ptrpanpens

Hello everyone

I am going to chime in here as I am currently in Arnhem. Although I did not go to it, there is an optional tour to the open air museum here. I wanted to have a free day so just walked into the town which has an open air market and many interesting shops plus a nice cathedral.

I had planned on booking AMA for my first river cruise as I have heard fantastic reviews of it (including yours, Lois). However I happened to notice a cruise from a company known as Collette which uses ships built by Lueftner, an Austrian company. There were not many reviews and they were mixed but since a full French balcony was almost $1,800 less for solo occupancy than AMA I decided to give it a try. Lois, did you still get no single supplement for your cruise next year? I did not see if for next year when I looked at AMA as I am also hooked and planning the Amsterdam to Basel cruise next year on one of the lines? But I digress....

I think someone on this board asked about the Amadeus Princess and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I am sure it is not as deluxe as AMA or Viking but for the price I paid, I think it is a bargain. The cabin I am in has a French balcony and is located right by the reception and on the same deck as the restaurant. So very convenient. I was surprised it is so roomy as it is the lowest category with a full window - 162 ft, the same size as some RCCL balconies. Yes, the bed could be a little softer (I like a hard bed) and the linen is not as high a percale count but these things are minor to me. The housekeeping is immaculate, the bathroom is nice size and the shower does not leak like some on Celebrity. And it is very quiet. There is plenty of storage too.

The dining room service is excellent and almost all of the food has been great especially their soups and breads, plus they have the best salad dressings of any ship I have been on, very light and tasty. The meals have all been great (too good..lol).

The crowd of this ship is very friendly and there is a lot of commanderie which is nice traveling solo. I was invited to join a group from near Chicago who are traveling together and have eaten mostly with them, although you can eat in practically any open table with whomever you like. Everyone is very friendly. One of the nicest things is that the dining room is full every night, because no one is going to specialty restaurants, the buffet, etc. there are 142 people on the cruise and it is at full capacity.

I would definitely consider this line again if the price is right but also am interested in trying AMA or other higher end lines. My problem is that I prefer at least a French balcony so will just have to compare lines. But there are a lot of good options to consider including Lueftner.

If anyone has any questions I will try to answer them. I still have 4 days left on this cruise and Internet is not always great, but no worse than Celebrity.

I would finally like to throw in a recommendation for an unbelievably outstanding hotel in Amsterdam. Weirdly, I am much pickier about hotels than cruise lines and I can highly recommend the Ambassade on Herengracht Canal without any reservations. This hotel, while fairly expensive, is one of a kind, especially if you book a room overlooking the canal. It is in the middle of the street but just a couple blocks from the flower market without all the commotion that goes on over there. It is totally non touristy and quiet but regal and elegant. Their restaurant the Braserie Ambassade is one of the highest rated in the city and I can see why. The service is superb as one would expect. I like being near the tourist areas but not too near, and this hotel really fills the bill. So if you would like a splurge, you may want to check it out. I am planning a stop in Amsterdam in October on the way to Istanbul and will definitely be staying at this hotel.

You can see I have some time to kill this afternoon since I did not take the excursion, but I just wanted to give my 2 cents worth and say I agree with Lois and others completely about river cruising and the wonderful experience.

To the person asking about the windmills, this morning I opened my blinds and sat and watched them go by from my window. The scenery is so lovely here and it is the most relaxing experience you can have watching the countryside from your window! Which is one of the reasons I don't think I could give up a full window.

Anne

I am in Amsterdam now and the weather is cold but no rain so far. I love my hotel smack dab in the middle of the Herengracht canal in the Jordaan District. Among other things the shopping here is excellent and I may be broke when I leave since I have four days before my river cruise.

Have booked two walking tours plus another one and the canal cruise will be from the boat, and will be spending tomorrow afternoon at the museums. There is so much to do here, a week is needed at least.

Looking forward to Bruges and Ghent and the tulips at Kuchenhoff. The ones I have seen in the city are very colorful but I know they will be nothing compared to the fields of color.

Lois thanks for your info. Really helpful.

