Christmas markets in Europe and Caribbean cruise (RTW)

[RooFlyer]

I'm commencing this TR very early (a month to go) as, unusually I don't have my days mapped out to the Nth degree, and will welcome any suggestions, tips or cautions on what I'm broadly going to do. I have leaned on @OZDUCK 's TR O Tannenbaum - A tour of German Christmas Markets and @Mattg 's A tour of Germany's Christmas markets and other posts here, but any new ideas/comments welcome. Day trips, sights to see, don't do, whatever.

The genesis of this trip was my cruise to Antarctica last Christmas - I didn't miss Christmas at home, and enjoyed my first SilverSea cruise, so thought I'd repeat the dose. I've wanted to see the Caribbean , so a cruise seems a good way to go. SilverSea again came to the party with Bridgetown (Barbados) to Cartagena (Colombia) Cruise from Bridgetown to Cartagena - MO241221S08

Eight days, seven countries on the Silver Moon. ~600 pax, so about double the 270 of my Antarctica cruise on the Silver Wind, but OK.





Righto - now how to get there? Fares across the Pacific in business were still stupid, so my TA hunted around and came up with a Finnair 'RTW' fare, which came in much, much cheaper. Made the trip a much larger undertaking, but what's the problem with that? . Gets me a stopover in Asia, onwards to HEL and then to and from anywhere in Europe back to HEL, onwards to USA, stopover and back home across the Pacific.

Adding on HBA-SYD with an Alaska Airways Award on Qantas, Miami to and from the cruise start BGI and end port CTG on American. Took the TA a bit of time and sleuthing to get the cheap fare bracket for the American flights. I wanted to book at the time the fares were released, but the best fares were delayed a bit.

So, all in business
HBA-SYD, Alaskan award on Qantas
SYD-BKK on Finnair
BKK-HEL Finnair
HEL-DUS Finnair
VIE-HEL Finnair
HEL-MIA Finnair
MIA-BGI American
CTG-MIA American
MIA-DFW American
DFW-SYD Qantas
SYD-HBA Qantas award


900SCs on QFF - not a huge earn for a RTW, but good enough for the fare paid.

 

[9171]

Interested to hear your thoughts on Finnair J - have never flown them.

"Ideas/comments" : careful in Aruba. Great place, but stay in groups, stick to tourist areas. A bit of vermin there.

 

[RooFlyer]

In Europe, after arriving in Dusseldorf from Helsinki, I'm going to four cities and their markets: Cologne, Strasbourg, Salzburg and Vienna travelling by train. This is the road route, but you get the idea:



I'll have two nights in each city, so the day in between I could possibly do a day trip - although it being winter, and with ozduck's experience with the deep snow and train disruptions, I'm not banking on those. Plenty to see in the cities anyway - and I really want to see Köln Cathedral properly (thanks @TheRealTMA ) . I went to Vienna many years ago, so that's worth a full day at least again.

Now, the trains - Deutsch Bahn! Well armed with some horror stories from Ozduck and others on the web, I went conservative.

First, I got a 'Probe' (Trial) BahnCard50 1st Klasse, which gives me 50% off First Class tickets. First Class so TKWIA, the comfort obviously (and lounge access ) and it gives me flexibility in the trains I take, although I have reserved seats on particular morning departures of course. Scheduled minimal number of connections, and at least 45min for connections, although DB has enhanced at least one to now being 30 mins. Wish me luck; the DB app does look very good, though. I have now cancelled the BahnCard, so it won't renew.

Salzburg to Vienna I've booked through OBB and their app.

I'm staying exclusively with Accor throughout this trip, except for Rydges Sydney Airport at the start, and Hotel Casa Santa Fe in Cartagena (introduction by @Cossie ). All booked some time ago, flexible, and I'm about to re-book pre-paid and there will be some savings. Since booking, I've also made Plat with Accor via their recent promo plus joining Accor Plus with its 20 nights credit, So hopefully that will go well.

 

[RooFlyer]

Interested to hear your thoughts on Finnair J - have never flown them.

"Ideas/comments" : careful in Aruba. Great place, but stay in groups, stick to tourist areas. A bit of vermin there.

I also have not flown the Finnair J new-fangled seats and have a bit of trepidation, due to some dodgy joints. I have reserved 2A and 2L on my three AY long haul flights, which apparently have better legroom.

From HEL, its onwards to Miami, a day flight, where I'm not looking forward to immigration, and I have a night at the Pullman at the airport before heading off to Bridgetown, Barbados. I'm expecting a small band and streamers when I clear immigration at Barbados - it will be my 100th country.

Again, being conservative, I'm arriving in Barbados early before the cruise and due to fares/availability I'm arriving extra early - three nights there. Big mistake - the hotel prices are obscene! After a suggestion from @Flashback , I looked at B&Bs and found a good one, very reasonably priced. Whew.

Thanks @9171 for the tip re Aruba. On the cruise, I'm intending to do SilverSea day or half day trips - all are included. They have a great selection at each port and I'm choosing the history/culture type ones, as I'm not a snorkeller or beach-lover. Christmas day at sea - just like last year in Antarctica (except for the temperature).

Only a day in Cartagena, which will not be enough, but I'll be happy to finally get to Colombia. Then onwards to Miami (shudder) and DFW on the 31st December (!) and a night at the Fairmont Dallas (no suite night upgrade available ); a day in Dallas then on QF8 back to Sydney.

I get back to Hobart on 3 January and my niece gets married on the 4th. I will not be dancing.

