We use cookies to analyse our traffic, enhance our websites functionality and performance and provide a better experience for our users. As part of a history-making partnership, Ancestry and AmaWaterways are combining our shared passions for family, heritage and travel to offer guests the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to uncover their family history while cruising along Europes legendary rivers. (Beer and wine are included with lunch and dinner, and sparkling wine with breakfastotherwise, alcohol is la carte. Select sailings on the Danube, Rhine, Douro, Seine and Garonne include longer bike rides to -- and even between -- ports. With a variety of itineraries across the globe, they have a selection of amazing river cruises to choose from. Your email address will not be published. Any additional drinks, such as premium alcoholic beverages, can be ordered at any time and added to your onboard account. On a moving ship? This is my second time booking a trip with Cheryl Wilson. What's Included in Your AMAWaterways River Cruise. The bed and pillows were of nice quality and comfortable. [8], To attract families with younger children, AmaWaterways partnered with Adventures by Disney to create Disney-themed cruises that feature the Christmas markets in cities on the Danube and Rhine rivers, among others. According to Wendy Perrin, one of the most noted travel experts in the industry, some of these similarities include: Viking ships all feature elevators whereas AmaWaterways only has elevators on the Europe ships. While most river cruise lines, including Viking, can accommodate dietary restrictions, AmaWaterways stands out because of its clear labeling of all foods, identifying those that are gluten-free, sugar-free, low-calorie or include common allergens, such as nuts or soy. All excursions are included for guests on the AmaSiena, and while theres a range for all types of travelers, Amawaterways as a company offers more active excursions than its competitors. The building design is classy and quality. Private tours are available to be booked if you are looking to do something away from the groups. Theyve also expanded into ocean cruises as well. As with most river cruises, onboard activities are limited, as the focus is on excursions. We also encourage you to visit some of the local coffee shops ashore. We also offer immersive culinary-themed Special Interest Tours such as cooking demonstrations and tastings. I think we have it all covered there, River Cruising is a totally different experience to Ocean Cruising, yet is equally spectacular. Sandals Cabana Rental: All You Need to Know 2023, Is Santorini Worth It? Its difficult to feel hungry on The AmaMagna there are always snack available somewhere on the ship. Both sail the Nile and Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia. The line offers luxurious touches at mid-level prices, featuring fantastic service and modern amenities that keep passengers comfortable as they sail rivers in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Heres what you need to know. In the river cruise world, its the term for amenities that are already part of your fare. Several of AmaWaterways ships feature cabins for single travelers. If you are unsure as to what you would like to do, the company is also available to fully plan your trip, leaving you with a relaxing experience packed with potential. However, these lines have tailored their offerings, making them more inclusive for North Americans while keeping pricing a la carte for Europeans. We are booked on AMA and are considering the Xmas Market 2-day post-cruise extension in Prague in December. Both offer exceptional dining, great entertainment and activities, and a luxurious experience. My Final Thoughts On Our AmaWaterways River Cruise? Your Cruise Manager will explain more when applicable. Viking River Cruises and AmaWaterways include at least one shore excursion in every port you visit. How To Cope With Cruising's Pause? The onboard entertainment strives to immerse you in local culture during your trip, with live music, storytellers, and dancers who live and work in the destinations the ships travel to. For honeymoons or romantic getaways, Uniworld has some adult-only cruises, making it a great choice for a relaxing and romantic trip. This allows you to continue to enjoy local experiences even when youre not on land. Depending on the itinerary, they range from around $2000 per person to $5000 per person or more. "I'm Kristin Karst, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways and I'm passionate about river cruising. [2] The company also caters to bicyclists, golfers,[4] and other active passengers. Our exclusive Concierge Golf Programme includes 7 nights onboard one of the highest rated ships in Europe, complete with award winning cuisine, a choice of excursions in every port and our unique Twin Balconies, as well as up to 5 rounds of golf at some of the leading championship courses on the continent. While some other major river cruise lines have eliminated their onboard bikes or charge a fee to rent them ashore, AmaWaterways for maintains a fleet of bikes on every European vessel. Sip and Sail Cocktail Hours takes place for an hour before dinner every evening. That said, no matter which cruise line you choose to travel with, its safe to say youll never be bored! Booking your first river cruise? You May Like: What Cruise Lines Go Out Of Mobile Al. Read on for a comparison of AmaWaterways vs. Uniworld, including their ships, itineraries, activities and entertainment, price range, and more, so that you can decide which river cruise line is best for you. Sparkling wine with breakfast, local wine and beers at lunch and dinner, with the Sip and Sail Hour held before dinner every night. Fewer guests onboard means less packed amenities and tours. [8] AmaWaterways is reportedly the only river cruise line to belong to the gourmet chain La Chane des Rtisseurs. She came to us with the best options and negotiated so many things to accommodate our large group. The decor was very impressive but also authentic Mayan feel. These 210-square-foot cabins offer guests AmaSienas signature double balconies; one true balcony with two chairs and a small table and a French balcony right beside it. In some destinations, guests can choose between different towns that are usually a 30- to 45-minute bus ride away from the dock. Heres what else you can expect from each room, from least expensive to most. Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever Soulful Epicurean Experience on the Rhne River in 2023, we are delighted to announce two new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2024. FYI: My wife and now have been to 55 countries together as a couple! Uniworld has 17 ships in its fleet. Secrets Akumal was the perfect combination of everything we love. In addition, should it happen to rain during your river cruise, we have umbrellas available for you to use onshore. Let us know your experience in the comment section below! Viking also has six smaller "Baby Longships," which sail the Douro River in Portugal and the Elbe River in France, which runs through Germany and the Czech Republic. There is more than enough to keep you entertained while onboard, especially since on river cruises you typically spend much of your time at various destinations. During our complimentary onboard wellness activities, yoga mats and other equipment such as resistance bands will be available and will be thoroughly cleaned after each use. ", "Vacationing With Kids? On Uniworld ships, you will enjoy a 5-star all-inclusive experience, inclusive of fine wines, premium spirits, and every meal on board, as well as onshore excursions, access to the fitness center and wellness classes, all gratuities, and airport transfers. If you dont plan on spending much time in your room, these categories will do just fine, but be forewarnedpart of the fun of the Rhine itineraries is sitting outside watching the castles and locks go by. Decor is punctuated by Scandinavian art (paintings of old Norwegian sailing vessels, for example). Born in Austria, Schreiner always dreamed about building a larger river cruise vessel to sail the Danube, and now thats become a reality. Its very difficult to compare the two as they both shine for very different reason. I will book all future trips with only her. AmaWaterways is known as an upscale river cruise line with 21 custom-designed ships. With an innovative product and rapidly-growing fleet of custom-designed ships, the line enjoys a reputation as the leader in river cruising. After all, both look pretty similar from the outside, both cater (and market) to North American passengers and both sail on virtually all of the world's major rivers -- they even include many of the same ports. But there arent many activities for children, so younger kids might find the experience a little dry. This includes dinner at The Chefs Table specialty restaurant, all-day tapas, afternoon tea delights and more. Theyre all exterior cabins decorated in the ships signature red-and-gray color palette, equipped with hairdryers, safes, telephones, TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, a desk and chair, and a (somewhat cramped) en-suite bathroom with a shower. [2] Roughly twice as wide as other cruise ships on the Danube,[12] the AmaMagna is meant to offer passengers more roomy accommodations and more dining options than would be possible on a narrower river cruise ship.[4]. Viking and Ama both include enrichment programs during their sailings, and the offerings are comparable. As Uniworld places emphasis on its guided tours, this cruise line is the more popular choice for those who like to stay active and explore. AmaWaterways' Seven River Journey Through Europe is scheduled to set sail on June 1, 2023, with prices starting at $25,999 per passenger. Most if not all of the river cruises along the Danube include an optional Mozart concert in Vienna. What kind of equipment is available inside your fitness rooms? Final payment is due 90 days before the cruise. Theres always the lounge or the Sun Deck, though. Shore excursions are a major component of the river cruise appeal. Then, there are the ships in Egypt and China, Vietnam, which the line either owns or charters. On board AmaWaterways, you will find cabins with a classy, sleek look and contemporary design. (Probably Overrated). The answer is that both cruise lines are great, but they do have differences. Suite guests receive a complimentary stocked mini-bar . We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Rhne with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements. Have you cruised with Uniworld or AmaWaterways? The cruise begins in Budapest, Hungary, where you board the ship in the afternoon and start sailing after dark, when all the buildings and bridges along the Danube are illuminated. Thank you! Began as a tour group operating in Europe. Deck One, the Piano Deck, has a few staterooms, plus the massage room, salon, and a fitness center. As a California-headquartered cruise line, AmaWaterways typically attracts a North American clientele, which holds for the AmaSienas passengers. Despite being different its equally wonderful. Within Europe, Viking offers cruises to a number of different countries, including France, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Romania and Portugal. If youre looking for honeymoon cruise options, you may want to check out our article 10 Best Honeymoon Cruises and Cruise Lines. On board AmaWaterways, however, you will find their in-house pianist and a variety of unique performances and shows throughout your trip. Personalized guest service that is beyond anything you could imagine. Also Check: Are Regent Cruises Worth The Money. AmaWaterways is now offering a comprehensive package with a 7-night river cruise in a French balcony stateroom, round-trip airfare, transfers, a pre- or post-cruise land package, port charges and Travel Waiver Plus all included with a starting price of US$5,499 per person. 