Heidi BucoloWe recently set sail on our first AmaWaterways river cruise. While we have taken one other river cruise in the past, this off-season Danube River sailing suprised us in many ways. Based on our experiences, we’ve compiled this list of everything you need to know to make the most of your first river cruise with AmaWaterways. Whether you’re new to river cruising or an experienced ocean cruiser making the switch, these AmaWaterways river cruise tips will help you prepare for a smooth and unforgettable journey.
25 First Time AmaWaterways River Cruise Tips
1. What’s Included (and What’s Not)
The AmaWaterways river cruise fare encompasses accommodations, all meals (no up-charges for specialty restaurants either), and onboard activities much like ocean cruises. In addition, daily shore excursions, WiFi, specialty coffee kiosks, afternoon tea, and bottled water are always included. Guests can also enjoy beer, wine, and soda at lunch and dinner; and sparkling wine and fresh juice at breakfast.
Additionally, most onboard amenities are complimentary for all guests like the fitness center, library, sundeck, and pool and/or whirlpool. AmaWaterways provides walking sticks, canes with seats, and umbrellas for excursions as well for any guests that may need them while exploring.
However, certain services will cost extra so be sure to budget accordingly. These include things such as laundry services, beverages outside designated times, gratuities, and spa/salon services. Of note, AmaMagna does have self-service laundry facilities unlike the rest of the fleet.
2. Free Drinks at Sip and Sail Cocktail Hour
While river cruising in general is more inclusive than ocean cruising, not all river cruise lines are created equal. We knew that beer and wine were included at meals, but we were surprised to learn that select cocktails are also complimentary for one hour each day on AmaWaterways.
Each evening before dinner, AmaWaterways hosts a “Sip and Sail” cocktail hour. This social event offers guests a selection of wines, beers, and cocktails from a set menu at no additional cost, including my go-to Cosmopolitan. This event is an excellent opportunity to unwind after a day of exploration and to socialize with fellow travelers.
3. There’s No Drink Package
Unlike many ocean cruises, and even some river cruises like Viking, AmaWaterways does not offer a drink package add-on option. Guests can enjoy complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner, as well as select cocktails during the aforementioned Sip and Sail cocktail hour. However, for beverages outside these times, charges will apply.
Guests can not pay a set fee upfront to purchase unlimited drinks during their voyage, but rather they will need to pay a la carte for each beverage. These charges will be applied to their onboard account which guests will need to settle prior to disembarking at the end of the cruise.
4. What You Can Bring Onboard
Most ocean cruise ships have a list of prohibited items that guests are not allowed to bring onboard. Many of these restrictions are also true on AmaWaterways, including items like candles and irons. However, one significant departure from mainstream cruising is the ability to bring drinks and food onboard the ship.
AmaWaterways allows guests to bring unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with them on their sailing. Guests can board with these items on embarkation day or pick them up at any port of call during the sailing. There are no corkage fees either.
While the cruise line’s website does state that personal hair straighteners are not allowed, I had no issues bringing mine onboard during our sailing.
5. Streamlined Embarkation Process
With over 90 cruises under our belts, we have spent countless hours waiting in lines on cruise boarding day. Similar to our Viking river cruise experience last year, the embarkation process with AmaWaterways was notably efficient. With fewer passengers, we literally walked right onto the ship and checked in at the front desk.
In under ten minutes, the staff checked our passports, handed over our key cards, and we were off to our stateroom. Our luggage was also delivered minutes later. Of note, you do want to make sure to complete the pre-cruise check-in process providing your preferences and necessary documentation ahead of arrival.
We then had the rest of the afternoon to unpack and settle into our cabin prior to the mandatory safety briefing before setting sail.
6. Focus on Wellness
AmaWaterways places a strong emphasis on wellness. Unlike our previous river cruise experience, these ships are equipped with a fitness center and a wellness coach. Guests can participate in complimentary yoga and other fitness classes led by trained instructors.
