RIVER CRUISE - 2018
Introduction and Itinerary
Every time I had biked along the Danube, Rhine, and Main and in Amsterdam and saw those huge, fancy European river cruise ships, I said to myself that one day I would do it. Well, when it appeared that I would still be mobile the summer of 2018, I did it. Because I wanted the "full meal deal" but still stay mainly in German speaking lands, I selected Budapest to Amsterdam, a 2 week journey. After a lot of research, I chose Avalon Cruises whose best price was westbound departing Budapest August 5. Avalon's reviews were good, and it offered the use of bicycles at every port.
Because by the time an overseas flight reaches England, I'm ready to get off, I decided to fly to Amsterdam, spend the night, and take an overnight train to Vienna, spend two nights there, and take the train to Budapest in order to board our ship, the Avalon Luminary.
After arrival back in Amsterdam, as is our custom, we would spend the night in a hotel there, fly back to Chicago, spend a night near the airport before taking the train back home the next day.
Janelle and Marcia, the usual suspects, joined us and made the trip extra special.
As it tuned out a lot did not go as planned.
PLAN
| Mon |
07/30/18 |
Drive to Ft Madison, SW
Chief to Chi, Candlewood Suites |
| Tue |
07/31/18 |
KLM Chi to Amsterdam |
| Wed |
08/01/18 |
Ramada Inn Amsterdam |
| Thur |
08/02/18 |
Overnight train to
Vienna |
| Fri |
08/03/18 |
Marriot Renaissance Hotel |
| Sat |
08/04/18 |
Marriot Rennaisance Hotel |
| Sun |
08/05/18 |
High mass at St. Stephens
cathedral, Train to Budapest, board Avalon Luminary |
| Mon |
08/06/18 |
Sail to Amsterdam |
| ... |
|
|
| Sat |
08/18/18 |
Arrive Amsterdam |
| Sun |
08/19/18 |
Bastion Hotel - Schipol
Airport |
| Tue |
08/20/18 |
Fly to Chi, Candlewood
Suites |
| Wed |
08/21/18 |
Illinois Zephyr home |
|
CHANGES
| Mon |
07/30/18 |
SW Chief extremely late,
switched to Illinois Zephyr to Chi, Candlewood Suites |
| Tue |
07/31/18 |
Flight canceled, back to
Candlewood Suites |
| Wed |
08/01/18 |
KLM Chi to Amsterdam |
| Thur |
08/02/18 |
4 hrs sleep Ramada Inn,
Amsterdam, reserved seats on ICE to Duesseldorf unavailable due to no
AC, rode in 1st class |
| Fri |
08/03/18 |
Unable to get bike rental
stations in Vienna to read my credit card |
| Sat |
08/04/18 |
Still unable to get bike
rental stations to read my credit card, no high mass at St. Stephens |
| Sun |
08/05/18 |
Sofitel Hotel due to low
water on Danube |
| Mon |
08/06/18 |
Bus to Komoro, Slovakia;
sail on Luminary |
| ... |
|
|
| Sat |
08/11/18 |
Bus from Vilshofen to
Regensburg; sail on Impression |
| ... |
|
| Thu |
08/17/18 |
Tourist boat Ruedesheim to
St.Goar, bus to Koblemz, sail on Visionary |