A DOZEN CITIES IN 2 WEEKS ON A FLOATING BOUTIQUE RESORT
If you have a short attention span, don’t like being around hundreds of people every day but you want to see as much of the world as you can–river cruises may be your answer.
We took a 14-day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest on Avalon Tours. Here are some random thoughts:
*It was fascinating to dock in a city, walk around, get back on-board, shower and walk 50 yards to a gourmet dinner—as the ship pulls away and heads toward the next port. Each morning we’d open the curtains and see a different city in front of us. Surreal.
*You do have options each day: You could get a guided tour of a city and/or a museum—or go hiking or biking with an ‘adventure guide.’ We usually did one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
*The accommodations, food and service were a 5-star experience. The staff got to know our dining habits. “Mr. Collins, are you ready for your decaf coffee?” Decadent.
*You could go downstairs to the formal dining room for a 4-course meal—or stay up top in the lounge and have a light ‘bistro’ dinner instead.
*We requested room-service each morning before heading out to a 30-minute yoga class. By the time we got back, the trays were removed, our room had been cleaned and the bed was made. All included.
Now some “other” observations:
*Rather than spend $2,500 on travel insurance, consider arriving to your cruise a day early and check into a hotel. Our American Airlines flight had mechanical issues and got us to the port 24-hours late. Allianz Global Insurance awarded us a grand total of $200.
*I learned an electric toothbrush will last without a power source for at least two weeks.
*With only 118 passengers, the dining room can begin to feel like a high school cafeteria with cliques, “popular kids” and loners. Half the group came on the cruise with friends.
*There is laundry service for about $5 per piece of clothing. When you’re on an extended cruise, you become proficient at deciding what needs washing and what can be recycled.
*It’s depressing—and telling–how few American cars you see in Europe. You see a lot more European cars in America.
*Watching the news in Europe was refreshing: It was actual substance (versus who was offended that day) and there was no “Keeping up with the Kardashians” mentality.
*One store clerk from Germany said she hadn’t been to the U.S. because she heard there were too many “hurry-canes,” shootings and homeless people. I told her there weren’t many hurricanes.
Ray Collins is a Sarasota-based Realtor, elected official and media consultant. He has more than a hundred articles published from around the world. www.raycollinsmedia.com/articles