Additionally, bicycles are available for both guided tours and independent exploration in various ports. This focus ensures that health-conscious travelers can maintain their routines while enjoying the journey.
And if you happen to be sailing on the brand’s flagship vessel, AmaMagna, like we did, there’s even a full-sized pickleball court on the sundeck.
7. What’s Onboard
AmaWaterways ships may be smaller than ocean cruise ships, but they are thoughtfully designed to provide luxurious amenities, cozy gathering spaces, and modern comforts. You can expect to find a lounge, library, small fitness center, and open-air sundeck with a pool and/or whirlpool (both on AmaMagna!) in addition to dining venues on all AmaWaterways river ships. While there’s no casino or large theater, you’ll have everything you need for relaxing and socializing.
For those sailing on AmaMagna, self-service laundry facilities are available as well. On other ships, laundry services are offered at an additional cost. There’s also a full-sized pickleball court and spin bikes on AmaMagna.
Further, most AmaWaterways ships have an elevator for those with mobility concerns, but it typically does not go all the way up to the sundeck due to height restrictions.
8. Choices for Shore Excursions
Most river cruise lines advertise a free complimentary tour in each port of call. However, we were surprised that AmaWaterways offered a few different tour options in each location. Sometimes this meant completely different tours and other times this meant different activity levels for the same general tour.
For instance, during our stop in Linz, guests could choose from a walking tour in the city or take full day tours to either Cesky Krumlov or Salzburg. In other ports, walking tours had “regular” and “gentle” categorizations. These tours ensured accessibility for all guests. For the more adventurous, active options like hiking and biking are also available, catering to diverse interests and abilities.
9. Go Wireless with the Quietvox
As part of these tours, guests utilize a Quietvox audio system. Each guest on an AmaWaterways river ship receives a device and an earbud in their stateroom. These small devices allow tour guides to provide narration and information in large groups without having to shout. It also enhances the touring experience by allowing freedom to roam around while still listening to the guide.
Most cruisers wear the Quietvox with a wired headset while roaming the streets or perusing a museum. However, one of our AmaWaterways river cruise tips is that you may use a Bluetooth connection for wireless headphones. We use AirFly when connecting to in-flight entertainment or when we want to use our Airpods on devices with an audio jack. This AirFly device can attach to a Quietvox and then pair with your personal Airpods. This way you can store the Quietvox in a bag or pocket and still listen to your guide wirelessly.
10. How Tours Work
Once you’ve decided which tour you’d like to take in each port of call, you can “book” pre-cruise via the app. Although, we’re not really sure this was necessary, at least during our sailing. Unlike our previous Viking river cruise where you signed up for a specific time, guests didn’t know the time of these tours until the night before.
Then, on the day of the tour, guests needed to stop by the front desk to pick up a tour ticket color. This color matched the lollipop of the guides waiting outside the ship. It also allowed guests to request the same color if traveling with friends and taking the same tour.
While we did appreciate the variety of tours and the tour paces, we didn’t like not being able to plan our days ahead of time.
11. Not Much Onboard Enrichment
While AmaWaterways excels in many areas, onboard enrichment programs such as lectures or workshops are limited. The port talks were pretty basic, mostly highlighting the upcoming shore excursions. And there were no presentations on the history, culture, or other region-specific topics. We would have loved to learn more about the ports and some highlights that we could’ve visited during our free time. Given that the area has ties to Mozart and The Sound of Music, these were more missed enrichment opportunities.
During our 7-day voyage, there was only one regional cooking demonstration and a local music trio performed on just one evening. The only real ties to the region were in the culinary offerings.
12. Alternative Dining Options
One thing we did love was that AmaWaterways has alternative dining venues beyond the main dining room. Most ships in the river fleet offer The Chef’s Table, which serves an elevated multi-course tasting menu at no extra cost. This is a big perk when compared to ocean cruising and even some other river cruise lines.
AmaMagna has two additional venues beyond this— Jimmy’s Restaurant and Al Fresco. These alternative dining options do require reserverations, which can be made once onboard the ship.
