LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Well, I’ll be the contrarian. Leave the heavy artillery at home. Take the Sony and shoot for panoramas when the situation warrants.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

When I hike I take my Canon G7X Mark II. It takes excellent pictures. Other than that I always take my other gear. It sounds like a trip of a lifetime, why not bring your best?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

When my wife and I did Italy. We were in many interiors of old churches (not castles) and found my 24-720 mm Zeiss T* lens on my Sony pocket Hx90V with pop up viewfinder did a grand job and the 24 was more than OK for what I was shooting. In fact, through out our trip I never found a situation where I needed wider. And talk about IQ, Zeiss T* leave nothing on the table when it comes to image sharpness. But again, IMHO, the SONY is still TOO LARGE, I like putting my HX90V in my belt pouch so I am hands free with nothing hanging over my neck and, I am free to hold my wife's hand.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I’d suggest you take the lightweight Sony and enjoy yourself rather than spending time fussing with equipment. I don’t think you’ll regret it in the long run. I always take only one primary camera as a do-all and a bridge camera for a backup, which will serve you well for any long shots you might want to take. Enjoy your vacation rather than having memories of lugging all that equipment around.

Carusoswi

I have no experience with these sort of trips. The most similar experience I have was an Alaskan cruise. In your situation, the deciding factor for me was whether or not you have the option of storing gear that you don't feel you need for the day securely in your room. I took all but the kitchen sink with me on my cruise. Used it all, but never needed to have all of it with me at any one time. My attitude in most situations where I need to contemplate what to take or leave at home is that I've spent considerable time developing/acquiring my kit, and, if I'm going to protect it by leaving it home whenever a challenging photographic opportunity comes along, why should I have it in the first place.

I can empathize with the suggestions to take a simpler setup and "enjoy" the trip. If you are happy with that, then, go for it. I, for one, would be constantly thinking about what I might have done with a more extensive set of tools if I took the simpler setup. But, of course, that is me.

During my younger years, my family took vacations when getting good photographic/video memories was not nearly so simple or compact. I have photos of me on a scooter in Bermuda loaded down with a 35mm camera, two lenses, and a full-sized camcorder (they were huge in those days). Our non-family companions laughed a hoot at the time. The photos and footage today is priceless. I managed to get in plenty of scuba diving and beach time without ruining my gear (the expensive video stuff rotted during storage years later (but would be obsolete regardless), but the film camera is as capable today as it was when new.

I am fussy about my equipment, take care of it, but, given a choice of getting good results from good equipment in rough conditions (not saying you will face same) or mediocre results from equipment designed to withstand elements, be light, whatever, I always took the risk with my good stuff.

It is, of course, your trip and your choice. Only you can weight the trade-off between good photographic results and convenience of not lugging around "heavy" equipment.

I would be voting for the latter, but, whatever decision you make will be right for you.

Enjoy the trip.

Caruso

edhjr Loc: Needham, MA

I am travelling in the Carib with D500, D850, 5 lenses, a lightweight laptop and a pair of small 2TB hard drives. Download every image to both hard drives every night (one travels in my carry-on and the other in my wife's carry-on). Go for it!!!!!

traderjohn Loc: New York City

You are obviously more in tune with photography than I. Two years ago we went on a Viking Cruise that started in Budapest and ended in Amsterdam. I had a D90 with an 18-200MM lens. I was happy with the pictures I never knew I missed anything or felt that I should have had something"better" Did you know there are two cities? One is Buda and on the other side of the river is called Pest. We had a great time. I'm sure you will too.

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

When my wife and i took our Danube cruise and our cruise to Iceland, I travelled with a D300s body, D700 body and a bag full of zooms and primes and a gorilla-pod. When off the small boat, i carried both bodies with longer lenses mounted and a couple of other shorter lenses in a small bag. You don’t need to schlep the whole kit everyday.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Mark, first & foremost, don't forget to ENJOY the cruise. Secondly, record it. We go to Europe on a regular basis and just did Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, Prague, Paris this past Christmas and concur, you don't need to be bogged down by heavy cameras and a lot of lenses. Of course we saw sunshine on only ONE Day the entire two + weeks not to mention cold. There's no problem getting all the gear you want to Europe, its that after it gets there it becomes an issue. If you plan to tour any at all after the cruise, then packing light is a must. Also the more you take, the more equipment is vulnerable. We rented a car and I could have taken about everything but its more of a hasslewhen you have to deal with suitcases. carry-on's, your wife's luggage and then lots of camera gear. However we also took planes and trains while in Europe so going light was more appropriate. I took a Sony A6500 and two lenses (a W/A, a medium tele, a really small portable tripod) and it was all that I needed for interiors, buildings, bridges, landmarks and landscapes. BTW, absolutely enjoyed the trip.

Sony would be an excellent choice for this trip. The Canon with only two lenses wouldn't be over loading you.

Enjoy, it'll be a great cruise and above all, have fun and enjoy the moment. One thing to mention, always maintain situational awareness when traveling in Europe, be vigilant of your surroundings. I always keep a fake wallet in my hip pocket with nothing in it and keep my money and valuables in a money belt or zippered pocket on my person.

Allan

DStone Loc: Outside Winston-Salem, NC

As a veteran of several river cruises, I’d suggest using a good pocket-sized machine for the tours, excursions, and initial visits to towns. Something with a reasonable wide angle to short telephoto zoom. The tourist swarm is at its worst in August, and the chance of getting that National Geographic cover shot while on a tour bus is about the same as winning the lottery on the first play. But, also pack some serious gear for the free time, especially in Prague and Budapest, or while cruising. Use the tour to learn what you want revisit, then, time willing, pull out the good glass for your “not on the tour” time - talking sidewalk cafes, dawn and dusk and night shots, and specific scenes you decided to try once the tourists were in bed. What lens to take? I’ve found I rarely need a long lens but frequently use a wide angle. When with the tour, I carry a RX100 and a pocket Panasonic with a long zoom (just in case). For “ off the tour” time, I cram whatever I can into whatever space the wife has left me. Never a long zoom, always a fast wide angle. 35, 50, 85 primes, maybe. If space is really tight, maybe a 24-150(ish) zoom. Best advice I can give - nothing beats walking Prague early morning or late evening with camera gear you really like. BTW, I love your taste in music.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Thanks for the feedback.
Mark

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

Your 24mm will be perfect, the Danube is very wide, so except when you are in dock the various sights will be quite a distance away. When walking around the various villages and towns you may find a wider lens would be of use but I doubt it. I went on a Rhine cruise last year year and only used my 20mm Olympus lens (= 40mm) it was ideal for this trip.
Have a great time.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Thanks for your insight and experience. I've been considering renting the Sony RX10 IV for the walking tours off the small ship and 5D MIII with two other lenses for quieter, less crowded times during our several day extensions in Prague & Budapest. I'm going with Tauck - their tours are more unusual and with less people than other tour companies. Maybe I should cancel the trip and just listen to some of my music. Thanks for your music comment.
Mark

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Thanks, John!! Your experience is appreciated and valued.
Mark

ole sarg Loc: south florida

You want to have fun or fiddle with your camera?