We were looking for a five star experience on a River that had been recommended to us by fellow travelers on the Danube. The river scenery is indeed five stars. But the boat itself, while new, is not. Laminate throughout. The cruise also has major flaws. Not worth the price paid. The crew was very good to outstanding. But when you contrast that with an amazingly poorly organized dinner service - not the servers fault - and other serious flaws, you get a less than could have been experience. The small ports stopped at are pleasant enough, but really no suggestion was made by the crew to get off the boat and visit them. Instead of visiting a local restaurant or two, we were bussed to large wine estates. Interesting, but instead of a 45 min bus ride each way, surely there were closer local options. Pastry - 5 stars. Had 7-8 outstanding offerings each lunch... Breakfast - 4 stars. Nice variety in the buffet, but not all was fabulous. Nice cook to order stuff tho, and great bread and pastries. Dinner - 2 to 3 stars. Mostly hit or miss. Some items four stars, some inedible. But the real negative was the system for ordering, and delivering the food. Negative 2 stars. How can it take 1 3/4 hours to deliver three items to a dining room.? There were only 75 people on our boat and limited choices. .....plenty of dining room staff.... The rooms were a little strangely laid out but ok. Ours had a balcony, but there definitely is a better way to design same. Beds comfy, and cabin service good. This boat has a great top deck, but it was rarely used by other guests, or promoted by the crew. No lunches or events there, in spite of the wonderful scenery we were passing by. Oh what our fellow travelers missed.. The local entertainment brought on Board was outstanding, especially a Tuna band, but more could have been done here. Again, not the crew’s fault, as they worked with what was given them. The average age of those on board was probably 75. Options were offered on tours for slower walkers, which was nice, and needed. Overall, plenty of potential with the Amadouro, but AMA has a long way to go to get this boat to a five star level. Read Less

We had a wonderful time on the AmaCello in the south of France. The ship, cuisine, crew, staff, excursions, and scenery were excellent. This was only our second river cruise, the other being with Crystal, and we found Ama to be very good, with the Crystal cruise being better in most every way, but of course, at a higher price point. This Ama cruise was just a notch below Crystal, but a better value, and every element was fantastic, so you can't go wrong with Ama. SHIP: I had read that the AmaCello was older, but there were no signs of that at all. It was clean, modern, classy, spacious, functional, well laid out, very nice. River cruise rooms are smaller than ocean ships, and these were smaller than Crystal's, but again, at a lower cost. I am 6'-8"/203cm, so I could not stand up in half the ship, especially the shower (which was tiny), but I was expecting that and an average or tall person will have no problems. Everything on board was comfortable and luxurious. There wasn't a big screen TV in the cabin, but there was a Mac computer that doubled as a screen, so that was a win/win. A little small, but we actually watched a couple of on-demand movies and it was fine. Bed & linens were comfy, french balcony was nice- good to be able to open it from floor to ceiling and sit there admiring the view and breeze while cruising the waterways. The fitness room was adequate and it even had a sauna that my wife used a number of times. There were a few cardio machines and just a few free weights. The heaviest weight was so light I had to put two dumbbells in each hand to get a sufficient weight workout, but I did it. There was a spa for massages, but we never got one. CUISINE: All the meals were top notch and wonderfully presented by the hard working and friendly staff. River ships have smaller galleys and staff than ocean ships so there is a more limited selection of what they can do, so the cuisine lacks the wow factor of ocean ships, but everything was gourmet and delicious. Compared to Crystal, which has a larger galley and more staff on their river ships, Crystal was a significant notch better, but Ama's food was wonderful and we were very pleased with every meal, drink, and snack. Crystal offers more sugar-free and gluten-free options, however. ama was very accommodating with my wife's food allergies. STAFF: The AmaCello staff were wonderful, friendly, delightful, and helpful in every way. Compared to Crystal, which has a much higher staff to customer ratio, I sensed that everyone was spread more thinly and had to work harder, but they did that all with aplomb. Where Ama exceeded Crystal was with their marvelous cruise director Cesario Santos who was with the group in the hotel in Paris before the cruise, took us on the train to Lyon, then on the ship, and then traveled with the guests on the train to Barcelona for the extra days after the cruise. This was a very nice touch that other cruise lines do not offer and it was very welcome. Cesario worked day and night, hammering out details, serving the customer, he was truly excellent and made me want to travel with Ama again. I had even left my coat in the hotel in Paris and Cesario immediately had it shipped to our next stop for me. Truly excellent service. CAPTAIN/PILOT: Our captain or his pilot did manage to bang the ship into a few pilings or river locks on the trip, in fact, they smashed into someone's room breaking the window and denting the whole french balcony. That couple had to be moved down to a below water level room. I think the captain got removed from the ship at the end of the cruise judging from his farewell speech. No one was hurt and the cruise was not impeded, and everyone was amused by it except the displaced couple. ENTERTAINMENT: There's not much entertainment on a river cruise due to space and staff issues, and that's fine. Compared to an ocean cruise where there is so much it can be exhausting, the river cruise model is more laid back. The AmaCello had nice pianists and DJs and such, and some musical guests, all who were good. EXCURSIONS: From the trip from Paris to the ship and all the excursions during the week (all the cruise excursions were included in the price), every one was fantastic, seamlessly integrated with the ship, informative, interesting, luxurious, really great. The Rhone Valley and Provence are simply beautiful, and the cities and towns are wonderful. They would be even more spectacular in the summer when the lavender blooms, but everything was so picturesque, we were delighted. The village of Grignan is a must-see, simply the most picturesque village I can remember anywhere. The Papal Palace in Avignon is well worth it, and the Carrières de Lumières show in Arles in an underground rock quarry is an amazing and mesmerizing experience that you shouldn't miss. If you continue on to Barcelona, the Basílica de la Sagrada Família is one of the most spectacular sights in all the world and is a must-see. So, we would highly recommend the AmaCello. Everything was top notch without breaking the bank. A highly enjoyable, luxurious vacation with all the details taken care of by a superb staff. We will definitely go on another Ama cruise. Read Less

