tribbs1

I am not sure if you can get it set up ahead of time, but on AMA you can carry on anything you would like to have, so if going straight to the ship from the airport stop by Duty Free and pick up a nice bottle of Champagne and bring it on with you. You can carry on anything you want - wine, beer, etc. They do not confiscate like ocean cruise lines.

Shalandara - Viking offers 1 tour option in each port. They do offer some alternative options that have an extra cost to them. The other lines will offer you a choice of 2-3 excursions in each port.

I have sailed the Seine Paris to Normandy with AMA and it was truly amazing. We have spent time in Paris before so if you do I recommend securing skip the line passes to the Louvre or the Musee d’Orsay. If you can swing it, Palace of Versailles is incredible. Our group spent 6 hours there - mostly wandering the beautiful gardens. In Giverny you will go to Monet’s house and gardens which is iconic. In Rouen you have the chance to find out more about Joan of Arc. If you don’t mind hiking there is a hike up a hill at the top of the city that has wonderful views. Honfleur was enchanting, but the highlight of the cruise was the Normandy beaches and the American cemetery. AMA does a flower dedication at the cemetery and it was one of the most moving things I have ever been a part of.

You really need to think about what you want from your river cruise. Virtually every line will sail to most of the same ports. Like others have said, AMA Waterways, Uniworld, Avalon, Tauck and Viking do cater to North Americans - or basically English speaking passengers. The ships are essentially the same size but the guest to space ratio is better on certain lines. All except Viking will have some active touring components such as biking and hiking options for included excursions. All except Viking will generally give you a choice of 2-3 options for excursions in each port. Food is subjective, but some lines will have better food. As for getting to a larger city - most of these lines will offer pre and post cruise extensions. On the Danube we started out in Prague for 3 nights (amazing city) and then we were taken to Nuremburg to start our cruise and we ended in Budapest and stayed an extra night there as well. The pre and post options really help round out your trip, but be aware that they are a bit expensive for what you really get, but they are convenient.

I have been on several AMA cruises and the only night I dress a little nicer for is the Captain’s dinner. If I am out all day touring and walking I usually just go to dinner in what I had on that day. Now, I cruised in the cooler months of October and April, so I wasn’t all sweaty like you might be if cruising in the Summer. It is very casual.

I have been on 4 river cruises with my 5th coming up on June 1st. The first one we took 10 years ago on Viking when we were 50 and we were indeed the youngest on the ship. If you have never cruised the rivers before Viking would be okay. The other river cruises we have taken on AMA Waterways and we find them to be much more enjoyable. We are active and like the opportunity to do the biking and hiking excursions and to just have a choice of excursions in general. The food is much better and the ships carry less passengers than Viking. When you have low water issues Viking really suffers as their ships keel is much lower in the water than the other river cruise lines. People have been bussed for entire itineraries while their ship was stuck at one port due to low water (and yes I do have a colleague that this happened to on the Danube). If you are looking for lively entertainment in the evening you will not be happy on a river cruise as the entertainment is often times local and cultural. That being said, I did take a group on the Rhine and the cruise managers recognizing our age secured a Motown band one night and even paid for them to stay longer and put them up on the ship overnight.