Read every thread you can on this forum for the cruise you're taking, cruises on the same river and any others that have interesting subject lines. The subject of what to pack alone could take you hours to read all the posts.
Best advice beyond that I can offer is to understand how ocean and river cruises differ. The cabin sizes are smaller on river cruise ships because the ship has to fit within the confines of the many locks you'll transit enroute. There are way fewer dining venues (2) and entertainment options in part due to the ship's size and mainly because the focus is on the off ship daily excursions. Guests on board are all treated the same - no tiered status levels. Everyone gets to eat in the same two dining rooms, everyone gets the same excursion options, everyone gets the same drink options, etc. The only thing a more expensive cabins gets you is more space and more light though the top level suites do get breakfast room service and a ship board credit.
You picked a great trip for your first Tauck experience. This was our first river cruise and we thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it.
My best advice is to have a versatile, mix and match wardrobe to adjust to any type of weather. Merino wool provides superior warmth while not being bulky. A rain jacket with a hood and removable lining will suffice for the higher elevation of Jungfraujoch. A neck scarf in case you experience some wind. Shoes with sturdy soles are imperative in my opinion.
We were somewhat apprehensive before our first river experience, primarily because we didn’t think we would enjoy so many people—I think we had ~ 120 on the ms Grace. We never felt crowded at all. The graciousness of the crew, experience of the tour directors, food, comfort of the cabin and ambience were amazing. The excursions were well curated and handled seamlessly.
Enjoy your journey and please consider posting a critique afterwards.
What time is departure from the hotel for the trip to Jungfraujoch? I heard that it's best to head up early to avoid crowds. The tour says 9 hours and my wife does not want to spend the entire day on a bus / train sandwiched between hundreds of people throughout the day. Trying to figure out if the Jungfraujoch excursion is worth it. Obviously we paid a lot for this excursion and includes train fares and lunch. Your experience on this excursion would be helpful. First Tauck river cruise also departing September 7. Thank you.
I don’t remember what time we left the hotel but remember having plenty of time for breakfast. We didn’t even think about time spent on bus and trains because of the gorgeous scenery. Never once did we feel overwhelmed by crowds—too busy being awed. It was a day that we will never forget.
This is a personal preference and may be a small thing to others. I have been on several Tauck river cruises.
1. One thing that comes to mind is there is a clock radio beside the bed that is extremely bright. I end up turning it around toward the wall and putting a pillow over it. There is no way to know the time should you awake while it is still dark in your room during the night. I use my iphone clock (large clock setting) and put it on the shelve by the door/closet across the room. It is clock time is large enough and the color of the numerals does not brighten the room, but I can see the time.
2. I open my luggage and slide them under the bed (I take 2 pcs) and use them like drawers under the bed. There is a closet and some drawers, but not enough for all items I take.
3. If your room is small and you do not need the 2 chairs around the small round table in the corner, have the crew take out 1 or both chairs to give you more room.
4. If you are in one of the small end rooms (317, 318) there is not magnifying mirror in the bath. (At least there was not one last year when I cruised.) If you rely on this, pack a small one just in case.
5. The crew is fantastic on Tauck river cruises. If you need anything, as at the front desk, they are extremely accommodating.
It was mid/late September. The weather was perfect throughout our journey. We did experience flurries when changing trains but only had to change platforms—off one train and onto another. We did not bring bulky outerwear. We both had rain jackets with removable liners and hoods. Merino wool is also a staple in our wardrobe. Layers work best for us.
Sadly, the fog rolled in at the summit and visibility was about zero. Still worth it though. The shepherds were bringing the cows down the mountain to spend the winter at lower elevations. Sounds silly, but it was a beautiful sight to see!
If I may offer advice, stay well hydrated and do not drink alcohol at lunch if offered. Good, sturdy footwear with excellent traction for the Ice Palace.
One thing that comes to mind is there is a clock radio beside the bed that is extremely bright. I end up turning it around toward the wall and putting a pillow over it. There is no way to know the time should you awake while it is still dark in your room during the night. I use my iphone clock (large clock setting) and put it on the shelve by the door/closet across the room. It is clock time is large enough and the color of the numerals does not brighten the room, but I can see the time.
If you have a Apple Watch, you can put it on the bed stand on the side where you sleep. When you want to know the time, just tap it and it will light up and show you the time. If there's a lot of vibration in the ship, the watch will not light up when you tap it. I take the charger magnet off the back of the watch and then re-apply it. That causes the watch to light up and show the time.
