July 14 - Regensburg
The biggest original medieval city still intact - the original city plan, streets, and buildings that were built in the 1200s!
Danube View In The Morning
Castle Up Close
Regensburg Up Ahead!
Ratskeller - who knew!
Like many of you, I've seen many restaurants or bar/pubs named "Ratskeller" - well, the German name for town hall leaders are "rats" and they meet in the "ratshall." In the basement is where they had their dining area - the ratskellar!
Roman Gate built in 179 AD
Close up of the Roman Guard Tower
Original fresco still on the original walls of the building
Remnants of medieval times - the original window
Arch/entry to the Old Stone Bridge built in 1136. At the time it was the ONLY stone bridge in all of Europe!
The Old Stone Bridge under renovation - and has been for four years
Old Town Hall
Tower-house: built in1260 (best preserved in town)
Note only the first three floors used; the rest was just for show!
The "Golden Tower-house" - tallest one in Regensburg
The narrow streets - Regensburg Cathedral just visible ahead
Regensburg Cathedral
Up Close
The Doors
Tower
Original stained glass windows
Close-up view of the stained glass
The Alt Wurskuche (Old Sausage Kitchen)
First began serving sausages 900 years ago - the oldest sausage kitchen in Europe!
They were ULTRA-delicious!
Our Viking Experience
Overall - Daily Routine - Ship & Stateroom - Meals - Staff & Service
The Viking Experience
In general we could not be more happy with our choice of Viking Cruise Line. EVERYTHING that has had their name attached has been superb. When we picked up our bags in Budapest and walked through customs they were immediately waiting for us - at least half a dozen representatives so that everyone would get a personal greeting. And the young man that greeted us called us out by name. Our transfer to the hotel took less than ten minutes to arrive and he apologized for the wait! At the hotel the Viking hospitality representative was very patient with us and made everything happen we wanted to happen. The best example was when we wanted to book the Viking Optional Tour that took us out of town and it didn't fill, then he contacted a private driver who took us on that tour....only personalized specific to what we wanted to do.
In general we could not be more happy with our choice of Viking Cruise Line. EVERYTHING that has had their name attached has been superb. When we picked up our bags in Budapest and walked through customs they were immediately waiting for us - at least half a dozen representatives so that everyone would get a personal greeting. And the young man that greeted us called us out by name. Our transfer to the hotel took less than ten minutes to arrive and he apologized for the wait! At the hotel the Viking hospitality representative was very patient with us and made everything happen we wanted to happen. The best example was when we wanted to book the Viking Optional Tour that took us out of town and it didn't fill, then he contacted a private driver who took us on that tour....only personalized specific to what we wanted to do.
Daily Life On Board
A typical day for us at this point (day 6 of the on-ship experience) would go something like this. Usually we were up around 6:30 or 7:00 am. The first few days we were up earlier as we were still adjusting to the time change and the last couple of days we have been getting up closer to 7am. Coffee is ready at 6:30; Continental breakfast at 7:00 and the full service breakfast at 7:30. We've alternated between a light breakfast in the dining room and simply coffee. Then typically by 9 am we are leaving the ship for the excursion of the day. Those have usually lasted until around lunch time and we go into the main dining room for lunch. That usually takes us to around 2 pm. The afternoon has been spent on either an optional tour or leisurely relaxing - taking a nap or watching the river flow by. I have spent a couple of afternoons working on the photos for the web page so that I don't have to stay up late to take care of that part of the process. By 6 pm we meet in the lounge and have pre-dinner cocktails. Around 6:45 "Dan" the Cruise Director comes on with a fifteen minute program that includes a bit from the chef - Zolton - who gives us his recommendations for dinner, on occassion a brief statement from the concierge as she outlines some additional options for the next day, and then Dan's look ahead to the following day's city & excursion options. We can be seated at 7 pm and it's only one dining room for the entire ship (only around 200 passengers) and it's open seating. We have become more fond of one particular waiter, George, who has taken care of us when we sit near the back. We finish dinner no earlier than 8:30 pm and sometimes that's it for the day as we are so tired that we head back to the rooms to read, watch TV, and/or fall asleep. For me, I am usually back up in the lounnge by 10 pm where I need to be online to upload the photos of the day. Typically I'll take about 75-100 pictures on our tours, so the first step I have to do is go through and pick out the (a) best photos of the day and (b) those that represent the stories and highlights of the tour. Then each individual photo must be processed through a web-development program I have. Now I am ready to work online. I had set up the blank pages before the cruise so then I just need to upload them. Because of the "speed" of the Internet it usually takes about an hour or an hour and a half to upload and publish the page. Then I go on Facebook and post a photo with the link to the page. By 10:30 or 11 I'm done and I head to the room for bed.
