After ocean cruising, I was ready for a smaller,easier, friendlier experience of a river cruise.While AMA Waterways is not inexpensive, it was well worth the excellent food,wine included,personable staff,music on board entertainment, choice of tours,handsome cabin design and general public area ambiance.The Danube River cruise began in Budapest and allowed us to unload our luggage before 3:00 pm boarding. We spent a fun morning in one of the oldest mineral baths that included a rapid water circular" human bumper car "experience. Everyone was laughing like a bunch of kids and it was a great start to our adventure.I particularly enjoyed docking right next to the small and large cities and not having commercial hawkers meeting you as you disembarked. Almost every tour included a head set and you could choose slow, medium or fast walk groups to join.Learned a lot about the history and culture of Eastern Europe. Several fun side trips to a local restaurant/wine tavern in impressive motor coaches. We added an optional end of the trip stay in Prague and I am so glad to have had the experience of traveling first class with AMA Waterways...