the first printing press. The cruise ends after sailing through the Main-Danube Canal to historic Nuremberg. The ports on the Main River are Rüdesheim (OK, technically it is on the Rhine, near the border of the Main River but since these rivers flow into each other, it is hard to make a clear distinction and really doesn’t matter much to travelers, only geographers), Mainz, Wertheim, Würzburg, Bamberg and it ends in Nuremberg.

Main River Routes (2 Routes)

Medieval Treasures (Route 2)

Medieval Treasures is a 7 night cruise from Basel to Nuremberg. There are 5 sailing dates in 2020, and the AmaWaterways cruise ship is the AmaDante. On the Rhine, the ports are Strasbourg, Speyer, and Rüdesheim. On the Main, the ports are Miltenberg, Wertheim, Würzburg, Bamberg and ending in Nuremberg.

One factor about this route—it misses the Rhine River Gorge I wrote about above.

Treasures of the Main & Rhine (Route 3)

This is a 7 day cruise, starting from Nuremberg to Amsterdam. There are 4 ports on the Main River (Wertheim, Würzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg) and 3 ports on the Rhine (Rüdesheim, Cologne and Amsterdam). It does sail through the Rhine River Gorge.

Our Rhine, Main & Moselle River Port Guides

A unique feature for you that we make available to you for free is to learn about these ports with our Rhine River Cruise Port Guides (there are 25 total for the Rhine & its tributaries—8 on the Rhine; 8 on the Main; 5 on the Moselle and 4 for the Northern Tulip Time ports). It is really easy to get them—just use the button below, and fill out the short request form and we will send these guides. We have a total of 51 River Cruise Port Guides on our website that you can order—trust me, there is nothing like all these to our knowledge available on the web in one place and they are all our pictures. It should help you decide if this is the right cruise for you and also help you decide on which tour to take at each port stop.

Get My Port Guides

My Final Thoughts

One of these routes that should be on everyone’s bucket list, in my opinion. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you to start this or any other river cruise trip. We have a wealth of free information about all Europe river cruises and really useful river cruise tips on our website www.dreamdestinations.com, so check us out—you will be glad you did.

We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise experts, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations. As you can see, our full service agency can get you to almost anywhere you desire to travel and provide you a great experience and vacation.

When you are spending your hard earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 48+ years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

February 13, 2020

River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways New Emphasis on the Moselle and Main Rivers--Part 1 of 2

Hank Schrader

February 13, 2020

River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways New Emphasis on the Moselle and Main Rivers

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, European Destination and River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

But that is not the purpose of this blog—the purpose is to tell you about the expanded options to visit either the Moselle or Main Rivers or both on AmaWaterways. There are now 7 different route options that explore this region of Germany better than any other of the 8 river cruise companies we follow. We have sailed every part of these 7 offerings on the Rhine, Main & Moselle Rivers and will provide you some first-hand knowledge of the great ports and experiences you can expect on any one of these cruises.

Imagine sailing on the either of these 2 rivers through the legendary wine growing regions of Germany, getting the chance to sample good Germany wines, explore quaint villages and visit and tour castles and palaces!

Since there are so many ports involved in these routes, I have organized this blog to provide an overview of the routes of the Moselle and Main Rivers and will provide you in this blog a good description of the ports on the Moselle. Next week I will concentrate on the ports of the Main River.

So let’s sail together on the ports of these mostly German rivers—you won’t be disappointed—it is that good!

Moselle & Main Routes on the Same Cruise

**Europe’s River & Castles Cruise Route. Map from AmaWaterways**

Europe’s Rivers & Castles

Along the Main River, a tributary of the Rhine, the stops include medieval towns, often with the half-timbered homes that seem to untouched by time and important smaller cities that have unique palaces, churches and even the first printing press. The cruise ends after sailing through the Main-Danube Canal to historic Nuremberg. The ports on the Main River are Rüdesheim, Mainz, Wertheim, Würzburg, Bamberg and it ends in Nuremberg.

