aldukenew

We did a cruise from Vilshofen to Budapest on the Ama Prima last August. We began the trip with 3 nights in Prague at the Old Town Hilton. Great trip. Highlights for us were Prague, Vienna and Budapest at night. The service was excellent. The only recommendation we would make is, if you are connecting through Frankfurt, allow at least 2 hours for the connection. The Frankfurt airport is huge.

Ditto to what Dan said: We did this itinerary also - on the AmaSonata last September. We also liked the Old Town Hilton. We flew through Heathrow without a hitch. It was our second AMA cruise and the 3rd is booked for next September - Paris to Normandy. I hope you love your trip as much as we have loved ours.

Allyson

We did this cruise on AMA last year. It was our second on AMA and we had a fabulous time. We have not tried any other river line because AMA has been great. We have recently booked Vietnam and Cambodia with them

EAGLESLOVER,

Did you write a review? Yes, we have over a year to wait, but any suggestions or comments you might have would be helpful. We are doing the post cruise in Paris and will be on the AmaLyra.

Allyson

I went on "TULIP TIME" sailing around the Netherlands and Belgium.

We sailed from Amsterdam.....it was simply fantastic:)

 

Here is a link to my review:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2344645

We are booked on the AmaWaterways Paris to Normandy itinerary for September 2017. This will be our 3rd river cruise with AmaWaterways (Tulip Time and Romantic Danube) and highly recommend them.

Allyson

Solo.......of course;)......I am going an itinerary called "TULIP TIME":)

Flying to Amsterdam.....the cruise is going to the Netherlands and Belgium.

*hoping we are still going to Belgium. I know the cruiseline will do what

they feel is the safest for everyone....

I can't wait though....my first time visiting these places too:)

Going on AMA Waterways AND it is the maiden voyage......brand new

boat......:D should be awesome!

I hope you love this as much as we did on the AmaCerto Tulip Time cruise in 2013! It was chilly, so take layers. We loved this trip so much, we did the Romantic Danube on the AmaSonata last September - even better! We are nailing down our September 2017 Ama trip today. Bon voyage!

Allyson

If anyone has done a catamaran excursion in St. Martin while on a Royal Caribbean ship, can you please recommend one? I am looking at the Catamaran Mirabella--Beach and Sea, as one of the options. At the same time, if there is one you would NOT recommend, I'd appreciate that, also.

Twice we did the Golden Eagle Sailaway - one of the ship's excursions (Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas). We loved it! We tried to do it a third time last November, but waited until we got onboard and it was sold out. We sailed to Mullet Bay, where those who wanted to snorkel did so and others just floated around in the beautiful water and went up to the beach. The "safety officer" on the catamaran, Charlie, brought us rum punches while we were floating on our noodles! Great time!

Allyson

I'm sure we all will to, although we wont be used to having so much done for us. Am hoping there might be a cabin available to upgrade to if it is not to costly. We decided on AMA as it seemed to be highly thought of on this forum. I did have lots of mind changing before we finally booked.

You will love it!

Allyson

After much searching we have booked the romantic Danube cruise. 9 ageing adults in 5 cabins. We didn't have a choice of all the cabins we wanted so had to take what was available. 2 cat E. 1 cat D. 2 cat C. Flying into Munich then making our own way by local transport to Vilshofen. Return yet to be organised. Again our trip was instigated by my wife, I'm sure it wont be long till what started out as our yearly long weekend breaks turn into a world cruise. I'm sure I will be asking some more questions before long.

We took that same cruise last September and loved it sooooo much! We traveled through London Heathrow and did the Ama pre-cruise in Prague, which included transfers. We had a Cat. c on the AmaSonata. This trip is at the top of my list of best trips ever!

Allyson

Thank you, Allyson.

 

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I did not answer your question about getting a table for 2. I think most of the tables were for 4 or 6, but there were booths, so you could take one of those. First come first served, though.

Sorry OP to hijack but I can't resist to hear about AmaCerto.

Dear Allyson, could you please share more about your experience on AmaCerto? Any review online?

Is it possible to get a table for two during dinner?

Thank you.

 

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Michael,

I don't think I wrote a review for that one, but that cruise was the reason we just sailed the Danube in September on the AmaSonata. The service was excellent, the food was good, the excursions were wonderful. I know this doesn't tell you much. I do remember it was quite chilly in Holland in April, so we couldn't use the sun deck very much, but the lounge was very comfortable and our day times were mostly taken up by excursions. We did 2 bike excursions, which were great.

Feel free to email me with questions you might have: aldukenew at gmail dot com,

Glad that worked out for you!

