Are You Ready for the Christmas Markets?

Ho ho ho! Don’t look now but the Holiday Season is fast approaching and the countdown is on! It’s time to start planning and fine tuning all those festive details that will make our OUTbound cruise through the Christmas Markets along the Danube River even more joyful! Below are a few things to help you make the most of your vacation with us. As always, if you have any questions that we haven’t covered, or have a special request, hit us up… either by phone at 916.683.1000 or email us at info@iamOUTbound.com.

Let’s get started!

Flights

Flight Ideas

Since our trip begins in either Munich (for those of you joining us for our pre-cruise package in Munich) or in Regensburg, Germany (for those of you heading directly to the ship) and ends in Budapest, Hungary, flights can be a little tricky.

Many of our OUTbounders are looking at round trip flights to Munich, & then a one-way flight from Budapest (BUD) back to Munich (MUC) at the end of our trip. Lufthansa has several daily direct flights from Budapest to Munich each day.

To book a one-way flight with Lufthansa, select ‘Book a Flight’, then ‘One Way’. Enter your ‘from’ as Budapest (BUD) and your ‘to’ as Munich (MUC), then enter your ‘when’ date of travel. Our cruise ends in Budapest on Friday, December 15, 2023.

Transfers from Munich to Regensburg on Friday, December 8th are included with the Munich pre-cruise package.

And of course the standard disclaimer, you are always welcome to book any flight or airline you wish and OUTbound does not guarantee or endorse any airline or flight.

Munich Pre-Package Hotel

Our Host Hotel

For those of you joining us in Munich for our pre-cruise program, our host hotel is the Novotel Muenchen City, located on the eastern bank of the Isar river, close to the Weißenburger Platz and within walking distance of Old Towne Munich.

Address: Bayern, Hochstraße 11, 81669 München, Germany

By Taxi: Rates for taxis can often range from €25 to €35 depending on the time of day, and are readily available as you exit the Munich airport on the arrivals (ground) level.

By Rideshare: Uber is available all over Germany. Uber fares from the Munich airport to our host hotel will often run anywhere from €20 to €30, depending on the time of day and traffic.

Transfers from the Novotel Muenchen City to our ship in Regensburg are included with the Munich Pre-Package.

Hotel Room Upgrades

The hotel rooms included with our pre-cruise package in Munich are the Novotel Standard room, double occupancy. Upgrades to an Executive Room or Superior Suite are available at an extra cost.

Call us at 916.683.1000 or email us at info@iamOUTbound.com for more information or to reserve your upgrade.

Boarding Our Ship

Getting to the Ship

Our ship will be docked at the Regensburg Danube River Cruise Dock on the south fork of the Danube River near the Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte Museum.

Getting to the ship at the Regensburg Danube River Cruise Dock from Munich International Airport (MUC) normally takes about 1:30 to 1:45 minutes by car, depending on traffic.

Regensburg Danube River Cruise Dock Address: Marc-Aurel-Ufer 5, 93047 Regensburg, Germany

By Taxi: Rates for taxis can often range from €125 to €135 depending on the time of day, and are readily available as you exit the Munich airport on the arrivals (ground) level.

By Rideshare: Uber is available all over Germany. Uber fares from the Munich airport to our ship docked at the Regensburg Danube River Cruise Dock will often run anywhere from €115 to €120, depending on the time of day and traffic.

Boarding

Boarding officially begins at 4:00pm local time on December 8th, but you are free to arrive at our ship at any time after 2:00pm. In the event your stateroom is not ready when you arrive, feel free to drop your bags at the reception desk, grab a drink from the bar and relax in the Horizon Lounge or head up top to the Sun Deck to recover from your long travel day.

Tipping

Tipping Our Hosts

Tipping is the ONLY thing not included with your OUTbound vacation. We never want to dictate anyone’s generosity or decide how much you think YOUR experience with a crew member, waitstaff or tour guide was worth. How much to tip depends on the type of service you receive and your personal experience.

During our trip together, you’ll come into contact with many different servers and hosts. At the end of each day’s guided tour, you’ll have the chance to tip our guide and driver whatever you feel your experience was worth.

Onboard our ship, you’ll receive an envelope in your stateroom on the last night of our cruise before disembarking the next morning for Strasbourg. It’s here where you will have the opportunity to leave a tip that will be split among the crew… waitstaff, bartenders, room stewards and the entertainment staff.

A general rule of thumb for tipping the ship’s staff is €10 per day, per person.

However, if your experience warrants something more, then by all means feel free to be as generous as you would like. If you feel that any individual in particular has gone above and beyond in making your experience something extra special, then we encourage you to reach out to them directly and let them know how much you appreciated their service during our time together.

Currency

What Money Should You Bring?

Germany, Austria & Slovakia

Germany, Austria & Slovakia are members of the European Union and each are one of the 23 countries that use the Euro (abbreviated €) as their national currency.

Hungary

The Forint is the currency of Hungary. While yes, the Euro is accepted at some establishments like stores and restaurants, the exchange rate is likely to be unfavorable. Also, keep in mind that even if a store or restaurant will accept Euros as payment, most will return the change in Forints only and the exchange rate will vary. It’s always best to check with any business first to see if they accept Euros or hit an ATM to get as many Forints as you think you will need for your time in Budapest.

You can also use your credit or debit card as well throughout our trip, as credit cards are widely accepted everywhere in the countries we are visiting. However, remember that there will be additional bank charges upon usage and even a foreign transaction fee in some cases, depending on your bank.

Power Outlets

What Power Converters Will I Need?

For your visit to the European Union, you’ll need a Type C adapter for use on our ship as it has the standard EU power outlets. This will be the same adapter you’ll need for any hotels you’ll be staying in if you are extending your trip to Europe.

The Type C is the plug which has two round pins, like this…

You can also find a ton of options on Amazon or other retailers that will include USB ports for charging your phone, tablet and other devices all at the same time.

Keep in mind that the United Kingdom (UK) uses different power outlets than the EU, so the Type C adapter will not work if you are visiting England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland during your trip.

Travel Insurance

If we’ve learned anything over these last couple of years, it’s that the world can be an uncertain place at times. While you’re never required to buy travel insurance, it’s a good idea and we recommend all OUTbounders consider protecting your hard-earned vacation money. The price of your coverage will depend on a few factors, including the cost of the trip, what state you live in, how long before the trip departs, and if you have any pre-existing or underlying health conditions, to name a few.

Some reasons why you might buy travel insurance include:

Cancel for Any Reason
Unexpected Work Requirements
Personal or Family Illness

OUTbound does not provide travel insurance. However, we always recommend using a third-party insurance carrier to provide your coverage.

Get Ready Danube River Christmas Markets