rhine river cruise richard thompson

At The Barrier

Live music, reviews and opinion / est. 2018, what we did on our holidays – fairport’s rhine cruise 2022: the full story.

A trip down the River Rhine in the company of Fairport Convention?  What a good idea!

As a dedicated waterways traveller, the prospect of a week-long trip down the Rhine river, with stops at a whole list of iconic places along the way had always held a certain amount of appeal for me.  But I’d always wondered whether I’d get bored and, particularly, whether I’d be able to hack what I perceived would be the pretty bland entertainment that I’d pictured would be the standard fare aboard… after all, if I didn’t like it, there’s not too many places to hide on board a river cruise ship.  Then, in autumn 2019, a message appeared on Fairport Convention’s website, announcing that the band had signed up with Harmony Voyages for a cruise on the Rhine, to take place in June 2020.  There’d be concert performances and even an opportunity for cruise participants to perform, using Fairport as their backing group.  We were immediately sold on the idea and we booked our passage that very day – roll on June 2020…

We all know what happened next.  The Rhine cruise went the same way as Glastonbury, Download, Barn on the Farm and Cropredy – into that huge waste bin labelled “Victims of COVID.”  The cruise was cancelled, with the promise that it would, instead, take place in the summer of 2021 when, surelytobleedin’goodness, COVID would just be a vague memory.  Dates and an itinerary for a rescheduled cruise, to take place in September 2021, this time on the Danube, between Bucharest and Budapest, were duly circulated and we packed our suitcases and started, once again, to rub our hands in eager expectation.  After all, we were all getting vaccinated and COVID wouldn’t bother us again.  Would it?

It took a little while to mutate, but when the Beta variant of the virus struck, it was a corker and summer 2021 went down the same COVID plughole as its predecessor.  Once again, there’d be no Cropredy and no Fairport cruise.  Would things EVER get back to normal?  Would the cruise EVER happen?  Would we ever see Fairport again? 

Well – as we’ll see, the jury is still out on the first of those questions but, happily, the second and third questions can both be answered with a resounding YES!  Fairport have made their way back into circulation – tentatively at first with a Cropredy Weekend 2021 concert in the garden of the Brasenose in Cropredy village (we were there) and then with a few autumn tour dates.  The band’s Winter Tour went ahead as normal in 2022 and, as I write, preparations for Cropredy 2022 are moving full steam ahead.

And, at 2pm on the afternoon of Tuesday 21 st June 2022, 140 or so lucky punters started to make their way aboard mv Amadeus Queen at Amsterdam’s River Cruiser Dock to join the re-rescheduled Fairport Rhine Cruise.  We’d jumped through all the hoops (and, with rail strikes, airport delays and flight cancellations, these were still being raised right up until the last moments) and the cruise was going to happen!  Nothing was going to stop us now.  Was it??

Harmony Voyages is a wonderful set-up.  Basically, the company is the brainchild of husband/wife team Andrew and Angela Schofield.  The idea of folk-rock river cruises arose from the couples’ participation in the organization of the Costa Del Folk Festivals and started to float, literally, in 2016, when Harmony operated their first river cruise – a Rhine voyage with At The Barrier favourites Show of Hands .  The cruises were an instant success and the company now operate a packed itinerary.  In 2022 alone, their schedule includes river cruises with Richard Thompson, Thea Gilmore, Show of Hands and Paul Carrack – in addition to this Fairport cruise – and Harmony are also deeply involved in Costa Del Folk (this year, it’s in Portugal on 3-9 October) and in The Aviemore Folk Festival.  Their website is well worth a look, for anyone who is enticed…

The cruises are a pretty comprehensive package.  The Fairport Rhine Cruise was undertaken in partnership with Amadeus River Cruises, who provide the vessel and its crew.  The accommodation and facilities aboard mv Amadeus Queen are top-notch; the food is excellent, plentiful and included in the package, drinks are provided with meals and the crew are friendly and helpful.  Tours ashore are charged additionally but, as the ship usually docks right in the centre of the towns and cities that are visited, passengers can opt to explore on their own, and lots of helpful information, including local maps and details of places to visit, are provided by Amadeus.  And, of course, on the Fairport Rhine Cruise, there were copious servings of piping hot Fairport to enjoy most evenings.

Life aboard built its momentum slowly.  After a relaxed dinner, our first evening aboard was spent in the ship’s Panorama Bar , with music from the resident on-board duo, Todor and Reilsa.  Likewise, our first day afloat was a similarly relaxed affair as Amadeus Queen made its way down the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal, before joining the Waal River at Tiel in the southern Netherlands.  The building excitement level was palpable over dinner as the restaurant crew struggled to meet the demands of a roomful of people who were keen to get the dining niceties over with, so they could get into the bar to take their seats for Fairport’s first appearance.

And what a pleasurable first appearance it was, indeed.  Ric Sanders ’s passion for Gypsy Jazz and, in particular, the work of Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt is well known to many, but it was clear that several amongst the assembled throng were surprised and delighted by Fairport’s choice of material for this show, as well as by their accomplished delivery of that material.  The band were introduced by their long-time buddy John Watterson – the erstwhile Fake Thackray , and now part of the Harmony Voyages Team – as “Unconventional Fairport,” an epithet that they certainly lived up to, as they worked their way through a set that included copious servings of swing, Gypsy jazz, rock and roll and a few old favourites.  “We haven’t risked compromising the spontaneity of the performance by over-familiarity with the material,” joked Ric, as the show got underway, but that remark was very much tongue-in-cheek, as the band – and particularly Ric – played the old tunes with a fondness and respect that really shone through.

A whiz through Victor Young’s Sweet Sue was followed by a divine take on Gershwin’s Summertime and a version of the Ellington-Reinhardt classic, Don’t Mean a Thing if You Ain’t Got That Swing that was simply breathtaking.  Chris Leslie dedicated the version of Buddy Holly’s Everyday to Morris Dancers, as he enticed the audience to join in with a revised chorus of “I can dance the Shepherd’s Hey – a-hey, a-hey-hey,” a reference that puzzled some of the American members of the audience, before the band switched direction again for a blistering run through Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady.  Ric was, as usual, on top form, but, for me, it was Simon Nicol ’s guitar contribution that really stood out on this number and I was, not for the first time, left appreciating the contribution that Simon makes to the overall Fairport sound.  That was a somewhat ominous contemplation, as events later in the week were to prove…

A sublime passage of bass mastery from Dave Pegg was the introduction to Bankruptured, a tune that has recently ended a long period of neglect to become a favoured cornerstone of Fairport’s live repertoire, and then it was time for an interval with a difference.  Harmony’s budget for the trip didn’t run to engaging David Copperfield for the interval entertainment, but we got the next best thing – Chris Copperfield – aka Chris Leslie, who circulated the room to astound and delight an unprepared audience with his repertoire of card tricks.  Is there no end to this man’s talent?

