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Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253329 05/23/20 02:38 PM
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After some back and forth with Delta, we are finally set on trip to Budapest. We are flying on the 17th arriving afternoon of 18th (75,000 DL miles each). We are in the Hilton Budapest for six nights (195,000 points).

My preference had been for just five nights but no award tickets on Sunday the 18th (and a pattern of not always having tickets on Sunday) on the KLM or AF leg from either Amsterdam or CDG, respectively. We have a lot of touring planned so will fill up our week in Budapest.

Now time to plan our time in Germany (Romantic Road? Munich? Black Forest?) so can get flights and hotels there; have a couple of weeks to decide.

Marc



Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: Marc] #253334 05/24/20 05:43 PM
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I think you will really be pleased with the Hilton Budapest. We loved it.

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253337 05/25/20 02:03 PM
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Where are you finding flight schedules?? Every time I look the dates are not there yet.

Tim, Jan, and I have reservations the 22nd-23rd and Jeff & Helen the 23rd at Hilton Garden Inn Budapest City Centre.

Post cruise we all have reservations May 1st-2nd at Kempinski Hotel, in Munich.

Question: When we disembark the ship in Vilshofen it says they will furnish us transportation to Munich. Wonder if it is just the airport or our hotel?
I did send a email to Crystal River Cruise but have not heard back from them.


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: Jim B] #253338 05/25/20 03:06 PM
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Jim, looks like you are flying on 21st; your flights should be in there today or tomorrow (around midnight EDT).

I am counting on Crystal transportation in Vilshofen too, we are going straight to airport. Anyone know time of earliest flight we should book on 1st? As mentioned earlier May Day can be a somewhat disruptive holiday.

Marc



Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253339 05/25/20 05:09 PM
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I think it is over a 2 hours bus ride to the airport. If we get off the ship let's say 9:00 am that might help you decide.


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253340 05/25/20 07:13 PM
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Pretty standard with all cruise lines that the included transfer is just to the airport. If you bought a hotel post package through the cruise line then there would be transfer to the hotel. It is a long way to the airport so just get a taxi from the airport to your hotel in Munich.

Ken was checking flights from Munich yesterday to DFW. There was an American flight at at 8.30 am TOO EARLY- so if we want to use AA we would need to spend the night in Munich. Then another flight on United via IAH at 11.30 am. We have made an 11.30 flight before from the cruise ship to Munich before. Prefer to use AA miles but may end up on United as it gets us home a day earlier.

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253341 05/26/20 01:00 AM
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Guess we are on our own getting to the ship in Budapest too?

Has anyone used I Fly International for trying to get discount Business Class tickets?


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253342 05/26/20 01:41 AM
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Transfers airport to ship on embarkation day and ship to airport on debarkation day are included. Only transfers to hotels are included if you purchase a cruise line hotel or land package. Taxis are readily available and that is what we normally do is just take a taxi.

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253344 05/26/20 04:25 PM
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Any hotel recommendations for Munich? I would guess City Ceenter is where we would want to be.


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Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253347 05/26/20 10:38 PM
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Tim, Jeff , Helen, Jan, and I are staying at
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempiski ( hotel Kempinski for short)
Maximilianstrasse 17
80539 Munich, Germany


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253349 05/27/20 12:32 AM
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I think we saw the Kempinski when we were walking around Munich a few years back. Looked great and wonderful location if I remember correctly.

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253353 05/27/20 03:15 AM
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Tim is the one that found it. Checked their web site and the place looks really neat.


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253380 06/03/20 01:48 PM
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Booked return air from Munich on 1 May - MUC - IAH - AUS on United. First time I have purchased a ticket on United since Flight Attendant strike in 1979 stranded me in Sacramento. Updated Crystal paperwork and glad to see that transfer to airport is indeed included and they recommend no flights before 10:00; our flight is at 11:40 so should be no issues.

Now that travel arrangements are all made we just need to work on our touring plan for our six days in Budapest; this is going to be a fantastic trip!



Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253382 06/03/20 05:31 PM
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Getting close to make flight arrangements. Checked today and probably by the end of the week the full month of May will be listed by the airlines.
Here in Montana our choices from Billings, are very slim. United , Delta, Alaska, & American.
Alaska would require going to Seattle which is the wrong way, and American has one flight a day going direct to Dallas which does not work.


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253393 06/07/20 10:14 PM
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Just booked our flights on United Airlines!!! clap
Really think we did well. Course now they will probably change a few time before we fly.

Wednesday 04/21/21

Leave BIL at 10:50 am to DEN arrive 12:21

Leave DEN 4:10 pm to MUC arrive 9:55 am

Leave MUC 11:30 am to BUD arrive 12:45 pm

Monday 05/03/2021

Leave MUC 11:50 am to DEN arrive 2:25 pm

Leave DEN 3:40 pm to BIL arrive 5:21 pm


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253394 06/08/20 02:14 PM
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Booked our flights on United as well. Now working on hotels, waiting for Marriott in Budapest to open availability for April, looking at Kempinski Munich and will probably book this week.

Spent most of the week rescheduling our Hawaii trip from July to Sept. Hopefully we will actually get to go.


