A visit to Regensburg - MS Amadagio impressions

[steamboats]

We drove to Regensburg yesterday to meet up with a friend aboard the MS Amadagio by Amadeus Waterways. This is the last cruise of the season and the Amadagio is returning to the Netherlands for winter lay-up after this New Years Cruise ending in Nuremberg with a Prague Extension. Onboard were also Amadeus Waterways President Rudi Schreiner and Vice President Kristin Karst. We had a long interesting talk together and then Rudi showed us around the boat. Check our www.rivers-rails.com website which will be updated soon with fact sheets and photos. We were able to see cabins and the junior suites on all decks but as all cabins were occupied we weren´t able to make any photos (I didn´t want personal belongings of a passenger in a photo). We also saw the Avalon Poetry and the Viking Danube which both were on a downriver cruise.

 

The high and spacious lobby is featuring a Walter van Oel painting behind the open reception desk. To the right of the staircase you find the glass

enclosed elevator connecting the restaurant level and cabins on the Cello Deck with the lobby level and cabins on the Violin Deck. A gift shop is located left of the reception desk. The lobby also features a 24 hour coffee station. Forward of the lobby there the Main Lounge with huge panorama windows, a piano and dance floor and a bar. At the bow you also find a couple of outside tables and chairs (smoking is allowed there). Facing the stern you reach the cabins on the Violin Deck going up a couple of stairs (the forward area and the cabin area are split level). At the end of the stairs there´s a small sitting area to the left and two book cases with books, jigsaw puzzles and board games. The first two cabins on both sides of the Violin Deck are the Junior Suites. The Junior Suites are very spacy featuring a floor to ceiling mirror which can be folded out, built in closets, a bathroom with a glass enclosed shower and a tub, a comfortable sitting area, a writing desk which also holds the flat screen TV and entertainment system. All other cabins are identical featuring built in closets, a small writing desk and chair with the flat screen TV and entertainment system, a bathroom with glass enlosed shower. Cabins on the Violin and Cello Deck feature French balconies with room high doors which can be opened (you can´t step outside). Cabins on the Piano Deck do have large viewing windows which can´t be opened (you´re shortly above the waterline). At the stern of the Violin Deck there´s the cosy

Adagio Lounge which is also the place for those wanting to connect via WiFi to the internet. The lounge does feature a full service bar. In front of the lounge there´s the fitness center to the left including a sauna and the beauty salon to the right. A massage is available in cabin 332. From the lobby one level down you reach the cabins on the Cello Deck. There´s also a public restroom at the end of the staircase to the left. Another level down there´s the restaurant. All meals are one open seating. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style. Dinner is 4 courses (appetizer, soup, entrée, dessert). A cheese tray and fruits are available. The restaurant is devided in "sections" with about 3 to 4 tables in each section. The half room high milk glass panels dividing the entire room into sections makes it a bit more cosy. At the restaurant entrance there´s a nicely decorated table displaying the wines of the night and the menue.

 

We were able to join our friend for dinner. Choice of the night was

 

Appetizers

Thinly Sliced Lamb Loin on Kenya Bean Salad

Fresh Pear Cocktail drizzled with "Williams Christ"

Crispy Winter Lettuce presented with Blue Cheese Dressing

 

Soups

Consommé of Cherry Tomatoes with Pistachio Dumplings

Chilled Banana Soup

 

Entrées

Broiled Fillet of Tilapia with Wasabi-Hollandaise Sauce, Sautéed Vegetables and Sepia Noodles

Whole Roasted Rib Eye with Glazed Balsamic Shallots, Red Wine Jus, Green Beans and Stuffed Potatoe

Farfalle Pasta with Creamy Sauce, Sun Dried Tomato and Fresh Parmesan Cheese

 

Dessert

Egg Nogg Souffé with Chocolate Sauce

Ice Cup "Amadagio"

 

Fresh Fruits and Selection of International Cheese

 

Wines

Pinot Grigio, Hungary, 2004 (white)

Der Trockene, Germany, 2005 (red)

 

Standing Order

Ceasar Salad, Cole Slaw, French Fries, Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Scandinavian Salmon Steak

 

The menue is featuring a chef´s recommendation. I opted for the Thinly Sliced Lamb Loin, the Farfalle Pasta and the Egg Nogg Soufflé (I´m no soup person). All food was nicely decorated and good. Servings weren´t large but absolutely perfect for a several course dinner. It was no problem to get another appetizer instead of the soup or a second entrée. No reason to starve! We also saw cookies and sandwiches in the afternoon (and DD hooked on the cookies).

