The breakfast is all buffet with plenty of choice, both hot and cold. The dining area is not cramped and there is an atmosphere of relaxation about the place.
Between Passau and Vienna are 11 locks and they are rather large. We always seem to go through them at mealtimes but we do enter one this morning while everybody is on deck and this drop in water level is 16m – about 50feet!
At 10:30 we are given a talk on the excursions on offer by Petra, the cruise director. We have include five excursions in the price so it is only any optional trips that people will have to pay for. They are all expensive with an average price of about £30! I will have to put our day trip prices up!
Due to our late departure yesterday I think we missed one of our slots through a lock so today’s programme is running a bit late.
We have an early lunch at 11:45 as we are probably going to moor up before Vienna and be taken into the city by coach for our city tour.
This doesn’t happen as we cruise right into Vienna and then wait for our announcement about which coach we are on and picking up our microphone boxes and also our boarding cards.
We have all been given an earpiece and on disembarkation are given a microphone box that should help us hear the guide talking when off the bus.
You also have to obtain a boarding card with your cabin number and ships phone number on it. When you return to the ship you have to return your boarding card so the ship know who is on board and who is still ashore.
We are due to depart on our city tour 13:15 but it is nearer 14:00 when we finally get away.
The English group are called forward first and we are on coach number one.
The ride in to the centre of Vienna does not show the city in its best light but once on the inner ring road the architecture is magnificent.
Our guide is Hilda and we are off on our tour of Vienna. The tour is very good with the last part being a walking tour through the city centre. It is very busy today because this weekend is a free weekend for all of the museums and as well as free admission they stay open a lot later which encourages many more people to visit.
The highlight of the tour for Hilda was seeing the Vienna Boys Choir walking from their coach to a concert hall for a concert. They all looked like little sailors in their uniform.
I needed Colin’s help to fit my earpiece, I just couldn’t work out how it fitted! Doughnut!
It is a bit of a strain to keep everyone together but we all manage it and hopefully everyone enjoys Vienna.
We are back on the boat at about 17:30 with dinner at 19;30. Before dinner we are all asked to meet in the panorama bar for a presentation of the crew by the Captain.
He explains in German the dimensions of the ship, how much fuel and water it carries and lots of other interesting information in his 10 minute spiel
Andy, the hotel manager, repeats the talk in English and only takes a couple of minutes!
The heads of departments are introduced to music and applause before we all adjourn to the dining room for a 6 course dinner plus tea and coffee.
Our drinks waiter is having a bit of fun tonight and puts a glass of schnapps down in front of Ted who asks what it is.
“Viagara!” The waiter replies
Cue much hilarity and silly jokes around the table.
“At 94 it will need to be good stuff” Ted informs us!
When he did take a sip he nearly lost his voice it was so strong!
A funny evening.
In the bar after dinner Roland is performing his music with a few dancers on the floor when I call it a day.
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