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Yes, the Palace was definitely over the top!

You're welcome!

Glad you agree! Cheers!

Thanks!

Oct 30-Nov 6. It was a little cold, but mostly sunny. Just before Xmas markets, so not as crowded.

Oh, thanks for sharing. Sounds like a great way to go!

You're welcome!

Yes, it was disappointing! Next time!

I'm glad it was helpful! Have a great trip!

Yes! I find that some of my best experiences are when I veer off my plan and discover something new! Thanks for watching and happy travels!

Whenever I left the tour group, I always made sure I knew when and where I needed to meet back up with them to get back to the boat. So, although I departed from the group, I rejoined them later. I suppose it would be possible to take a taxi back on your own, but this method worked fine. I hope you have a fabulous trip. Strasbourg was definitely my favorite. I have posted an overview of the entire Rhine trip, which might be helpful to you. Happy Travels! th-cam.com/video/aFy_73rD57A/w-d-xo.html

Just to clarify....there were some ports, like Cologne, where the boat eventually docked near the city, so I was able to leave the tour group, stay out late, and just be back on board the ship by evening. Viking was very clear about meeting points and times of departures.

Of course, but I'm glad I went to Burano. It was lovely.

@seniorsolotravel each of the 3 islands is special for a different reason. There's always a reason to go back. 😊

Absolutely!

Thanks for the positive feedback. Happy Travels!

How much is cruise cost? What kind of camera do you use?

I don't recall specifics about the passports, sorry. There wasn't anything off limits to photograph....and there was sooo much to capture!

I'd have to review receipts to get an exact number, but I can tell you it was the most expensive trip I've ever taken. The solo cabins are nice, so you aren't paying for the imaginary second person. However, it was still expensive. I think there are less expensive expeditions to Antarctica, but I wanted to go with Nat Geo because of the kind of ship and the naturalists on board. And I wasn't disappointed. As for the camera, I posted a video about Cameras in Antarctica. Check it out: th-cam.com/video/e-ew5PUdQjM/w-d-xo.html

Well said! And thank you. At my age, the traveling keeps me active, learning and focused!

Yes, I should have been more clear. There were public and private transports, and I took the public transport. Thanks for the clarification!

This is what I was going to say. 100 euros for a private, non shared water taxi is market price. 9.50 euros for a vaporetto (water bus) is the tourist rate. Multi day passes for the vaporetto are available at a discount. That's not to say there aren't pickpockets in Venice. My first time visiting the city a guy attempted to get into my purse while his female companion tried to distract me. Thankfully, I had my trusty Travelon purse and it was locked up tighter than Fort Knox. The duo received nothing. :D

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the positive feedback! It's funny you mention Nature and National Parks. After visiting so many cities recently, I'm dying for a nature trip. I like both, but do have a threshold for urban centers. I have a couple expeditions planned this year, so am looking forward to staying out of cathedrals for awhile!

Thanks for sharing!

Non sense, some people are single. Why should they miss out on an iconic gondola ride just because they’re single? That’s nonsense and incredibly inconsiderate

@@missym877 I’m not sure why my comment was nonsensical and inconsiderate, particularly as I am a widow who travels solo.

I'm curious what time of year you went. I had certainly heard mixed reviews, but after going, I felt the opposite. I was really happy I went because I thought the city was so pretty. I think the weather was helpful because it was cool, but the sun was shining, making everything look quite brilliant. I did keep thinking while I was there that if it was more crowded, it wouldn't have been as nice.

@@seniorsolotravel I went in March. I spent a whole day from 8 AM to 8 PM. I am a world traveler and Venice is . together with Rome a place I will not go back.

Your absence will be no great loss.😉

​@joseeduardobtesh1651 Glad to hear it.....less crowded for those who appreciate its beauty. 👏

I can't recall if there was a place to smoke on the National Geographic ship, but other cruise ships I've been on have a designated area, usually on the outside and not on personal balconies. The biggest fear for a cruise ship is fire, so they are pretty adamant about those rules. As for smoking on land in Antarctica, that is a definite no. You aren't even allowed to place a backpack on the ground because of contamination worries....and you have to step through disinfectant when you leave the ship, so as not to carry anything on your boots. If you are planning on booking a cruise and have those worries, you should definitely find out in advance. Happy Travels!

You're welcome!

Thanks for watching!

Thank you for watching. Gate 1? I haven't heard of them. Let me know how it goes...

You will love Antarctica! Thanks for the positive feedback and enjoy your travels!

If you can manage business class, it will certainly make your first flight more enjoyable! Happy travels!

Unfortunately, it was booked through the cruise line, so I'm not sure the name of the company. If I was you, I'd do some research to find out what type of vehicle (sitting in the back offers no views and is very cramped), what routes you are allowed to take, and who drives. I wouldn't say it was a total bust, but it certainly didn't meet my expectations. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Happy travels....

