KLRDUKS

Yes, notamermaid, thank you so much for the updates. We will be on the AMA Sienna Amsterdam to Basel starting on 12/8. Then on the AMA Bella from Budapest to Vilshoffen with 3 days in Prague post-cruise starting 12/19. 

I agree accept Austria is coming out of lockdown for vaccinated folks Sunday. Oh well, we booked for same time next year. 

Just got the email from AMA that our Christmas Markets on the Danube (12/13) with pre-cruise in Prague has cancelled. They indicated that all cruises on the AMALea through 12/31 are cancelled. This was the first of a back to back with a Christmas Markets on the Rhine which we will also have to cancel. Offered 115% roll over. Only out the cost of our transport between the 2 cruises by rail.
 

 I am so disappointed. This was to be our 4th & 5th AMA cruises. I know they are doing their best for staff and guests but am just numb right now. We were all ready to go and a year’s worth of planning out the window. First world problem I know but still very sad. 

If Austria goes into "full lockdown", what does that mean for trains? We will be going from Budapest, through Austria, to Switzerland for our 2nd of Back to Back cruises. 

We will be visiting Lahneck Castle on Christmas Day as part of an AMA cruise. Looking forward to it and thank you so much for all your information on water levels and other interesting items. 

Oh crap...that's you isn't Joe. 😆 Didn't know your handle.

goinsoon, it looks like we are on the same cruises as you. B2B Christmas cruises, AMA Lea 12/13 with pre cruise Prague & AMA Lucia Basel to Amsterdam 12/21. We are traveling with a couple who we met on a Magnificent Europe cruise (Budapest to Amsterdam) in 2014. We are taking a train from Budapest to Basel (changing trains in Zurich) on 12/20. This will be our 4th & 5th AMA cruises so looking forward to it. 

We are on a Prague pre-cruise with AMA arriving 12/10 with transportation to the ship in Vilshofen on 12/13. $900/pp and we are staying at the Cosmopolitan hotel. Breakfast included but other meals, I believe, on us. Includes a transfer from the Prague airport to the hotel on 12/10 as well. Not sure what they are doing different with the extra $600/pp so going by yourself would be MUCH cheaper if you are like me and LOVE travel planning. 🙂 We normally do our own pre/post cruise stays but because we had never been to Prague before and the long transfer from Prague to Vilshofen, we decided to go the "official" route. 

sjde, that is the "$64,000 question". 🙂 Do you take a chance and sit with strangers the first night and HOPE they are pleasant because you will be with them the entire cruise OR do you sit alone. I guess if you get to the ship early enough on embarkation day and hang out in the lounge, you may get a sense of who you might want to sit with. Also, if you are on pre-cruise excursion, you will meet some of your shipmates and that might help.

I know this, on our 3 previous AMA cruises, there were some great folks we met at dinner that we hung around with the rest of the cruise and there were also some real obnoxious folks that we wanted nothing to do with. It is a real interesting dynamic. 

Thanks again Sleep7 for your helpful info and great reviews. We have been on 3 AMA cruises and are going back with some friends on back-to-back Christmas cruises. I know they are no longer doing buffets for breakfast and lunch but PLEASE tell me they still have the bread table for breakfast!! It was one of my favorites!!

I wanted to thank Psoque and others as me and my wife got ours last week. (Been having trouble posting with the known log-in issue - cleared my browsing history/cookies and that took care of it.) just wanted to let folks know if they did not already that you need a separate transfer code per person but can send all information in one e-mail. (At least this worked for Basel Canton) 

Apparently, we also avoided the $30/per person charge that was implemented on 10/14. 

Miss G. I am very curious about your Amazon tests as we bought several for our cruises in December. Please let us know how quickly you got your results from when you mailed them. Thanks!!

We were on the AMA Sonata for Christmas 2014. (12/17/14 - 1/2/15) It was the Magnificent Europe (Christmas Cruise) that went from Budapest to Amsterdam. Unfortunately, AMA does not offer this itinerary anymore which is a shame because it is so great to be on the ship and unpack once. New Years on the ship in Amsterdam was amazing as we were in the center of all of the fireworks and partying.

To your question, it alternated between sweater weather and below freezing temps but not often. It did snow several days, including while on the boat which was fun. The day it snowed most, we were in Werthiem which was magical as we walked right from the ship into town. Some stores were still closed (it was 12/27) but several, including the glass blowing store were open as were many of the cafes and restaurants. I guess it really depends as others have said.

We are on back to back AMA Christmas cruises in December. AMA Lea Vilshofen to Budapest (12/10 - 12/20 with Prague Pre-Cruise) and AMA Lucia Basel to Amsterdam (12/21/21) We are taking the train from Budapest to Basel on 12/20 that goes through the Alps so very much looking forward to that as well. 

Wings55

What cabin were you in on the K? We are in 323 on the AMA Lea and a little concerned about what you have said as we have not been that far back on our previous AMA cruises. Thanks!!

