Review of Romantic Capitals: Paris to Prague (Part 1)
I enjoyed this tour. Our three Tour Directors, Katalin Gyorffy, Sophie Strasser and Elwira Burdzy, and our Cruise Director, Kristyna Drobna, were outstanding. It was my third time cruising on the M.S. Savor, and I enjoyed everything about the boat. For the first time, based on comments in the Forum, I tried a Category 1 cabin. I found it to be more than adequate, and the savings that resulted from not having to pay a solo supplement more than paid for my business class airfare.
I lost out on my pre-tour free day in Paris because my flight from Boston was cancelled after it had pulled back from the gate, due to a malfunctioning part. There were no replacement parts in Boston. I was one of the fortunate few (including 3 people who were on the same Tauck tour) who were able to reschedule the same flight the following night. (A woman whom I had met on a previous trip was also taking this tour and was on the same cancelled flight, but her rebooking the next day was on a connecting flight through JFK.)
As a result, I did not have much time in Paris. I had been to Paris several times before, most recently in June, so missing the day did not impact me as much as it would have if I had been in an unfamiliar city. I was disappointed in the location of the Hotel du Collectionneur, in the 8th arrondissement, that was not close to much that interested me. I overheard someone complaining that the hotel did not have a restaurant that served dinner, but I have no independent knowledge of that. The Tauck pre-opening visit to the Musee de Cluny was worthwhile, and the boat ride on the Seine was relaxing. During our only free afternoon, a friend and I walked around Parc Monceau, which was close to the hotel, and then to the Galeries Lafayette. We had a light supper in an outdoor cafe on the way back to the hotel. (My iPhone tells me that I walked 5.8 miles that day.)
We had a smooth train ride to Luxembourg City where we arrived shortly (as in "a matter of hours") after the new Grand Duke had assumed the throne. The city was all decked out with flags and flowers, but our walking tour was re-routed because of the festivities. Even on a day without a celebration, coaches cannot enter the city center, so we all took a free public tram ride 3 stops from the train station to get to the area of our walking tour. After a few hours spent in the city, we had to walk about a mile to get to where the coaches were parked. On our ride to the riverboat, we stopped at the American Cemetery, where more than 5,000 soldiers and airmen, including General Patton, are buried. We were given free time there, and a rose to place on a grave of our choosing. I always find visits to military cemeteries to be quite moving.
Comments
Nice report MCD, glad you enjoyed the river cruise.
I always enjoy your informative posts, MCD. Can you comment on the onboard regional specialties, cooking demonstrations (if any) and the entertainment and lectures?
I loved this trip (did it earlier this year, started in Prague). I agree on the location of the Hotel du Collectionneur, rather out of the way.
Did you have the 1920's party on the ship?
Mark_H -- Yes, there was a 1920s party on the ship, but I didn't participate in it.