02 Mar 2023 01:57:04 The next deck is the Cello Deck, home to staterooms and the main restaurant, followed by the Violin deck, with more staterooms, reception, the lounge, a gift shop, and the Chefs Table restaurant. Which meals and beverages are included in my river cruise fare? .css-hghiur{transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-fast);transition-timing-function:var(--chakra-transition-easing-ease-out);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;font-weight:var(--chakra-fontWeights-medium);border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;cursor:pointer;color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);border-color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);}.css-hghiur:focus-visible,.css-hghiur[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-hghiur:hover,.css-hghiur[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;}AmaWaterways and Viking are similarly priced across all cabin categories, from the lowest on up to the suites, and both offer comparable inclusions. Viking Cruises started with a fleet of four ships from Russia and has expanded to operating a fleet of more than 60 vessels on three continents. We invite our loyal past guests to join us once again on these special Loyalty Cruises, offering unique experiences
Having cruised on an AmaWaterways River Cruise along the Danube River the differences between ocean and river cruising were surprising. Bring a raincoat and warm sweater for chilly evenings, especially in the spring and fall, and warmer clothing and a heavy coat for winter cruises. The suites are extremely spacious great for passengers who want larger accommodations, adds Steinman, noting that even lower deck cabins are 200 plus square feet. Uniworld vs. AmaWaterways: What You Should Know 2023, 10 Best Honeymoon Cruises and Cruise Lines. Lisa Long, owner of Luxury Vacations LLC, an independent travel agency in the Avoya Network, Marietta, GA, sells many river cruises and from her perspective, I would classify AmaWaterways as a luxury river cruise experience with a warm and friendly staff and excellent food. Note that the Sun Deck is only accessible via stairs, not the elevators. Our Programme takes you straight from your ship to the course and back making your golfing experience seamless Golf and River Cruise truly is a marriage made in heaven. An exception to this is Emerald Waterways (also known as Evergreen in Australia), which is owned by the same tour company as Scenic. Of course there are obvious differences, however today I want to talk about whats included in your river cruise fare, because people of ask us if AmaWaterways is all inclusive. Complimentary coffee and teas served throughout the day, along with bottled water. Christmas Markets Cruise with Samantha Brown. Expanded to North America and now has itineraries for many ports around the globe. These small staterooms on the Cello and Violin decks have French balconiesthat is, the floor-to-ceiling window-door slides open entirely. Although most river cruise lines promote themselves as all-inclusive the meaning of all-inclusive tends to vary by operator by that, I mean some river cruise lines are in fact more inclusive than others! Alcohol (outside of meals and cocktail hour). Fully-inclusive river cruises Fully inclusive means that selected drinks such as beer and wine are included at meal times only. The line has also recently launched its first Mississippi. You can also check the cruise lines website for special offers and discounts. AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner . You will find free high speed WiFi in your cabin and throughout the ship. Ultimately though, it really comes down to what appeals to you and where you want to travel. If cancellation is made 121 days or more from the sailing 50 percent of the deposit is returned and is then on a sliding scale up until the time of departure. When it comes to entertainment onboard, AmaWaterways seems to perform a little better. River cruising is a relaxing, immersive and thoroughly enjoyable form of travel where you can enjoy ever-changing scenery along the banks of waterways such as the Danube, Rhine, Seine, Douro, Volga and Yangtze. How Reassuring are New Cruise Cancellation Policies Really? Both cruise lines are all-inclusive and provide excellent service, meaning that no matter which one you choose, it is guaranteed to be worth the money. Shows include acts from various destinations on the itinerary and help bring the cultural experience enjoyed through the day on board for the evening. Debuting in 2023 for the first time ever, our unforgettable Seven River Journeys will forever mark their place in history as the longest and most epic river cruises. What's included with your AMAWaterways Cruise? All meals are included in your fare. All of the tours are very interactive and high-end, offering you more than a regular tour ever could.