We chose this cruise on the recommendation of our travel agent. He is well traveled and told us this line was the best. We have been on many ocean cruises but the river cruise is better. We loved every moment. The staff is amazing. Our favorite bartender was Misha. We loved seeing her every day. She was always smiling and kept us smiling too. Nothing is too much to ask. The food is gourmet at every meal and again the staff makes every meal memorable. The cruise director was everywhere. I don’t remember any cruise director from other cruises but Florentin is in forgettable. He made sure everything was perfect. I had the best massage ever thanks to Rumena who was wonderful. Each port of entry had at least thee choices and we enjoyed each place. The weather was terrible but we still had a great time. We would choose this line again. Read Less

Where do I start, from the time we stepped onto the AmaDante till the time we left we could not have asked for a better time on this ship. The Captain Raul did a great job maneuvering the ship and has an excellent staff. The cruise manager also named Raul was awesome. He managed all the excursions and everything could not have gone any smoother. My spouse cannot walk very fast and he would walk behind sometimes to keep him company which was greatly appreciated. Raul was with us from start to end as our trip started in Prague and ending in Paris. If you read this review Raul thank you for all you do and did for me and my spouse to make this trip really special. And thanks to the AmaWaterways AmaDante family for making our trip so very special from dining with the Captain to our anniversary celebration with cake and music, to the warm towels when we came back from excursions and flavored teas when it was cold outside and a few times raining. Let me now say a few words about the meals OMG the food, the cheeses, the breads, deserts, entrees all so wonderful, thank you maître d Edward for making it possible to get a lunch meal also available for dinner (suckling pig)! Now I cannot finish before saying something about the ships hotel manager Zhivko such a very nice, funny guy we we all enjoyed on the cruise. If you are thinking about going on a river cruise please consider AmaWaterways for your next cruise you will not be disappointed, they try and make it a wonderful, unforgettable cruise from the food, service, excursions, on ship entertainment to all the amenities they offer. Can't wait for the day we get to go on our second cruise with AmaWaterways Read Less

We have cruised the the Danube many times and this was our second time with AMA on this particular section, but with some different stops than our previous cruise which was a 'Wine Cruise'. We had chosen cabin 203 on the Cello deck [middle] which has the unique AMA double balcony design with an open balcony for good weather and a 'French balcony' when the weather is not so pleasant. This is our prefered level and position when River Cruising, towards the front to avoid engine noise when overnight sailing and middle to avoid noise from overhead from either crew or passengers walking about. New for this year AMA have a full time fitness instructor onboard giving a variety of exercises to suite all levels and even those with disabilities and the Instructor Romen set the instruction to suite the guest. These group instruction was part of the package, but Romen was also available for individual instruction at a fee charged per hour. Another new for this year was free Cocktail hour every evening generally around 5-6pm but could vary depending on excursion times. Every day there were multiple included excursions to suite all levels of physical ability including cycling & hikes. Our two most enjoyable tours were to 'Cesky Krumlov' which is a fascinating pedestrianised small town which has Bohemia's largest castle. Our other favorite stop was Bratislava with its amazing 'Old Town'. Durnstein is always a favorite stop and on this occasion we opted for the Apricot tasting tour where apart from the general tour of the village we got a private tasting with a producer of Apricot Brandy's and liqueurs, some of his chocolate products and his world famous 'Rabbit S--t' ( it only looks like that and is infact a roasted nut coated in chocolate) and it tastes great. Food and drink every day was great with good service from all the staff with local delicacies being served every night with complimentary 'Paired' wines and we found that the wine staff thought that a half empty glass was offensive to the eye and would keep topping it up till you collapse or placed a napkin over the glass. Ship and cabins were kept 'Squeaky Clean' by a great crew. We used the 'Pool' one afternoon while cruising and it was very pleasant in the heated water and screaning from the wind. Overall a very enjoyable cruise and we met many people who have now become friends, mostly from North America, but a few from Israel, Cuba, Australia and Hawaii, we were the only people from the UK. The reason I have not given the cruise an 'excellent' was that we and others found some of the local 'Guides' were not particularly great [We fed this back to the cruise manager who assured us it would be dealt with and the Tour Bus in Bratislava was not suitable for the less able guests. Read Less

This was our first river cruise, or cruise of any kind, and we picked AMA based on a review of various materials that reviewed cruise lines.The cruise was easy to book through a travel agent. The embarkation was smooth , the disembarkation was well handled and included transportation from the ship to the airport. The price would have included free airfare had we wanted to fly to coincide with the ship's day of depature, But since we wanted to spend a few days in Europe prior to sailing, we had to have that booked separately, but we were given an airfare that was very inexpensive for the route taken. The ship was beautiful . Our room was surprisingly spacious at 230 sq. ft. and had both French and outside balconies.The bathroom was large with a great rain shower, thick, comfortable towels and high quality grooming products. It was serviced twice every day by a professional,conscientious, helpful, abd friendly staff. The food service could not have been better. The breakfast and lunch were buffet, although there were always choices available to be served from the kitchen. The dinners were four courses with several options, including vegetarian and gluten free. The wines were high quality (and free flowing).. The waitstaff was attentive to every need. Cocktails were available for free for an hour before dinner, but also available all day long. there were also early risers' breakfast t available later in the morning. Lunch was also available as just soup and sandwich in the ship's lounge. In addition, every person had access to a special dinner at the Chef's Table dining room one night during the cuise. As for activities, there was stretching and Yoga every day and other fitness activities available throughout the day. Bicycles were available all the time and there were scheduled bike trips as shore excursions. There were also several strenuous hikes. And the standard city tours had both active and less active itineraries so every person had access to a pace with which they could be comfortable. The staff was wonderful from captain on down . The cruise director was tireless in her efforts to insure that all was perfect and did her job with boundless energy and humor. In short, we would gladly sail with AMA Wayerways again and give them our highest recommendation. Read Less