Could Fairport follow the prestidigitations of the multi-talented multi-instrumentalist?  Well, yes, of course they could and part two of the show picked up where part one had left off, with a lightening blast through Woodworm Swing, Ric’s Gypsy Jazz piece-de-resistance from Fairport’s often-overlooked 1996 album Old-New-Borrowed-Blue , before we were treated to what I strongly suspect was a Fairport First, as Ric took the vocal lead for a wonderful Makin’ Whoopee.  The vast Django-Stéphane catalogue was plundered yet again for versions of Honeysuckle Rose and Nuage and a fabulous St Louis Blues allowed Fairport to show off their versatility to best effect as they drafted in slices of blues and tango to complement the tune’s base layer of slippery Gypsy Jazz.

It couldn’t go on all night, although many of us in the bar that evening would have been delighted for it to do so, and Fairport steered the evening to its climax by resurrecting their version of James Taylor’s Frozen Man, another song from Old-New-Borrowed-Blue .  It’s a song about a shipwreck – a detail that Simon pointed out with a relish that was just a little disturbing – and the fate of the wreck’s sole survivor, and it was great to hear Fairport perform it again after what seems like an age.  And, to conclude a show that was as sensational as it was unexpected, the band finished with a run through Sweet Georgia Brown, the tune that Stéphane Grappelli would turn to, to end his own concerts.

Tonight was Fairport with a difference, and we loved it.  Is it too much to expect a few of these marvelous old tunes to find their way into the Fairport set – perhaps for the Cropredy acoustic spot, or for the spring and autumn tours?  Fairport’s Unconventional Swing deserves to be heard by a wider section of their audience that could fit onto Amedeus Queen on the night of 22 nd June 2022.

And Ric’s Spike Milligan interludes were great fun too!

By Day 3, Fairport’s Rhine Cruise was in full swing.  We awoke just as Amadeus Queen was passing the city of Leverkusen on its way into Cologne, where we would spend the day.  Cologne is a fine city with a stunning twin-towered cathedral and a delightful Altstadt and is the home of Kölsch, a beer style unique to the area.   We sampled all three delights in copious quantities and enjoyed scorching sunshine into the bargain.  But, for most, if not all of us, on board, the highlight of the day was, without doubt, Fairport’s BIG show, that took place in the Panorama Bar that evening.

This time, the band were introduced to the stage by Simon Care of Banter , Albion Band and Little Johnny England fame.  Opening number, Walk Awhile, was greeted rapturously by an audience that was, by this stage, totally relaxed, absolutely comfortable and pleasantly lubricated, and the atmosphere was electric. 

The previous evening’s Gypsy Jazz explorations were referenced by Peggy as he remarked how nice it was of Harmony to “…book a proper band [tonight] instead of a dodgy jazz band” before the band kicked on with Cider Rain from the Shuffle and Go album, their most recent studio offering.  The nature of the cruise, and the bar-room setting for the concerts both served to limit the amount of sound equipment that Fairport could sensibly bring on board and it was interesting to hear them play using the minimal set-up they had.  In my notes, I wrote that “They sound like a bar band – in a very good way.”  I’m not sure that’s the best way to put it, but I’m sure that those present will know what I mean.

Gerry Conway ’s percussion was as stunning as ever for Don’t Reveal My Name, Chris’s tale of a wild west card shark, and the song took an extra dimension after the demonstration of Chris’s mastery of “The evils of card tricks” (Simon’s words) the previous evening.  An attempt by Fairport’s partners to get the audience swaying along to Over The Lancashire Hills didn’t quite come off, but it was, nevertheless, wonderful to hear the song, a particular favourite of mine, back in the set.  As a Lancastrian, it was wonderful to hear this number whilst floating down the Rhine – thanks Fairport!

Simon made a hint of the ominous shape of things to come as he mentioned that he had “…a number of small amphibia in my throat” (I’ll come back to this…) before we were treated to Festival Bell, another perennial favourite.  We all joined in with the one-word chorus and, thanks to Simon’s warning, none of us were premature on the “Jack.”  Old-New-Borrowed-Blue was visited for the third time of the tour for Lalla Rookh, the song about a ship’s figurehead that Chris wrote with Maartin Allcock back in 1996, and then it was time for Ric’s “Comedy” slot.  Pleasingly, he’s come up with a whole set of new gags, and I particularly enjoyed his revelation that Handel had teamed up with Hinge & Bracket to form The Doors.  Maybe you had to be there…

Ric’s Steampunkery took us up to the interval and, yet again, I was left flabbergasted by Peggy’s work on the bass.  The man is a genius – a fact that was to become more evident as the cruise progressed, but more of that shortly.

If you think you’ve had everything that life has to offer, then try listening to Fairport playing Sloth as the River Rhine slips silently away beneath your feet.  In many ways, Sloth is the perfect song for a chilled-out river cruise and, on Amadeus Queen, Fairport delivered one of their best ever versions.  Peggy’s bass parts were as fantastic as ever and I loved the short clip of Stairway to Heaven from Simon.  Once again, the absence of sophisticated sound equipment played to Fairport’s benefit and the lack of echo effects just emphasized the band’s peerless musicianship.

The Year of ’59 had the whole boat, including the Indonesian bar staff, hand jiving and the “Jambo Bwana” refrain from Moses Waits was sung with real African passion.  Any inhibitions that any cruise participants had brought on board had been cast into the Rhine many miles back!  Perhaps the sole concession to sound effects was made for Chris’s exquisite Moondust and Solitude, which did include the recording of the radio comms between orbiting astronaut Michael Collins and his colleagues at Mission Control.  It’s a song that never fails to take my breath away.  Hiring Fair was performed as Amadeus Queen passed the riverside civic building of Bonn, the former capital city of West Germany.  It wasn’t Casterbridge or Cropredy, but it was splendidly idyllic and an experience I’ll never forget!

Once again, time had gone to wherever it goes – nobody knows where that is – and it was time to bring the evening to a close.  The week still had some days to run, and there were more Fairport appearances in the pipeline, so, for the first time in many years, we attended a Fairport show that didn’t close with Meet on the Ledge.  Instead, that honour fell to Matty Groves, with Chris starring on banjo as usual.  Satisfied, inspired and knackered, we made our respective ways back to our cabins – and it’s fantastic to commute to and from a Fairport show in a matter of seconds – to prepare ourselves for the exertions and treats of Day 4.