Dead President: The bus ride to Lautenbrunnen is about 50 minutes. The Tauck coach buses are great. The scenery is awesome. Mountain views on the left and lake views on the right(drivers side.). I love the Swiss rail system and the views as you go up are iconically Swiss Alps. It will make time fly. The views from the top are some of the best anywhere.. IMO as much as I love Bern, going up the mountain is great way to start the trip.
Weather is variable. I have been there in the afternoon and it was perfect in September. The valley below is work seeing in its own right with the waterfalls coming off.
kfnknfzk: Would we be able to NOT go thru the ice tunnel or any other areas where we'd be walking on ice? Even with a handrail, we've read that it can be very precarious without some kind of grippers on your shoes.
Yes you can avoid the ice palace. You could just wander around the complex on your own, spend more time on the observation deck, or go have a hot drink at the snack bar. When we went on the Switzerland tour Tauck provided drinks and apps in a private room that's part of the ice palace but the food was quite marginal so you wouldn't miss much. Just tell the TD/guide where you'll be.
Dead_President - You can pass on the Ice Palace. It is my personal opinion that grippers are not needed and could potentially be more of a hazard trying to get them on and off, especially while standing. To put things in perspective, my husband was 92 at the time and had no difficulty at all. I like to remember the self-fulfilling prophecy…..if you think something will happen, it will. Your tour director will offer alternatives if you decide to opt out.
1030 - edited to correct husband’s age. I inadvertently made him out to be a younger man. 🙋🏼♂️
Would we be able to NOT go thru the ice tunnel or any other areas where we'd be walking on ice? Even with a handrail, we've read that it can be very precarious without some kind of grippers on your shoes.
I found the Ice Palace very slippery and came close to falling. Older people can sustain serious injuries from falls. Having a broken hip at the Jungfraujoch would be a problem. They'd have to get you out of the Ice Palace and down the mountain. They'd probalby shoot you full of pain killers, of course.
I'm a big fan of using some kind of grippers to go into the Ice Palace. Other people on the forum pooh-pooh using grippers but I'd much rather be over prepared than have something serious happen.
I did not enjoy the visit to the Ice Palace because I was constantly afraid I'd fall.
[One thing that would help is if they spead a light coat of sand on the floor in the Ice Palace.]
[Let me expand a bit. Suppose you asked 1,000 older people (over 60) to walk across a frozen pond. It's almost guaranteed that some will fall before getting to the other side.
When we face a low probability event which can have serious repercussions we purchase insurance against the event. For example, it’s very unlikely that our house will burn down, but we all carry fire insurance on our house.
Same thing here. Very few people who go into the Ice Palace will fall. And of that group, only a subset will sustain a serious injury requiring evacuation. If you want to play the odds, don’t do anything special and you’ll probably be okay. But if you win the lottery, you could be in for significant cost and physical hardship. Using grippers is reasonable insurance.]
[Using grippers may enhance your enjoyment of the Ice Palace. You may not be constantly afraid of falling.]
Only grippers with steel in the sole are prohibited. Other kinds of grippers, such as are used in curling, are okay. If curling grippers damaged the ice they would never be permitted on the curling ice. Curling grippers are made from a plastic(?) that does not slip on ice as easily as most shoe soles.
For example, crampons are not allowed.
[I think the Jungfraujoch people want to protect the ice, but they also want to protect the visitors. People are a lot more important.]
We used the curling shoes and I even showed them to our TD before we left - she saw no problem with them. There is no metal on them that would damage the ice. I was 72 at the time and am not the most coordinated person but had no problem. I believe in taking sensible precautions to avoid issues and was happy we had the curling shoes. Better safe than sorry! Picture is of my husband walking - without falling - and wearing the curling shoes.
I’ve never taken the tour, so that’s the first photo I’ve seen of the place. What else do you see apart from n icy corridor?
We went into an Ice Bar in Patagonia with Tauck, i remember it was cold and fun, nothing about risk of falling.
You'll see what Tauck does on an visit to the Ice Palace (a decent number of pictures with a description of what you're seeing). It includes a visit to the Ice Bar.
Comments
Read every thread you can on this forum for the cruise you're taking, cruises on the same river and any others that have interesting subject lines. The subject of what to pack alone could take you hours to read all the posts.
