Welcome back to my Travel Bucket List Series. I hope you have enjoyed the destinations I have highlighted throughout the year. Today my series continues with a river cruise down the Danube River during the holiday season. The European Christmas Markets have been high on my list, and what better way to see them than on a river cruise with AmaWaterways luxury cruise line. I was delighted to see the cruise line had partnered with Adventures by Disney for a few of these sailings. We cruised with AmaWaterways and Adventures by Disney last fall when we toured the Rhine River. It was a spectacular vacation, and I look forward to this sailing soon.
Where does the Adventure Begin?
Before the start of the cruise, we plan on spending a few days exploring Budapest, Hungary. Budapest is the capital of Hungary and the ninth-largest city in the European Union. The city is split in half by the Danube River, Buda on one side and Pest on the other. Budapest’s central area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes the Hungarian Parliament and the Buda Castle. We want to be close to the cruise terminal, so we plan to stay at the Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge Hotel. It is near the river and the downtown area. The hotel has 357 rooms and suites, most with a stunning view of the river.
First, a walking tour of the Buda, the western part of the city. The must-sees are
- Buda Castle- the Royal Palace
- Matthias Church-Catholic Roman church built in 1015 A.D.
- Fisherman’s Bastion- Built in the 19the century as a look-out tower.
- Budapest Castle Hill Funicular is a railway that links the Adam Clark Square and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge at river level to Buda Castle above.
Next on the list, a Tuk Tuk tour of the eastern part of the city, Pest. I look forward to seeing
- St. Stephen’s Basilica-A Roman Catholic basilica named after Stephen, the first King of Hungary, whose mummified right hand—Hungary’s most sacred treasure—is housed in the shrine.
- Vajdahunyad Castle- considered the most romantic castle in Budapest.
- Hero’s Square- noted for its iconic statue complex featuring the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars and other important Hungarian national leaders, as well as the Memorial Stone of Heroes.
- Shoes on the Danube’s Bank-A memorial to honor the Jews massacred by Fascist Hungarian militia during World War II.
- Hungarian State Opera House
After a whirlwind couple of days in Budapest, we board our home for the next week on one of AmaWaterway’s beautiful ships and set sail to beautiful Vienna, Austria.
Vienna is home to 20 or so Christmas Markets. One of the biggest is at Marie-Theresien Platz. There are 70 booths full of handicrafts, gift ideas, and food. In addition to all the shopping, there are children’s rides, live music, and more.
Another must-do, visit a Heurige. A Heurige is a traditional wine tavern. I love authentic experiences like this.
Other points of interest in the city of Vienna:
- Panoramic tour of the city.
- Schonbrunn Palace- main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers.
- Strudel Making at the Palace
- Visit Naschmarkt – large outdoor market
- Ice Skating in Vienna
After two days in Vienna, it is time to move on to the town of Durnstein. Durnstein is famous for ruins and wine taverns.
A tour of Dürnstein includes the famous ruins of the castle Burgruine Dürnstein. There are incredible views from the castle of the river, vineyards, and villages. Then it is back on the ship to enjoy sailing through the Wachau Valley. I am sure this will be just as spectacular as sailing through the Rhine River Gorge.
After a beautiful sail along the river, the next stop is Melk, Austria. Our visit to Melk will include:
- Melk Benedictine Abbey- contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria’s first ruling dynasty.
- Marmalade making
- Dance lessons
- Wine tasting
Salzburg
The last stop in Austria is Salzburg. Here we will explore the Salzburg Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Monastery, and Old Town, as well as the hidden alleys and shops that line Getreidegasse in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s hometown. Oh, how do a visit to the beautiful Mirabell Gardens and other significant sights made famous from the movie The Sound of Music sound?
The Salt Mines of Hallein is among the oldest mines in the world that are open to the public. Take a raft through the underground salt mines and zoom down a mineshaft slide—all while learning the rich history of Austria’s “white gold.”
Passau, Germany
Our cruise takes us into Germany to the city of Passau. How does a tour led by a local expert dressed in 18th-century period clothing sound?. Then, experience a marzipan-making activity that will satisfy your sweet tooth—with enough yummy delights made to take some home!