We chose this trip for our 39th Wedding Anniversary and the wish to experience a river cruise on the Danube. The Romantic Danube itinerary seemed to catch our eye and booked this cruise with the 2 night Hotel option in Munich Germany. After clearing customs/immigration, we exited the baggage hall and were met by our AmaWaterway transfer driver. He whisked us away to our Hotel located in the heart of "old" Munich and easy walking distances to any restaurants, market plaza's and old cathedrals. The Hotel room was ready upon arrival and the staff took good care of us. There was a very helpful AmaWaterways representative in the Hotel Lobby who gave us information related to our stay, the included walking tour and departure time to meet the ship at Vilshofen. The Hotel was wonderful, the local tour guide Annette gave our group a wonderful tour full of history and background of the area. The Sunday departure to meet the ship was flawless. It left on time, picked up additional passengers at the airport and arrived at the ship safely and on time. The embarkation to the AmaCerto was smooth, we were welcomed aboard by the tour manager Camille, reception had everything organized well our cabin was ready, luggage in room and times for some important briefings and safety demonstrations. The cabin we picked was nicely appointed, clean and comfortable. The washroom/shower was very adequate for our needs. We had a balcony and French balcony in our cabin. We used our balcony quite a bit. The food was fantastic, service was friendly and spot on and we really liked the open seating policy. The cruise manager arranged a host of talented singers, musicians and folk dancers for the evening entertainment. There were various fitness activities each day put on by the Wellness Coordinator. Camille had all the shore excursions organized, offered different fitness levels and had good local guides. All the excursions we attended went smoothly and added a lot of depth to the cruise. Final disembarkation to the airport was well organized and went smoothly. It was sad to leave as we had a excellent time, met many interesting people. We would definitely do this again!. Read Less

My wife, 12 y/o granddaughter and I had a trip of a lifetime on the AmaLyra last month. The planning and execution by AmaLyra staff throughout the cruise experience was exemplary. Their transfer services were well worth the money. During our arrival at CDG Paris we were met by AmaLyra reps and driver and proceeded easily to our transportation. Vehicle we rode in was very comfortable. Arrival at our hotel Paris Renaissance Parc du Trocadero was just right. Rooms were ready and while waiting to register we were greeted by Ama's sensational cruise manager Christian (more on him shortly). When we learned about our hotel change (Intercontinental to Renaissance) we were disappointed but we were highly satisfied with our experience at the Renaissance (Marriott property). Super location, rooms were well appointed, good breakfast and nice garden area for afternoon coffee/tea. We enjoyed the tours of Paris and the guides selected were quite impressive. I have visited Paris over 50 times on business but never took the time to learn about all the rich historical aspects of the city. Our tour guide/hostess was fabulous. She led us through Notre Dame (just 4 days before the fire) and our Paris at Night guide Annie, could not have been more gracious, funny and charming during our evening visit to Monmartre. She accepted our invitation to dinner and we enjoyed a wonderful discourse about the culture of France, things the French people value, life in general, etc. etc. Upon completing the two days in Paris, arrival on AmaLyra was perfect. Cabins were clean, orientation swift and all the passengers seemed to enjoy the wonderful welcome to AmaLyra's welcome aboard buffet of light snacks, drink and dessert. During the Captain's welcome reception I realized a river cruise was going to be much more intimate than your standard ocean cruise. The ship's officers were introduced which seemed to delight the passengers. The Hotel/Restaurant manager Violetta stole the show. She has an effervescent personality and was highly visible throughout the cruise. My wife particularly enjoyed the white wine (Sauvignon Blanc) served during the welcome reception and Violetta made sure it was available to my wife at lunch and dinner for the rest of the cruise (same goes for the Merlot offered at the welcome reception). The remainder of staff was excellent and we offer high kudos to several staff members. First goes to Wellness Director, Vladimir. He has enormous credibility by virtue of his study of anatomy in university. Having trained numerous world class athletes and being a former professional basketball player himself, Vladimir kept our attention as he demonstrated how to do particular core strengthening and stretching exercises but also added the why they are done a certain way and the benefit of following his technique. Since many of the early morning classes weren't highly attended it felt like a personal training session for the 4-5 regulars. Outstanding! Our head waiter Ioan, who was assisted by bar waitress Alexandra, made our meal times so special. Both were extremely accommodating in honoring our requests. Their people skills are exceptional and I was so impressed with how they handled insensitive remarks and unusual requests. Our granddaughter thoroughly enjoyed her interactions with Ioan. He really made her feel special which delighted my wife and me. Having been in the people business for almost 40 years, I especially appreciated the high level of professionalism in which they served the AmaLyra passengers. We sat in their section for every single meal - - that's how much we enjoyed our week with them. We were very sad to say goodbye to Ioan and Alexandra. Our dining experience really could not have been better. Our cabin attendant George was excellent as well and we loved his dry Romanian sense of humor. He worked very hard during our week and our cabins looked like Day 1 newly made - - every single day - - which wasn't easy considering some of the messes the girls made in their cabin - - LOL. I don't remember the name of the head chef but he and his staff did an excellent job with menu selection and overall food prep. We gravitated to the chef's recommendations each night and were especially impressed with the high standard of roasted/rotisserie meat preparation at dinner. Some of the entree offerings at lunchtime were wonderful surprises. I loved the champagne and oyster reception hosted by the captain on our 6th day prior to lunch and then the delicious steamed mussels finished in a garlic cream sauce served at lunch. Unbelievable how good that dish was! Lastly the cruise director, Christian, offered a level of enthusiasm and professionalism that would be hard to match at any cruise line (Ocean or River). He was exceptional. He never took anything for granted. His briefings on board about shore excursions were highly useful; his attention to detail to ensure nothing was overlooked (by staff or passengers) was world class. One of my favorite expressions throughout my sales leadership career was, "People don't care how much you know - - until they know how much you care". Every passenger on the AmaLyra knew Christian cared deeply about each of us having a special experience. This was best highlighted by Christian's extraordinary behind the scenes actions to ensure that one of the AmaLyra passengers injured during a biking tour, was well cared for in a Rouen hospital while the ship continued to sail. He also made sure the injured passenger's wife was updated on a regular basis and ensured she was well cared for while her husband was in hospital. If the owners of AmaLyra could have seen Christian in action, they would have been so proud. Just amazing, and inspiring. It was a wonderful, unforgettable memory we made with our granddaughter. We look forward to sailing with Ama again. Read Less