Day 4 was Fairport’s day off but, at breakfast time, disturbing rumours began to circulate around Amadeus Queen that all was not well.  Simon’s partner, Debbie, was observed taking selections from the breakfast buffet back to the couple’s cabin and word quickly spread that Simon had caught COVID – the previous night’s reference to the “… small amphibia” inhabiting his throat suddenly made sense.  He’d clearly been confined to barracks and, as we all know, the only things that spread quicker than COVID on board a ship are rumours…  We’d left the Rhine temporarily, and we spent the day cruising down the beautiful Mosel River to the picture-postcard village of Cochem, set amidst the Mosel vineyards, and hoping that Simon would make a quick recovery.

Sadly, the rumours were confirmed on Day 5.  Simon had, indeed contracted COVID, but – as the old cliché goes – the show would go on.  Day 5’s cruise was, perhaps, the highlight of the non-musical part of the holiday, as we made our way down the “Romantic” Rhine Valley, from Koblenz to Rüdesheim, passing (I counted, though I may be wrong) thirteen impressive castles, numerous beautiful riverside villages, vineyards galore and the breathtaking Loreley rock, whilst the members of Fairport still standing convened in the Panorama Bar to rehearse a Beatles repertoire that would now be delivered sans-Simon.

And, despite Simon’s absence, the evening’s Beatles Karaoke session was a resounding success.  It’s often said of the best musicians that you only really notice them when they’re not there, and that statement is certainly appropriate vis-à-vis Simon’s contribution to the overall Fairport sound.  But the guys soldiered on, like the true professionals they are and, with Peggy sharing the lead guitar duties with Chris, and Ric switching to ukulele bass when required, they filled the gap admirably. 

It was a fantastic evening.  Those of the audience wishing to participate, using Fairport as their backing group, had pre-registered, and those of us who hadn’t done so – I was threatened with actual violence by my wife (who has heard me sing) to discourage me from putting my name forward – sang along anyway.  And we all know every Beatles song, don’t we? 

Chris Leslie’s partner, Linda, did a wonderful job as compere for the evening, in a Cilla Black persona that was both visually and verbally convincing!  And she even got the show underway with her version of Step Inside Love!  Peggy showed that he’s no slouch as a lead guitarist with solos that drew gasps from the audience during I Saw Her Standing There and Let It Be.  Yellow Submarine, with cruise participant Larry Bode on vocals and Simon Care on squeezebox was splendidly daft and Mark Graham’s interpretation of Octopus’s Garden verged upon the surreal, but all efforts were generously and genuinely applauded by an audience that couldn’t get enough.  Obviously, the abilities of the volunteer vocalists varied widely, but special mention is certainly due for Mary Goodwin and Jane Kemp whose versions of, respectively, Yesterday and Let It Be, were excellent, and Jim Borrows who brought the show to its climax with a creditable Rocky Racoon. 

I recall that, during the days that Fairport were based around the Oxforshire village of Barford St. Michael, Beatles sessions were a regular feature in the village pub, The George.  Judging by tonight’s performance, they’ve certainly lost none of their Beatle magic.

After Saturday’s Beatlemania outbreak, Sunday was a relatively quiet day.  Most of us took a trip to the famously stunning university town of Heidelburg to see its castle and to wander around its unspoilt streets and squares, before we rejoined Amadeus Queen for a short hop to Speyer, a small city, dominated by its magnificent Romanesque cathedral.  The evening’s entertainment was an informal session in the Panorama Bar, presided over by Chris Leslie and Simon Care.

The morning of the last full day of the cruise started in Strasbourg, where we took the opportunity to visit the delightful old town and the soaring cathedral.  The evening’s excitement built slowly – we were introduced to the crew, the people who had fed, watered and piloted us to within sight of Basel, our final destination, before we enjoyed our “gala” dinner.  But the day’s focus was, of course, the trip’s final Fairport concert that got underway at around 9:30pm.

We all missed Simon – that goes without saying, and his vocal and guitar contributions were even more conspicuous by their absence tonight than they had been for the Beatles karaoke, but, those left standing stepped well up to the mark.  Peggy and Chris once again shared the guitar responsibilities and the vocal void was filled, at least to some degree, by The Fairpets – a vocal backing ensemble consisting of Linda and Debs.  I don’t know the extent to which the band changed their set to accommodate Simon’s absence, but the choice of material was inspired – as we’ll see.

Steve Sheldon, MC for the evening, explained that, as 20% of the band was missing, they would perform for (hopefully) one night only as “Fairport Convent,” then off we went into Lark in the Morning, with the audience clapping deliriously along.  Don’t Reveal My Name was next, but anyone suspecting that tonight’s show would be a rerun of the Day 3 performance had no cause for concern – this was the first of only three songs that would be repeated from the earlier show – and none of us minded that anyway!

The Bar room went suddenly dark as Amadeus Queen entered a lock, whilst Chris introduced Devil’s Work, his ode to the tribulations of DIY from his 2015 Turquoise Tales album.  It’s a song that featured regularly in the Fairport repertoire a few years back and we all enjoyed its return appearance.  Ric was sounding a bit croaky and I started to worry that he might be next on the list for the dreaded lurgy, but it didn’t stop him from regaling us with yet more gags.  I won’t repeat his “five dicks” joke here, but if you see him around the field at Cropredy, you might want to ask him to tell it…

Next up was Rosie, preceded by a wonderful anecdote from Peggy, recalling Dave Swarbrick’s romance (in Shepherd’s Bush) with the lady of that name who inspired this most durable of Swarb’s compositions.  It was a great version, with lovely backing vocals from The Fairpets.  I don’t recall ever hearing Fairport perform Hungarian Rhapsody live before – it certainly is a highly appropriate song for a river boat cruise, and Peggy once again came up with an entertaining “story behind the song.”  Egri Bikaver may longer be five shillings a bottle (as it apparently was in Hungary in 1972) but some of us HAD been drinking generous volumes of Hungarian wine, and we sang lustily along.

A genuine highlight of the evening was Debs’s lead vocal for Crazy Man Michael.  After explaining that Simon was “…really gutted [to be locked in his cabin] and sends his love” she absolutely nailed it with a beautiful rendition of a song that means so much to many Fairport followers.  Peggy reminded us that Cropredy is just around the corner before the band reprised Festival Bell, and we were taken up to The News with Dirty Linen, which, tonight, was dedicated the Laundry Staff aboard Amadeus Queen.  Even missing a guitarist, Fairport managed to fly and Peggy’s basslines were, as always, awe-inspiring.

To kick off the second half of the show, John Watterson donned his Fake Thackray persona for a couple of favourite Thackray numbers, the hilarious On Again On Again and, accompanied by Fairport, Sister Josephine.  Anyone who attended a show on Fairport’s 2013 Winter Tour will remember John – he was the warm-up act – and some may be interested to know that John’s biography of Jake Thackray will be out on 11 th August, the first day of the Cropredy Festival.