Moselle Routes (4 Routes)

Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle

Rhine & Moselle Splendors

This is a 7 night Luxembourg to Basel Cruise, starting on the Moselle and ending on the Rhine, turning south from Koblenz to Basel. On the Moselle, the ports are Trier, Bernkastel, and Cochem. On the Rhine, the ports and sights are the Rhine River Gorge, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Riquewihr and it ends in Basel.

Rhine & Moselle Delights

This is a 10 night cruise, with three ports on the Moselle (Trier, Bernkastel, and Cochem), added to the traditional Enchanting Rhine cruise which starts in Basel, cruises north, and ends in Amsterdam. It is a very limited cruise offering—it only sails twice in 2020, embarking on August 7th and October 4th on the AmaSiena, the new vessel that will be added to the AmaWaterways fleet this year.

Rhine & Moselle Fairytales

This is an 11 night cruise, with 3 ports on the Moselle (Trier, Bernkastel, and Cochem) added into the traditional Captivating Rhine cruise route from Amsterdam south to Basel. Again, it is a very limited cruise offering—it only sails twice in 2020, embarking on July 20th and September 21st on the AmaSiena, the new vessel that will be added to the AmaWaterways fleet this year.

Moselle Ports

Trier

Trier was an old Roman outpost which was first settled by the Roman in 17 BC. It is the oldest city in Germany, and is near the Luxembourg border—in fact, one side of the Moselle River is Trier, Germany and the opposite other side is the tiny country of Luxembourg. Anne & I first visited here in 1989 on our own.

Important Roman sights include the Roman Baths, an amphitheater, the Basilica of Constantine (it was the throne room of Emperor Constantin), and the huge city gate, the Porta Nigra gate, that dates back to 180 A.D. It has earned the nickname of “the Rome of the North.”

Zell

Zell is famous for its white wine zellerschwartzkatz (Zell’s black cat). It is a small town of about 4,300 people. It has an interesting market square and the town hall has a wine museum. It was once a walled city but not much of the old walls remain.

The really great draw of this village is the story of Zell’s Black Cat Wine.

According to legend, a large quantity of local wine was being stored in barrels in a regional cellar. When people approached, a black cat jumped on the barrel from Zell and started hissing to protect its contents. Seeing the hissing, caused the wine merchants to believe the wine from Zell was special and better quality than the other wines stored in the wine cellar building. Today the black cat is the symbol of this town.

AmaWaterways has an exclusive wine festival celebration in Zell. The local children, dressed up like black cats, provide a performance that everyone who has visited Zell on AmaWaterways will remember. I just recently heard Kristin Karst, one of the co-owners of AmaWaterways, describe how special and unique this visit and performance is during a webinar—it instantly brought back great memories of this port stop.

**Wine Festival in Zell with the children dressed up in their Black Cat Costumes**

Bernkastel

Easily seen from market square is St Michael’s church, built in the 14th century that had a dual purpose— it served as a house of worship and its tall bell tower served as a watch tower in the old city ramparts.

**Great Half-timbered Buildings in Bernkastel**

The city has some wonderful fountains—they include St. Michael's fountain on the Market Square, the bear's fountain and the doctor's fountain. Overlooking the town is the Landshut Castle ruins. It was first built in 1277 but was ruined by fire in 1692.

Cochem

In Cochem, you will enjoy a guided tour of Cochem that takes you to the spectacular hilltop Reichsburg Castle (also known as Cochem Castle but the correct name is Schloss Reichsburg). It has fantastic views of the river valley below. Touring inside the castle is great!

**China Display Inside the Cochem Castle**

Main River Routes (2 Routes)

Medieval Treasures

One factor about this route—it misses the spectacular Rhine River Gorge I wrote about above.

Treasures of the Main & Rhine

Our Rhine, Main & Moselle River Port Guides

A unique feature for you that we make available to you for free is to learn about these ports with our Rhine River Cruise Port Guides (there are 25 total for the Rhine & its tributaries—8 on the Rhine; 8 on the Main; 5 on the Moselle and 4 for the Northern Tulip Time ports). It is really easy to get them—just use the button below, and fill out the short request form and we will send these guides. We have a total of 51 River Cruise Port Guides on our website—trust me, there is nothing like all these to our knowledge available on the web in one place and they are all our pictures. It should help you decide if this is the right cruise for you and also help you decide on which tour to take at each port stop.