 

[SYD]

We’re doing similar in a few weeks but starting in MUC and ending up in BUD (via Salzburg, VIE and a PRG side trip). A combo of planes, trains and automobiles (and not one single DB train!).

 

[Flashback]

I also have not flown the Finnair J new-fangled seats and have a bit of trepidation, due to some dodgy joints. I have reserved 2A and 2L on my two AY flights, which apparently have better legroom.

From HEL, its onwards to Miami, a day flight, where I'm not looking forward to immigration, and I have a night at the Pullman at the airport before heading off to Bridgetown, Barbados. I'm expecting a small band and streamers when I clear immigration at Barbados - it will be my 100th country.

Again, being conservative, I'm arriving in Barbados early before the cruise and due to fares/availability I'm arriving extra early - three nights there. Big mistake - the hotel prices are obscene! After a suggestion from @Flashback , I looked at B&Bs and found a good one, very reasonably priced. Whew.

Thanks @9171 for the tip re Aruba. On the cruise, I'm intending to do SilverSea day or half day trips - all are included. They have a great selection at each port and I'm choosing the history/culture type ones, as I'm not a snorkeller or beach-lover. Christmas day at sea - just like last year in Antarctica (except for the temperature).

Only a day in Cartagena, which will not be enough, but I'll be happy to finally get to Colombia. Then onwards to Miami (shudder) and DFW on the 31st December (!) and a night at the Fairmont Dallas (no suite night upgrade available ); a day in Dallas then on QF8 back to Sydney.

I get back to Hobart on 3 January and my niece gets married on the 4th. I will not be dancing.

Ahem, and when is this country 100? Are you going to beat me then? End of Jan for me, but it'll be 100, 101 and 102 all in 1 day...... In fact looking at the dates on that Silverseas cruise, you'll be exactly 1 month ahead of me

 

[RooFlyer]

Ahem, and when is this country 100? Are you going to beat me then? End of Jan for me, but it'll be 100, 101 and 102 all in 1 day...... In fact looking at the dates on that Silverseas cruise, you'll be exactly 1 month ahead of me

That's right . Of course, you have a number of years on me.

After 100 comes, 101-106 within a week.

 

[TheRealTMA]

In Europe, after arriving in Dusseldorf from Helsinki, I'm going to four cities and their markets: Cologne, Strasbourg, Salzburg and Vienna travelling by train. This is the road route, but you get the idea:

View attachment 414448

I'll have two nights in each city, so the day in between I could possibly do a day trip - although it being winter, and with ozduck's experience with the deep snow and train disruptions, I'm not banking on those. Plenty to see in the cities anyway - and I really want to see Köln Cathedral properly (thanks @TheRealTMA ) . I went to Vienna many years ago, so that's worth a full day at least again.

Now, the trains - Deutsch Bahn! Well armed with some horror stories from Ozduck and others on the web, I went conservative.

First, I got a 'Probe' (Trial) BahnCard50 1st Klasse, which gives me 50% off First Class tickets. First Class so TKWIA, the comfort obviously (and lounge access ) and it gives me flexibility in the trains I take, although I have reserved seats on particular morning departures of course. Scheduled minimal number of connections, and at least 45min for connections, although DB has enhanced at least one to now being 30 mins. Wish me luck; the DB app does look very good, though. I have now cancelled the BahnCard, so it won't renew.

Salzburg to Vienna I've booked through OBB and their app.

I'm staying exclusively with Accor throughout this trip, except for Rydges Sydney Airport at the start, and Hotel Casa Santa Fe in Cartagena (introduction by @Cossie ). All booked some time ago, flexible, and I'm about to re-book pre-paid and there will be some savings. Since booking, I've also made Plat with Accor via their recent promo plus joining Accor Plus with its 20 nights credit, So hopefully that will go well.

The old town in Koln is also great to visit especially in the evening. Do stay o/n in Koln if you can and go to one of the family friendly brewhouses and have several glasses of Kolch!

Nit Not sure about Accor but the place to stay in Koln is close to the cathedral somewhere like 5-star luxury hotel in Cologne | Excelsior Hotel Ernst

 

[RooFlyer]

The old town in Koln is also great to visit especially in the evening. Do stay o/n in Koln if you can and go to one of the family friendly brewhouses and have several glasses of Kolch!

Nit sure about Accor but the place to stay in Koln is close to the cathedral somewhere like 5-star luxury hotel in Cologne | Excelsior Hotel Ernst

Two nights at Hotel Mondial am Dom. Not 5 star, but fits the bill (I hope).

 

[OZDUCK]

I think that you will probably miss the Krampus Run in Salzburg. It is on 5/6 December and is fun to watch - over a couple of hours in various places. For some reason I saw more people slip on the ice in Salzburg than anywhere else so keep an eye on your footing. The walk along the Salzach River in Salzburg at night with the fortress illuminated is great.

Krampus and Perchten : Advent in Salzburg : salzburg.info

The beginning of December is the kick-off for traditional Krampus and Perchten parades in Salzburg. Overview of all Perchten and Krampus events.

www.salzburg.info

 

[RooFlyer]

For some reason I saw more people slip on the ice in Salzburg than anywhere else so keep an eye on your footing.

I bought my grippy, waterproof shoes from K-Mart yesterday.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I bought my grippy, waterproof shoes from K-Mart yesterday.

We used to use these. Traction

Gave ours away to another AFFer.

 

[VPS]

We used to use these. Traction

Gave our away to another AFFer.

and she was very grateful