Vilshofen, Germany
Our trip wraps up in Vilshofen. Vilshofen has a unique Christmas market in that it is a floating market along the Danube. Before heading to Munich to catch our flight, I plan on spending at least one day here exploring the market. It looks too beautiful to pass up.
So, what about you? Are you ready to add the Danube River cruise to your bucket list of destinations? Or perhaps a trip to Greece or Ireland is on your list? Wherever you choose, I hope you have the adventure of a lifetime.
My Travel Bucket List Series continues with destination number seven, Germany. Last fall we sailed along the Rhine River and made three stops in Germany. We fell in love with the country and its people. We knew we wanted to come back and explore this beautiful country. Germany is known for beer, pretzels, nice cars, castles, and ties to World War II.
Munich
Our German adventure starts in the city of Munich. Munich is the capital of Bavaria in Southern Germany and is the 3rd largest city in the country. It was here that Hilter joined the Nazi Party and became its leader. The city was heavily bombed during WWII, where 40% of its buildings were destroyed. Munich has some of the largest breweries in Germany and is known for Oktoberfest. Today, the city is the center of the banking industry.
With so much beautiful architecture, stunning gardens, and museums, one could easily spend a week or more in this city. We plan on spending 3-4 days. Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski came highly recommended. It is a 5-star luxury hotel located in the heart of Munich. It has rooms and suites, two restaurants, and a spa.
One of the best ways to see Munich is a walking tour. Highlights of the tour include:
- Karlsplatz Square to see the Karlstor Gate- famed city wall
- Siegestor Gate
- Holy Ghost Church
- Munich City Museum
- Jewish Museum
- St. Peter’s Church
- Old Town Hall
- New Town Hall
- Marienplatz (Old town)
In addition to the walking tour and all the beautiful things we will see above, we want to eat at the Ratskeller. The Ratskeller is a large cellar restaurant. It dates back to the 1900s with regional dishes and good German beer.
We will continue with our stay in Munich and venture 10 miles north to the medieval town , Dachua.
Dachau Concentration Camp opened in 1933 initially to hold political prisoners. It eventually became a prison for Jews, Germans, Austrian criminals, and finally, foreign nationals from countries that Germany occupied or invaded. There were 32,000 documented deaths at Dachau and many, many more undocumented.
Before leaving Munich and heading toward Rothenburg, our travels will take us to Neuschwanstein Castle.
To all my Disney loving readers, this castle should look familiar. Walt Disney used it as inspiration when constructing Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland in California. Neuschwanstein Castle is a masterpiece. It is one of the most visited castles in Europe, and I can see why. It is what fairytales are made of. Though, in researching the castle, happily ever after did not exist here. You can read the history here.
Now we can’t leave Munich on an empty stomach. Dinner at Hofbrauhaus, I hear, is a must. It is labeled the World’s Most Favorite Tavern. It was built almost 500 years ago and reservations are highly recommended.
Nuremberg and Rothenburg
Next in our German adventure is the city of Nuremberg. It is the second-largest city in the Bavarian state. Notably known for the Nuremberg Trials after the second world war, Nuremberg was chosen to hold these trials due to its history with the Nazi party. It was here after Hilter rose to power, the Nazis held their rallies. The Nuremberg Laws were passed, which revoked German citizenship for all Jews and other non-Aryans. By the end of the war, much of the city was destroyed.
There are a few things I have on our list to do in Nuremberg. First is a visit to the Palace of Justice, where the famous trials took place.
A visit to Old Town Nuremberg is a must. I love visiting the walled cities in Europe. We plan on seeing Nuremberg Castle, Saint-Sebald Church, Albrecht Dürer’s House, and the Toy Museum.
Of course, our visit to Nuremberg would not be complete without some German Food. I have found several culinary tours, and one in particular, sounds amazing. The tours take you through the cobblestone streets of the city where we sample meats, cheeses, and potatoes. In additon, learn the history of gingerbread and pretzels. Sounds good, right?