Get My Guides

My Final Thoughts

These are routes that should be on everyone’s bucket list, in my opinion. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you to start this or any other river cruise trip. We have a wealth of free information about all Europe river cruises and really useful river cruise tips on our website www.dreamdestinations.com, so check us out—you will be glad you did.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

January 30, 2020

River Cruise Routes

A Wine Lover's Route--Provence River Cruise on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader

January 30, 2020

River Cruise Routes

A Wine Lover’s Route—Provence River Cruise on AmaWaterways

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, European Destination and River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

Imagine sailing on the Rhône River through the legendary wine growing regions of Provence, getting the chance to sample Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône! So let’s sail together on the Rhône from Arles to Lyon on the AmaDagio (now it is on the AmaCello in 2020)—a cruise we have done three times—it is that good!

While this description is from Arles to Lyon, you should realize that one week starts in Arles and the next week starts in Lyon and the sights and experiences remain almost identical regards of whether you sail north to Lyon or south to Arles.

So, let’s go together on the Rhône River and experience A Wine Lover’s Route!

Overview

**Colors of Provence Cruise Route. Map from AmaWaterways**

This cruise is called the Colors of Provence. Almost all is on the Rhône River, except for a small jaunt up the Saône. It has 3 stops that have excellent Roman ruins; there are famous wine regions and visits to one of the most renowned wine regions of France; and historic sites in the walled city of Avignon. It either starts or ends in the most important food city in France, Lyon. Good wine, history and outstanding food—it would be hard to find a 7 day cruise that manages to compress such an array of great experiences and sites into a 7 day cruise.

**Wine Regions of the Rhone River. Map from AmaWaterways**

Arles

Your wonderful cruise starts in Arles. First up is a visit by motor coach to the hilltop village of Les Baux de Provence. The town was founded by King Balthazar, one of the 3 wise men of the Bible. The village’s castle has a fascinating exhibit of medieval siege weaponry replicas. These big war machines are cool—it is said to be one of the best collections in the world—you will be surprised how large these weapons are! Les Baux has had a stormy past and because of an unsuccessful Protestant revolt, the castles and its walls were destroyed in 1632, but the ruins and views are magnificent! Great, old village—well worth the trip. Want to see more?—we have 32 pictures on our Pinterest site board Les Baux de France.

SEE MORE LES BAUX PHOTOS

**Covered Battering Ram on display on Les Baux**

Later, you will visit an olive farm, which is family run by a brother and sister, to learn about this age-old Provençal farming tradition. The tour includes tastings of olive oils made at the farm. Anne bought some olive oil here and really liked the tour and olive farm.

As an alternative, take the “Impressionist Experience” tour to the Saint Paul de Mausole Asylum, where Vincent Van Gogh painted such well-known works as The Irises and Starry Night. You will also visit the Carrieres de Lumieres, a stone quarry that projects European artwork on its walls, including many of Van Gogh’s famous paintings.

In the afternoon, there is a walking city tour of Arles. You will see the Romanesque cathedral and the Roman Amphitheater. The Roman Amphitheater is well preserved (it could hold about 25,000) and there are other Roman ruins in the town.

Avignon

Early in the evening, we cruised to Avignon, arriving late at night. We docked near a famous bridge that spans only half of the Rhone—it is the illuminated Avignon Bridge made famous by the French children’s song “Sur le pont d’Avignon” (“On the Bridge of Avignon”).

After docking overnight in Avignon, you have 2 great tour options. First, you can tour the Papal Palace, which is part of a city walking tour. The tour starts off by entering the town through the well-preserved medieval walls surrounding the historic center of town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Seven Popes once resided in the magnificent Gothic Papal Palace. My favorite room was the huge banquet hall, where at one end is the fireplace used to communicate to the people outside a new Pope had been elected. Again, to see more about this interesting palace, we have 30 photos on our Pinterest site. SEE PALACE OF THE POPES PHOTOS

**The well-preserved medieval walls surrounding the historic center of Avignon**

Another cool alternative, is a motor coach ride to the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct that is a masterpiece of engineering and another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking on the aqueduct was an experience I will never forget--it is huge and up close, you will really understand how talented the Romans were at building things—how did they get the water to flow with gravity alone by such minute changes in slope?.