I'm so glad it was helpful. Enjoy your trip!

Thank you! And you won't be disappointed!

They are definitely due for a refurbishing.

Lucerne is absolutely beautiful. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching.

Thank you, and same to you!

@@seniorsolotravel My Pleasure.

You are not even allowed to place a bag on the ground, so no drone is allowed. I had a gimbal, but only used it on the ship. It was too difficult to operate with heavy gloves needing to be pulled on and off every time I took a picture or video. With it tethered to my wrist and my gloves very thick, it was too clumsy to use. I definitely used the gimbal to take pictures from the ship, though.

It's not that bad...more fun than scary!

Thanks for watching. I'm so glad it was helpful. I'm sure you'll have a beautiful time....happy travels!

If I recall, they reclined more than economy, but not enough to notice a huge difference. I did find the seats quite comfortable, though.

I'm so glad you found the videos helpful. You will LOVE this trip. It is so otherworldly. The Baltic trip sounds interesting. I didn't know they had an expedition there. I'll check it out. My next venture with them is to the Galapagos. Enjoy your adventures...Cheers!

@@seniorsolotravel This was the first year NatGeo had done this trip. I went on the last trip of the season - which was the end of Sept. I'm glad I wasn't there during the summer season which would be more crowded and hot. I prefer the cooler shoulder seasons. Our main guide, Raul, an Estonian, was wonderful to work with. Everything was amazing. I had never done a 'tour' trip like this before or traveled with NatGeo. The Baltic countries impressed me and would be easy to travel in solo, but it was a treat to have everything worked out before hand. Loved all three, but Tallin in Estonia is a standout with its medieval walls, turrets, & towers. I'm a photographer & it was a feast for the eyes. I'd love to return to all three.

Sounds fabulous. I'm actually going to Tallin this year. I have a friend that lives there and she promised to show me around. Now I'm more excited to see the place!

@@seniorsolotravel I hope you find it as enchanting as I did. Having a local show you about will be so helpful. Do go to the Museum of the Occupation as well as all the churches, the walls and the city center. I had the best piece of cake & cappucino in the cafe at the square tower in the Kiek in de Kök whilst waiting out a thunderstorm. A really lovely place. I stayed in the Telegraaf which was lovely and located to easily access most everything on foot.

It's a beautiful place!

@ Tell me about it. In April 1993, I moved away from there to Charlotte, North Carolina. I moved because of my father‘s job. I still remember the great times I had growing up in Fountain Hills.

My parents lived there at one point. I used to love hiking in the McDowells!

@ I don’t think I’ve ever gone hiking in the McDowells. But maybe I will someday. Even though I’ve lived in North Carolina longer than I’ve lived anywhere else, Arizona still feels like home to me.

That is interesting. I'm curious what is different. I also wondered if you travel the opposite direction if they have different excursions and stops. Thanks for watching!

@@seniorsolotravel We went the same way, Amsterdam to Basel. I did videos of the tour, see the My Rhine Journey playlist on my HillOrStream channel.

th-cam.com/video/Q8f6eDE-CPw/w-d-xo.html&pp=gAQB

Thanks for sharing. I skimmed through a few and it does seem like a different experience. We didn't have any options for Heidelberg. It would be interesting to know the reasons why these itineraries change. I assume money has something to do with it! Again, thanks for sharing...I just subscribed!

@@seniorsolotravel Thanks! For sure watch the first and last, the whole list is less than an hour. I'll be digging into more of yours too though I may have seen the older ones, I see I'm a subscriber to your channel already. We got to see a working windmill. The year we went water levels were low, so they put us on a barge for the stretch with the castles and moved us to the same rooms on an identical ship downstream. In this case, it was good to be with Viking, similar tours with other lines just canceled, one prestigious company canceled after everyone had arrived in Amsterdam!

Wow, thank you so much for the kind words and encouragement. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Happy Travels!

Oh, thanks for letting me know! I thought the boarding pass said first.

@@seniorsolotravel Your domestic leg would have said First Class yes. The Madrid flight was Flagship Business.

Got it! Thanks for the clarification for me...and the viewers. Cheers!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you for watching and for the positive feedback...cheers!

I'm not sure that will work for a slide sleeper like me, but I'll def give it a try! Thanks for watching....

Thanks for watching and Happy Holidays!

Thanks so much! Glad it was helpful...Cheers!

Will do. Happy Holidays!

@@seniorsolotravel ❤

Thank you so much for the positive feedback! Enjoy your travels!

It was a lot of fun....put me in the holiday spirit!!

If I recall, the tour company was Sunrise Tours. Here is a link: www.sunrise-tours.jp/en/plan/detail/340SUWTA003YG008S/. Happy travels!

@ thanks to much