[784caroline]

Just back from an AMA Waterways River Cruise from Paris to Prague. In summary it was a great cruise and AMA certainly took care of its passengers. The cruise itself is 7 nights from Luxembourg to Nurenberg and then we added on extentions in Paris at the beginning and Prague at the end.

We are Elite plus Captain Club members with Celebrity but this would be our first river cruise and we were somewhat apprehensive on what to expect. Talk about first impressions, we made our flight arrangements through AMA so transfers were included. WE arrived in Paris at 6:30am and when we cleared customs their was our private driver picking us up to escort us to our hotel Pullman ...and to top it off he drove us in a 2014 Jaguar.. beautiful car...so far, oh so good. Check in at the hotel was a breeze and even at 715 am we were able to get right into our room. Big room pretty good location near a metro stop and resturants. It was great to visit Paris again and after the city tour arranged by AMA we stayed downtown to walk on out own.

Next big event was a high speed train (not a bus) to Luxembourg to pick up our river boat but first we boarded a bus in Luxembourg did a city tour and stopped by the American Cemetery where General George Patton is buried and other soldier s from the Battle of the Bulge. We have been to Normandy before and this was just as impressive. Come to find out there was a lady on our trip (accompanied buy her daughter) whose first husband died in the Battle of the Bulge and was buried here. She met with the cemetery superintendent who escorted her to the grave site where she placed flowers on the grave.....very moving. Grounds are immaculate.

We then board the ship and there are only 139 of us. The one big thing about a river cruise vs ocean cruise is with so few people, you practically get to know them all. Of the 139 who cruised, close to 100 were at the pre cruise function in Paris and 110 ended up in Prague. Mostly americans but others from japan, Maylisia, Canada, and Brasil. Ages 40's to 90's with majority between 65 -75. Food very good along with excellent service. Chefs table offered at no cost and everyone is afforded at least one opportunity to eat here.....Offering were Lamb Chops or Wild Salmon along with other tidbits pre and post main course. The wines offered (as well as beer) at NO CHARGE during lunch or dinner were German whites, French Cabernets or a French Bourdeux which easily would have cost $80-100 on a cruise ship...wines were outstanding. You would not leave hungry on one of these cruises.

Cabins we very nicely adorned and set up like a very nice hotel room....not opposite side sofas that converted to beds at night. Bathrooms were small but hot water plentiful, room cleanup always there, including nightly turndown. All crew members were very polite and helpful. English is the language of all AMA Waterways Ships. Internet and TV offered in each cabin.

Evening entertainment....(here's where we were really skeptical), but here is what was offered, a resident piano player is on board, Classical group one night, a Mama Mia dance group another night, trip to a local coffee house or a local museum another. These were actually fun nights ad offered something for everyone. Our group was very lively so we enjoyed the mama mia dance group and then the piano player filled in playing polkas and other dance songs on the off nights. Much much better than expected.

City tours.....Tour guides: well you have to understand Europeans have a very historical insight/perspective into every city and monument and at some times it can become overwhelming for most americans. If you did not want the bus city tour one thing that AMA offers is a bike tour using 10 speed easy shifting bikes. Now these tours have 2 guides one in front and one in back, and the easiest was 26km or about 17 miles taking 4-5 hours.

Prague...Outstanding first class hotel Intercontinental only a 5 minute walk to city square. Breakfeast provided at the hotel but lunch dinner on your own but the Food was very reasonable in cost and very good. Had some rain and cold weather in Prague which did put a damper on the city activities. Did an evening dance/local custom how in Prague...very good.

Leaving for home, AMA had escorts greeting some people off from the hotel as early as 330am and then someone at the airport making sure you got to the right checking terminal. AMA was a first class act!!

[Ecuadog]

Thanks for the review. Been wondering about these European river cruises.

[ladygolfer123]

Thanks for sharing!! Sounds like you had a wonderful time and something we could easily be interested in!!

[dok4933]

Thank you for the review. Have been thinking about a river cruise for awhile now.

[CFrance]

Bookmarking this thread. That sounds wonderful.

[kansasr]

I have done that same tour. Glad to see they've change from a bus to the train for the journey from Paris to Luxembourg (although we did get to stop in Reims on the bus trip). I was very impressed with AMA. Every time you turned around it seemed that a group was jumping on or off at one of the locks to provide entertainment or a clinic about something. And they were always changing the free wines, depending upon the area we were traveling through.

It's a great way to travel. Unlike large ocean cruise ships, you actually dock right in the city, allowing you get off and explore if you want (like showing Rome as a port, but you actually arrive in Civitavecchia, over an hour away!)

I would also put Viking River Cruises on a par with AMA. Either one will give you an excellent vacation!

[Cathy H]

you do not seem impressed by the local tour in each town where you docked for the day? was that not the point of the cruise.. to see local towns?

[vzw1pr]

We took Viking River Cruise last year in August was very good, however, we thought over priced cost for two weeks was approximately $20,000. Our friends took their trip the last of May and spend the whole time in dock as the River was to high and ships could not pass under bridges, needless to say they were very disappointed. They were bused to different cities. Viking only refund was partial credit on another River Cruise which they will never use very disappointed . Make sure you investigate thoroughly before booking.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Cathy H

you do not seem impressed by the local tour in each town where you docked for the day? was that not the point of the cruise.. to see local towns?

You can do your own reading and wander through the towns on your own. Not everyone likes being hit with a textbook of information everywhere they go.

We rarely join a walking tour. We read about places in books and on the internet and go off on our own. I would like to do a river cruise. We've always gone by car.

[784caroline]

Originally Posted by Cathy H

you do not seem impressed by the local tour in each town where you docked for the day? was that not the point of the cruise.. to see local towns?

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Cathy

Its not that I was NOT impressed with the local tour guides...they were very knowledgeable and AMA provided each tour participant an ear receiver that was tuned into the guides transmitter...so you can hear them quite well. Tour guides in Europe are very much into history,(sometimes the most minute thing), and they do have a lot to be proud of. Its just for me it became overwhelming. AMA also had easy walking tours for those who could not handle a lot of hills/steps or a lot of walking. Certain people did take advantage of that option. You can go on your own walking tour of certain cities with tour book in hand, and one day we went on a bike tour (with an AMA guide) to break things up.

[lindaterrill]

Whether you're on the Danube, Rhine, Seine, Main, Elbe or Rhone, you're at the mercy of Mother Nature. Draughts and heavy rains cause rivers to rise and fall. River cruising is still a great way to explore Europe, and the river cruise companies do a good job with alternative touring when Mother Nature doesn't cooperate.