shoshona2

Hi,

I've been all around the World and to Vietnam several times. I'm always so surprised to hear that some people do NOT take out insurance when visiting foreign countries, especially ones without good medical facilities. I, for one, would not like to be left behind if I tripped and fell and broke a leg. It has happened to people on our travels. I have insurance which includes evacuation and just add it to the cost of travel.

Sheila

I only travel on Tauck River Cruises, so I just put Tauck in the search mode at the top of the "All River Cruise Roll Calls" and it brings up the different roll calls. I know it's hard to do with a river cruise line that has lots of boats. Maybe by next year when the various lines have 20 boats doing various rivers, a new "River Roll Call" section could be started.

Sheila

Hi Coral,

I've heard that AMA has NO control over their Russian, Asian or African river cruises. I only found that out after I wasted so much money on a Motel 6 experience for a Crystal cruise price. Apparently, they keep expanding their fleet and and keep picking out new partners to run some of the itineraries. APT is also a big partner of AMA and does a lot of selling in Australia and the United Kingdom. I guess I will never trust them again to tell the truth and are back to only river cruises on Tauck. At least their brochures and office staff tell the truth.

I am so very happy that people are coming back from their Russian river cruises pleased.

Sheila

Hi Coral,

It should be interesting to read the first reviews of the 2012 AMA Katarina river cruises.

Sheila

Look at Tauck's African Safaris on their website. Tauck does a great job. We just returned from their India tour and Egypt/Jordan two years ago and their tours were First Class!!!

Sheila

Thanks for the "smoking policy" answers. As a non-smoker I appreciate the info.

Sheila

Hi RvrCrzr,

Could you answer my question about "smoking policy" aboard Scenic ships?

Sheila

Hi Fran,

I was wondering what the smoking policy is on Scenic.

Sheila

Google APT and you will find that it is a huge travel agency from Australia and has been in business for many years. They are now partners with AMA.

Sheila

Hi Charlotte T,

Just hit on your name on your post and it will bring you to a page where you can hit on all your posts. I found the one you posted yesterday right there. No one answered you as yet.

Happy cruising.

Sheila

Hi all,

We took pro-biotics for two weeks before our Egypt/Jordan trip and our doing the same for India in March! I also chewed a pepto-bismol tablet with every meal as well as the pro-biotic capsule. We brushed our teeth with bottled water in the hotels and on the ship. We were among the few who did not get "mummy Tummy"! Go to a health food store and ask them about pro-biotics which do not need to be kept refrigerated.

Sheila

Hi Bob,

Great review! I really enjoyed reading all the details of your trip to Vietnam and Cambodia! Some of it brought back many memories of the two trips we did to that area.

Sheila

Hi Mike,

I know about the differences in prices between ocean cruises and river cruises. We did NOT have any 5 star hotels on our cruise. It was ALL on the river boat. But, it doesn't matter to me any more. I just booked my second European river boat trip with Tauck who has everything included except airfare. Now, that was luxury!! All AMA had to do was apologize to its customers for our inconveniences. They did give a FULL refund to the first two river boat trips on the Katarina. If the reviews had come out before I gave the final payment, we would have cancelled. We believed all the hype from AMA and it was ALL hype for their Russian cruises.

Happy cruising! If you decide to try the Katarina, please let me know after you return. You have my email address.

Sheila

Hi again Mike,

Were these clients of yours that came back with positive comments re AMA's Russian cruise or have you been hearing the hype from AMA's customer service? We returned on September 19th and there were two more sailings before the ship went into drydock to fix the diesel smells, the broken A/C and the SEWERAGE problems. If the ship had been completely remodeled as the President of the line said and was the most luxurious ship on the Volga, why did it have to go into drydock to fix the problems? You know me. I'm not a complainer. When passengers have to go search for toilet paper and are paying $500 PER day PER person for a cabin (not a suite), and are promised a luxurious cruise, we were disappointed. Just want to warn you that most of the Americans on our cruise marked the critique cards that we would NEVER book AMA again. So, where are these positive comments coming from? The Australians aboard received all kind of perks and they did NOT pay what we Americans did.

Sheila

Hi Mike,

Great review. Did you also submit it to the "Member Reviews" section so future travelers to that part of the World could read it? Just want you to know that AMA never did contact any of us re our comments on their "comment cards" re our Volga River Cruise in September.

Hello to Carol.

Sheila

Hi Ed,

Yogurt just doesn't have enough pro-biotics in it. We went to our local Whole Foods and asked them which brand of pro-biotics. The one we picked doesn't have to be refrigerated. Beer sounds good to me. I need water for a medical condition so I always drink bottled water.

Have a great time. I haven't taken this river cruise, but have been to Vietnam and Cambodia. Awesome trip.

Sheila

Hi Ed,

When we take vacations to exotic places, we always brush our teeth with bottled water and close our mouth in the shower. I always chew a pepto bismol tablet with each meal as well as taking a probiotic pill. When we were in Asia and Egypt we did so and didn't catch the bug which hit most of the other people. We are going to India in February and will do the same thing. I start taking the probiotics two weeks before going so the good bacteria will be working for me.

Sheila

Welcome to the River Cruising Board. No. Their loyalty programs are only between RCI and Celebrity -- no river boat companies!

I suggest you spend some time reading all about the river boat companies on this section of CC since everyone has their favorites.

Once you do a river boat cruise, you will become addicted to it! Enjoy.

Sheila

Hi Fltravelers,

When I commented on your great review, I didn't notice that you were from Hollywood, FL. My grandson is in the brand new Beachside Montessori Village school there. When he got in, it was like winning the lottery!!

Sheila

To alidor,

You are absolutely correct -- Monsoon weather starts in August in Asia and September would not be a good time to go to Vietnam and Cambodia. We went the end of October and didn't have any mosquito problems.

Sheila

We've been hearing good reports on AMA and will be on their new AMA Katarina river boat doing St. Petersburg to Moscow in September.

Sheila

I enjoyed reading your great review -- especially since you are a Vietnam combat veteran. We were in South Vietnam when the Americans first started visiting there many years ago and heard from our driver how awful North Vietnam treated them after the Americans left. They were starving. We even got to see the American Embassy still standing after the last helicopter left. It was later torn down. The Saigon we saw then was different with the only hotel being the Rex. When we returned about 8 years ago, we stayed at the 22 story Sheraton and couldn't believe the changes. Now, I hear there are hotels even taller. On our first trip, we saw American tanks and other war salvage in the fields. The people were so warm and welcoming. We went back 8 years ago so we could see North Vietnam and Cambodia. Thanks for your review. I'm sure it will inspire people to go and see this fascinating area.

Sheila

To 2Fltravelers,

That was really the best review I have ever read on Cruise Critic and I have been a member for years. We have been to Vietnam twice and Cambodia once so I really enjoyed reading your review as it brought back memories. When we were in Saigon the first time, the highest building was the Rex Hotel. When we returned years later, we went up to the top floor of the Sheraton (I believe it was 22 stories) and couldn't believe our eyes at the changes. I also brought pencils and pens for the children and they followed me as if I was the Pied Piper!!

Sheila

To PhillyGirl2,

When you travel, you should really have a Hep A shot. If any food handlers don't wash their hands after using the toilets, they could spread Hep A. It happens every year in Los Angeles.

Sheila

To Trvlingal,

When you take the Malaria medication, do it when you are eating so you don't suffer from stomach distress.

Sheila