**Pont du Gard, the amazing Roman aqueduct**

Your tour will also visit Uzes, a lovely Provencal town known for its castle (still occupied by the Duke of Uzes and his family), medieval streets and picturesque town square. There is free time for shopping in Uzes before returning to the ship.—I was there on market day and this is always a fun way to see how and what Europeans shop for, especially the food stalls.. I have done both tours and really enjoyed them—this is one of the many highlights of this cruise.

Although there are really good tours, Avignon also has some great shopping and Anne took advantage of this to buys some gifts for family back home. One of the great things about a river cruise is the chance to do what you want, since you dock right in the heart of the cities and can go off on your own easily since AMAWaterways provides port maps of each docking location with key sights clearly marked.

Grignan

After sailing overnight to Viviers, you next adventure is a visit to Grignan, a magnificent hilltop village surrounded by lavender fields. The village’s Renaissance castle provides a commanding view of the area’s beautiful countryside. We enjoyed the free time to explore local shops for confections, home-made lavender soaps and other crafts—Anne bought a snappy beret.

You also get to see a truffle dog in action—really cool! That dog really got after those truffles and he was a true favorite of our group.

Tournon

The ship sails to Tournon and there is a really good chocolate and red wine pairing in Tournon’s castle—we had 3 different chocolate candies paired with 3 different reds. I thought they were all good and went well together.

Next morning, there is a visit to Cornas, Tournon’s “twin” town located across the Rhône River and linked by a 19th-century suspension bridge. The fertile soil and ideal climate of the region has made Cornas the premier producer of Côtes du Rhône wines. We stopped at a vineyard, and then the best part was sampling some good local wines.

Vienne

After lunch, the ship sails to Vienne, situated between the wine regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, arriving early evening. The ship moors overnight in Vienne.

Next morning, I took a guided walking tour of Vienne (it starts with an open-air tourist train ride up a big hill for a good view of the Rhône) and then our group see the 1st-century Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia, the ruins of a Roman theater, and the medieval churches of St. Andre-Le-Bas and Abbey St. Pierre.

For me, the best part was the Roman museum—there is a good collection of items used in this former Roman colony.

As an alternative, you could choose to visit the Chateau Roussillion and Pottery but I have never been on this tour.

Lyon

It then is off to Lyon. Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France. There is a visit by bus to the historic section of town known as Vieux Lyon (“Old Lyon”). Lyon is fun, we really enjoyed the old town area and its narrow streets and colorful bouchons (small bistros) with their trademark red and white checkered table cloths.

Sometimes this cruise offers a choice of tours. You can visit Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse market place and sample gourmet food & wine in around 70 stalls (highly recommended by us—another great tour we enjoyed very much). On a wine cruise, we also got the chance to have a champagne tasting—it was awesome!

**One of the 70 stalls of Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse market place**

Sailing the Saône.

Another option is a sailing on the Saône. The ship departs after noon and cruises to Collonges for an excursion through the Beaujolais wine region, the Pays d’Or (“land of the golden stones,” named for the ochre limestone used to build local homes and castles). It stops at the medieval hilltop village of Oingt and the home of a local vintner, where, of course, you will get to enjoy a wine tasting and vineyard tour, and learn about the history of wine production in the region. Rejoin the ship in Belleville and return to Lyon, arriving late tonight. You will stay overnight in Lyon.

Sadly, the cruise is over the next morning but what a wonderful experience that will make memories of a lifetime. As with all river cruises, the option for pre-cruise or post cruise stays either offered by AmaWaterways or arranged by us is a great way to extend your vacation a few more days. We always extend on our trips—Lyon is a particular favorite and you could visit Nice or other French towns, like Vienne we did in 2016—we are happy to help with suggestions and to make arrangements as necessary.

