The 2014 Christmas Markets cruise was a wonderful experience! Captain Smidt, Cruise Manager Bart and Hotel Director Carla, the crew, the guides and guest lecturers made this a truly special experience for my husband and me. Onboard meals were invariably excellent, featuring local specialties and wines as well as classic favorites.
The on-board lectures were informative as well as entertaining. We enjoyed the classical duo in Bratislava, the performance by "Franz Josef" and "Sisi" in Vienna, and the Hungarian dancers in Budapest. Walking tours were in small groups, which made it easier for us to interact with the guides.
Particularly enlightening for me were the lectures on Judaism & the Holocaust and life under Commmunism. My parents survived Nazi and Soviet invasions of their country, but (like so many of their generation) refused to speak of those times except to say it was too painful. It was difficult to listen to these lectures - but critically important to learn and remember so that history isn't repeated.