Just my two cents worth...we embarked our cruise in Valparaiso, but chose to spend a few days prior in Santiago.On day four our guide had planned several hours in Valparaiso with lunch prior to our cruise. He gave us a good overview of the city (and it is a large place), after which we were totally underwhelmed and opted to skip the lunch he had planned and go on to our ship (Infinity). Valparaiso was, to us, just a vast touristy area and not very pretty. Students had been protesting and defacing property. The port was one of the least appealing we've been to. Also the downtown area was very crowded. Everyone is different and maybe we just didn't see the right part, but, knowing our guide, I don't think so. On the other hand, we found Santiago leafy and pretty. There was a lot to experience. We had some excellent meals and felt that we "got" the Chilean vibe. We visited some gorgeous wineries on a relaxing day trip. Personally, I'd never skip Santiago for Valpo.

Unless you took the funicular to the top of the hill to the historical district in Valpariso with the murals and colored houses, you missed the good part. I think it is designated as a World Heritage Site with the many many fantastic murals. Our guide said it was the essence of Valpariso and I can see why. I agree that the area around the port was not attractive but the top of the historical district was awesome IMO. You have to take a funicular to reach it so if you did not do that, you didn't go there.

I would not miss going to the historical area of Valpariso with literally hundreds of beautiful murals and charming homes and hotels. It was one of the highlights of the trip. After that we had a quick lunch and then visited a winery before being dropped off in Santiago at the airport or hotels.

I could have skipped the beach areas but then I live in Southern California and we have them all over here. I would rather have spent more time in Valpariso than Santiago.

Just be sure to leave yourself plenty of time at the airport as it is very chaotic and disorganized.

Loving reading this! So excited to be in Amsterdam in just 2 days!!:D:D

Keep the review coming.

My next cruise is SIN to HKG on Azamara. I have a general idea of wardrobe but not specifics yet ( it's at the end of November ;-) Probably Eileen Fisher crepe ankle pants and a linen tunic tank. We'll be gone almost 3 weeks - trying to pack light, black, white and turquoise I think. Most of the time I'll wear dresses (and bringing 1 pair shorts) but I don't like to travel or handle luggage in a dress so what I wear on the plane might be what I wear for embarkation.

Love Eileen Fisher. So comfy and stylish too.

Lois, so glad you had such a good time and thank you for posting the review today. I leave for Amsterdam tomorrow morning for a river cruise on the 21st and so looking forward to it. I have not been back to Amsterdam since the mid 80s! And it will be my first river cruise too after many Celebrity ocean cruises, like you.

I considered the Banks Mansion as it looked like a great hotel but in the end decided to splurge on a canal room on Herengracht at the Ambassade, which I remember loving from the last time I stayed there. A bonus is the excellent restaurant they have in the hotel in case it is too cold outside in the evening.

I booked two tours, the Jewish tour and Jordaan food tour but neither on the first day. I know I will be exhausted like you were. It is one of the disadvantages of arriving early.

Looking forward to the rest of your review. Any tips you have will be welcomed. Would like to know how you got to the ship. I will be going by taxi and just hope they know the port area and can find the ship.

Anne

I was on Infinity in January and thought the public areas looked great after drydock. My 2A cabin was fine except that the balcony door whistled at night when in heavy winds. I latched it and that solved the problem.:D

Personally I enjoyed the smaller ship, service in most areas was outstanding except for a sub par cabin attendant who was going home after the cruise and acted like it. Other cabin attendants were excellent, I was just unlucky, I guess.

I am taking Infinity on Pacific Coastal and Alaska next May and looking forward to the cruise.

Just bookmark the web page and check back on Fridays. They are usually posted by that time although you cannot book until the following Tuesday or Wednesday.

Definitely agree Santa Monica is the best place to stay then take the HoHo bus around the city to Hollywood and Beverly Hills. There is plenty to do near the beach and at 3rd Street promenade, lots of restaurants and shops. Whatever you do, I would not recommend downtown, or anyway near the airport!:eek:

Terry,

Thank you for the fantastic photos. I would love to go to South Africa but not sure I will ever get there...in the meantime, really enjoying your blog.

I have used them several times although not in Amsterdam. They have always been outstanding.

