DVC exclusive Danube River Cruise

[sayhello]

How has the weather been? It looks nice, but it's so hard to tell from photos!

Is it cold on the ship (like, do you need a sweater in the dining room?)

Sayhello

 

[calypso726]

How has the weather been? It looks nice, but it's so hard to tell from photos!

Is it cold on the ship (like, do you need a sweater in the dining room?)

Sayhello

It has been lovely! No, so far I haven't needed a sweater on board. The temps have been great.

 

[tehvalerie]

Everything looks wonderful, thanks for posting live from your trip! I'm curious how people are dressing for dinner, the men specifically. My husband's line of work is pretty casual and he's very much a jeans and t-shirts person. Would you say that collared shirts (polo or short sleeve button down) are necessary?

 

[calypso726]

Everything looks wonderful, thanks for posting live from your trip! I'm curious how people are dressing for dinner, the men specifically. My husband's line of work is pretty casual and he's very much a jeans and t-shirts person. Would you say that collared shirts (polo or short sleeve button down) are necessary?

You are welcome!

Oh boy, I am really bad about noticing things like that. I can tell you what my husband has been wearing though LOL Yesterday for dinner he wore a short sleeve, no buttons, non collared shirt with dark jeans and a casual pair of dark low top sneaker-like casual footwear and he didn't seem out of place. I'd call what he was wearing a nice t shirt but I'm no fashionista so that might be the wrong term.

This evening we had dinner reservations for the chef's table. I planed on him wearing a long sleeve button down shirt with tie. I was thinking that might be a bit dressier of an expectation for dining. However, we came back later than expected from the afternoon activities and didn't have time to steam the creases out of his long sleeve shirt. So he wore a short sleeve button down shirt, black slacks and black shoes. It turned out to be fine and he also wasn't out of place there. I did see two other men with short sleeve button down shirts and one with a long sleeve button down.

He did bring a suit but it was for a dining occasion while we were in Ireland last week that required a jacket and I thought it might come in handy just in case for the river cruise too. But it hasn't been necessary.

I'll try to pay attention to what the men are wearing tomorrow at dinner and give you a better idea

 

[Cousin Orville]

This evening we had dinner reservations for the chef's table.

There's a chef's table on the ship?

 

[calypso726]

Once our visit at Devin Castle was over we went back to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon we regrouped and boarded our buses with our groups and headed to Austria. The border was only about 10 minutes away from the ship. The ride to Schloss Hof Palace was about 40 minutes. Upon our arrival we were escorted by the palace guides in period dress and given a tour of the grounds and history. The grounds and gardens are lovely and we enjoyed our palace guide very much. The cellar beneath the palace was very cool compared to the outside and it was neat to experience such a difference. There were parts of the interior palace where we were not allowed to take photos which is why I have none to post.

I particularly enjoyed seeing the Baroque donkeys. They are an endangered breed of Austrian-Huangarian donkey and are all white with blue eyes. The mom and babies enjoyed getting petted and loved on by the adventurers.

 

[sayhello]

There's a chef's table on the ship?

It's their "upscale" restaurant, but there's no extra charge for it. You get one dinner there per week included with your fare. I was told for the ABD that everyone is assigned dinner there on a particular night.

Sayhello

 

[calypso726]

There's a chef's table on the ship?

Yes. It's a smaller dining room aft of the ship on deck 3. You make your dining reservation for the evening you'd like, if you like. It is a five course tasting menu. Same menu each night so it doesn't matter which night you choose to enjoy it. Once again, the food was outstanding!

 

[calypso726]

It's their "upscale" restaurant, but there's no extra charge for it. You get one dinner there per week included with your fare. I was told for the ABD that everyone is assigned dinner there on a particular night.

Sayhello

We were not assigned a night at the chef's table. We were informed on our first day that it would be a good idea to pick a night and make your reservation for the evening you'd like. The sooner you make the reservation, the better your odds of securing the evening of your choice. We picked tonight for our reservation and booked it last night.

 

[Cousin Orville]

How many guests are eating at the Chef's table together? Are you overlooking the kitchen or is it more of an intimate nook?

How does dining normally work? I'm only familiar with DCL where there's 2 services and you always have the same waiter/assistant waiter.

 

[sayhello]

We were not assigned a night at the chef's table. We were informed on our first day that it would be a good idea to pick a night and make your reservation for the evening you'd like. The sooner you make the reservation, the better your odds of securing the evening of your choice. We picked tonight for our reservation and booked it last night.

Oh, that's interesting. Good to know! Thanks!

Your photos look fabulous!

Sayhello

 

[calypso726]

How many guests are eating at the Chef's table together? Are you overlooking the kitchen or is it more of an intimate nook?

How does dining normally work? I'm only familiar with DCL where there's 2 services and you always have the same waiter/assistant waiter.

It is a small dining room. There are about 5 tables if memory serves. Four of them seat 4 people and the larger table sits maybe 6-8 people. The dining room overlooks the water.

