​Sailing down the river is a peaceful, relaxing experience. Add luxury service, historic sites, and people you enjoy and it’s pure bliss!
 
Many of us are guilty of falling into a dreary work week routine that has us counting down the minutes until Friday.
 
On an AmaWaterways river cruise, you’ll say goodbye to your standard routine and hello to outdoor activity, fine dining and relaxation. Our goal is to match you to a luxurious but affordable vacation experience that is both comforting and adventurous.
 
When you’re not touring a destination, you’ll be enjoying the many amenities offered on the ship, as well as breathtaking views from the Sun Deck. With a smaller number of passengers on board, you’ll have more time to enjoy the amenities in a more personal way.
 
After their river cruise, John and Debby say AmaWaterways “is a first-class operation and we felt more like honored guests than passengers.”
 
Interested in what a typical day may look like on your river cruise? All cruises offer the below amenities for you to take advantage of throughout the day.

​Fitness Center & Classes
Each ship offers a fitness center to help you stay active between excursions. And if the treadmill isn’t your preference, there is also a professionally trained Wellness Host offering daily classes. Start your day with a yoga session on the Sun Deck, a spin class on the back of the ship, or a light stretch class, and set the tone for a relaxing day.

Award-Winning Meals
Enjoy coffee and the breakfast buffet each morning, light lunches and refreshments throughout the day and exquisite meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients for dinner. AmaWaterways is especially known for its fantastic meals on board.
 
We recommend booking The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant for at least one evening and would be happy to take care of those details for you. John and Ken write:
 
“The Chef’s Table was an evening to remember! Watching the preparations throughout the evening, and then getting to enjoy them was great fun! We have actually re-created a dressing that he used on the Watermelon and Seared Goat Cheese salad!”
 
Need more convincing? Unlimited wine, beer, and soft drinks are also offered with each meal.

Excursions
Regardless of which cruise itinerary you choose, you’ll have a variety of excursions to choose from. Activity level varies to suit your preference for the day and bikes are available on the ship for you to take into town. There is even a tour option for “late risers” if you’d like to take advantage of your lush bed and catch a few extra zzzs.
 
During some stops, you may prefer a mild hike; on others, wine tasting or touring a Kölsch brew pub. Alternatively, you may wish to take on some free time with your group and explore the city. Some of our clients’ favorite days are strolling through the cobblestone streets of obscure cities, feeling out the local culture.
Best in Class Service
If there is anything that could make your time on board the ship better, let the AmaWaterways team know! The only thing better than their dining is their service. The team truly prides itself on building relationships with each guest and creating a family-like feel for your journey.
 
“Service was awesome. The crew was great. Truly for us, it was the "trip of a lifetime" kind of thing…”
 
So, what are you waiting for? I am happy to answer any questions you may have about traveling through Europe by river and get your end-to-end travel confirmed. All you need to decide is when you want to go and who you’d like to travel with!

After my first river cruise, I was convinced it was one of best ways to travel. For lovers of history, art, fine dining, cultural experiences, and immersion in places all around the world, this is a way of travel that you will be so glad you experienced.
 
Ocean cruises have been a popular way to vacation for decades, and for good reason. They’re affordable, convenient and offer travelers peace of mind knowing that everything they need for a fantastic getaway is all in one place. What could be better than that? Well, consider a river cruise.
 
You might think that the words “inland” and “cruise” are incompatible. Well, let me show you on AmaWaterways just how superbly well they go together. AmaWaterways river cruises combine all the comfort and convenience of an ocean cruise with the excitement of European excursions at each port of call.
 
To all cruise-lovers, perhaps it’s time to shake up the ocean liner experience for an entirely new way to explore the world’s waterways. Let us book you on an AmaWaterways river cruise that will take you inland for a unique and relaxing tour of Europe.
 
Here are the top 10 reasons we know why you’ll love river cruising, specifically on AmaWaterways!

1. Expand Your Options 
While ocean cruises take you to countries, river cruises take you through them. There simply is no way to reach river cruise destinations on mega cruise ships.

2. Intimate Experience
River cruising offers a more intimate setting. Most ships range from 144 to 196 passengers. This means that you’ll never have to wait in line, which means you’ll have more time to enjoy all the amenities and have a more personal experience with other passengers and crew. From ordering a beverage to getting on and off the ship, you’ll enjoy the absence of long lines.

3. Dive into the Local Culture
Get away from the touristy ports and explore hidden gems. Large ocean liner ports can receive up to 20,000 visitors on the same day but with a river cruise, you’ll arrive into port with only a few hundred visitors. Not only will you avoid long lines at your destination, but you’ll also enjoy leisurely excursions at each incredible port of call.  You’ll be able to take in the local culture and history of every unique town that you visit.

4. No Need to Rush Back
With many departures from the destinations being later in the afternoon or evening, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the nightlife in select ports of call. Whether you choose an evening walk through cobblestone streets, a local show or performance, or one last glass of wine after dinner while listening to a local musician, immersing yourself in the evening culture together with the locals is a unique experience.


​5. Castle Views
That’s right, castle views. From Amsterdam to Basel along the Rhine River, and in Budapest, Bratislava, Dürnstein and Passau on the Danube, you’ll see colorful architecture and castles that will blow you away. But don’t stop at just viewing the castles, why not hike or drive to them and then explore their fabulousness with a knowledgeable guide? You’ll literally be walking in the footsteps of world history.

