It is 1:30pm and we are already sitting in our wonderful cabin on the Amacello!

After a last minute decision to join our fellow PARISites in Paris yesterday, we had an early train to Trier. A quick lunch in town, a short cab to the ship, and only fifteen minutes until our cabin was ready.

The rest of the PARISites will be arriving by bus in a few hours. They are all on a tour of Luxembourg today.

Boat looks wonderful so far. Cabin is big enough and Arlene already has everything put away.

More later...

Sounds great Marc, wish we were there.

Have you enough room for your suitcases? Trust me to ask an intelligent question. Lee

Bert and I wish we were there with you. Get ready for fun with a great LCT group. Have a JWB for me--

Long bus ride from Paris but we are all here.
Arlene and Marc were waiting for us,(drink in hand),as we entered the ship. She was ships photographer as we walked the plank.
Cabins are good. Yes you can store luggage under the bed.
More later.

Al and I loved meeting all of you. Have a wonderful time on your cruise!

Kathy

Happily posting on the aft lounge of the Amacello. Dinner last night was good, mushrooms in a puff pastry, white asparagas soup, sliced tenderlion with a couple of shrimp followed by a chocolate pudding/cake thing. Very generous with the wine, nice big glasses that they fill as often as you wish and also right before you leave the table. The troops are happy.

We all piled into the AFT lounge last night after dinner, and stayed up way too late and I drank too much wine (more than my normal 2 glass maximum). Lots of laughing and fun I think we are the type of group that likes to be on a BOAT or SHIP of any kind. Makes us all happy.

So we could not drag ourselves out of bed this morning. Shame on us, we missed the tour of Trier that everyone really seemed to enjoy.

This afternoon we were at Brenkastle (may have that spelt incorrectly) which was picture postcard perfect. It would be beautiful at anytime of the year with the half timbered leaning houses but the Christmas decorations made it extra special.

Tonight we have the welcome aboard dinner looking forward to that.

Ken may "try" to post pictures but this is not easy the internet is slow.

Hello from Bernkastel, Germany. What a charming and quaint town...reminds me of Brugge, Belgium. The town is so nice and sure decked out for Christmas. It has great midevil architecture.

We stayed up last night having a good time in the Aft lounge...or as Ngaire has named it, LCT lounge. I like this riverboating a lot, a nice change from Regent cruising and as always...it's all about the fun people we're with. The food has been excellent too. Internet is hit and miss (typing this from our cabin). Of course we had a wonderful time in Paris too..love that city! Weather is great for this time of year, nice and crisp which helps put you in the Christmas spirit. Ken will likely get some pictures posted.

Sounds like a wonderful first day of the river cruise. Having been on the Amacello a couple of years ago, I can picture everything you describe -- except that on our cruise the aft lounge was almost always empty. Not so with an LCT group on board!

More Photos From The PARIS Cruise:


Luxembourg.


National Cemetary In Luxembourg For US Soldier That Died In The Line Of Duty In WWII.


General Patton Wanted To Be Buried With His Men.


Cruising Down The Mosel River.




Pat At The Christmas Market In Bernkastle, Germany.

Our Waiter Did Not Think Joanna Had Enough To Eat.

Great pictures, Ken! This looks like a picture PERFECT cruise, the scenery it to die for!

OMG Ken what wonderful photos and we are so envious of you'all.

OK thats it, 2011, we are doing a river cruise, don't know what, where or when, but we are doing one.

What wonderful pics...we need to fit a river cruise in real soon, too!

The picture of Joanna has made my day!!

Oh wow! The pictures are just stunning.
I *so* want to have that experience.
Please keep the pics and posts coming so that the rest of us can live vicariously.
I hope you all continue to enjoy your trip together. Looks like much fun.

p.s. Santa is a decoration right? At first I thought he was strung up in effigy...

Love hearing from you guys! Keep it up! :app: :app:

What beautiful pics!

Pictures are great! Joanna, I'm glad you're receiving proper service <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />

Cheers, Anne

beautiful, makes me want to go. Is there music and dancing on there?

Wonderful photos. I've always wanted to visit the Christmas markets. And I've always wanted to take a European river cruise. Looks like a good combination to me.

Dining time--is there a mad-dash table scramble??

We cruise often, and so enjoy the open seating dining hours on Regent and Silversea. We like to eat rather late, and usually enjoy the private time of a table for two.