Best advice beyond that I can offer is to understand how ocean and river cruises differ. The cabin sizes are smaller on river cruise ships because the ship has to fit within the confines of the many locks you'll transit enroute. There are way fewer dining venues (2) and entertainment options in part due to the ship's size and mainly because the focus is on the off ship daily excursions. Guests on board are all treated the same - no tiered status levels. Everyone gets to eat in the same two dining rooms, everyone gets the same excursion options, everyone gets the same drink options, etc. The only thing a more expensive cabins gets you is more space and more light though the top level suites do get breakfast room service and a ship board credit.
Andrew_Prokop,
You picked a great trip for your first Tauck experience. This was our first river cruise and we thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it.
My best advice is to have a versatile, mix and match wardrobe to adjust to any type of weather. Merino wool provides superior warmth while not being bulky. A rain jacket with a hood and removable lining will suffice for the higher elevation of Jungfraujoch. A neck scarf in case you experience some wind. Shoes with sturdy soles are imperative in my opinion.
We were somewhat apprehensive before our first river experience, primarily because we didn’t think we would enjoy so many people—I think we had ~ 120 on the ms Grace. We never felt crowded at all. The graciousness of the crew, experience of the tour directors, food, comfort of the cabin and ambience were amazing. The excursions were well curated and handled seamlessly.
Enjoy your journey and please consider posting a critique afterwards.
What time is departure from the hotel for the trip to Jungfraujoch? I heard that it's best to head up early to avoid crowds. The tour says 9 hours and my wife does not want to spend the entire day on a bus / train sandwiched between hundreds of people throughout the day. Trying to figure out if the Jungfraujoch excursion is worth it. Obviously we paid a lot for this excursion and includes train fares and lunch. Your experience on this excursion would be helpful. First Tauck river cruise also departing September 7. Thank you.
I don’t remember what time we left the hotel but remember having plenty of time for breakfast. We didn’t even think about time spent on bus and trains because of the gorgeous scenery. Never once did we feel overwhelmed by crowds—too busy being awed. It was a day that we will never forget.
This is a personal preference and may be a small thing to others. I have been on several Tauck river cruises.
1. One thing that comes to mind is there is a clock radio beside the bed that is extremely bright. I end up turning it around toward the wall and putting a pillow over it. There is no way to know the time should you awake while it is still dark in your room during the night. I use my iphone clock (large clock setting) and put it on the shelve by the door/closet across the room. It is clock time is large enough and the color of the numerals does not brighten the room, but I can see the time.
2. I open my luggage and slide them under the bed (I take 2 pcs) and use them like drawers under the bed. There is a closet and some drawers, but not enough for all items I take.
3. If your room is small and you do not need the 2 chairs around the small round table in the corner, have the crew take out 1 or both chairs to give you more room.
4. If you are in one of the small end rooms (317, 318) there is not magnifying mirror in the bath. (At least there was not one last year when I cruised.) If you rely on this, pack a small one just in case.
5. The crew is fantastic on Tauck river cruises. If you need anything, as at the front desk, they are extremely accommodating.
kfnknfzk what month of the year did you visit Jungfraujoch?
SammieS did you go to Jungfraujoch? That is my interest.
Thank you for the quick response.
It was mid/late September. The weather was perfect throughout our journey. We did experience flurries when changing trains but only had to change platforms—off one train and onto another. We did not bring bulky outerwear. We both had rain jackets with removable liners and hoods. Merino wool is also a staple in our wardrobe. Layers work best for us.
Sadly, the fog rolled in at the summit and visibility was about zero. Still worth it though. The shepherds were bringing the cows down the mountain to spend the winter at lower elevations. Sounds silly, but it was a beautiful sight to see!
If I may offer advice, stay well hydrated and do not drink alcohol at lunch if offered. Good, sturdy footwear with excellent traction for the Ice Palace.
Feel free to ask more questions.
If you have a Apple Watch, you can put it on the bed stand on the side where you sleep. When you want to know the time, just tap it and it will light up and show you the time. If there's a lot of vibration in the ship, the watch will not light up when you tap it. I take the charger magnet off the back of the watch and then re-apply it. That causes the watch to light up and show the time.
