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AmaLucia’s sun deck is another great place to watch the Rhine’s ever-changing landscapes. The sun deck offers loungers in both sun and shade, and a large seating area at the bow is equipped with comfortable couches, tables, and chairs perfect for taking in the panoramic scenic views. Some of the best moments of my AmaWaterways river cruise were spent on our ship, simply relaxing and enjoying the breathtaking scenery. It’s rare to have this kind of pleasurable downtime, and our floating luxury hotel provided front-row seats for the Rhine’s spectacular show. In addition to their cache of bicycles, AmaWaterways ships also offer a wellness program, led by an onboard Wellness Host. Classes on the Sun Deck or in the Lounge consist of morning yoga, meditation or core strengthening and afternoon stretching or active walks.
A Few Of Our Best AmaWaterways Travel Experiences
We encourage you to spend a few minutes to watch the video below, because it encapsulates the mission and the feeling of AmaWaterways. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Viking Longships are each a carbon copy of the others, so passengers know exactly what they are getting when they book.
What Makes AmaWaterways Different
This restaurant offers a seven-course chef’s tasting menu, which is different from the main dining room but it is the same each night so you don’t need to worry about having a different experience depending on when you dine. A river cruise ship is never going to compete with the large megaships when it comes to onboard facilities and entertainment, and that is okay with me. The beauty of river cruising is that you spend more time in your destination. In fact, sailing times can be quite short and often the ship is repositioned every night so you have a full day and evening to enjoy port, if you so desire. Wake up to breathtaking views of France outside your French balcony stateroom as you river cruise with amawaterways this summer. Discover the true essence of France from the romantic Seine to the sun-drenched Rhône, savor locally sourced gourmet meals paired with exquisite wines and more as every detail is designed to pamper you.
AmaWaterways Colors of Provence Cruise FAQs
Starting with private accommodations, the bulk of staterooms are at least 20% larger than AmaWaterways’ narrower counterparts. My 252-square-foot Outside Balcony cabin featured a full veranda, a larger bathroom with plenty of shower space and added room for a vanity that perfectly doubled as my office desk for the week. Suites then increase in size from there, up to a staggering 710 square feet. Engine vibrations and any sense of lateral movement are also minimized due to the expanded footprint. Sailing through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, a roughly 40-mile stretch between Koblenz and Rüdesheim, was an unforgettable highlight of my Rhine river cruise. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with historic castles, palaces, fortresses, and legends.
Review: An Adventures by Disney/AmaWaterways River Cruise - TravelAge West
Review: An Adventures by Disney/AmaWaterways River Cruise.
Posted: Sat, 15 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The best thing to do is extend your river cruise for time on land with a pre or post-cruise extension. Dan and I did this, and it’s when we really immersed ourselves in French cuisine. But for a truly French experience in the culinary sense, we recommend booking some restaurant experiences on your own in addition to the excursions offered. There is a nice variety of cruise excursions you can choose from that focus on French food and wine.
That’s generally true of most cruises, whose cuisine needs to cater to a broad audience. After returning to town, we had a guided walking tour of the town of Cadillac and Chateau de Cadillac, which was built in 1599 by the Duke of Epernon, a favorite of Henry III, and contains special rooms for the King and Queen. The castle was later transformed into a jail for women from 1820 to 1952 and you can visit the grim cells on the top floor as well, which is quite a contrast to the grandeur below. We also had the same few English-speaking local guides throughout the trip, depending on what excursion you pick. The guides were friendly, funny, and informative — no complaints about any of the staff we encountered on our AmaWaterways cruise. In addition to the desk chair, there were also two arm chairs in front of the French balcony doors, so you don’t always need to sit on the bed.
Our sailing offered a wealth of opportunities to be immersed in the history, culture, and landscapes of Europe. All 21 enriching excursions offered on our AmaLucia voyage were included in the cruise fare, and two to four tours were available in each port of call. This luxury of choice is particularly appealing for those traveling with family members or a group of people who may have different interests and activity levels. Guests can explore at their own speed, with most walking tours available at gentle, regular, and active paces. The tour options were excellent, and I often wished I could clone myself so I could experience multiple tours offered simultaneously. It’s day five of AmaWaterways’ seven-night “Captivating Rhine” cruise.
