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Emerald Star Cruise Photos

From: Emerald Waterways cruise review: Nuremberg-Trier

Day 2: Bamberg

Bayernhafen Bamberg sign

Around 8 a.m. on Day 2 of our cruise, Emerald Star arrived in Bayernhafen Bamberg, which attracts some 850 passenger-ship visits per year.


Electromagnetic crane in Port of Bamberg

The port was located outside of town, in an industrial area. While we ate breakfast on deck, we could watch an electromagnetic crane on the opposite shore loading scrap metal onto a barge.


Breakfast on The Terrace, Emerald Waterways

On Emerald Waterways ships, a buffet breakfast is served in two locations: in the Horizon Lounge (which has electric doors opening onto The Terrace, shown here), and in the main Reflections Restaurant, where the menu is more extensive and you can get omelettes and other egg dishes cooked to order.


EMERALD STAR iand BELLEJOUR in Bayernhafen Bamberg

After breakfast, we went ashore for the first of our cruise's shore excursions. Bellejour, the German river vessel that we'd seen in Nuremberg, was tied up alongside Emerald Star.


Port to city sign in Bamberg, Germany

A sign on shore pointed to the waiting coaches and the city center.


Tour guide in Bamberg, Germany

A short bus ride took us to Bamberg's modern Konzerthalle (in a newer part of town), where we joined tour guide Konstantin Bilozertsev's group for a walking tour.


Konzerthalle Bamberg

The Concert Hall was an impressive sight for a city of 70,000. It's home to the Bamberger Symphoniker and also serves as a convention hall.


Virgin Mary statue in Bamberg 

Building styles in Bamberg, Germany

Bamberg is a beautifully-preserved city that, to quote our Emerald Waterways guidebook, "could easily serve as a dictionary of European building styles, embracing everything from 12th Century Romanesque to 18th Century Rococo." The entire Altstadt, or Old Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Alte Schlachthaus, Bamberg 

One of our first stops on the walking tour was the Alte Schlachthaus, or Old Slaughterhouse, which has a stone statue of an ox on its façade.


Sightseeing boat in Bamberg

We took this photo of a local sightseeing boat on the River Regnitz from the Untere Brücke, or Lower Bridge.


Altes Rathaus, Bamberg

Nearby, tourists were snapping pictures of the medieval Altes Rathaus or Old Town Hall.

The Bamberg tourist office's Old Town Hall page explains: "According to legend, the bishop of Bamberg did not grant the citizens any land for the construction of a town hall. This prompted the townsfolk to ram stakes into the river Regnitz to create an artificial island, on which they build the town hall they so badly wanted."


Old City Hall in Bamberg, Germany

The Old Town Hall's trompe d'oeil frescoes are embellished with a genuine 3D feature: a cherub's sculpted leg.


Imperial Cathedral, Bamberg 

Bamberg Rose Garden and Cathedral

Bamberger Dom St. Peter und St. Georg, a.k.a. the Imperial Cathedral, overlooks the River Regnitz from one of Bamberg's seven hills.


Portal of Imperial Cathedral, Bamberg 

The Cathedral was consecrated in 1237, replacing a previous Dom that was burned down in 1185. It combines Romanesque and Gothic styles and houses the tomb of Pope Clement II (the only papal tomb north of the Alps).

The richly-carved Fürstenportal, shown here, is open only on holy days.


Alte Hofhaltung, Bamberg

The Alte Hofhaltung or Old Court is another Bamberg Landmark. It's just around the corner from the Imperial Cathedral. During our summer visit, the half-timbered building's balconies were decorated with geraniums.


Bamberg Rose Gardens

From the Cathedral, we walked a short distance to Bamberg's Rosen Garden (Rose Garden).


Bamberg Rose Garden

The Rosen Garten is next to the Neue Residenz, a 17th Century McMansion for the Prince Bishops who ruled Bamberg from 1007 until the imperial state became part of Bavaria in 1802.


Rosen Garten, Bamberg

The garden, which was laid out in 1733, has approximately 4,500 rose bushes in more than 70 flower beds. (The beds are surrounded by linden trees.)


Balustrade with view in Bamberg Rose Garden

The Rose Garden is pet-friendly, and a viewing terrace overlooks the medieval city center and the Regnitz.


Ambräusianum, Bamberg

The final stop on our walking tour was the Ambräusianum, which is billed as "the first and only guesthouse brewery" in Bamberg.


Rauchbier at the Ambräusianum, Bamberg

We were served pretzels and Rauchbier, a local style of beer that dates back to the 1500s. Beer Advocate describes it as an "acquired taste" with a "smokiness so robust, so assertive, that it tastes of spiced, smoked meat."

