AmaWaterways European River Cruises. 8 Must-knows Before Cruising
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ค. 2024
- Discover all you need to know about doing a European river cruise with AmaWaterways. In this video I explore the 8 Things you really need to know before cruising with them. Things like who they are, what type of river cruising experience they offer, what the fare includes and excludes, dress codes, facilities, dining options and excursion choices.
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Note: I travelled as a guest of the cruise line before making this video
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I just did a Rhine river cruise (it started in Vienna on the Danube, and ended in Amsterdam on the Amstel river) and no one needed a balcony. The highlight of the trip was the all-day cruise through the Rhine valley. We all stood or sat on the sundeck and had a marvelous running commentary on all the castles. Additionally, some things to see were on the left, some on the right, so watching from the sundeck was better than being in your room on one side of the ship and missing some of the sights. The cruise line was Grand Circle, and I know they're not as luxurious as some of the other lines, but as a single traveler, they suit me just fine.
Couldn't agree more with your assessment of AMA Waterways--their products, service and accommodations are all terrific! We have traveled with them 3 times now and continue to be impressed by their ships, their itineraries, food and service. One aspect that we appreciated (and that you briefly pointed out) is that for the excursions they run different caliber groups depending upon skills/abilities. We loved having a "Fast Walker" option as it did weed out individuals who had certain mobility limitations, while providing "Gentle Walker" options for those who might require it. The Captain's Table dinner is also a huge treat for guests that can be accessed once during one's voyage. All in all, a GREAT experience.
Thank you for the information
I’ve been on two AMA cruises. The best, and no complaints. Fabulous time. Can’t wait to do it again.
THANKS, I’ve been on two Ama cruises-this is a phenomenal upscale operation,
I would NEVER book another River Cruise company.
Great value for your money.
Today I booked an Eastern trip on the AMAMAGNA for July 2021
Hopefully virus restrictions will be lifted by then.
I was just on an AMA Rhine river cruise. On day 3 my wife and I both tested positive for Covid (we may have picked it up in Amsterdam before embarking the ship). I advised the Cruise Manager of our test results. While attempting to be courteous, the Cruise Manager advised us to "depart the ship immediately" and within an hour we were escorted off the ship with no plan on what to do next. AMA called for a taxi and made a reservation for a hotel in Mannheim, Germany. We were sick (and old) with no plan how to get back to Seattle. We thought AMA could have been more helpful. We're likely NOT to travel with them again. AMA is advertised to be "a cut above" other cruise operators. Frankly, we didn't see it.
Well I’m sorry you had negative experiences. We had a family emergency and had to fly back to our home in the USA. They were extremely accommodating helping us get train tickets to Paris, stopping in an unscheduled port near industries and had a pre paid car to the train station. It would have been nice to get some kind of a comp separate from insurance for the balance of our cruise ( it was the start of Day 2.) But in our rush to get home they were great.
I’m really sorry 😞 that’s awful .
I was recently contracted by NCL as a Sous Chef and I have been watching many of your videos prior to beginning my first contract. I just wanted to thank you for being so inspiring! I rarely get to interact with guests, as I am in back in the kitchen. So it is lovely to connect a real guest, and hear what they expect and appreciate, to my new position. I can't wait to start this new adventure!
I love your videos, I look forward to them each week, very informative, never boring. I hate having to wait a WHOLE week before the next one. Thank- You.
Thanks so much! It’s great to hear you enjoying them. Please keep watching! If there are any topics you think I should cover or want to hear about let me know too as always good to hear what people looking for !
Great video and tips! We’ve booked our 50 th wedding anniversary cruise for September 2019 on AMA Waterways on the AMA Sonata! Looking forward to our Danube River Cruise 🚢
I’m so excited for our Danube Cruise 2021!!
Looking forward to all of it!!
Thanks very much, you provide a GREAT service and a comprehensive thorough presentation 👍
Gary, thank you for your posts. I enjoy them immensely and I feel comfortable when make a decision on where and on what line to go on a cruise.
My right ear loved this
Great video, as are all of yours that I've seen. I love ama ❤️. Am going on the Rhine Christmas Markets Cruise in a few weeks.
Went on AmaWaterways on the Danube from Budapest to Nuremberg with my mom and my brother and his wife some years ago. Loved it. Would do it again.
Thanks for the review! We're in the process of booking a family reunion next summer and your video has been very helpful.
Thx, your reviews are always insightful and helpful. I'm doing my first river cruise (Danube) in June on AmaWaterways.
Very helpful..... Thank you!
Fantastic video congratulations
dear Friend love it. Really enjoyed. Thumbs up.
Wishing you good health and beautiful Time.
God bless you
Thank you for the information this looks like the perfect river cruise for me, and my wife ... I'm a baby boomer I'm going to look into one of those central Europe cruises.... The ships look to have a larger variety of places to go on the ship.... I like the idea of having a balcony and the ships look more classy in the interior....
We have done 3 Ama cruises. The Douro, the Rhine & Moselle and the Rhone. Outstanding all.
After seeing this video I asked my AAA travel agent her opinion of cruise lines and she absolutely recommended Ama. It was wonderful!
fantastic!
