AmaWaterways Captivating Rhine Cruise
Staterooms - This was my room on board for the duration of the cruise. There are three decks where you can find staterooms – they range from the entry level, compact ones with fixed windows on the Piano Deck (the lowest), to lavish twin-balcony staterooms with both a French balcony and an outside balcony allowing you to enjoy panoramic views and plenty of fresh air on the Cello Deck (the middle). And on the Violin Deck (the highest), you can find the beautiful suites, 350 sq ft of space, with a spacious lounge /sitting area as well as double balconies.
Communal Areas - Being a small ship, with a maximum capacity of 156 passengers, there always felt like there was space and places to go and sit. One of the most popular areas is the Main Lounge & Bar. You can sit here and enjoy the peace and quiet during the day if you prefer to be inside (due to the weather). Later in the evening there is live music and a programme of entertainment before and after dinner. There’s an Observation Lounge and Al Fresco Terrace at the very front of the ship. At the back is The Chef’s Table speciality restaurant with panoramic windows for a great view of the river. Higher up there is the Sun Deck with Walking Track and Heated Pool. There’s also plenty of seating areas, both under cover (you might need to shade yourself from the sun, or the rain!) or out in the open affording fabulous views of the scenery.
Food & Drink - I enjoyed lots of delicious food whilst I was on board AmaLucia cruising along the Rhine. All meals are served in the Main Restaurant (plus there’s tapas available in the Main Lounge). At breakfast some items are buffet style where you can help yourself, plus there is a good selection of dishes made to order (for example omelettes, avocado on toast etc). Lunch started with a selection of four appetizers and then you could choose a salad, soup, main and dessert. You could have all or just one or two of the courses, depending on appetite. It’s similar at dinner with a full menu on offer.
I loved that the food changed depending on where we were, so once in Germany we had “German Day” with things such as spätzle and schnitzel on the menu. AmaWaterways source their food and drinks locally along the route of the cruise which is a fantastic way to support local businesses as well as being more sustainable with minimal ‘food miles’.
“Sip and Sail” is a cocktail hour in the Lounge prior to dinner. There’s a cocktail (and mocktail) of the day and it’s a lovely way to start the evening, to relax, to chat to your travelling companions(s) and to meet and get to know fellow guests.
Every guest also has the opportunity to dine in The Chef’s Table, a speciality restaurant, on one evening during the cruise. My group enjoyed this fabulous experience on Friday night. We all enjoyed a delicious 7-course tasting menu with accompanied wines. The focus is very much on the food, hence the name – this is not a Captain’s Table or a Captain’s Restaurant! I would highly recommend this experience.
Staff - All the staff on board AmaLucia were brilliant. They were always friendly and helpful and seemed to genuinely enjoy their job. There were daily briefings from The Cruise Manager so we always knew what was happening as well as the plans for the following day. Overall, the level of service was exceptional.
Excursions / Destinations - One of the big advantages of a cruise is being able to visit lots of different destinations while only having to unpack once! All excursions are included with AmaWaterways and you can pre-book the ones you want to go on using the app before you board.
In Amsterdam we enjoyed a canal cruise. It was a very relaxed way to see the sights and our guide told us about the history of the city, the reasons behind the distinctive architecture and how and why the river and canal system was built.
After departing Amsterdam we stopped at Dusseldorf. I chose to go on an excursion to the city of Cologne, about an hour away. Cologne Cathedral is the largest Gothic church in northern Europe and features immense twin towers that stand 515 feet (157 metres) tall. It dominates the city and is very imposing. I enjoyed a guided walking tour, learning about the history of the city, then had the opportunity to visit the cathedral and mooch around the surrounding area (including sampling a local beer).
From Dusseldorf we sailed south along the Rhine and the next stop was Rüdesheim am Rhein. This small town is located in one of the most beautiful wine regions in Germany and is well known for its winemaking. I enjoyed mooching around the half-timbered buildings of the old town, down the small lanes lined with shops, taverns and restaurants. One of the advantages of being on a river cruise is being able to dock right in the middle of towns and cities. My AmaWaterways ship, the AmaLucia, was only a 5-10 walk from the old town which was perfect.
The morning after we left Rüdesheim am Rhine we sailed along the Upper Middle Rhine Valley which is home to the highest concentration of castles in Germany. This compact region has 40 castles and fortresses and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They were erected over a period of around 1,000 years but abandonment and later the wars of the 17th century left most as picturesque ruins. We had a map of all the castles along the river, and despite it being really windy and cold, I spent most of the morning on the top deck looking out for the castles, as well as small settlements/towns and surrounding views.
Upon arrival into Ludwigshafen, myself and the other travel agents, departed the ship to take the train to Frankfurt to fly home. Another group of agents were welcomed on board and enjoyed the cruise for the final three nights of its journey to Basel in Switzerland.
If you’re thinking about a river cruise and would like to know more, please get in touch and I will happily share my knowledge and tips. And, more importantly, I will help to find the cruise that’s right for you!
