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<blockquote data-quote="BillB" data-source="post: 2456039" data-attributes="member: 9985"><p>It was up for an early start so it was a quick shower, breakfast, checkout and then wait a few minutes for our cab. He turned up bright and cheerful, loaded our bags and drove us to Terminal 3. We felt that our gremlins had been left behind in Luxembourg. Then we got to the KLM check in desk.</p><p></p><p>Our bags were weighed and then the young lady said, “Do you have your PCR test certificate?”We handed them over. She read each one carefully. People in the line behind us began to fidget. Finally, she “Just a moment, please “ and went off with our certificates. We waited. She came back, reading our certificates. She told us she couldn’t accept them. Why? we both said, simultaneously. “It doesn’t say it’s a PCR test,” she replied. I pointed to the extremely large EU logo on our certificates. That is the standard EU format, used by all the EU countries,” I replied. “You may have to take another test,” she stated baldly. “NO!” we both stated firmly. I went on, “I paid €169 each for those in Luxembourg. They are genuine, highly expensive proof that we have had our PCR tests. On my phone I have proof that the notification I received, as soon as the test was done, was negative.” I showed her the message, which actually mentioned my PCR test as negative. “Now, if your airline wants to receive a serious letter from the European Commission, I will see that one is sent.”</p><p></p><p>She looked a bit put out and said, rather sulkily, “You may be called back for another test.”</p><p></p><p>“I’ll face that if it happens,” I muttered grimly. And we moved off, to be left in peace until we boarded the plane and relaxed.</p><p></p><p>We landed in Amsterdam without further incident and having business class tickets and a couple of hours to kill we adjourned to the KLM lounge where we had tea, coffee and a snack.</p><p></p><p>We knew that we would be spending our first night at the Budapest Intercontinental Hotel instead of our ship as there was work currently being carried out on the first lock after Budapest so our ship was already downstream of that. We were the only Viking passengers on our flight so we had a taxi to oursleves to the hotel and as it was our first flight into Budapest we saw a different part of the city.</p><p></p><p>A Viking representative greeted us in the lobby, saw us checked in and had our bags taken up to our room. We had a drink in the bar while she told us the arrangements for the rest of the day for the passengers (Viking had arranged a buffet in the restaurant for us all). She went on to explain the next day’s travel to Bratislava where our ship awaited us, and gave us details of our daily Covid test once we were on board.</p><p></p><p>Dinner was enjoyable and we got talking to a Canadian couple who sat next to us. We found that we shared a sense of humour. Another couple joined our table and the meal turned into a great social occasion for the six of us.</p><p></p><p>Breakfast next morning was followed by an excursion to see some of the historic buildings of Budapest. We had visited a few of them previously, but there were still a couple of places that were new to us.</p><p></p><p>This trip was followed by the bus journey to Bratislava where our ship awaited. We had never done this road trip before, so the scenery was all new to us.</p><p></p><p>There was a bit of a surprise when we arrived and embarked to discover that there were only 33 passengers on a ship that usually accommodates 190. It seems that many people are still self-isolating, even though Viking had gone to considerable expense to protect us. We had to show our vaccination certificate, our PCR test and our passport. In addition, a daily PCR test had been arranged for every passenger and crew member. Every ship had changes made to the air conditioning system. No air was recirculated and each cabin’s incoming air was fresh and return air was vented outside. We were totally satisfied with the consideration for our health we experienced.</p><p></p><p>After we were all checked in, baggage delivered to our staterooms and a quick freshen up, lunch was served in the restaurant. The ship was underway already as our next destination was Vienna and we were due to arrive in time for a concert of music by Mozart and Strauss at a small concert hall in the city.</p><p></p><p>After lunch Kane, the ship’s Program Director, gave a talk about Mozart, a composer he had become greatly enthusiastic about. He recounted Mozart’s life and highlighted how his genius had captivated the European capitals and yet hadn’t made the fortune one would have expected. He was scathing about the film Amadeus, telling us that there were only three facts that were true and during the course of his talk he recounted these three facts.</p><p></p><p>There was an early dinner as the concertgoers had to board their bus almost as soon as the ship arrived at its mooring in Vienna. We were dropped off close to the theatre, and were soon in our places. Jackie and I were lucky to have front row seats for what appeared to be a small orchestra, judging from the number of music stands on the as yet empty stage.</p><p></p><p>When the concert began I think most people in the audience, like Jackie and myself, were surprised at the rich sound of the orchestra and the high standard of the musicianship. The programme was varied, including a soprano who sang pieces from Mozart’s works and a ballet dancer who appeared to perform one of the dance pieces Mozart had written.</p><p></p><p>At the end of the concert (several encores were played in response to the audience’s enthusiasm) we were driven back to the ship where some of us sat around in the bar discussing the concert, but I have to confess that a busy day soon drove the pair of us to bed.