Balcony

Outside

AmaWaterways

Budapest

Passau

Amsterdam

Prague

Basel

Europe - All

Europe - River Cruise

Europe River

Germany

Danube River

Austria

Slovakia

Germany River

Rhine River

Europe - British Isles & Western

Netherlands

France

Switzerland

Caribbean - All

Caribbean - Southern

Belgium

Excellent

Very Good

Average

AmaCerto

AmaPrima

AmaSonata

AmaSerena

AmaLyra

AmaDolce

AmaCello

AmaViola

AmaKristina

AmaStella

AmaDante

AmaMagna

AmaDara

AmaLea

AmaVida

AmaDouro

AmaMora

AmaBella

AmaSiena

AmaLucia

AmaVerde

AmaDahlia

Zambezi Queen

Fanning Island

We chose this cruise to spend a hassle-free week as a family, unpacking our bags once and experiencing 4 countries plus a taste of the Christmas markets. We also visited Prague and Munich on our own. We embarked in Budapest on Dec 29, disembarked in Vilshofen Jan 5. 

We have been on 2 ocean cruises (Caribbean and Alaska) and have 3 teenagers, so I was worried that river cruises have a reputation for catering to an older crowd and they would be bored.  But there were several families on board with teenagers and young adults, maybe because of the time of year during school break? And if your kids love history, castles, and just know what to expect, it's a great experience. The boat is small - a dining room, a lounge, a VERY small workout room, and then small pool and track on the top deck. So no kids' club, no teen room, etc. But there is no time spent on the boat really because the destinations are so close. And since there are no interior rooms, everyone gets an amazing view from their room.

Embarkation and Disembarkation were so easy compared to ocean cruises. The staff took the time to know everyone by sight. They were very diligent in making sure we checked in and out, so no one was left behind. The boat is able to dock usually just steps away from the central tourist locations, I think only 1-2 days where we needed to take a bus. The shore excursion teams did a wonderful job of breaking us into small groups and traveling different routes through our destinations so if felt very personal. They were all very knowledgeable and I loved the Quietvox speakers so the guides didn't have to shout and you could wander a little bit away and still hear the tour. Food was AMAZING!!! Lots of variety each night, and buffet style eating most of the day - again, very helpful with teenagers. Ours are not picky eaters at all, but there is always a very traditional American option at each meal if you are more choosy. There were several excursions and tours that felt special - I am always skeptical of anything that markets itself as an "exclusive" tour or similar, but these did pretty well.  A Mozart concert, castle tour, Melk Abbey tour with no photos allowed - what? you mean you just have to EXPERIENCE a place?? So 20th century! Also an unexpected, amazing experience was docking in Vienna on New Year's Eve and being able to watch the fireworks over the city. It was like a dream.

If you are going for the Christmas markets, you should go before Christmas. We knew this from our travel agent, so not a surprise. We were in Prague starting Dec 24 so got some flavor, Budapest still had some stalls Dec 29-30, Vienna and Munich still had hot wine stalls and some trinkets after New Year's. It's enough to get the flavor. Ditto for shopping in general - there were alot of holidays and Sundays when we traveled, so less chance to buy souvenirs.

We had a wonderful time and would love to take a river cruise again someday!

Coordinator, Social Media

River cruise with teenagers - a great experience!

We chose this cruise to experience the European Christmas markets.  I love the charm and magic of Christmas decorations and the stores and restaurant displays did not disappoint.  

Pre-Cruise:  We arrived in Prague for two days prior to embarkation to allow us to adjust to the time change/travel fatigue.  We stayed at the same hotel as others doing the full three day pre-cruise Prague package.  This was helpful for the bus ride to Nuremberg, the port of embarkation.  Upon check-in at the hotel I was directed to the table where the cruise director, Kata, greeted us.  We did our own thing in Prague and enjoyed our time there.  

Shore Excursions:  The scheduled excursions always include professional tour guides arranged by Amawaterways and all were all very knowledgeable. Each stateroom has two "receivers" for you to hear the tour guides speak on the tours.  These receivers were of better quality than those I have used on other European tours.  

If your itinerary has you visiting Christmas markets on a weekend - be ready for large crowds.  We chose several food/drink focused excursion options not associated with Christmas markets and were very pleased. One afternoon I took the gingerbread cookie decorating class.  The cookies were baked by the staff and we were provided icing to decorate.  

One day we opted to stay on the ship while it changed ports, rather than taking a bus ride to a castle.  It was a very relaxing and enjoyable afternoon.  Those who opted for the castle tour were also pleased with their selection.

We found we enjoyed the smaller cities and markets the most, with Regensberg our favorite.   We had snow flurries one day in Melk - which added to the charm and Christmas spirit.  

Food:  The first night's dinner was excellent.  Unfortunately, the other meals were not as special.  I attribute this to trying to feed 150-160 people at the same time.  If you are not interested in the main courses being offered, there is always a beef, chicken and vegetarian option to choose from.    You will never go hungry.

Entertainment: We are not big on on-board entertainment, but found the violin players to be really enjoyable.  We had the option of adding a Chechen-themed dinner and dancing entertainment in Prague but chose not to based on personal preference and prior experiences.