Ric remained irrepressible as he introduced Portmerion, everyone’s favourite Ric tune ( “If you take too much LDS it makes you dyslexic” is one example of his intro patter) but that didn’t detract from the sheer beauty of the tune.  Yes, Simon’s guitar was missed, but Chris contributed some divine mandolin parts and we all loved it.  Year of ’59 was as joyful as ever and, once again, we hand-jived along before Peggy genuinely astounded us all with a fantastic version of Richard Thompson’s Down Where the Drunkards Roll.  Dave Pegg on lead guitar and vocals, ladies and gentlemen! – he sang the song with real passion, and Ric’s violin was marvelous.

Chris’s My Love is in America slowed things down a touch before the fiddles were turned to full bore for a rousing John Gaudie – and Amadeus Queen was nearly rocked onto the banks of the Rhine.  But now it was bedtime and the party, and the holiday, was over.  Debs and Linda stepped back on stage to take Simon’s traditional parting vocal, and the boat swayed once again to Meet on the Ledge.  Indeed, it does All Come Round Again and it will be doing so in an Oxfordshire field, very very soon.

All that was left was to bid our fond farewells to our traveling companions, the people who were strangers when we boarded Amadeus Queen back on the 21 st June but were now firm friends.  Tomorrow, we’d be disembarking in Basel and heading our separate ways, but plans to Meet on the Ledge have already been made – we’ll all be together again at noon on Saturday 13 th August at the top of THAT field to relive some memories and, perhaps, to meet up again on the next Fairport Cruise…

And, by the way, if I’ve managed to make our Fairport Rhine Cruise sound like fun – and hopefully I have – plans for a 2023 cruise, this time on the River Rhone in France, have already been made by Harmony Voyages.  If you fancy going along, my advice is to get in quickly – there was already lots of interest being expressed by those on board Amadeus Queen.  Details are available here .

Get yourself in the Cropredy mood! Watch Fairport Convention perform The Hiring Fair here:

Fairport Convention Online:  Website  /  Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Instagram  /  YouTube

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Categories: Live Reviews

Tagged as: Fairport Convetion , Featured , folk , Rhine Cruises

Published by John Barlass

John has been a music obsessive since he first heard 'Love Me Do' seeping out of the family radio in 1962. he spent a career in the rail industry before turning back to his first love of music. He plays bass guitar and melodeon, loves folk/rock and lives in Warwick. View all posts by John Barlass

6 replies »

Hi John. Lovely review of the week. Just one quibble – as I was MC, it was my introduction on the last night that mentioned Fairport Convent, not Peggy. Cheers.

Hi Steve – Apologies for the error. I couldn’t read my scribbled notes and, as some of my recollections were (for the obvious reason) a little hazy, I wrote what I THOUGHT had happened. I’ve now corrected the error and given you the credit you deserve! Best wishes – John

Thanks John. Much appreciated.

Hi – great review ! My surname isn’t Serman – it’s Graham! And I hope my performance of Octopus’s Garden was surreal in a good way ! The Rocky Racoon singer was Jim Borrows

Hi Mark – Many thanks for your comments. First of all – apologies for mishearing and mis-recording your name. I’ve now corrected that error, and thanks for providing Jim’s surname – that’s also now included in the review. Your take on Octopus’s Garden (a song I’ve always considered to be a little surreal anyway) was certainly surreal in a good way – I thought that you took Ringo’s interpretation to the next level! Thanks for getting in touch – I’m really looking forward to bumping into all my fellow travelers at Cropredy. Only three weeks to go now…! Best Wishes – John

What a great review and has brought back many memories about the week. Super photos too. Definitely a superb holiday.

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• Richard Thompson - Rhine River Cruise 2023 , Basel, 09 Jun 2023

Richard Thompson will perform at Rhine River Cruise 2023 festival in Basel, Switzerland on 09 June 2023. Don't forget to share your concert experiences and memories.

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Richard Thompson Rhine River Cruise 2022 Basel , 14-06-2022 - 21-06-2022

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The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

3 nights on board with Richard Thompson

The Amadeus Queen, Basel – Amsterdam

Date: 18/06/2022

About 3 years ago I was at Costa Del Folk in Portugal and chatting with a bloke I hsdn’t previously met. We did the standard “How many of these events have you been to” exchange and he told me this was his first but that he had been on the Show of Hands Rhine Cruise, organised by the same people who run Costa Del Folk. I expressed surprise and said it had struck me as being incredibly expensive. He said it had been ruinously expensive, absolutely bloody brilliant and he didn’t regret a penny of it. So fast forward 5 months and on my wedding anniversary in drops an email advertising a 7-day Rhine Cruise hosted by Fairport Convention. I saw this as God’s way of telling me to book. Along came Covid and it got postponed for a year. At some point they advertised a similar cruise hosted by Richard Thompson but it was even more expensive and I recognised that my GLW is not a major RT fan. I was thinking Fairport were big enough and could play in enough splinter groups to provide 6 nights of entertainment. None of the 2021 cruised actually happened and I was again offered to hold our booking until June 2022 with Fairport hosting from Amsterdam to Basel. But now I notice the previous week from Basel to Amsterdam features RT for 3 nights with support from 2 excellent bands, Broom Bezzums and the mighty Track Dogs both of who we have seen and enjoyed several times at Costa Del Folk. As regards the extra money I told myself that we hadn’t spent a lot over the pandemic and this would be our first holiday for 3 years. And so it came to pass: we boarded the Amadeus Queen on Tues 14th June and cruised on the Rhine and Moselle arriving in time to spend the last full day in Amsterdam. I had been getting the feeling that it hadn’t sold that well. It transpired that the initial interest had been from the US and that had pulled out in droves once the Ukraine invasion started. As a result our cruise was half full but with a full complement of crew. Not good for the organisers who had chartered the ship for 2 weeks but great for the punters. The cruise itself was great, comfortable, on-time, and the bar prices were OK considering we were a captive audience, We did an excursion every day which kept us busy. We ate a cooked breakfast, a 4 course lunch and a 5 course dinner every day and after about day 3 found ourselves getting peckish in mid afternoon. Our fellow passengers were good company and were all there to enjoy the evening concerts. I was a tad disappointed when it was announced a few weeks earlier that RT would join the cruise for the latter part and play consecutively for the last 3 nights. I also thought he would play the advertised 1 hour whereas the support bands had gone well over time every night. Maybe that news had reached RT because he played 75 minutes on his first night including the last 15 with his wife Zara. Songs included Gensis Hall, Dimming of the Day, Bright Lights Tonight, Wall of death. He thanked us at the end and said he hoped we’d enjoyed it the set as he’d be doing it all again tomorrow. Then a quick laugh and an assurance of no repeats throughout the week. My first thought was he has the back catalogue to allow that but I then thought that having written and recorded a stack of songs is one thing but being able to perform adequately is another thing altogether. I watched him close up all 3 nights. He was clearly nervous at the first show, forgot a few words and even made a few guitar errors but he visibly relaxed as the shows progressed. I was front row centre for his 2nd night which was terrific including I Misunderstood, Valerie, Persuasion, Beeswing, Crocodile Tears, Vincent Black Lightning, Who Knows Where the Time Goes?. Zara joined in from Jet Plane in a Rocking Chair onwards. The US-based RT superfan beside me had left a polite note asking for Ghost of You Walks and it duly appeared on the list and received a glorious performance from RT, probably the highlight of a very high quality set. The final night was billed as RT plus special guests. I had assumed this would be collaborations with various members of the support bands but one of my fellow passengers pointed out that as we’d be moored in Amsterdam all day, Fairport were almost certainly in town waiting to board the following day. Not wishing to be accused of seat-hogging I went for a more distant approach, a whole 3 rows back to enjoy this absolutely wonderful final show of a most excellent week. RT told us he’d split the show into 2. The first set included Ghosts in the Wind, Bathsheba Smiles, and the pandemic theme song Keep Your Distance plus some rarer gems in Hamlet, and The Great Valerio . After a 15m break RT and Zara were joined by special guests Dave “got the T-shirt” Pegg & Simon Nicol to perform 8 songs including a bunch from Full House. Despite genuine claims of no rehearsal they sounded fantastic. The encore was an unexpected cover of “I’m Down” normally associated with a fab Merseyside quartet. RT enlisted Robbie K. Jones from the Track Dogs to provide the backbeat. Here’s the setlist for you RT factfans:- Hand of Kindness Doctor of Physick Sloth Wall of Death Now Be Thankful Tearstained Letter Poor Will & the Jolly Hangman I’m Down

