My first river cruise.
Have you ever wondered what a river cruise is like? Me too. So I decided to check out one with AMA Waterways and share my experience*.
* - all the pictures in this article are mine taken during this trip.
Why a river cruise and why AMA?
For years clients, family and friends have told me about their river cruise experiences. River cruisers are passionate, loyal fans of this form of travel. They rave about the ships, the destinations, the food, the crew and the friends they have met along the way… (As one crew member put it “The best “ships” are the friendships made onboard”). Many of them travel with AMA Waterways, a family-owned and operated river cruise company founded in 2002 by a river-cruise industry veteran and several travel industry experts. The founders’ goal was to create a river cruising experience they themselves would enjoy featuring elegantly appointed ships with top quality, locally sourced food and wine, sailing on rivers featuring gorgeous countryside and unique itineraries. The company began with itineraries on Europe’s major rivers and has expanded to offering experiences on the Mekong in Vietnam/Cambodia, the Nile in Egypt, the Magdalena River in Colombia along with safaris and wildlife river cruises in Africa. The company has a fleet of 26 ships, all designed for the rivers where they sail. They have a strong focus on wellness and sustainability.
The best way to to learn about a destination/form of travel is to experience it personally. I believe in the importance of keeping current and attend conferences and travel personally as often as I can. While I have my own preferred destinations and travel style, it is important to try new experiences and destinations in order to be able to share those experiences with clients. Cruising (ocean or river) has never been on my “must do” list, but I thought it would be a fun way to experience Christmas markets in Germany. When COVID interfered with those plans, I rescheduled my trip to a spring river cruise, traveling with my husband. I chose a less traveled route from Nuremberg to Luxembourg. The itinerary featured four very different waterways including the Main-Danube canal, the Main, the Rhine River gorge and the Moselle in early May 2022. We cruised on the AMA PRIMA, one of AMA’s older ships built in 2013. We traveled in a mid-range twin balcony cabin. Standard stateroom pricing on any given itinerary is determined by the size, features and location of the stateroom on the ship.
Why take a river cruise?
A seamless, stress-free experience. A river cruise line is able to handle every part of your journey including flights, transfers, pre and post cruise stays and of course your experience onboard. Unpack once and then enjoy your vacation. This type of trip is perfect for the traveler who doesn’t want to worry about planning their day and enjoys being taken care of while on vacation.
All-inclusive. Depending on which river cruise line you choose, the majority of your travel expenses including accommodations, meals, entertainment and many excursions are included in your cruise price. Additional expenses may include pre/post night stays, alcoholic beverages, special excursions, items of a personal nature (laundry) and airport transfers.
Fellow Travelers. River cruises attract a wide variety of travelers depending on the route, cruise theme and time of year. Expect to meet singles, couples, families, experienced and non-experienced travelers - all whom share an interest in discovering new people and new places. Shared dining experiences, excursions, onboard lectures, entertainment and wellness activities give travelers an opportunity to meet and mingle with other guests
What to expect on the ship?
River cruise ships are not “floating resorts” with countless onboard diversions like their ocean cruising counterparts. What you can expect on these ships that usually sail with fewer than 200 passengers is a more intimate destination-focused experience.
Comfortable cabins. Depending on the cruise line and stateroom category you choose, stateroom experiences will differ. Some people may prefer to spend less on a cabin forgoing cabin size and private outdoor space. Others prefer a generously sized cabin, private outside balcony space or even a suite. Pictured is a mid-range cabin with balcony.
Local Entertainment. Affectionately referred to as “lock-hoppers” (because they perform in the evenings while the ship travels between towns) local entertainers are invited on board providing music, dance and culturally enriching local entertainment. In larger cities passengers have the opportunity to experience the local cultural arts scene such as concerts in local concert halls and palaces. Don’t expect casinos and large broadway style productions onboard.
Fine dining. From buffet and a la carte offerings to multi-course meals and chef-table experiences, you are guaranteed to eat well onboard. Enjoy regional cuisine with local ingredients.. While some alcoholic beverages may be included with meals, cocktails, wines by the bottle and spirits are usually available for an additional charge. Dietary restrictions are easily accommodated if arranged in advance.
Beautiful scenery. The visual delights of river cruises are the towns and villages along the rivers, the hills and fields and busy city centers. As you move from one port to the next, expect beautiful scenery featuring picturesque towns and villages. Grab a cup of coffee on your balcony early in the morning or enjoy a glass of wine on the observation deck during “golden hour” and enjoy the peaceful quiet as your boat moves along to its next destination.
Public Spaces The heart of these cruise ships are their public spaces. Inside expect large salons, intimate dining rooms and convivial bar/lounge areas with large windows that bring the outside in. Outside deck feature plenty of seating, walking tracks, swimming pools, outdoor bar areas and stunning views. Many ships also feature small workout rooms, massage/hair salon spaces and onboard shops.
