Israel Handbell Festival, April 6 – Day 1

Well, all are here (with one exception whose flight was cancelled…don’t you love the airlines!)! Group USA arrived about 40 minutes early (great tailwind in the upper stratosphere) and Group Canada arrived on time. Group Hong Kong arrived yesterday, along with several others. So, with the one exception, we are good to go. All are tired, but in great spirits.

Today has been beautiful-sunny and warm and, since it is Shabbat, the beach and city have been full of people enjoying the day and sabbath. The group had a little more than 40 minutes to freshen up once we arrived in the hotel and then we met for a delicious dinner.

Debbie Rice has gone with members of the handbell ensemble Imbalim to do a workshop…the rest of us are going to bed!

I hope to post photos beginning tomorrow…wanted to respect the look of jet lag for everyone! (in case you don’t know it, it’s not pretty!)

Good night from Tel Aviv. Shalom.

2012 Netherlands Waterway Cruise – Itinerary

Once everyone was collected at the “Meeting Point by the Burger King Restaurant,” by John and Ellen Pruiksma Zijp, we were walked to the motorcoaches and on our way. Our first visit was to a small cheese and wooden shoe making shop. The owner demonstrated how he made wooden shoes from a block of wood, and his wife showed us how Gouda cheese was made. Then we visited their shop where everyone sampled and purchased the cheeses and interesting mementoes. On to the town of Gouda to visit the St. Jan’s Kirk’s amazing huge stained-glass windows. It was hard to imagine how these gigantic windows had been created and then installed in this church. We also visited the large open-air market. For lunch, Mike and I sampled poffertjes with another couple in the group. Not exactly proper lunch food, but they sure were good! Back on the bus, we visited Kinderdijk and then stopped at the Military cemetery in Oosterbeek before boarding the ship at 5:00 p.m. and enjoying our first dinner on board.

Sunday most of the group attended church at St. Walburgskerk. Although the service was in Dutch, we sang several songs in our own languages and the minister welcomed us and gave us a bit of translation of his sermon. We enjoyed coffee and cookies with the parishioners following the service. After lunch back on board, most passengers went on the afternoon Het Loo Excursion while others relaxed on board as the ship sailed to Kampen. After dinner we enjoyed a walk into Kampen to see the immense Boven Kerk.

We joined the Het Loo Excursion. The Palace is in a beautiful setting. Ellen bought our tickets and we were on our own to visit the palace, gardens, and the Royal stables. After working our way through the rooms of the house and viewing a bit of the gardens, we headed outside to see several cars that were displayed outside for the day. Then we also walked through the stables to see the cars, sleighs, etc. displayed there. The drive back was along the rural roads as Ellen always chose country roads so we could see the “real” country.

Monday the ship sailed along the shores of the North East polder and through the Lemmer Locks arriving in Sneek around 2:00 pm. Those who had stayed on board could explore the town. Following dinner, there was a walking tour to the Water Gate. A full-day excursion to Drenthe and Groningen was offered.

The all-day Excursion to Drenthe and Groningen was very interesting. At the Staphorst Farm Museum we were shown the traditional clothing of the area. Then on to Drenthe to see a hunebed. This one was back in the woods and it was interesting to imagine how the people had been able to arrange the huge rocks. Lunch was in a lovely restaurant in Ter Apel near a 15^th-century monastery. Our next visit was to Ellen’s renovated Saxon farm house in Sellingen where we saw her prize wolfhound and its puppy and many of her paintings. Before returning to the ship, we stopped at the Martinikerk in Groningen for a private demonstration of the church’s organ by Sietze de Vries. We enjoyed his descriptions and examples of the sounds of the various pipes and were overwhelmed by the power and beauty of the music.

Tuesday the ship cruised through the Princes Margriet Canal and the Van Harinxma Canal to Franeker. Those who had stayed on board were able to walk into town for a bit of shopping and sightseeing. After dinner a Frisian folklore group entertained us with dances.

We joined the Friesland Excursion today. This was a very nice day. Sloten was very picturesque little town—plus we found a small grocery store where everyone stocked up on goodies and wine. Hindelopen’s Museum Hidde Nijland had a very nice collection of costumes and furniture that we enjoyed. And Ellen had us on more small back roads. Following one of our more interesting drives across a small narrow bridge, we had lunch in Hindeloopen. Outside a man was smoking eel and everyone had to check this out. One of our group purchased one and demonstrated how to eat it. There were no additional takers for this treat!

