There is a cancellation fee of $100 payable on sailings cancelled 121 days or more before the sailing date, which increases on a sliding scale closer to the departure. However, these lines have tailored their offerings, making them more inclusive for North Americans while keeping pricing a la carte for Europeans. I thought it may help to understand whats included on an Ama River Cruise. Christmas Markets Cruise with Samantha Brown. AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner . How to Cheat Royal Caribbean Drink Package. Again, this isnt a new concept, but one that AmaWaterways has done to perfection. As with any cruise type, the cost can vary depending on the itinerary, dates, and ship you're on. She came to us with the best options and negotiated so many things to accommodate our large group. AmaWaterways is very much a luxury river cruise line operating in the more premium area, and their ships, service and the quality of what they offer is very highly rated. AmaWaterways Beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch, dinner and happy hour, sparkling wine at breakfast, along with tea, gourmet coffee and bottled water At least one complimentary shore excursion. We stayed in one of the suites and it was absolutely beautiful! Award-winning dining experiences are offered in four different restaurant options aboard the ship. Plus, venture with us for the first time ever into the Danube Delta with incredible new ports including Giurgiulesti, Moldova. Secrets Akumal was the perfect combination of everything we love. For example, they'll include shore excursions and waiter served dinners for Americans and Canadians, while these remain pay-as-you-go for Europeans. [2], Cruises are full-board and include wine and beer with meals as well as a cocktail hour. If youre not sure about a river cruise and want to investigate ocean cruise lines, you might be interested in these articles: Royal Caribbean vs. Norwegian, Carnival Cruise vs Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean vs. Celebrity, Are Viking Cruises Adults Only, and Royal Caribbean vs. Princess. Throw pillows are elaborate, and wood and marble touches are dark. Theres also the Chefs Table, a 32-seat specialty restaurant with a panoramic view from the ship's stern that serves a five-course tasting menu. Both cruise lines use a QuietVox system during excursions, where the tour guide speaks into a headset while passengers listen on receivers. Viking is a good choice for passengers who desire adults-only vacations that include immersive port experiences. On board AmaWaterways, however, you will find their in-house pianist and a variety of unique performances and shows throughout your trip. You May Like: Cruises From Los Angeles To Hawaii Round Trip. We invite our loyal past guests to join us once again on these special Loyalty Cruises, offering unique experiences in multiple ports, commemorative gifts, and many more surprises and delights. In the main lounge, there is 24-hour access to tea and coffee making facilities including hot chocolate and herbal/fruit teas. Home Cruise Uniworld vs. AmaWaterways: What You Should Know 2023. These Piano Deck cabins with fixed windows are the smallest onboard at just 160 square feet. Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever Soulful Epicurean Experience on the Rhne River in 2023, we are delighted to announce two new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2024. 14 Days - Travel to Medellin and return from Panama City, 16 Days - Travel to Medellin and return from Panama City, AmaWaterways Ltd | Abbots Place Suite B | Walnut Tree Close | Guildford | GU1 4RW. [7] Outside Europe, their ships cruise the Mekong and Chobe rivers. AmaSiena has 78 staterooms across nine room types, each of which can have the bed configured as a queen or two twins. AmaWaterways - Wikipedia Alcohol (outside of meals and cocktail hour). These ships dont spend days at sea; rather, they are utilized as a luxurious experience between destinations. On four ships (the AmaDolce, AmaLyra, AmaCello, and AmaDante), single cabins are available without a supplemental fee. To truly make your vacation, Uniworld ships have a great selection of gourmet restaurants and elegant bars. We had a great time and will be returning with friends!!! That said, both Uniworld and AmaWaterways have wellness centers, swimming pools, sun decks, and lounges in which you can sit comfortably with a good book or enjoy a drink and a chat with fellow guests. The line has also recently launched its first Mississippi. Breakfast is served with fresh juices and sparkling wines so that every day starts off with a touch of luxury. What You Need to Know. Sip and Sail Cocktail Hours takes place for an hour before dinner every evening. When it comes to accommodations onboard, many believe that Uniworld has the upper hand. The ship primarily sails the Rhine River through Western Europe, whisking guests to fairytale-esque towns and historic cities. Similarly to Uniworld, AmaWaterways has an all-inclusive dining experience, with tapas and snacks served between meals, multi-course dinners prepared right in front of you, and hand-selected red and white wines paired with each meal. In addition, you may choose to reserve a complimentary bicycle to pedal further along the river or into any port city. Expanded to North America and now has itineraries for many ports around the globe. AmaWaterways is a Calabasas, California based river cruise company that offers cruises in Europe, Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and Egypt. Here are my 17 reasons to go on a Lower Danube river cruise with AmaWaterways: Note: Tips are not included for the guides and bus drivers so do remember to bring some small bills. Then, there are the ships in Egypt and China, Vietnam, which the line either owns or charters. While most river companies offer just one basic excursion, AmaWaterways has choices for extras including culinary choices and more adventurous offerings such as escorted bike trips. One dinner here per sailing is included for all guests, but you need a reservation. Thank you Eric for recommending this fantastic Resort, a fitting finish to our trip. Bed configuration for both lines is flexible: Two twins can be combined into one king. 1.3K views, 16 likes, 15 comments, 4 shares, Facebook Reels from AmaWaterways: Did you know that a select few of our amazing land packages are complimentary if you reserve