Our Rhône River Port Guides

A unique feature for you that we make available to you for free is to learn about 7 of these ports with our French River Cruise Port Guides (Lyon, Vienne, Tournon, Grignon, Avignon, Les Baux and Arles). It is really easy to get them—just use the button below, and fill out the short request form and we will send these guides. We have a total of 51 River Cruise Port Guides on our website—trust me, there is nothing like all these, to our knowledge, available on the web in one place and they are all our pictures except maybe a map or two. It should help you decide if this is the right cruise for you and also help you decide on which tour to take at each port stop.

Rhone River Port Guides

My Final Thoughts

This is a trip that should be on everyone’s bucket list, in my opinion. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you to start this or any other river cruise trip. We have a wealth of free information about all Europe river cruises and really useful river cruise tips on our website www.dreamdestinations.com, so check us out—you will be glad you did.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

January 23, 2020

Best Value Travel, River Cruise Routes

Shopping on the Danube

Hank Schrader

January 23, 2020

Best Value Travel, River Cruise Routes

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert with help from Anne Schrader

www.dreamdestinations.com

My wife, Anne, is a shopper. She likes to say she’s really a “window shopper”, just looking and doesn’t really need to buy whatever has just caught her eye. She can make a stroll wherever we are last for hours. And she’s right, she does just “look”, but if the item of interest won’t break the “souvenir” budget, or won’t be too difficult to transfer back home, then I’m more than happy to make the purchase.

Now before you hear a lot of “Awwws”, let me be honest and say that I do this, not only to be the sweet, loving and adorable husband, but mainly because I just want to go somewhere to sit, drink a beer or glass of wine and have something to eat. Ergo, the sooner the new acquisition has been placed into the ever-present reusable shopping bag that accommodates Anne everywhere, I get to reap the reward and partake in a pastime we both enjoy -- food, beverage and people watching!

Danube Shopping Overview

Shopping during travel is considered one of the many activities that can have a great influence on the location you visit. One of our favorite shopping river cruise routes has to be on the Danube River.

We always look for local items not readily available in the United States. In Vienna, Austria we bought a drindl (the traditional dress of Germany and Austria). Here is a great picture of Anne in her drindl, we bought on a summer AmaWaterways Danube cruise—darn does she look good—I’m a lucky man!.

**Anne in her drindl with Kata (the cruise manager) and Carmen from the barstaff**

But that is not the reason for this blog post—it is really about value during our shopping experiences. For example, we almost always take a river cruise during the Christmas season to enjoy their famous markets. There are so many itineraries that provide the opportunity to visit both large and small markets and many of the larger cities have multiple markets which, after visiting the city once or twice on a cruise and not porting long enough to enjoy all of them, then a pre-post cruise visit to that location will enhance your river cruise.

Our Pre-cruise—Regensburg

This year we did just that. Our cruise aboard the AmaSonata started in Vienna and ended in Nuremberg. With this itinerary, we knew we’d visit the markets in Vienna, Linz, Passau, Regensburg and Nuremberg, with the option of visiting the market on a tour to Cesky Krumlov. We’ve done this route several times, during the holidays and also summer months. And our favorite port on this particular itinerary is Regensburg.

Get Our Regensburg Port Guide

We have never really had the opportunity to explore this beautiful city as we would have liked to, as we knew on this cruise our port time would be limited and we would not have a chance to really have an in-depth experience at their two main markets. So, we did a pre-cruise stay for 3 nights in Regensburg.

What a treat, at night, the city is so walkable, the markets are truly bustling with the city’s residents! Even getting a reservation at the restaurants that are the mainstay for the locals can be a difficult, but definitely worthwhile, experience.

HATS

Shopping in Regensburg means one thing to Anne . . . HATS! She discovered the Hutmacher on one of first cruises and now proudly owns 5 of his creations. As usual, she’ll say she just wants to go look, but inevitably, she’ll depart the store with one of the big (really big) hat boxes, empty, as the new addition will be sitting securely on her Kopf (head)!

