RobInMN

Nice choice! We are booked for Enchanting Rhine on AmaSiena May 15, 2025. We are doing the 4 night pre-tour to Zurich and Lucerne package, and will spend a couple days in Amsterdam post on our own. For reference, I book all our ocean cruises directly. I do all the excursion research whether it's ship or independent. I am very, very hands on. This is our 3rd Ama cruise. Ama seems to prefer that you book through a TA. If you google the TA we used, she appears to be highly recommended, and supposedly specialized in AmaWaterways. However, I really am not sure what all she really did for us. I had very little contact with her other than to book it and pay. That said, when it cam time to book the May 2025 cruise, I looked around for an alternative, but ended up just using her again. On an Ocean cruise, at least with Royal Caribbean, if you book through a TA, you have to do everything other than on-board pre-purchases through the TA. With river cruises, or at least Ama, there really isn't anything extra to worry about booking. So even if I don't necessarily see where the TA has been advantageous for us, I don't feel like there has been any downside from having used one.

We had a great experience using Galveston Saltwater Moms from IAH to out hotel in Galveston pre-cruise.4 of us in a minivan

Yeah, the map is overly simplistic. That's why they have the long table at the bottom. 🙂

Actually, it does have that in the "Additional Details" for Germany in the long table at the bottom. It says: "It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply fermented alcohol beverages (beer, wine, cider and sparkling wine) to anyone under 16 years of age. However this age limit drops down to 14 if a minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. It is generally prohibited to serve, sell or supply any beverage containing spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts, to anyone under the age of 18 years. Violation of the "Protection of Young Persons Act" can be fined up to €50,000."

"All" is a bit strong, and makes your comment false. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/drinking-age-by-country

If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them... maybe you can hire the A-Team.

On the pre-massage questionnaire, write "no sales pitch please" somewhere in the notes. In our experience, they've followed that. I believe that there's less options for couple's massages than solo. I think we've done the hot stone couple's massage, and I put deep pressure for mine. Not sure what my wife put. There's usually an embarkation day special that will give you the longer massage time for the shorter time's price (or something like that) for that same day.

Agree 100%! Especially the screaming into the PA that has horrendous audio quality.

I use the following 2 adaptors (don't have a need for a full convertor): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058EG0KC/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YDF8GCT And I use this, which negates much of the need for needing to use multiple outlets (recently upgraded from an all USB-A one): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BX3V6ZZX

Monday's Thread:

Dupe

Ever run across Vika?

They are both Sky. On Allure: https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/Allure-of-the-Seas GS: Cabin: 371 sqft (35 m2) Balcony: 105 sqft (10 m2) Combo tub/shower OS: Cabin: 556 sqft (52 m2) Balcony: 213 sqft (20 m2) Separate shower Bidet

You're 2 days and 2 threads too late:

Embarkation day typically has specials, like 80/90 minute massage for the 60 minute price or something like that.

Feel bad for the family, but to sue RCI is a ridiculous deep pocket money grab. They were on a third party excursion and not a ship one. You can not convince me in the slightest that even if there was wide-spread communication about strikes and work stoppages in the medical services areas that the family would have done anything differently. They want us to believe that they would have what, not left the ship? Not jumped off the platform? Makes me loose all respect for them. They've been poorly advised by their ambulance chaser.

Spacious balcony with a tub and double points. 🙂

When we did the Arctic Circle and Iceland & Ireland B2B on Jewel in '22, we had early seating (don't recall if it was 5:00 or 5:30). There were a few port days where we weren't scheduled to get back until later. The first time this was going to be an issue, we wanted to let our servers know that we would not be at dinner the next night. They told us that if we were able to get there within about 30m they'd hold it, if not we could check in with MTD. Pretty sure that a couple times that worked for us and we told them we'd be there within that window and there was no problem. I think we did an ad-hoc seating with MTD once, and probably just hit WJ a couple times. (not 100% sure) I'm sure this probably varies from ship to ship.

Here is a video from the room exactly opposite from 11729 on Allure, followed by your same room on Symphony, which is what it will probably be comparable to post-amplification (March '25) We were in 9330 on Allure, which is one of the 2 BR AquaTheater suites, 2 decks lower and further back, so not quite the same thing. That was a great view of the show.

