Coffee Breaks: The Cruise

A Maiden Experience

Yes, we went on a river cruise along the Danube.

There is always a first experience and if an ocean cruise is too bumpy to handle, a river cruise will be a milder version and definitely safer.

That's what the Matta Fair of September 2016 did to us; it persuaded us to embark on a different mode of travel.

When I went to church this morning , someone asked me "why stop blogging?"

When I was at a wedding dinner last evening , an ex colleague asked "why stop blogging?"

So, I must be a blogger then.

Anyway, it is truly a good practice to jot down what we did in life especially after a travel as old memories are extremely short. Honestly, given a choice, I would just put them aside and preserve selective moments. But, my friends haunt me. Thank you for putting me back in order. I must not rest on my laurels.

So, here it goes.

This is the course we took along some canals leading to Danube and along some parts of Danube itself on a 7-night cruise . It is called The Legendary Danube on Avalon Waterways. Cruising along it we get to see several towns and cities along the banks of the Danube.

Our first landing was in Praque of Czech Republic and after a couple of days there, we were driven into Nuremburg on a 3 hour coach ride. Nuremburg was the start of this river cruise.

The Avalon Waterways can house more than 100 guests at a time and a total of about 40 crew members headed by the Captain entertained and served the guests on this 7 night journey.

The ship has rooms ranging from balcony to french windows or just windows and of course the price ranges accordingly too. With the Malaysian currency rate at this juncture, the trip cost quite a fair bit; you can make the guess yourself.
The ship also has lounges for drinks, lunches and dinners and a small gym. An ocean cruise ship will definitely be better equipped with larger common areas.

Anyway, the facilities were sufficient for the purpose of this trip.

We were very excited; like little children on an unknown path.

The weather was super kind to us; only hot and dry not cold, gloomy and rainy. The cruise director reiterated that we drove away the rains and brought the sunshine in.

Out of the 100 plus guests, there were only 15 non Caucasians. We were the only Malaysians together with Singaporeans, Filipinos, South Africans and Chinese Canadians. But the English Language is versatile. It connects everyone. So, know English and you will never be lost in this world.

The room is small but adequate for sleep and the chamber maids look after you very well. They make sure you are comfortable all the time; so you keep money to tip them. They are so well trained that they can make animal images to say goodnight and put a smile on your face; so much so that when you leave for home, the first person you think of to appreciate is the maid.

In a travel to so many cities in a week, the best thing about traveling on a cruise is that you need not lug your bags in and out of hotel. The ship is like a hotel where you hop in and out to visit places without being bogged down by luggage.

Eat and dine everyday. It is fine dining for every meal at dinner.

Lunches and breakfasts are buffet style and though the variety is limited, it is good enough. In an enclosed environment, you have to learn to say hello, make small talk and not appear too hostile. Therefore, I would strongly advise you gather a group of friends and make the ship your home. Sometimes, it is even a chore to find your favourite spot for meals as bigger groups will book them first.

Ar times, I would sit and envy. They laughed, talked loudly, and are in their very own world because they are in a crowd. Where are my friends?

Well, necessity is always the mother of invention; you force yourself to join in and talk. Won't you?

Nothing Asian about the meals; that is why I suggested in the evaluation form that such cruises should be more aggressively introduced to Asian markets and have meals that can cater to them. Yes, it is free flow white, red wine and beer. Glasses after glasses to suit your appetite. Sausages too; beef, chicken, lamb and just allow yourself to indulge. After a while though, you eyes will rove to Asian food outlets when you are on land.

As the the cities are not directly linked to the Danube in the earlier part of the cruise we learnt that canals are constructed to join them to the Danube. This is great engineering effort as locks are built to control the water level for ships to sail through, We were intrigued at the feat and took much interest in witnessing the change in water levels. It was an eye opener as I remembered teaching students about the lock system along St Lawrence in North America. Here, I had hands on experience as I see the crew maneuvering the vehicle in and out of locks.

We had a session on how the lock system works and basically it was the control of water from the reservoirs along the banks.

A photo of a reservoir that keeps water to be dispensed when needed and also to allow water to be stored.

This is how narrow the lock is. Image yourself in the ship and it cruising along it. We went through it.

The ship is on its way to a lock system to be raised to the next level as the ground of the river is of different levels.

In the lock and notice how close the vessel is to the enclosure and it was quite nerve-wrecking. Everyone was on the deck to watch how the ship took its course along the lock.

When the vessel is finally raised to the appropriate level, the control room automatically opens its gate for the ship to sail through. We were informed that all systems are computerized.

There; that's a closer look.

Amazing, isn't it?

Soon we were out of the lock and then to find ourselves in another lock thereafter. Familiarity always breeds contempt. After a few locks, we seemed immuned to the mechanism; as though we can predict whatever the outcome.

On a good day, when there are no feats to conquer, the lazy chairs are up and guests put on their sunglasses and get sub- burnt. My husband says I am a typical old fashioned Asian; I carry umbrellas and keep myself under shade all the time. I do not have the luxury of a fair skin he must know.

The crew knows the path very well; they know when they are meeting bridges and where. So they are prepared all the time to make sure accidents do not happen.

When the vessel is approaching a bridge , everything must be dismantled.

All deck chairs and shades down whenever they have to be under a bridge.

Avalon Waterways is not the only one running the trip. There are others including Viking, Ama waterways and many other local brands. I reckon it is a competitive business and everyone is fighting for it. Well, Avalon Waterways is not too bad.

On the cruise when you choose to stay in, you recline, relax and read. The temperate air is cool even if temperatures are high. You keep reminding yourself to wind down and take a real break. You wish the holidays will never be over.

Life seems so easy on the other side of the bank. In the summer heat, the locals cycle to exercise and savour in the coveted days. It is such a pleasant sight and you wish life is truly that easy with no worries.

One of the best part of cruising is you are greeted by beautiful cities when you wake up from your sleep. You were in bed the night before and soon you find yourself in a different city. You get up, have your breakfast and out you go for sight seeing.