We started our journey two days prior to our 10 night cruise on the AMAPrima by acclimating to the time change (9 hour time difference from CA) in Zurich, something we highly recommend regardless of your starting disembarkation point. Get acclimated to the time change then hit the cruise. The train from Zurich to Basel took us through the heart of Zurich to the pastoral countryside on the way to Basel which was a short one hour ride.

Upon arriving to our disembarkation point in Basel we were warmly greeted by the crew who took our luggage to be delivered on board for us to our cabin. Our cabin was located on the upper level with a balcony and french balcony. We sat outside everyday on the balcony as our preferred morning ritual that was quiet and scenic and very fun when going through the various locks. The cabin was spacious with a European Queen bed (King size bed in U.S) that was perfectly soft yet firm with great pillows for us side sleepers.

You can spend time in your room and it is perfectly acceptable, but the ship offers so much more with the sun deck, rear private dining room (open for day use and a perfect place for a game of cards. Because of the incredible weather, we spent most of our time on the front bow in the shade, or on the Sun deck (which had to close on a number of days due to low bridges and locks) or the upper deck in front of the wheel house which was an ideal spot for our cruise through the middle Rhine gorge where dozens of castles dot the hillsides Read more