AmaWaterway's Europe's Rivers & Castles Ports

Love that there are three bike tours on this itinerary! I figured we'd try AMA at some point and those tours make this a good trip to consider.

Hi, I'm thinking of booking AmaWaterway's Europe's Rivers & Castles Itinerary for my first river cruise (ports listed below) and wanted some feedback on the Main river ports (bolded) on the itinerary (also if you've done this particular cruise, comments on that would be wonderful).

 

How close to town does the ship dock?

 

What did you like/dislike about the port?

 

Thank you very much! Itinerary (doing cruise only):

 

Nuremberg

Bamberg

Schweinfurt

Kitzingen

Würzburg

Wertheim

Mainz

Rüdesheim

Koblenz

Cochem

Zell

Trier

Luxembourg

Check this link : http://www.thepreismans.com/amalegro.htm - Great information.

DT

We're on the first cruise for this itinerary, 5/19. We are not doing Prague or Paris, but spending some time in Munich, Colmar and Freiburg.

Can't wait to hear about your trip!! Any helpful info would be appreciated!!

Can't wait to hear about your trip!! Any helpful info would be appreciated!!

Hi! Just got back home yesterday. Cruise was awesome! The itinerary was great. We did the Nuremberg to Luxembourg direction and didn't do the land portion Paris and Prague. Favorites were the Residenz Palace tour at Würzburg, Reichsburg Castle tour in Cochem, the castles on the Rhine and scenic sailing on both the Main and Mosel (lots of vineyards and birds). Not too many bus days. We bused to Bamberg, Würzburg and Trier (we didn't do Rothenburg or Heidelberg which were buses as well). All other ports were walk on/off the ship, which was very nice. Had lovely whether. Only rained a little in two ports (Schweinfurt and Zell) and poured in Trier when we were doing the bus part of the tour, but stopped when we did the walking portion. Some ports had a slow and fast walking tour, but most were just regular walking, split into a few groups. Tour size probably ranged from 20-35, depending on the port and how many different groups there was. Had free time in all ports and we felt it was enough for our needs (we don't shop too much and the walking tours usually covered all the main sights).

Enjoyed the food, better than ocean cruises, though selection was less (to be expected as the kitchen size is very small). Breakfast had a few items that could be ordered off the menu (same every day), rest was on the buffet (varied items). Loved the oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins from the menu and the different smoothies each day from the buffet. My husband enjoyed the made to order omelets at the station at the buffet. For lunch, main course and soup was off the menu (different every day, though some any time items), rest (salad, appetizers, dessert off the buffet). Often there was ice cream with 3 choices (mostly different every time) served after lunch in the dining room with toppings, except one day there was an ice cream party with 6 choices and lots of topping in the lounge. One day had a meal between breakfast and lunch (forgot the name, a traditional German meal) in the lounge with sausages. There was also afternoon tea and other light breakfast and light lunch in the lounge. Dinner had a meat, fish and vegetarian main item choice along with appetizer, soup, salad and dessert. We ate in the alternative restaurant one night (menu is the same each night), very nice with views off the aft of the boat (had salmon or lamb choice for main course, everyone thing else, appetizer, soup, dessert, everyone got the same).

Loved the low number of passengers (about 130 on our cruise), never felt crowded. Could always find a spot in the lounge except the evening in Zell when there was a performance from some kids dressed as cats as their families were on board and we were late so we stood and watched. The top deck was closed on the Main river as there were too many bridges locks (lots and lots and lots of locks), but there is a part of the deck in front of the bridge that is sunken and was open, so we sat up there on very comfortable wicker chairs/couches one day for lovely scenic cruising. Went under a railway bridge that was so low we had to duck when sitting down or we'd hit our heads (bridge was lowered all the way), giving us a bit of excitement there. We sat on the deck three days (one on the Main, the Rhine castle viewing and one on the Mosel), loved it. The other days the itinerary was pretty full to spend time up there. Had a lower level cabin, aquarium class, with two half windows, which was fine for us.

We had three nights of entertainment on the ship while sailing: glass blower, a music group we didn't go to, and La Strada, which was fantastic. Two evenings after dinner we were in port: Koblenz for a walking tour by the cruise director and Zell for a wine tasting. Cruise director was awesome! We came on board just at 3pm when there was few guests (the guests from Prague hadn't arrived yet) and she was there to greet us and we talked with her a little. She remembered our names the rest of the trip.

Please let me know if you want to know any information about our trip. It was wonderful, looking forward to another one in the future.

Sounds like a great trip! Did you take any of the bicycle tours?

Sounds like a great trip! Did you take any of the bicycle tours?

No, we're not that active :) Here's the descriptions from our Daily Cruisers:

Wertheim:

9am Guided Bike Ride Along the Main River departs. Bring water with you and a little money won't hurt! 29 KM = 18 Miles!! Have Fun! Return to Ship at Noon.

Cochem:

9am Guided Bike Tour of Cochem departs. Bring water with you. 36 KM = 22 miles.

Trier:

2:30pm Guided Bike Tour of Trier departs. Bring water with you! 25 KM = 15 miles. Have Fun!

Btw, there was also a hike for those more active as well in Heidelberg called the Philosopher's Hike (which we didn't do).

Thank you so much for the great review. Can't wait til it's our turn!! 22 miles scares me a bit but I guess I'll try the first one see how I do!

Interesting entertainment in Zell, be glad you were not in Krov (umlaut the "o"). :D

No, we're not that active :) Here's the descriptions from our Daily Cruisers:

 

Wertheim:

9am Guided Bike Ride Along the Main River departs. Bring water with you and a little money won't hurt! 29 KM = 18 Miles!! Have Fun! Return to Ship at Noon.

 

Cochem:

9am Guided Bike Tour of Cochem departs. Bring water with you. 36 KM = 22 miles.

 

Trier:

2:30pm Guided Bike Tour of Trier departs. Bring water with you! 25 KM = 15 miles. Have Fun!

 

Btw, there was also a hike for those more active as well in Heidelberg called the Philosopher's Hike (which we didn't do).

Those sound great... thank you for the information!

Interesting entertainment in Zell, be glad you were not in Krov (umlaut the "o"). :D

LOL! A little inside joke here. :D

A vineyard in Zell is called Zeller Schwarze Katz (black cat), a vineyard in Kröv (got a German keyboard ;)) is called something with "naked"... I'd rather not risk being told off by hostjazzbeau. :)

Good to hear you had a great time on your cruise, possumcat.

notamermaid

Wine labels that have been approved by the liquor commission of every state I have shopped in.

Sounds like a great trip! We are considering this trip next year, including the Paris and Prague land stays. Did you have AMA book your flights? How far in advance did you book? Thanks for any additional details -- I am also going to read the other linked posts!.