We visited the Jungfraujoch in September, also, and had good weather. You can see our visit to the Jungfraujoch at https://www.mikeandjudytravel.com/2023-2Switzerland-03.htm#Jungfraujoch
Dead President: The bus ride to Lautenbrunnen is about 50 minutes. The Tauck coach buses are great. The scenery is awesome. Mountain views on the left and lake views on the right(drivers side.). I love the Swiss rail system and the views as you go up are iconically Swiss Alps. It will make time fly. The views from the top are some of the best anywhere.. IMO as much as I love Bern, going up the mountain is great way to start the trip.
Weather is variable. I have been there in the afternoon and it was perfect in September. The valley below is work seeing in its own right with the waterfalls coming off.
kfnknfzk: Would we be able to NOT go thru the ice tunnel or any other areas where we'd be walking on ice? Even with a handrail, we've read that it can be very precarious without some kind of grippers on your shoes.
Yes you can avoid the ice palace. You could just wander around the complex on your own, spend more time on the observation deck, or go have a hot drink at the snack bar. When we went on the Switzerland tour Tauck provided drinks and apps in a private room that's part of the ice palace but the food was quite marginal so you wouldn't miss much. Just tell the TD/guide where you'll be.
You do not have to go thru the ice tunnel. There are several places, with chairs, where you can wait for the group. It is the only area with ice.
Dead_President - You can pass on the Ice Palace. It is my personal opinion that grippers are not needed and could potentially be more of a hazard trying to get them on and off, especially while standing. To put things in perspective, my husband was 92 at the time and had no difficulty at all. I like to remember the self-fulfilling prophecy…..if you think something will happen, it will. Your tour director will offer alternatives if you decide to opt out.
1030 - edited to correct husband’s age. I inadvertently made him out to be a younger man. 🙋🏼♂️
I found the Ice Palace very slippery and came close to falling. Older people can sustain serious injuries from falls. Having a broken hip at the Jungfraujoch would be a problem. They'd have to get you out of the Ice Palace and down the mountain. They'd probalby shoot you full of pain killers, of course.
I'm a big fan of using some kind of grippers to go into the Ice Palace. Other people on the forum pooh-pooh using grippers but I'd much rather be over prepared than have something serious happen.
I did not enjoy the visit to the Ice Palace because I was constantly afraid I'd fall.
[One thing that would help is if they spead a light coat of sand on the floor in the Ice Palace.]
[Let me expand a bit. Suppose you asked 1,000 older people (over 60) to walk across a frozen pond. It's almost guaranteed that some will fall before getting to the other side.
When we face a low probability event which can have serious repercussions we purchase insurance against the event. For example, it’s very unlikely that our house will burn down, but we all carry fire insurance on our house.
Same thing here. Very few people who go into the Ice Palace will fall. And of that group, only a subset will sustain a serious injury requiring evacuation. If you want to play the odds, don’t do anything special and you’ll probably be okay. But if you win the lottery, you could be in for significant cost and physical hardship. Using grippers is reasonable insurance.]
[Using grippers may enhance your enjoyment of the Ice Palace. You may not be constantly afraid of falling.]
Grippers aren't allowed.
Only grippers with steel in the sole are prohibited. Other kinds of grippers, such as are used in curling, are okay. If curling grippers damaged the ice they would never be permitted on the curling ice. Curling grippers are made from a plastic(?) that does not slip on ice as easily as most shoe soles.
For example, crampons are not allowed.
[I think the Jungfraujoch people want to protect the ice, but they also want to protect the visitors. People are a lot more important.]
We used the curling shoes and I even showed them to our TD before we left - she saw no problem with them. There is no metal on them that would damage the ice. I was 72 at the time and am not the most coordinated person but had no problem. I believe in taking sensible precautions to avoid issues and was happy we had the curling shoes. Better safe than sorry! Picture is of my husband walking - without falling - and wearing the curling shoes.
I’ve never taken the tour, so that’s the first photo I’ve seen of the place. What else do you see apart from n icy corridor?
We went into an Ice Bar in Patagonia with Tauck, i remember it was cold and fun, nothing about risk of falling.
@British - Take a look at https://www.mikeandjudytravel.com/2023-2Switzerland-03.htm#IcePalace
You'll see what Tauck does on an visit to the Ice Palace (a decent number of pictures with a description of what you're seeing). It includes a visit to the Ice Bar.
Au, o do recall now o read your review some time ago. It’s actually not a tour I plan to take as I’ve taken other tours which include all three areas.