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2007 Trip Report
& Preview
TRIP REPORT by James &
Champagne July 19-29, 2007
Danube Cruise + Budapest to
Vienna to Nuremberg, Germany
 Sunrise enroute to
Budapest |
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July 19 IAH to
BUD
Departed IAH about 845 PM on Continental Airlines to
Amsterdam, then to Budapest.
TIP of the day: Use the
complimentary baggage carts in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to carry your hand
luggage around the terminal.
Arrived approx. 5 PM local time in
Budapest.
July 20 Budapest-Temp 103 Degrees
Daylight 5 AM to 9 PM daily
Arrived AMS about noon.
Secure boarding passes if changing planes. Changed planes for Malev # 665 For
AMS to BUD
Flight 2 hours from AMS to BUD Departed AMS 315 PM Arrived
5 PM BUD
Taxi office/stand is located right out front of baggage
claim.
Private taxi to Marriott 4,100 F or about $ 25 USD or 19 Euros
(Set price)
About 170-180 HUF = $1 USD 250 F= 1 Euro
TIP for arrival: Convert at least USD $100 into forints (HUF) to pay
for taxi and other incidentals. Conversion for forints and Euros can be
confusing. Most everything is priced in forints or Euros, not USD $.
Info booth, tourist desk and transfer bus/booth inside baggage claim. Get city
maps, tours and tourist news at tour office. Taxi stand just outside at the
curb near exit of baggage claim.
Airport to Marriott on Danube about
20-25 minutes. Departed taxi about 545 PM, arrived 610 PM approx at Marriott
hotel on Pest side facing Buda side, right on the river.
Meet Max
Bowen Tour Director of Budapest Tours Friday night at Passion Café about
8 PM just off Andrassy Street (main street in Budapest).
Café
Passion Liszt Ferencs Ter, Andrassy Utca
Other Cafes at Liszt Ferencs
Ter: Karma, Passion, Cactus Juice across Andrassy.
Best Budapest
Clubs: Rio, Bed (Baad) Beach on Obuda island north of Margaret island in the
Danube. Also, 4 Play men’s Club behind the square, Raday Utca (street)
near fresh garden market, Rio at Citadel in Buda.
TIP of the
day: Wear light clothing and shorts. Budapest can be hot.
July 21, 2007 Budapest-Temp 102 degrees hot,
sunny
Dawn/light about 530-545 AM, Dusk about 9 PM.
Budapest Grand
Market |
Castle Hill in prior
"Buda" |
Fisherman's
Bastion |
Bride at Fisherman's
Bastion |
Market at Castle
Hill |
MaDonna Bistro
Budapest |
Onboard Entertainment
in Budapest |
Hungarian
Parlament |
Making Viennese
Strudle |
Morning run along the river. Chain bridge
closed for foot traffic for bridge festival in July with food and craft vendors
on the bridge. Bistro across from Marriott has good wine and good prices.
Toured Vaci pedestrian street, saw Mecure Budapest on Vaci, great wine
shop nearby, on to produce Market (opens 6 AM- 2 PM Saturdays). Then visited
Viking EUROPE docked adjacent to market. Saw Viking Danube, Viking Spirit and
Viking Europe.
 Budapest Castle |
Walked across Green Bridge-Freedom Bridge
(under renovation) to Buda, passed Gellert spa & hotel at foot of the
bridge. Walked past Citadel to Buda Castle…hot. Stopped for beer at
café, coke & ice cream at another café on Castle Hill. Toured
Fishermen’s Bastion next to Buda Castle for super panorama photos by DD,
toured Hilton for site. For Hilton Honors members, the best rooms are on 3rd
floor both buildings. Standard room floors 1, 2 & 4. Visited Budapest Info
office nearby, bought one way bus ticket # 16 costs about 1 Euro or 230 F. Drop
off in town, walked back 3 blocks to hotel. Saw Kempinski and Le Meridien. Saw
Four Seaons Hotel-elegant (Gresham Palace), Intercontinental and Sofitel, all
adjacent to Danube near Marriott.