 

I was higly impressed by the unique entertainment and infotainment system of the Amadagio. The flat screen TV is not only featuring numerous English speaking TV channels (plus a couple of German ones, all depending on the sattelite connection). You can also choose out of a huge selection of music. For an extra fee you can also order movies at the reception desk (movies on demand) which are played whenever you want. A bow camera is also part of this entertainment system. For those who didn´t bring their own laptop computer with WiFi card (WiFi available in the Adagio lounge, extra fees) a small (not full size) keyboard is attached to the TV for internet access from your cabin (extra fee).

 

It was a very interesting visit and we were highly impressed by the Amadagio. In 2007 the Symphony will be replaced by the Amalegro which is a twin of the Amadagio but decorations will vary of course.

 

Happy New Year!

 

steamboats

[npphotog]

Hi - My favorite spot in Regensburg is the "Wursthaus". Great beer and wursts, sitting outside watching the people. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Great place. Willard

[steamboats]

Hi Willard,

 

Guess where we had lunch :D !

 

http://www.wurstkuchl.de/

 

The cheapest way to try the sausages is to get three in a roll (EUR 1.90) for take away but then you miss the great home made sauerkraut and the sweet mustard (I learned something new as in Munich sweet mustard is only for the white sausages. With Bratwurst you usually eat hot mustard.). The Wurstkuchl itself is just a tiny building with some outside tables and maybe 2 or 3 inside. But there´s a restaurant in the historic Salzstadl (the hughe building to the right next to the stone bridge) which belongs to the Wurstkuchl and also serves the famous Bratwurst with Sauerkraut. In the second level (entrance up at the bridgle level) there´s also a nice cafe serving hughe Torte (their specialty is a dark beer Torte). Never saw such big pieces.

 

For those who are missing a description of the Sun Deck. Yes, there is one :) , but we haven´t been up (bar, jacuzzi, walking trak, big chess, shuffleboard, sunbeds). Sorry, too cold!

 

steamboats

[amd1234]

Steamboat, Thanks for the informative review on the Amadagio. We are taking the Amalegro the end of May first week in June. The Legendary Danube Prague to Budapest. How about the weather this time of year can it be cool? We didn't want the summer due to the heat and chose this time of year and hopefully it will be ok. I assume the Amalegro will be the same design and size as the Amadagio. So I hope you were impressed. We are so looking forward to this trip. Also we are in our late fifties and what is the average age of the passengers.. Thanks again I enjoy all your input on these threads.

[steamboats]

amd1234,

 

The Amalegro will be an identical twin of the Amadagio. The only difference might be the interior design. But cabins, public space is all identical. That´s what we were told by the president of Amadeus Waterways. He´s an architect and did influence the interior design of the Amadagio and will so with the Amalegro of course.

 

The group on this boat was quite mixed. There were two Japanese kids and their parents (the boy was 9 years old, his sister younger). I saw a couple of passengers in their 20ies, 40ies but the main group was 50ies and up. To be true I was surprised to see a good amount of younger passengers.

 

Weather is unpredictable at this time of the year. Last year we had snow starting in early November which didn´t melt away until April. This year we had some snowflakes in early November and it´s much too warm right now. It had snowed a bit when we came to Regensburg but it was just enough to cover the landscape like iceing sugar. But I guess it´s gone already.

 

steamboats

[steamboats]

amd1234,

 

The crowd was mixed. I was really surprised to see a lot of younger passenger (40- -), maybe 1/3. The rest was more 50+ up to 80ies. A Japanese family was travelling with their two kids, a 9 year old boy and his younger sisters who surprised the passengers with their great piano skills.

 

The Amalegro will be an identical twin of the Amadagio (technically, layout, cabins and public space). Sure the interior design might differ. The President of Amadeus Waterways is an architect by profession and he influenced the design of the Amadagio and will do the same with the Amalegro (buying art work for decoration and more).

 

Weather at this time of the year is really unpredictable. Last year we had snow starting in early November until April (and not melting away inbetween). This year we had some snowflakes on day in November and that´s it so far. It´s far too warm for this time of the year. You should expect temps in the 30ies and below. A warm coat, scarf, gloves and winter boots are definitely a must.

 

steamboats

[amd1234]

Steamboats, Thanks for your reply.