By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert
http://www.dreamdestinations.com
As I write this, I’m on the AmaCerto in the Rhine-Danube Canal. It is our 5th trip on the AmaCerto—feels like home. Much has changed since 2009 in river cruising—almost all is for the better.
So, I thought I’d write about AmaWaterways and the Danube—one of the two most popular routes for river cruisers in Europe.
The Route
Our cruise started in Budapest and will end in Nuremberg. We have sailed this direction upstream 3 times; twice downstream. The amazing scenery has not changed much—the Wachau Valley has to be the one of the best cruises for just enjoying the upper Danube River scenery. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so there are no bridges to interrupt the views. Unlike the Rhine River Gorge, with castles dotting almost every hill, the region has only three or four great castles.
But the quaint villages, sometimes dominated by a fortified church complex, and the steep vineyards provide a relaxing and fun sailing experience—the castles are not missed.
While we chose to sail on the river in the Wachau Valley, you could also bike through this wonderful place. AmaWaterways was a pioneer in bicycle tours on the Danube and the 20 mile bike ride was a highlight for many—it may be one of the best cycling rides in Europe.
Other stops before the Wachau included, Bratislava (capital of Slovakia) and Vienna (capital of Austria). Even after multiple stops in both places, we find these incredible cities—vibrant and deserving of more exploring. Also, the small village of Durstein and its blue-towered monastery and castle ruins where Richard Lionhearted was held in prison, is another great stop. We then sailed to Melk with its famous Abbey, ornate chapel, and collection of rare books and manuscripts.
Later today we port in Passau, the first city on the Danube in Germany. It sits on a peninsula at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers.
We will then visit Regensburg (we are going on a beer and sausage tasting tour) and finally off to Nuremberg. All are great stops.
What is New Onboard
While much remains the same, there are two great new features on the cruise. They are the new wellness program and the Sip ‘n’ Sail cocktail hour just before dinner. Both are real hits in our opinion.
While most who know me well, would say my favorite change is the new included Sip ‘n’ Sail free cocktail hour, but, I was most impressed with the wellness program. Our wellness hostess, Vanda, conducted stretching classes, core strengthening classes and bike rides. What impressed me most that it was all age appropriate and the response on board has been very good. As a former physical fitness instructor in college and for sports teams, it was interesting to see how well the programs were conducted and how the cruisers enjoyed adding a little fitness to their daily routine.
Another big change was the Sip ‘n’ Sail program. Free (included) drinks prior to dinner is great. Wine, beer and a good selection of well drinks—even martinis are included. Great improvement!
What remains the Same
Anne always reminds me that consistency is the key to great travel. On AmaWaterways, the good things remain the same or are slightly better than past cruises.
Let’s start with the cruise manager, Kata. We sailed with her in 2011, and when we met up again, we were greeted with a hug and total enthusiasm. We weren’t clients—we were old friends getting to share a trip together. For those who have never sailed on a river cruise, the cruise manager, arranges tours, and is the person who helps you enjoy the cruise. He or she is the person who makes or breaks the cruise for you and as always, AmaWaterways delivered.
Food and service is excellent—always well planned meals. One item of note—portions are slightly smaller and for the baby boomers of our generation, this is a smart move. You can always have more food, but even for big eaters like me, the portions were properly sized.
Each year, the included Chef’s Table menu changes. I liked meal this year, and the wonderful view from the stern of our river ship. It is the little extras that make the difference—the Chef’s Table remains a hit.
Bar service is outstanding and the wines were particularly good with meals. It still amazes me how generous the wine pours are by the bar staff—the idea is to give you enough and not too much, but you will seldom find your wine glass empty for long during meals.
Our cabin was always clean and efficient. I find the cabins well designed and perfectly adequate. Although some would prefer a larger cabin, the constraints of the river lock system have limited cabin size. Don’t despair—larger cabins are coming to AmaWaterways in 2019 with the AmaMagna—I will write a future blog about the two large river cruise ships that will sail a portion of this route we are currently sailing.
I can’t say enough about the crew—they work 18 hour days, and every detail is about making your vacation better.
Our Cruise Experience
We are traveling with a lifelong friend and West Point classmate, Jeff Rock. Rock is a straightforward guy, so I take his comments to heart. He sailed the entire Danube—2 weeks on the AmaCerto. His email to me prior to us joining him in Budapest —“This is a great way to travel! Can’t wait to see you.”
He plans to sail again with AmaWaterways. Not a real surprise to me—almost all who go on a river cruise we plan, go again.
My Final Thoughts
When folks find our we have sailed this route before, they want to know why—wouldn’t it be boring? Our response —it never is! You can’t see it all on the first trip and when you consider the different seasons, it changes. Spring brings new life, summer is full of flowers and green trees, autumn is ablaze with color and Christmas is a festival not to be missed (don’t forget about our Christmas cruise on the Rhine in December of this year). These are wonderful places to visit and we hope one day you will let us plan a trip to one or all of these great places.
When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision-making process. We think we have all these qualities.
Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!
HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 46 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:
- AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
- Viking River Cruise Specialist
- Scenic River Cruise Specialist
- Emerald Waterways Specialist
- Avalon Waterways Specialist
- Brit Agent
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