 

We will be on Sonata Vishofen to Budapest this fall. We are planning a few days in Bavaria prior.

We took this Romantic Danube from Vishofen (started in Prague) in September and absolutely loved it!

Allyson

We have booked a Christmas Markets cruise on AmaSonata. Anyone with recent experience?

We were on the AmaSonata this past September on the Romantic Danube cruise. Loved, loved, loved it! The crew was extraordinary and the excursions were all wonderful. Food and wine were good and we were very comfortable. We sailed on the AmaCerto for Tulip Time in 2013 - another fantastic experience and why we returned to Ama. We have put down a deposit for a future cruise with AmaWaterways, but no destination or date yet. I know you will enjoy it!

Allyson

We bought our air through AMA in December 2012 for a cruise in May 2013, and were able to choose the flights and get seats right away -- and we were able to go to United's website immediately and upgrade to Economy Plus seats. We saved a few dollars (tens of dollars, not hundreds) but qualified for free airport transfers, which was an even greater saving.

Ditto for us, except we flew BA.

Did booking through AMA save you $$$? I am going on my first river

cruise with them in April:D and my TA told me the same thing.....they

may not release the air information until much closer to the cruise date.

I haven't booked my flights yet.

I'm not sure it saved us money. In the 30 minutes it took us to decide, the fares went up $200 (British Airways)! It started out being a little cheaper, but I don't think we saved anything. I think it was more about convenience and peace of mind. We booked in March for our Sept. cruise.

Glad to hear it went well! Escort to the counter is definitely a nice touch. Did you have a lot of connecting flights? If so, how much time did you have between flights? This is my real concern as I prefer waiting in a lounge for a few hours rather than running to catch another flight.

We decided to connect from Washington Dulles through Heathrow because the layover was 2.5 - 3 hrs each way, vs. 1 hour or so through Frankfurt or Munich. We had plenty of time going over. Coming back took longer because we had to go from Terminal 3 to a sub terminal of terminal 5, if that makes sense. We still made it just fine.

Allyson

I hope you get some responses as we recently added their business air package to our booking. It's the first time I won't be handling our flights myself which concerns me a bit, but after watching prices for a few months (for this year's flights around the time we will be flying next year), I thought it was worth the risk. When's your trip?

We booked our flights through Ama for our Sept Danube cruise, but our TA took care of all of it. She gave us 3 options and we picked the one that worked best. All went smoothly and they were there to pick us up and drop us off at the end, even escorting us to the counter.

Allyson

We went in early April and, due to the mild winter, the gardens were at about 85% bloom. It was lovely and weather was mild. Although the scenery while sailing was our least favorite so far, we really enjoyed the itinerary.

 

Our preference on the river is AMA. We appreciate their quality, consistency and attention to detail.

Ditto. Went in mid-April of 2013 and it was chilly, the blooms were a little late due to the harsh winter, but beautiful, nonetheless. We had a fabulous time on the AmaCerto!

Allyson

You can be put on a list for cancellations. We were just on the AMACerto and there were lots of empty rooms. I also heard some people say that they had only booked about a month before the trip.

We were told by 4 people on this 9/6 cruise that they got the last cabin!!! It must have been crowded in there!d But, seriously, that may have meant that cabins opened up at the last minute.

Allyson

Thanks for your reply.

As Jazzbeau pointed out, the first two excursions I mentioned, the trip to Terezin and the Czech folklife performance, were during our pre-cruise stay in Prague. The "limited edition" tours may be booked online after checkin, but there is no charge. The only one we paid for during the cruise was the concert in Vienna, booked on board. You will receive information about these in your packet.

Hi aldukenew. Really liked your review. Very informative.

 

We are looking at the same cruise (Romantic Danube) on AMA for next year. I see you went in September -- when did you book? Do you think I'm to late to book for Sept 2016? Did you use a TA? How about air arrangements -- any problems?

I noticed you mentioned that dinner ended around 9:00pm. When did dinner start? Some cruises have an informational meeting (on what to expect the next day) before dinner. Was this the case on your cruise?

 

John

John,

We booked in July of 2014 for this September, but several couples on this cruise said they got the "last cabin" a few months ago :-). We did use a TA and used the AMA air - prices were competitive but went up $200 in the 30 minutes it took us to decide!! Dinner was usually about 7:15, but occasionally was moved up due to evening excursions (wine tasting and Vienna concert) - once to 5:30 and another to 6:45. We did have a briefing every night before dinner about the next day. Very informative. Our Cruise Manager, Veronika, was very helpful with suggestions and insights about what to do and what not to do. She put together money conversion cheat sheets for Prague (pre-cruise days) and Budapest.

