European River Cruises

River Cruises in Europe are very flexible and there are many wonderful places to tour and visit! European River Cruises are among the most widely chosen types of river cruises in the world because of its history and beautiful architecture and scenery. If you go on a European River Cruise expect to see sites such as France , Switzerland , and Germany . One of the most popular port stops is Vienna, where you may want to stop by yourself to see the acclaimed Opera House. Not only is there Eastern European River Cruise, but a Western Cruise as well. There are many stops and places to sightsee. A Europe River Cruise is best sailed during the summer season, though be prepared to experience rainy weather!

European Cruise Review

We are just settling back into reality after our 13 day cruise to Western Europe aboard Celebrity's flagship, the Constellation. It was our second trip on the Constellation, having visited the Norwegian fjords last summer. We chose this itinerary in March, in the days before the War in Iraq when attractive pricing included airfare and an affordable balcony cabin. Luckily for us the August 30th departure date was after the brutally hot summer in Western Europe that made headlines around the world. We had great weather for sight-seeing and relaxing aboard the ship.

Our flights were arranged by Celebrity and were part of the promotion noted above. We flew out of JFK the Friday evening of Labor Day weekend and were delayed three hours. Therefore we were not exactly up for the welcoming champagne or mimosa that greeted us on arrival to the ship in Dover. It's a very nice and elegant touch that we would have enjoyed if we had a short flight or spent time in port prior to embarking. The check in was handled very efficiently and many venues were open all morning for light snacks or afternoon lunch buffet.

Although we were on the Constellation last year, it still took awhile to reorient ourselves to the facilities. There were always staff who directed us if we turned the wrong way when looking for our cabin. The gym is state of the art with lots of treadmills, stationary bikes, machines, a weight room, etc. It got heavy use particularly on sea days and in the late afternoon on port days. There are many lounges and depending on your musical tastes, one or two that had special appeal. The casino was fairly large and after the first day or two didn't see much action. Instead of being called Fortunes, it could have been called, "Lose Your Fortune." There is an Internet Cafe that charges .50 a minute and held computer classes on sea days.

There are three sets of elevators and other than the last day when people were disembarking with their carry-ons it never seemed like a long wait for the elevators.

We had a balcony cabin midship on Deck 6 on the starboard side. Our room attendant, Karolina, did a great job and the bed was made and new towels supplied twice a day. The room is decorated in warm wood paneling and the carpet and bedding were a peach and burnt orange color. There were enough hangers and storage space for our things. Considering that this was a two week cruise with three formal nights and three informal nights, we had to bring more clothing than usual. The lovely weather made it possible to enjoy the balcony. (Last year the weather was too cool to sit outside.) Although small, the bathroom was functional, the shower strong and the hair dryer adequate. The safe is very handy for storing passports, money, etc.

There were so many venues and choices for food that even the pickiest eater would find it hard to complain. The breakfasts in the Seaside Cafe were excellent. There was a specialty station with such delights as sticky buns (the best), donuts, banana bread or bagels and lox. Then there was the usual assortment of breakfast items and an omelette station. Waiters carried your trays and other waiters came around with pastries and refills of coffee. For lunch, there was a buffet (often themed), a sandwich bar, pizza and pasta station, and outdoor grill. Ice cream and frozen yogurt were also available throughout the afternoon. Our favorite lunch spot was the aqua spa cafe which offered healthy choice dining that was beautifully presented and delicious. Among the choices were: sushi, tuna nicoise, tostadas, poached salmon, crudités, etc. Of course, there was open seating in the dining room if you preferred.

We had early seating at 6:15 p.m. This made it difficult to try the sushi bar that was open from 6-10 p.m. Our table was on the fifth floor and although it had a decent view, last year we were on the fourth floor and had an amazing view. Our waiter, Juan from El Salvador, was extremely professional and did an outstanding job. All the dinners were wonderful especially the meat courses and the vegetable soufflés. We did try the specialty restaurant last year and loved it. (This year there was a champagne brunch on one of the sea days for the same $25 per person charge.) One evening we opted to go to the sushi bar and enjoy the lovely outdoor seating area. There were a number of midnight buffets featuring seafood, fruit and sherbet, chocolate, and the grand buffet but it was simply too late to eat.