What did I learn? Well, I noticed he plays predominantly in Drop-D. He can still sing powerfully and can reach the top notes. He has a new soundman as longtime techie Simon Tassano has retired. His replacement Tristan did a great job and when I chatted to him he came across as a polite, humble and approachable young man, somewhat in contrast to my sole encounter with his predecessor. As you might expect RT kept himself fairly distant but the punters respected his privacy and requests for signings were granted by appointment. I have 2 friends who had booked on the Fairport cruise and I knew they would be insanely jealous that I got to see the Full House set, because although Fairport were getting on the boat the following day (Tuesday), RT was flying off presumably to prepare for Glastonbury. However on Friday his FB announced that he had tested +ve for Covid on Wednesday after 2 years of escaping it and would therefore have to cancel his Glastonbury performance. So where did he get that from, I ask myself. And bear in mind the Fairport Cruise is Sold Out. My spies tell me that Simon was nowhere to be seen yesterday.

The audience:

Only 80 of us, mostly Brits but maybe 10% from USA. A few who’d come to see one or other of the support bands. The overwhelming majority had never been to Costa Del Folk and in many cases had never even heard of it. Everyone was well behaved and it made for an enjoyable atmosphere.

It made me think..

What would have happened it RT had contracted Covid either just before or during the Cruise? Presumably the organisers are insured for that scenario but there would have been 80 punters expressing their displeasure and rightly pointing out that he was the reason we are all there. If we were 4 days in and it suddenly became clear his 3 nights weren’t going to happen that could have been tricky all round. Anyway, back to the plot. I haven’t see RT since Oct 2017 when his performance was marred by an unappetising sound mix. I’m pleased to report that he performed very well and I was very happy to witness it.

26/06/2022 at 14:22

3 pics taken from my phone here. Click and scroll

RT Rhine Cruise June 2022

26/06/2022 at 14:23

Interesting review. The Rhein & Mosel are pretty heavenly this time of year anyway.

26/06/2022 at 15:01

Forgot to make a feeble joke about Turning of the Tide.

26/06/2022 at 14:48

It may be worth seeing him again if tassano has retired, his sound mixing left a lot to be desired.

He certainly had a tendency to crank the band line ups to 11 at any venue he was allowed to.

27/06/2022 at 09:01

I was coming here to say exactly that. His hearing retired about 20 years ago.

26/06/2022 at 15:47

I looked at something similar with Gretchen Peters in October. Now you’ve got me wondering…

26/06/2022 at 16:23

Does she know about this yet?

26/06/2022 at 16:03

Did you step off to enjoy the delights of Bonn or Cologne on the way?

26/06/2022 at 16:59

We had a Sunday Morning excursion in Koln which was mostly shut and noticeably untidy compared to other places we’d visited. Our first view of the cathedral was from the river path and the view was marred by a railway viaduct leading to the Station. I told our Guide it was handy that they had built the Cathedral so close to the railway line and Station. He looked for me for a few seconds and said “They weren’t built then”. Our walk into Speyer coincided with the catholic celebration of Corpus Christi and we witnessed a large parade including guys pushing trollies with battery soundsystems playing hymns. By contrast our visit to Rudesheim coincided with a week long Harley-Davidson convention. This involved a market with a Jack Daniels Whisky bar, and a concert tent with a Rammstein Tribute band parked behind.

26/06/2022 at 19:13

Cologne is a city designed by the RAF – they bombed everything flat except the Dom (over 600 years in construction and being renovated in a Forth bridge stylee to this day), which was a useful direction finder from the air, being so tall and all. It’s been described as Gormenghast inside an NCP car park.

Cologne is a whacky Stadt, that really comes into its own at Carnival (and the innuendo is well placed – the birthrate 9 months after Aschermittwoch is significantly higher than the rest of the year, not always to longstanding partners) – Bonn is significantly more sedate.

Corpus Christi – one of the last of the long chain of spring/summer religious holidays in Catholic Germany – literally translated from the German as Happy Corpse Day – is particularly mad – processions of white-clad choirs, often led by censer-waving clerics at the front wafting thick clouds of incense, beating the bounds of the neighborhood, like some sort of Father Ted/Wicker Man mash up – scares the fuck out of me, to be honest.

Sounds like you had a better experience in Rudersheim.

26/06/2022 at 21:17

27/06/2022 at 07:16

Cologne was always one of my favourite German cities but I went there one year before Covid and found it to be dirty and rat infested – I guess from the river. I am going on a music cruise in November from LAX – something I have long looked forward to and hope all goes without a hitch. I saw him perform m with Zara in Brum either just before Covid or in between one of the lock downs. I am a massive RT fan but not a massive fan of her voice – she is no Linda that’s for sure.A great review by the way. Did he play any new songs.”?

