Theres usually a musical performance after dinner in the lounge in the evenings. Ports of call include Cologne, Germany, and Strasbourg, France, and smaller picturesque towns throughout the Alsace region of France and the Black Forest region of Germany. Uniworld also offers a range of onboard activities, including swimming pools, leisure centers and gyms, libraries, and beautiful sun decks to lounge on. They offer cruises ranging from 7 to 27 days. Although it is considered a more moderately priced line, Emerald offers a fair number of inclusions (see below), primarily because many of its travelers are Australian (and prefer fares to be more bundled than a la carte). Thats typically a U.S. vintner who sails and lectures onboard as well as brings hand-selected vintages for guests to taste. Bikers are required to wear helmets. Viking also has six smaller "Baby Longships," which sail the Douro River in Portugal and the Elbe River in France, which runs through Germany and the Czech Republic. Shore excursions are a major component of the river cruise appeal. AmaWaterways on Twitter: "Our land packages include some of the most There were plenty of grass thatched umbrellas and lounge chairs. Did you know that a select few of our amazing land packages are [2], Cruises are full-board and include wine and beer with meals as well as a cocktail hour. What's Included in Your AMAWaterways River Cruise. AmaWaterways is a Calabasas, California based river cruise company that offers cruises in Europe, Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and Egypt. Celebration of Classical Music: The Danube, Gems of Southeast Europe Christmas Markets, Treasures of the Main & Rhine (Christmas), Majestic Capitals of the Danube (Christmas), Colors of Provence Soulful Epicurean Experience, A Celebration of Classical Music: The Danube, Secrets of Egypt and the Nile Epicurean Experience. Also you leave the ship there is cold water available to take along with you. One of the best seats in the house onboard Viking's Longships, the Aquavit Terrace beautifully combines indoor/outdoor dining with a casual feel. Viking is a good choice for passengers who desire adults-only vacations that include immersive port experiences. [2] The company also caters to bicyclists, golfers,[4] and other active passengers. At every stop, theres almost always a general walking tour (guests can choose their activity level: active, regular, or gentle), as well as specialty options like beer or wine tastings, hikes and bike tours, or unique visits to museums. There was something for everyone this will be a vacation that we will talk about for the rest of our lives! The pool areas were so pretty and the landscaping lovely. CA cabins (170 square feet) have a small seating area, but CB cabins (155 square feet) dont. Beer and wine with lunch and dinner, sparkling wine with breakfast on all European river cruises. AmaMagna's itineraries include Romantic Danube, . AmaWaterways Drinks Guide - Cruise Lifestyle But there arent many activities for children, so younger kids might find the experience a little dry. Of course, the cabins vary from ship to ship, but Uniworlds cabins are quite unique. Explore the heart of 15 fascinating European countries on an enthralling 49-night journey. Part of what makes river cruising so attractive -- and pricy -- is that more items such as shore excursions, Wi-Fi or wine at meals are already wrapped into the cost (of course, if you don't drink, you might feel annoyed at having to pay for all your fellow passengers getting their glasses topped off). AmaWaterways' Seven River Journey Through Europe is scheduled to set sail on June 1, 2023, with prices starting at $25,999 per passenger. There is a cancellation fee of $100 payable on sailings cancelled 121 days or more before the sailing date, which increases on a sliding scale closer to the departure. Most passengers go with the general offering, which usually combines tour buses, some walking and guided exploration of the top sites. You might go truffle hunting in Bordeaux or cognac blending in Camus, for example. Right outside Amsterdam, this rare experience calls for its visitors to explore, touch and change as part of their journey into Floriade which is set to feature stunning gardens, innovative sustainable gardening exhibits, live entertainment, talk shows, souvenirs and food stalls. Take a tour of a AmaWaterwayss suite. Bathrooms have heated floors, a surprising and wonderful detail, especially in the middle of the night. They have a larger variety of ship sizes than Uniworld, with the AmaDahlia holding 72 passengers and the AmaMagna holding 196. Depending on the itinerary, they range from around $2000 per person to $5000 per person or more. Gentle is designed for those guests needing a slower pace and, at times if possible , even a bit less walking. The word inclusive gets thrown around a lot, but what exactly does it mean? AmaWaterways River Cruise Tips - Tips For Travellers In addition, you may choose to reserve a complimentary bicycle to pedal further along the river or into any port city. AmaSiena joins AmaWaterways legacy of upscale yet relaxed river cruises that cater to more active couples or mature multi-gen groups. If I get seasick on boats or on ocean cruise ships, will I get seasick on the rivers? Viking requires a $500 nonrefundable deposit, with final payment due 90 days before the cruise is scheduled to begin (a 20 percent deposit of the full fare is required for World and Grand Cruise itineraries with payment 180 days prior to departure). Our Programme takes you straight from your ship to the course and back