I'll address packing and fashion since I always wonder about what to take. One thing that Celebrity could add is a self-service laundry. It would make packing so much easier. Everyone dressed for dinner even on casual nights. Therefore you had to take a lot of changes for 13 days. In many of the European ports, you had to dress conservatively. Since the weather was fairly warm, a light sweater was all that was needed. You can get by with sneakers, dress shoes and sandals if you pack light. There were some tuxedoes worn on formal nights, but many men wore dark suits. I did think it was a bit much that informal dress (jackets for men) was required for elegant tea on sea days at four in the afternoon. Many women wore gowns on formal nights but there weren't many overly fancy ball gowns.

This trip could easily have been, "If it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium." We visited eight ports in five countries (not counting Dover, England). We decided to take only half day excursions so we could enjoy the ports and the ship. This, however, is an individual choice and we have been to Europe a number of times before. Everyone needs to have euros if they venture out since public bathrooms have a charge. Our guides all suggested avoiding the public toilets and instead, using the facilities at a cafe after purchasing a drink or other item. The shore excursions were a little pricey but they were convenient and offered air-conditioned coaches. Complimentary shuttles were available in Zebrugge, LeHavre, Lisbon, and Palma. The other port cities were walking distance from the ship.

We were in Paris before and visited the Normandy beaches last year so this year we visited the Alabaster coast when the ship docked in Le Havre. The beach resort was interesting and the scenery quite beautiful. The trip also included a visit to a Benedictine palace devoted to the renowned liquor with a sample of the drink. It wasn't what I expected but it was a chance to see a different region of France.

There were three stops in Spain- Vigo, Cadiz, and Palma. We only took a shore excursion in Vigo. The guide was very pleasant and that enriched the tour of Galicia. At a local winery, we sampled a delicious white wine and local cheese. You could have as much as you wanted at this site. We did Cadiz and Palma on our own, seeing a wedding in Cadiz and enjoying the lifestyles of the rich and famous in Palma. We were lucky to find the numbers to our house in Spanish tiles in Palma. In both places, we found outdoor cafes to enjoy our cappuccinos.

We toured the towns of Sintra and Cascais in Portugal when we were docked in Lisbon. We got back too late to go back into Lisbon so we'll have to leave that for another trip. Sintra has a lot of charm, winding streets, and an interesting palace with an unusual architectural design. Cascais is a beach resort that was upscale.

The last port was Villefranche, gateway to Nice. It was another place I'd love to visit again. We went to St. Paul de Vance, another charming town where Marc Chagall is buried. There are many upscale galleries and shops to wander into and lovely views. Even the cobblestones were adorned with floral designs. This day was the second anniversary of September 11th. Once everyone was on board, there was an announcement calling for a moment of silence and a memorial service in the theater. I was surprised that the turn-out for the service was small. Hopefully, we won't forget this tragic day in coming years.

Entertainment

There were two groups that we loved, the Sereneda String Quintet and Lighthouse, the acapella quartet. Both were extraordinarily talented and performed in the Cova Cafe, our favorite lounge. As far as the Celebrity Theater productions, there were three production shows, including the premiere of Fantasea. The singers and dancers exude enthusiasm and energy. The guest stars, Jean Claude and Gaby are phenomenal aerial artists who move their bodies in ways we can only imagine. Their feats and skills are simply amazing. Two of last year's headliners, Lindsay Hamilton and Brooks Ahaeron, returned and repeated their shows. A comic, Rich Ceisler, was terrific and one of the Celebrity singers, Marcus Collins, did his own show which was quite good. We didn't see the other shows. The movies were not too appealing to us- Lord of the Rings and the latest Harry Potter.

Disembarkation

Everything was handled very smoothly. You were assigned a time and a lounge to wait for your color to be called. Then you went down to claim your luggage. The area was a little tight but once you had your suitcases, they were taken with you and bused to the Barcelona Airport. We were sad to leave and endure a long and exhausting flight home via Munich to JFK. (Security at Munich was very stringent and although both flights were on time, we needed every minute of the hour and a half layover.)

Miscellaneous

This was a great trip and we marvel at the friendliness of the staff who make you feel special. There are very few announcements so you really have to read the Daily Planner and keep track of when your excursions are, etc. Celebrity does a great job and we hope to cruise again soon.

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