Outside sidewalk Cafés on
Danube near Marriott are all good. Service and waiters all speak English.
TIP of the day: Convert your currency for daily use to
Hungarian forints. Taxi and service personnel and waiters tend to confuse
clients with currency conversions. Better to pay in forints as many stores and
shops do not always take charge cards.
Budapest Sites, Hotels,
Clubs
Five Star Hotels
 Hilton Budapest |
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· Four Seasons (inside Gresham Pace)
opened in 2004 Upscale-on Danube
· Intercontinental-Danube
· Marriott--Danube
· Kempinski-Pest Central Elizabeth
Park
· Hilton-Pest near Palace overlooking Danube, great view
· Also Mercure, Novatel, Le Meridien are near.
TIP of the
day: Consider buying Tourist Card for 2 or 3 days: The Budapest Card
Buy at Airport and Tourist Centers (good deal)48 hours: 6450 F or about 30
Euros 72 hours: 7940 F or about 40 Euros ($40-$60/person)
Package
includes:
Free transportation: Bus, trolley, underground (1 way trips about
180 HUF or $1USD) Sightseeing up to 50% off, Shops up to 20% off, Airport
minibus & auto 15% off,Cultural and folklore admissions up to 20% off
Sights
· Parliament-Danube Built 1896 to 1902, Opened
· National Library
· Hungarian National Museum—In Buda
Castle
· Citadel, The-Buda side (Club Rio is near)
· Buda
Castle (from Royal Palace)
· Matthias Church-Buda Castle
· Fishermens Bastion-Buda Castle
· Castle Hill and
Tunnel-Built 1852 Opened 1854
· Chain Bridge-Opened 1849,
rebuilt/restored 1949 after WW II
· Margaret Bridge at Margaret
Island-Opened 1876
· Elizabeth Bridge-Largest suspension bridge in
world when opened 1903/reopened 1964
· Freedom Bridge (near fresh
market and Viking dock)
· Hungarian Academy of Sciences Building
1865
· St Stephens Basilica-Danube
· Underground
rail-Opened 1896 First underground railway in Europe
· Budapest
Opera House 1884-Daily tours 3-4 PM
· Castle of Vajdahunyad-City
Park Island (Varosliget) Modeled after Transylvania castle. Encompasses
architecture of all famous Hungarian architectural styles.
· Market
Central next to Freedom Bridge
· St Gellert statue on hill
overlooking Pest near Castle Museums
· Budapest History Museum
· Museum of Applied Arts
· Franz Liszt
· Hungarian
National Gallery
· Hungarian National Museum
· Museum of
Fine Art
· Hungarian Natural History Museum
· Spas
· Gellert Thermal Baths
· Lukacs Thermal Baths & Swimming
Pools
· Kiraly Thermal Baths
· Rudas Thermal Baths
· Racs Thermal Baths
· Szechenyi Thermal Baths
Szentendre Village: Crafts, art, shops, artisans 12 miles from Budapest.
TIP of the day: Bought excellent red wine 5 E across
street from Marriott. Excellent deli.
July 22
Sunday Budapest-Temp 101 degrees hot, sunny
See Viking
Detailed Itinerary for details about sight seeing locations and
highlights.
Ship docked all day in Budapest. Board ship
anytime after 3 PM or so. Earlier is OK but cabins won’t be ready.
Jim runs early 645 AM Marriott to Margaret Island bridge to Castle
Hill. Falls there breaks wrist/elbow. Hot during day 103 degrees. Check out of
Marriott, to hospital, set arm and on to the Viking EUROPE. Arrive ship at 5
PM.
615 PM Embarkation Talk Claudia Cruise Director.
7-9 PM
Delicious traditional Hungarian dinner
9 PM Hungarian folklore in lounge,
light entertainment
TIP of the Day: Use “City
Taxi” company Phone: 36-121-1111
Best bet; they use taxi meters.
