Since I have that beautiful teapot for naming this cruise, I thought it fitting to also start the official Roll Call, since there doesn't seem to be one. Chime in as you sign up!


Ngaire and Ken
Betty and Al
Gail and Eugene
Suzanne and Mark
Carolyn and Don
Sheila and Ken
Michele and Don

My understanding is that Sheila and Ken (from Australia) are also on.

----------

Eugene

We enjoyed PARIS so much we just booked CASTLE. We will be in room 323. Has anyone else joined the group since this was posted 2/25/09. That was a long time ago.

Carolyn

By the way, we're in 306.

------------

Eugene (and Gail)

So pleased to hear you enjoyed PARIS so much you are joining CASTLE. It will be great to meet up again and with Eugene and Gail. I can't remember which cabin we're in and as we are at my daughter's for Christmas I can't look in the file.

What a nice, growing group~ I have added all the newcomers

I have a family vacation planned at that time on the Outer Banks, too bad we can't be two places at the same time. You all will have a great time.

There are now 34 on Castles. Will be a fun group of people. Only two cabins that are not on Violin deck it will be OUR hall and we sure will fill up the aft lounge. Quite a few pooch players, competition will be fierce. Although on Paris we were so busy it was hard to find the time. This cruise with the nicer weather may be even busier.

Sounds like a nice sized group. I guess many are non-LCT posters since only 12 are accounted for above. We're also very pleased to hear that Sheila and Ken are, indeed, planning on being on board. We haven't seen them since CAMEL.

-------------

Eugene

I have heard a rumor that another couple from CAMEL have also booked, but I guess we should wait until she chimes in...

Thank you, BIRTHDAY GIRL, for bringing this topic back up so that, ahem, those of us who can't "keep up" can have a chance to "keep up"! I guess that Don and I are the ones "missing" :) We are happy to say that we'll be joining this fine group and that we're in Cabin #322. (love the new photo :cool: )

Thought those of you on upcoming AMA cruises may like this news.

AMA Waterways Installs Complimentary Infotainment System
Published on: March 3, 2010

AMA Waterways is installing a new complimentary information and entertainment experience on its ships on the Danube, Rhine, Main and Mosel rivers in Europe. The new infotainment system includes enhanced Internet connectivity via newly installed 3G high-speed service. The new system will result in fewer interruptions due to location, bridges and weather. Internet service is available via 3G signal, and will include convenient Wi-Fi access throughout the ship. The system will feature a complimentary video-on-demand system featuring movies from Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount and Sony in staterooms. A regularly changing selection of classic films will also be available as will television travel programs from Rick Steves and Samantha Brown, chosen to coincide with the cruise itinerary. The new system will offer more broadcast television options, special interest channels, and music in different styles and genres.


In addition, the TV screen can be turned into a computer screen using a remote control, allowing passengers to surf the Internet via Microsoft Internet Explorer, send emails, post blogs, and create documents using word processing or spreadsheet programs. Passengers also will be able to view their bills through the system. Guests will be able to print boarding passes on a dedicated guest laser printer in the Aft Lounge. Also, a broadcasted Google map will trace the route of the ship. However, the company said not all features are currently available on every ship. “Today’s travelers expect a full array of Internet and entertainment options and do not want to pay extra for them,” said AMA Waterways President Rudi Schreiner. For more information, call 800-626-0126 or visit www.amawaterways.com.

Sounds great. Will they have "24" (inside joke)? Speaking of which, I caught up with all of this season's episodes after I returned from LLAMA.

---------------

Eugene

I am about to finish season one. Yes it takes me a LONG time to catch up with what is going on in the world, I just discovered 24 on the Voyager during LLAMA. I loved it and did not even know that the program existed. I really am 'out of the loop" when it comes to this type of leisure activity.

So now Seasons two to eight to view. That is only about 150 hours of television viewing. Not sure how long that will take me but eventually I will get there.

WE tape 24 so when we get home it is there for our enjoyment....can't watch too many at a time...too intense...

Do we know what our CASTLE pins are going to look like?? I can't wait to see them. About two and a half months to go before we leave. We are going a few days early to visit my cousin in Zurich.

Working on Arctic right now. We have a plan for Castle but it is not done yet.

Our "preliminary" pin very colorful but not ready for viewing yet we need to work on it some more.

Only one CASTLE not plural.

---------------

Eugene

Okay Eugene, fixed. I promise to be better. However, the pin design has more than one castle and I really like it so I am going to take creative license with the pin.