We did Star Class once. We said that our favorite seats were the ones right behind the ledge on upper tier of the main floor, and that's exactly where he reserved them with popcorn and drinks waiting for us. 🙂

I think you are referring to the Captain's Dinner. We've done 3 cruises on Ama. The last one was the 2 week (B2B) Grand Danube on AmaMagna. I don't recall the first cruise, but on AmaMagna, Here's what I posted in my review thread about dress. Also note, the first week we only had 59 passengers the first week and 107 the second week. "I think the average age on the first week was lower than the second week, and this seemed to be reflected in dress as well. We are both 54, and I think we were right in the middle the first week. The second week, I think we were on the lower side. ...The first week for the Captain's dinner, I put on my sport coat and tie, and I think I was one of three sport coats, and maybe the only tie. Seemed like what I've seen in recent years on Royal Caribbean for "Formal" night. Anything goes (ok, not that bad), but some people like to dress up. Next week, just my designated dress shirt, and I was probably in the minority."

We stayed at the DoubleTree. It was fine. And they had a shuttle to port.

Occasionally there will be an evening excursion after dinner. Dinner will be earlier. We've done 5 river cruises, 3 on AmaWaterways. We are not dancers, and don't really care too much about most of the local entertainment. We are fine just chilling and listening to the piano player for a while. Maybe go through the pictures we took that day (deleting duplicates and bad ones). Sometimes we'll socialize, but we've never felt bored in any way. We'll also go back to our cabin and watch something from a streaming service for a short bit to wind down before going to sleep. Usually when the lounge changes to dancing 🙂 Like others have said, it's easy to be worn out from the excursions earlier in the day.

We've become fans of City Wonders. Day 1: Arrived, checked into our airbnb. Day 2: Wandered Rome on our own. Did not enter anywhere. Started down at Circus Maximus (since that was not included in any of our tours), then by the Arch of Constantine, the Colosseum, outside the Forums, along Via dei Fori Imperiali up to the Alter of the Fatherland. We then made our way to the Spanish Steps where our evening tour began, which was 'Illuminated Rome Night Tour with Wine and Appetizers'. We thought this ended up being a great introduction tour and included Trevi fountain, Spanish steps and Pantheon. Day 3: Borghese Gallery. Unfortunately, I bought tickets only. I would highly recommend booking a tour guide. Later, we did the Colosseum by night. This included the underground area. Day 4: Took the high speed train to Bologna, and then caught a city bus to Sant'Agata (1 hour each way) and went to the Lamborghini Factory and Museum, then reversed that and went back to Rome. Tis was a 12 hour day, but totally worth it. But book the factory tour, not just the museum. Day 5: 'Extended Vatican Museums', and then 'Crypts and Catacombs' Day 6: 'Colosseum Belvedere with Roman Forums'. This tour did the 4th & 5th levels, then the Forums, which included Palpatine Hill. This whole place could easily be 3 or 4 separate sites. You can spend hours wandering around. Day 7: Checked out and went to the port for the cruise. Yes, 2 different Colosseum tours and walked around it on the outside another time. I'm a bit fascinated by the Colosseum. I have the Lego set with a framed collage photo next to it. We are going on another cruise out of Rome in October, and going in 3 days before. For that, we've booked: Day 1: Arrive, check into our airbnb, then that night we'll do the 'Dark Heart of Rome: Ghost and Mystery Walking Tour by Night'. This is the tour that started the whole City Wonders company. Day 2: 'Semi-Private Ostia Antica Half-Day Tour: An Ancient Roman City Frozen in Time' Day 3: 'The Official Angels & Demons Tour'. This tour is supposed to be very, very good, and Castel Sant'Angelo is part of it. Later, we've booked the 'Roman Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere Food Tour with Dinner' Day 4: 'St. Peter’s Basilica Tour with Dome Climb & Papal Crypts'. Not 100% sure we'll do this or not. It's from 7:50am - 10:50am, and we have to checkout of the airbnb by 10:00 and then head to the port. So, plenty of options. Take your pick. 🙂

Allure is March of 2025 (end of February to early April).