Cruising the Danube with Viking – Day 7

By Cruising With Honey - 22:02

Regensburg - The last day aboard Viking River Cruises

I almost didn’t get off the ship; I wanted to savour a day aboard the beautiful Viking Egil as I knew this was going to be the last day. How did this wonderful adventure, my first river cruise, zoom by so quickly?

Despite, my little inner tantrum, I decided to go ashore. Gosh, I’m so glad I headed into Regensburg! I thought I had seen it in all in Vienna, Budapest and Krems, but this medieval town was, by many accounts, the favourite port for the guests aboard.

Watch my livestream of Regensburg here

I was thrust into the sounds, smells and incredible architecture of this German town, crossing Germany’s oldest bridge, sampling sausages and beer from the oldest sausage house and marvelling at (another) cathedral, this one dedicated to St Peter.

We explored the town, peering in shops with traditions dress ( I so wanted a Drindl but they were VERY expensive), ate gelato and even saw two weddings! They say that if you see a bride in Regensburg, it was going to be a good/lucky day. And, it certainly was.

Bavaria is utterly stunning, with lush countryside and centuries-old history. And to be able to discover Regensburg – and in fact Passau and Krems – has been the biggest selling point to touring Europe aboard a Viking river cruise. I would never have visited these unique locations on a regular European vacation.

All good things, they say, never last

That night, our wonderful Captain and his team bade us farewell. There weren’t many dry eyes in the lounge as we toasted and cheered and promised to stay lifelong friends. It’s quite remarkable how close you get to the other guests, sharing so many incredible moments and creating treasured memories.

Watch the Captain's farewell here

As I exchanged details with new friends, who promised I had a home anytime I visited New Jersey, Florida, Montreal, New York, Ohio, Arizona, Budapest (and more) I squeezed my new ‘cruising family’ and shed a few tears. I’m going to miss these people.

Good bye Viking Egil, so-long super crew and adieu to the river.

The final goodbye

If the stars align, I hope to cruise along the beautiful Danube once again, and I’ll gladly add a new chapter to my Viking story.

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VIking

Cruising the Danube with Viking - Day 6

By Cruising With Honey - 20:50

Pretzels, beer and sausages galore

Welcome to Germany and the Italianate village of Passau where three rivers converge: the Inn, Ilz and the Danube.

I has a lot of writing to catch up on, but I didn’t want to miss the included shore excursion, a walking tour of this picturesque town.

Welcome to Germany

Be warned though, Passau come with a little warning; the cobblestones will give your feet a good massage!

I wolfed down yet another delicious breakfast, laced up my walking shoes and headed out.

Alley ways and colourful cobbles

Our first stop was to the edge of the Danube where our tour guide gave a fascinating account of the history and pointed out one of the oldest breweries. Passau has this timeless feel; there weren’t many people around and, in some areas, you could have truly believed time has turned back a few centuries.

Walking tour live

We walked around the town, past the town hall and through the meandering alleys. I just adore getting ‘lost’ in these alley ways, imagining what it would have been like hundreds of years ago, carrying my fresh vegetables from the markets, the streets buzzing with sounds of street vendors, animals, and musicians.

Down one of the alleyways, the cobblestones were painted in bright colourful colours. I almost felt like skipping, just like Dorothy as she ‘followed the yellow brick road’. These painted stones signalled the artists’ quarter – painters, sculptors and musicians. I stepped away from the group, wanting a moment to myself. This love of art and creativity was just one thing I adore about Europe. Peering in the open doorways and dark windows, I wondered what treasures I could discover.

Soon we were entering (another) cathedral (another) St Stephen’s. Inside, is the largest pipe organ in Europe. This beautiful instrument has 17,000 pipes and is a marvel. No filming allowed but do try to hear it for yourselves if you make it to Passau. The music gave me head-to-toe chills.

Cool waters

The cobblestones had done their job, and the deliciously cool water nearby was calling my name. Gingerly I stepped down to one of the rivers (no idea which one as there are three and I’d lost my bearings), sat on a rock and dipped my sore feet.

Being ‘grounded’ in the water, I was awash with tranquillity and a silent prayer of gratitude was offered. It had been a very busy week, my family were far away and this little pleasure restored my equilibrium.

Prost!

The dining room was closed, but there was a lot of activity going on behind the doors. We were told that there was going to be special dinner.

At precisely 7:30pm, the dining room doors swung open, and the normally elegant room was was transformed into a German beer house. It was so much fun! All the waiters were in traditional dress, and we feasted on sausages and sauerkraut and even pear schnapps. The energy was so high, and all the guests were in great cheer!

Tomorrow was going to be our last port day and last day aboard. I was feeling a little misty-eyed as I sat on the top deck, gazing at the unfamiliar Northern Hemisphere’s night sky.

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VIking

Cruising the Danube with Viking - Day 5

By Cruising With Honey - 11:40

Krems and the Wachau Valley

There are many things in this world that I have been fortunate enough to experience that have filled me with awe. But, not, in truth, have yet taken my breath away.

Today, in Krems – a picturesque countryside town in Austria - was one of those moments I’d wished that time would stand still.