From Nuremberg, we head north the Rothenberg and check into the Hotel Herrnschlossen. The hotel is an 11th-century castle. My kind of hotel!
Rothenberg is a northern Bavarian village. It served as the inspiration for the village in Disney’s 2nd animated film, Pinnochio. With its half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets, it certainly looks like it belongs in a storybook. On our list of things to do in Rothenberg are:
- Medieval Crime and Justice Museum
- St. James Church
- Marketplatz
- Rathus
- Pretzel Making
The night walk with a Night Watchman is a must. In medieval times, the Night Watchman roamed the city at night to keep its citizens safe. Meet up with the Night Watchman as he takes you through Rothenberg at night.
Bamberg
Bamberg is a Unesco World Heritage Site. The city has Europe’s largest intact old city wall. There are so many things to see in this city. I am not sure if I have allotted enough time. We may need to add a half a day or two. Some points of interest to explore are:
- Bamberg Cathedral
- Altes Rathaus
- Altenburg Castle
- Klein Venedig
- Bamberger Kreuzweg
Berlin
Last, but certainly not least, is Berlin. Berlin is the capital and the largest city in Germany. It is known for its history and its cultural flare. There is so much to see, do, and eat!
First is a walking tour of the city. I love walking tours as I feel you see more of the city, and it is a great way to get great photo ops. A walking tour in Berlin includes the Reichstag Building, Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Museum, and Checkpoint Charlie and Alexanderplatz, to name a few.
Did you know that Berlin is known for its street art? My husband has a degree in art, and this is something he would enjoy. A private street art tour is high on our list.
Above I mentioned Berlin is a city of culture. Another must on our list is Museum Island. Museum Island is another Unesco World Heritage Site in Berlin’s Mitte District. It consists of several museums, such as the Altes Museum, Bode-Museum, and Pergamonmuseum. Again, my fear is we will not have enough time to see it all!
As you can see, Germany is a beautiful country. There is much to see and do from its storybook towns, fairytale castles, rich history, food, drink, and culture. I hope you will agree that this country is Bucket List worthy.
See you on my next adventure!
Last October, Rüdesheim am Rhein was one of six stops we made during our Rhine River cruise. Rüdesheim is located in Germany, along the banks of the Rhine. It is a German wine-making town in the Rhine Gorge. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in this region. We had about 6 hours to explore this charming German town. Here are seven things to do in Rüdesheim.
Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet
Our first stop of the day was to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet. Honestly, we were not sure what to expect, and I was afraid I would be bored. Not so! It is a beautiful and unique place. Here you enjoy one of the most extensive collections of self-playing instruments in the world. What is a mechanical or self-playing instrument? I am glad you asked! The instruments work like computers. On their website is an excellent description of how these instruments work.
“You have a data store and an attachment that can implement stored information in a targeted manner. It is of secondary importance whether only a single sound, a signal, or a sequence of sounds is made to sound. Although the term “data storage” in the heyday of self-playing musical instruments – from the 17th century to the 30s of the 20th century – was unknown, even the oldest data storage system, the bribed roller, works according to the same yes/no principle as the modern PC. Pen in the reel means clay, no pen in the reel means no sound.”
Our guide was fantastic and quirky. She loved her job, and it showed. For 45 mins, she took us from room to room and demonstrated various instruments.
Fun Fact- In the last photo, our guide was holding up a music box. These are called singing bird vending machines. It is rumored that Walt was inspired by these little boxes, and the Enchanted Tiki Room was born.
Drosselgasse
Drosselgasse is the main street that runs through the old town. It is lined with historical buildings, shops, restaurants, bars, bakeries, and more. At approximately a mile long, some of the city’s best entertainment can be found here. One can experience and immerse themselves into the German Rhine culture by enjoying regional dishes and wine.
Cable Car
Rüdesheim’s Cable Car transports guests all the way to the Germania monument. Though the weather was not great, we could not pass up a ride on the cable car. I had heard the views of the Rhine, and the vineyards are beautiful. We were not disappointed.
The views were worth the ride.
