2 July
Today’s stop was Vienna, the “City of Waltzes”. We explored Austria’s capital, starting with a drive along the Ringstrasse, where we saw Vienna’s world-famous Opera House, Burgtheatre, Spanish Riding School (not the actual horses), Town Hall, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg Imperial Palace.
08:30 – 09:30 – City tour by bus in four groups. A walking tour near St Stephen’s Cathedral followed it.
9:30 – 12:30 – Explore the city on your own.
14:30 – We chose not to take the bus back to the ship for lunch but instead had lunch in the city and caught a later bus at 14:30 when the rains came down.
14:30 – 17:30 – Rest on board.
17:30 – Port talk by the cruise director.
17:45 – 19:45 – Buffet dinner.
19:30 – 22:40 – About 80 of us took in the optional Viennese Concert with music from Mozart and Strauss. It was held at the Kursalon Konzert Salon.
We were advised to wear (gents) trousers, a dress shirt, and a jacket and tie. I was in the minority by abiding by this dress code, but most came in their cruising clothes! A few came in shorts, t-shirts and runners. One group was all properly suited and booted.
More than a thousand people were packed in the rectangular room where Mozart gave his first concert. It was uncomfortable and hot! I’d advise people to wear clothing suited for hot climates. Nobody checks your dress. The music was excellent.
(The other day’s option was a Schonbrunn Palace tour from 14:00 to 17:45, but we did not take it.)
Day by day
- Days -11 to -15 – Singapore
- Days -4 to -10 – UK
- Days -1 to -3 – Paris Extension
- Day 1 & 2 – Amsterdam
- Day 3 – Cologne
- Day 4 – Rhine Gorge – Rudesheim
- Day 5 – Miltenberg – Wertheim
- Day 6 – Wurzburg – Rothenburg
- Day 7 – Bamberg
- Day 8 – Nuremberg
- Day 9 – Kelheim – Regensburg
- Day 10 – Passau – Salzburg – Linz
- Day 11 – Melk – Durnstein
- Day 12 – Vienna
- Day 13 – Bratislava
- Day 14 – Budapest
- Day 15 – Homeward Bound