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All Ama cruisers!!! Share expierences and ideas


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We’re taking AmaStella next June on the cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam so we’re following this thread pretty closely. We’re pretty experienced ocean cruisers and this will be our first river cruise. How does it typically work with gratuities onboard? Also, I understand that there are usually excursions/activities arranged for the ports; I believe the majority of them are included in the cruise fare? For those that aren’t, what is typically available and what is a ballpark cost?

 

 

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We’re taking AmaStella next June on the cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam so we’re following this thread pretty closely. We’re pretty experienced ocean cruisers and this will be our first river cruise. How does it typically work with gratuities onboard? Also, I understand that there are usually excursions/activities arranged for the ports; I believe the majority of them are included in the cruise fare? For those that aren’t, what is typically available and what is a ballpark cost?

 

 

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We have prepaid our gratuties up front, as part of the cruise fare. The staff know that you have prepaid. We also like to tip a little bit more throughout the cruise to certain people that serve everyone so well. Like our wine stewart, the bar tenders, etc. We have checked out the additional special excursions and there is no additional cost. All in all, river cruising does not nickle and dime you like ocean cruising does. We usually walk away with a bill at the end of the cruise that is less than $100. The sip and sail is a great addition to the cruise before dinner. Lovely drink menu or drink of the day and beer and wine included with lunch and dinner. Hope this helps.

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We have prepaid our gratuties up front, as part of the cruise fare. The staff know that you have prepaid. We also like to tip a little bit more throughout the cruise to certain people that serve everyone so well. Like our wine stewart, the bar tenders, etc. We have checked out the additional special excursions and there is no additional cost. All in all, river cruising does not nickle and dime you like ocean cruising does. We usually walk away with a bill at the end of the cruise that is less than $100. The sip and sail is a great addition to the cruise before dinner. Lovely drink menu or drink of the day and beer and wine included with lunch and dinner. Hope this helps.

 

 

 

Yes, it’s helpful. I booked directly with Ama and have a contact at their office who I contact to gradually pay off the cruise fare. Will he provide a price on the pre-paid gratuities if I ask?

 

 

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We’re taking AmaStella next June on the cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam so we’re following this thread pretty closely. We’re pretty experienced ocean cruisers and this will be our first river cruise. How does it typically work with gratuities onboard? Also, I understand that there are usually excursions/activities arranged for the ports; I believe the majority of them are included in the cruise fare? For those that aren’t, what is typically available and what is a ballpark cost?

 

 

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We did this cruise in June on the AMAPrima. All of the excursions were included in the cruise fare. There is usually a choice of a walking, hiking or biking tour plus some food and beer specialty tours which were very nice.

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I should have specified that I was on the AMASerena and AMADante, and we had the storage under the beds four luggage. I assumed that the AMACello would have the same size storage space. On the two ships we were on, there was only one pull out storage area, the rest was free space. Sorry if I passed on the wrong information.

 

 

We were on AMAPrima 4 years ago and had no problems with under the bed storage. Interesting how some work and others don't.

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Yes, it’s helpful. I booked directly with Ama and have a contact at their office who I contact to gradually pay off the cruise fare. Will he provide a price on the pre-paid gratuities if I ask?

 

 

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Yes, your agent at AMA should be able to tell you how much the gratuties are. Ours were $163 per person for a 7 night cruise. He should be able to add this directly to your balance owing.

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Is the sip and sail activity scheduled every night?

 

 

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Another nice feature of the Sip & Sail is that you can take your drinks back to your stateroom if you wish. A number of people did that on our AMAPrima cruise in June. They would get a drink (or two ;)) when Sip & Sail began and go to their room to relax and freshen up returning to the lounge before Sip & Sail ended to socialize and have another drink.

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Lois, you misunderstood my question about the airfare. ;)I was trying to make clear the following comment.

 

The free air is an Ama waterways promotion for November on selected sailing.

 

Is the promo going on NOW for sailings only taking place in November, or is there a promo that Ama runs each November for certain sailings throughout the year? Hard to phrase what I am asking.