We were on the Iconic Christmas Markets Cruise during Christmas Week, and purchased the additional two nights in Prague though Ama. We have traveled extensively through the years, including ocean cruises, but this was our first river cruise. To say we were completely pleased is an understatement. The entire experience was top notch from the moment we landed in Budapest until our departure from Prague. We traveled with our two children, who are in their 20s. The Boat: Overall, the ship was extremely clean, and the rooms were comfortable. We had two rooms on the Cello Deck (mid-level) with a French balcony and outside balcony. It was too cold to use the outside balcony, but it made the room brighter. Our Housekeeper cleaned the room at least twice a day, including turn down service. The room was quiet and we slept well with nice linens and pillows. Since the boat is small, everything is a short walk and we never felt rushed to get to dinner or to the lounge. The Food: Excellent! Breakfast was primarily buffet style with a great selection of meats, cheeses, fruits, juices, eggs to order, and a huge pastry table. There were a couple of menu options, like Eggs Benedict. There was also a light breakfast option, pastries, in the lounge for late risers. Lunch was primarily buffet too, with different soups and main courses available. We could also order some items off of the menu, like cheeseburgers, which were delicious. Beer and wine were included with lunch, along with different desserts. Dinner was the highlight of the day. Each night featured a different 5 course menu with a couple of choices for each course. The main courses varied from beef to fish to chicken to lamb. We had dinner one night at the Chef’s Table Restaurant, and it was awesome. Beer and different wines included at dinner. Entertainment: There is only one lounge, and it was the meeting place at all hours of the day. There was a coffee/tea/chocolate maker that was available all the time. As far as I could tell, there was always a bartender on duty. People gathered in the lounge to read, socialize, and view the stunning countryside. At night there were some local entertainers, and there was a piano player/DJ to keep the guests entertained. In the rooms, the entertainment system didn’t always work, but it was not a problem for us. Wi-Fi was also spotty in some areas, but we enjoyed the views as we floated up the Danube. The gym is very small, but it was fine. The Cities and Tours: In order, Budapest, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg. The Illuminations Cruise in Budapest was amazing. Since it was Christmas week, we only had Christmas markets in Budapest and Vienna (also Prague, but more on that later). The Christmas Markets were fantastic, and having cash was preferable for smaller purchases, like food and drink. Each stop had its own magic and charm. The contracted tour guides in each stop were incredibly knowledgeable. Since this cruise was over Christmas, most shops in the towns visited from December 24th – 26th (Melk, Passau, Regensburg) were closed as Christmas was being observed. Regardless, each was still charming to walk through and some coffee shops and restaurants were open. Each location was also busy with locals out strolling. On Christmas Day, anyone wanting to attend Mass could do so at the Cathedral in Passau, about 10 minutes’ walk from the ship. The Crew: Even though this group had been working for months and had encountered a couple of thousand guests and were almost done for the season, they were all amazingly friendly and helpful and patient. Every crew member I encountered smiled and greeted me and took the time to answer my questions graciously. The service was as good as any we have encountered in our journeys. Due to high water in Germany, the cruise was slightly modified, requiring us to spend the final full day at sail – no stops. The crew adjusted well, hosting a Bavarian themed lunch and ice cream party. We did not mind at all. The Captain and Cruise Manager provided briefings to the passengers on river conditions. Post Cruise Tour: We purchased two nights in Prague for a reasonable price. We were transported by bus from Nuremberg, and were treated to a top hotel, the Cosmopolitan. The Cruise Manager accompanied our group, which was great. The hotel was located just a few minutes from the Christmas Market and historical center of the city. Even though it was after Christmas, the Christmas Market was still open as the holiday is celebrated through January 6th in Prague. The package also included breakfast in the very nice hotel restaurant, and a walking tour of historic Prague. Transfer Service: We purchased from the airport in Budapest to the ship; and from the Cosmopolitan Hotel to the airport in Prague. Both experiences were great. In Budapest, we were greeted by Ama reps and transported in a roomy bus. They had bottled water, which was a godsend after the long trip. In Prague, our Cruise Manager greeted us as we left, even though it was 4:30 AM, and gave us a boxed meal to go. At the airport, an Ama rep met us and guided us through check in, which was much appreciated. Read Less

We really wanted to do a Christmas Markets cruise and selected AMA based on advice from our travel agent. The ship was well laid out and very comfortable. The staff from the cabin attendant, cruise manager and hotel manager, dining staff, front desk folks were all over the top helpful, caring and pleasant. The food and beverages were very good and offered a broad range in choices each day. The bar service was very good and very attentive. The excursions were broad enough to appeal to all types, very educational and we enjoyed them a lot. Made it really easy to enjoy the vacation as a whole. I was interested in the workings of the ship as well and spent a good amount of time with the Captain understanding it as well. Getting on/off ship before and after was very streamlined and they helped with everything. Will be booking another cruise with them in the very near future! Read Less