27/06/2022 at 08:31

I saw him with his daughter being Linda for a few numbers. That was sensational. That I would pay proper money to see as a whole show.

27/06/2022 at 10:50

And along with son in law James Walbourne and grandson Zak Hobbs that would be an excellent night. Hopefully seeing Mr Walbourne next week.

27/06/2022 at 11:49

He played at least 2 new songs. Sorry I can’t remember the titles. He said they would likely be on an RT Band album due to start recording soon. I purloined the setlist from his 2nd performance and one song is written as Lost. The final one in that set was called when the Saints Rise Out of their Graves

27/06/2022 at 09:06

As a primary school child, we took a sleeper train from King’s Cross to Edinburgh. Breakfasting in the buffet car, we pulled into Berwick upon Tweed, which has a view of the castle atop the hill. There was a middle-aged high-BMI American couple at the table opposite.

“Hun. Why did they build the castle so close to the rail station. Wouldn’t the trains keep them awake at night?”

My mum had to restrain me from educating them, Mr Logic style.

26/06/2022 at 16:22

A chum of mine is on the Fairport leg, Nicol present and correct.

26/06/2022 at 17:00

My spies tell me he didn’t take part in last nights concert which was a Beatles Karaoke night with Fairport as the backing band.

28/06/2022 at 17:12

That cruise has now finished. My source tells me Simon played the first 2 nights and missed the remaining 4. She said the rest of Fairport did themselves proud in covering for him

30/06/2022 at 19:31

How ghastly.

26/06/2022 at 17:22

Nice work Vinnie. Some of those cruises in the States are massive. Big cruise ships , multiple bands. Southern Rock and American Troubadours seemed to be popular themes.

27/06/2022 at 08:20

@Junior-Wells I am doing the Outlaw West tour from Lax in November which has amongst others Steve Earle, Los Lobos, Lucinda Williams, Dave Alvin and Chuck Prophet. Pretty excited and I thought the price was reasonable.

27/06/2022 at 09:47

Saw that one. Jealous. You must tell us all about it.

26/06/2022 at 18:36

Great review, thanks. Thompson has the back catalogue to do several nights in a row with different setlists, especially when you throw in his terrific ability to do all sorts of unlikely covers. Sounds like it was a fun few days.Mind you I think if I suggested to Mrs BB three days locked on a boat listening to Richard Thompson she would have lots to say about it, none of it polite.

27/06/2022 at 11:26

Funny, when I hear the word “cruising”, I think of something rather different:

I’m just wondering where Pedro de Pacas gets on.

20/07/2022 at 15:49

Come on chaps…

27/06/2022 at 17:01

We did the ‘taster’ cruise on the Amadeus Queen in April with Fairport. There was another ship with Fascinating Aida alongside, so we got one night of each act, and the first night was settling in. Yes, it was a bit pricey, but the service was 5 star and the food was wonderful. I got to chat with Peggy and Chris Leslie, and briefly with Rick and Simon’s other half. It was their first one, and clearly a rehearsal in a way for their longer trip. We really enjoyed it, but not sure we would take a much longer cruise (this was 3 nights). Mostly Fairporters in board, including lots of Cropredy goers, so we had a lot in common with virtually everybody we met.

The music was brilliant, but we didn’t cruise much – a day trip from Amsterdam to Horrn was about it – and it did all get a bit Hi De Hi with the host telling us what was going on etc.

20/07/2022 at 11:35

There’s a very thorough article of the Fairport cruise here, detailing how they managed to play 4 nights without Simon Nicol.

https://atthebarrier.com/2022/07/14/what-we-did-on-our-holidays-fairports-rhine-cruise-2022-the-full-story/

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ELECTROSTAL HISTORY AND ART MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• (0.19 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.21 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.27 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.18 mi) Elemash
• (1.36 mi) Hotel Djaz
• (0.07 mi) Prima Bolshogo
• (0.13 mi) Makecoffee
• (0.25 mi) Amsterdam Moments
• (0.25 mi) Pechka
• (0.26 mi) Mazhor

RICHARD THOMPSON DANUBE RIVER CRUISE

15 - 22 june 2021.

If you're not ready to book but have further questions then please feel free to email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help

• Free-flowing red & white wines from Europe’s famous wine regions, beer & soft drinks with every lunch and dinner on board

Gourmet dining every night

Services of an experienced English-speaking onboard Cruise Director

24 hour coffee station

5 nights of programmed entertainment (First and last night will be impromptu)

Bottled water in every stateroom

Complimentary Wi-Fi onboard

Complimentary use of onboard bicycles

Complimentary state-of-the-art audio headsets for optional excursions

All local taxes & port charges included

Optional Excursion Package available (please ask for details)

Airport transfer to/from ship on 15/06/21 & 22/06/21

Richard Thompson will perform three shows on board during the week on the following days:

Thursday 17, Saturday 19 & Monday 21.

All shows will take place in the Panorama Bar and commence after the dinner service in the Restaurant.

Joining Richard on the cruise will be acclaimed Welsh born singer-songwriter and pianist, Judith Owen. Expect re-worked jazz versions of rock classics like Soundgarden's 'Black Hole Sun', Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' and even a fresh take on Survivor's arena rock anthem, 'Eye of the Tiger' as well as plenty of self-penned material bringing a singular sense of humour and raw emotionalism that is both poignant and funny.

DAY 1 - EMBARKATION – BUDAPEST

• This afternoon, embark Amadeus Queen and get settled into your cabin. During the evening, enjoy a welcome cocktail, followed by a specially-prepared welcome dinner.
• Afterwards enjoy meeting your fellow sailors in the lounge followed by an atmospheric evening cruise through Budapest.

DAY 2 - BRATISLAVA

• In the morning, we call at our next capital city - the Slovakian capital of Bratislava. Walking through the city, see the home of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, the old city walls, the summer residence of the archbishop and the current residence of the president of Slovakia. You can also walk through the restored old town, from Michael’s Gate, and admire sights such as the Primatial Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral, a former coronation cathedral for Hungarian kings.
• This afternoon's optional excursion offers the opportunity to visit impressive Schloss Hof, a former Imperial Palace acquired in 1726 by Eugene of Savoy and redesigned to impress Empress Maria Theresia - with its aristocratic palace, terraced garden and tranquil estate farm.
• This evening join your fellow travellers for a delicious dinner followed by entertainment in the lounge as we depart Solvakia and cross into Austria.

DAY 3 - DURNSTEIN - MELK

• The romantic Wachau is one of the most beautiful landscape regions of Austria, and in the morning your AMADEUS ship docks in Dürnstein, a town well known for its first-class wines, which you can taste during the morning sightseeing walk.
• At lunchtime, we continue towards Melk and Emmersdorf. Enjoy magnificent architecture and fascinating glimpses into history on the optional excursion, including a visit to the Benedictine Abbey of Melk, which is approximately 900 years old and is the largest Baroque abbey in Austria.
• In the evening, we leave the Wachau Valley and head for Passau.
• Entertainment in the Lounge after Dinner.

