THE ANALYSIS

Tomorrow is Bruge, but in the meantime, the questions.

Will I river cruise again? You bet. Will it be on Tauck? Yes. Double yes, with one exception. I will not rely on the internet to check on my folks, but will bring a prepaid phone. The internet is untrustworthy, and I don’t think it matters on which line one travels. It is the nature of the rivers and locks.

Tauck went over and above in every aspect. You already know about my work, and how the staff brought dinner to my room. They did it again last night when I was sick. The booklet says inconsistently that there is no room service and that there is a charge, but I received such service, gratis. Just a bit ago, I told the desk person I would be happy to pay for the room service. She shooed me away, saying “We are 5 star. We do what makes you happy.”

Again with one exception, the tours were well organized, useful, informative, and fun—not too long, and not too short. The exception was the kerfluffle day, which was redeemed and redeemed again. A guide like Peter is an unheralded asset to this company. A gem. A knowledgable, funny, slightly sicko gem.

The rooms, although small, are lovely. I peeked into the higher level rooms on the third floor, and they are spacious, with a couch and room to walk around. There are only French balconies, but they give the room an expanding lightness, even in the rain.

Meals are usually open seating in the dinning room, during the two-hour meal window. Food was good, although I am not a gourmand. Breakfast and lunch are buffets, with an available entrée.

We ate one evening in the game room, which is a reservation-only 20-seater. It was great, even with a long gap between the soup and entrée.

Wines, beers are included in lunch and dinner, with the rest on your tab. It worked fine, since the staff knew everyone’s names and the process was so simple.

Not much nightlife, although there is supposed to be a classical music concert tonight. Most nights the place cleared out around 10 or so, but this was a port-intensive trip.

The age-group is mostly 60s-late 80s. Gracious people. One great lady, Carol, had a face that was a cross between Tyne Daly and Francis McDormand. So I called her Tyne-Francis, which made her mouth laugh like Tyne and her eyes bug wide like Francis. I hope I have made a permanent friend with Adrienne, a smart and engaging widow from California. And Andrea. Well, you know Andrea. I just love her. Love her.

I still love Steve, the cruise director. I love him more and more, as the bags under his eyes grow and ripple, what with the internet/locks problems. I fear I’m too old for him, and dining director Gabriel. Good thing re Gabriel, since the more I saw him, with that blond hair and those blue eyes, the more I got nervous as we travelled through the WW II areas. I told him this and he laughed, a little nervously, but he laughed nonetheless.

There was one group of six, traveling together, which apparently forgot others were on the trip, and even in front of them in line. Since they weren’t going to socialize with us peons anyway, the group was a hindrance more than anything. And every boat has them We were lucky to have only one. I don’t think they realized how they were acting or its import. I think they were just used to being “the ones.”

So, you should go on a river cruise and go with Tauck. The end. Except for Bruges.