A typical day for us at this point (day 6 of the on-ship experience) would go something like this. Usually we were up around 6:30 or 7:00 am. The first few days we were up earlier as we were still adjusting to the time change and the last couple of days we have been getting up closer to 7am. Coffee is ready at 6:30; Continental breakfast at 7:00 and the full service breakfast at 7:30. We've alternated between a light breakfast in the dining room and simply coffee. Then typically by 9 am we are leaving the ship for the excursion of the day. Those have usually lasted until around lunch time and we go into the main dining room for lunch. That usually takes us to around 2 pm. The afternoon has been spent on either an optional tour or leisurely relaxing - taking a nap or watching the river flow by. I have spent a couple of afternoons working on the photos for the web page so that I don't have to stay up late to take care of that part of the process. By 6 pm we meet in the lounge and have pre-dinner cocktails. Around 6:45 "Dan" the Cruise Director comes on with a fifteen minute program that includes a bit from the chef - Zolton - who gives us his recommendations for dinner, on occassion a brief statement from the concierge as she outlines some additional options for the next day, and then Dan's look ahead to the following day's city & excursion options. We can be seated at 7 pm and it's only one dining room for the entire ship (only around 200 passengers) and it's open seating. We have become more fond of one particular waiter, George, who has taken care of us when we sit near the back. We finish dinner no earlier than 8:30 pm and sometimes that's it for the day as we are so tired that we head back to the rooms to read, watch TV, and/or fall asleep. For me, I am usually back up in the lounnge by 10 pm where I need to be online to upload the photos of the day. Typically I'll take about 75-100 pictures on our tours, so the first step I have to do is go through and pick out the (a) best photos of the day and (b) those that represent the stories and highlights of the tour. Then each individual photo must be processed through a web-development program I have. Now I am ready to work online. I had set up the blank pages before the cruise so then I just need to upload them. Because of the "speed" of the Internet it usually takes about an hour or an hour and a half to upload and publish the page. Then I go on Facebook and post a photo with the link to the page. By 10:30 or 11 I'm done and I head to the room for bed.
The Ship / The Staterooms
We are onboard The Lif which was just launched in 2014. The ship itself has four decks, much different from the ocean cruises we've taken where there are usually close to eighteen decks. The bottom deck is cabin space for those who have a window that is about head-high. The second level, where our cabins are, has one end of the ship for passenger state-rooms with French Balcony staterooms (meaning that the sliding glass door in your room opens to a rail - you have no balcony, but standing in your room is like being on a balcony. The other end of the ship on the second level is public areas. In mid-ship is the reception, gift-shop area, and concierge desk. Then the staircase upstairs, and nearly half of the ship on the second deck is the dining room where the outside walls are nearly 100% glass. Though it's "best" to sit by the window, you have a terrific view regardless of where you are seated. And again with such a small number of passengers the dining room is only about four or five tables wide. On the third deck there are staterooms - above the ones on the second level except this level has their own veranda. We opted NOT to have a veranda as the cost was just not worth the small amount of time we thought we'd spend on our own deck. We could not have been more correct in this choice! And one unexpected benefit of the size of the ship to our decision not to have a balcony is that unlike ocean cruises we've been on, you're never more than two levels from your stateroom; and even if you were at the end of the hall it's a very short walk. Conversely when we've been on an ocean cruise if you go up to the public areas and need to "run back to your room" you are talking about going down at least five or six floors and several hundred yards to get to your cabin. We are really enjoying the small and personal size of the ship. Above where the dining room is on the second level is the lounge area - this is where you can relax, have a drink and you can eat a light breakfast or lunch. This is also where Dan does his presentations. On the end of the ship outside the lounge is what is called the Aquavit Terrace. This is an open-air seating area where you can enjoy your light meal under cover more in the open, or on the far end of the ship sit out in the open air. This area is protected on all sides by a six foot high glass panel so you don't have nearly as much wind, but the views are still 360 degrees. The top level of the ship is the sundeck. One half of it has a series of lounge chairs with an overhead canopy to keep you shaded. The other / front half has open seating with tables and chairs and the captain's cabin. What's unique about the sundeck is that when we come to a low bridge (and most of them are - so much so that often you're asked to remain seated!) is that the captain's quarters is on a "lift" that can go up or down, and he is often all the way to deck-level when we go under a bridge. AND the canopy over the lounge chairs also flattens to just a couple of feet off the deck if necessary! It is also interesting that there is a control/steering panel for the captain on either side of the ship so when we go through a lock - where the boat is literally inches from the wall - he comes out and navigates the ship from one of these small control panels where he looks right down the side of the ship.