This was our first river cruise. When traveling, I prefer to stay in luxury hotels and spas. Prior to the cruise, I was anxious about the quality and space onboard, since I had read many reviews of small cabin space. We opted for the suite upgrade and was given suite 304. I was pleasantly surprised at the space and finishes. We were given little extra tokens of appreciation such as in room champagne upon arrival, ama logo travel bags and luggage tags, Ama scarf and ama cap. These were nice little surprises that made us feel appreciated. There were numerous small things that they did for us that made us feel like family and that we mattered. The saying that people may forget what you say and do but never forget about how they make you feel, is so true with this ship. The entire staff was professional and considerate. Our bathroom had both a full sized tub and a smaller shower. The shower was a little tight for my husband as he is 6’3” and a big guy but he managed. The tub was full length and comfortable. We had both a French and traditional balcony. It was too chilly to sit on the balcony but would be nice in warmer weather. We had a computer and a wall of closet space. Very limited drawer space but plenty of hanging space and shelving The Amaserna is a beautiful boat. The interior looks new and well cared for. Due to staying busy with tours, food and finding new friends, We didn’t use the spa or small gym. They also have a small hair salon.a nice walking track and heated pool which were on the top deck. We were told they offer fitness classes in the top deck during warmer weather. The captain was pleasant and efficient. We had no issues with docking, locks or travels. The food was good and at times exceptional. The chefs table was a nice surprise and a fun and excellent dining experience. The breakfast was standard and good. I didn’t have lunch any day on the ship. We were constantly offered food - early breakfast, breakfast and late breakfast, lunch, tea time, sip and sail, dinner, and late night snack! Plus, we are at the Christmas Markets or stopped in small cafes in town. The tours were small groups of around 10-15 people. They offered active, regular and gentle walkers. My husband was having hip pain. So, a few days we did the gentle walker and it was so nice to have door to door service to and from the Abbey and Churches. We were given audiovox headphones to hear the tour guides. This was helpful. We could move away to make pictures while still hearing what they were saying. Of course, there was never enough time at any location. But, this was a 7 day cruise and we had 7 days of towns and cites to visit. It was nice that we were given the opportunity In Linz to (1) stay entire day in Linz (2) short Linz tour and half day excursion to Salzburg (3) full day In Salzburg. (4) morning in Linz and excursion to Chesky Krumlov I wanted to do all of them but chose the morning in Linz and half day to Salzburg. Great choice for us. On board entertainment was what I expected. Not the best and not the worst. We had a pianoman full time and some “lock hoppers” who hopped on board between the dam locks and provided unique local entertainment. We had a trio of classical musicans, “Von Trapp family of singing and dancing, lastly a one man acoustic guitar rock and roll oldies entertainer. These were fine and what one would expect on a small boat. Our transfers to and from the airport were easy and the staff was helpful. We had someone at the airports (arrival and departure) from Ama who helped with our luggage and finding our way to checkin and to security. Overall, it was a great experience and makes us want to do it again with Ama. If we had planned to visit all these cities and towns with tours and food , the cost would’ve been so much more. Currently, we are planning our next trip with Ama Read Less

This ship line had received great reviews. The trip was absolutely wonderful. Everyone who takes these cruises knows about the low water problem with Europe's rivers. The Captain and the crew of our trip managed to take us everywhere we were scheduled to go with no service disruption or problems presented to us. We had a Cruise manager, Camille, who seemed to be everywhere! She handled so many things that if a problem arose, she took care of it before we were even aware of it! Even with that, she did not "hover" over our group but helped us experience the unique value oil this cruise and the places we visited, providing plenty of time for our own discovery. She was absolutely delightful as were the Captain, Justyan, the Hotel Manager, Cristian and the rest of the crew! They were excellent! This is certainly the way to visit the great cities of Europe. The food was great and plentiful as was the wine and other beverages. The accommodations were great. The local guides were very good and were very helpful to us in enjoying the unique areas of each town and city we visited. We also had plenty of time to discover on our own and had a variety of ways to do that arranged by our Cruise Manager I would recommend this line, AMA Waterways, to anyone that wants to take a river cruise. We certainly will be back! In my view, this is the very best way to experience these historic places in the world. Read Less

We chose the Magical Christmas markets to see Vienna, Salzburg, and Nürnberg, to enjoy some Christkindlmarkts, and to acquaint ourselves with river cruising. Ama has work to do. The cruise administration as we approached our travel date was disrupted by the Woolsey Fire in the San Fernando Valley, where Ama is headquartered. Ama needs better contingency plans if they are going to stay in the Valley. Fires in Calabasas, from my youth in Woodland Hills, are NOT uncommon. We were impacted by the water levels of the Danube. Our cruise was shortened from Nürnberg to Vilshofen, and, after we boarded, to Passau. We missed one of the best Christkindlmarkts in all Europe. I recognize Ama is a hotelier, a restaraunteur, and a ship line, but they need better decisionmaking on how to make the traveller's experience the best possible. That includes leaving ship if need be. The sailing plan? OMW. On Monday, for reasons known only to Ama, we left Vienna for Tulin. Guess what? Everything was closed. DUMB. Then, at 11 at night, we sailed back to Vienna to berth in the nest of ships again. Better to have spent another day in Vienna, and help us see more of that great city. Speaking of bad calls, let's talk about Sunday. There were three ships abreast at Handelskai that morning. Three sets of busses, and no one on shore to direct us to which group of busses. We showed our color coded ticket, and the guide said "This is your bus." Welllllll .... no it wasn't. It was the bus of another ship to Bratislava. You need passports for that tour. Turned out a third of the people on that bus were from our ship, misdirected to it instead of the bus for the Eisenstadt tour. It's late fall, early winter. It was raining most days, so the upper outdoor deck was unusable. The lounge was a hospitable place, with free coffee and tea at all hours. I discuss our cabin elsewhere. The dining? Superb. An advantage Ama has over Windstar and their ocean sailings is the free wine and beer at mealtime. I liked that! Service? Superb. Yes, I paid the expected crew's gratuity, and then some, but I also gave some to my cabin housekeeper and two of the waiters. They deserved it. Vienna and Salzburg are grand cities, worthy of much more time than the cruise could provide. We will be back. Overall, this COULD HAVE BEEN A FIVE BUBBLE CRUISE. The administrative and logistics decision cost it points. Read Less