There is generally only one seating for dining and the time will be listed on the daily adventurer. The last couple nights were at 6:30 and tonight was 7:30. However, tomorrow there are two dining times listed. For those who opt to do the evening concert or wine and music excursion dining will be earlier at 5:30. Those who are not doing evening activities will have dinner at 7 pm.

Dining tables aren't assigned, it is open seating, but I think the wait staff stays at the same stations. We happened to eat at the same table the last two nights and had the same server.

 

[calypso726]

Oh, that's interesting. Good to know! Thanks!

Your photos look fabulous!

Sayhello

Thank you and you're welcome! We are having a great time!

 

[tehvalerie]

I'll try to pay attention to what the men are wearing tomorrow at dinner and give you a better idea

This already makes me feel at ease; thank you! (Don't worry fellow sailers, we aren't hobos )

 

[tgeorge]

This already makes me feel at ease; thank you! (Don't worry fellow sailers, we aren't hobos )

Jeans and T-shirts don't make a hobo . I totally understand why you asked the question though. Having been on a number of cruises, it is always hard to figure out what the dress 'code' is. You guys will have a great time from the sounds of it.

 

[calypso726]

That's it! I am officially frustrated with ABD!!!! I did not need to add Vienna as yet another place to fall in love with. Within 10 minutes of the bus leaving DH took one look at me and said, "Oh boy, so I guess we're coming back to Vienna?" As it stands, thanks to ABD, I fell in love with Scotland and next year will be our 4th visit there. I can see Vienna falling along the same lines. What a stunningly beautiful city!

This morning we had our city tour on the bus en route to Schönbrunn Palace. The detail on the buildings is just exquisite! Our local guide was fantastic! When we got inside the palace, I have to say I was totally blown away. I thought the interior of Versailles was lovely. In my opinion, the French have nothing on the Austrians. I could have spent all day there. DH thought both palaces were comparable to one another.
We were treated to a private apple strudel making show. Our host was awesome. She was so passionate and entertaining that I left with a strong desire to make and bake apple strudel! This, from the person who can't boil an egg without causing some form of catastrophe in the kitchen.
No pictures allowed on the inside of the palace but man was it breathtaking! Our local guide took us through and regaled us with the history and stories.

After the guided palace tour we were able to watch a marionette show. I never realized how hard it must be to master that particular art. I enjoyed it thoroughly. After the show, we made our way back to the buses in order to go back to the ship.

We opted out of the available excursions for this afternoon and will be exploring Vienna on our own. I was surprised and relieved to find out that ABD is providing shuttles from the ship, to the city center and back every 30 minutes! Now if this information was already available, I totally didn't see it. Full disclosure: I also did not read everything provided by ABD. So for me, it was a very happy surprise when our guide for this morning, Steph, announced it. She is great and a lot of fun. We will probably wind up doing the Germany ABD down the line and cross our fingers that she will be our guide there.

 

[SCFamily4]

Thank you so much for your reports!

We sail on the 14th. Wanted to ask a few questions: (1) how is the air conditioning in the rooms? My husband likes a cold room to sleep in! (2) the menus look awesome - but perhaps a bit fussy for my teens. Do they have a "kids" menu or are there off menu options at the seated dinners? How are the breakfasts and lunches?

Thank you so much for your insight!!! Enjoy your trip!

 

[calypso726]

Thank you so much for your reports!

We sail on the 14th. Wanted to ask a few questions: (1) how is the air conditioning in the rooms? My husband likes a cold room to sleep in! (2) the menus look awesome - but perhaps a bit fussy for my teens. Do they have a "kids" menu or are there off menu options at the seated dinners? How are the breakfasts and lunches?

Thank you so much for your insight!!! Enjoy your trip!

The AC has been fine and you can adjust it. I'm at that age where my body suddenly decides it needs to mimic temperatures on the surface of the sun. Therefore, I like a cold room to sleep and my poor husband looks like an Eskimo.

I rarely eat breakfasts and survive on coffee but my hubby tells me they've been good. Lunch on the ship has been great as well. There's a variety of options each day. Dinner does have a kid's menu on the opposite side of the page. There is also a kids lunch menu. I'll take a picture of tonight's menu for kids. We have no kids so I really didn't look at it except to notice it was there. Off menu requests are also available I am told. Haven't asked for any since I like everything they have had so far.

 

[SCFamily4]

The AC has been fine and you can adjust it. I'm at that age where my body suddenly decides it needs to mimic temperatures on the surface of the sun. Therefore, I like a cold room to sleep and my poor husband looks like an Eskimo.

I rarely eat breakfasts and survive on coffee but my hubby tells me they've been good. Lunch on the ship has been great as well. There's a variety of options each day. Dinner does have a kid's menu on the opposite side of the page. There is also a kids lunch menu. I'll take a picture of tonight's menu for kids. We have no kids so I really didn't look at it except to notice it was there. Iff menu requests are also available I am told. Haven't asked for any since I like everything they have had so far.

Thank you so much! My husband is relieved about the AC!!!

 

[calypso726]

Pictures of St. Stephen's Cathedral below. Wow!!! It was so beautiful! The pictures don't do it justice at all.