As a Viking guest, the included shore excursion was an exclusive tour of Göttweig Abbey. A monastery founded a thousand years ago. ONE THOUSAND. When you think about the history and all the time that passes in those many centuries, it’s quite surreal.

The bus ride to the Abbey was as pretty as it can get. Plush green vineyards, age-old homes and churches dotted the countryside of the Wachau valley as we snaked our way up to the Abbey.

Göttweig Abbey

Göttweig Abbey is famous for its wine, especially its specialty apricot-based creations. I love apricots and the welcome drink was delicious and sweet. After watching an interesting segment on the history, it was time to go exploring.

Watch here

Entering the grounds of the cloister and church was ethereal. A sense of peace and serenity descended. I was mindful that although this is open to the public, this place was the home for men of faith, to serve and study in the Benedictine tradition.

Lost in the peaceful surrounding, nothing and I mean NOTHING could have prepared me for what was waiting inside the abbey.

Entering the building, an imposing staircases - one of the largest baroque staircases in the world - greeted me. Slowly I ascended, carefully soaking in the atmosphere.

And then I looked up.

WATCH MY LIVESTREAM HERE

I could hardly breath, I could hardly comprehend what my eyes were trying so hard to absorb.

The ceiling was a magnificent artwork, intricately and expertly painted to reflect the heavens and the earth. The colours, dazzling. The skill to create this masterpiece was astonishing. All I could do was walk around in small circles, my eyes raised, my neck craned trying to imprint this onto my core memory.

Graceful windows let in streaming beams of delicious light, reflecting off the white marble and creating a scene of brilliance. I almost expected heavenly strings to start filling the space.

Tearing myself away – I tried to linger as long as possible – the next stop was the church. Filled with art and beauty, I yearned to sit, quietly and reflect.

The most beautiful stretch of the Danube

Alas, it was time to head back on board and start the passage down, what was promised by Program Director Anthony as one of the most beautiful stretches of the Danube, through the Wachau Valley.

Castles and quaint villages adorned either side of the river. This was the closest I’ve ever felt to being in a fairytale. The lovely crew passed around glassed of crisp spritzers, honestly it was a perfect day.

Watch my video here

That evening, to tie into all that Austria had to offer, the lovely food and beverage team gave an apple strudel demonstration – and we sampled the sweet pastry.

After dinner, Hotel Director Michael gave the most hilarious talk, explaining the German language. Who said Germans weren’t funny? All the passengers were in stitches as we wished each other ‘Gute Fahrt’.

Dancing and laughing rounded off my favourite day so far on my Viking journey and, as I dozed off, I really couldn’t wait to see what else this spectacular cruise had in store for me.

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VIking

Cruising the Danube with Viking - Day 4

By Cruising With Honey - 06:16

More Vienna Please

How could one possibly have their fill of Vienna after only one day?

You see, that’s the beauty of river cruising, as I’m quickly discovering. There is no rush to get to the next port and I’m loving this pace.

While there were a number of shore excursions to choose from today; Bratislava, Farmer’s Market, Lippizzaner Stallions, Mozart and Strauss Concert – and even a swimming adventure in the Danube, today was all about taking a moment for myself and enjoying the ship.

Ship life

Every ship has a heartbeat; it’s not the engine room nor the wheelhouse, but rather it’s the pulse of the collective crew. A constant and never-stopping, ever-present, constant, soothing, reliable beat that almost goes unnoticed – until it stops.

The last few days had been a whir of energy and excitement. So, today I wanted to do my best to be still for a few hours and absorb my surroundings.

Sometimes, I wish I was invisible. To observe without being intrusive and get lost in the lives of others. This was impossible aboard this beautiful ship and its crew, but nevertheless I parked myself in a corner of the Aquavit Terrace with my trusty laptop, a lap rug and cup of tea.

Most passengers were off the ship, a delicious luxury as the Egil was almost like my private yacht. Daniel, who soon became a firm favourite crew member of mine, constantly checked in on me during the moments I paused and looked up, allowing my fingers to stop and take a break from keyboard-dancing.

“Anything else, my lady?” his warm eyes would scan me, hoping to fulfil any request. He had knack for being attentive while unobtrusive.

For four hours I sat, watching food cleared, tables set, floors cleaned, stock replenished. It was all done in such quiet efficiency.

I decided to stretch my legs and headed to my cabin to freshen up. As I descended the stairs, a cargo-conga line was snaking its way from dock outside, through reception and down the hallways. Boxes of alcohol, drinks, food, supplies and everything else a ship needs were being passed along, hand-to-hand.

Seeing my approach, one crew member called “Stop” and, in unison, all crew immediately stopped passing stock and took one step back, creating a passage for me to pass.

Guilt washed over me as my presence has put a kink in this well-oiled assembly line. Apologetically I whisked past, the faces of the crew smiling and friendly. The camaraderie was palpable.

These few hours aboard gave me an insight into the workings of Viking River Cruises and the emphasis on ultimate passenger service. I couldn’t help but liken Egil to a Swan – so cool and calm above, but paddling intensely under the surface.