Wednesday the morning was at leisure in Franeker. We visited the Eise Eisenga Planetarium which was very interesting and we browsed through town and looked at the City Hall and former Weigh House. In the afternoon the ship cruised through more locks out into the Wadden Sea and then via the North Holland Canal. Along this route there were several fields of colorful tulips and other flowers, plus some that were not yet in bloom due to the cool, wet weather in Holland this spring. At night we tied up near the flower fields. There was no town nearby or opportunity to disembark. After dinner we were entertained by a group of “shanty” singers.

Thursday the ship continued cruising through the tulip fields. Late morning we docked in Alkmaar and took a walking tour of the city with views of the Cheese Museum and Sint Laurenskerk. We were divided into fast, medium and slow walkers. We were in a medium group and, unfortunately, unless you stayed right next to our guide, you could not hear him at all. In the afternoon the Salvinia continued to Amsterdam and we celebrated with a Captain’s Dinner and wine.

Friday we all boarded buses to visit the Aalsmeer Flower Auction. It was very interesting to walk above all the activity and see the boxes and boxes of various flowers lined up and then being hooked together and pulled from place to place. We also saw the rooms of buyers at computers placing their orders. Amazingly efficient. Next we were bused to the Keukenhof National Flower Exhibition. This “show” only lasts for two months and is fabulous. There is every possible type of tulip plus many, many, many other flowers. There are all kinds of gardens and pavilions–even areas for children and animals. We each had a picnic lunch packed by the ship kitchen, but it began to rain in earnest and we hurried back to the bus to eat lunch in a dry, warm place. The buses made stops to drop off those who wished at locations in Amsterdam so we could sightsee and shop on our own or return to the ship. A return pickup was also provided. After wandering around in the city, Mike and I thought it would be easier to simply find our way back to the ship than to find our way back to the pick-up point. It turned out to be a very long cold walk. Earlier, John asked if anyone was interested in a canal cruise this evening so about 50 of us opted to do this. The canals are beautiful in the evening with the lights on the bridges and the interesting buildings along the way. It was very informative and relaxing after a busy day of walking and a great way to top off our week in the Netherlands.

Saturday we were up very early to transfer back to Schiphol Airport. It had been a fun and very interesting week! I would recommend this for any first timers wanting to experience a bit of Europe as well as those who have traveled a lot and are looking for a more in-depth experience in a single country.

2012 Netherlands Waterway Cruise – Transportation

Our flights were on Delta Air Lines. Check in at GR Gerald R. Ford went smoothly with the assistance of Annette. Service on the flights to and from Amsterdam was cheerful and friendly. Airline food needs no description. Each seat had its own screen with a good variety of entertainment available. The headsets were difficult to use. Mike gave up and took a nap. On the return, airport check-in at Schiphol went smoothly but customs and security lines in Detroit were very long. We parked in the new covered lot at Gerald R. Ford at a cost of $72 for the week.

The Salvinia is a relatively small ship accommodating 120 passengers, plus the crew. The ship size allows it to travel the canals and smaller waterways and visit the interesting villages along the way. Cabins are small, but arranged so that everything you need is close at hand and comfortable. Bouquets of tulips greeted guests when they arrived in their cabins and in the lobby and lounge. The ship has a small library, a variety of board games, an exercise bike, a whirlpool and sauna and a very pleasant lounge and sun deck (which unfortunately did not get much use due to the cold and rain). The food on board ship is good and plentiful. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style and provided plenty of choices. Dinner is served family style and although not gourmet, was always tasty. Everyone seemed to enjoy the ship, the service, staff and food.

Motorcoaches were excellent, clean and quite new. The larger one that we were on several times had a bit of trouble negotiating a few of the narrow roads with tight turns that Ellen chose, but each time the driver managed it somehow to the cheers of his passengers. The drivers were excellent, polite and friendly—along with being extremely good at maneuvering the buses.

