This was our first cruise on AMA Waterways. Last year, we booked a riverboat cruise to Russia with Viking and decided to book with AMA this time primarily for the itinerary. The fact that AMA had bicycles on board for their passengers also was an attraction for my husband.
Essentially, we took two cruises back-to-back. The first cruise segment was called Magnificent Europe and the itinerary was from Amsterdam to Budapest for 14 days. The second segment was titled Black Sea Voyage and extended the voyage for another 7 nights from Budapest to Rousse, Bulgaria. We also booked the extension from Rousse, Bulgaria - overland by coach - to Istanbul, Turkey. The tour ended with three nights in Istanbul.
We flew to Europe a few days early, and recovered from jet-lag. We spend the time touring small towns and villages, walking a lot, and just enjoying the ambiance of being in Europe. We pack light, so hopping on and off the European rail system is a lot easier.