DAY 4 - PASSAU

• Today we arrive in the Bavarian city of Passau, also known as the “City of Three Rivers”, where the mighty Danube converges with the green Inn River and the Ilz River.
• You can visit the romantic old town in the afternoon on a sightseeing walk, allowing yourself to be inspired by Passau’s winding lanes and historical buildings. In the late afternoon, we return to our ship to continue our journey to Regensburg.

DAY 5 - REGENSBURG

• In the morning, we arrive in Regensburg, which boasts one of the most beautiful old towns in Germany.
• After breakfast embark on an optional walking tour to view the sights and cultural treasures of this romantic town. In the afternoon you can visit the well-known Weltenburg Abbey with its own brewery where you can taste its famous, dark Weltenburg beer.
• Late afternoon we head for Linz and on board in the evening, a traditional Bavarian dinner awaits you.

DAY 6 - LINZ

• Early in the morning we arrive in the erstwhile cultural capital of Linz.
• Today, you have a choice between an optional full-day excursion to the Mozart-town of Salzburg, or a sightseeing walk through Linz.

DAY 7 - VIENNA

• There is much to see in Imperial Vienna: its palaces, Museums Quarter displaying works by artists Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, the impressive buildings along the Ringstrasse, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the famous Vienna State Opera among many others.
• This afternoon perhaps venture to Schönbrunn Palace, the sumptuous Summer Palace and gardens of Empress Maria Theresia and the Habsburg empire.

DAY 8 - BUDAPEST

• This morning, following your final delicious breakfast on board we bid farewell. Airport transfer details will be available for those with flights departing the same day or the crew will gladly assist with arranging taxi transfers to specific city hotels for anyone staying in Budapest.

Prices are per person and do not include flights. Please contact us if you require assistance with your travel arrangements.

Please note: a deposit of £200pp is required to secure your booking.

Q: Are flights included?  

A: No, you are responsible for your own travel arrangements to and from the ship.  However, we are happy to assist with booking flights on your behalf.  Please contact us for details if you require assistance  

Q:  Which airport to I need to fly into / home from?   

A:  Your airport of arrival and departure is Budapest (BUD)    

Q: Are airport transfers included?   A: Transfers are included from Budapest Airport to the ship on 15 th June and from the ship to Budapest Airport on 22 nd J une .    

Should you opt to extend your stay at the end of your cruise, you will be responsible for your own transfer to the airport.  The crew will be happy to assist with taxis from the ship to your Hotel on disembarkation day.  

Q: What time can I board the ship on Embarkation day?   A: You can normally board from 1pm but your stateroom may not be available until after 3pm .  You will be able to enjoy the ships facilities until your room is ready to be occupied.  

Q: What time is disembarkation from?   A: As the ship has a quick turnaround, you will be required to vacate your cabin after breakfast on the day of departure.  If you have a late flight or transfer you may be able to store your luggage on board until later in the day, depending on the ship’s itinerary.  The crew on board will be happy to assist.  

Q: Is there WiFi on board?   A: Yes WiFi is provided in all public areas of the ship.  However, during the trip the signal may be weaker in certain sections of the route.  

Q: Is there an elevator on board?   A: All AMADEUS ships have a guest elevator, which operates between the Mozart and Haydn decks. The sun deck is not accessible by elevator.  

Q: What is the dress code on board?   A: We want to you feel comfortable on board, t he dress code is casual during the day and in the evening smart casual.  Think what would I wear for a meal out in a restaurant at home ?  

Q: What is the electrical current on board?   A: The voltage in hotels and onboard ship is 230V, European standard. To use any electrical product that is not dual voltage (e.g. from the US, Canada, Australia or the UK), you will need a plug adaptor and some devices will require an electrical converter. Many electronic devices have built-in electrical converters, however please check the manufacturer’s specifications for details. A two-pole adaptor is also available at reception.  

Q: Mooring and Docking   A: Local river authorities allocate docking space around ship arrivals and departures in port. Occasionally port conditions require ships to tie up alongside each other, in which case guests may be required to walk through another ship to access their own ship. This is part of the river cruise experience and is perfectly normal and beyond our control. Guests may experience obstructed views from staterooms when the ship is docked.   

Q: What is the currency on board the ship   A: The currency on board all AMADEUS ships is EURO However, you may also settle your account in (GBP) Sterling or (USD) American Dollars  

Q: What about gratuities?   A: Gratuities for the ship’s staff and crew are not included in your cruise price. You may pre-pay gratuities through our office with a suggested amount of USD 12.00 / EUR 11.00 per person per day. Alternately you may wish to tip onboard in cash or add a gratuity to your onboard account.    

Gratuities for drivers and guides for optional excursions are not included in the excursion price. A suggested amount is 1-2 EUR per person for half day excursion & 2-3 EUR per person for the full day excursion given directly to the guide and driver.  

What to pack:   The following items are essential for any destination: sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, and maybe an umbrella. It is recommended that you bring duplicates of prescription eyewear, copies of prescriptions for any medications (generic equivalents are usually easier to obtain), copies of credit card information, and copies of your passport information pages.   

An adapter/transformer may be necessary (the on-board power supply is 230V AC/50 Hz) if you bring any electronic devices with you.   

Clothing:   Comfortable, casual clothing is appropriate both onshore and onboard and we suggest lightweight clothing that can be layered. Shorts are appropriate for most tours, however long pants may be required for inside visits on some excursions. Your cruise manager will advise when and if this is required. You may find a significant amount of walking over uneven terrain during your time ashore. We recommend comfortable walking shoes with good ankle support. Sturdy sandals are another good option.   

Don’t forget to pack a lightweight, waterproof jacket (preferably hooded) or even a heavier-weight wind-breaker for cooler temperatures. Also, keep in mind that the ship, coaches and other venues visited on our itinerary are air conditioned and may be quite cool. We recommend you that you pack a lightweight sweater or long sleeve shirts and carry them with you on excursions.   

On all our excursions you’ll be provided with a wireless AMADEUS listening device. The receiver can be worn quite comfortably around the neck or carried in a bag. The comfortable headphones allow you to hear your experienced tour guide’s explanations with the very best acoustic quality. Enjoy complete freedom of movement, without missing any of the interesting commentary. 