A foodie’s paradise

Did I really need an excuse to explore the food and coffee and scene in Vienna?

With many hours of daylight remaining, I stepped off the Egil to explore Vienna on foot. Today’s mission was to shop for unique treats to take home, have a real Viennese coffee and get lost in the city.

The metro was so easy to navigate – a day pass was 8 euro - and I headed back to the city centre. There I marvelled at St Stephen’s once more and walked down streets with no real sense of direction,

Down these streets I discovered lolly shops, boutiques, perfume houses, coffee shops.

Covered in numerous designer perfumes and with my arms laden with bags of sweets and cheese, I sat down for a coffee. Yes, it came out on a silver tray, a glass of water and sugar, and yes it was delicious.

And then on to the markets

I headed back on the metro, or U-Bahn with a mission to find the Naschmarkt. After getting off at the wrong station – the names of each station were SO long – I finally arrived at the correct stop, Kettenbrükengasse, right across the entrance to the markets.

The sights, sounds, smells all had me enthralled. At first, there were clothes, sunglasses and similar stalls, but as I travelled deeper, the most glorious fresh fruit, bakery treats, deli items, spices and more.

Stall holders enticed me with olives and Turkish delight, all eager for me to try their produce. A pile of fresh figs caught my eyes, and greedily I devoured the sweet delicacy.

Yet further in, eateries now filled the alley ways. Bistros and cafes bustling with chic Europeans, drinking wine and engaged in lively conversation.

At this moment, I wished I could join these impossibly beautiful people and be immersed in their very cool world.

Goulash snack

Back aboard, the most magical sunset awaited. The moon was nearly full, its beauty unrivalled.

And then, yup, you guessed it, more food! The very talented chef Esteban made a huge pot of Goulash for us all to have a late-night snack on the Aquavit. Warm, creamy, spicy, it was like a blanket enveloping. Who needs warm milk to sleep when you have goulash?

Adieu Vienna, next stop Krems.

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VIking

Cruising the Danube with Viking - Day 3

By Cruising With Honey - 11:45

Welcome to the city of music – Vienna!

I really didn’t know much about Vienna prior to embarking on this Viking cruise. Last night, Program Director Anthony gave us an insight into the cafe culture of this city and a few tips on how to order in the true Viennese style.

After a few very hot days, the morning was cool, and a few clouds hung ominously overhead. However, this wasn’t a bad thing at all! The beautiful Danube was thirsty for replenishment.

Today was going to be a jam-packed day of sightseeing in what I was promised is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Jewels of Vienna

The beauty of being on a Viking tour is that you get to see so much, and the commentary is excellent. I could never have navigated this city on my own. As with all Viking River cruise itineraries, there is an included excursion in every port. This morning’s one was the perfect way to a get a wonderful look at the city’s best sights.

Alas, I brought the weather with me as we headed out on the Panoramic Vienna included shore tour. The rain wasn’t going to dampen our spirits, and in fact, if it was possible, the rain made the city look even more beautiful, more romantic.

To say the architecture is magnificent is almost an understatement. I ran out of superlatives to describe the beauty of the buildings in the Vienna ring.

Some of the buildings include the Imperial Palace, Lipizzaner Stables and of course the city centre. Watch my video here

Now, only a few months ago I was lucky enough to see Familia Sagrada in Barcelona and was sure this was the most incredible church I’d seen. But today seeing St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna was just as breathtaking.

I explored inside and hardly knew where to look. I hope you all have the opportunity to see this marvel one day for yourselves.

Watch my first look at St Stephen’s here

Palace life

River cruising is synonymous with seeing palaces, so I was NOT going to pass an opportunity to get up close and personal with the magnificent home of the Hapsburg Dynasty. One thing you will soon realise is just how much Empress Sisi is adored! If you don’t know much about the Empress, please look her up.

The tour of Schönbrunn Palace was an optional excursion, but well worth the money. This palace has everything you can imagine a palace would have – multiplied by about 100. It was built to rival Versailles – and while I’ve never been to France (it’s number 1 on my bucket list) – Schönbrunn’s art, furniture, architecture and gardens were magnificent.

Alas, no photos are allowed inside, so you’ll just have to visit yourselves.

View my video outside Schonbrunn Palace

As I strolled through the rose-scented gardens, I imagined myself a courtier, dressed in a resplendent gown, hoping to snare a few moments with the beautiful Queen Sisi. Sigh, if only there was a time machine.

Dinner awaits

Now, there was a third tour guests could book, this was to a Heurigan Dinner – a traditional Austrian feast that celebrates the year's wine at a local vineyard. But, I decided that two tours in one day was enough and besides, I wanted to be back ‘home’ aboard.

Every meal seems to surpass the last, and tonight I inhaled one of the most delicious carrot cakes I’ve ever tasted.

As per every night, a few cocktails were consumed and wonderful conversations with new friends filled the evening. And, very satisfied, I fell asleep dreaming of waltzes and princesses.

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Cruising the Danube with Viking – Day 7

Regensburg - The last day aboard Viking River Cruises

All good things, they say, never last

Cruising the Danube with Viking - Day 6