Currency:  We had three currencies to deal with on the cruise.  Prior to the trip we went to a local currency exchange and got Korunas, Euros and Forints in amounts we thought we would spend in those locations.  We did have some money left over to exchange upon our return, but found it very convenient to have local currencies at hand.

Packing:  The on-board laundry service which was around $15 Euros for five shirts, five pairs of underwear,  a couple pairs of socks and two pairs of jeans.  Next time we will pack less and do laundry more.  

Security:  The Christmas markets in large cities always had a police presence in and around the market.  The more crowded the market, the more likely for theft.  No one we knew had anything stolen, but one couple felt their backpack being unzipped in Budapest and were able to turn and stop the thief.  Also, be aware of bike lanes and don't wander into them.

We had a great time and really enjoyed ourselves.  I would recommend this cruise and the cruise line.

Iconic Christmas Markets - Danube

We chose the 3 day Prague on land before the cruise. The cruise manager is on site to help with everything. Our manager, Natalija, was excellent. She was there to answer any questions. The only thing I was a bit disappointed with for the Prague portion was that I was not able to find out until about 3 weeks prior to the cruise about what was exactly planned by Ama in Prague. I would of liked the information sooner. I called them 3 times to try to get an itinerary with details.

The AmaViola was very nice. I have no complaints about the condition or cleanliness of the ship.

The food was excellent. Just a tip...they do offer tapas in the lounge at off hours. I did not find this out until the next to last day. I would of used the service for the night I didn't feel like going to the dining room.

The excursions were all nice. My husband was one of two people that opted for the bike ride tours and they enjoyed the rides. I really liked Cesky Krumlov. It was such a unique place to visit.

The service was excellent throughout the cruise. Everyone I had contact with was very professional and helpful.

I would recommend this cruise.

Superb service

I should start this review out with a word regarding my rating. It would have to be OUTSTANDING for me to give a 5, so in most cases my "4" should be considered very good.

Now to our trip:

" Melodies of the Danube" (Wine themed cruise)

Our cruise itinerary was slightly modified from the standard since it included 2 tours not generally available on the regular  " Melodies of the Danube" cruise.

Our Itinerary:

Budapest

VIENNA	 plus Viennese Heuriger Tavern Evening

KREMS plus evening at Schloss Gobelsburg Wine Tasting

WEISSENKIRCHEN

GREIN plus Exclusive Clem Castle Visit with Private Wine Reception

LINZ

PASSAU 

VILSHOFEN

Our embarcation was at Mahart-Garam1 which at first seemed odd and a bit inconvenient since this pier is located up river in north Budapest and really doesn't provide very good views and isn't really near many of the hotels or sites. However, once on board it became clear why this pier was selected. Earlier in the year an accident during an "illumination cruise" resulted in all such cruises to be suspended for safety.( this cruise provided beautiful views of the lighted parliament, bridges and other government buildings). AMAWATERWAYS found that after our embarkation that our ship needed to be moved to the usual International pier (directly across from the Parliament building) and this move "needed" to be made in the evening to allow everyone to board. The result was a fantastic view of lighted Budapest at at night (clever).

The tour stops were all interesting and provided multiple levels of tour depending on your ability. I injured my knee before the cruise and keeping up with the tours was a concern. The "level 1" tours were just right and maybe even a bit slow paced at times ( this did allow for easy setup of pictures along the tour though). For the most part the tours covered the same routes just at a slower pace with the exception of areas with many steps, where the slower tour would deviate.

Being this was a "special wine themed" version of the cruise our it included wine activities on board and extra stops as noted in our itinerary. 

Most of the days tours started at 9:30am which made the morning a bit less hectic however,(here's a negative). The first 2 added excursions took place AFTER dinner starting at (8:00PM or 8:30PM) so with the bus rides and event we didn't get back to the ship until about 11:00. The next days tours started at 9:00 (half hour earlier than most) which resulted in not much sleep and barely time for breakfast.

I think a bit better planning by AMA can correct this issue.

This wan't our first river cruise , but it was our first with AMA , and overall everything was "VERY GOOD" and we hope to take another cruise with AMAWATERWAYS in the future.

Overall an enjoyable week

Exceptional service, excellent food, high class all the way!  Embarking and disembarking is so different on this river cruise than we have experienced on ocean cruising... no line ups, very relaxed process, so smooth.  The buffet breakfast was very good... all the options one would want including made to order omelettes and for the bread lover - a huge array of choices. Each meal featured a couple of options... a little less than we are used to on ocean cruises, but certainly satisfying.  At one of the meals, I experienced the best pork I think I’ve ever eaten!  The service was pretty top notch and the wine choices were very good!  We found the shore excursions were excellent - local guides with a lot of knowledge. Having the bicycle option was an added bonus. The exercise room was well equipped with top of the line equipment.  Our cruise manager, Kriss Stallabrass, was excellent! Very organized, knowledgeable and fun!