We are onboard The Lif which was just launched in 2014. The ship itself has four decks, much different from the ocean cruises we've taken where there are usually close to eighteen decks. The bottom deck is cabin space for those who have a window that is about head-high. The second level, where our cabins are, has one end of the ship for passenger state-rooms with French Balcony staterooms (meaning that the sliding glass door in your room opens to a rail - you have no balcony, but standing in your room is like being on a balcony. The other end of the ship on the second level is public areas. In mid-ship is the reception, gift-shop area, and concierge desk. Then the staircase upstairs, and nearly half of the ship on the second deck is the dining room where the outside walls are nearly 100% glass. Though it's "best" to sit by the window, you have a terrific view regardless of where you are seated. And again with such a small number of passengers the dining room is only about four or five tables wide. On the third deck there are staterooms - above the ones on the second level except this level has their own veranda. We opted NOT to have a veranda as the cost was just not worth the small amount of time we thought we'd spend on our own deck. We could not have been more correct in this choice! And one unexpected benefit of the size of the ship to our decision not to have a balcony is that unlike ocean cruises we've been on, you're never more than two levels from your stateroom; and even if you were at the end of the hall it's a very short walk. Conversely when we've been on an ocean cruise if you go up to the public areas and need to "run back to your room" you are talking about going down at least five or six floors and several hundred yards to get to your cabin. We are really enjoying the small and personal size of the ship. Above where the dining room is on the second level is the lounge area - this is where you can relax, have a drink and you can eat a light breakfast or lunch. This is also where Dan does his presentations. On the end of the ship outside the lounge is what is called the Aquavit Terrace. This is an open-air seating area where you can enjoy your light meal under cover more in the open, or on the far end of the ship sit out in the open air. This area is protected on all sides by a six foot high glass panel so you don't have nearly as much wind, but the views are still 360 degrees. The top level of the ship is the sundeck. One half of it has a series of lounge chairs with an overhead canopy to keep you shaded. The other / front half has open seating with tables and chairs and the captain's cabin. What's unique about the sundeck is that when we come to a low bridge (and most of them are - so much so that often you're asked to remain seated!) is that the captain's quarters is on a "lift" that can go up or down, and he is often all the way to deck-level when we go under a bridge. AND the canopy over the lounge chairs also flattens to just a couple of feet off the deck if necessary! It is also interesting that there is a control/steering panel for the captain on either side of the ship so when we go through a lock - where the boat is literally inches from the wall - he comes out and navigates the ship from one of these small control panels where he looks right down the side of the ship.
Our stateroom is significantly smaller than a ocean cruise stateroom. The closet/bathroom area is about the same as is the bed. But there is just enough room for one person to manuever around the front or sides of the bed. But we've never felt cramped or crowded. Because of the smallness of the ship and the close proximity to everything we have been delighted to go up on the sundeck or the lounge areas to relax rather than spend time in the room.
Every meal - with one exception - have been spectacular; so good as to rave about as one of the "best" meals we've ever had. And the one that did not meet this standard tasted that good, it was just the fact that what looked like a full piece of meat was actually more than 1/2 bone with just a couple of bites of meat. The breakfast selections have been great and the bacon has been outstanding. Every pastry was exceptional. For lunch you can order or go to the buffet and the salads have been delicious - which is saying a lot coming from me. The main course has been excellent. And these breakfast/lunch comments go for both the lounge area and the dining room. For dinner we have had "cruise-worthy" bread (again, not a big bread eater, but you cannot pass up at least one roll here). The appetizers have been excellent, and often have been things you would not normally order, but when we tried them they were delicious. The main courses that we've chosen have been nearly always the chef's choices. But there is a standard menu that is available every night of "normal" restaurant food. And the desserts......oh my goodness. SO DELICIOUS. And let me say this, the ice cream on this ship is out of this world. It literally does not matter what flavor you choose, it's been just so "to die for."