Order from any hotel. Rogue taxis not regulated and will rip you off unless you
agree on price first or better yet, don’t take them.
TIP of
the day:
Buy your favorite wine in town and bring on board for
personal consumption. There is a 10 Euro fee for use of personal wine in dining
room.
TIP of the day before you board: Cash in your
unused forints for Euros before you depart Budapest
TIP of the
Day on Board: Consider the wine or drink packages offered by Viking on
Board.
(All prices subject to change.)
Wine Package
115/Euros/Cabin
6 Bottles for dinner. 115 Euros/cabin
Premium
Wines: 6 Bottles 145 Euros/Cabin
All Inclusive Drink Package 150
Euros/person
Soft Drinks, all beers, house wines (red & white),
water, 1 bottle champagne, Espresso. 1 pre dinner cocktail/day, 1 after dinner
drink/day, 1 baseball cap or waist bag, 1 note card set.
July 23 Monday Budapest to Vienna Temp 101 degrees hot,
sunny
See Viking
Detailed Itinerary for details about sight seeing locations and
highlights.
1st Sunset aboard the
Viking Europe |
Approaching
Vienna |
Oldest Ferris Wheel
in
Central Europe |
Belvedere Museum
Vienna |
Modern artist
Klimpt |
For GOOD
LUCK!!!! |
St. Stephens, Vienna,
burned the last day of WWII |
Rosenberg's in
Vienna |
Home of Mozart's Marzapan
Balls |
Ship at dock up to 12 Noon in Budapest.
Sail for Vienna at noon Monday to 9 AM Tuesday.
Breakfast 7- 8 AM.
Budapest city tour departed AM which is included. See detailed itinerary in
FAQs for sight seeing locations and highlights. Tour from 8 – 1115AM. Ship
moved from main Viking dock to customs dock # 2 for release to sail at noon.
TIP of the day: Visit the Grand Market Hall (produce
market) adjacent to the dock on Saturday if possible. There are crafts, hand
work and small shops on the 2nd floor catwalk above the main produce floor.
Depart 12 PM Sunday. Set sail for Vienna. About 100 degrees hot. 230 P
Wheelhouse tour. Enjoy river views. Apple Strudel Demo 330 PM.
530 PM
Daily cocktail hour. Cruise briefing 6-7 P.
630 PM Welcome cocktail with
Capt Martin Bicanik + Hotel Mgr Zsolt Forrai. Champagne all round.
Daily
briefing Cornelia, Cruise Director.
7 PM Welcome dinner. Chef Martin Sevcik
& Maitre d’Hotel Georg Buddaus
9 PM Live Music Otto
930 PM
Horse race teams
930-1030 PM Happy Hour Half Price drinks
Nice view of
river until meal 7-9 PM. Light music, bed soon.
July 24 Tuesday-Vienna Temp 75-78 Clear AM (rainy 3-6 PM) then
clear PM
See Viking
Detailed Itinerary for details about sight seeing locations and
highlights.
Vienna from 930 AM to 11 PM
Arrive Vienna
930 AM Shore Excursion 930 AM -1 PM. Belvedere Palace and many other sites.
Docked at river, near underground stop Vorgartenstrasse, 4th stop from town on
Underground. Line is # U-1 from town toward end of line: Leopoldau. Cost 1
Euro. Buy ticket at station from automated machine. Use coins OK. Trip is about
10 minutes. Could walk if you prefer.
TIP of the day:
Use the Underground if you want to explore on your own. Buy a one way or round
trip ticket for about 2 Euros which permits you to travel on each line to the
end and back. Each underground station has automated tickets. Carry coins and
currency in Euros. You can also buy a one way ticket from town the ship.