This trip, after years of gentle nagging, she actually inspired me to make my own purchase. And, I have to admit, even with 2 really big boxes to carry home on the plane, I might just be a convert.

But I will adamantly admit, even though the visit and ultimate purchase with the wonderful staff at the store and having the opportunity to meet the Hutkoenig at the Thurns and Taxis Christmas market, I still believe the best and easiest souvenir from Regensburg are the glühwein mugs that make it back to Anne’s ever-expanding collection.

**Hank & Mark Thomas, on of our Travel Chums, at one of the Regensburg Christmas Markets—he took the picture of us with the Hutkoening owner**

Glühwein—-A Christmas Market Tradition

Glühwein is the drink of choice at Christmas markets. This hot mulled wine comes in all forms of spices and even sometimes even includes liquor shots. We always buy some and, of course, Anne scours the markets for just the right mug(s) to add to her collection. The Glühwein mugs are a great idea—the can be reused to cut down on the waste, most are well designed with the year and place of the Christmas Market you visited and they, as Anne points out, don’t cost much. When you buy the glühwein, the beverage costs about 3-5 Euros and there is an added deposit of 1-2 Euros that is refundable when you return the mugs. Some Glühwein Booths actually sell the mugs alone but that varies. They may be breakable, but they are small and the best part . . . while you can return the mugs to receive your original deposit, drinking the hot Glühwein adds so much to the Christmas market experience, 1 to 2 Euros seems like a very small price to pay for the memories. Just save some room in your suitcase and, like Anne does, carry some bubble wrap to get your mugs safely home—another cool tip from Anne!

Here is some pictures of her every expanding collection

Wine Style Mugs Regensburg Christmas Markets

**Anne’s Growing Collection of Christmas Mugs**

Our Europe River Port Guides

So, what does this mean for you? As you can see, there are just so many ways to expand an Europe River cruise experience and shopping is just one way—we almost always do extra explorations of the many river cruise ports in Europe and have now 51 port guides available for your use.

The idea is simple—you get an in-depth look at the port prior to your visit—it includes the must see sights and helps you decide which tour best suits your travel style if several tour options are offered. Best of all they are free—just go to our River Cruises section on our website, scroll down to the bottom of the page on the route you desire, then click on the port(s) you desire and we send you the PDF PowerPoint slideshow and, for the larger cities, a word document that expands on the port. We cover the Rhine, the Main, the Mosel, the Waal loop of the Rhine (Tulip Time), the Upper and lower Danube, and French River cruise routes of the Rhone and the Bordeaux route. We are in the process of posting the list for some of these ports but they should be available in a couple of days if the port you desire is not listed yet.

Just to show how we could create great experiences for you, here is a picture of Anne with our other travel Chum, Denise—they went to a cooking school in Nuremberg (post cruise trip)to learn how to make gingerbread cookies (Lebkuchen).

My Final Thoughts

Who knew shopping could be so fun, even for a non-shopper like me! Let us help you enjoy Europe and experience the magic of new experiences and cultures.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

December 5, 2019

River Cruise Routes

15 Astounding Significant Sights You Can See on an AmaWaterways River Cruise

Hank Schrader

December 5, 2019

River Cruise Routes

15 Astounding Significant Sights You Can See on an AmaWaterways River Cruise

I write all the time about Europe river cruising and its value. River cruising is really about the destinations you can visit and experience and, you get to take these trips in a luxury floating hotel with amazing food and wine, especially if you chose AmaWaterways.

So, I thought I might share with you 15 astounding significant sights we have seen on a River Cruise while we were sailing with AmaWaterways or as part of their offerings for pre and post cruises. With the exception of the Seine cruise, we have seen the 14 other sights while on various AmaWaterways cruises—those of you who know us well, will recognize we have led to anniversary trips to Normandy (the 70th in 2014 and the 75th in 2019), so while it wasn’t visited as part of an AmaWaterways excursion, we know what the tour will be like for you on this cruise.

So, let me defend my thoughts—what are the 15 Astounding Significant Sights we have seen with AmaWaterways (our favorite Europe River Cruise Line) and why are they significant?