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BillB, post: 2456039, member: 9985"] It was up for an early start so it was a quick shower, breakfast, checkout and then wait a few minutes for our cab. He turned up bright and cheerful, loaded our bags and drove us to Terminal 3. We felt that our gremlins had been left behind in Luxembourg. Then we got to the KLM check in desk. Our bags were weighed and then the young lady said, “Do you have your PCR test certificate?”We handed them over. She read each one carefully. People in the line behind us began to fidget. Finally, she “Just a moment, please “ and went off with our certificates. We waited. She came back, reading our certificates. She told us she couldn’t accept them. Why? we both said, simultaneously. “It doesn’t say it’s a PCR test,” she replied. I pointed to the extremely large EU logo on our certificates. That is the standard EU format, used by all the EU countries,” I replied. “You may have to take another test,” she stated baldly. “NO!” we both stated firmly. I went on, “I paid €169 each for those in Luxembourg. They are genuine, highly expensive proof that we have had our PCR tests. On my phone I have proof that the notification I received, as soon as the test was done, was negative.” I showed her the message, which actually mentioned my PCR test as negative. “Now, if your airline wants to receive a serious letter from the European Commission, I will see that one is sent.” She looked a bit put out and said, rather sulkily, “You may be called back for another test.” “I’ll face that if it happens,” I muttered grimly. And we moved off, to be left in peace until we boarded the plane and relaxed. We landed in Amsterdam without further incident and having business class tickets and a couple of hours to kill we adjourned to the KLM lounge where we had tea, coffee and a snack. We knew that we would be spending our first night at the Budapest Intercontinental Hotel instead of our ship as there was work currently being carried out on the first lock after Budapest so our ship was already downstream of that. We were the only Viking passengers on our flight so we had a taxi to oursleves to the hotel and as it was our first flight into Budapest we saw a different part of the city. A Viking representative greeted us in the lobby, saw us checked in and had our bags taken up to our room. We had a drink in the bar while she told us the arrangements for the rest of the day for the passengers (Viking had arranged a buffet in the restaurant for us all). She went on to explain the next day’s travel to Bratislava where our ship awaited us, and gave us details of our daily Covid test once we were on board. Dinner was enjoyable and we got talking to a Canadian couple who sat next to us. We found that we shared a sense of humour. Another couple joined our table and the meal turned into a great social occasion for the six of us. Breakfast next morning was followed by an excursion to see some of the historic buildings of Budapest. We had visited a few of them previously, but there were still a couple of places that were new to us. This trip was followed by the bus journey to Bratislava where our ship awaited. We had never done this road trip before, so the scenery was all new to us. There was a bit of a surprise when we arrived and embarked to discover that there were only 33 passengers on a ship that usually accommodates 190. It seems that many people are still self-isolating, even though Viking had gone to considerable expense to protect us. We had to show our vaccination certificate, our PCR test and our passport. In addition, a daily PCR test had been arranged for every passenger and crew member. Every ship had changes made to the air conditioning system. No air was recirculated and each cabin’s incoming air was fresh and return air was vented outside. We were totally satisfied with the consideration for our health we experienced. After we were all checked in, baggage delivered to our staterooms and a quick freshen up, lunch was served in the restaurant. The ship was underway already as our next destination was Vienna and we were due to arrive in time for a concert of music by Mozart and Strauss at a small concert hall in the city. After lunch Kane, the ship’s Program Director, gave a talk about Mozart, a composer he had become greatly enthusiastic about. He recounted Mozart’s life and highlighted how his genius had captivated the European capitals and yet hadn’t made the fortune one would have expected. He was scathing about the film Amadeus, telling us that there were only three facts that were true and during the course of his talk he recounted these three facts. There was an early dinner as the concertgoers had to board their bus almost as soon as the ship arrived at its mooring in Vienna. We were dropped off close to the theatre, and were soon in our places. Jackie and I were lucky to have front row seats for what appeared to be a small orchestra, judging from the number of music stands on the as yet empty stage. When the concert began I think most people in the audience, like Jackie and myself, were surprised at the rich sound of the orchestra and the high standard of the musicianship. The programme was varied, including a soprano who sang pieces from Mozart’s works and a ballet dancer who appeared to perform one of the dance pieces Mozart had written. At the end of the concert (several encores were played in response to the audience’s enthusiasm) we were driven back to the ship where some of us sat around in the bar discussing the concert, but I have to confess that a busy day soon drove the pair of us to bed. [/QUOTE]
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