Considering the Rhine River Tour - would enjoy and appreciate any and all comments and suggestions from people that have taken a Rhine River curise - we are looking at an August depatrue date.

Thank you in advance

Did a Rhine Cruise as part of a Germany tour last year. Most of the cruises are only for around two hours duration along the most scenic part of the river where there is an abundant number of castles.
You are on one of many large, flat tourist cruise boats with hoardes of other people, but it was quite good fun. There is excellent food etc offered on board and everyone seemed to be in a festive, holiday mood. We had excellent weather so this definitely helps.
All in all, it was an enjoyable experience, but not one to base a whole visit on.

Hope this helps.

I think EvSpitzner is asking about the new river cruises http://www.trafalgartours.com/content.asp?ID=265

Nobody has yet done one with Trafalgar since, to the best of my knowledge, they are new this year and the programme has not yet started.

I've done river cruises in the past with other companies (who shall obviously remain nameless here!) and they are thoroughly enjoyable - a completely different experience from coach touring; much for relaxed and leasurely.

What's happened on the ones I've done before - and my guess is that the Trafalgar ones will work the same way - is that every day there's been an excursion available, either by coach or on foot, and you're free to either to the excursion or stay on board the boat.

As I say, a very different type of holiday to a coach tour, but equally enjoyable. A lot more relaxing .

Best wishes,

Chris

John N

I think Trafalgar should send some of the BB members on a River Cruise tour just so we can report on these new tours

Cheers
Missie

EvSpitzner...
John N.is correct about the Rhine River Cruises that TT is offering this year. This is the first time that TT has done so. Other travel companies have offered a partial cruise but not the whole length that TT is offering. Years ago, my nephew and friends of his had booked a partial cruise on the Rhine but the cruises were cancelled due to the fact that the Rhine had "overflowed" the banks and it was unsafe to travel. Hope you enjoy your cruise.

I have been on two river boat cruises with another company and let me say that river boats are the way to go. Both of my trips were two weeks each and seeing Europe from its rivers is absolutely beautiful. I have done one cruise from Vienna to Amsterdam on the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers and the other was from Basel to Antwerp on the Mosel and Rhine Rivers. When you consider that the cruise includes all your meals, sightseeing, your cabin on the boat, it is an economical and most delightful way to travel.

I must concur with NY Judy. I've also been on two river cruises: one from Budapest to Amsterdam and another in China which sailed the entire navigable length of the Yangtze. Both were outstanding. I'm 6'5" tall and travelling on TT busses is painful even if it is fun. River cruising is just so much more relaxing: sitting in the lounge with a glass of wine, watching Europe go by at 10 miles per hour. Wonderful excursions and only a couple of options. Great food, and no daily packing/unpacking. One thing I found amusing was the lack of life boat drills: the Danube and presumably the Rhine are shallow enough that if the boat starts sinking you are told to go up to the top deck. You are in no danger since the height of the boat is greather than the depth of the water.
However on Bus tours, your enforced togetherness ensures that you will get to know more of your fellow passengers. And TT hotel rooms are infinitely larger than the necessarily small quarters onboard the river cruise ships.

NYJudy,
Of the two European River cruises you took, which was the better itineary? I've done several bus tours in Europe and would like to try a River Boat. It's hard to decide what itineary is best, they all sound so nice.

My wife & I are booked on the Amsterdam to Black Sea Cruise starting 15 May 05. We were sold on the unpack once idea that is promoted in the TT brochure, but we have since found out that this is not what happens. We have to change boats in Budapest. We'll put up with that if everything else is as good as advertised.
Anyone who wants to know more about the river cruises than can be found out on the TT website and Brochures, can go to the Uniworld website.
Uniworld is the company who used to run these cruises, from what I have been able to find out.
We have done bus tours with TT and others before and in future will only do the ones with the additional leg room, (not TT). Except where required for excursions during the river cruise.
After our trip down the Rhein/Main/Donau rivers, we are on a bus trip around Spain and Portugal with Insight, because we like the pace and legroom.
I know that certain Members of this BB think that we shouldn't mention another company on this site,
but I think that people should be able to compare all services and use which ever suits them best.

kb-Of the two river boat cruises we have taken, we preferred the Vienna-Amsterdam route on the Danube, Main and Rhine. There are something like 66 locks that you have to go through - most interesting - and the scenery is outstanding. The Rhine-Mosel route was nice too - great scenery there too and on this cruise you get to see parts of Switzerland, France, Germany, Nehterlands and Belgium. I guess it depends on your preferences.

roalh,
It isn't certain members of the board who don't want discussion of other tour companies. It is the company's policy as moderated by John N. We all have learned what can be mentioned and what can't.
Wow--imagine what a "free for all" this particular board would become without the moderator.

quote:

Originally posted by Missie:
[qb] John N

I think Trafalgar should send some of the BB members on a River Cruise tour just so we can report on these new tours

Cheers
Missie [/qb]

Thats a great idea Missie, pick me pick me..lol

Yes, I'm willing to make a great personal sacrifice and be a guinea pig in the cause of research into the subject!

quote:

Originally posted by roalh:
[qb]
I know that certain Members of this BB think that we shouldn't mention another company on this site,
but I think that people should be able to compare all services and use which ever suits them best. [/qb]

Apart from the fact that rules are rules, as has been explained by suegreg, I think it is bad form to discuss other companies while on a Trafalgar site.