I have to disagree that a guide adds a lot to the experience for everyone. It certainly isn't true for me. I read and research a lot in advance of every trip. I find it difficult to find truly GOOD guides. (In many places, not just in Istanbul.) Often, they do not know as much about their own history as I do, and quite often they tell 'tall tales' as well.

 

I have gotten into some pretty hidden corners of early Byzantine Istanbul on my own. ;) Also, I feel that I absorb more of the feeling of a place on my own, rather than having someone tell me what I am seeing, hearing, experiencing....

 

(On my last visit to Istanbul, I located a book beforehand with absolutely wonderful detail on Haghia Sofya. I photocopied a couple of the chapters and brought with me so that my friend and I could refer to them. While at the site, I was reading a few passages to her when a local guide stopped me and wanted to know where I had gotten the detailed info!)

To each his own, but You do not sound like the typical tourist who often does minimal research. One of the Turkish guides I had is an archaelogist who worked at the Smithsonian and now is a professor of art history at the University in Istanbul. We bonded immediately over our interest of Byzantine and Ottoman history and our love of cats. Maybe I got lucky but I have found that the guides in Istanbul I have used have all been excellent.

I am very knowlegable about the Byzantine period having written my college thesus on the Ravenna mosaics and Hagia Sophia and I felt like I still learned a lot from the guides I used. I never felt like they were trying to tell me how to feel about anything.

But, like I said, it is a personal preference. I have remained in contact with many of the private guides I have used in various cities and happen to prefer the personal experience, whether they weave tales or not. That is not to say I spend all my time in places I am familiar with using a private guide, on the contrary. But I have always felt the experience, particularly the first time one visits a place like Istanbul, is enriched by the personal one on one contact with a local.

Obviously not everyone will feel the same way and of course should approach things the way that is best for them.

I agree the trip to the top of the mountain was the most harrowing experience I ever had and I would not do it again. Especially in a van with only 8 of us and the driver sometimes on his cell phone.:eek::eek:

But the views of the ship from above were spectacular! We evrn got a rainbow which made things even more beautiful.

So TOtALLY agree with TLCOhio (and thanks for the excellent photos).

Guides in Istanbul are outstanding and reasonable. Reading a book does not compare with the personal experience you get interacting with a local. And they take you to the special places you would not otherwise see. I took small tours with local guides two years ago, one of which was just me and the guide. I will definitely be hiring a guide for at least 2 of the 5 days I will be there this fall even thpugh I am pretty familiar with Istanbul.

Remember, if you watch Rick Steves you will note that even he has a guide accompanying him. It is money well spent if you want to immerse yourself in history and culture, not just walk by things with your head in a book. . I also recommend going to Chora Church if you have the time although there is alot of restoration going on there so the mosaics are damaged in many places, not intact like the ones in Ravenna. Still worth it especially if you are interested in the Byzantine period. There are other early Byzantine churches in the area that are less known but also have some beautiful mosaics.

Good to hear you are still planning on travelling to Amsterdam. We will be flying from there to Heathrow next month. We anticipate it may take longer to get through security but are still very much looking forward to our trip.

 

We will also be following your cruise on Connie -- especially if there are any itinerary changes-- with great interest. Interestingly, the pricing for our cruise in August (Venice to Rome, stop in Kusadasi) appears to be holding up. The price for my CC cabin is now over $600 pp than we paid last Autumn!

Not sure what to make of this: have no idea how soft or otherwise the booking is, only see that Concierge appears to be sold out with only C3 guarantee presently available.

I am really looking forward to returning to Amsterdam in 2weeks. My first time there in springtime to see the beautiful tulips and other flowers in bloom! And would not considering canceling!

The Adriatic cruise you are taking was one of my favorites. I hope you are stopping in Ravenna to see the unbelievable Byzantine mosaics there.. More impressive even than in St. Marks or Hagia Sophia! It is a wonderful itinerary I plan to take again.

Have been traveling regularly to Europe since the late 60s, often travel solo, and so glad I started early.

I am going on a river cruise to Holland and Belgium next month, then down to Paris for 10 days (been there over 20 times) then back to Istanbul and Israel in October.