JoAnn
Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253395 06/08/20 04:21 PM
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I slipped in quick when ticketing for May 3rd opened to grab flights from Munich to SFO, Business/First on American, using miles + $132 each. YES!
Tim


"Life is dull without a Cruise to look forward to!"
Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253396 06/08/20 10:50 PM
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United is the "airline" for this trip for sure. I hope these new seats are as good as they look.

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253397 06/10/20 07:03 PM
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What hotel are people staying at in Budapest before the Danube cruise ? We've never been there before but will be staying in Budapest for 2 nights April 22 and 23rd.


Marcie

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253398 06/10/20 09:22 PM
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We are at Hilton Budapest; not Hilton City Centre. Looks like a good location near the castle with views of the Danube. Of course, I have never been there before so took recommendations of others.

Marc



Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253399 06/11/20 12:57 AM
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Hey Marc! Love your new profile picture! Looks a little like ours!


Cindy
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"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln
Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253400 06/11/20 02:26 AM
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We are at the Hilton Garden Inn City Centre


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253408 06/12/20 12:46 PM
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We are booked at the Budapest Marriott, based on several recommendations here.


JoAnn
Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253452 06/23/20 01:48 PM
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Just FYI there will be a Crystal Prague post trip at the end of the Mahler Danube cruise. I was told details would be out soon. However I found this on the Crystal website on our cruise but this may be from 2020 and not 2021 and just an example. It took an incredible amount of time to download this but you can try.

https://www.crystalcruises.com/docs...-deb-lp200227-r-v3.pdf?sfvrsn=f685893d_4


Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253453 06/23/20 02:54 PM
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Darn it. That looks pretty interesting but already have air booked.
Course now we are worried that Lufthansa airlines may go bankrupt which is the oversea part of our United flights.


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253456 06/23/20 10:02 PM
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I did check today and the Prague post trip is not open for booking yet.

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253467 06/26/20 09:34 PM
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Looks like Lufthansa was saved by their government!!


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253506 07/15/20 01:22 PM
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Oh my. Jennifer is wanting final payment. Hard to believe the time is here for that.


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253507 07/15/20 05:48 PM
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Only required if you want the early payment savings or you can wait until the standard payment date in December.

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253508 07/16/20 03:36 PM
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We're not staying in Munich after the cruise. We're booked on a United flight leaving Munich at 11:30am to ORD, with a 1 hr 40 minute connection, then on to LAX. I hope 1 hr 40 minute isn't too tight of a connection in ORD. At least we have Global Entry.


Marcie

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253509 07/17/20 01:29 PM
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Final payment made. Fingers crossed that this actually still happens. I am tired of everything getting cancelled.

Marcie, 1 hr 40 min is very tight at ORD. Global entry will help, but you will still have to wait to reclaim your luggage in customs and recheck it. The real problem is that you are going to have to change terminals (from the international arrival) which means going through security again. If the train between terminals is working, you may make it, but everything has to be on time and go perfectly. Forget it if the train is out of service and you have to wait for a bus which has happened to us.

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: RachelG] #253510 07/17/20 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by RachelG
Final payment made. Fingers crossed that this actually still happens. I am tired of everything getting cancelled.


This is my only cruise that I am actually confident on it sailing; I guess I should say "was" confident. I sure hope it goes. Now, if someone could just convince me that Navigator will still be with Regent next May I will put on my dancing shoes.

Marc



Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253511 07/17/20 02:59 PM
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I hope you're right Marc. We too made early payment to save 2.5%.


Marcie

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253512 07/17/20 03:57 PM
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Marc,
Which cruise on the Navigator are you doing next May?

Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: RachelG] #253513 07/17/20 05:00 PM
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Originally Posted by petlover
I hope you're right Marc. We too made early payment to save 2.5%.

Originally Posted by RachelG
Final payment made. Fingers crossed that this actually still happens. I am tired of everything getting cancelled.

Marcie, 1 hr 40 min is very tight at ORD. Global entry will help, but you will still have to wait to reclaim your luggage in customs and recheck it. The real problem is that you are going to have to change terminals (from the international arrival) which means going through security again. If the train between terminals is working, you may make it, but everything has to be on time and go perfectly. Forget it if the train is out of service and you have to wait for a bus which has happened to us.


Thanks Rachel. I'd better check to make sure there's a later flight just in case.


Marcie

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: jbittle] #253514 07/17/20 05:10 PM
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Originally Posted by jbittle
Marc,
Which cruise on the Navigator are you doing next May?

Jim


Grand Arctic Adventure - NY - NY with over 30 ports we have not visited; truly a bucket list trip.



Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: Marc] #253515 07/17/20 05:58 PM
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Marc, that sounds like a great trip. Really hope it goes for you.

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253516 07/17/20 07:02 PM
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Marc, Grand Arctic is a wonderful itinerary and we'll be there as well.

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253517 07/18/20 05:11 AM
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So are you and Pat going on this river cruise with us?


Jim

Re: Roll Call for RIVER Crystal riverboat(s) 4/12/21 & 4/23/21 [Re: petlover] #253518 07/18/20 10:59 AM
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No Jim, the Grand Arctic with Marc & Arlene.

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