Members Rare Cruise Critic Chris Posted November 13, 2016 Members #1 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Hi everyone. I'm heading out today for a week on AmaSonata. I'll be doing one of their wine theme cruises on the Danube. Let me know if you have any questions while I'm onboard. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phabric Posted November 13, 2016 #2 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Enjoy your cruise. Looking forward to your review/comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwbabe48 Posted November 13, 2016 #3 Share Posted November 13, 2016 We are doing Christmas markets in a few weeks. Our first river cruise. I've always packed for warm, tropical ocean cruises so I'm a little stressed with my packing list. I'll be curious how the wifi is so I can use whatsapp. I'll be looking forward to any comments. Thanks Marcia Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaBag Posted November 14, 2016 #4 Share Posted November 14, 2016 I'm really looking forward to an on board review of AMA. We will be on Prima next June. Have a wonderful time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wednesday Posted November 14, 2016 #5 Share Posted November 14, 2016 I would love it if you posted some photos :) We will be on the Sonata starting Dec 5th for the Christmas markets and I am curious if there are any differences from the Prima that we sailed on in 2014. Would love to also know what the current dining menus look like if they are not special for the wine cruise, what are the standard wines being offered (not special wine cruise wines) Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socalev Posted November 17, 2016 #6 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Hi everyone. I'm heading out today for a week on AmaSonata. I'll be doing one of their wine theme cruises on the Danube. Let me know if you have any questions while I'm onboard. Sent from my iPhone using Forums What makes a wine cruise different from any other river cruise? We are booked on our first river cruise next summer and it is a wine-themed cruise! Not sure what to expect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rare Cruise Critic Chris Posted November 19, 2016 Author Members #7 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Hi! It's been busy, so sorry for delay. Wifi is decent. I wouldn't use it to stream a movie but I've been able to stay in touch with email, texting and social media. The wine cruise has added wine lectures, tastings, wine excursions and more! Very enjoyable. I'm writing up an article on this now and will post next week when it launches. Because there's a guest vineyard onboard, we've been served a lot of those wines. Otherwise house wines are served at lunch and dinner. These vary, but are usually regional. There's also an always available California white and red. The wines by the glass selection at the bar isn't great, although you can buy a bottle at a fairly reasonable rate. You can also bring wine onboard without charge. One night was "share a bottle," where we were encouraged to bring a bottle to the lounge to share. That was fun. All in all, I'm very impressed with AMA, particularly the active tours they offer. Crowd on the wine cruise is also younger than you normally see, with more people in 40s and 50s. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rare Cruise Critic Chris Posted November 19, 2016 Author Members #8 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Some menus Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rare Cruise Critic Chris Posted November 19, 2016 Author Members #9 Share Posted November 19, 2016 House wine served in bar Wine by the bottle list at bar Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wednesday Posted November 19, 2016 #10 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Thanks for the update! Glad you are enjoying the cruise:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socalev Posted November 20, 2016 #11 Share Posted November 20, 2016 The wine cruise has added wine lectures, tastings, wine excursions and more! Very enjoyable. I'm writing up an article on this now and will post next week when it launches. Because there's a guest vineyard onboard, we've been served a lot of those wines. Otherwise house wines are served at lunch and dinner. These vary, but are usually regional. There's also an always available California white and red. The wines by the glass selection at the bar isn't great, although you can buy a bottle at a fairly reasonable rate. You can also bring wine onboard without charge. One night was "share a bottle," where we were encouraged to bring a bottle to the lounge to share. That was fun. All in all, I'm very impressed with AMA, particularly the active tours they offer. Crowd on the wine cruise is also younger than you normally see, with more people in 40s and 50s. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Thanks for the info and especially for the menus. Our cruise in August will be hosted by a California vintner. I'm especially looking forward to hearing comparisons btwn California and French wines. I'm really looking forward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rare Cruise Critic Chris Posted November 22, 2016 Author Members #12 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Some initial impressions. Bottom line is I really liked this wine cruise. Seems like a great partnership for the line, the participating winery and the passengers. Let me know if you have any questions: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7356 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj Posted November 24, 2016 #13 Share Posted November 24, 2016 Thank you. We are doing a wine cruise in 2017 on the Ama Kristina. Off to read the review Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPH814 Posted November 24, 2016 #14 Share Posted November 24, 2016 Are you saying you are in the heart of Europe and the featured wines are from the Willamette Valley? Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted November 24, 2016 #15 Share Posted November 24, 2016 (edited) Are you saying you are in the heart of Europe and the featured wines are from the Willamette Valley? Wine theme cruises bring an expert from a US winery who brings lots of cases of their wine. This is in addition to shore excursions to wineries along the route, and the usual wines that are served with meals. The cruise is marketed through the winery's wine club, so the cruise line picks up a bunch of new customers. Edited November 24, 2016 by Host Jazzbeau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rare Cruise Critic Chris Posted November 25, 2016 Author Members #16 Share Posted November 25, 2016 There were wines from the winery at their events and tastings. The house wines at meals were regional, as were the wines at the wine shore excursions. On the special French dinner, French wines were served. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj Posted November 25, 2016 #17 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Are there laundry rooms on Ama ships? Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzmz89 Posted November 26, 2016 #18 Share Posted November 26, 2016 I do not think there are laundry rooms. The laundry provided by the ship is very reasonable and they did a great job. Clothes returned the next day. No dry cleaning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caviargal Posted November 27, 2016 #19 Share Posted November 27, 2016 Because there's a guest vineyard onboard, we've been served a lot of those wines. Otherwise house wines are served at lunch and dinner. These vary, but are usually regional. There's also an always available California white and red. The wines by the glass selection at the bar isn't great, although you can buy a bottle at a fairly reasonable rate. You can also bring wine onboard without charge. One night was "share a bottle," where we were encouraged to bring a bottle to the lounge to share. That was fun. All in all, I'm very impressed with AMA, particularly the active tours they offer. Crowd on the wine cruise is also younger than you normally see, with more people in 40s and 50s. We were aboard AmaSonata for a wine cruise last month, our 4th wine cruise with AMA and 9th with AMA total. I agree with all you posted and we also find the demographic skews younger on AMA's wine cruises. There were more included excursions than ever and good variety. Wine host was our least favorite ever, but Sonata had a great staff and CM aboard and we really enjoyed our cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipsygirl Posted November 27, 2016 #20 Share Posted November 27, 2016 We have been on two AMA wine cruises, one on the Rhine and the other in the Bordeaux area. Both had US winemaker "hosts" onboard who brought multiple cases of their own wine. One winemaker was from California and the other from Oregon...both had excellent wines that greatly exceeded in quality the included wine that the ship was serving. We made friends with the winemakers at the beginning of each cruise and often enjoyed their hospitality at dinner even when their wines were not officially being served that evening. Ended up joining the wine clubs for both. AMA at the time of both our cruises had a policy posted on their website of charging a corkage fee for wines brought onboard and consumed in the dining room and other public areas. However, the Hotel Manager on the Bordeaux cruise, when asked, told us we could bring wine onboard and consume wherever we liked with no charge. We had not inquired on the Rhine cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted November 27, 2016 #21 Share Posted November 27, 2016 At least as far back as 2013 AMA's published corkage policy was that you could bring your own bottle into the dining room for free -- it was only if you brought it into the lounge that you were expected to pay corkage. I don't know if they actually collected it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCHappilyRetired Posted November 28, 2016 #22 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Are there laundry rooms on Ama ships? Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app We had laundry done twice on our Rhone trip. Very reasonable and done within 24 hours. There is a bag and list in your room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caviargal Posted November 29, 2016 #23 Share Posted November 29, 2016 Are there laundry rooms on Ama ships? Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app There are not but we have always found the prices to be reasonable and the laundry service excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj Posted November 29, 2016 #24 Share Posted November 29, 2016 Thank you. If anyone has a review of their Ama cruise and / or photos I would love to have a look Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakcruiser Posted November 29, 2016 #25 Share Posted November 29, 2016 Thanks for the info and especially for the menus. Our cruise in August will be hosted by a California vintner. I'm especially looking forward to hearing comparisons btwn California and French wines. I'm really looking forward to it. We are sailing on the Wine cruise next August with 2 other couples and can't wait for the adventure! Our first river cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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