In August, four Explorateur Travel advisors set sail on a Rhine River cruise with AMA Waterways. The cruise began in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and ended in Basel, Switzerland, with stops in Germany and France along the way! We had an amazing time exploring new towns and villages, learning a bit of history, and enjoying the beautiful sights along the river during this week-long trip!
About AMA
AMA Waterways is the leading luxury river cruise provider, with key pillars of focus that make them stand out at the highest level. AMA Waterways operates vessels across the globe, including Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and more! Their most popular itineraries include the annual Christmas markets in Europe and their wine-focused cruises through various regions around the world.
Reasons to River Cruise
A river cruise offers a different way to experience new cities and cultures.
- BEAUTIFUL SCENERY – River cruises offer unparalleled acces to beautiful landscapes and historic towns along the riverbanks. You’ll enjoy constantly changing views right from your cabin or deck, often without the need to travel far from major cities.
2. RELAXED TRAVEL-With fewer passengers and a slower pace, river cruises offer a calm and comfortable experience. The smaller vessels can dock in the heart of cities and towns, allowing for easy exploration without the hassle of unpacking and repacking your bags again and again.
3. CULTURAL EXPERIENCES-River cruises often include shore excursions that allow you to explore local culture, history, and cuisine. You can visit famous landmarks, engage in local traditions, and even participate in guided tours led by knowledgeable locals.
4. ALL INCLUSIVE CONVENIENCE-This river cruise was all-inclusive, covering meals, drinks at lunch and dinner, plus excursions, and even tips. This means you can relax and enjoy your vacation without worrying about additional costs or planning every detail.
5. UNIQUE DESTINATIONS-River cruises take you to places that are often inaccessible by larger ships or other forms of travel. Whether it’s the quaint villages of the Danube, the historical towns along the Rhine, or the exotic landscapes of the Mekong, river cruises offer unique experiences that are off the beaten path.
What We Loved
Many clients ask if there’s a chance of motion sickness on river cruises, and we’re happy to report—NO! It never felt like we were on a ship; the rivers are calm and lovely.
We loved the amount of independent time off the boat in each city. After the included excursions, we usually had free time to shop or grab a bite to eat, soaking in the local flair.
Speaking of included excursions, AMA offered daily options for everyone, at every activity level. They also provided daily workouts and stretching sessions aboard the ship to enjoy while sailing!
Many of these towns don’t offer luxury accommodations for travelers, or they’re so quaint that staying more than a few hours isn’t necessary. On a river cruise, you get to experience unique villages and cities that might not be part of a typical itinerary and are harder to reach otherwise!
We can’t forget to mention the culinary experiences—both food and wine were absolutely stellar! The multi-course meals for lunch and dinner were amazing, with daily changing menus reflecting the local cuisine at each port. The staff handled allergies and dietary restrictions exceptionally well, too. The service was impeccable, and if you’re looking for a stress-free, relaxing way to experience new destinations, this is it!