The coffee - of course, for us, you cannot start the day without your coffee. Unlike most cruises we've been on where you need to go to the dining area, there are two coffee stations. The coffee machine at each has a selection of eight varieties of beverages. From straight coffee, to cafe latte. Hot chocolate and several other European blends of drinks. There is milk, skim milk, and half & half. In the morning there are pastries to choose from at the coffee station, along with fresh orange juice. In the afternoon those baskets of goodies are switched out to the best cruise cookies, including the ever elusive oatmeal-raisin. We were smart, ok I give full props to Kim here, to bring our thermal mugs on this trip. So two coffee cups each morning using their "to go" cups fit into our thermal cup :)
Staff & Service
EVERYONE on board has been so friendly and have come to recognize us. The waiters, especially the wine steward and George know what we like. It's interesting they take their orders on what looks like a cell phone - ah technology! Everyone at the desk, so personable and wanting to help. The girls that clean the rooms don't just give it the once over; no, no. It's deep cleaning every day, twice a day. The concierge is a perfect example of the kind of service we've received. We went to see her a couple of days ago and I explained that I was a big thoroughbred racing fan. I asked if she could look up if there were any race tracks in or around any of the towns we will be visiting; and if so could she arrange a visit there. She said it was not an unusual request - than many golfers or tennis players for example have had similar - and she promised to work on it. If there were one available she'd arrange for the transportation and everything we would need for the day. A day later she was headed to our room when she saw me and she gave me a two-page document. The first was a cover letter explaining she'd looked in and around every stop we had left and only one had a live race meet in progress and they only had a program on a day three days after we were in town. She apologized for not being able to find something. The second page was a print out of all the European race meets in the cities that were close to our stops. Wow, so over the top service.
EVERYONE on board has been so friendly and have come to recognize us. The waiters, especially the wine steward and George know what we like. It's interesting they take their orders on what looks like a cell phone - ah technology! Everyone at the desk, so personable and wanting to help. The girls that clean the rooms don't just give it the once over; no, no. It's deep cleaning every day, twice a day. The concierge is a perfect example of the kind of service we've received. We went to see her a couple of days ago and I explained that I was a big thoroughbred racing fan. I asked if she could look up if there were any race tracks in or around any of the towns we will be visiting; and if so could she arrange a visit there. She said it was not an unusual request - than many golfers or tennis players for example have had similar - and she promised to work on it. If there were one available she'd arrange for the transportation and everything we would need for the day. A day later she was headed to our room when she saw me and she gave me a two-page document. The first was a cover letter explaining she'd looked in and around every stop we had left and only one had a live race meet in progress and they only had a program on a day three days after we were in town. She apologized for not being able to find something. The second page was a print out of all the European race meets in the cities that were close to our stops. Wow, so over the top service.
Conclusion
Everything has been so, SO much more top shelf than we expected, and I expected an amazing trip - a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience.....and it's has been better than that. Such an impression they've made on us that I will be MUCH more inclined to look for future Viking Cruise trips. I have already had my eye on a couple of future excursions - and some were available through other companies, but I'll now look very closely at going on the Viking trip. I must say to anyone reading this that is considering taking such a trip. The numbers when you see the price are high. But there are one week trips, and something that you just don't realize unless you've been on other cruise trips, or vacations, is how EVERYTHING is included in the price. If you came to Europe on your own for two weeks, imagine the cost of a top notch hotel room for fourteen nights; now add in breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a white linen cloth restaurant; and then add in a minimum of one three-to-four hour tour each day. You get all that for one price AND you get to only have to unpack once while sailing along the picturesque waterways of Europe. We love Alaska, and the cost of our last Alaskan cruise, once you added in the excursions, was about the same when comparing one week to one week. Of course this choice for us is nearly three weeks. And finally, we made that choice because we figured if you're going to fly over here, why not try to see as much as possible rather than making a second trip to see "the rest of it." This is so well worth it, and if it's possible to go beyond a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience, this has!
Everything has been so, SO much more top shelf than we expected, and I expected an amazing trip - a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience.....and it's has been better than that. Such an impression they've made on us that I will be MUCH more inclined to look for future Viking Cruise trips. I have already had my eye on a couple of future excursions - and some were available through other companies, but I'll now look very closely at going on the Viking trip. I must say to anyone reading this that is considering taking such a trip. The numbers when you see the price are high. But there are one week trips, and something that you just don't realize unless you've been on other cruise trips, or vacations, is how EVERYTHING is included in the price. If you came to Europe on your own for two weeks, imagine the cost of a top notch hotel room for fourteen nights; now add in breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a white linen cloth restaurant; and then add in a minimum of one three-to-four hour tour each day. You get all that for one price AND you get to only have to unpack once while sailing along the picturesque waterways of Europe. We love Alaska, and the cost of our last Alaskan cruise, once you added in the excursions, was about the same when comparing one week to one week. Of course this choice for us is nearly three weeks. And finally, we made that choice because we figured if you're going to fly over here, why not try to see as much as possible rather than making a second trip to see "the rest of it." This is so well worth it, and if it's possible to go beyond a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience, this has!
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