If you go to the AMA site and click on My Cruise at the top right of the screen a drop down appears. Click on Prepare for Your Cruise and that takes you to another page with a TON of great information. At almost the end of the list of topics is Docking Locations. Click on that and it shows you all of the "normal" docking locations for each City. Know that you will not no for sure which location (or a completely different one) you will be at until a day or two before when the boat actually gets there. Safest bet is to call the boat directly (under another tab called Ship Contact Information) the day before or even the morning of embarkation. Also under the My Cruise tab is an FAQ with a TON of additional great information as well as information about the AMA Loyalty Program. You can also check-in for your cruise if you have your deposit in. This is where you put your passport and other contact information as well as flight arrival/departure information. I highly recommend doing this before you board as that way, you won't be filling out as many forms before getting to your room. Finally, this is where you will be able to sign up for some of your excursions several weeks before your cruise. This is especially important for optional or special excursions as they sometime fill up and they can not add additional capacity. 

I have been on 3 AMA cruises. (2 in Spring and one over Christmas/New Years) On all, dress for dinner is what I would call business casual. While some folks do dress up, most women wear casual dresses or pants/blouse and men wear Khakis and at least a polo type shirt. Most dress up a little more for the farewell dinner or if you are dining in the Chef's Table restaurant. I guess bottom line, as long as you are not wearing shorts/t-shirts, you should be fine and even if you normally dress up for dinner, you won't feel out of place. Lets face it, it is your vacation!! 

We did the AMA Magnificent Europe Christmas Cruise in 2014. (14 Day Budapest to Amsterdam) One of the things I loved about it was you could see so much from the river while cruising. We also did the Magnificent Europe cruise on AMA in 2013 but in May. (Amsterdam to Budapest) It is very beautiful but with the trees in full leaf, it is hard to see past the river in many places. In December, you don't have that problem. Obviously, you can't enjoy the outdoor areas of the ship as much so there are trade offs. But there is something great about walking through a little village with a hot beverage as the snowflakes start to fall.🙂

We are doing back-to-back Christmas Market Cruises (Danube then Rhine) on the AMA Lea and then AMA Lucia. This will be our 4th & 5th AMA cruises and we will be going with a couple we met on the 2014 Magnificent Europe Christmas Cruise. 

It looks like AMA is not doing the Magnificent Europe after 1 scheduled in May 2021 which may or may not go. IS it just too expensive to go the through the Main River Canal? That is the only thing I can come up with because I am pretty sure they were popular but maybe not enough. We would have loved to do another Magnificent Europe Christmas if offered. 

We are on the AMA Lucia for a December 2021 Christmas Markets on the Rhine. Can't wait!!

We did AMA Magnificent Europe (Amsterdam to Budapest) in May 2013 and AMA Magnificent Europe Christmas Cruise (Budapest to Amsterdam) in December 2014. They were like 2 different cruises because some of the ports were different but also the time of year made viewing from the ship very different. Even though it was cold in December, the trees are bare so you can see more of the countryside.

We love doing the longer cruises so you don't have all that much choice but we would definitely do it again, especially if we were with friends who had not done one before. Bottom line, we love the ships and the service so duplicating an itinerary is not a big deal for us.

Stayed at the Hotel Duquesne Eiffel for 3 nights pre-cruise in March. We were able to reserve a Premium Eiffel Tower View room and the view was incredible. (Room 55) The breakfast was great (mention that you heard about the hotel through Rick Steve's travel book and your breakfast is included.) and the service awesome. Most hotel rooms in Paris are small so be prepared. Have a great time!!

happycr We were on the Paris Normandy 3/29-4/5/18 and yes, they do take credit cards for all on-board charges including tips. Just remember to give the pursers at the front desk your card a day or two before you disembark so you do not have to try and do it as you leave when it is very busy.

As for weather, it was alternately great weather (no wind/rain in Normandy) to raining sideways on other days. I would definitely bring a rain coat with hood as sometimes the wind is too much for a small umbrella.

Also want to say that with all the rain/snow that France had received this year, our ship could not dock in Paris. So, we had to take a shuttle from Paris to Colfans where the boat was docked. AMA did offer a free shuttle from their hotel (which we were not staying in pre-cruise) but they indicated that there was no where to sit at the hotel (small lobby) and nowhere to store your luggage. Also, they asked for you to get there at least an hour before the shuttle left at 3:00 pm. So I guess that meant we would be standing on the sidewalk with our luggage for up to an hour in potentially bad weather. No thank you. We elected to take our own shuttle (BT Transfer, which we also took from the airport) which charged 90 Euro for 4 of us and luggage in a van. I HIGHLY recommend BT Transfer and making your own arrangements because you can get to the ship early (say noon) and if your room is not yet ready, you can either enjoy a light lunch in the lounge or explore Colfans. Also, you avoid arriving with a cast of dozens. So much more civilized. :-)

I have been on two 14 day cruises (AMS to BUD and reverse) and the menu did change at the Chef's Table. I can not remember if the menu was different in the main dining room but I think it was. Have a great cruise!!

Cambriah,

Are you from Cambria, Ca? Very beautiful part of the world!!

Please see my review of the Prima here:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=221231

It is fro 2013 but things have not changed much. If you have any additional specific questions after reading it, please let me know. Enjoy your cruise, I am sure you will be hooked!!

Same here. I figured I might ask when I get to our ship on 3/29.