before March 31st, 2023?. Sandals Cabana Rental: All You Need to Know 2023, Is Santorini Worth It? Uniworld vs. AmaWaterways Cost. There was no detail that she missed. You might go truffle hunting in Bordeaux or cognac blending in Camus, for example. Here Are 15 of the Best New Family-Friendly Cruises to Take in 2020", "Disney amps up European river cruise options", "AmaWaterways to Offer Solo Traveler Promotion", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AmaWaterways&oldid=1092108243, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 June 2022, at 06:40. The building design is classy and quality. In 2023 it will launch a series of 46-night sailings through Europe on four ships and in 2024 will become the first line to offer sailings on Colombia's Magdalena River. [3] Schreiner was still the president and co-owner of the company as of 2018. AmaWaterways' river cruise offerings include the Main River, Moselle River, Rhne River, Douro River, Dutch and Belgium Waterways, Saone River, Seine River, Dordogne, and Garonne Rivers, Mekong River, Nile River, and Magdalena River. They also have heated swimming pools with swimup bars that are surprisingly large for a river line. How to Get to Rome from the Port of Civitavecchia. Thank you! I just got off of an AmaWaterways European River Cruise with my wife after we were both invited to sail with them. I already referred a couple of my friends to book a vacation with Ultimate Travel and planning on contacting Eric soon to book our next trip, this time with our kids just trying to decide were to go next. During our river cruise on the Danube nearly all of the excursions were free, with the exception of 1 or 2 speciality trips. These are sometimes in mini trains to save tired legs and also add a little adventure. [8], To attract families with younger children, AmaWaterways partnered with Adventures by Disney to create Disney-themed cruises that feature the Christmas markets in cities on the Danube and Rhine rivers, among others. Trips And Excursions On An AmaWaterways River Cruise, WIFI Throughout Your AmaWaterways River Cruise. [9][2][10], The company has also offered promotions for solo travellers. The wine host also accompanies guests during vineyard tours and tastings ashore. Using the example of Rudesheim, Germany, Karst told Avid Cruiser that AmaWaterways typically would offer a choice of a gondola ride to the monument overlooking the Rhine followed by included wine tasting a hike through the areas vineyards a guided bike tour an evening visit to taste the famous Rudesheimer Kaffee, an alcoholic coffee drink or a tour of Siegfrieds Mechanical Music Cabinet, a museum with an amazing array of historical automated instruments musical. While Ama and Viking's European ships look similar on the outside, their cabin design and decor are quite different. Final payment is due 90 days before the cruise. AmaWaterways' AmaSiena: A Complete Ship Guide - TripSavvy "AmaWaterways Announces Retirement of Gary Murphy, Senior Vice President of Sales, Promotes Alex Pinelo", "AmaWaterways Unveils Details of Newest Ship, AmaMagna", "AmaWaterways to debut new ship, new itineraries in 2021", "Down the Danube: What would a 20-something make of a river cruise? AmaWaterways - Ships and Itineraries 2023, 2024, 2025 - CruiseMapper Viking Cruises started with a fleet of four ships from Russia and has expanded to operating a fleet of more than 60 vessels on three continents. [2], Unusually for river cruises, there are hair salons on AmaWaterways ships,[2] as well as spas, gyms, and libraries. I had the chance to sail the new vessel on its first sailing. On a moving ship? Select itineraries, such as our Secrets of Egypt & the Nile, Enticing Douro and Flavors of Portugal & Spain sailings, also include a select number of meals on shore. That said, no matter which cruise line you choose to travel with, its safe to say youll never be bored! Viking offers a beverage package option, called the Silver Spirits package, which runs about $30 per person per day and allows passengers to drink unlimited premium wine, spirits and beer while onboard. After pandemic-induced delays, family-owned river cruise line AmaWaterways had a big year in 2021, debuting three new ships to its international fleet, including the AmaSiena, sister to the AmaLea and AmaKristina, which was christened on Europes Rhine River in August 2021. They're designed to provide more insight into the ports and destinations the ships visit. Five Ama ships -- AmaViola, AmaStella, AmaLea, AmaKristina and AmaMora -- also include several cabins that can accommodate three or four people (with a king-size bed along with a chair that converts into a twin bed). Because the unique cities that you reach by river boat mean that you can walk into glorious locations such as Vienna and Budapest. The ships spacious two-level lounge has plenty of comfortable seating areas, a bar, dance floor, space for entertainers, a lower level library with an electric fireplace and a door that opens to reveal a movie theater. At every stop, theres almost always a general walking tour (guests can choose their activity level: active, regular, or gentle), as well as specialty options like beer or wine tastings, hikes and bike tours, or unique visits to museums. Viking River Cruises invests in finding some unique shore excursions. We strongly encourage getting a slice of Sacher Torte or strudel with your cup at one of Viennas coffeehouses on the Danube River, and tasting authentic Rdesheimer coffee made with Asbach brandy in Rdesheim, Germany along the Rhine. Ama's cabins in virtually every category are slightly bigger than Viking's. With an innovative product and rapidly-growing fleet of custom-designed ships, the line enjoys a reputation as the leader in river cruising. We look forward to working with you again! The itineraries are what truly make the experience of a river cruise. You are the best. Uniworld has 17 ships in its fleet. Our exclusive Concierge Golf Programme includes 7 nights onboard one of the highest rated ships in Europe, complete with award winning cuisine, a choice of excursions in every port and our unique Twin Balconies, as well as up to 5 rounds of golf at some of the leading championship courses on the continent. In fact, you might be wondering, which is better, AmaWaterways or Uniworld? First-time river cruisers may be under the assumption that river cruises arent as luxurious as other cruise types.