Other vacation ideas

We've done many bus tours and only one river cruise.  In the future I would like to do another river cruise.

River cruises are available in North American on the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake Rivers.  There are numerous European, Russian and Asian river cruises.  River cruises typically have 160 passengers, include shore excursions and have unlimited free Wi-Fi!  The cruises dock right in the town you are visiting.  Getting off and on is so easy, no huge lines like the big ships.  Most have bicycles and lots of people go for a bike ride or walk before breakfast.  The ships are narrow and the staterooms are small.  Most have french balconies because they try to make the staterooms as spacious as possible.   Our river cruise was from Passau, Germany to Budapest.  We navigated through thirteen locks!  The ships can only be as wide as the locks will permit for safe passage.

Shore excursions are conducted by a local guide.  You are given a headset so you can easily hear everything the guide says.  There were bus and walking tours.  Unfortunately wheel chairs do not roll very easy on the cobblestones of the old villages.  Walking tours are slow so everyone can keep up.

Food and wine on river cruises is local.  In Germany we had Schnitzel and German wine.  In Hungary we had Goulash and Hungarian wine.  There were about three or four dinner choices.  If you want American type meals, you would be disappointed.  The food was superb!  Dinner wine was included and free flowing.

Entertainment is local.  It's not the same caliber as you would find on a large ocean liner but it's entertaining.  When we crossing the German/Austrian border the keyboard player did a gorgeous rendition of  "Edelweiss".  They also offered a strudel making demonstration one afternoon while we were sailing down the Danube.  The little things that make great memories.

Bus tours in Europe are a good way to see the countryside.  Tours are included but few companies include lunches or dinners in their packages.  Packing a suitcase and getting to the bus for an early start day after day is a down side.  There are different configurations so if you need extra legroom you can take a bus tour with fewer people.  If you want a budget tour they are also available.

If you are planning a European vacation in 2020, every ten years the little town of Oberammergau in the Bavarian Alps, performs a Passion Play.  It's been performed every ten years since 1634. 1,830 local men and women will perform in the play   It is being performed from May 16 to October 4, 2020.  You may want to check it out as it books up very quickly.  You can access it via river cruise, bus tour or on your own.  The reviews are excellent.

https://www.passionsspiele-oberammergau.de/en/home