2012 Netherlands Waterway Cruise – General

After working on the documents for the Netherlands Waterway for many years, it was really interesting to see the tour in operation. There was only one NWC tour this year plus an extension to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland was also offered. The routing this year took us by bus from Amsterdam via Gouda and Kinderdijk to Arnhem where we boarded the M.P.S. Salvinia. We then had dinner on the ship while we cruised to Doesburg for the first overnight. On Sunday we cruised through the Gelderland to Zutphen and on to Kampen for the overnight, Monday brought us to Sneek for the overnight, Tuesday was Franeker, Wednesday across the Wadden Sea to Schagen, Thursday back to Amsterdam with an extra night here before departing the ship on Saturday morning for our trip to the airport and the return flights. Each day was filled with things to do and see, or if you wished, an opportunity to comfortably relax and watch the scenery go by. Although the weather was cold and it rained off and on, we were able to do and see everything as scheduled.

Pilgrimage to Israel

Led by Pastor Bill VandenBosch and his wife Lyn

Preparing for a pilgrimage is vital to getting the most out of it and Pastor Bill and Lyn did an excellent job in getting us ready. Soon after we signed up (6 months before we left) in September (the tour was sold out soon after), Pastor Bill and Lyn held a meeting so we could meet the members of our group, supply us with a travel check-list and a reading list applicable to our pilgrimage. My husband and I took their advice to heart. Knowing that there would be a lot of walking on our tour, Pastor Bill also encouraged everyone to begin a walking regimen. I made the commitment to take an intentional walk for exercise every day and I continue to do so today.

I was a little anxious about traveling to Israel because of the problems going on in some of the countries surrounding Israel. Upon arrival, I soon discovered that Israel was everything I thought it wasn’t – in a good way. I felt safe. People were going about their daily lives just like we do here. This was Pastor Bill and Lyn’s third pilgrimage and we had 31 “pilgrims” in our group (which is the top limit for Pastor Bill), ranging in age from 14 to 77. Salah, our outstanding tour manager, joined us in Israel. He added historical, political and geographical insight.

I have traveled a lot over the 34 years I’ve been in the travel industry but I was not prepared for the impact Israel would have on me. From remnants of ancient civilizations layered one on top of the other to being in the very places Jesus did most of his ministry was a lot to get my head around. Every day the Bible came to life right before my very eyes. On the first full day after arrival, we visited Caesarea, on the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, Megiddo with cities dating back to 4,000 B.C., the picturesque Jezrell Valley, Nazareth, and Sepphoris which was a key city in Galilee by 100 B.C. and home to some of the most magnificent mosaics ever discovered in Israel. Careful pre-planning by Pastor Bill and Lyn assured us of visiting many places within a day. Many times my husband and I said we could have never done this on our own. And if we had, we would have missed the biblical insight, historical background at each stop, and the joy of sharing this experience with the wonderful people who were in our group.

Tot ziens means “So long for now”

Time to roll out of bed and enjoy one last breakfast. In a couple of hours we will be back in the skies and headed for home.

I will come away with many fond memories of this wonderful week in the Netherlands:

The crew, their quick response to our needs and wants, their patience with us, their sense of humor, how quickly they got a sense of our different personalities. They all came out to wave at us as we pulled away in the motorcoach, bound for the airport. Tot ziens, all of you! Hope to see you again!
The variety of food and the fun of figuring out what we would be served tomorrow judging by today’s menu. For instance, fresh red and yellow peppers in our salad one day; roasted pepper soup the next. And all of it delicious.
The early morning hours up in the lounge or out on the deck, drinking that marvelous coffee and enjoying the spring sunshine.
The colors of the tulip fields. The unending varieties of the tulips at Keukenhof. Are you sure that’s a tulip?
The ubiquitous bikes and bike trails. The Dutch really have the right idea about staying fit and enjoying life!
All the many people on board from all different parts of the country. I will long remember my friends from the state of Washington, the duck-hunting guys and their wives from Iowa, the lovely 83-year-old woman and her daughter who were so much fun, and many more.
The beautiful towns and villages we passed through, many with their unique architecture and designs on their doors and windows.
Windmills everywhere, old and new. Many times the newer wind turbines lined up along the canal while the more traditional windmills could be seen out in the fields.

Why the Netherlands Waterway Cruise?