making your golfing experience seamless Golf and River Cruise truly is a marriage made in heaven. You may be traveling through different climates and altitudes, so layering is advisable. With either line, passengers will find plenty of room for lounging, whether outdoors on the top deck or inside in the ships' lounges. Fewer guests onboard means less packed amenities and tours. When it comes to entertainment onboard, AmaWaterways seems to perform a little better. An immense variety of ports means more unique travel destinations and options. There's also space at the Aquavit Terrace. In the river cruise world, the lines that have more amenities bundled into the price tend to -- not coincidentally -- be more luxurious and expensive. Water is also handed out as you leave the ship on excursions. AmaWaterways will offer pre-cruise packages in both Medellin (2 nights) and Cartagena (3 nights), which can be combined, and a 3-night Panama City package post-cruise that will include a visit to the Panama Canal. [2], Unusually for river cruises, there are hair salons on AmaWaterways ships,[2] as well as spas, gyms, and libraries. One of the most memorable moments on a river cruise occurs in the evening. How Do the Enrichment Programs Compare on These Two Popular River Cruise Lines? We also offer immersive culinary-themed Special Interest Tours such as cooking demonstrations and tastings. The AmaSienas home river is the Rhine in Europe. Five Ama ships -- AmaViola, AmaStella, AmaLea, AmaKristina and AmaMora -- also include several cabins that can accommodate three or four people (with a king-size bed along with a chair that converts into a twin bed). AmaWaterways requires a $400 deposit for Europe and Asia itineraries ($1,200 for Egypt sailings, $2,400 on Africa cruises and $2,400 for the extended Seven River Journey Through Europe itineraries). During the day, passengers can skip the ship's dining room for buffet dining. So how do you decide? AmaWaterways is known as an upscale river cruise line with 21 custom-designed ships. She frequently sails seven-night itineraries between Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Basel, Switzerland, sailing through Germanys scenic Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with castles. During lunch and dinner, unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks are available with new selections offered daily. AmaWaterways offers itineraries in Vietnam, Cambodia, Egypt, Africa, and Colombia. Then, there are the ships in Egypt and China, Vietnam, which the line either owns or charters. We invite you to take one of our European river cruises, Asia river cruises, or Africa river cruises and see the world in luxury and comfort. River cruise lines employ local entertainment to come onboard for the evenings show either while still docked or even while underway. Both lines offer a variety of amenities that are standard between ships. Your Cruise Manager can also help recommend restaurants, shops, museums, bars and more. If youre looking for honeymoon cruise options, you may want to check out our article 10 Best Honeymoon Cruises and Cruise Lines. How? Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey. Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. Natalie and I went on their Black Sea Voyage and here are my 10 reasons to go on a lower Danube cruise, specifically. the differences between ocean and river cruising. There is more than enough to keep you entertained while onboard, especially since on river cruises you typically spend much of your time at various destinations. [11], As of 2022, AmaWaterways had a fleet of 26 ships. An AmaWaterways river cruise is about more than the destination its the journey. All excursions are included for guests on the AmaSiena, and while theres a range for all types of travelers, Amawaterways as a company offers more active excursions than its competitors. The ships even have a "gluten-free corner," where passengers can find snacks at all hours of the day. While most river companies offer just one basic excursion, AmaWaterways has choices for extras including culinary choices and more adventurous offerings such as escorted bike trips. The clientele of a cruise can vary widely depending on the cruise line, and even the itinerary, but both Uniworld and AmaWaterways tend to attract similar guests. Both cruise lines offer a variety of dining options and menus that reflect the cuisine of the destination countries. Everything is taken care of with no worries. After pandemic-induced delays, family-owned river cruise line AmaWaterways had a big year in 2021, debuting three new ships to its international fleet, including the AmaSiena, sister to the AmaLea and AmaKristina, which was christened on Europes Rhine River in August 2021. All meals are included on AmaSiena. This includes dinner at The Chefs Table specialty restaurant, all-day tapas, afternoon tea delights and more. Both suggest gratuities of around 2 euros for tour guides and one euro for bus drivers. Every day there was a huge choice of excursions. Lisa Long, owner of Luxury Vacations LLC, an independent travel agency in the Avoya Network, Marietta, GA, sells many river cruises and from her perspective, I would classify AmaWaterways as a luxury river cruise experience with a warm and friendly staff and excellent food. Both lines offer concierge services, books to borrow on topics like history or tourism, comfortable bars for drinks and dancing and top-deck walking tracks and giant chess boards. At intervals during the day one of the crew will appear with a nice cooling wine spritzer, cold beer or cocktail of the day.