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2648 - Back to the Ship from Vienna |
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Optional tours PM:
Schonbrunn Palace 2
PM – 530 P 44E/person
Mozart & Strauss Concert 730 PM -1015 PM 54
E/person
Donau Island near front of ship. Island has a nude beach
and nightlife.
Spent part of afternoon at internet café for
about 5 Euros/hour. Internet café right around corner from Burger King
and across from Mama’s Home Cooking, ate light meal at 4 PM. Coffee &
cake across street at Rosenberger. Downstairs: Awesome cafeteria (Rosenberger)
for traditional Austrian food…stick to the ribs. All these places near St.
Stevens church down the pedestrian street from the church.
530-7 PM at
ship Cocktails
530 PM Daily briefing Cornelia.
6 PM Mozart Dinner-Early
diners 1st seating
715 PM For 2nd seating
730-1015 PM Optional Mozart
Concert
9 PM Live Music Otto in lounge
1015 PM Late night snack Goulash
soup lounge
11 PM Depart for Melk
On your Own in Vienna:
· Austrian Gallery
· Museum of Fine Arts
· State
Opera House
· Spanish Riding School/Lippizianer Museum
·
St Stephens Cathedral in central Vienna
· Heurigen taverns, buffet
and wine taverns
· Viennese Coffeehouses: Demel, Café at
Hotel Sacher, Café Central, Café Hawelka, Café Mozart,
Café Landtmann
July 25 Wednesday Melk,
Linz-Temp 78 degrees, hot, sunny
Abbey in Melk |
Lock just outside Melk
with Abbey |
Arno informs guests
about locks along the Danube |
See Viking
Detailed Itinerary for details about sight seeing locations and
highlights.
9 AM –12 PM in Melk for morning walking tour
of Melk Abbey and Melk town.
Daily excursion to Melk Abbey. Pretty but
boring, liked village better.
Joseph's Beer Garten in
Linz
for a nightcap |
Jim was
thursty!!!! |
TIP of the day: Walk down
through the little town where street market is featured for crafts, food, drink
and souvenirs.
Great little outside beer garden for German beer next
to ship along bike path in front of Danube.
12 noon to 8 PM Cruise
Danube to Linz
8 PM – 3 AM in Linz Great beer garden call JOSEF on
main street
Afternoon sailing and sunning on Danube from Melk to Linz.
430 PM Rhine-Main-Danube Canal Lecture by Igor
630 PM Daily
Briefing
7 PM International dinner
815 PM Arrive Linz Go to JOSEF Beer
Garden and Restaurant. Walked about 15 minutes to middle of town. No city tour.
Do it yourself.
9 PM Sock Game +Live Music
3 AM Depart for
Passau
July 26 Thursday Passau Temp 76 degrees,
hot, sunny
See Viking
Detailed Itinerary for details about sight seeing locations and
highlights.
On the way to Passau ,
Germany |
Entering
Passau.....
busy place! |
Amber ships
made by
Passau local |
St. Steven's Pipe Organ
12,794 pipes..What a concert! |
The Blue Danube in
Passau
GREAT!! |
Time for
Wine!!!! |
10 AM to 515 PM in Passau
City of 3
rivers: “Blue” Danube, “Green” Inn & “Black”
Ilz all converge in Passau
10 AM 1245 PM City Tour with organ concert in St
Stevens Cathedral Walked around Passau to point. Ate at Blue Danube café
next to city hall. Great schnitzel. Passau has 5 breweries. Go find them!
TIP of the day: Even if you tire of touring cathedrals,
it’s worth it just to see one of the largest church organs in the world in
St. Stevens. You can also sit still for a
Cooling off in
Passau |
30 minute concert.
515 PM Depart for
Regensburg
6 PM Daily briefing
615-715 PM Bavarian Folklore
730 PM
Seaman’s dinner
9 PM Light entertainment in lounge
Restaurants in Passau: Jodelwirt Scrottgasse (in town); Green Tree (near Glass
Museum), SensAsian, Café Simon
Bike rental: Fahrrdaladen-Passau 10
Euro Half day rental.