This cruise has something for everyone, whether you are part of Generation X, Baby Boomers, or beyond. You can join in as many walking tours and excursions as you want and truly “custom” design your experience. If you want a leisurely cruise or an action-packed cruise, it’s your call. For me:

I LOVED being able to unpack and make the cabin my “home” for the duration of the cruise vs. a typical tour where you stay in multiple hotels and don’t have a true “home” base.
Participating in as many evening walking tours that I wished to.
Being able to pick and choose the excursions I wanted to join in vs. having it automatically built into the cruise package.
The option to explore independently, but at the same time being a part of a mini community (there were 100+ passengers on the trip) where I was guaranteed to run into my fellow passengers while investigating new villages and cities.
Having all meals, except the first lunch upon arrival, included in the cruise, as well as tipping to our tour manager and cruise personnel.
I appreciated the smiling and helpful staff of the Salvinia who were always helpful. I now know why Henk has used the Salvinia for so long. Not only is the ship “simply perfect” for our passengers and the cruise, but the staff is top-notch.
Surprising highlights at every turn of the cruise. I must admit that the Organ recital at the Martinikerk (Groningen and Friesland excursion), the Orchid Farm (Overijssel, Northeast Polder, and Friesland excursion), and the Frisian folklore group performance in Franeker didn’t sound interesting to me at all. Guess what? I was totally wrong on all three scores. I am so glad the two sites were included on the excursions I joined and that my good friend Barb talked me into participating when the folklore group came on board or I would have missed out on three amazing experiences.
Cruising the waterways was a highlight in itself. You never knew exactly what you’d see and the scenery was spectacular.

The cruise and Amsterdam pre-tour through images

Netherlands Waterway Cruise – Departure/Arrival

In order to get to Europe, you must endure the trip “over the pond,” which in this case takes eight hours. But you have dinner prepared and brought to your seat for you, (let’s look on the bright side!) and your very own screen to watch movies or play games, and after you settle in with your blanket and pillow, you may even get in a few hours’ sleep before the crew wakes you for arrival.

We had a very, very special welcome as we made our approach into Schiphol Airport—the plane dipped its wings to bank for a turn and there below us in the sunshine were bright red, white, pink, and yellow patches everywhere. The tulip fields were in bloom!

It seems a bit of a walk from the plane to the meeting place at Schiphol, but if you follow the signs and look for your flight number on the boards posted at intervals, you can easily make your way through passport control and find which baggage control will have your luggage. Besides, it really feels good to be able to stretch your legs.

My experience in images from the cruise

Viking River Cruise

River cruising is one of the best ways to travel through many of the world’s most fascinating places. Once you board the vessel, you can unpack (just once) in a very spacious river-view stateroom, then relax in comfort for the duration of the cruise. Each day enjoy the beautiful scenery from almost everywhere on the ship. The Bar, restaurant, and lounge all have panoramic views. The staterooms have a balcony or large picture window that opens. My favorite place to take in all the beauty is the shaded Sun Deck, where you can enjoy the fresh air and a 360-degree view! The vessel keeps moving, so throughout the day everyday you see new scenery and explore new destinations full of culture and history. The docks are located in the middle of the town or city so you can walk right off the ship and check out the area on your own if you like. Enjoy guided walks, tours and excursions planned for you everyday, with leisure time to sightsee on your own. Because the ships are smaller with the average of 150-300 passengers, you get a more intimate experience with the crew and fellow passengers. And the flat-bottomed ship ensures a safe and smooth ride without the worry of motion sickness!

My husband and I went on a Viking River Cruise down the Rhine River. The ship we were on was the Viking Helvetia. This ship is one of 19 Viking Ships and holds 198 guests. All Staterooms are outside with river view. Deluxe staterooms have hotel-style beds with European linens and duvets. Staterooms on upper deck have a French balcony with sliding glass doors. There is plenty of closet and drawer space and a place to stow your bags after you have unpacked. All rooms have a private bath with shower, your own climate control system, telephone, safe, TV that offers CNN and other English-language programming. The ship has a shaded sun deck, restaurant, library, observation lounge & bar, onboard boutique, and free wireless Internet.

Viking River Cruises offer all-inclusive packages that include your meals, enrichment lectures, excursions, hotel accommodations for “cruise tour” itineraries, and airport transfers when air is purchased thru Viking. The dining on board is excellent with regional specialties as well as Western-style favorites. Complimentary wine is offered every evening with dinner. Each day, you will have an excursion that will introduce you to the local culture. All tour guides are English speaking and personal headsets are provided so you can hear every word they are saying. Culture Curriculum lectures focused on the history of the region of the day are offered on the ship. Viking uses deluxe, first class or superior first class hotels for overnight stays for passengers taking a “cruise tour” package. If you want more than the included excursions, Viking does offer a selection of optional tours on each itinerary that can be purchased on board. If you do not want to participate in the tours that are offered, you may choose to stay on the ship or tour on your own.