Another great review for sure. We went on ?Grand Circle cruise line a few years back. We will look into this cruise line a check them out. Thanks for a great look at them.
Thanks 😀😀😀
We have traveled twice on Avalon but have tied up to Amawaterways each time. When we have passed through we have been very jealous to see the splendor of the Amawaterways. I really like the double balcony idea, Avalon eliminates the balcony, which gives you more room and then the windows open fully so you still get the view and a balcony feeling. I'll have to get Amawaterway information for our next cruise and make a comparison on prices. Thanks for this great videos.
You did Ama Waterways? How was it for you?
My wife and I are taking AMA on the Rhine in April of ‘19. You mentioned gratuities are not included, how does tipping/ gratuities work on a river cruise then? Do you tip each individual at the time of service or is it a bundled tip at the end of the cruise? Thanks in advance for your guidance! BTW, love your videos!
Just finishing 7 day cruise on Douro river in Portugal. Very nice. Had a good time. One thing that really spoiled the trip was having a cabin on the starboard side. Going up the river we also docked either against the wall or another ship. Using our balcony was not possible. On the way back down the river they still chose to dock to starboard because of the current. I would highly recommend to future travelers on the Douro river to book cabin on the port side. Cruise director said they dont have any control over which side of the boat they dock to but dont accept that. I know from owning a boat myself that you usually dock the boat into the current.
Knowing which way the current runs doesn't necessarily help because you may not know on which side of the river the boat docks. Also if another boat berths next to you, your view will be blocked too.
Thanks Gary! My audio was fine, by the way.
another great video, thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
We went on a Danube River cruise from Vilosfen to Budapest and it was fabulous. However, as Australians we were not able to book directly via the American site. They directed us to APT in Australia who only offered the west to east cruise at a rate $2,000 more that what was advertised for other countries. I can only assume this is because they have to charter the boats and crew to do the upriver route. That didn't suit our itinerary so we were forced to try other options through agents etc to get the route and dates we wanted. Unnecessary hassle but the cruise was memorable
G'day Gary, Love your videos, the information is invaluable. I was wondering if you have tried Crystal River Cruises yet? We are strong Crystal supporters and considering our first river cruise mid 2021.
You have convinced me. I am going to investigate their offerings.
Thanks!
Ama are great they look after you, foods brilliant, staff very professional & excursions hav different levels for different fitness levels gentle walks to hiking walks
In my experience. all of these river cruise companies offer mostly the same trip and level of comfort and service. Some ships have dedicated secondary restaurants (a waste of valuable real estate IMO), fitness rooms or not, and other extras. They are all well-staffed, wine with evening meals, etc. Always a value-packed experience. Danube water levels may be a problem at the end of a dry summer, but the tour operator will get you there by land if need be.
Very informative - just the info I need - btw, there is sound only on the right channel :)
in other words would you rather visit dresden or prague by elbe river cruise or land bus tour; seville granada cordoba by guadalquivir river , bus train tour or ocean cruise?
We have just returned to Australia following an AmaWaterways cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. I totally agree with all your comments Gary. Every aspect of the cruise was exceptional and I can't recommend them highly enough for their attention to every detail. Interestingly, on our cruise, the water levels were very high, preventing many cruise ships from passing under low bridges at the time. We heard that some smaller companies had to bus and hotel passengers for the remainder of their trip, unfortunately. AmaWaterways arranged to transfer all passengers and luggage via bus to a sister ship where the river levels were not a problem. This only took a short time with very little inconvenience to the itinerary. Would definitely choose AmaWaterways for any future cruising trips. Many thanks for your reviews.
Thanks ! Good to hear your experience!
which lines sail guadalquivir, Loire, Elbe, Main, most if not all lines seem to offer danube rhine; how is seine, douro, rhone saone? which places are better by river cruise vs land bus train tour packages or rental car?
Note... I only hear the right channel... no biggie
Thoughts on tipping? both for individual staff onboard (or is it intended to be a one-tip-for-all situation?) - and also is it expected to tip local tour guides, etc.? Thanks in advance for input
As this video is five years old, could you do an update about AMA and Viking river cruises? I’m sure there are some changes post-COVID.
Can you suggest some european tours that allow for children ?
We are looking at an AMA Netherlands cruise next spring. We took a Danube cruise 20 years ago, so we are acquainted with river cruising. What is the expected tipping amount for onboard staff? The fare says tips for guides and drivers is included.
Always a great video. Having following you for some time now. Always done ocean cruises but what do you think of APT river cruises - have one booked for next year?
Regards and keep up the advise!
Roger
I am/was a photographer from Los Angeles and had the pleasure of photographing the owner's wedding. Then many company functions as well. What I can say about AMA Waterways is "what a fabulous company". Wonderful people from top to bottom. I moved away and lost contact but have nothing but fond memories of working with such thoughtful, caring and fun loving people. Happy touring.
Gary, is there a slight reduction in fare if a couple absolutely does not drink wine, beer, and sodas?
Thank you for this description which gives a good insight into key aspects of the AMA offering.(Unusually, the stereosound is weaker on the left chanel.)
