Christmas Market Cruise Along the Rhine

 

December 14: I have about recovered from our overnight flight to Basel, Switzerland via Atlanta and Paris. All easy plane rides, but we went almost 24 hours without sleep and are 6 hours ahead of Orlando. Now aboard the Viking Tialfi river boat for a cruise along the Rhine, visiting Christmas markets as we go.

After being swept up by Viking reps and transported to our ship, we met Bryan and kids at the Christmas market in Basel. Glühwein and walking around, then Bryan helped us buy tickets for the #11 tram back to the boat, cheaper and quicker than the taxi we’d taken to meet them.

Lunch on the boat, then I went on the shore excursion back to the same market. Grant opted for a nap instead. Back on the boat, we had a drink in the lounge, chatting with a couple from Georgia, he a U of Georgia grad; listened to the welcome by the captain and the cruise director; participated in the safety drill; and ate dinner, meeting more of our fellow cruisers. We may have dozed off during some of it.

I slept until 8:00 AM, local time. 

We definitely needed to come at least a day early, but I decided last minute to go on this trip, so there wasn’t time to plan. This morning will be relaxing on the ship to recover.

December 18: In the lounge at 6:15 AM, alone. By now we have visited Christmas markets in Basel, Freiburg, Strasbourg, Mannheim, and Rüdeshelm, and have drunk glühwein in all of them, collecting the little cup from each. We have met Andrea and Alex from upstate New York; Debby and Bert from New Zealand; Christine and Bernard from Montreal; Sandra and Tom from Georgia, etc., etc. We have walked almost 10k/day, many of them up and down the stairs in the ship. Everyone is friendly, the architecture is amazing, the Christmas markets charming. We are tired. 

Last night at dinner, we sat alone, enjoying the silence. I wonder if we cut out for cruise life. Even as I write, my friends Chris and Jim are aboard a residential ship evaluating whether they could live on it 1 year, 4 years, or the rest of their lives. As wonderful as this cruise is, and Viking certainly has spoiled us for any other cruise line, I am overwhelmed by all the interactions. All good, just way more than I am used too.

On the other hand, I should probably take advantage of the “Get $200 credit for $100” offered while we are aboard, and also sign up by December 31st for the great deals now available on other cruises. The one along the Douro in Portugal is appealing. Grant and I will chat when he gets up.


December 19: Up early again, with the lounge to myself. Yes, my phone alarms ring at the local time, so my usual 6:00 AM wake-up for EarlyBird Toastmasters sounded. If I’m back on the ship at 1:00 PM local, I’ll try to sign in. Yesterday we sailed down the middle river gorge of the Rhine, seeing castle after castle, with commentary by cruise social director Gavin. Were we driving around, we would not have seen these magnificent buildings. On the other hand, were we self guiding, we could have bought a day cruise. The debate continues.

I brought my travel watercolor set and have painted each day. In addition to being proud of the results (and living in fear of my pride going before a fall, perhaps down the ship’s stairs), I’m happy I have been comfortable painting in the lounge, around other people. I just hold the book in my lap, have the little paint set on the coffee table, and paint away. I’m using photos to copy, since I’m not at the stage where I can remember light, shadows and other details.

December 21: At Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on our flight home. Viking handled all the transfers, even having a staff person walk us through the airport to the boarding pass kiosk. Flights home were easy. We shared a Philly cheesesteak at the Philadelphia airport while we waited for our Orlando plane. 

Did we have fun? Yes, we enjoyed each other’s company while seeing a new to us part of the world. It whetted my appetite to return on our own and travel around at our slow pace. However, I wonder if we would see as much without the scheduled walks every day. We averaged 8,800 steps this past week. More than Grant is enthusiastic about doing. The cruise also whetted our appetite to eat and drank way more than we would on our own, and I’ve gained 5# to prove it. No scouting restaurants or thinking about prices. Just plates of delicious food placed before us and wine glasses refilled before they were empty.

Note to self: reread this page before putting down any trip deposits. Except for the deposit I must make today for our birding adventure in Costa Rica next March.


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