Quick post -- life is good on the SANTA river cruise. Our flight was uneventful but others had some issues. We all got on board and the first night it snowed A LOT. Very cold the next day with snow and wind. Ken and I elected to stay on board and get organized we arrived right before dinner and so went to bed without unpacking. Everyone loved their tours today despite the weather. Across from our ship last night was a bowling alley. Jack talked Ken and I and his wife Sue into bowling after dinner. I have not bowled for 43 years we had SUCH a good time I ended with a strike and was very proud of myself. I think we had more fun than those that went to Red Light district.

Food has been better than our last two trips and things are working well. The ship looks great and this is one of the older AMA ships. The food really has improved since our last trip. Enjoyed the meals so far - nice crew all very happy and doing a good job.

Tomorrow we hit the first real Christmas market and there is supposed to be some sun and we are all looking forward to SNOW in the SUN.

Been busy since boarding be back later.

Lol about the bowling. I haven't bowled in probably 35 years. Can't imagine how terrible I would be.
Glad the food is good. I know you will all have agreat time.

I love that bowling story! It's been since 1971 that I bowled.

Ngaire, so glad to hear that AMA food has improved on this Market cruise. While it was average in I think, 2009 or 2010, it's nice to hear things are better now. Does everyone still line up early when you need tables together?

THis ship is pretty full 123 people but not had that rush to the dining room. I warned every body but it has been quite civil not sure why the difference. I also told people to go to the back as no one heads that way and we do not have to rush at all. We were a little late last night and we had no problem getting a table for 6.. I am not trying to sit everyone in a certain area I think that has helped too.

Today sunshine, blue skys we are off to a Christmas market looks wonderful outside with the glistening snow.

LOL about the bowling We LCT'ers just go with the flow don't we? I doubt my knees could take it anymore!

Please send lots of river mail. Did Ken bring his cameral so we can have pictures?

How fun to go bowling....that's one way to stay warm and have a great time together.

Unfortunately AMA blocks the site where I post my pictures. So loaded them on our smug account posted the link.

A Few Photos from SANTA:

http://ngaire.smugmug.com/Escorted-Trips/SANTA/27006289_ngXXDb

Please click on link. Thanks

Ken

Very nice photos. Hope you are all staying warm.

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Eugene

Beautiful pictures and so festive!

You hit it Karen, it looks so festive and brings back fun memories!

We just "did NYC" two weekends in a row. We now have XMAS markets like the European ones here in NYC. They even sell the gluewein. While there are lots of them throughout the city now and they are very nice, it doesn't match the magic somehow of the ones in Europe. I really love the way the French decorate the towns and the Germans know how to have fun during the holidays...they sure know how to crank up the festive flavor! It makes me really homesick looking at those photos.

Andi, where in the City are the Christmas markets? I am in staying at a hotel in midtown for Christmas this year due to the damage to my family's homes on Long Island from Sandy . I know there are those booths set up in Bryant Park but is there a true Christmas market somewhere? Sounds like a great way to spend Christmas Eve
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Helen

Columbus Circle, Grand Central, Bryant Park and some in Brooklyn. There is a site with XMAS markets if you look them up. I'm sorry to hear about the damage to your family's home.

Thanks, Andi. Damage is now mostly inconvenience so could have been so much worse that we are thankful for just that.
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Helen

I really enjoyed your pictures, Ken!

Helen, so sorry to hear about your damage. Hope things improve quickly. Are you still on the Churchill to Greenland (I can't spell the name of the port) cruise with us in August?

Very happy to report that yes we are still going to Churchill, Rachel! Also booked on the Japan to Guam!
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Helen

We will see you on both!

Have we been BUSY. As you know many will take any spare time to play cards and there has been almost zero card playing since the first couple of days. So no time to post either.

Yesterday we took a bus from the end of a lake cruise from Lucerne to Zurich and we had a really snazzy bus. Belonged to a sports team. In the back was a card table and seating for four. So Mark, (of Mark and Cheron) Tim and Penny and I all played hearts. Mark and I had not played Tim and Penny before and they are good players. The last game it was only a few points between us all. One more hand was going to be the deciding factor and it was anyone's game. Of course I chose this time to bomb to everyone else's delight.

