CaroleLee
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Posts posted by CaroleLee
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On 1/14/2020 at 8:00 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:
I don't know from experience because we have never booked a pre-cruise extension from AMA, but I believe I have read that they do. The nice thing about doing the pre-cruise is that when you get to the ship you already have met some of your fellow passengers.
Yes, the cruise director is there for you pre and post extensions. Note that CD is NOT an AMA employee so their tips are not covered by any perk or what you tip on board
Have a great trio right now planning our 4th AMA crtuise
Carole
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On 1/6/2020 at 1:33 AM, IslandThyme said:
Hello all. I just read through this entire thread (whew, and thanks for all the great information) and have a couple of questions that I haven't seen addressed here.
I've done a lot of ocean cruising but I'm planning my first river cruise in July. I will be travelling alone and am wondering how welcoming AMA life on board is for solo travelers. I'd love to hear any impressions about that.
Also, I'm loving the Grand Danube itinerary, but two things stand out for me after reading this thread. Is the Danube likely to have water level troubles in July? It's an entirely new question for me to consider. The AmaCerto is the boat for that trip, and I really haven't noticed any comments about her here. Would anyone who's sailed on her fill me in a bit?
Have done 3 AMA cruises. On each one there were singles. Meal times & Sip & Sail are when we got to know the singles- as there is no assigned seating-everyone mingles. So as long as you can start a sentence with Hi my name is & can I join you- you should zero problems. The AMA staff is wonderful and will make you feel you have been with them for 20 yrs
Enjoy
Carole
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Yes- YOU choose whom to send post cards to. The post card sends a picture of the port as well as your message.
Hint: Send to yourself and you will have an instant album of you trip.
Enjoy
Carole
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Thx again. The CC community always has good insight & info
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Enjoy your trip & thx for your response . Unfortunately AA( DH&I have way too many FF points) has dumped most of the transatlantic flights from JFK- requiring a change of planes @ LHR or travel JFK--> PHL--> Zurich or Amsterdam. Having been to the UK via LHR several times I really do not want to pay the (extra) fees imposed by flying into LHR
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Thank you
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Being the over planner that I am.. Has anyone know/guess what will happen to US passengers that have to change planes @ LHR? I have an upcoming flight to Zurich that requires a change of planes @LHR. IF/when UK is brexited will I have to go through UK immigration & then recheck into the LHR-->ZUR flight?
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No problem. Let me know if you need any other info re Paris, CDG etc. Have a wonderful trip
Carole
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On 9/24/2019 at 9:43 AM, AF-1 said:
Assuming all AMA ship cabins have charging plugs; can anyone tell me how many charging plugs are in cabin, is there one by each side of the bed; and are there any usb charging ports? I have int'l charging plugs I will be bringing on my trip; mine has two usb and one reg terminal. Trying to figure out how many I will need to bring based on what's avail in each cabin. And yes even though I am on a cruise I stay plugged in. I will be charging; not necessarily in order, two ipads, two iphones,two cameras, one kindle, and one surface tablet. I run a family blog with pictures for all my family who can not travel. They travel on cruises thru my blogs. Thanks
The plugs are european. You will need an adapter plug (end)Voltage is 220- I Pads, phones etc will charge with an adapter.
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On 10/8/2019 at 6:50 PM, rzmz89 said:
We will be doing this in 4/2020 with the pre and post extensions. Any recommendations?
Bordeaux- Cite du Vin was a highlight. Very interactive. Visit ends with a glass of wine ( your choice of hundreds from all over the world) and a beautiful view indoor & outdoor from the top floor. Try not to return to the ship for lunch instead go next door to Les Halles( food hall)have lunch, wine and relax there. It should take about 20-30 min to stroll back to the ship. Bordeaux is a beautiful very easy to walk city. Very good tram system ( buy tkt prior to boarding).
Libourne- unless you are there on a Sunday-when market is in full swing its a sleepy town. You will be taken to the indoor market for a quick tasting of cheese & meats, a chocolate shop and a quick walk around town.
St Emilion- very interesting history & sites. Be warned the streets are VERY steep wear non slip shoes
Blaye * Bourg- The fortress in Blaye is fascinating. Bourg is Fete du Vin-music, singing and wine tasting, carriage museum (interesting to see how carriages evolved)
Pauilliac- wine tasting & Roquetaillade castle. The castle has been lived in by the same family for 700+ yrs.
Loire extension-the chateaux blew away my DH. Each one is more magnificent than the prior. Be prepared for lots of walking.
Amboise- Leonardo Da Vinci- models, holograms etc of his work. The chapel hold his (maybe) tomb.