9:31. The chess set is set up wrong. The white corner square should be on your right.
Sounds similar to Viking we did.
Thanks Gary bring U.K. based thinking of a European river cruise next year. AMA look lovely particularly food and casual attire!
Do they let you take booze on board? My husband likes a whisky at bedtime.
I doubt they're going to check your luggage like they would on an airplane 😁
I need this. Going on AMA cruise the second week in November. Most curious is what to wear, knowing that I'll overpack. Are tours ever canceled due to weather?
Do river cruise excursion include art galleries tickets , palaces admission or ancient ruins? or museum tickets?
Yes they do
Do you use booking agents for river cruises? If so can you provide recommendations for companies? Thank you
Always use a travel agent to book your vacation, they're the specialist of many lines, itineraries, and a lot more to help you to plan the best for you! I've got a lot of experience in many products!
That should be "high crew to passenger ratio," I think.
I just wanted to let you know Adventures by Disney uses this cruise line for their family guided tours.
do you know any river cruises which visit Leipzig Bergamo Madrid Zwickau Eisenach Pesaro Siena Padova Ravenna Orvieto Halle
I'm curios if you are allowed to bring your own alcohol on board, like locally purchased wine, and drink it in your cabin? I know ocean cruise lines don't allow it and will hold alcohol purchases until the end of the cruise.
Unlike ocean lines you can. But as drink is included with meals usually few people drink their own
What about how river cruises manage safety onboard, evacuations etc.
It is easier as the ships are very close to land at all times. They give safety briefings but not as detailed as on ocean
are there chances for free exploring on your own, given river cruises are much nearer, closer to destinations than ocean cruises? just going on your own, knowing departure time, and mastering public transport, which are the must see, visit sights?
Many itineraries include a couple of half-days of free time. One reason for scheduled tours is to get everyone OFF the boat in the morning so the crew can clean the cabins more easily. If you don’t want to do a day’s tour, ask the cruise director for permission to go on your own. But make sure you don’t go off on your own on a day when the boat sails to a new city during the day. The tour groups will end at the new site. But you would have to make the trip on your own.
AmaWaterways is by far the best river cruise, it has won the title multiple years, best food too. My wife and I did the Budapest to Nuremburg (plus onto Prague) cruise and it was amazing. During the summers you will be seeing a lot more families on board as Disney has partnered with Ama for their Adventures by Disney.
Very interesting. I am currently limited in mobility and noticed that many of the areas shown would not accommodate either walker or wheelchair, so I would probably not use this particular line. Having said that, the ships do look lovely and were it not for the paraphernalia I need, I would probably have a very good time on one of their cruises. :)
You are right. River cruising is a real issue for mobility and definitely for wheelchair users. Partly due to some limitations on the ships but it can be a huge issue in some / many places where the ships dock with ramps and widths (and the multiple side-by-side docking). Personally I would not recommend river cruising then as it would be frustrating and limiting
This is really disappointing to hear. The operators are missing the opportunity to widen their market as boomers age and require assistance--not to mention tacitly signaling to differently abled customers (and their families) that even having the $ to cruise isn't enough. It's a lousy feeling.
Once off the ship, the old cobblestone roads, steep staircases and walkways are also limiting to those disabled. It’s not only a ship limitation.
How mooch?
I always wanted to River Cruise since I was 25 years old. I guess I was a boomer at heart...lol.
Too expensive for me at the time.
I'm 45 now, but lived in Germany for 4 years, so I pretty much visited all the towns on the cruise route....but by car...lol.
Still have the river cruise on my bucket list.
I wonder if their are any fares that do not include accommodation.
It would make for an interesting cruise....
7:25 What is that building and where is it?
Hungarian Parliament in Budapest
my audio seems to not be there. TH-cam rendering problem?
I had a partial audio problem with the video. The sound was coming only from one of my twin speakers.
@@richard_ager no sound at all :-(
Richard Ager thanks. I guess I had one of my earbuds in.... sound is only on right channel.
@@sleepy314 I had the same issue with my headphones (not earbuds) - sound only through the right. I didn't really notice it until the outro music, then I couldn't unnotice it.
Thanks for letting me know. It seems only audio on one channel so on earphones only coming through on one side. I’ll try and see what issue is.
I just did an Avalon Waterways cruise... Which would you prefer, Avalon or AmaWaterways? I originally wanted AMA but the group I was with chose Avalon...
I really like both a lot and would gladly recommend either. I found AmaWaterways more upmarket and had extra touches and even better food (with Avalon setting a high standard). They are a bit more expensive usually too so it’s that balance I guess too.
Tips For Travellers Thank you! I think next time I’ll try AMA...
@Tips For Travellers and what about Viking? Where do you think it fits with Avalon and AmaWaterways?
Ama is, by far, a better choice if you factor in dining, itinerary, attention to passenger desires. It us a step-up
over Avalon. It is worth the price.
not worth it to go ,did the Rhine cruise last month ...
Oh why not?
Poor sound quality
Yes children. No me. Too small a vessel to have children. Sorry.