Niederwald Monument
We exited the cable car at the top of the hill and went to see the Neiderwald Monument. However, it was so foggy, and we could not see it unless we were right in front of it. None of my photos came out, so the one above will have to do. On a clear day, you can see miles around and take in the Rhine Gorge’s beauty.
The monument was built in 1977-1983 to mark the re-establishment of the German Empire after the Franco-Prussian War. The central figure is the Germania holding the imperial crown in her raised right hand and the imperial sword in her left hand.
Walking Wine Tour
Take a walk through these vineyards. Learn how the grapes are picked and about the winemaking process. Of course, enjoy samples of delicious wine!
Eat Baumstriezel
Otherwise known as chimney cakes, these yummy treats are made from enriched yeast dough cut into long strips and wrapped around a thick spit. The cake is sprinkled with sugar and baked over an open fire or in small electric ovens.
Drink a Rüdesheimer Kaffee
Brandy and sugar cubes are added to a cup. The brandy is flambeed and stirred for a minute until the sugar dissolves. Coffee is added, followed by a topping of whipped cream sweetened with vanilla sugar.
We could easily spend a few days in this charming town. I look forward to going back someday.
On our Rhine River cruise, we toured the city of Heidelberg. Heidelberg is located along the Neckar River in south-west Germany. It is approximately 50 miles south of Frankfurt. It is a college town and home to Heidelberg University, one of Germany’s oldest universities. It dates back to 1386. It is a hub for the arts and attracts many poets, writers, and other artists. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network has as designated it the “City of Literature.”
Fun Fact #1 – US Army General George Patton had a car accident in the nearby city of Mannheim. He later died in Heidelberg, US Army Hospital. He is buried in Luxembourg.
Heidelberg Palace
During the 13th century, the palace was once the residence of the Prince of Electors of Palatinate. Though due to war and natural disasters, it saw much destruction. In the 17th century, the Palatinates were involved in the Thirty Years and the Nine Year Wars. The Prince no longer had any interest in the destroyed palace and moved his residence to Mannheim. The castle continued to fall to ruins from neglect and two lightning strikes.
Taken from Wikipedia, here is a timeline of events at the castle.
Timeline of events for Heidelberg Castle:
- 1225: first documented mention as “Castrum”.
- 1303: mention of two castles.
- 1537: the destruction of the upper castle by a lightning bolt.
- 1610: the creation of the palace garden
- 1622: Tilly conquers city and castle in the Thirty Years War
- 1642: renewal of the Castle plants.
- 1688/1689: destruction by French troops.
- 1693: renewed destruction in the Palatinate succession war.
- 1697: (start) reconstruction.
- 1720: transfer of the residence to Mannheim.
- 1742: (start) reconstruction.
- 1764: destruction by a lightning bolt.
- 1810: Charles de Graimberg dedicates himself to the preservation of the Castle ruins.
- 1860: first Castle lighting.
- 1883: the establishment of the “office of
building of castles of Baden.” - 1890: stocktaking by Julius Koch and Fritz Seitz.
- 1900: (circa) restorations and historical development.
We were fortunate enough to have a guided tour. The guides dress from different historical periods. There are 150 guides and tours are offered in 20 languages. It is quite a process to become a guide. There is a 3-month training program with an exam at the end. Our guide was funny and never broke out of character.
Though you can tour both the interior and exterior of the palace, we only had time for the exterior. Just another reason to go back, right?
The tour was interesting and just long enough that it held our interest. Though we did not tour the inside, we were able to go into one building, the Fassbau (wine cellar), from 1590, which houses the largest wine barrel in the world, Heidelberg Tun, which holds 58,124 gallons of wine.
Fun Fact #2- Mark Twain, who visited the castle and later, on a boat trip, he wrote a chapter to his famous book, Huckleberry Finn.
Old Town Heidelberg
Altstadt is the oldest part of the city and sits right below the palace. The Hauptstraße is the main road through the Altstadt and is where most of the shopping is centered. Other points of interest that can be found in the Altstadt include the Marktplatz, the Kornmarkt, the Church of the Holy Ghost, the Palatinate Museum, Synagogue Square, The University, Marstall, Heuscheuer, the Friedrich Memorial, and the Old Bridge.
