Danube River Cruise - 5/3/14

Nice night's sleep. I am up at 6:00. Showered and up to the lounge deck for coffee. Deb and I meet for breakfast in the dining room at 8:00, before leaving for the Nuremberg medieval tour at 9:30.

The tour was led by a woman from Saginaw, MI, who has married a German citizen and now lives in Nuremberg. She graduated with a degree in European History and was the smoothest and most knowledgable tour guide I have ever heard.  The City of Nuremberg was a major industrial power in the medieval era (1050 - 1550) and was a walled city of approximately 40,000 people.  The original walls are mostly still intact and the castle hill was very well defended.  We walked for an hour and one-half, covered a lot of ground, and returned to the ship at 12:15.  We departed port at precisely 12:30, being the first in a line of seven cruise ships to take off, and therefore the first to begin the series of locks leading to the continental divide. It was an enjoyable day of cruising, capped by a decent, but non-memorable meal. 

We were back in cabin by 9:30, I to sleep, and Deb to read, although she may have stayed up a little late.  We sailed all night, docking in Regensburg, DE on Sunday morning at 6:30 AM.

Danube River Cruise - 5/2/14

Up at 4:50 to shower and prep for today's trip via bus to Nuremberg in Germany for boarding the river boat and beginning the cruise down the Danube. Our bus departed promptly at 8:30, heading for Germany with a stop in Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad) CZ. This resort and hot springs spa has been a popular spot for centuries.  The town area is stretched along a gorge bordering the river and hot springs.  All shopping and tourist spot, with many hotels, particularly popular with Russian tourists.  We stopped for about an hour and one-half. Deb and I walked back to the bus parking lot, thinking perhaps we were lost (others took the shuttle.) We did get back and left for Nuremberg just as the rain started.

We arrived at Nuremberg pier at 4:40, just as the rain stopped and the sun came out.  We boarded the boat and settled in.  A very good dinner after our orientation meeting.  Our cabin is on the lowest deck, but is essentially the same layout as the upper decks.  The major difference is the lack of large windows in our cabin.

After dinner, Deb repaired to the cabin to read.  Don, Ann and I went to the lounge to listen to the singer.  In bed by 10:45.