Hank Schrader

August 15, 2019

River Cruise Routes, Europe Destination

The Best Europe Cities to Visit Before and After Your Europe River Cruise

Hank Schrader

August 15, 2019

River Cruise Routes, Europe Destination

The Best Europe Cities to Visit Before and After Your Europe River Cruise

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

I write all the time about Europe river cruising and its value. One aspect that is often very confusing for many, is how best to extend their trip and visit some of Europe’s great cities. This blog covers the key extension cities on the Rhine and Upper Danube.

Almost all major cruise lines offer extensions and they can be a great value in simplifying your trip planning but are they always the best choice for you?

I know you would like a definitive answer but my response is it depends on several factors. To me these factors are 1) what is included? (to include the quality of the tours and guides), 2) transportation to the desired place, 3) security and ease of mind (how well do you handle unfamiliar places) and 4) cost—is the price worth what is included in the cruise line’s package?

I should also mention that each cruise lines has different offerings, so it really is impossible in this short blog to adequately cover exactly what they offer. To help remedy this, my approach will be to tell you about the key cities, perhaps some pitfalls to really see the sights on your own, and then you can use the 4 factors I provide you to see if it is a good value for you.

We will start north to south in Europe. So, let me defend my thoughts—use the cruise line packages, do it yourself or better yet let us plan it for you.

Hank Schrader

May 16, 2019

River Cruise Routes

Best Europe River Routes--The Upper Danube, The Most Popular Europe River Cruise Route

Hank Schrader

May 16, 2019

River Cruise Routes

Best Europe River Routes—The Upper Danube, The Most Popular Europe River Cruise Route

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

This blog is designed to provide you comprehensive information about sailing on a rivership on the Upper Danube—the most popular river cruise route in Europe. We are providing you a chance to experience this wonderful trip by using some of the many photos we have taken during our 5 trips on this route.

So, let’s visit this magical river together and learn all about its’ wonderful sights and ports!

Hank Schrader

March 14, 2019

River Cruise Routes

What is the Best Europe River Route?

Hank Schrader

March 14, 2019

River Cruise Routes

What is the Best Europe River Cruise Route?

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

The purpose of this blog is provide you a comprehensive guide of the available Europe River Cruise Routes, so you can decide on which route will be the best for your next Europe river cruise vacation.

Europe has the distinction of the continent with the largest number of navigable rivers compared to other regions of the world. They are often devoid of major obstacles such as waterfalls and rapids, and are usually wide and deep enough to allow steady passage of people and material on all types of sailing vessels. Combine the easy navigation with captivating sights such as castles, vineyards, capital cities and small, quaint villages and it is easy to see why folks would want to sail these amazing rivers!

We are often ask “Which river should we sail on for my first Europe river cruise?” My short answer is take multiple trips--I would sail on all of them! However, the problem is that most of us don’t have unlimited time and money to sail them all.

So to solve this dilemma, here is a guide to the European River routes most available to you. I will describe the river, point out a couple of highlights and why you might consider sailing on this river. The routes may be very short or may cover larger distances. While there are some variations, many lines essentially cruise the same route on the most popular European river

Since most folks want to know what the best starting rivers are if they have never taken a European River cruise, by far the two most popular rivers are the Rhine and the Upper Danube, so let’s explore them first together. Then will examine the remaining Europe Rivers you might want to consider for your vacation.

Ready?—Let’s cruise together!

Hank Schrader

January 31, 2019

River Cruise Routes

2019 Spring Europe River Cruises--It's Tulip Time!

Hank Schrader

January 31, 2019

River Cruise Routes

2019 Spring Europe River Cruises—It’s Tulip Time!

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

I think the most overlooked Europe River cruises are spring time cruises at the beginning of the river cruise season.

There some very unique opportunities to see sights in Europe many do not get to see or only are available in the spring and that is the focus of this blog—the unique spring time cruises—it does not cover the early season cruises on the more popular river cruise routes.

So, let’s learn together about these cruises by getting a short overview of the major sights in these low country cruises and then learn a little more about the exact offering of each of the major 8 river cruise lines that market to the US

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