Philosopher’s Walk
Philosopher’s Walk is a path located along the banks of the Nect
Heidelberg is beautiful and I would have loved to have seen more. Another place I want to return to someday.
Fun Fact #3 – College is free in Germany and open to anyone, regardless if a citizen or not.
A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I returned from our second Adventures by Disney trip. We took a cruise down the Rhine River. We visited four countries and packed a lot in those eight days. We visited storybook villages, historical sites, world-renowned cities, saw castles, and experienced VIP service throughout the trip. Last year we sailed on a ten-day Mediterranean Disney cruise and added on an Adventures by Disney package. Instead of booking our excursions through the cruise line, we booked them through Adventures by Disney. I will explain what that means later on in this post.
First, for those of you that don’t know, Adventures by Disney (“ABD”) is a guided group travel option offered by the Walt Disney company. It provides culturally immersive, once-in-a-lifetime experiences in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, South, and North America. The trips range from 3-4 days (short escapes) up to 12 days long. There are river cruises on the Rhine, Danube, Seine and Rhone rivers. As mentioned above, you may add an ABD to certain Disney Cruise Line cruises.
Being a Disney fanatic, I had heard of these trips a few years ago. We had been to Disney World more times than I can count, and we had done several Disney cruises at this point. However, two things made me shy away from them, the thought of group travel and the price. I had always loved planning our vacations. I would spend hours looking for excursions, comparing tour operators, etc. When it came to going on our first family trip to Europe, I was a little hesitant. I looked at what Disney Cruise Line had to offer for excursions and was a bit surprised at how expensive these excursions were. As I was weighing my options, a brochure for ABD arrived at my house, offering what they called an “Embedded ABD.” The add on includes preselected shore excursions, led by two Adventure Guides. Each embedded ABD is capped at 40 people. The ABD consists of a welcome and farewell reception, activities on the sea days, a case of water, and all photos taken on your excursions and the ship.
The more I read, the more I was starting to see the value in the add on. I decided to give my travel agent a call and discuss it with him. After our chat, I booked it. Unlike the land-based and river cruise trips, the deposit was refundable if we decided we could not swing the cost. At this point, I had nine months to mull over our decision. During those nine months, I poured over reviews, talked to people who had been on this trip. By the time our paid in full date arrived, I was ready to commit. OUCH! It was the most we had ever paid for a vacation. Now mind you, we paid off the cruise that day, too, so it seemed extra painful. LOL.
As the trip got closer, I started to have buyer’s remorse. Every time I told someone what we were doing, I heard how expensive it was, how I could take the trip for a lot less money, etc. It was starting to annoy me and feed into my fear that the trip was not going to live up to my expectations.
Well, can I say… the trip was worth every single penny. We had an amazing time. The guides were fantastic; the excursions were incredible; we received first-class VIP treatment from the moment we stepped on the ship until we departed. I was hooked. The Adventures by Disney experience is second to none, and I did not hesitate to book the Rhine River cruise and our next adventure, the Canadian Rockies with ABD. So, what makes the difference?
The Disney Difference
Disney is known for its storytelling. The story is told through the Adventure Guides. In addition to the two guides, you are joined by local guides that immerse you into the culture. (Side note, with river cruises, you have six guides. ) You experience the culture and traditions of the local people. The Adventure Guides provide the first-class service that Disney is known for, and all of your needs are met beyond expectations. The guides do more than take you from place to place. They provide more information you could ever dream of about each destination. They make sure you are hydrated, feed, know where the good bathrooms are (KEY!!), and the best local places to shop and eat outside of tourists traps. They are photographers and great entertainment for all. You get to know your guides, and it makes the trip a more intimate experience.
Not only do you get to know your guides, but the other families traveling with you — most groups top off at 40 people, except for river cruising. I believe 130-140 is the cut-off. You spend a lot of time with these people, and we have made friends along the way.
Are you traveling with children? ABD makes sure to build in what they call Junior Adventure activities for kids. For example, when we were at the Colosseum in Rome, one of the guides took all the kids and did a tour separate from the adults. They learned all about this amazing piece of history, all the while acting as gladiators.
