AMA Paperwork as Promised

[euro cruiser]

As I was told would happen, the paperwork for our June 3 cruise was sent today via Fedex (per our TA) for arrival tomorrow. I don't understand why they won't send it out sooner, but at least it's on the way and soon we will be too.

[Thucydides]

Did you have to do anything to pre-register before receiving your paperwork apart from booking your trip through your travel agent? We are heading on our first river cruise on AMA in July. Previously, on ocean cruises we have been on we had to fill out all sorts of registration information online after booking our cruise but I have not seen anything similar for AMA. Have a good trip!

[euro cruiser]

No, there was nothing for us to do to this point, everything was handled by the TA.

[abccruiser 2]

last year , we did an AMA cruise, the paperwork came too close to our trip...2-3 weeks ahead, and they did not book airline seats for us till we call them, so we end up seating in the back of the plane. They don't do online registration like larger cruise company.

[euro cruiser]

No, AMA's web presence is woefully lacking. I was not at all comfortable with this one month prior situation, but it's how they operate.

 

I did not take their pre-cruise package in Paris or have them arrange airfare, I don't like to give over that much control or responsibilty to one organization, especially one I have no experience with.

 

A month really is plenty of time for what I need, which is the specific information on boarding at Remich. I need to arrange transfer from Luxembourg City to the boat, but I really don't need a month to take care of that.

[euro cruiser]

The box arrived yesterday. The materials are in a small canvas zippered pouch.

 

The most important element, the voucher, lists embarkation as simply Remich, Esplanade. Somewhere else in the documents I found a map with an arrow pointing to exactly where on that road so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

 

I'm piecing this together by reading through everything and it looks like the folks on the pre-cruise tour in Paris won't get to the ship until 4:30 PM, but it is available for boarding at 3:00 PM. Departure is set for 5 PM. It does say that if you arrive before 3 PM you can drop off your luggage but you cannot board.

 

In one place it says we overnight in Remich the first night, in another it seems to indicate that we leave Remich at 12:30 AM the next morning, so not entirely overnight. Either way it appears that there is lots of leeway for those who arrive late.

 

I'm particularly impressed with the guidebook included - it's quite thorough and represents for me one of the key differences between river and ocean cruising; less about the bells and whistles on board and more about the area you're visiting.

[H2Otstr]

. It does say that if you arrive before 3 PM you can drop off your luggage but you cannot board.

 

 

If you board early you can leave your luggage and head out until check in time. Your luggage will be placed in the lounge area, so you MIGHT want to lock it if there is something valuable in it.

 

At check in time you will sit in the lounge and will be called to check in, at which time the receptionist will take your passport, you will be given your room key and will be escorted to your room by your room attendant. Luggage will be delivered by the crew. Check in is nothing like the ocean cruising process, very easy, quick and organized.

[Redtravel]

AMA sent my docs out a month prior to sailing. They did list the wrong ship and didn't tell us where to find the ship. Once on board, I found many people didn't get docs at all. Experiences were not consistent. Many folks said AMA stood for AMAture cruising. Good luck.

[RachelG]

Received my docs this week, exactly 3 weeks prior to sailing. They seem to be pretty thorough and organized.

[MVPinBoynton]

Two years ago I used the AMA air. I was very impressed with the assistance that was provided to us. They changed a flight that they had originally scheduled to one I preferred that got us in to Budapest earlier. I thought that the service level there as well as providing me with information before the cruise when I called to be very professional, friendly and helpful. I guess that is part of the reason we are doing another one in August.

 

This time I booked my own air because I found a very good rate many months before the cruise. With the oil price increases and closer time till cruise, that rate has now gone up 50%.

[Kellie Poodle]

My TA told me that AMA does not send the packages until 2 weeks before sailing. She did send me a PDF file of much of what would be in the package in regards to itinerary and such.

 

I can't believe how I lucked out with this TA. Great service and a hugely better price than I was able to get dealing with AMA on my own.

[4774Papa]

No, AMA's web presence is woefully lacking. I was not at all comfortable with this one month prior situation, but it's how they operate.

 

I did not take their pre-cruise package in Paris or have them arrange airfare, I don't like to give over that much control or responsibilty to one organization, especially one I have no experience with.

 

A month really is plenty of time for what I need, which is the specific information on boarding at Remich. I need to arrange transfer from Luxembourg City to the boat, but I really don't need a month to take care of that.

We just booked an AMA cruise starting in Paris including a Rhone river cruise and ending in Barcelona for May 2012. Our tour ends the day we embark on the Epic for a week long Med cruise.

We are planning to make our own air reservations. Also, we only booked one night in Paris (been their several times) so we pickup the transfer to Lyon. River cruises are expensive but great.

[Texana]

My TA told me that AMA does not send the packages until 2 weeks before sailing. She did send me a PDF file of much of what would be in the package in regards to itinerary and such.

 

I can't believe how I lucked out with this TA. Great service and a hugely better price than I was able to get dealing with AMA on my own.

 

Hi there -- would you be willing to share..?

texana92 at yahoo

 

Cheers,

Janie

[Kellie Poodle]

Hi there -- would you be willing to share..?

texana92 at yahoo

 

Cheers,

Janie

 

Check your email.

[aboutThat]

Check your email.

 

Hi, Would you mind sending it to me as well? I'm on an AMA cruise in August. Thanks in advance!

moyrani at gmail

[waverly]

I can't believe how I lucked out with this TA. Great service and a hugely better price than I was able to get dealing with AMA on my own.

 

I also found a fantastic cruise specialized TA on cruisecomptedotcom

and got a substancially better price than offered by the cruise line. If one is looking for good prices this is a site to check out.

[Kellie Poodle]

Hi, Would you mind sending it to me as well? I'm on an AMA cruise in August. Thanks in advance!

moyrani at gmail

 

 

Check your in box.

[Kellie Poodle]

I also found a fantastic cruise specialized TA on cruisecomptedotcom

and got a substancially better price than offered by the cruise line. If one is looking for good prices this is a site to check out.

 

 

You do realize that you will have your hand slapped for naming a travel agent on Cruise Critic.;) It's a no no

[euro cruiser]

Sigh. We are getting ready to disembark in Amsterdam after a fabulous cruise. I'll write a more detailed review once I get home, but the short story is that this was a great cruise. The ship is wonderful, well apportioned and meticulously maintained. The crew is excellent as well, all in all a great vacation.