AmaWaterways 2017 Sailings

[SCHappilyRetired]

Wild traveler

Looking forward to your posts. We are doing the Legendary Danube April 17th. Will more than likely Leave States, April 15th and then spend 3 days at the end in Budapest. We booked, on the Amadante, 2nd Floor, I think cabin 238.

 

 

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Glad you are staying in Budapest longer. Wish we had! Enjoy!

[Mark2]

We are booked on this 14 night cruise from Rousse, Bulgaria, to Vilshofen, Germany.

The 2nd week is a wine cruise theme, beginning in Budapest (21 August).

 

I have started a separate thread for that cruise, but we may be able to exchange more info here.

 

We have enjoyed many ocean cruises, but are looking forward to this river cruise. We have been to a few of the port cities previously, but most of the destinations will be new to us.

 

We are undecided on our Pre and Post cruise stays, but there is a lot of time to consider our options.

[doktor]

We will arrive in Prague two days prior to the start of our excursion with AMA. Our trip includes 3 days prior to us boarding the ship. We will extend our trip for three days after the sailing in Budapest. We have arranged our transfer and hotels trough AMA. We have booked two private tours in Prague with Private-Prague-Guide.com. In Budapest, we have two tours with Gabriella. This is our first river cruise. We leave the States on April 14th from Orlando. We booked our own air.

 

 

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[Socalev]

I am happy I found this thread. We are booked on AmaLyra on Aug 3rd 2017 - Paris/Normandy. DH's great-grandfather was from Rouen so he is excited about stopping there. We visited Paris a few years ago and toured Normandy. Yes, DH likes to visit places twice...but if we do a river cruise again it will be to see castles!

 

We've never taken a river cruise. We took one short Disney cruise many years ago and three NCL cruises since 2015. Looking forward to hearing about everyone's plans for 2017!

[atlgators]

We are booked on the AMAPrima next week-Amsterdam to Budapest. This will be our second river cruise, the first being with Vantage on the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar. I think we are ready: expected weather checked, wardrobe planned, excursion choices considered, etc. One thing we haven't finalized is transportation from AMS to our hotel. Any suggestions? We are travelling with another couple, and we really do not want to schlep luggage on public transportation. Another question. We are curious about how full the ship might be. Is there any way to find out? Oh, and my DH wants to know if it's true that those of us in aquarium class have to row at night. ;) Thanks!!!

[doktor]

Our transfers are with AMA. We booked their hotels also.

 

 

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[aldukenew]

Would love to chat for the next 14 months with all that are headed on a European River Cruise with AmaWaterways in 2017. Also, would love to hear about past and current AmaWaterways clients for advice and pros and cons.

 

We are sailing on The Legendary Danube April 16th.

 

Thanks,

Sandy

 

We did Tulip Time in April of 2013 on the AmaCerto - fantastic! We sailed the AmaSonata last September on the Romantic Danube - even better! We are booked for AmaLyra's Paris to Normandy in September 2017. We are big, big fans of AmaWaterways!

 

Allyson

[bama4cruisin]

Our transfers are with AMA. We booked their hotels also.

 

 

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We did as well; usually we're more DIY for pre and post cruise, but took their 2 nights in Prague and 3 in Paris. We plan to add 1 or 2 additional nights in Prague and will do that on our own, but at the same hotel. We have received confirmation (as of now) for the Cosmopolitan in Prague. I understand that is scheduled to open in Old Town next month. We were recently offered a choice of either the Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe or the Renaissance Paris Le Parc Trocadero. We chose the Trocadero.

 

What hotels are you booked into?

[doktor]

We are at the Cosmopolitan in Prague also and at the Sofitel Chain Bridge in Budapest. Anxious to hear about the Cosmopolitan!

 

 

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[bama4cruisin]

We are at the Cosmopolitan in Prague also and at the Sofitel Chain Bridge in Budapest. Anxious to hear about the Cosmopolitan!

 

 

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I'll be looking forward to your report on the Cosmopolitan as you're cruise is about 2 months before ours.

[doktor]

I was somewhat disappointed when they moved hotels.

 

 

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[Mark2]

I don’t know if anyone here has any information on this subject.

We called AMA directly and spoke to one of their reps regarding purchasing transfers directly from them – without the corresponding Pre or Post Land Tours. We had read on other boards that this is possible.