All questions are welcome!

Allyson

We used ATMs in Prague, Regensberg, and Budapest. Very easy. We did not shop much, so we did not purchase any crystal. The guides did suggest reputable places for that in Prague. It is helpful to have 1 and 2 euro coins for tips and bathrooms, when necessary.

If I'm reading your review correctly, Terezin and the Czech folklife performance were part of the pre-cruise extension. The Vienna concert is one of the very few cruise excursions that AMA charges extra for. Generally all cruise excursion choices (even "limited edition" tours) are included in the cruise fare.

You are right, Jazzbeau. Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks for your very welcome and good review of your AMA cruise.

 

Did you need to book those optional tours in advance or could you book on-board?

 

We are taking AMA's Flamenco and Port Wine land and river cruise in May. Can hardly wait!

 

Thanks!

Denise

We paid extra for the trip to Terezin (41 Euros), the Czech folklife performance (61 euros), and a Mozart/Strauss concert in Vienna (61 euros). We booked them on board. The cruise manage gave us a sign up sheet for all excursions that we had to turn in on the second day, I think. I think there are a few "limited edition" tours that you'll be able to book online after you check in online.

Allyson

How were you dressed for your cruise? capris? jeans? sweater? jacket?

 

Did you have a balcony room? Did you use it?

 

Can you tell me more about the ship...food? entertainment? pool?

 

So glad you enjoyed your river cruise. Enjoyed your review and appreciate you taking the time to write it.

Yes, this certainly helps. It's so nice that you are willing to answer any questions. AND I have at least one more.

 

 

Was there additional expense for the optional tours that you refer?

We paid extra for the trip to Terezin (41 Euros), the Czech folklife performance (61 euros), and a Mozart/Strauss concert in Vienna (61 euros). I forgot to add that most nights, we did not even change for dinner. Very casual if you want it to be.

How were you dressed for your cruise? capris? jeans? sweater? jacket?

 

Did you have a balcony room? Did you use it?

 

Can you tell me more about the ship...food? entertainment? pool?

 

So glad you enjoyed your river cruise. Enjoyed your review and appreciate you taking the time to write it.

For the first few days, we wore long pants and a light jacket, as it was cool in Prague. After that, we graduated to capris and finally to shorts, as it was in the 80s in Budapest.

We had a French balcony room, not a twin balcony. Those who did said they sat out there a couple of times. We opened our sliding doors occasionally, but we were rarely in our cabin, as we were so very busy on tours and up on the sun deck. We rafted next to another ship twice and went through many locks, so a balcony could not be used then.

The ship is beautiful. I only saw one person in the pool. It was hot tub temperature - very warm. We did wade a little on the last day. We sat up on the sun deck a lot and the waiters were very good about bringing drinks up. The lounge was the only other place to go, other than the cabin, while on board. We did not attend most of the evening entertainment, as dinner wasn't over until 9:00 or so and we were bushed. We watched a little of the Hungarian folk dancers and musicians, but left after a little while. You can't really talk to people during the performances. The Captain's Table restaurant was good, I thought. You make reservations for one night during the cruise. Overall, I thought the food was very good. Some people said they thought it was just good. I had no complaints and there was plenty of it! Free flowing beer and wine at lunch and dinner. Lots of it, too! There is a hair salon and masseuse on board, but we did not use either. Also, a very small fitness center, which we did not use either :-).

I hope this helps. I welcome any other questions you might have.

Allyson

AmaSonata Romantic Danube, September 6 – 16, 2015

We just returned from our glorious trip from Prague to Budapest on the AmaSonata. It was the trip of a lifetime.

We participated in the pre-cruise 3-day stay in Prague. An AmaWaterways representative met us at the airport and drove us the Hilton Old Town. The hotel is in a great location – a few minutes’ walk to the Old Town Square and was very comfortable. They had a nice breakfast buffet (included) and the staff was very helpful.

Days 1-3: After a short orientation presentation by our Cruise Manager, Veronika (cute as a button and fantastic!), she took us on an hour-or-so-long walking tour of the area near the hotel, pointing out ATMs, grocery store, pharmacy, restaurants, shopping mall, etc.

The next morning, we were divided into 3 groups for a city tour on a bus, then a walking tour starting at the Prague Castle complex and ending at the Old Town Square, where there were musicians, performers, restaurants and lots of things going on. We then had the rest of the afternoon on our own. In the evening, there was an optional excursion to a restaurant, where we were entertained by Czech musicians and dancers. It was very touristy, but a lot of fun. The food was delicious and we all participated in the revelry.

