crvng4mr

1 hour ago, travelwide said:

We had a 22-1 massage today and it was empty. I don't know where everyone is SLspending their OBC. I had pedicure, massage and DH  a massage. Still have $$ oops make that Euros left.

I know there were five of us this morning at 8 am. Around 9:30 there were about 9-10 people in the wellness area. I am sure it is time dependent as well. I few people I spoke with have gone twice or earlier in the week. I hope you enjoyed! 

13 hours ago, JTor said:

It’s December and they have not fixed it.  We’ve had no communication from them at all.  We sail in just over 2 weeks, have no documents, and cannot link to our booking from their website at all.  So we can’t get documents, book excursions or dining, etc.  Attempts by our agent to escalate have so far been totally ineffective.  I am heartened by the fact that others on this forum have SOMEHOW been allowed on board but it’s still very stressful.

I had a check-in problem as well. I was told it would be no problem. It in fact was No Problem. We showed up with our passports and they printed the luggage tags. Super easy. Then inside they took photos of our passports and we signed the health waiver, they gave us our suite cards and we were on board within 15 minutes from tagging luggage to lunch.

13 hours ago, JTor said:

Just curious if the spa is empty and excursions being cancelled on board? There may be some who are happy to pay these prices but we will not be booking “add-on” experiences at these prices.  One of the reasons we have embraced the luxury segment in cruising is so that we can pay what we agree to and then not have to think about money again.  It’s less about what you “can pay” than it is about not being made to feel you are just a walking dollar sign to the company and the people serving you.  For me anyway it takes away a lot of the enjoyment.

Just left the spa and it was very busy. I lived my massage and the wellness area is amazing. Most resorts I have been to spa services charge the equivalent so I am used to it. Yesterday, there was a good group size for one of the excursions as well.

I did not prearrange and my host bought us a bottle of Pellegrino to our suite. No push back and was there when we returned from dinner.

8 hours ago, kool kruiser said:

Back in harness, so...

Itinerary, Excursions etc

As we were in the Caribbean, we would only have been tempted by the more adventurous ship tours. We are not beach people so did not research these options, although I would imagine that they could be reached from all ports. When it comes to this aspect of our cruise holiday, we are, quite frankly, value driven. The options that appealed were, in our view, too pricey and we thus did everything independently, based on my pre-cruise research. Others have commented that their booked tours were cancelled by Explora so maybe take up is not great at current price points.

Our back to backs had a mix of regular stops such as Antigua and St Kitts, together with smaller ports on other islands, such as Spanish Town in BVI, rather than the usual Tortola. This proved to be a mixed blessing. Although the ports were very quiet and relaxed, there were limited excursion options available. Spanish Town was great for the Baths or a beach visit, but not much else. Deshaies in Guadeloupe was similarly great for the beautiful Botanical Gardens or a Death in Paradise tour but that was about it. We went to the Baths independently and ditto the Botanical Gardens. We are quite confident ashore on our own and managed everything pretty easily, due to our research, etc. Of course, we saved lots of dosh by avoiding the ship offerings. In St Kitts we organised the Scenic Railway trip easily as independents and saved again. With another lovely couple, we organised a trip around Antigua with a charming local at the quayside, at $30 each plus admission fees to Nelson's Dockyard etc. A steal !

We heard that the ship organised trip to the Baths was a disaster and we know a couple who received a full refund. However, they definitely did not enjoy the same terrific experience as us !

The biggest itinerary negative was definitely Samana in the Dominican Republic. On the basis of our research we decided to make this an additional day on board. This was extremely wise as we constantly heard of our fellow passengers alighting from the tender, seeing what a dump this place was and immediately returning to the ship. Others chanced it with local operators but did not seem to enjoy their experience. Not sure why Explora went there...

We loved...the ease of disembarkation and re-embarkation at every port of call, together with the exemplary tender operation customer care. The great tour descriptions in the app. The abundance of cool flannels, drinks etc shoreside at all ports. The excellent berths.

Room for Improvement... we really missed the usual printed port guides delivered to our cabin. The dearth of port information in the daily printed programme. The absence of a destination guest speaker onboard. Hopefully these issues will be addressed.

 

More soon...

Do you mind sharing some info on how you explored the Baths once you got into Spanish Town? Getting there and back from the port.

We will be in Prague from 15th until the 20th. Then on to Nuremberg to the Amadante-Legendary Danube. We are at the Cosmopolitan. Where are you?

Sandy

 

 

 

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We are staying at the Four Seasons.

