December 2nd: Flat Stanley Brayden Boards the Avalon Illumination

 Hi, kids! It’s me, Flat Stanley Brayden, back with another exciting update. Today, I said goodbye to the Park Plaza Nuremberg and hello to my new home for the next part of this adventure: a big, beautiful ship called the Avalon Illumination. Even though it was a rainy, misty morning, nothing could dampen my excitement to climb aboard and start cruising down the Danube River!

A Rainy Farewell to Nuremberg

The day started with breakfast at the Park Plaza, where I loaded up on pancakes, fresh bread, and eggs (a Flat Stanley needs his energy!). After packing up my things, we checked out of the hotel and stepped into the cool, rainy morning.

Before we left, I wanted to give something to a fellow kid that lives in Nuremberg. The Park Plaza had a gift tree that had the wishes of local children. We found a tag from a young girl named Lilly that wanted a football (a Soccer ball here) and a Lego. So, I gave the hotel some Euros for them to get these gifts for Lilly.  Hope Lilly will have as merry of a Christmas that I will have.

Guess what? We shared a taxi to the cruise port with the Kessler's. Michele's is the travel agent that plans most of my travels and Gary was one of the top bosses when Toni and Rob were working. They’re so much fun to chat with! Even with the rainy weather, the ride was filled with smiles and chatter about our new adventure aboard the ship.

All Aboard the Avalon Illumination

When we arrived at the port, the crew of the Avalon Illumination was already waiting for us. Even though it was still late morning, they greeted us with warm smiles and handed out glasses of hot tea—it felt so fancy! After we showed our IDs, a friendly crew member escorted us to our cabin, and guess what? Our luggage was already there waiting for us. How cool is that?

Exploring Our Floating Holiday Home

Our cabin is super cozy and has a giant window that looks out over the river. After unpacking my little suitcase (I don’t need much, after all), I went exploring around the ship. Everything is decorated for the holidays—there are sparkly garlands, twinkling lights, and even a big Christmas tree in the main lounge. It’s like being inside a Christmas card!

For lunch, we headed to the Panorama Lounge, where I tried a mix of light bites and warm, hearty dishes. I even got a great seat by the window to watch the misty canal. The mist outside made everything feel so cozy indoors.

What’s Next?

Tonight, we’ll have a safety briefing and a Welcome Reception at 6 PM, followed by dinner at 7 PM. The ship is staying docked in Nuremberg for the night, which means I get one last chance to explore the city tomorrow morning before we set sail in the late afternoon.

So far, life aboard the Avalon Illumination feels like a dream. The crew is super nice, the decorations are so festive, and I can’t wait to see what adventures we’ll have as we cruise along the Danube River. Stay tuned, kids—the next part of the journey is just beginning!