 

We were told that:

1. We cannot purchase/join a transfer departing from their Pre-cruise Land hotel and going to the ship, and

2. They have transfers that depart direct from the city airport, but the only way you can purchase/join that transfer is if you fly in to the airport that day.

Therefore if you are in the same city pre-cruise, you cannot purchase a transfer and get on at the hotel, nor could you take a taxi to the airport and get on the transfer there.

 

Not sure why they would reject potential transfers from passengers, or perhaps the agent we spoke to was incorrect?

I don’t know if anyone else has any experience or recommendations in this regard.

Thanks for any input.

[phabric]

I don’t know if anyone here has any information on this subject.

We called AMA directly and spoke to one of their reps regarding purchasing transfers directly from them – without the corresponding Pre or Post Land Tours. We had read on other boards that this is possible.

 

We were told that:

1. We cannot purchase/join a transfer departing from their Pre-cruise Land hotel and going to the ship, and

2. They have transfers that depart direct from the city airport, but the only way you can purchase/join that transfer is if you fly in to the airport that day.

Therefore if you are in the same city pre-cruise, you cannot purchase a transfer and get on at the hotel, nor could you take a taxi to the airport and get on the transfer there.

 

Not sure why they would reject potential transfers from passengers, or perhaps the agent we spoke to was incorrect?

I don’t know if anyone else has any experience or recommendations in this regard.

Thanks for any input.

 

This is a good question to ask on Q&A AmaWaterways - second thread.

[Mark2]

This is a good question to ask on Q&A AmaWaterways - second thread.

 

Thanks for that tip. Hadn't ventured to those boards previously.

I have posted my question there.

I will copy the reply to this board if I get a response.

[caviargal]

I was able to purchase an AMA transfer from Munich Airport to the ship and we are not arriving the same day. We are getting ourselves to the airport to meet the transfer. Ask your travel agent.

Edited August 26, 2016 by caviargal

[doktor]

We also have transfer with AMA in Prague, and Budapest to and from the airports.

 

 

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[Mark2]

caviargal, doktor

 

Thanks for your comments.

That is why I was surprised when the AMA rep said it wasn't possible. I'll post if I get an update from AMA.

P.S. Our TA didn't have any information on this, so we called AMA directly.

[doktor]

I believe many TA's have little info on river cruises. Our TA made transfer arrangements. We have booked pre and post cruise hotels at their hotels. I believe our transfers are private. We arrive two days in advance in Prague and leave three days after in Budafest.

 

 

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[Mark2]

A reply was posted from Kirstin (AMA VP) on a separate board today.

As I had suspected/hoped, the AMA transfers are available (although told otherwise).

Thanks for the helpful tips from those on this board.

 

Here is the reply:

Hi Mark,

 

I apologize for any frustration you may have experienced when calling to inquire about our transfer services. There may have been a slight miscommunication in what you were told so I hope I can help clarify.

 

AmaWaterways "long-haul” transfers can be purchased separately from our land extensions and will transfer guests from our pre-cruise land package hotel to the ship on embarkation day and conversely, from ship to the hotel we’re using for post-cruise land package on disembarkation day. This means that guests booking accommodations independently can meet in the lobby of the hotel at the specific pre-arranged time to catch the transfer to the ship.

 

To utilize our AmaWaterways airport transfers, we do require guests to be flying into/out of the airport on standard start/end itinerary package date.

 

I hope this helps and if you would like to provide your details to res@amawaterways.com, and reference this conversation, one of our reservation agents can call you to discuss your transfer options for your cruise.

 

We can't wait to welcome you onboard next year!

 

-Kristin

[CaroleLee]

I don’t know if anyone here has any information on this subject.

We called AMA directly and spoke to one of their reps regarding purchasing transfers directly from them – without the corresponding Pre or Post Land Tours. We had read on other boards that this is possible.

 

We were told that:

1. We cannot purchase/join a transfer departing from their Pre-cruise Land hotel and going to the ship, and

2. They have transfers that depart direct from the city airport, but the only way you can purchase/join that transfer is if you fly in to the airport that day.

Therefore if you are in the same city pre-cruise, you cannot purchase a transfer and get on at the hotel, nor could you take a taxi to the airport and get on the transfer there.

