Cruise Day 4 - Vienna 2

Today, no scheduled excursions appealed to us, so we decided to head out on our own to explore Vienna on foot. Beni, Elisabeth, and Hans joined us for the adventure.

Our destination was the famous Naschmarkt, about a 72-minute walk from the Danube. Along the way, we noticed how clearly marked the pedestrian and bike paths were—and how disciplined you need to be to navigate them properly. Crossing the street without waiting for the green pedestrian light can cost you a €30 fine! The roads were impressively clean, well-maintained, and organized.

At one point, we passed through a neighborhood filled with Japanese, Korean, and Thai restaurants - a tempting area for food lovers. However, when we finally reached the Naschmarkt, we were somewhat disappointed. Instead of a vibrant, local market, we found rows of tourist-focused restaurants and shops selling sweets, spices, cheese, olives, and souvenirs. It felt more like an Austrian version of the Zouk market in Marrakesh than the authentic Viennese experience we had hoped for.

Just as we were deciding what to do next, it began to rain. Fortunately, we found a nearby subway station and made our way back toward the cruise ship, arriving just in time for lunch.

Later in the afternoon, after a short nap and catching some of the Wimbledon semi-final between Sabalenka and Anisimova on TV, the skies cleared. We joined fellow passengers on the sun deck to watch our ship pass through a lock. A two-man band played and sang as we observed the fascinating process. So far, we’ve passed ten locks on this journey, most of them at night while we were sleeping.

This evening, Ursula signed us up for a sushi dinner in the lounge. Only about two dozen passengers joined in, making it a cozy and relaxed affair. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. As we dined, the Excellence Empress quietly crossed the border from Austria into Slovenia.

By the time we wake up tomorrow morning, we’ll be docked in Budapest, Hungary—a new country and a new chapter in our river journey.Read more