The next day, there were a few optional excursions: the concentration camp at Terezin (we chose this and thoroughly “enjoyed” it) or the Lobkowicz Palace. Otherwise, this day was on your own to explore the city.

Day 4: The next morning, we boarded our buses on our way to Vilshofen to meet the ship, stopping on the way at Regensburg, a beautiful, beautiful town, where we participated in a walking tour. The famous Sausage Kitchen was very crowded, so we followed our guide’s advice to go to a stand in one of the squares where the locals eat – yummy sausage sandwiches! They make a great mustard there in Regensburg. We then headed to Vilshofen, where we board the beautiful AmaSonata. We were greeted by the staff at the door and, after a short wait in the lounge, we were taken to our cabin and shown all of the amenities. The crew member (waiter Kolja) even connected our mobile devices and ipads to the complimentary wifi. There was then an Oktoberfest celebration in a tent just outside the ship – bear and pretzels – meh. There was a mandatory safety briefing by Captain Christian and then a nice dinner in the dining room.

Day 5 - Vilshofen/Passau: This morning we had some time to walk around Vilshofen on our own before cruising to Passau, a lovely Bavarian town located where 3 rivers converge – the Danube, Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north. Our guide, Martina, was excellent. In every port, there were 3 walking tour levels: easy, regular, and active. There were also bike tours offered in many of the ports, but we did not participate in any of those. After the walking tour, we wandered around and settled at a little café near the ship for a couple of beers and a pretzel.

Day 6 - Linz, Austria

After our walking tours, there was a choice of three different excursions - is a visit to the Austrian Lake District, excursion to the Czech town of Cesky Krumlov, a wonderfully preserved medieval town nestled in the hills just over the Austrian-Czech border (we chose this one and were not disappointed – a lovely place) or an excursion to Salzburg.

Day 7 – Melk/Krem/Durnstein

We cruised to Melk this morning and the weather was beautiful, so we relaxed on the sun deck to enjoy the beautiful scenery. In Melk, we toured the gorgeous Melk Abbey – spectacular. We then chose to walk back down the hill through the lovely town (stopped for a cappuccino) back to the ship. We then cruised through the beautiful, I mean beautiful, Wachau Valley to Krems. There are many, many vineyards and apricot orchards on the way. We chose to stay on the ship in Krems for a nap on the sun deck, while others took the bus to Durnstein. In the evening, we attended a very interesting tour/wine tasting at a vineyard.

Day 8 – Vienna

After a city tour on the bus, we chose to walk around the city on our own, visiting the Albertina Museum, the Sacher Hotel for weiner schnitzel and Sacher torte, and a café our guide recommended (Gerstner – delicious strudel on the pedestrian street, the Kartnerstrasse). Ama provided shuttle buses all afternoon to/from the ship.

Day 9 – Bratislava, Slovakia

It was raining today, so walking around Bratislava was not that pleasant, but we made the best of it. We chose to skip the walking tour and just walked around, stopping for a beer and taking pictures of the whimsical statues around the town. I wasn’t overly impressed here.

Day 10 – Budapest, Hungary

This is the highlight of the trip for me. Our walking tour from the ship included the huge indoor market, where there were hundreds of stalls selling food and good. We then boarded buses up to the castle, where we walked around some more. Beautiful views of the city. We chose to remain there and have lunch at a nice restaurant that the guide recommended (Var a Speiz across from the Hilton Castle District) and enjoyed the goulash and paprikash. We walked back to the ship downhill (luckily) – an hour’s walk across the Chain Bridge. It was a little warm but enjoyable. After dinner, there was a spectacular illumination cruise up and down the Danube. The bridges and buildings were all lit up and there were audible gasps from all of us as we listened to beautiful music up on the sun deck. Some folks were dancing. It was magical. What a great ending to a wonderful cruise.

Departure

We had to have our luggage outside our cabins 30 minutes before our transfer time (Ama arranged all of that) and waited in the lounge after breakfast for our announcement. The drive to the airport was about 20-30 minutes. We arrived home safe and sound, albeit exhausted.

Thoughts

This was our second cruise with AmaWaterways (our first was Tulip Time in 2013) and we were not disappointed. In fact, we signed up for a future cruise while on board (no date or destination yet). Our cruise manager, Veronika, was fantastic and the crew was attentive and friendly. We were well taken care of. We spoke to several folks who had no luggage for the first 2 days of the cruise and Ama provided them with an "emergency pack" and washed their clothes at no charge until they finally received their luggage. I have no complaints at all and would highly recommend AmaWaterways. We had no issues with water levels and the weather was perfect, aside from 2 days of rain in Prague and Bratislava. Memorable.