 

I do have a cruise specialist, but not a river cruise specialist. Although my big box TA does occasionally send emails for river cruises. The current one is about a Viking river cruise. I have not seen anything on Ama.

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Lois, you misunderstood my question about the airfare. ;)I was trying to make clear the following comment.

 

 

 

Is the promo going on NOW for sailings only taking place in November, or is there a promo that Ama runs each November for certain sailings throughout the year? Hard to phrase what I am asking.

 

I do have a cruise specialist, but not a river cruise specialist. Although my big box TA does occasionally send emails for river cruises. The current one is about a Viking river cruise. I have not seen anything on Ama.

 

Oh....ok...gotcha……..I can't answer the airfare promo question. (I don't know the answer). Sorry!.....I would

still call AMA directly and see what they say.

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just completed danube cruise on amaserena, all went great despite low water levels.

 

great service, same as prior Ama rhine cruise a couple years ago.

 

i'll try to paste in the 'daily cruiser' briefs supplied by ama for those interested in this cruise.

 

highlight of cruise probably would be the night-time cruise around budapest with all buildings illuminated.

 

only downside would be the incredible crowds in just about each port; if done over, would book later in september or earlier in may.

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...yet a few more...

 

Beautiful pictures. You captured the cruise so well. I thought the Captain's duck collection was really cute. Did people go in the pool much on your cruise. It was too cold and wet when we went last year on this ship in April. Glad you had a great trip.

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Hello migelito. We’re taking the same river boat on Danube River Christmas Market cruise in December. This will be very helpful and a heads up for us in our planning and expectations. Another reason we chose Ama was their rep said their ships were designed for lower water levels. Thank you and glad you enjoyed cruise.

 

 

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Migelito -- thanks so much for sharing your photos and the other information. My friends and I are sailing the AmaDante Moselle and Rhine cruise November 2018. Looking forward to using the Ama app to organize photos.

 

For other Ama cruisers -- did you dine at the Chef's Table? How was the experience? I love that it is included in the fare.

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Migelito -- thanks so much for sharing your photos and the other information. My friends and I are sailing the AmaDante Moselle and Rhine cruise November 2018. Looking forward to using the Ama app to organize photos.

 

For other Ama cruisers -- did you dine at the Chef's Table? How was the experience? I love that it is included in the fare.

 

Hi, I went to the Chef's Table (my cruise was back in 2016) and it was a lovely experience and the food was delicious too.:D I sail on my own and joined another couple. We had a really nice evening......if I recall, the portions are smaller BUT you get quite a few courses. I remember it as a really enjoyable dinner and would go again:)

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Beautiful pictures. You captured the cruise so well. I thought the Captain's duck collection was really cute. Did people go in the pool much on your cruise. It was too cold and wet when we went last year on this ship in April. Glad you had a great trip.

 

Temps were record highs on our trip, in the 80's and 90's, so the water was fine and there were folks in the pool.

 

Hi, I went to the Chef's Table (my cruise was back in 2016) and it was a lovely experience and the food was delicious too.:D I sail on my own and joined another couple. We had a really nice evening......if I recall, the portions are smaller BUT you get quite a few courses. I remember it as a really enjoyable dinner and would go again:)

 

 

Indeed, small portions but no one left hungry.

The wife did not touch one part of her entree and the waiter noticed, came over and asked how he could replace it with another selection! you don't see that too often.

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Migelito -- thanks so much for sharing your photos and the other information. My friends and I are sailing the AmaDante Moselle and Rhine cruise November 2018. Looking forward to using the Ama app to organize photos.

 

For other Ama cruisers -- did you dine at the Chef's Table? How was the experience? I love that it is included in the fare.

 

We dined at the Chef's table on our first river cruise in 2017 and this year, we decided not to go. We liked the experience but wouldn't want to do it on each cruise. Our original thought was the Chef prepared the food in front of you, but he put it together in a little area a short distance from the tables. We did enjoy the experience and the wine pairing was lovely.

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Thank you so much Migelito for the daily sheets and the photos. We are on AmaLea Danube in April so our weather will be significantly cooler, for sure! I didn't realize that there were some evening activities off ship, so it was good to see the Vienna choices. Much appreciated :-)

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