The prospect of large table/single seating dining is less attractive to us and has made us reluctant to try river cruising.

What's the situation on the Amacello?

Thanks!

On river cruises including AMA (Amacello / Amalyra) it is open seating but most people eat "right away" at approximately the same time so it becomes more single seating. However, you are not assigned a table and there are smaller tables (very few 2 seats - but plenty of 4 seats).

hi hi on N's computer....great trip with wonderful folks we have had the best time..2 more nights and we'll miss this group and fairy tale towns - Joanna

More Photos From The AMA PARIS River Cruise:


The Castle In Cochem.


Heidelberg Bridge.


The Group at Heidelberg Castle.


Christmas Market At Heilelberg.


Any Sausage You Wish.


More Christmas Market In Heidelberg.


Koblitz, Germany.

Hi all,

Am using Ngaire's computer... 1st time I have been on the computer the entire trip! We are having a great time, the rest of the LCTers are terrific. The Christmas Markets have been OK until now but the one in Cologne tonight was the best.... but of course it rained the entire time. Oh well... still found things to buy. The ship is fine, the itenerary is fantatsic. We are all having a great time and playing lots of pooch! Wish you were all here with us....

The Cathedral At Cologne - Night.


Christmas Market Cologne.


Toy Train Shop At The Cologne Christmas Market.

I AM ADDING A FEW PHOTOS BELOW - THE NEXT MORNING IN COLOGNE:


The Cathedral In The Morning - 12/11/09.


Before The Christmas Market Opens In The Morning.


We Caught A Wedding At A Nearby Church - Notice The Release Of The Ballons And The People Watching Them - And Everyone Is Smiling Except The Groom.


The Getaway Car.

hi all,Its me Cindy..... (and David) like Arlene, i'm using Ngaires computer, and cannot remember my password! We are having a great time. Haven't spent much but am hoping for a GREAT christmas market tomorrow. We have our own LCT Aft lounge! Good news? no one else dares come in here....bad news there is no bar service or music. We call them and they bring us drinks, but better yet, we all bring in bottles we have purchased and share them.....it's great. many of us right now, enjoying some amarula!!!! Thanks Marcie and Tom!! Many good times.......the cruise is good, food is good. we love the Christmas markets, wish he had a little less rain!

Hi and bye! I'm afraid I'll loose this again. Great trip....some how or another, decoraing palm trees in So. Ca just won't cut it anymore. LOL. The Christmas markets and all the decorations (add the weather) just makes it fantstic and sure puts you IN THE CHRISTMAS MOOD. Wish you all were here with us!

Loving Ken's pictures and all the reports. The Christmas Market at night reminds me of a movie I used to show to my students of a German girl celebrating Christmas. It used to really put me in the Christmas spirit. Glad you all are having fun.

Oh my, the cathedral in Cologne - beautiful, just beautiful. Great photos!

Ken, your pictures are breathtaking! Thank you!

ONE word, Ken...AWESOME!!!! Loving the photos and reports! Such a magical trip for all of you!
Thanks Marcie, I wish we were there!!!!!

Ken as always your pictures are truly amazing. Makes me feel like I am right there.

Thanks everyone for sharing this wonderful trip with us at home - as I said before, we are definitely doing a River cruise in 2011. Sure wish we could have been there with you'all.

Great photos of the Christmas markets (and the cathedrals and castles)...is anyone collecting the cups that the gluhwein is served in?

Dena

Having a wonderful time, but to busy to post pictures. LOL
Truly has been a very wonderful cruise.

Hi Dena, Here Are A Couple Of The Gluhwein Cups:


Gluhwein Cups From The Cologne Christmas Market.

Loving the reports and photos. The Christmas markets would be just my thing, even in the rain. So glad ya'll are having a good time.

Great photos. You all look wonderful! Love the Heidelberg Castle pic...the water looks like gold. What did you guys buy???? I have to live vicariously.

Are they really building what look like condos right next to the beautiful Heidelberg Castle? I thought only in America we'd do such things. It's a real shame that such a beautiful view from the river wasn't somehow protected.

PHOTOS FROM DUSSELDORF & AMSTERDAM:


Bakery in Dusseldorf.


Dusseldorf Christmas Market.


Santa Came To The Amacello Last Night.


Wooden Draw Bridge In Amsterdam.


Amsterdam Windmill.




Four On A Bike.