From an Ocean Cruise to a River Cruise

After sailing for many years on an Ocean Cruise I am taking my

first River Cruise in the spring:)......solo of course;)...and I am

really excited:D....I know it will be a totally different experience but

I have wanted to do this for a few years now and so 2016 is the time.

Sailing out of Amsterdam....different stops in Holland and Belgium.

Should be awesome:D

I'm thinking of trying one as well. Which line were you thinking?

I'm thinking of trying one as well. Which line were you thinking?

Hi, not just thinking;)....I am booked:D....going on AMA Waterways:)

After sailing for many years on an Ocean Cruise I am taking my

first River Cruise in the spring:)......solo of course;)...and I am

really excited:D....I know it will be a totally different experience but

I have wanted to do this for a few years now and so 2016 is the time.

Sailing out of Amsterdam....different stops in Holland and Belgium.

Should be awesome:D

Hi Lois! :D

Sounds like a new and exciting adventure awaits. I've heard river cruising is very relaxing and allows for some great immersion along the way. I'm doing an NCL Epic, Canary Islands & Morroco cruise March 28th. First time for me on NCL, so should be interesting. I booked my airfare two weeks ago. Caught a fantastic price rt. LAX/Barcelona on AA for $785 all in. That made my week! Lol

Tony

Hi Lois! :D

 

Sounds like a new and exciting adventure awaits. I've heard river cruising is very relaxing and allows for some great immersion along the way. I'm doing an NCL Epic, Canary Islands & Morroco cruise March 28th. First time for me on NCL, so should be interesting. I booked my airfare two weeks ago. Caught a fantastic price rt. LAX/Barcelona on AA for $785 all in. That made my week! Lol

 

Tony

Hi Tony:)...omg...785.00? NOT FAIR:eek:......I will give you a call

over the weekend:D

Lois, were you able to get any kind of a break on the single supplement? I know that some river cruise lines offer a few sailings where it's completely waived, but you have to stay in the lowest cabin category.

Is it a week-long itinerary, or something longer? And did AMA handle your air arrangements?

I'm thinking of trying one as well. Which line were you thinking?

This question was to Lois - but thought I'd drop in - as I went solo on a U.S. river cruise last fall on the Queen of the Mississippi (American Cruiselines) and had a great time. The cruise was 7 nights, New Orleans to Memphis, 150 passengers. All inclusive, including most shore excursions, wifi, soda, beer, wine, snacks and an open bar during a daily evening cocktail hour.

I'm going on the Queen of the West - Columbia & Snake River cruise in October. I booked the annual wine-themed cruise, with includes visits to several Pacific Northwest wineries along with enrichment activities onboard.

U.S. river cruises are U.S. flagged with U.S. crews, and prices reflect it. They do offer a good discount for booking the next cruise onboard - 15% plus port fees - which I took advantage of to book my upcoming cruise.

Anyway, U.S. river cruises are out there. I've read Viking is going to be entering the river cruise market in the U.S. in a couple of years.

After sailing for many years on an Ocean Cruise I am taking my

first River Cruise in the spring:)......solo of course;)...and I am

really excited:D....I know it will be a totally different experience but

I have wanted to do this for a few years now and so 2016 is the time.

Sailing out of Amsterdam....different stops in Holland and Belgium.

Should be awesome:D

I'll be interested in reading your review when you return. Should be beautiful in the spring!

Lois, were you able to get any kind of a break on the single supplement? I know that some river cruise lines offer a few sailings where it's completely waived, but you have to stay in the lowest cabin category.

 

Is it a week-long itinerary, or something longer? And did AMA handle your air arrangements?

Good morning:).....1) yes, the single supplement is waived and yes

it is the lowest category but it is still an oceanview cabin.

2) yes, it is a week long.....I am flying over on April 5th and sailing

April 7th. So, I am getting in a day early.

3)Air......I am doing my own. My TA called AMA but seems they

there is chance they may not book it until near 90 days before the

cruise.....and the price is not much better than booking myself and

I prefer picking my own times.......:)

I took a look at their website and saw pictures of their Category E cabins. I'm so short that I'd be afraid that I wouldn't even be able to see anything out of those high windows! :eek:

I, too, will be interested in reading a review when you return!

Thanks SteelMagnolia9 for the info on US River Cruises. I always seem to forget about that option!

I took a look at their website and saw pictures of their Category E cabins. I'm so short that I'd be afraid that I wouldn't even be able to see anything out of those high windows! :eek:

 

I, too, will be interested in reading a review when you return!

Hi:)...I am not very tall but the pictures of the windows didn't bother

me at all. To be totally honest, I don't plan on being in my cabin much

at all. When we are docked I will be sightseeing and on days the ship

is sailing I will be out on deck.

After sailing for many years on an Ocean Cruise I am taking my

first River Cruise in the spring:)......solo of course;)...and I am

really excited:D....I know it will be a totally different experience but

I have wanted to do this for a few years now and so 2016 is the time.

Sailing out of Amsterdam....different stops in Holland and Belgium.

Should be awesome:D

Hi Lois, I have looked at the river cruises myself as it looks like a great way to explore Europe. I have some friends that have done them and they just loved the trips. I look forward to your review next year. I have done a few land tours in Europe but have never done the river cruises, so if you enjoy yours I may have to give them a try. Neil

Lois, Congrats on doing something new. I did Oceania recently and loved the change. Anyhow, Consider a night or two staying on a canal boat in Amsterdam. Found ours on VRBO. Most are beautifully renovated and some are affordable. Have stayed in Amsterdam twice, both times constant rain. Bring rain gear.

Friends did an AMA cruise this spring and loved it. They are planning another now.

A river cruise is definitely on my bucket list so I look forward to hearing your impressions.

Can't wait to hear all about it. River cruises have me intrigued for sure. Cost hasn't been terribly enticing so far, but always have my eyes open!

Hmm, now I'm thinking about that wine cruise for next October...

Hi all!

Lois R ~ congrats on the new booking!:D I've been on a Danube cruise with DH & really enjoyed it. Yours should be amazing starting in Amsterdam. Visit Keukenhof Gardens if you're into gardens, it's lovely. If you plan on going to the Anne Frank House it's wise to make an advance reservation to avoid long lines.

I haven't heard of anybody who hasn't enjoyed their river cruise. My neighbours took one in the spring & are thinking of cancelling their Celebrity cruise to take 2 river cruises next year. There are so many rivers to cruise!

~ Jo ~ :)

I am very much looking forward to going on this cruise:D and I will

be sure to give ya'll my views about it when I return home.

I just got my hotel booked:) but I am waiting to book my flights. Prices

are really high (in my opinion) right now so I will wait a few months

and see if they will (hopefully) drop a bit.:eek:

I was researching hotels and found this.....there are MANY positive

reviews on Trip Advisor about it and it looks lovely to me.

http://www.carlton.nl/banksmansion/default-en.html

Hi all!

 

Lois R ~ congrats on the new booking!:D I've been on a Danube cruise with DH & really enjoyed it. Yours should be amazing starting in Amsterdam. Visit Keukenhof Gardens if you're into gardens, it's lovely. If you plan on going to the Anne Frank House it's wise to make an advance reservation to avoid long lines.

 

I haven't heard of anybody who hasn't enjoyed their river cruise. My neighbours took one in the spring & are thinking of cancelling their Celebrity cruise to take 2 river cruises next year. There are so many rivers to cruise!

 

~ Jo ~ :)

Hi Jo, we were posting at the same time:)......the Gardens are on the

itinerary and I will definitely be going there. And I will definitely get

my ticket for The Anne Frank House ahead of time.