AmaWaterways River Cruises: 10 Essential Tips for an Unforgettable Journey
I’m back from my spring river cruise with AmaWaterways through the Netherlands and Belgium experiencing their Tulip Time itinerary. I’ll be sharing more about my adventure soon, but based on some questions that I received while on my cruise, I thought it would be helpful to compile a “top ten list” of things to know before you embark on your next river cruise adventure. I think river cruises are incredible and such a fabulous way see and experience so much, all while only unpacking once and here are some tips to ensure your next river cruise is all you hoped for and more.
1. Pack Light & Use AmaWaterway’s Laundry Service
I shared a packing list for river cruises, but my recommendations are to pack layers, pack light and take advantage of AmaWaterways on board laundry service. In your stateroom, you’ll find a laundry bag with a form to indicate the type and quantity of garments you would like laundered. Simply leave that on your bed and your clothing will be returned to you fresh and ready to go. You can also indicate which pieces you’d like to have ironed. The prices are inexpensive and like everything with AmaWaterways, their service is fantastic.
2. Don’t Miss the Sip and Sail Hour
Beer, wine and soda are included with your lunch and dinner, but during the Sip and Sail hour (typically one hour prior to dinner), beverages are also complimentary and they offer a cocktail and mocktail of the night. During this hour, your cruise manager will also preview the next day’s itinerary and go into details of the tours and excursions offered and it’s a nice way to visit with other guests onboard and share experiences.
3. Excursions are Included and Easy to Modify
Every excursion offered by AmaWaterways is included with the cost of your river cruise and these are led by quality, local companies and guides. This is such a bonus and AmaWaterways makes it so easy to sign up for these right on the AmaWaterways app. If you’re like me and have a hard time making a decision, remember you can change your excursions once you get on board. After I learned more about each one and spoke with my cruise manager for personalized recommendations, she was able to change my requested selections, some even the day of.
4. What to Bring on your Excursions
AmaWaterways will have all the details of your excursions lined up–from the guides, the tickets, and the necessary transfers to get there. They also provide umbrellas, hiking poles, water bottles and most importantly, the listening devices you can use to hear your guide in a smooth and non-intrusive way. I usually bring a backpack with a rain coat, gloves, sunglasses, water bottle and then money to purchase souvenirs and gratuities for the guides and bus drivers. Also, remember that in Europe, some public bathrooms do require a fee to use, so keep small euros handy.
5. Bikes are Available to Use Outside of Excursions
The bike tours offered through AmaWaterways are a great way to see and experience your destination, but you can also take a ride on your own. You can check out a bike and helmet when docked and go explore on your own.
6. Secure Your Spot at Chef’s Table
Included with your river cruise is the amazing seven course dining experience known as the Chef’s Table. You can secure your reservation once onboard and you won’t want to miss this. During my recent cruise, our chef was from Bali and the meal he prepared with paired with wines from Germany. It is such a delightful experience.
7. You Can Send Post Cards Home
AmaWaterways has a display of post cards with beautiful photos near the front desk that you can fill out and address and AmaWaterways will mail them for you. No stamps needed!
8. Ease of Getting On & Off the Ship
It truly amazes me how easy it is to embark and disembark from a river cruise ship. I’ve cruised on a few ocean liners before and a river cruise is nothing like that experience of long lines and large cruise terminals. Sure, river cruise ships are much smaller and the number of guests on board is a fraction of the size, but the fact that you often times dock in the middle of a city or village, just steps from so many amazing landmarks, shopping and history makes these trips so appealing. Simply scan your room key coming and going so they can check all are aboard when it’s time to set sail. The freedom and time you save is such a bonus! My photos below were taken just outside the entrance to our river ship’s docking location.
9. You May Experience “Rafting”
I always like to set expectations as best I can ahead of time, and one thing that may surprise you is waking up right next to another river cruise ship in port. River cruise ships often dock side by side in port due to limited docking space along narrow waterways. This practice, known as “rafting,” allows multiple ships to moor together, sometimes stacking three or more vessels deep. If your ship is one of the outer ones, you’ll walk through the lobbies or decks of the adjacent ships to reach the shore. This offers a unique opportunity to glimpse other ships, but can also impede your views temporarily.
10. Smaller Ships, Bigger Connection
River cruises are designed to offer a more personalized and intimate experience as compared to larger ocean cruises. The smaller river ships accommodate fewer passengers (typically between 100 and 200), so the atmosphere is more relaxed and uncrowded, allowing for more meaningful interactions with fellow travelers and crew members. The smaller size also enables access to charming towns, scenic waterways, and cultural landmarks that larger vessels cannot reach, creating a more immersive and tailored journey.
Personalized service is a hallmark of river cruising, and you’ll often see the Captain walking the ship, mingling with the guests during the sip and sail hour and even greeting you when you arrive from excursions. You get to know the crew and cruise manager and you’ll find yourself gravitating to the cozy spaces in the lounge or the scenic sun decks to enjoy watching the world float by.
Are you ready to unpack once and embark on an incredible journey down one of the many spectacular rivers of Europe? You can read about my experience cruising on the Colors of Provence itinerary in March of 2024 and I also went into detail on the different excursions offered on that cruise. You can view all of the amazing itineraries and even book your next river cruise here. I am an Certified Travel Advisor, my assistance is 100% complimentary and I would love to work with you. Reach out to me at [email protected] or fill out a quote request here.