Another great perk? If you’re not a morning person, you can enjoy a late riser breakfast which is served in an alternate venue.
13. The Restaurant is Open Seating
The Restaurant, the main dining room on AmaWaterways, has open seating. So, while you need to make reservations for the alternative dining venues, no reservations are needed here. Open for set hours during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every meal is an opportunity to dine with different people as there are no table assignments.
If you’re an extrovert, you’ll likely love the rotating company and chance to meet new people each day. If you’re more introverted, you’ll be happy to know that there are varied table sizes and configurations including tables for two. We appreciated this flexibility. It was nice to dine as a group some nights but also have the ability to dine alone other nights.
14. Mail Free Postcards From the Ship
A unique and thoughtful perk of AmaWaterways is the ability to send complimentary postcards from the ship. Simply write a note to friends or family on provided postcards, drop it off at reception, and AmaWaterways will mail it for you at no cost. This is a great way to share your journey with loved ones back home! In today’s digital world, we thought this was a fun throwback.
15. Future Cruise Discount
If you love your AmaWaterways experience and want to book another sailing with the brand, don’t miss out on the future cruise discount when booking onboard. This is a great way to save money on your next trip and return home with another cruise to start planning! Though, you don’t have to book another cruise immediately. You have two years to confirm your choice of itinerary.
Guests have the opportunity to secure a 5% discount on future cruises when purchasing a Future Cruise Credit while onboard, or within 30 days of disembarkation. This incentive encourages travelers to plan their next adventure with AmaWaterways, enhancing the value of loyalty. This discount is combinable with loyalty savings and can even be done right in the AmaWaterways app.
16. Download the App (or Ask for a Paper Daily)
Speaking of the app, AmaWaterways offers a handy app designed to enhance your river cruise experience. Guests should download this user-friendly app before setting sail. The app contains the daily cruisers, excursion descriptions, and other pertinent information like cruise itinerary and live tracking. Guests can also complete their guest survey in the app.
Plus, there’s no need to worry about paying for WiFi as that’s included in the cruise fare, and it worked pretty well during our sailing for tasks like checking emails and social media.
Don’t worry though— for those who prefer traditional daily schedules, you can request paper copies at the front desk. Once requested, your stateroom attendant will leave a copy of the next day’s program in your cabin the night before during turndown service.
17. Magnetic Hooks Don’t Work
One of our tried and true cabin hacks on ocean cruise ships is to bring magnetic hooks and a shoe organizer for extra storage. We use these magnetic hooks to hang items like bags, jackets, and the shoe organizer on our stateroom walls. Given cruise cabins are small and have limited storage, we don’t use this organizer for shoes but rather to store small items like sunglasses, charging cords, toiletries, and the like.
However, we were disappointed to find out that the cabin walls on AmaWaterways’ ships are not metallic, so magnetic hooks don’t work for extra storage.
18. What to Pack
Packing should focus on comfort and versatility. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for excursions. Further, regardless of the season, you should be prepared for various weather conditions. This means bringing lightweight, packable clothing to layer as well as items like sunscreen and sunglasses. AmaWaterways does provide umbrellas but they are pretty cumbersome to carry around, so packing your own rain gear is a good idea too.
The dress code onboard the ship is casual and relaxed. Smart casual is appropriate for dinner, and there’s no need for formal wear, though you can certainly dress up for events like the Captain’s Gala or when dining at the Chef’s Table.
When traveling in Europe, it’s always a good idea to bring a travel power converter. You might want to bring a portable power pack to charge your phone while ashore as well. If venturing to Europe in the middle of summer, I always pack a small, portable fan too.
19. You’ll Get to Know Everyone
River cruising has an intimate feel, and with fewer passengers than ocean cruises, you’ll quickly become familiar with fellow travelers and crew members. For better or worse, everyone is pretty much on the same schedule. Most cruisers partake in the organized tours, many gather in the lounge nightly for cocktials, and there’s open seating at meals, so everyone onboard gets to know each other.