By the time my husband and I thought of a river cruise for a wedding anniversary we already had enough of ocean liners gigantomania and clearly knew each drawback of a sea voyage. Though, we find it very exciting to see different places at one go - that’s a huge advantage of any water travel. Applying value for money approach to the desired dates (12.11-19.11) and destination (Basel-Amsterdam) we made our choice - Amawaterways. The ship meant to carry us along the route was AmaStella, if not the low water level on the Rhine, due to which we later moved to AmaKristina. Getting ready for our maiden river voyage was full of doubt - will a small ship be comfortable enough? shall we need to share a table with some fellow passengers during meals? what if we in our early 40s feel a bit too young for such cruise? In fact, there were dozens of people younger than we, including passengers and staff members - thus, we are not too young. Never we had to share a table with anybody else. Surprisingly, I had much more private space onboard AmaWaterways ships than I ever had on any ocean cruise liner, - needless to say that sun deck in November is a paradise for misanthropes.) Food onboard Amawaterways was of rather good 4* quality. I cannot share negative opinions - with rare exceptions it was perfectly acceptable. I wonder how can one expect to have a truly high-end cuisine onboard a cruise ship, if presumably all fish and meats are defrosted? We did not seek Michelin stars experience and were completely satisfied. Dress code issue. Misled by the popular messages about the very casual style of clothing on river cruises, I witnessed quite the contrary. Many passengers elegantly dressed up for dinner. Compared to them we personally felt a bit underdressed. Obviously, this is a wrong place for a floor length evening gown. But I do recommend to bring with you some semi-formal pieces to be well dressed. And, a pair of high heels;-) Our stateroom (309 on both ships) with French and outside balcony is very rationally designed, very clean and comfortable, even though it doesn’t have much space. All public places are also very well maintained. In general, with regard to the small size of the ship onboard living conditions and facilities are perfect. And a few words about the “relocation”. When you get to know your cruise will go wrong... you feel frustrated. But later on you accept it - what else can you do? And when you arrive there appears the most thrilling thing - you do not know what exactly is going to happen to you just in a few days - it really enhances the sense of adventure, doesn’t it? They say: “Every problem has a gift in its hand”. The one for us was Luxembourg! We for sure would not go there, unless it was right on the relocation way. And it was a short but truly great impression, rated #2 on the whole trip. An extra surprise was to see Kristin Кarst on our bus - she herself expressed apologies for itinerary changes before we moved on to Antwerp - honourable. Busing? Well, it was inevitable... Probably tiresome for the elderly people, but for us - not at all. On the contrary, the scenic ride through Belgian pastoral countryside on a strikingly beautiful day was nothing but fabulous. In Antwerp there was the other ship, AmaKristina. Even though it is a bit newer copy of AmaStella, I still found the latter one more appealing. The team? May be. A prototypical what-he-should-look captain, a highly hospitable hotel manager, very attentive head waiter, excellent barman, as well as the rest of the staff - they all deserve special thanks. Which certainly does not diminish the value of AmaKristina’s team - they too did a great job! Pau, the cruise manager, such a nice guy - easy going, smart and tolerant - accompanied both parts of the cruise and left the best impression possible. The only thing our cruise seriously lacked was, of course, daytime sailing! This is the main reason to choose river cruise for. Taking a look at the Enchanting Rhine cruise map we clearly see how little we have sailed - hardly a third part of the route length. Was it really a cruise? Rather a very good travel... Well, AmaWaterways could treat the issue as a force majeure and bypass any responsibility. Instead they have voluntarily offered a generous compensation - a big discount for a future cruise which I can’t help but already dream about. Read Less

In our opinion, the Nov 11, 2018, Danube cruise was one of the best cruises we've ever been on--which had a lot to do with the staff and the cruise manager. The beauty of Vilshofen all the way to Budapest was breathtaking. Most of the people who took the cruise were over 50, but they were very active and all of the active tours were completely full. The relaxing part was saved for the evening, where AMA spared no expense for incredible meals and libations. Top notch. I really wish I had two to three days in Vienna and Budapest. Wow. That 15 mile bike ride through Vienna was unbelievable. The Danube River was so low, unfortunately, that we could not go from Vienna to Budapest (we took a bus). Even with something that they couldn't control, AMA still managed everything with class by putting us up in a wonderful hotel (on the river) and we all us did a river cruise evening meal to see the evening illuminations . We got to enjoy Budapest in comfort and are so thankful. Which I'm sure was an extra expense to AMA--classy. I will say that the arrangements that had to be taken in order to arrange this last day in Budapest were handled incredibly by John our cruise director. He dealt with things that were very difficult, but yet he calmly met all challenges in such a way that deserves massive credit. His knowledge, professionalism, people skills and ability to handle pressure really came shining through. John--thanks to you from all of us (that cruise was incredible in every way). Thank you AMA - we're already planning our next cruise with you for next year. Read Less

We chose AMA because of the itinerary, The Romantic Danube. The ship was beautiful and the staff was amazing. There is not one thing we could say bad about this vacation. Every need of ours was met at every turn. The excursions were amazing with super fun, informative tour guides. Even when we had to disembark and bus from Vienna to Budapest, John, our cruise manager made this a smooth and easy transition. We still had time in Budapest to do the tours we had scheduled and the illuminations cruise we were all looking forward to. Any adversity that came about, John handled professionally and never let the passengers know there was any bump in the plans. The onboard staff was amazing and took care of our every need. The food was fantastic and there were always may options for all. We loved this vacation and can't wait to go on another AMA river cruise. Read Less