6. 5-Star Reviews
5-star reviews are only earned through 5-star service. When you’re relaxing with a glass of wine on the Sun Deck, enjoying a night under the stars, or having an unexpected encounter with kind locals that your tour guide has arranged for you, you’ll know where our their 5-star reviews come from. See what people are saying about AmaWaterways’ flawless service.

7. Entertainment for the Whole Family
With a variety of activities and plenty of stops along the way, we’re sure everyone in the family will have an unforgettable experience. River cruising is perfect for multi-generational families. From grandparents to teenaged grandchildren, the entire family will bond over a range of topics and activities from food to history to countryside excursions. There really is something to do for everyone on board at each destination. Some members of your group may choose to take advantage of spa services, or the sundeck pool, or cultural activities, while others may prefer to seek out a quiet space with a book. Mealtimes are the perfect opportunity for everyone to come together again as a family. It really is the perfect multi-generational vacation for your family or group of friends.

8. Taste the Difference
​Whether you’re into wine tasting or local street food, a river cruise provides an exceptional culinary experience both on the ship and at every destination. The onboard culinary team focuses on utilizing fresh local ingredients. Dishes are paired with local wines. There’s absolutely no mass-produced and basic buffet food when you cruise with AmaWaterways!

9. Variety of Experience
Let’s not forget just how special every European country is! The towns and cities may be close in proximity along the river, but don’t be surprised by the unique feeling and experiences that each destination gives you. Choose from visiting local breweries, hiking to castles, biking through trendy neighborhoods or visiting museums that highlight the local culture.

10. World-Class Accommodations
One of the reasons we love river cruises so much (and we know you’ll agree) is the feeling of walking into a luxurious suite or twin-balcony stateroom that will be your home away from home for the next 7, 8, 10 days or more. Each of AmaWaterways staterooms is tastefully decorated and is river facing. Whether you choose to have a window view, a private balcony, or even a twin balcony (with both a French and outside balcony), you’ll always have a room with a view.
 
So, there you have it. 10 great reasons why you’ll love your first river cruise on AmaWaterways.
 
I’d love to match your travel style with the right itinerary and ship. Reach out to me today and be sure to mention if you’re planning a romantic getaway, bachelorette trip or a friends’ reunion and we’ll let you know the add-ons available that will make your experience truly special!

Jon (my husband) and I went on a Riviera Cruise on the Rhone River at the beginning of April. What an amazing experience!
First thing to understand…there are several amazing river cruise companies. I would love to talk to you and qualify you for the experience that is best for you.

The Rhone cruise was on board the MS William Shakespeare. All of Riviera’s boats are named after British authors. I thought this was a fun theme. The ship is very nice with dark wood finishes. It is well maintained.

The sun deck is very nice and has lots of space for passengers to enjoy while in dock as well as while cruising. Jon and I enjoyed the giant chess set (even though he won every game we played). However, it was very windy and a bit chilly while we were cruising, which meant that the sun deck did not see a lot of use on our cruise.

​The following morning we took a train back to Paris, where we spent one night. We were able to see the Notre Dame Cathedral just a couple hours prior to it catching fire. We went back down to stand with the Parisians while fire fighters worked tirelessly to put out the flames. It was a moving experience with so many praying and singing. While in Paris, we also were able to tour the Pantheon and stop over at the Eiffel Tower.

As for the experience on board our cruise, here are my thoughts.

What I loved about my Riviera experience:

• Floating hotel right in town! Everywhere we stopped we could explore and then return to our room for the week. We were able to explore 6 different cities without having to move any of our belongings.
• The service. All the servers go out of their way to take great care of you at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With my gluten-free diet, this even meant special desserts and breads. Our regular servers remembered this and were always ready when we were in the dining room.
• All the excursions are planned. This was both something I loved and didn’t love (more on that below). What I loved about it was not having to make any decisions. We were told the time of the excursion and then we had the choice to go or not go…that simple! It is great to be able to let someone else be in charge of what to see.
• The food. All the dinners were absolutely delicious! I tried a few new foods and liked them, too.
• Other passengers. You have the opportunity to meet people from many places and we met some amazing new friends.
• Service for those less mobile. There were several seniors on the cruise, a few of which had mobility issues. The crew went out of their way to accommodate these passengers and seemed happy to do so.

​What I did not love about my experience:

• Ours was the first cruise of the year, which resulted in a less-organized-than-desired team. It seemed that everyone was getting acclimated and there was some definite confusion, especially at the reception area.
• Self-serve coffee machine. The machine was not operational for most of our cruise. However, there was coffee served at all meals and then at tea and coffee hour in the lounge. Plus there is a lot of opportunity to get a coffee in the towns, so it wasn’t too big of a deal.
• Internet service. The internet service was not good. At all. Luckily I spoke with my representative for Riviera before going. He recommended Sky Roam for reliable internet while on our cruise. It was perfect! The only times we had spotty service was in the river locks (no one has service in the locks) and while cruising in more remote areas.
  (For more information about Sky Roam, please click here. Enter code SATRAVEL at checkout for 10% off!)
  
• All excursions are planned. There was not much detail revealed about the excursions prior to time. This meant it was hard to decide to go or not to go. Also, the tours are either walking tours (for those right in town) or by motor coach (for those away from the river). I loved the walking tours. However, I did not enjoy being in the motor coach as much.

Are you ready to take your own European river cruise? Contact me to set sail on the one that is right for you!