Discovering the delights of a Danube River Cruise
If you’ve never been on a river cruise before, you could be missing out on one of the most relaxing ways to tour that exists. Once you step onboard your ship and unpack, all you have to do is plan each day around exciting shore experiences, the very best food and drink, relaxing onboard, and of course the gorgeous scenic cruising - drifting along the most iconic rivers in the world. Neither Pauline, from our Tonbridge shop, nor Laura, from our Jarrolds shop in Norwich, had ever enjoyed a river cruise before, so their 5-night trip along the Danube with AmaWaterways was an exciting first. “Having never been on a river cruise before, I really had no idea what to expect!” says Laura.
Flying into Munich, Pauline & Laura had a 90-minute coach transfer to their ship, “I was very impressed with the coach and the comfort onboard, with footrests and reclining seats - the representative pointed out sights along the way and took the time to engage with each guest and answer any questions that they may have.” confirms Laura. “I thought a river cruise ship may be quite traditional and classic, but in fact I found AmaMora to be stylish and contemporary. It was very grand and much larger than I was expecting, with floor to ceiling windows and a very warm welcome from the crew.”
AmaMora carries just 156 guests at full capacity, and Pauline enjoyed the public areas onboard, “The lounge area is a lovely open space with lots of seats and huge windows for viewing the scenery. You could help yourself at the coffee station and enjoy various types of water and snacks, freshly laid out each day. There was a heated plunge pool on the top deck and a small spa and fitness area.”
I stayed in a Category D cabin,” says Laura, “It was quite compact, but had all the comforts needed, with in room temperature control, a large wardrobe with plenty of hangers and bottled water. There were also 2 umbrellas which was very handy in November!”
“We also saw French Balcony and Balcony cabins,” says Pauline, “And these are really lovely with lots of light and light and space.”
Their Danube itinerary visited Vilshofen, Passau, Linz, Weissenkirchen and Vienna, and a varied programme of shore excursions are all included, encompassing a range of interests and activity levels, such as city walking tours, bike tours, hikes, local food or wine tasting, and cultural and historical options.
“I took part in the City of Three Rivers Passau walking tour, a full day Český Krumlov tour, including a walking tour of Linz, and a Dürnstein walking tour visiting Melk Abbey,” confirms Laura, “I thoroughly enjoyed all the excursions, as well as the scenic cruising through the Strudengau and UNESCO Wachau Valley. Exploring medieval Český Krumlov was like stepping into a fairytale, travelling back in time - all our stops were such picturesque and charming towns.”
Food is a major part of any cruise, and AmaMora offers two onboard options. The Main Restaurant offers international favourites and regional dishes, and The Chef’s Table serves an incredible seven course tasting menu with wine pairings. “The excellent roast port and sauerkraut with roasted vegetables was my favourite.” confirms Pauline. “High tea is served with sandwiches and cakes each afternoon around 4pm, and each evening there was a Sip and Sail Cocktail hour, where the bar staff made a different cocktail each night. Wine and beer are included with lunch and dinner, and there was also a wine tasting offered on one occasion.”
“My favourite was the cosmopolitan cocktail….” confirms Laura, “… plus every single dish that I ate! Everything was incredible and I have been daydreaming about the food since I got home!”
Evening entertainment is offered most nights after dinner, and Laura and Pauline enjoyed an exclusive Oktoberfest celebration on their first night, with traditional Bavarian music, pertzels and dancing. Other evenings included a rock singer, pianist and string quartet.
As always, the staff really made the trip with a genuine warm welcome, “The staff were excellent, nothing was too much bother, and they always greeted you.” confirms Pauline, and Laura agrees, “They were absolutely faultless, very attentive and some of the best service I have ever received.”
Reflecting on her trip, Pauline concludes, “November is a good time to go on this cruise for great value and fewer passengers - the weather was a bit chilly, but this is to be expected in Germany and Austria! I was glad I packed my layers and thermals. This was amazing first river cruise, and definitely the kind of thing I would do again, it’s such a great way to see many different places, with as many or as few activities to keep you occupied as you wish. It’s perfect for groups, couples and solo travellers.”
Laura agrees, “So much is included with AmaWaterways, such as the amazing excursions along with the complimentary cocktail hour (you’re not limited to just one!) The cruise was spacious and uncrowded, and the service was truly incredible. You can send as many free postcards as you wish during your cruise, which I thought was a very nice touch. From the moment I stepped on board I knew I was about to embark on something incredible, and I would highly recommend AmaWaterways to all my customers and hope to travel with them again one day. What an amazing opportunity!”
AmaWaterways offer itineraries along iconic rivers around the world, across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, so get in touch with our travel experts to plan your own river adventure.