 

Not sure why they would reject potential transfers from passengers, or perhaps the agent we spoke to was incorrect?

I don’t know if anyone else has any experience or recommendations in this regard.

Thanks for any input.

 

It does get a tad confusing. We purchased the Lyon to Paris transfer(at end of our trip) as we were staying independently in Paris.No problem with the transfer HOWEVER all luggage goes to the (AMA post cruise) hotel. The luggage was trucked from the ship to Paris whilst the pax were on the TGV. This works out fine as the train station etc are crowed and there is no dragging of bags.At the Paris hotel as soon as the post cruise pax were checked in our host (Nick) escorted us to claim our bags then into a taxi.This added some 20 minutes and e9.50 to our trip. No big deal.

Have a great trip

Carole

[Mark2]

It does get a tad confusing. We purchased the Lyon to Paris transfer(at end of our trip) as we were staying independently in Paris.No problem with the transfer HOWEVER all luggage goes to the (AMA post cruise) hotel.

Have a great trip

Carole

 

Carole:

Thanks for that observation / tip.

We'll keep it in mind for planning.

At least it won't be a concern if joining from the hotel to ship pre-cruise :)

 

Mark

[cdrcruisin]

We will be taking our first river cruise next May - Amsterdam to Basel on the AmaSonata. "Excited" is a gross understatement!!

 

A question for the gallery: We are renting a car for a second week driving through Germany & Austria, and we have chosen to collect the car in Loerrach in order to save $500-$600 on the hire. Now all we have to do is to figure out how to get 4 of us, and our baggage, from Basel port to downtown Loerrach. Does anyone have experience with this?

 

Thanks in advance!!

[Mark2]

We will be taking our first river cruise next May - Amsterdam to Basel on the AmaSonata. "Excited" is a gross understatement!!

 

A question for the gallery: We are renting a car for a second week driving through Germany & Austria, and we have chosen to collect the car in Loerrach in order to save $500-$600 on the hire. Now all we have to do is to figure out how to get 4 of us, and our baggage, from Basel port to downtown Loerrach. Does anyone have experience with this?

 

Thanks in advance!!

 

If my search on Google maps is correct, Loerrach, Germany is only 21 min / 18 km (13 miles) away from Basel. +/- a mile or two depending on the pier location.

I would think 1 van or station wagon, or 2 taxis (depending on availability) would be the easiest way for 4 people, and avoid carrying luggage around.

Swiss cabs may well charge in their currency, Swiss francs(CHF), but they might accept € Euros?

 

We lived in Germany just north of Basel for a couple years 25 years ago, and at that time there weren't border access control points - as covered by the Schengen agreement for travel within Europe.

More recently some European countries have re-instituted border access control, so I don't know if that is an issue for taxis and passengers.

 

Happy to hear input from others.

[Host Jazzbeau]

A quick google search shows that there seems to be convenient train service between Basel and Loerrach [<30 minutes, much cheaper than a taxi]. Anybody with actual knowledge of this?

[Valley Girl of VA]

I don’t know if anyone here has any information on this subject.

We called AMA directly and spoke to one of their reps regarding purchasing transfers directly from them – without the corresponding Pre or Post Land Tours. We had read on other boards that this is possible.

 

We were told that:

1. We cannot purchase/join a transfer departing from their Pre-cruise Land hotel and going to the ship, and

2. They have transfers that depart direct from the city airport, but the only way you can purchase/join that transfer is if you fly in to the airport that day.

Therefore if you are in the same city pre-cruise, you cannot purchase a transfer and get on at the hotel, nor could you take a taxi to the airport and get on the transfer there.

 

Not sure why they would reject potential transfers from passengers, or perhaps the agent we spoke to was incorrect?

I don’t know if anyone else has any experience or recommendations in this regard.

Thanks for any input.

 

Last year we did our pre cruise ourselves and was able to get two tickets on AMA's shuttle bus to the ship. I believe it was about $125 and that included the stop and tour of Regensburg. We just needed to get to the hotel where the pre-cruise passengers were staying. I think the travel agent you were talking to doesn't know or they have changed things.

 

The cruise director is vey good at helping people with their transportation post cruise.

Edited September 3, 2016 by Valley Girl of VA