We chose this cruise because Dr. Frank Winery was hosting it for their wine club members and their wines were featured. This was an awesome cruise experience. The staff was extremely attentive. The food was excellent. It was a new ship with all the amenities. Most everything was first class. Three of the nights' entertainment was outstanding! John Riley, our cruise director, was fabulous. He could turn a disaster into an apple pie! Every attention to detail was given. He was on call probably 16 hours a day. He was always available and approachable. He became a friend to all on board. Because the river was low due to lack of adequate rainfall, the ship could not sail the last leg of the trip so John had to arrange for travel and lodging for a night for all passengers at our final city. It was disappointing to not sail the last day/night, but John made the best of it and made sure we all were comfortable and attended to. There are only two issues I believe that could be improved upon: First, the "in house" pianist was O.K., but not outstanding. He was fine for some light background pieces for lunch and late afternoon, but didn't really cut it for the night life. He was pleasant enough and personable, but just was not of the level we were expecting for this type of cruise. Second, it appeared there was no thought about lighting in the main bar/lounge area. Different lighting is needed for different functions/moods/situations. The lighting seemed helter-skelter. Whatever was on, was on. The staff didn't know how to adjust it and didn't seem to understand the differences in lighting moods. All in all this was an outstanding trip for us and we look forward to once again sailing with AMA in the future. Read Less

From the moment we arrived in Munich, AMA waterways service was top notch. We opted for the smallest cabin. The layout was very good, storage under the bed for suitcases, plenty of closet and drawer space for clothing, and good space in the bathroom for toiletries. Transfer from the airport was on a very comfortable coach with our guide providing nice commentary along the drive to Vilshofen,but knowing when people were getting a bit of shut eye so she kept it to a minimum. Although the room was not ready when we came onboard, there was a light meal in the lounge and we set off to walk around Vilshofen with a map from reception to stretch our legs after a long flight. Upon return to the ship our room was ready and our bags were in place waiting for us. We enjoyed the Octoberfest in the tent on the pier and then dinner in the dining room. Our waiter was so wonderful we tried to sit in his area throughout the cruise. The staff could not do enough to make you happy. Wine poured freely and the food was very very good. Breakfast was basically the same every day on the buffet but there was plenty of choices as well as options from the kitchen. Champagne was available at breakfast, as was the detox/vitamin water or the day. Lunch on board was a good variety. One day they had make your own Pho soup, you picked the meat and veggies and the chef put it together with the noodles and broth. So delicious. Again if you did not care for the buffet, there were menu options. Dinners were delicious. I will never forget the lamb or the mushroom soup. Although there was open seating it was nice to find new friends to eat with. People from all over the United States and the UK. Excursions were good with most guides being very knowledgeable. The only guide we didn’t care for was in Budapest. The captain was very nice, and our cruise director, Nicola was the best. Due to low water levels we had a change in plans and had to be bussed from Bratislava to Budapest. We spent one night at the Kempinski hotel. Beautiful room (and coming from the smallest room on the ship, a huge upgrade for us!). But the food on the illuminations cruise was not good but AMA stepped up and offered a credit on a future cruise. We met a travel agent on board who said we had picked the right company to cruise with. Although I had seen Viking commercials every Sunday while watching Downton Abbey, my research showed that AMA was the way to go. We are in our mid 50’s and felt there were people of all ages on board. The only negative of river cruising is the lack of time in ports such as Vienna and Budapest where you need more time. But that said, we can always go back. Ports - Passau was wonderful as was Melk and Linz. Loved Cesky Krumlov. Durnstein was ok...I would have preferred more time in Vienna instead or Budapest. Read Less

Sailed with AMA before, loved it! Their attention to detail is superb. This time we experienced a drought that altered our course and experience. AMA took us to 2 extra countries not on our original itinerary, made everything pleasant and seamless, remained positive and upbeat, and gave us a 100% credit for a future cruise of our choosing! We were on two ships, identical accommodations. Cabins great, ships great, dining excellent, service great, entertainment and activities great, excursions fabulous, staff attentive and wonderful, embarkation, disembarkation and ship transfer went smoothly and perfectly! AMA is an outstanding company, a class act, and I will most certainly travel with them again! They outperform all of the others and are far superior! The Captain gives each lady a rose upon arrival, and by the time you get back from dinner, the rose is in a vase. The crew knows your food likes and dislikes, allergies, and every detail to make you feel comfortable. They make special occasions unforgettable and treat you with the utmost respect! Read Less

We chose AmaWaterways Melodies of the Danube river cruise to celebrate our 42nd wedding anniversary, and we could not have made a better choice. We were to embark in Budapest, but unfortunately, due to low water levels on the Danube, Budadpest closed its ports, and the ship was in Vienna. This was at no fault of AmaWaterways. Although we were disappointed, AmaWaterways and our cruise manager, Sebastien, made sure that we did not miss a meal, excursion, or port due to the closure. We had arrived in Budapest two days prior to our cruise, and upon learning of the port closure, AmaWaterways arranged a room for us in the Budapest Ritz Carlton. It was here that we met Sebastien and soon realized how valuable he would be to the success of our cruise. He was very knowledgeable of the ports and excursions, and extremely organized. With his guidance, we were bused to Vienna where we embarked the AmaSerena, and the cruise continued its schedule unimpeded. The AmaSerena was impeccably maintained, and AmaWaterways commitment to safety, comfort, and service was at the highest level. Cleanliness was a high priority throughout the ship. The crew of the ship was very friendly and helpful, and exuded a pleasantness that made you feel like family. Our cabin, though on the small side, was very clean and well stocked. Our cabin stewardess was very efficient and timely in maintaining our room. Meals were well organized, and the food was of the highest quality utilizing many locally grown products from the area near our ports. The ship has two dining areas; one being open seating, and the Chef's Table Restaurant, requiring reservations and providing a wonderful fine dining experience. Following meals, entertainment was provided in the lounge for both listening and dancing. Local musicians and entertainers were brought on board to provide a taste of the local culture. AmaWaterways even provided an exclusive "Oktoberfest" in a tent on the pier next to our ship in Vilshofen, Germany, the terminus of our cruise. Lastly, excursions were well planned and used local guides knowledgeable in the customs and history of the city being visited. A brief description of the next day's excursion was placed in our cabin nightly. We could not have been happier with our AmaWaterways anniversary cruise on the AmaSerena. Service was top notch from beginning to end. Read Less