Important Information:

• All excursions can be booked in advance or aboard. (For organisational reasons, some excursions can only be booked aboard).
• Minimum participation for excursions by bus: 20 people.
• Minimum participation for excursions on foot: 12 people.
• The schedule of individual excursions can vary; this is partly due to the volume of traffic in the cities and the opening hours of facilities.
• Please remember to wear sturdy shoes as well as comfortable, waterproof clothing when attending the excursions.
• When exploring on your own, please remember to return to the vessel in time for its departure. If you miss the departure, you have to travel to the next port at your own expense. You will find the all aboard time in the daily programme.
• Itineraries and prices are subject to alterations.

Walking Grade:

Some excursions involve a fair amount of walking, sometimes over uneven surfaces. The following coding system has been used to assist with identifying which excursions are appropriate for you. Please ask your cruise director for additional information as required.

• LEVEL 1: Minimum walking; excursion by bus with short photo stops.
• LEVEL 2: The excursion by bus is followed by a moderate walking tour. You may need to climb some stairs.
• LEVEL 3: The excursion by bus is followed by a longer walk. You may need to climb several stairs.
• LEVEL 4: Moderate walking tour. You may need to climb some stairs.
• LEVEL 5: Considerable walk with longer distances. This may include uneven surfaces and some stairs.

CITY TOUR OF BRATISLAVA  

Get to know the capital of the young Slovakian Republic. The gorgeous old town has maintained its Gothic-Baroque style. The tour passes St. Martin’s Cathedral and the Grassalkovich Palace and continues up to the hill above the old town, where you will have a stunning, panoramic view of the city and surrounding areas. Afterwards, a guided walking tour leads you through the restored old town. From Michael’s Gate you will take a leisurely stroll through the historic city centre, where you can admire sights such as the Primatial Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral, a former coronation cathedral for Hungarian kings, as well as the Academia Istropolitana, the oldest university of the city, which dates back to the 15th century. In addition to numerous palaces, you will also see the main square with the old City Hall, the Opera House and Maximilian Fountain.  

Duration: approx. 3 hrs  Walking Grade: 2

DÜRNSTEIN WALKING TOUR  

Situated in the heart of the magnificent Wachau valley, on the banks of the mighty river Danube, this well-known wine village offers the unique combination of breathtaking scenery, traditional architecture and places of historic interest. Walk through the picturesque old town of Dürnstein, past the town walls and the Pranger Square with its lovely view of the castle ruins. Walk along the Convent of Klarissen, past the Baroque monastery and the pedestrian area, to the charming Hotel Schloss Dürnstein.  

Duration: approx. 1.5 hrs                    Walking Grade: 4

EXCURSION TO MELK ABBEY   

Melk Abbey is an Austrian Benedictine abbey and one of the world’s most famous monastic sites. The impressive Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 and is the biggest monastery complex of the Austrian Baroque period. The abbey’s church, with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr, and the impressive library with countless medieval manuscripts and frescos by Paul Troger are particularly noteworthy.  

A guided tour takes you through the abbot’s chambers, along the imperator’s walk, through the marble hall, the balconies and the library. At the end of the tour we will invite you for a complimentary glass of wine. 

Duration: approx. 4 hrs  Walking Grade: 3

PASSAU WALKING TOUR   

Join us on a gorgeous walk through the old city of Passau. The Baroque city on three rivers has long been a magnet for traders and travellers. It will astonish you from your first moments in its winding streets. In the heart of the Old Town lies our most known site — St. Stephen’s Cathedral, often known as a Baroque cathedral with a Gothic soul. The impressive pipe organ helps make St. Stephen’s a true highlight of our three river city. High above the Old Town sits one of the largest fortress complexes in all Europe — the Veste Oberhaus which can be discovered on your own at the end of the walking tour. Accessible via the exterior walls, never conquered, never completely destroyed; it is a prime example of long term historical construction.  

Duration: approx. 2 hrs  Walking Grade: 5

REGENSBURG WALKING TOUR   

Regensburg is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Germany with its impressive historic buildings. Among these architectural treasures are churches, monasteries, the town hall and one of Europe’s oldest bridges that has spanned the Danube since the 12th century. During this walk you will feel the former power and wealth of this city, which once controlled the trade route to the Orient. During a short visit to the Regensburg Cathedral, dedicated to St. Peter, you can admire this masterpiece of Gothic architecture in southern Germany. (Visits depend on the opening hours and the celebration of mass). 

Duration: approx. 2 hrs  Walking Grade: 4

LINZ WALKING TOUR   

Discover the upper Austrian state capital Linz on a walking tour. It was a provincial and local government city of the Holy Roman Empire, and an important trade centre, connecting several trade routes. As the city where the Habsburg Emperor Friedrich III spent his last years, it was, for a short period of time, the most important city in the Empire. It lost its status to Vienna and Prague after the death of the Emperor in 1493. There are many things worth seeing in Linz. Take a stroll down the main street, which leads to the main square. In addition to the medieval town square in the historic old town and the Mozarthaus, you can see Baroque bourgeois family houses, the old cathedral with the Bruckner organ or the new cathedral. Visits depend on Cathedral and Mass openings/times. Visible from afar is the pilgrimage basilica on the mountain Poestling, the landmark of the town. A modern counterpart are the Lentos art museum and the Ars Electronica centre, with its striking glass facade. If time allows, explore the local bakeries for a taste of the famous Linzer Torte (Linzer Cake). 

FULL-DAY EXCURSION TO SALZBURG WITH SALZKAMMERGUT AND LUNCH  

A two-hour coach ride will bring you to Salzburg — the city of music. The old town with its world-famous Baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centres north of the Alps. It was adopted by UNESCO in 1997 and is included on its list of World Cultural Heritage Sites. During the guided tour through the old town you will see the birth house of Mozart (exterior only), as well as other well-known attractions, such as the ‘Getreidegasse‘ and the gorgeous cathedral of the town and the area of the Salzburg festival.  

After enjoying an included lunch, head to the picturesque village of Mondsee, best known as a film location for the famous movie “The Sound of Music”. Enjoy the beautiful scenery as you return to the ship. 

Duration: approx. 9.5 hrs  Walking Grade: 3

CITY TOUR OF VIENNA  

Over the last centuries, Vienna was the imperial capitol and residence of the Habsburg family and developed into a cultural and political centre of Europe, during this period. 

While it may take days or weeks to fully discover Vienna, this tour will introduce you to the most important sights Vienna has to offer. Begin with a panoramic drive along the famous Ringstrasse, passing several magnificent buildings like the stunning opera house, the parliament, the Court Theatre and Vienna’s imposing city hall. Continue with a guided walk through the city centre. Begin at the well-known Hofburg Imperial Palace, walk along the Kohl market and finish at Vienna’s iconic St. Stephen’s cathedral. Before returning to the ship, enjoy free time to explore the pedestrian area. 

Duration: approx. 3.5 hrs  Walking Grade: 2