Internet Café: Coffee Fellows near main city
hall, Café Unterhaus Hollgasse 12
July 27
Friday Regensburg Temp 76 degrees, hot sunny
See Viking
Detailed Itinerary for details about sight seeing locations and
highlights.
Heading to
Regensburg...Sundeck down for low bridges and locks |
Entertainment leaving
Passau to Regensburg |
Docking in Regensburg
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Roman ruins in Regensburg
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Historic Burstkuche
Sausage House serving since 1302 |
inside the sausage house
|
inside the sausage house
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David & Goliath
trumploy |
Stone Bridge over Danube
in Regensburg |
Canopy onboard lowered
preparing for more low bridges |
Entering Weltenburg,
Germany |
Catching the boat to the
Danube Gorge |
At the Danube
Gorge..narrowest & deepest |
Test tasting the brew at
the Monastery at the Danube Gorge |
Kilheim monument to 3 US
soldiers killed during training |
830 AM Arrive Regensburg
830 AM to
12 PM noon in Regensburg and then lunch
Tour of city on foot with guide
from 9 -1030 AM. Quaint shops everywhere. Stopped at sausage shop (est 12th
century!) + visit Dubarr shop for the souvenirs (across street from the sausage
shop)
TIP of the day: Hey, as long as you’re
visiting Regensburg, you HAVE to stop in for “6 ‘wursts, kraut and a
beer” at the famous sausage shop on the river adjacent to the famous
Regensburg Bridge, 100’s of year old!.
12 Noon depart dock and
transfer ship to Regensburg lock for bus transfer
115 PM arrive at lock for
shore excursion to Danube Gorge
130 PM Depart for Danube Gorge and
Weltenburg Abbey. Great beer garden and saw unique car ferry across Danube.
Skip the abbey tour unless it’s short…..you will have plenty of time
for the famous Weltenburg beer garden.
5 30 PM Arrived/departed Kelheim
(for Nuremberg) near Reidenberg where we enjoyed polka night + beer from a
previous cruise
630 PM Farewell cocktail and Disembark talk
730 PM
Farewell dinner
930 PM Raffle drawing and Liars Club Funny
July 28 Saturday Nuremberg Temp 70 Partly cloudy warm at
dock, sunny
See Viking
Detailed Itinerary for details about sight seeing locations and
highlights.
From Kilheim to
Nuremburg |
Roman water tower
left
near original gate
into Nuremburg |
9 AM all day in Nuremberg thru Sunday to
disembark
Sometimes the ship transits through the locks early so you have
an entire day in Nuremberg. Some guests got up early and went into town for a
jump on shopping Saturday morning.
TIP of the day: If
the ship docks early, ask the ship to call a taxi and get into town. Or, plan
to go back in the evening for pub crawls, optional dining and night life.
Trip to city about 15 Euros via taxi…15-20 minutes one way.
City tour 130 PM - 530 PM Bus transportation provided.
WW II Tour
Optional all day tour
On the ship:
1030-11 AM fun and great food:
Bratwurst, beer + pretzels
5-630 PM Cocktail hour
630 PM Cruise
summary
7 PM German Dinner Great food
915 P Glass blowing demo
10
Music or downtown for night life
July 29
Sunday Nuremberg Temp 72 sunny
See Viking
Detailed Itinerary for details about sight seeing locations and
highlights.
Amsterdam airport cheese
shop |
Going home! |
Depart: Taxi to Airport about 20 Euros
Private cab
TIP of the day: Ship will call taxi for you
depending upon your departure flight time.
Home via Nuremberg to
Amsterdam to Houston. |
For Reservations, contact
Jennifer or
Tammy at Castaways Travel.
Escorted by James, Champagne and your favorite host couples you've enjoyed over
the years.
800-470-2020
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