We were stuck on the boat with not much else to do but to look out across the small town on the Donau and wonder, will we make it beyond this point and travel the river?
The night before our quick stop had left me wondering if this cruise was really a good idea. I mean, we had never cruised before and part of why we had not cruised was because we had heard so many awful stories on how some cruises turn into vacations from hell. Sorry about that, but how else can I describe how I was feeling about this cruise? I was sitting alone outside on the boats deck while the family was trying to get some needed sleep. The crisp foggy air felt good as my hands were being warmed by a hot cup of tea.
I was sitting there listening to the emergency crew and the Captain discuss rather loudly in German, something and it was not sounding good. The storm had caused damaged to the hull and it must have been that jolt in the night that woke me from my semi sleepy state. My mind shifted back to my own thoughts. Then again, being stuck on a boat, on a river with nowhere else to really go may be a great opportunity to reconnect with my now overly social media stimulated daughter.
There was no access to internet, something else we were told they would have but changed when we got on board. Think about this, a teenager going on a cruise, with her parents and there are no other kids, no Face book, computer access. She was pretending to be happy but she was clearly saving her disappointment for some other time. She was going thru social media withdrawal and that my friend, spells disaster.
The German or some dialect of German was being shouted as I began to continue wondering how I was going to save this Holiday vacation and then it struck me, maybe this was a great opportunity to talk with my daughter, I mean, really sit down and talk. The opportunity to enjoy each other, and with no interruption’s, we would have each others full attention. I took another sip of tea and its warmth was making me smile. That’s it, we can turn this around. The yelling in the distance seemed to stop and I decided to get up and go inside. There I saw the Captain and some official looking men sitting at a table, they too were smiling. Maybe this cruise will turn its self around after all.
A simple hole in the hull of the boat was not going to ruin this Holiday cruise. We were going forward and cruising this river. Even if we do nothing but sit on a boat and talk with one another.
Determined and smiling, I left the main deck to wake up the family.
Here's the Thing..... 
It’s awesome that you have such a brilliant and scholarly, not to mention experienced world traveler to review and critique your blog posts. It is unfortunate that they have hidden their identity. However will we congratulate such brilliance now?
Thank you …smiles
Happy New Year! I hope yours and those you love have a great year of love and joy1
Thank you and happy new year to you too…
This Must be your first trip to Europe, it’s been raining for days in Europe, snow was melting so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the river level rises. That the boat got hit by debris is unfortunate but those things happen on or near rivers… and I’m sorry that the english skills of the people you encountered were lacking… how good is your german, slovak or hungarian again? And comparing a river cruiser to the titanic? Really?
My German, Slovak and Hungarian is little as others English was too. And the Titanic, I know, my daughter really was surprised that the boat got a hole in it…it may not have been an iceberg but to her it might as well have been. Thanks for the comment