jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I like to travel light, but if you don't mind the bulk, you have a good assortment. With that body, I would bring only the 24-105mm. You don't want to come home regretting the shots you could have gotten with different gear.

HamB

On three Viking River cruises I brought my Nikon Coolpix.
Small, light and easy to use.

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

Canon Guy always has good advice. When I went to Europe I just took one body and a zoom lens. No regrets.

Hip Coyote

You asked about what lens to take with your FF. Take then 24-105 and leave it at that. Leave the bazooka at home. MAYBE a fast prime for inside churches.

That being said, I am at the point of getting the Sony RX 100 and skipping all kit on trips. I just got back from an international trip and going away soon again to Egypt. Carrying cameras through city streets, packing for international travel, sitting at lunch or dinner and dealing with all that actual detracts somewhat from the experience. I’m at the point of wanting decent quality pics but not take multiple lenses. Africa? Taking my gear. Europe? Maybe not

In the end you really have to decide what it is you want to do with the shots. Me…mostly for memories.

iactxh

I would take two and only two lenses, a fixed focal length, e.g., 35 or 50 mm, and one multi focal length, the 24-105 mm. With lenses of the quality you have and the ability to adjust ISO they will be sufficient to capture all you want. I just returned from five weeks in Italy where I set myself the task of using only one fixed focal length lens, 35 mm equivalent, to capture everything from landscape to close up, from bright sunlight to dark interior, and it worked very well. I just had to be mindful of my on-camera settings and what I wanted to capture. Not having to think about changing lenses was very freeing and helped me become a more focused photographer. Incidentally, I do have a full range of very good lenses but have just become tired of toting gear and making physical rather than mental changes.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I have gone on cruises and European trips taking only my Nikon 24-85 lens. I never wanted for anything more. Castles are BIG. Why would you need a telephoto lens to capture photos of anything like that. As for night shots you can always raise the ISO to make up for a slower lens. My advice is the same as others, take the 24-105 and enjoy the cruise.

Dennis

APSHEPPARD

I have and R5 and R3 with an assortment of lenses so can sympathize with your concerns. I bought the Canon 24-240 and have used it very successfully in such situations as you mention. Did the European Christmas Markets two years ago and found with Auto ISO I could get by fine without the tripod for what I wanted to do. Also have the 85 and believe, as someone noted, you can get along without it for sure. The most important suggestion I read was to get the steel reinforced straps. There are even little Gypsy kids running around in some cities who are unbelievable in the speed they can cut a strap and run with purse, camera or whatever.

Gordon_CO Loc: Colorful Colorado

I've recently simplified my travel kit. I take my R6 along with the RF 24-240 and an RF 16mm and I've never missed a shot I wanted. sometimes consider taking my EF 100-400, it seems t almost double the weight.

Saigon Loc: Atlanta, GA

Hi,

I've been travelling all over the world, all you need is just only two lens: 16-35 f/2.8 (indoor, low-light) and outdoor landscape. For longer reach 24-105 f/4.0 - If you need a longer reach, just do the heck of the cropping (with modern day body you can't tell the difference). I have Canon R and R5 bodies and just bringing one body is enough. Bring a compact tripod or something for long exposure shots (if you intend to do). I rather enjoy the trip with a minimum equipment than carry a heavy camera bag...Cheer!

photoman43

I have done the Danube and Rhine riverboat cruises with Nikon DSLRs and lenses.

Your 24-105mm is an excellent choice as an all around lens, for images taken from the boat, for images on day trips, churches, etc. For castles and other similar things from the boat, a zoom tele lens, like a 70-200mm or a 70-300mm will be needed. The exact lens depends on what you have and how much weight you want to carry around. I took a 70-200mm f4 with 1.4x tc and left my 70-200mm f2.8 at home as it was too heavy to lug around. For night shots from the top boat deck, a fast 20mm or 24mm prime will help capture the vistas. But your 24-105mm and your 70-200mm can also be used at night.

A monopod may be more useful than a tripod, but that choice is yours to make.

I took about 75% of my images with a Nikon 24-85mm zoom lens on a Nikon D800.

Take the day trip to RIQUEWIHR. It is a wonderful small town and a photographers dream place.

On both my trips, I was the only person with a DSLR. Most others used cell phones and point and shoots. And I was the only one to go to the top deck for sunrise/early morning shots.

In Amsterdam take the evening canal cruise as well as a daytime one. Pick a boat where you can stand at the rear of the boat and take pics without the bubble top in the way. Go to the Van Gogh museum with your camera and take pics of the museum from the outside and inside. Same goes for the Rijks museum. Get your tickets ahead of time.

Have fun.

RolandDieter

You will want the 14mm for interior castle and cathedral shots. The total is not too much to take4 because you can pack a smaller camera bag that will only hold what you need on a given day. You daily excursion itinerary will enable you to plan each day.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Less is more.
Rent or buy a good quality bridge camera with a decent optical zoom and spare battery. (You can always sell the camera when you get back). Don't make your photos your only memory of the trip because you spent all your time taking pictures, lugging equipment, and worrying about what to use.
Case in point: During a trip to Oahu I took a doors-off helicopter tour of the island. Took a lot of pictures. Two days later I took the same tour again. Only took a few pictures. Spent my time enjoying the view. The pictures are nice. The memories are better.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

You are closer than you think to the castles. 200 or 300 is really adequate for most of the shots from the river. I took two lens to Germany and used the one lens for 99.9% of the shots. And I shot castles from the Rhine River. It was my Olympus 12-100 f4 Pro IS lens (24-200 in 35mm angle of view). If you are able to rent a lens that is 24-300, you will probably be able to shoot with one lens. I only needed a wider angle of view for three (3) shots of a side door in a narrow passageway of Heidelberg Castle. Otherwise, it was one lens and one lens only for all the other shots.

Craig Meyer Loc: Sparks, NV

I think you could very well shoot just the 50mm 1.8. For many years, we all travelled with just that or with a fixed 40-50 mm lens. We got great travel photos, cropped when necessary. If you must, and I'd probably succumb too, add JUST the 25-105. ALL bases covered. and lighter load.
Be SURE to get the cable strap!
enjoy the wonderful Christmas Spirit these Markets bring.
C

josquin1 Loc: Massachusetts

Just take the RF24-105mm F4 . It's an amazing lens and i just came back from NM and used it 95% of the time. You'll be glad that you're not toting around 30 lbs of equipment.