The tour my husband and I chose was called the Rhine Getaway. The cruise was on the Rhine River beginning in Amsterdam and ending in Basel. It consisted of 8 days, 6-guided tours, and 4 countries.

Viking does offer pre and post extensions if you want more time in those cities before or after the cruise. We only did the cruise.

Saturday-Amsterdam

We arrived in Amsterdam mid morning on Saturday and were transferred to the ship upon arrival. The staterooms are not available until mid afternoon so we familiarized ourselves with the ship, enjoyed a light lunch in the lounge, and then took a walk into town.

Some things to see as you stroll the city:

The many canals and connecting bridges that crisscross the city

“Amsterdam’s Rodeo Drive” which is the popular upscale shopping street

Anne Frank House, where Anne wrote her famous diary of her experiences while hiding from the Nazis

In the evening, visit one of the many popular pubs, know as brown cafés

The famous Red Light District

After settling in our stateroom, resting a while, and freshening up we went to the lounge where the staff introduced themselves and the program director gave us a briefing of the next day’s itinerary. Then everyone went down to the dining room for dinner. Later that evening the ship’s Program Director took anyone who wished to see the Red Light District, on a walking tour. We chose to retire for the evening since we had been up over 24 hours.

Sunday-Kinderdijk

Our ship left Amsterdam at midnight and arrived in Kinderkijk at 9:00 a.m. Viking offers an “early bird” breakfast from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. consisting of coffee, juice, and pastries just outside the lounge area. They also offer a full size breakfast buffet in the restaurant from 7:00-9:00 a.m. We went for the buffet. At 9:00 the Helvetia arrived in Kinderdijk. Our shore excursion was to visit the picturesque Dutch Countryside of the historic Kinderdijk area. There we could visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, where there is a collection of 19 windmills that give you a glimpse of Holland’s past. The windmills were used to pump water from the pastureland into the Lek River, which lies above the level of the fields. Today huge diesel electric pumps perform this function. We were able to tour one of the working windmills. Some families still live in them today and must keep them in working order even though they are no longer used. By noon we were back on the ship and cruising down the Rhine toward Cologne.

Monday-Cologne, Germany

The Helvetia docked in Cologne at 8:30 a.m. and our 2 hour guided walk tour started at 9:00. We did a short walk around the Old City of Cologne and visited the magnificent Gothic Cathedral. The cathedral is the largest in Northern Europe and it took 632 years until the construction of it was completed. This was the cities most famous landmark for centuries. It is known for its two soaring spires and its most beautiful stained glass windows. There are still fragments of Roman ruins that can be seen in parts of the city. There is a Roman Tower near the Cathedral, which was once part of the medieval town walls. Cologne also has many popular Museums such as the Museum Ludwig, devoted to modern art where a collection of Picasso’s work is displayed, the Fragrance Museum Farina House, the birthplace of Eau de Cologne and the Schokoladenmuseum, dedicated to chocolate making. Unfortunately we were not able to visit any museums because they were closed on Mondays.

The rest of the day we were free to visit the city on our own or enjoy time on the ship. On the Viking, they offered a lecture on “Germany Today” and a German dinner was served. After dinner an optional excursion was offered at an additional price of 29 Euro to join a local guide on a walking tour to visit different pubs, taste the Cologne beer, and learn about the Brahaus Culture.

Tuesday-Koblenz, Middle Rhine & Rudesheim

Our ship docked in Koblenz early Tuesday morning. This city, located on both sides of the Rhine is the third largest city in the Rhineland-Palatinate with a population of 106,000. The headquarters of the German Army Forces Command is located here. After breakfast we began our tour for the morning, taking buses to the Marksburg Castle. This fortress is located on a hill above the town of Braubach. It is the only medieval castle of the Middle Rhine that has never been destroyed. This castle was used for protection rather than as a residence for royal families. The tour lasted about two and half hours and then we were back on the ship and sailing down the middle of the Rhine for the rest of the afternoon.

It was a beautiful sunny mid 60’s fall afternoon to enjoy the upper-deck of the Helvetia in our lounge chairs and enjoy all the beauty that surrounded us! Our program director Stephanie, gave a commentary of all the points of interests as we cruised through the most beautiful stretches of the Rhine. There were so many “Kodak moments” throughout the afternoon, between the variety of colors lining the hillsides from vineyards and the gorgeous fall colors of the trees, to many little towns, churches, castles, and ruins. We also passed the famous Lorelei, a legendary rock formation rising 440 feet above the river.