However back to more important issues.

THe Christmas markets have been great and I really enjoyed the spiced hot wine more than my other trips Once we reached the last few stops the snow was so incredibly beautiful. All the trees looked like they were made of intricate lace. The snow has definitely enhanced the entire experience it is a like a Christmas postcard all the time. Tiny houses with snow topped roofs, children throwing snowballs. Just delightful.

Each stop offered some different options and we all did different things. When only one option was available we all went together. I do not have all the ports and names with me now but each stop was very enjoyable. The guides and walking tours have been good and only one hour long in most cases with some free time. The only issue is if we came to a town by bus they often gave us way too long for the free time and it was so cold we were all just searching for a warm place to wait. When you can walk back to the ship that problem is negated.

We woke up on the last morning and found we were back where we started from. We could not get through a lock to Basel and had turned around and gone back to our starting point. The upside of this was the bus trip from the boat to Basel was spectacularly beautiful and only just over an hour. For the land program we had our own bus and guide and that worked really well. I had intended to try to make the free time shorter for our bus after the first day as our time in Basel was way too long and it was very cold. We all ended up in the Starbucks just to keep warm. However from that point on there were no walking tours returning to the bus we could all just walk back to our hotel so that was perfect.

Lucerne was incredibly beautiful. A stunning town and I want to go back in the summer at some point. We stayed at a wonderful classic old hotel right on the lake with a great walking street right behind the hotel with christmas decorations and tons of shops and restaurants. The hotel had big rooms and it was a really nice experience. We found out for $20 you can buy a phone here and the calls to the US are only 3 cents a minute. Local calls were 35 cents. The phone is good for one year and you pay as you go. Not sure if the value is like this in other European countries but if anyone was spending time in Switzerland that would be well worth while.

From Lucerne we went on a very nice one hour lake cruise on our journey to Zurich.. So much money here and beautiful homes that are in the millions of dollars. Bud surprised Mark with a birthday cake onboard (more like a donut with cream filling) and I had two pieces to go with my spiced wine. I was a happy camper. We had a bathroom stop at the end of the lake and as usual the womens line was long so after the last man left we took over the mens restroom to speed things up. I was first in that mens room leading the charge and that last man did NOT lower the seat for the ladies!

We arrived about 5.30 pm and Zurich greeted us with the first rain of our trip. We did not bring any food for the boat and bus ride as many others did so Ken and I were hungry and immediately left the hotel and went in search of an good but inexpensive meal. Of course an impossible task. Food is expensive and meat particularly high and you know that I am a carnivore. Lots of italian food places with pasta and $25 pizzas. Ken ended up with Lasagna at $25 that was small but really HEAVY on the meat he was happy. I had a non meat pizza for $25 but it was really good. Back to the hotel and chilled out and went to bed early.

Ken has just left on the walking tour and I am staying in to catch up on emails and to finally do a post. I have walked Zurich about three times before. I will go out later to see the huge Christmas tree that is supposed to be an amazing sight in the train station this is very close to the hotel.

Today is Mark's real birthday so we are going out with him tonight to the restaurant of his choice to celebrate. Looking forward to that - think tonight I will not look at pricing and get a big HUNK OF BEEF my body is in withdrawal. On the farewell night on the ship they had a tenderlion and it was truly fantastic.

In fact the food on the AMA ship has vastly improved. Those that have sailed before really noticed the difference and those that were first timers just commented how good the food was. It is sitll not up to the luxury ocean cruise lines but certainly fine.

There were some unique things that happened along the way but I like to leave this type of thing for people to post themselves if they chose to do so and respect people's privacy. All in all a great trip, with nice people and some meeting for the first time. I think that is the joy of this job is people we know will like each other finally meeting. Always makes Ken and I delighted to see that happen.

Okay back to emails.

Great to hear what a nice trip this has been for you. Next time you go back to Switzerland....count us in !
It is one of our favorite places to visit. We've been getting withdrawals since we haven't been there since 2007.

Happy Belated Birthday Mark ! Enjoy your side of beef Ngaire.

Glad to finally hear from you. You all were MIA all too long.