Wings55

@pbeachI always bring along some strong magnets that have hooks attached. I hang my binoculars near the window so they are handy, i hang up my ballcap near the door so I can grab it on the way out along with an umbrella if needed... There are lots of things that can be handy but out of the way. Paul

On our recent Viking Ocean cruise, free airfare was included. We paid extra to pick our carrier and the flights we wanted. Evidently the airline changed their schedule and Viking OK'ed new flight arrangements without asking us. When I requested flights that fit our schedule, they said yes but only if we paid a $350 change fee. Needless to say I don't have many good things to say about Viking Air right now. Paul

Maybe it was because AMA was still getting back up to speed following COVID, but the staff wasn't as attentive as we experienced with Scenic/Uniworld. The ship was older and didn't feel as upscale. The excursions were fine but again, Scenic offered experiences that were above and beyond. AMA was fine but it just didn't feel 'upscale' to me. YMMV Paul

@TN_travels We sailed the Seine with AMA in August of 2021. As you are planning, we spent a few days in Paris and took advantage of a full day walking tour of Paris with an excellent Tour By Locals guide before the cruise. Previously we had sailed with Scenic and Uniworld but we choose AMA based on an excellent promotional price. It was a great trip, and we enjoyed the AMA experience we felt it didn't measure up to Uniworld or Scenic. One of the things that stood out about the whole trip was the extremely warm welcome we received wherever we went. The AMA crew, restaurants, shops, etc. everyone was happy to have tourists 'back' and they went out of their way to say thank you. Keep us informed on what you decide. Paul

Well, hello neighbor!! I hope you're enjoying the rain today. 🌧️ Do keep us posted on what you decide for your river cruise. While I have my favorites, we have enjoyed every river cruise we've taken. Paul

That and the fact the French Balconies are on the upper, Rhine deck. We've sailed in the R.Q. twice in the Deluxe cabins. We saw no need to more up to the top deck. Paul

@SuiteTraveler I have always been interested in Tauck but have yet to book one of their offerings. We have sailed with Ama, Scenic and Uniworld In my opinion Scenic is the winner when it comes to excursions, wine and being truly, 'all inclusive'. Uniworld is a great option, but they do charge for some excursions, and they don't have the 'extras' offered by Scenic. We liked our AMA cruises too but I didn't think they were offered a true luxury experience. Good luck with your search and I hope you find the perfect cruise line for your tastes and expectations Paul

@NiceAuntI'm sure it will be a wonderful trip and I look forward to a full report after you get home. Paul

@ilenea On our Uniworld cruises there were a few small display cases. The selection wasn't huge, but they offered a few nice pieces.

Jane bought some jewelry and a black knit top.

We've sailed on two AMA cruises and it both cases people were casually dressed. I usually wore a pair of khaki slacks and a polo or collared shirt. Jane relied on slacks and a brightly colored top and a sweater. Jeans and shorts were almost nonexistent in at dinnertime. YMMV 🤷‍♂️ I'm sure you can borrow this ship's bicycles whenever you want as long as they aren't being used by a tour group. Have fun, Sue!!! Paul

I agree it would be nice to know, but my guess is docking times and locations are more flexible than those of ocean cruises, so they don't get very specific in the brochures or websites. Paul

Several years ago, we toured both Colmar and Riquewihr during a Uniworld cruise on the River Queen. I have no idea about current offerings. Paul

We too enjoy shopping the local markets and looking for treats that we can bring home. Very fun and enjoyable. Paul

@NiceAunt I'm sure you'll get quite a few opinions. 🙂 If this is to be your mom's final cruise, splurge and make it the best possible. Based on our experiences I would choose either Scenic or Uniworld. We have not sailed with Tauck, but I would research them too based on the fact that they too are 'all inclusive'. If you like modern design, you might like Scenic. If you prefer a very ornate style, pick Uniworld. You won't go wrong either way. Good luck and have fun!! Paul

We enjoyed that itinerary and ship in August of 2021. You'll have a great time. Paul

We too received cards from AMA after both our cruises. 👍 Paul

@Canal archive The Swan Deck... That's always been our term too. 😉 Paul

@ShipWalker Thanks for the photos. Hopefully the cabins have been kept up as nicely as the public spaces. We don't sail HAL for the 'excitement' but rather the good food and excellent service. 🙂 Paul

I'm curious too as we booked an Aus./NZ cruise for early 2024.

Bumper is the word! 🙂 Paul

Agreed! Slacks at dinner recommended. 👏

@TravelLizzy I'm sure you will find more opinions that you will need but I am a huge Scenic fan and feel they are one of the premier river cruise lines. Viking offers a good value but Scenic's level of quality and service are much better and normally more expensive. If you can find a good price reduction, go for it! Paul

@kathyK13 Depending on the length of the itinerary Scenic offers several special events during the trip. We enjoyed a fabulous private concert at a palace in Vienna, we had a private cocktail party in a castle high over the Danube and we had private tour of Marksburg Castle complete with a medieval dinner including court jesters & musicians. The 'regular' excursions always seemed to have little extras too and heaven forbid we attempted to tip one of our guides. Uniworld had some excellent excursions too and I'd rate them second. AMA had good options, but the quality just wasn't QUITE as good as Uniworld. People will enjoy ANY of these cruise companies but neither Uniworld nor AMA matched Scenic. To be fair their prices didn't either. Paul