Late in the afternoon we docked in Rudesheim. An optional excursion of a mini train ride, dinner and entertainment along the Rudesheim’s lively Drosselgasse was offered for 59.00 Euro per person. This main commercial street is lined with wine bars and small shops and is very popular with the locals and visitors. For passengers that chose not to take the excursion they were free to dine on the ship and then take a stroll in town on their own.

Wednesday-Heidelberg & Speyer

Midmorning our ship docked in Mannheim where we disembarked for a coach excursion to Heidelberg, Germany. Our first stop was at the Majestic Heidelberg Castle. This Castle was originally built during the 13^th Century and was the residence of the Palatinate monarchy from the 13^th through 18^th centuries. It is located on the Northern slope of Konigsstuhl Mountain. The view from the castle overlooking the town of Heidelberg and the Neckar River is breathtaking. After touring the grounds of the Palace our tour continued on a drive around the 600-year-old Heidelberg University, the oldest in Germany. Then we took a walking tour through the old town and had some free time to stroll down Main Street lined with shops and cafes that stretch about a mile. Later we returned to our ship, which had continued cruising to the town of Speyer. It was late afternoon and we had a couple hours before we would set sail again so many of us took a stroll into this town. Speyer was once an important center of Jewish culture. Some ruins of the 11^th century synagogues still remain. We were not able to go in but we walked around Germany’s largest Romanesque building, the Imperial Cathedral.

That evening after dinner our ship began cruising down the Rhine towards Strasbourg, France.

Thursday-Strasbourg, France

Thursday morning the Helvetia docked in the German town of Kehl, directly across the Rhine River from Strasbourg. After breakfast we disembarked for a tour of Strasbourg. Our tour consisted of a drive past the Palais de L” Europe where the Parliament meets and the city’s remarkable Renaissance architecture. Then we proceeded to the city center where we began our walking tour. We visited the picturesque Petite France area and then walked to Old Town and then on to Cathedral Square where we toured the Strasbourg Cathedral. This was one of the finest of Europe’s great Gothic cathedrals. Inside we saw the beautiful stain glass windows, and the remarkable astronomic clock on the back wall of the cathedral. After the tour was over we had a little free time to do some shopping in Old Town before getting back on the motorcoach to return to our ship for lunch. Our ship would not be departing until late in the evening so we had the rest of the afternoon and evening to explore on our own or take an optional excursion to Baden-Baden. This included motorcoach transportation and a guide for 39 euros. My husband and I chose to enjoy the beautiful afternoon by walking into the town of Kehl and do a little shopping.

Friday-Breisach & Black Forest, Germany

The ship docked about 8:00 a.m. and at 8:30 we disembarked for a motorcoach excursion through Germany’s beautiful Black Forest. This densely forested, mountainous region is famous for its traditional cuckoo clocks and cherry schnapps. Our first stop was at a shop in Hofgut Sternen where they sold their amazing cuckoo clocks and a demonstration was given on how they are made. We also had the chance to try their famous Black Forest Cake. It was delicious!! The second stop on our excursion was in the town of Sankt Peter. We took a short walking tour through this small town and went into the St. Peter Cathedral. This Cathedral had beautiful paintings all over the ceiling, a lot of gold décor throughout, and a huge pipe organ in the balcony. We had a little time to browse the shops and then back on the coaches for a return to our ship.

In the afternoon, two more optional excursions were offered. One was a motorcoach ride and guide to the town of Colmar for 34 euros and the second was a World War II tour for 39 euros. Those who did not choose those excursions were free to visit the town of Breisach.

In the evening we gathered in the lounge for a farewell toast with the Captain and then enjoyed the Captain’s Farewell Dinner with our newfound friends. During dinner the ship departed for our final destination, Basel, Switzerland.

Saturday-Basel, Switzerland

Bright and early we disembarked to the airport for our return home. For those who had purchased the Post-Cruise Extension, a motorcoach would take them to Lucerne where they would check into the hotel and then have a tour of Lucerne the next day and depart for home on the third day.

It was a wonderful trip and a relaxing, stress-free way to see Europe! I recommend it highly!!