River Cruisin’

This is something my husband and myself have talked about doing for sometime but have always felt it was a little expensive , however, having had a recent bereavement in the family and deciding life is too short we booked our trip just a few weeks before sailing . We have no regrets , the trip was wonderful . We were made to feel at ease as soon as we boarded , the ship was gorgeous and the staff so welcoming , nothing was too much trouble . Our Cruise Manager ( Rachel) superb x but all the crew have to be complimented . Everything was so well organised , the catering and various options for dining  were superb . We have met some lovely people on board , the Rhine is stunning and we were blessed with beautiful weather . 

As for value for money that is provided on this cruise , you certainly get a lot for your money and believe me that’s something coming from. Yorkshire girl !!

Rhine River Cruise , Basel to Amsterdam

This was our first river cruise but will definitely not be our last.  The AMA cruise line is 1st class from the beginning to the end.  The crew is so very well trained, the food is delicious and the ship is beautiful.  

The chef and kitchen crew never disappointed us.  The food was delicious and beautifully presented. We ate at the chefs table one night, one word, DELICIOUS.

The lounge was big and comfortable.  

The ship was spotless, someone was always cleaning something.

The rooms always had fresh towels, the bed was comfortable and the bedding was clean.

The rooms were nicely appointed with WiFi, computer and tv.  

We had the BEST crew. From the minute we said hello to the hugs and tears when we left, they felt like family.  

Bojan was our cruise director and Victoria was our cruise manager and they were always happy to help.  

THE BEST CRUISE LINE!!

BEYOND PERFECT

Jost Van Dyke

I dreamt of taking this trip for years and finally made it starting in Amsterdam, Netherlands; going through the Rhine River in Germany and the Main River and Canal; then to the Danube River to Austria, Bulgaria and Hungary.  The AMA Waterway ships seemed to have more staterooms with balconies than other lines.  My ship, the AMA Viola, was constantly being cleaned, banisters being wiped down, windows cleaned and everything sparkling clean. I traveled alone, however, since there was no assigned dining seating I was able to meet people from all over the USA, Canada and England, talk with them and exchange e-mail address.  The ship traveled at a slow speed because of the water level while we passed various castles, towns, churches.  A lot of the shoreline was forested, but about 3 trees in you could see a walking, biking lane or street.  The ship stopped at cities in each of the countries where we could get a view of the history and shops.  Guides were very knowledgeable.  After the individual tour, there was always time for personal exploring or shopping.  One nice part about the excursions was that we each had a Quiet Voxe.  Each day we would pair it with the guide and while she talked we could hear her up to two blocks away.  If we stopped to take a picture, it was easy to catch up and we could hear without having to stand right in front of her.  Each group had their own color and a guide holding a colored paddle.  Each day our Cruise Director, Rachael Couto would update our itinerary with pictures and funny antidotes.  When we were gathered in the lounge, there was guitar music and disco music at night.  Several times, special groups or individual would entertain.  Of course sitting on the top deck while cruising was always an option.  There was a mixture of time to take in shore excursions, meals (in the main dining room, lounge, or chef's table), visiting with new friends, listening to music, lots of laughing and dancing, enjoying the view on the top deck or a quick nap in the cabin. All the crew members greeted you.  My room steward always had the room made up while I was at breakfast.  The other room steward on the floor always had a warm 'good morning' and a comment that I was the first one down for breakfast or I was late and was 3rd one down.  If a seaman should pass you on the steps, he would always say good morning/afternoon..  If you had a question, there was always someone to help.

Fantastic Trip of a Lifetime- 14 day Magnificent Europe

We chose Amawaterways after reading some very positive critics about food and excursions on their ships.

On Amaviola, food was fair but not exceptional compare to other cruise lines but "La table du chef", once by cruise,  deserve congratulations.

For excursions , it's true that choices were varied for every kind of people, young and older ones even with bike rides offered.

What bother us the most on this cruise was general atmosphere with a lot of american's families getting together with grand ma et grand pa and not attending at all at cultural shows presented on the ship  ....8-10 persons on a cruise of 150 persons for listing a french signer at Strasbourg, every body was on sun deck instead....it was pitiful!

The night after, ship canceled show supposed to be presented !!!

A separated club of 45-50 cyclists was on this cruise and may be this separated group changed atmosphere on the ship !  I don't know !

Also, service was average in room, bar and restaurant nothing too bad but nothing too good also. At bar, we were running to get drinks at tables, we were obliged to go the the bar counter .At front desk, smile wasn't included also.!

On the upper deck or sun deck with a little pool very attractive and useful, under 35C weather, no service at all during all week with one exception to offered us once German coffee!

We cruised twice before on Avalon's ships ( Danube and Seine rivers) and the personal was more joyful, friendly, service was better and food as good as on this Amawaterways cruise, member of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs 

For the river and cities to visit , it was amazing and we recommend this cruise with what companies you like but not necessary with AMA. 

For arrival and departure at ship and airports ....wow...exceptional personalized service and  for that AMA deserves congratulations. 

We know that AMA can't be responsable of participation of their clients on a cruise but for those who want more joyful cruises, look before at what kind of people ships companies try to attract.

May be we were only back lucky and AMA can offer more friendly cruises .

Good cruise but not exceptional !

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!

A Europe I never knew..And a cruise that left a great memory

Filters

1-10 of 40