Another difference between ABD trips and other group travel is what Disney calls the Insider Access. The Insider Access includes things like an after-hours tour of the Vatican, with a private viewing inside the Sistine Chapel. How about a backstage pass to Good Morning America? Or perhaps an exclusive dinner at Edinburgh castle is more your thing. These are once in a lifetime experiences, and Disney makes it happen.
Have I mentioned how easy ABD makes traveling? Need help making airfare reservations? ABD can help. Want to arrive a couple of days early or perhaps extend your trip by a few days? ABD can arrange this as well. Once your adventure begins, there is no waiting in line to check into your hotels, and there is no carrying your luggage. Everything is taken care of for you. Sign me up!
Lastly, we chose ABD for Disney’s track record when it comes to safety. Safety is their number one priority, and I have the utmost confidence that ABD will always keep our safety in mind when traveling to these various destinations.
All of this is the Disney difference, and this is why we choose to explore the world with Adventures by Disney.
If you would like to read more about our trips with Adventures By Disney check out these posts.
This September, my husband and I are headed to Basal, Switzerland for an adventure of a lifetime. Bill turns 50 in December and I wanted to celebrate the milestone in a big way. What better way to celebrate turning a half-century old than taking an adults only food & wine river cruise down the Rhine River.
Our cruise starts in Basal, Switzerland. Bill and I are flying in a couple of days early to acclimate to the time change and to see a little of Switzerland. Our plans are still up in the air, but we are thinking of spending our first-day touring Basal on our own. I was told we must try the fondue. On our second day, I am looking into day tours of Lucerne. I hear it is quite beautiful.
The actual cruise starts on a Monday. This a river cruise on the AmaMora River Cruise ship. The AmaMora is part of the AmaWaterways company. Adventures by Disney has leased their ships out for certain sailings. Did I mention this particular cruise is adults only?
For the first couple of days, we will dock in Strasbourg, France. On day 1 in France, we will venture to Riquewihr, where we will participate in a walking & tasting tour. Riquewihr is known for its beautiful architecture and Reisling wine. It is a full day tour, and I am so excited to explore this picturesque town.
On our second day in Strasbourg, Bill and I chose Alsace Canoeing. We have never been canoeing before, so this should be interesting! In the afternoon we head back to the ship for a French Macaron Making Demonstration. Who wouldn’t want to learn how to make these little beauties?
Our next stop will be Mannheim, Germany and a full day tour of Heidelberg Castle. I recently shared an article on this tour. You can check it our here.
Day five, we find ourselves in Rudesheim, Germany. We will have a private tour of Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum, a gondola ride to Neiderwald Monument and a visit to Rüdesheimer Schloss. Rüdesheimer Schloss is a wine hotel and restaurant.
In the afternoon, Bill and I have chosen to ride bikes along the Rhine River. Now, my husband loves riding a bike. I have not ridden one since I was a kid. I plan on practicing this summer. LOL!!
Our next adventure takes us to Cologne, Germany. Here we will do a walking tour of Cologne and a chocolate museum. I really hope we get some samples. Later on we will go on a pub crawl through the city and in the afternoon have some beer, sausages and pretzels. Not a bad way to end our time in Germany.
Our last stop on this fantastic cruise is the city of Amsterdam. There is just so much I want to do and see here, that we will be staying an extra day. First up is a canal cruise through the city.
Upon finishing the canal cruise, we head over to the Van Gogh Museum where we will attend a painting workshop. Later that day we will head out to the countryside for Clog Decorating in Zaanse Schans. I can’t wait to make myself a pair of wooden clogs!
The next day we disembark the ship, but as I mentioned, Bill and I will be staying a extra day. We have decided on a city tour in the morning and Anne Frank’s House in the afternoon. We will finish the trip with a nice meal somewhere in the city. If you know of a good place, let me know!
I hope you have enjoyed this preview of our adventure to come. I plan on posting photos along the way and coming back with an in depth report of all that we see and do. I can’t wait to share more with you all. 86 days until we leave, but who is counting?