I guess, given recent events, that these places could all be thought of as risky and maybe they are but as long as the State Department does not forbid it, I won't be canceling.

I say go to Europe and other countries while you can. Putting off travel just leaves people with alot of regrets, IMO, and chances are it won't get any easier, safer, or cheaper.

Lois here is another tour that may work for you. The city tour is on Wednesdays but I did not check on the times. Anyway they get good reviews and the site has good information. Good luck. Guess you may have to return to Amsterdam to see it all. Anne

http://thatdamguide.com

Ine, if you are still reading this thread......I was wanting to do the Culinary

excursion I mentioned earlier but it looks like that may not happen.

 

So, Instead of doing a tour, do you know if the Van Gogh Museum, The

Jewish Museum and Portuguese Synagogue are within walking distance

of The Banks Mansion? I may just decide to find somewhere to eat

lunch, see these 3 places and then find somewhere to eat dinner near

the hotel too.

Lois, this tour might work for you. I am leaving April 17 for Amsterdam so will be interested in your cruise feedback. Anne

http://jewishamsterdamtour.com

I am booked on that cruise in one of the new ocean view cabins aft on deck 3. (Cabins 3112-3144). These have huge picture windows almost as large as the balcony doors. And They were about $2,000 pp cheaper than vrrandas. Because I travel solo, this was a huge savings for me.

Furthermore, there is a chance that you will be able to upgrade after final payment if prices go down like they did this year. On my SA round the horn cruise in January, I was offered an upgrade from OV cat6 to veranda 2A cabin 3 weeks before sailing for $400 (single occupancy.) i was even able to choose the cabin. So I ended up with a $6,000 cabin with a large balcony for $3,800 when all was said and done.

I usually book veranda or above but when there is a very large difference I choose the lowest category I can live with to make sure I get onboard and hope for the upgrade fairy. Usually I get lucky but I don't count on it. Also, you must be flexible about your upgraded cabin or it wont work for you.

I was able to do alot with the $2,000+ I saved.:D

You guys are so funny. Gruelling from North America to South America. Really!! Try living in Australia. We have been to South America twice, best cruises ever, don' think about cancelling. I think you would regret it for ever.

I flew Business class both ways from LAX to South America and still thought it was grueling. I got a bad respiratory infection on board the ship so glad to be able to sleep on the way home. But SA was great and I would like to return.

I have to admire the stamina of the Aussies but at least when you travel you are usually gone alot longer than we are.

Could you post if you are able to change your cabin to one that now costs less? I was told the new cabin had to be at least a dollar more to upgrade after final payment so it will be interesting to know what happens. There were people on our Holy Land cruise in 2014 who could not upgrade from OV to Aqua because they had actually paid more for their OV when they booked. I dont know if it got sorted out but I always book the cheapest category I could live with hoping to be able to pay for an upgrade after final payment. So I would be interested in knowing your outcome.

I took this cruise in January and loved it. The ship did miss one port and it is easy to get sick due to the extreme weather changes, plus some of the ports do require long drives, but you forget all that when you see the beautiful scenery and especially the penguins.

Be sure and book the penguin tour given by Pira Tours to Martillo Island when in Ushuaia. They are usually hard to get hold of but do eventually respond if you keep trying. For me, seeing the king and gentoo penguins there was the highlight of this, or almost any other cruise I have taken. So worth it!

I also thought Infinity looked great after her drydock and the food and service were fine, although you do always get the complainers. It won't be Seabourn or Oceania but it is clean, bright and well maintained IMO.

I think you may get tickets by waiting in line first thing in the morning before the house opens at 9. If you got there by 8 you might get in close to opening time. Not too bad to waste time at that hour as there is not as much to do in Amsterdam from 8-9 am.

This assumes you really want to see it and are willing to stand in line. Luckily I went years ago and although it was inspiring and very touching, I do not ferl the need to go twice. I have booked a tour of the Jewish area instead which includes the museum and highly recommended.

I will also be on a river cruise in Holland and Belgium that departs April 21 and am taking the Thalys train (previously targeted by terrorists) to Paris for 10 days afterward. I have no plans to cancel.

My prayers go out to the people of Belgium and all the others impacted by this tragedy.