In the cruise director's informal survey of passengers after our visit, opinions on the beer were split almost evenly. Some found the smokiness appealing, while others thought the beer had an unpleasant taste of liquid bacon.


Beer delivery at Ambräusianum, Bamberg

When we left Ambräusianum, beer was being delivered (presumably for patrons who prefer smoke-free brews).


Bamberg Untere Brücke with St. Kunigunde of Luxembourg

We had about an hour of free time after our tour, so we wandered around Bamberg's Old Town.

This photo, taken from the Untere Brücke or Lower Bridge, shows a statue of St. Kunigunde (a.k.a. St. Cunigunde) of Luxembourg, who was Empress of the Holy Roman Empire from 1002 until the death of her husband, Emperor Henry II, in 1024. She was canonized in 1200 and is buried next to her husband in Bamberg's cathedral.


Half-timbered house in Bamberg

Bamberg's Altstadt, or Old Town, is filled with half-timbered houses. Some are still residences, while others are shops, hotels, or restaurants.


Half-timbered houses and Birkenstock shop in Bamberg

We discovered a Birkenstock shop in this cluster of medieval buildings. Unfortunately, it was closed for vacation.

(Tip for shoppers: Birkenstock shoes and sandals are much cheaper in Germany than in the U.S., even with VAT.)


Bamberg, Germany

River Regnitz, Bamberg, Germany

A narrow street led us down to the River Regnitz.


Bridge in Bamberg, Germany

A sign on a bridge warned: "No winter service, enter at your own risk." We took our chances.


Bamberg, Germany

Soon, it was time for us to cross the River Regnitz and work our way back to the Konzerthalle, where a bus would take us back to the ship. In a pedestrian zone off the main road, we saw this attractive square (the Heumarkt) with its plus-size statue, "Lady with Fruit," by Columbian artist Fernando Botero.


Park in Bamberg, Germany

As we walked to the buses, we encountered a park with views of the Cathedral and other local landmarks.


Unlocked bicycles in Bamberg, Germany

Bicycles were parked along the pavement--mostly without locks.


Schoolgirls in Bamberg, Germany

School was still in session, to judge from these girls and their colorful backpacks.


Humsera Jetzerdla, Bamberg

Back at the port, a statue of the Humsera Jetzerdla by Antjepia Gottschalk caught our eye. An English-language label beneath the statue read:

"The Humsera resembles the popular image of the Bamberger gardener women, selling market goods in the common city market grounds--dressed very traditionally. They were known for their good produce and merchandise and their 'big mouth' when negotiating."

  • Tip: If you're looking for a souvenir, you can buy a replica of the statue on a keychain or as a small garden sculpture in "contemporary, pop-like colors" at stores in Bamberg, at the Gardener Museum, and at the Tourist Information office.


TransOcean MS BELLEJOUR in Bamberg

At 12:45 p.m., the crew of MS Bellejour untied their ship from Emerald Star and made room for us to depart for Würzburg.


Bamberg decoration in Emerald Star restaurant

In honor of the city we'd just visited, the staff of the Horizons Restaurant had spelled out "BAMBERG" in colored pasta.


Industrial scene on Main River, Germany

Knetzgau Lock on Main River

We left the Main-Danube Canal behind us. From now until the early hours of Saturday morning, we'd be cruising on the River Main, traversing 34 locks before reaching the Rhine.


We spent the afternoon in our cabin, watching the ship's progress on TV via the bowcam and a position monitor.


We opened the window of our glass-walled cabin and enjoyed a close-up view of locks and other scenery.


Waiter serving Champagne on EMERALD STAR

At 6:30 p.m., we went to the Horizon Lounge for a Captain's Welcome Cocktail.


Cruise director Balazs Varga on EMERALD STAR

This was followed by the daily port talk by Emerald Star's cruise director, Balázs Varga.


Vineyard on Main River

Stately home on Main River

During dinner, we enjoyed views of river scenes that ranged from vineyards to stately homes.


Schleuse Garstadt, Main River, Germany

Garstadt Lock, Wasserstrasse Main

Garstadt Lock

Schleuse Garstadt

We wrapped up the second day of our crusie by sitting on The Terrace as Emerald Star passed through more locks (including Schleuse Garstadt, pictured above).


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Emerald Star day-by-day photo diary:
Introduction
Day 1: Departure (Nuremberg)
Day 2: Bamberg
Day 3: Wurzburg
Day 4: Wertheim & Mittenberg
Day 5: Rhine & Koblenz
Day 6: Moselle & Bernkastel
Day 7: Trier
Day 8: Disembarkation (Trier)

Also see:
Pre-cruise stay: Erlangen
Pre-cruise stay: Nuremberg
Emerald Waterways cruise review: Nuremberg to Trier