Ama Waterways review: A river cruise on the delightful Danube
Your feedback is invaluable, and we would love to hear more about your experience. We sincerely hope we can make things right and welcome you back on board in the future. It's important to note, though, that the ship's gorgeous decor and creature comforts are a backdrop to the experience you'll have on land. AmaWaterways features a nice range of possibilities in each port (most of which come in the complimentary category) that target a variety of travel styles. Highlights include standard tours, themed experiences geared toward interests in areas like art, food and wine, and recreationally oriented expeditions on the bicycles.
Essential Guide to a Bordeaux River Cruise with AmaWaterways
But we saw how beautiful the fall colors can be when you look out on the expanse of vineyards that this cruise brings you to in beautiful French port cities. The rate of ascent or descent (depending on the direction your cruise is traveling) is approximately one foot per minute. The biggest lock we experienced during the Colors of Provence river cruise dropped us 75 feet (12m).
Viking's entertainment is similar to most river cruise lineups and features a musician or DJ as well as local performers with a folkloric, classical or contemporary style. The Sun Deck features a shaded sitting area, as well as solar panels and an herb garden that allows chefs anytime access to fresh ingredients. Elevators on Viking ships also offer access to the middle decks but not the Sun Deck. In 2017, AmaWaterways also launched the first river ship (AmaKristina) with connecting rooms, designed for multigenerational families or groups of friends traveling together. Six additional ships (AmaLea, AmaMagna, AmaMora, AmaLucia, AmaSiena and AmaDahlia) now also have this feature. Viking's fleet on the Nile River in Egypt currently numbers four ships, with two more in the pipeline.
The tulip garden in Amsterdam was beautiful and we did that with one of us pushing the other in a wheelchair. Ama arranged taxis in places where walking was planned.The Amacerto was a lovely ship; the service was beyond compare and our cabin with a patio was exquisite. Other delightful features on AmaPrima make it such a welcoming ship. On the sun deck, a splash pool (with swim-up bar) and its deep, comfy wicker-like sofas are popular gathering spots. The small gym is well stocked with state-of-the-art equipment, and the sprawling lounge features a library nook with a faux fireplace. Another unexpected Rhone River challenge had nothing to do with water levels; it had to do with the locks being affected by a strike!
The highlight is the small towns and cities you visit in Provence, not far from the Rhone River, not necessarily the countryside. We took a 45-minute bus ride to reach the ship, which was nothing compared to what could have happened had the ship been unable to navigate two locks before the strike. If you love science, you’ll be intrigued to know that the cruise passes three nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is the primary way most of the towns in Provence get power. The best is if you can find a French cheesemonger and ask about the cheeses, then decide what you want to purchase.
On the AmaDolce, there was an elevator that could be used between decks, but the cabins and decks were not really designed for those in wheelchairs. Getting on an off the ship would also be problematic for those with mobility issues. I advised my in-laws, who have trouble walking too much or navigating steps of any kind, that this probably wouldn’t be the best choice for them.
You are allowed to bring the cheese onboard, and there is a refrigerator in each cabin. During our cruise, we learned that the French consume over 50 pounds of cheese per person per year. They eat a lot of bread and pastries too, but they remain a “slim” nation with a relatively low obesity rate. France is the only country in Europe that is self-sufficient in basic food production. While only 4% of the country’s residents work in agriculture, France is the third largest wine producer in the world.
It serves an ever-changing menu inspired mainly by local cuisine—think semmelknödel, or bread dumplings, while sailing through Germany might be paired with a local beer or wine. Because of COVID-19, tables were assigned, though it’s open seating in standard times. The brand's hallmark is offering multiple excursions, typically three or four per port, included in the cruise fare. These are usually a city walking tour, perhaps with a wine or culinary focus, or a bus tour to nearby sights. One "Gentle" group is dedicated to guests who need a little extra time getting around, and each port almost always includes a more challenging hike or bike ride for fitness-focused guests.
Food, although very well presented, was mediocre and the 2 vegetarians in our group were served meat on more than one occasion (wrong order). For their Chef’s table evening, they were served bland salad and chewy spring rolls as alternatives. Telling someone so openly something this racist was shocking and I needed to calm my partner down who wanted to complain about this comment - this is the hotel manager who should know better. He then went on to say ‘My favourite place is Israel in the Middle East, and they are better than the Palestinians who just cause trouble’. I couldn’t believe this man was getting political with absolutely no exchange of a political nature from us.
