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The actual cruise on the Mekong River aboard the AmaDara was not up to a standard that we were expecting. With the exception of the chefs table, one evening, the evening meals were very poor. Hot food should be hot and not tepid, menu choices were not great, my wife had to have Salmon 4 out of 7 nights from the always available menu.
Night Grand Danube CruiseDetails
This storybook village is filled with postcard-perfect half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, charming shops and cafés, and structures dating back to the 13th century. Riquewihr is known for producing outstanding wines, such as its exceptional riesling. We enjoyed relaxing at a delightful outdoor café and sampling local treats here. Choose AmaWaterways if you want a slightly more inclusive cruise fare, a good selection of regional wines and a passenger mix that's a bit younger and more international. Choose Viking if you appreciate airy, modern design and enjoy traditional guided tours focused on history, culture and cuisine.
Enjoying Rüdesheim After Dark
Winding my way up the hill, I noticed little decorative details, murals and amazing vistas that would appear as you look down a side street. Next we visited a family winery that has been harvesting grapes from vines that are over 100 years old! As we stood on the hillside vineyard, the owner spoke of his growing techniques while his dog ran around us, excited for new attention. The wines were young and light-bodied and complemented well with local cheese and cured meats. Most of the wines in this region are reds made from gamay grapes but there was also Chardonnay and Rose.
Europe
Viking Mississippi, which debuted in 2022 and is 450 feet in length, accommodates 386 guests and 147 crew. As for Viking, the company's fleet of 55 identical Longships is ubiquitous along Central Europe's major rivers. At 443 feet in length, each accommodates 190 passengers and 53 crew members. The room was very nice.We were disappointed in the dinners for an award winning chef.The outside areas were not made inviting.The common area was not that comfortable.Not enough included excursions.
Overall, we had a fantastic time on the luxurious Ama Waterways Danube cruise onboard the AmaSonata, which is an excellent choice for those who enjoy active adventures, great food and seeing new destinations with almost no effort. One of the areas where Ama Waterways really shines is the food–truly some of the best cuisine I’ve ever experienced on a cruise ship. In cities like Bratislava and Passau we eschewed bus rides in favour of hiking up to castles, and one of my absolute favourite days was the 16 mile bike ride through the Wachau Valley. We cycled along the Danube as soft light illuminated the vineyards where the scent of sweet grapes wafted over us, ending at the Benedictine Melk Abbey to admire its sunshine-yellow facade.
Unlike Libourne or certainly Bordeaux, the shopping and sights are fairly limited. We needed to get back on board though because the ship needed to leave dock in time for the tidal bore. Between June and October, the tidal bore is a strong wave that happens at the change of low tide to high tide. On a good day, surfers can ride the tidal bore for quite some distance. While it isn’t a tall wave, it is strong so the river boat captains need to plan and maneuver around it. That afternoon, we sailed to the town of Blaye, so Glenn and I took the time to enjoy the ship facilities.
What to Expect From a Backroads Tour River Cruise - Cruise Critic
What to Expect From a Backroads Tour River Cruise.
Posted: Tue, 20 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
While they weren’t the top, top quality, they were usually quite good, although sometimes served a bit warm and needed chilling. I really appreciated getting to move around and eat with different people each night, or pick a table for two if we wanted some time alone. The servers in the main dining room and the crew throughout the ship were extremely attentive, friendly, and cheerful. On the third deck, right below the sundeck, there was a small fitness room, which included a dry sauna. The gym had a treadmill, two stationary bikes, free weights, and yoga mats that you could bring upstairs to the sundeck. Since biking was such a popular excursion, the fitness room was never crowded.
But I was so impressed by the speed in which a la carte items were delivered, and with their much greater quality, that I quickly came to appreciate the new approach. I fell in love with this “Gem of the Alsace,” a historic city that blends both French and German cultures. Strasbourg’s Grande-Île, an urban island created by a tributary of the Rhine and a canal, is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with cobblestone streets, enticing shops, and sidewalk cafes. AmaWaterways is known for delivering memorable dining experiences, and it is a member of La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, one of the world’s most prestigious invitation-only culinary organizations. While the general theme uniting the accommodations across AmaWaterways' European fleet is contemporary design with destination-inspired touches, suite decor is unique from ship to ship.
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Second, we were on a cruise titled the “Taste of Bordeaux”, which had me expecting a French-trained chef focused on local dishes. The AmaWaterways Taste of Bordeaux river cruise itinerary is onboard the AmaDolce, which can hold up to 144 passengers. As I mentioned previously, our sailing in July was less than half full, so we never felt crowded on board. I don’t know if that is typical or not, but we always had a choice of seats in the dining room, lounge, or on deck.
Sit-down lunch menus in the Main Restaurant feature a selection of appetizers served family-style and main course options that include at least one local preparation, such as goulash in Budapest or wiener schnitzel in Vienna. Dinner menus are more extensive and include three or four appetizers/soups and three or four mains (with well-conceived meat or fish options and delicious vegetarian dishes). There are two hard-to-resist dessert choices, along with seasonal fruits and a selection of cheeses. AmaWaterways also partners with bike touring company Backroads to host groups of cyclists on board, typically 30 to 40 at a time, for lengthier and more challenging bike rides than on its normal itineraries.
These families came together to create the premiere travel experience for AmaWaterways’ guests. Because of the lack of space on the rivers, it means that river cruise companies may have to give up certain amenities to make room for guests onboard – but that’s not always the case. In June 2023, AmaWaterways will offer a 46-night exploration of Europe that sails through 14 countries on seven rivers. Surrounded by lush vineyards, idyllic Riquewihr is one of the most beautiful towns in France. Straight out of a fairytale, Riquewihr is a medieval French village said to have inspired animators creating Belle’s hometown in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
The company has nearly two dozen ships exploring European rivers like the Duoro, Rhine and Moselle, while a handful of others navigate waterways in exotic locales including Egypt, Botswana, Colombia, Vietnam and Cambodia. “Special Interest Tours” encourage further immersion into local culture. Authentic Belgian waffles and chocolate making in Antwerp; picnicking in the terraced vineyards of Portugal; or learning how to cook quintessential French cuisine in Provence, are just a few examples.
It’s an included tour option on the AmaWaterways Colors of Provence cruise. It was worth the wait because it was a gorgeous afternoon to sail. The sun was shining, and the skies were blue as we pulled away from the port, turned away from the attractive Pont d’Universite bridge, and sailed south.
The Colors of Provence river cruise traveled 600 feet during the journey, including 12 locks. While 180M tourists in France are French people discovering their own culture (because the different areas of France vastly vary from one another), most of the fellow cruisers onboard AmaKristina were American and British. But don’t be surprised if you encounter a lot of French tourists while you’re in ports during a Provence river cruise. Recommended gratuities are $50 per person for the cruise manager and $ per person for the rest of the crew (combined.) It is also recommended that you tip tour guides 2€ and coach drivers 1€ for each excursion.
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