I was wondering if that was why you mentioned "Castles ." I knew that I liked SPIRES better ;) ; you would have been fine with your multiple towers.

Now if you could only spell my name correctly :) .

------------

Eugene

This pin is pretty darn cute!!

That's my b'day on that darling pin. Now why didn't I sign up for this cruise. It even goes to my family's country of origin. Oh yes, because I am spending a fortune for 10 day pre-cruise, DINGO and beyond to SFO. Has anyone found that money tree yet? Kristin, weren't you looking? ;) I'm convinced it's not in Houston.

Love it!!!

Betty, my dear, I am ALWAYS searching for that money tree! Where oh where is it????

We just received our documents for CASTLE! It's just around the corner, and we're really looking forward to a different experience on a river cruise, visiting countries to which we've never been.

There was a nice booklet included in the documents describing various optional excursions. There is often more than one excursion per city with descriptions of length, difficulty, etc. How does this work? Are these excursions included in the cruise fare, and you just decide which (if any) you want to do once you're on board? There are no prices in the booklet nor any mention of costs. There is also no mention of reserving anything in advance.

There was also a separate booklet on Prague.

Obviously, we're newbies to this type of river cruise, so we'd appreciate some guidance.

--------------

Eugene

It is all very simple.

You sign out on a board that you are leaving the ship first. When you come back of course you sign in again.

Then in every port they will have offered excursions. If there is more than one option the timing will be slightly different so that you go down for the selected excursion at the appropriate time.

You just pick up a color coded "voice box" so you can hear the guide who will be guiding in a frequency to match the color, look for that color sign with the guides standing on the dock and off you go. No sign up necessary.

We will be sure that we are assigned a particular color so if we wish we can all go together. If you meet others and want to join them just select the same color. It is not highly monitored. When they run out of the voice boxes of a particular color then you have to pick another color.

You can also just do your own thing.

If you start with a guide and want to wander off you just need to let the guide know you are leaving so she knows her new number count of guests.

Any "optional" excursions will be advised when you board and these have some cost attached. You want to go you just sign up and the cost is added to your bill. Most are in the $50 - $80 range and require a trip further afield. There are usually only one or two of these offered.

This is a very simple process and will all become clear very quickly once you board.

Sorry still a little confused. I studied this more, and I guess what I'm concluding from Ngaire's posts is that even though there are more than two Optional excursions--I think 6 counting a folklore dinner, if it doesn't say "Optional" it is included--even if there are two in one day that don't conflict (e.g., Day 8). In at least one case (Day 7) there are 3 tours to choose from, but I guess they whichever one chooses, it is included because none says "Optional."

It just seems very strange that AMA doesn't describe the process at all and doesn't give any cost information on the Optional excursions.

How can we planners plan? :)

--------------------

Eugene

We received our Documents too. So we are doing the Doc Dance this morning.

OOPs, Sorry!

I thought I'd done this long ago. Please remove us from the roll call for CASTLE. Al and I switched to the same itinerary on the 9/20 trip so that we could connect easily to TUT.

It certainly would have been more fun with the whole group. However this way we'll have a more sedate trip, and not be too tired (hungover?) for TUT.

Betty

We fly out tomorrow, I sure hope Earl does not mess up our flights.
We will see everyone at the hotel the night of the 7th. We will check in at the bar. Safe travels.

Don and Carolyn and everyone else, have a great time!

:bv: to the CASTLE crowd!! Safe journeys, everyone.

Bon Voyage, CASTLEites! Unfortunately, Don & I have to cruise along with you from our armchairs... :( but, your "river mail" will be greatly anticipated!

We really enjoyed this cruise. River cruising is very different from Ocean cruising but a nice change of pace. We enjoy seeing all the small town we would never see except for a river cruise. I see another one in our future maybe the Russian cruise in 2012.

Carolyn and Don

Here are some Budapest photos, beginning with a couple from the evening cruise the last night we were on the ship,
The previous Royal (Buda) Palace now a collection of galleries and museums:




The Parliament at night:



The Parliament during the day:



Inside the Parliament:



Detail of the ceiling:



The lower chamber now used for other events:



The dome:


-------------------

Eugene

And a few more. I didn't realize that there was a limit on a single post. Today, we nt to the Great Synagogue and the Opera House and back to the cafe we liked for lunch. I will try and post again but I'm not sure whether I'll have time as we are expecting a nice day tomorrow and will probably do the hop on/hop off bus most of the day. I also plan on posting my thoughts about the river cruise in general.
St. Stephen's:



Inside:



The dome (look familiar):



Part of the railway station:




-----------------

Eugene