I sailed AMASTELLA last year:)........I hope you have a wonderful cruise:D

Thank you! We are really excited.:D

Hopefully our's are correct. We leave Friday. Where are you headed?

 

 

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We arrive in Prague on Monday and take Ama's transfer to Vilshofen on Wednesday for the Romantic Danube on the AmaStella.

When you get your docs, there will be a voucher for your transfer. This will tell you the departure

 

 

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Yes, but as in our case they still switched hotels from the one on our documents and did overnight us new documents. I got the new ones on Monday and we leave Sunday.

We booked an apartment in Prague at Residence Retezova. http://www.retezova.com/

Very nice! I just received an overnight package from Ama stating that the departure hotel for transfer is the Intercontinental for us. On our previous paperwork it was another hotel.

Doesn't really matter to us as we are staying at the Four Seasons and would Uber to whichever hotel it was going to be but glad they got it to me before we left.

DH called today and they said it was the Intercontinental. I'll ask him to double check that though. Wouldn't be the first time we were given incorrect information. :rolleyes:

I would stay wherever and just Uber. That is what we are doing on the 19th. I called Ama and the rep said it was one hotel but when I received my paperwork it is another hotel. Things change especially so far away.

We can start a new trend, ;). I am 41 and going on my first, of many I am sure, river cruise in less than 2 weeks on AMA.

I agree with Mark2. We are doing the same thing. We arranged our own hotel in Prague and booked the transfer with Ama.

I received my documents yesterday!!! We leave 2 weeks from Sunday. So excited!!!

The visit to Regensburg was on the way to Vilshofen from Prague to board the ship. We had several hours there - enough time for the walking tour, some sausages, mustard shopping, a pharmacy visit, visit to an ATM for currency, some coffee at a cafe on the way back to the bus. Lovely.

Great!!! I can work with that, lol. We are taking the transfer from Prague to the boat but we booked our own hotels.

TIA,

We thought that both Passau and Regensburg were lovely towns. In Regensburg, most folks go to the Sausage Kitchen on the other side of the bridge. I heard it was excellent. However, our Ama tour guide suggested we keep going to the next large square and visit one of the street vendors selling sausages. Good choice! Yummy. Also the mustard made there in Regensburg, Händlmaier's, is very good and we both bought some to bring home. Of course there are nutcrackers to buy in Germany.

All of the tours were excellent. After the walking tour in Budapest, we walked down from Castle Hill over the Chain Bridge back to the ship. It took about an hour but was a very scenic walk. We took the tour to Cesky Krumlov and loved it. It is a beautiful place. We had a beer on the banks of the river and people watched. Lovely.

We enjoyed our days in Prague before the cruise as well. Ama put things together perfectly for us.

Allyson

Thank you so much for this! Do you remember how long they gave you in Regensburg? I know I want to go in the clock store as well as the famous hat store so I am hoping I have enough time. Definitely getting the mustard, thanks for that tidbit!

We took this same trip on the AmaSonata in September 2015. It was the best ever! We would do it again in a flash!

 

Allyson

Great to know Allyson! Do you have any tips from when you went? Any special souvenirs, things to bring back? Maybe somethings you know now but didn't until you were on the river cruise?

TIA

Hi All! Just booked our 1st river cruise last week on AmaStella for 4/19 Romantic Danube. I'll be traveling with a friend and we both are so excited!!! This all is great info.

Hi JP, your pictures are fabulous!. I want to look into this for my upcoming river cruise in April. How long did you book with each photographer? That way I can get a sense of time when I inquire.

Tommyjean it will be one of the most memorable trips you have ever taken. And lucky you, are going when the euro is way down.☺

Thank you very much for the sentiments. Have a fabulous time!!!! Then come back and tell us all about it.😜

I am happy you enjoyed it Lovincruisin1321!

Absolutely stunning pictures!!!! I miss reading your writing. It is so engaging. I want to go NOW to Kotor!

Bravo Stef!!!!!! Excellent! !! I am so glad it is less than a couple of months until your next cruise.

I am planning to do New England/Canada cruise in September or October. Before then I have 4 land trips coming up in April, May and August. Until next time.....

Thanks for the shout-out, Hoopster!!!!

 

(Frenchie, also, be sure to check out the recent review by crvng4mr (Ayasha) as well as last year's review by Kreuzfahrtneuling (Stef... I used her review extensively while planning my trip)

 

Melissa

Thanks for the shout out! ;)

So awesome! I can't wait for you to go. What horrible parents you are to such a deserving son! ;) You mean he has to go skiing instead?! Shame on you both, lol.