Professional and Friendly Service The crew onboard your ship is there to ensure you have a safe and pleasant trip. Service is attentive, caring and omnipresent. Coming from countries around the world, these ship captains, hotel and cruise managers, chefs, servers, stewards, deckhands, cabin attendants and more are often the best part of your experience.
What to expect off the ship?
The highlights of a river cruise are the daily destinations. There are many ways to enjoy time in port and most are included!
Guided excursions. Each day there will be excursions planned to local towns and sights in groups. Some will be included, others available for an additional charge. Ideally groups of 15-20 passengers are grouped based on mobility levels and chosen excursions. Guides and guests have “quiet boxes” with ear pieces allowing everyone to hear the guides clearly. Excursions usually last half a day but some may be full day if a longer transfer to the excursion site is required.
Private Excursions. Some cruise passengers prefer to plan their own private excursions while offshore utilizing the cruise ship as their traveling hotel and dining room. Repeat cruise passengers and groups traveling for a specific purpose may opt for a private tour or excursion that is more focused on their specific interests.
Free Time Once a ship is docked in port, guests can opt to enjoy the local sights, shops and museums on their own. Some passengers take advantage of this time and plan their own sightseeing adventures. Cruise managers can make recommendations for local sightseeing and help arrange special activities
Shopping There is great local shopping to be had while on a river cruise. Local wines, chocolates, holiday ornaments, scarves, small artworks and jewelry make thoughtful gifts. Think about what you’d like to bring back and plan your luggage accordingly. Pro Tip: Bring a soft sided duffle/bag to store inside your hard sided luggage. On your return you can use your hard sided luggage for shipping fragile items and use the soft sided bag for dirty laundry! A cloth fabric shopping bag is also useful.
Active Pursuits Ships may have bicycles, walking sticks and local maps for guests who want to use the time for more active pursuits. Many port towns offer nearby hiking options, bike trails and walking trails. Visiting local historical sites, shopping, trying some of the local wines and enjoying the towns as the locals do is a highlight of these trips.
Dining While the food onboard is delicious it’s always fun to use time in port to try local delicacies. Sit down with locals in a cafe, wine bar or beer garden. Enjoy an aperitif or ice cream at a cafe in the main town square while watching life go by. Never turn down the opportunity to support local bakeries, wine stores and cheese shops with a few items for a picnic. And certainly enjoy the local cuisine you can find in the cities at the start and end of the cruise.
My takeaways.
For a traveler who wants a vacation that requires a minimum of preparation and delivers a maximum of enjoyment, a river cruise may be a great fit. This is the perfect option for someone who wants everything taken care of for them and prefers the comfort of a guided, shared experience. The ship’s crew will tend to your every need from keeping your stateroom spotless, your favorite drink at the ready and your day’s activities planned. Cruise managers are experts in the local destination and can help with individual requests. Solo travelers and couples who have different styles will enjoy meeting and traveling with others who share their interests.
For passengers who take advantage of all that is offered onboard, river cruises provide good value. While the pricing may initially sound high, most of your travel needs are covered. Your cruise fare covers your accommodations, meals, touring and travel by boat from embarkation to disembarkation. Expect to pay extra for items of a personal nature - private transfers to and from the ship, alcoholic beverages, laundry and gratuities are usually not included. Rather than compromising on the stateroom, budget-conscious travelers may want to consider low-season cruise timing, unconventional itineraries and seasonal/promotional/group savings opportunities.
River cruises are a great option for groups with a shared interest. An extended family celebrating a special anniversary, a group of friends with a shared passion for wine/music/country/shopping/insert your group interest here. A river cruise allows groups with a shared interest to indulge that shared interest while leaving room for varying budgets and travel styles. If a group is large enough, private dinners and touring can be arranged in addition to the river cruise’s offerings.
River cruises may pose some challenges for travelers with mobility issues. While newer ships have been designed with mobility challenged guests in mind, not all ships are in compliance with ADA requirements. Excursions in local destinations generally require a lot of walking, and guests need to be able to navigate stairs and cobblestone streets. Getting on and off the ship may also involve uneven surfaces. Every guest has to be able to navigate their way on and off the ship and sometimes ships are docked together meaning passengers need to pass through/over other ships. Guests with limited mobility may still enjoy a river cruise but should be aware/prepared for these eventualities.
River cruises may not be a good fit for families with children or travelers who don’t enjoy group experiences. By nature, river cruises are social trips. With fewer than 200 passengers onboard, travelers come together frequently during meals, excursions and in the evenings. The cruise activities and infrastructure are geared to adults. Children, while welcome on some cruise lines, may find the pace of the cruise slow and the activity level “boring.” Teens might have fun on bike rides and hikes and moreso if there are other kids of the same age to share the experience. Independent travelers can certainly “do their own thing” but should expect to be asked to join the group activities and experiences.