I was looking for a really special cruise for my husband's 60th birthday and Ama Waterways was recommended to me by a small ship specialist. My travel agent understood that my husband and I are not "get on the bus and tour" type of people (even though Ama does provide riding tours). We wanted walking, hiking, and biking opportunities and Ama provided that. We also wanted to be in ports in the evening to explore the towns after hours. Ama's ship, staff, food, itineraries, service, was excellent. The ports were amazing. We walked over 25,000 steps each day and loved every step. The food was delicious and local and we never found a need to eat off of the ship. The wines at dinner were outstanding and the wine stewards kept our glasses filled. The Bitburger beer was great and a must with lunch once I discovered it! The room was extremely comfortable - we slept like babies. The water pressure in the shower was great (one minor complaint - the water pooled on the bathroom floor after taking a shower so the bath mat had to be replaced daily). We had a TV that was also a computer in our room but we never used it. Did I mention the refreshing cool washcloths and flavoured tea when we returned from excursions? I could go on and on and on about this fabulous cruise. If we had to find a "negative" the only thing I can say is that it was disappointing that the upper deck of the ship was closed for part of the cruise but that is not Ama's fault and could not be helped. The bridges are low in certain areas and the railings have to be taken down to allow clearance under the bridges. We also weren't expecting to sometimes have our cabin windows blocked by another ship when in port (they dock next to each other). But, seriously, those were the only negatives. My husband would add that he would like more educational lectures. I also have to mention the staff. The purser was always ready to solve any problem and answer any question. The cruise manager organized the itineraries and excursions, and even debarkation in the most professional manner. On debarkation day, she arranged for transportation for every guest to wherever we were heading (airport, train station, bus station, local hotel, etc.) and it all happened timely and seemingly with ease. It was amazing! We will definitely sail with Ama again. AMA-ZING! Read Less

Where do we start, Amazing trip/experience with AMA? Using our travel agent /AMA we added 1 night in Zurich, 2 nights in Basel at the beginning and 2 more nights in Amsterdam at the end of our cruise. The experience on the AMA Prima was 2nd to none, from receiving our ‘Booking Summary” and reviewing it, we felt this trip was going to be special. Then checking into our 1st hotel, seeing/experiencing “Basel” and seeing the docking of River Cruise Ships from our room, we loved it. The hotel provided us with a short transfer to the dock to board/check in on the AMA Prima & there we knew we were in for a very special cruise/vacation. The food was amazing all 3 sittings, the “Chef Table “gave us an experience to remember. The main Lounge/bar was an excellent meeting place, entertainment in the evening, snacks & cold/hot beverages most of the day. The staff was attentive to guest details, tours, dining, safety on board and made the less than 150 guests on board have what they required to make their trip a lasting experience. The daily tours were included with attention to detail for the visitor and the area. My only negative comment is not to do with the Staff on the AMA Prima but with AMA vacation operations. AMA’s selection of hotels for the pre/post cruise were only at one budget level (highest). I found that insensitive & arrogant not fitting with what we experienced on the “AMA Prima” Read Less

Family recommended the Amawaterways cruise company . We couldn’t of had a better trip. The ship was in excellent condition from brass bell down to the on board bikes to take ashore . We were wowed by the crew especially the cruise manager “Marcia”. The food was excellent and suited all types of tastes and appetites along with the abundant poured wines paired with all the meals .(except breakfast Thank God)! We saw lots of other cruise companies as we traveled up the Rhine and our ship always looked the best and had active guests and crews having fun on deck all the time . Others cruise ships seemed to not have the same energy . Our on shore activities were great especially the hired by ama tour guides in each port , turely amazing and so knowledgeable and fun to follow through village listening to all the history and amusing details of our visit . Read Less

This cruise was amazing! We chose a Danube cruise for the destinations. My husband is a musician and wanted to go to places where the famous composers actually wrote and performed the music so this itinerary was perfect. Everything about this cruise was easy. Checkin was easy, they took our luggage to our room while we were checking in and they explained all the room features to us. We had been traveling for almost a week prior to getting on the ship so we sent out laundry that first night and asked to have it back in 2 days, it was back in our room same night when we came back from dinner! The cabin was well appointed and we opted for a balcony which we enjoyed. The food was great and service was top notch in both the restaurant and the lounge. The DJ in the evenings was entertaining and played great music and the dance floor was always full. The water level in the northern part of the Danube was too low so our itinerary had to change to accommodate that. No one wants a ship to get stuck! They reworked the itinerary on the fly and found other great locations for us to stop at and wonderful tour options. Every night before dinner we met the cruise director Csaba in the lounge and he updated everyone on the changes and let us know where we would be the next day. You could tell he was working really hard to come up with Plan B and he did not disappoint. As a result we did miss out on a few of the scheduled ports but all in all I don't think we really missed anything and we thoroughly enjoyed the options we did have. This was our first river cruise and we were anxious to compare it to the big ocean liners and we were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed the smaller, quieter atmosphere. We plan to do another cruise with AMA in the next year or so. We had a fantastic time and the level of detail and service was above and beyond our expectations. Read Less

This was a bucket trip to celebrate a significant birthday. We had never cruised before--opting instead of sailing adventures. What a delight to be able to leisurely experience the sights and the history of a trip that started in Prague with a pre-cruise and then down the Danube to Budapest. Maddy Caldaruse was a superb cruise director, filled with facts as well as fun. Her patience and pleasure was evident. The tour guides on the different options we took were so filled with information and enthusiasm. we also walked out kegs off--meaning that despite such fabulous food and drink, we didn't gain a pound. Now that's a trip. From our cabin steward to the dear reception attendant, from the wait staff to the crew, Ama delivered as promised. The food offered options to fit any palate. I particularly found the breakfasts to set the healthy stage for the rest of the day! Read Less