Even if you haven’t officially met them, you will quickly recognize fellow passengers when walking around the ship or ashore. For most, saying hi or striking up a conversation with another guest is a part of cruising. But unlike larger ships, there’s no blending into the crowd or escaping if you don’t feel like being social one night. The only place to truly do that is your stateroom.
20. Cruise During Shoulder Season
For fewer crowds and better pricing, consider cruising during the shoulder season (early spring or late fall on most European rivers) rather than peak summer months. While summer may seem like the ideal time to cruise Europe’s scenic rivers, there are several reasons why the shoulder season can actually provide a better overall experience.
Cruising the Danube in late February, we can speak from experience when we say one of the biggest advantages of cruising off-season is avoiding the peak summer crowds. You can visit the popular attractions with fewer tourists and less waiting in line.
Besides the stress of overcrowding, another huge perk of shoulder season river cruising is the significant cost savings compared to peak summer months. This is not only true of cruise fares but also of airfare.
While we will admit that the weather during our sailing was pretty chilly, it still beats the scorching heat of July and August.
21. Be Flexible
As with any form of travel, it’s important to be flexible as things don’t always go according to plan. In particular, river cruising requires adapting to changing conditions such as water levels and weather.
Unlike ocean cruises, which sail on deep open water, river cruises take place on inland waterways that are more susceptible to fluctuating water levels. If water levels are too high (after heavy rain) or too low (after a dry spell), the ship may not be able to pass under bridges or navigate certain stretches of the river. When this happens, AmaWaterways may need to adjust your itinerary, swapping port stops, using motorcoaches for some segments, or even completely switching ships.
Maintaining flexibility and a positive outlook ensures that unexpected adjustments become part of the adventure rather than a hindrance.
22. Ship May Reposition While Away
With that said, river cruise ships may also need to reposition while you’re away. The captain might need to move the ship to a different dock due to water levels, weather, or port congestion. Or, there might be a scheduled reposition where the ship drops guests off in one location but then picks them up in a new location further down the river following that day’s tours.
Your Cruise Manager will typically explain the plan ahead of time, but if you’re ever unsure, ask the front desk before heading ashore, especially when going off on independent explorations.
23. Always Have the Ship Address With You
Given that docking locations can vary, it’s important to always carry the ship’s address or docking details with you when disembarking in ports of call. This way, if you find yourself lost or delayed in port, you can call the ship for assistance. Further, if you plan to take a taxi or Uber, you’ll have the exact address to give the driver.
On AmaWaterways, you can find this information on the front of each day’s Daily Cruiser. We recommend taking a photo or screenshot of this info which includes the docking location, ship phone number, and cruise manager phone number.
24. You Might Dock Alongside Another Ship
Along with repositioning during the day, guests may find that their river ship needs to tether alongside another river ship in busy ports. If docked alongside another ship, you’ll likely need to walk through the lobby or decks of the neighboring ship to get ashore or to return to your ship following a tour.
It’s important to know that this is a common practice with all river ships, so you aren’t disappointed to find your balcony may have obstructed views on occasion. If your cabin is on the side facing the other ship, your beautiful river view may be temporarily replaced by a view of another ship’s windows or balconies. So, be sure to close your curtains!
25. Stateroom Upgrade Bids
If you want to secure a larger stateroom or a higher category suite without paying full price, you should take advantage of AmaWaterways cabin upgrade bid program. This offer is available on select sailings via an email invitation prior to your cruise. The email will detail the available upgrade categories and allow you to place a bid. If your bid is accepted, you’ll be notified before your sail date. If it’s not, you won’t be charged anything and your cabin remains the same.
Keep in mind that bids are nonrefundable once accepted, even if you don’t like the upgraded stateroom’s location.
Comments
Do you have any other AmaWaterways river cruise tips to add to this list? Have you sailed the Danube River with AmaWaterways? Drop us an anchor below to share your tips and tricks for having the best river cruise experience.