In Bois you will have time for lunch. Just watch the golden dragons at Houdin's House of Magic. Houdin was a magician and the dragons are automated. Hopefully there will be some small children in the square watch and smile as they run up to the and away from the dragons,
If you are returning via CDG and are at the Pullman(Paris CDG) its very simple to get to the actual airport. Walk out the hotel's front door to the station( a few yards), make a right turn in the station and take the escalator for the terminal that your flight is departing from.I you are not sure google CDG departures/airline
Shuttle runs every few minutes . The entire process is free. Simple and very easy.
Let me know if you need suggestions for restaurants etc.
Have a great trip
Carole
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On 8/6/2019 at 2:53 PM, 4774Papa said:
I've looked at river cruises for this area, found good ones for AMA and Grand Circle. Anyone that has done a great cruise there, let me know.
Did Bordeaux with AMA + Loire extension this summer. Great trip, service and excursion guides ( special *** for Herve and Isabelle) in Bordeaux & the Loire AMA does everything for you without being intrusive. We were on the AMA Dolce and from thwe time we arrived @ the dock in Bordeaux to our end @CDG Paris we felt well taken care of .Now looking @ our 4th AMA cruise.
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16 hours ago, texasstar said:
I will chime in. We have just returned from an AMA cruise, our third, Basel to Amsterdam, Rhine and the Moselle. You will not be disappointed. The staff is top- notch. They excursions are all included and most of the guides were very good. Our cruise director took very good care of us, especially those that had mobility issues, and he was very entertaining.The food is very good, the fellow passengers are delightful. 3 nights we had local talent that came on board to entertain us. Enjoy your trip.
Hi & happy almost week-end,
DH & I are looking at the Basel to Amsterdam cruise-would appreciate any review/info you could share. Also as Riquewihr &Strasbourg are special for us if you could share the excursions/time on tour etc would be most appreciated
Carole
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On 9/18/2019 at 12:51 PM, Anngid said:
We are doing the AmaSerena cruise Amsterdam to Basel, Sept 29th - October 6th. We have a flight back home from Zurich on Oct. 6th noon . We are a party of 4, Is anyone doing this cruise, interested in sharing a ride to Zurich airport , leaving the ship 08:30 ?
Please e-mail me : annette@013.net
Looking @ Rhine /Moselle for 2020 Would appreciate any hints /suggestions you might have
Have a great trip
Carole
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On 8/28/2019 at 12:52 PM, newcruisercw said:
My daughter and I took the Enchanting Rhine in June 2019 on AMA Waterways Serena......it was perfect from start to end. We decided the pre-cruise hotel package in Zurich and Lucerne was very pricey. So we flew into Zurich arriving in the morning....and took a 1 hour train directly from airport to Lucerne. We spent 2 nights in Hotel Des Alpes in Lucerne....right on the lake overlooking the wooden bridge......Lucerne was a highlight of our trip. I have some walking limitations but found Lucerne very walkable....even walked from train station to hotel. We then took a 1 hour train from Lucerne to Basel the day of our cruise. From the moment we stepped out of cab in Basel crew were incredible. Restaurant Manager met my daughter within 15 minutes of arriving on the ship to discuss some meal alternatives since she advised them when we booked the cruise that she is a picky eater.....e.g. she does not eat fish/seafood so they substituted with really good pasta meals. Excursions were all good. We had great weather in June....no rain...the first couple of days were a little hot for my liking but comfortable the rest of the week......another highlight was just sitting on our balcony watching Europe go by. This was to be a once in a lifetime trip.......but actually considering another river cruise!........enjoy
Thx for your mini review. DH & I are looking @ this itinerary for our 4th AMA cruise. BY any chance would you have the dailies -interested in amt of time in ports on excursions.
Many thx
Carole
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On 9/9/2019 at 2:15 PM, musiclovingmom said:
This question is for people who have cruised on AMA before. We are not cruising till next April, when we are doing Tulip Time. Does my husband need a suit? Any other tips or suggestions if you've done this particular cruise would also be appreciated. I've been reading through the 20 pages here. Thanks!
No for the cruise. Depending on the weather he might want a jacket. Just finished our 3rd AMA only a few gentlemen wore blazers all other were in sport shirts/dress shirts/ polo shirts.
Have a great trip
Carole
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36 minutes ago, Pauliepaul said:
Hi everyone. Does anyone know what the cocktail prices are like on board? We know wine and beer is included, plus sip and sail, but we do like a good cocktail in the evening and wondering what the prices are like. Have searched for the bar menus but to no avail--only found a version from around 4 years ago and guessing those prices are no longer true! Thanks to anyone who has the answers :).
I did not want a cocktail after the lovely wine at sip & sail+ dinner but you can always ask for a final glass at dinner & take it with you. I belive that coktails were in the 3-6 euro range- sorry didn't look @ scotch $
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On 7/26/2019 at 11:39 PM, franski said:
To me, the bigger rooms and lower number of passengers are a positive thing... again, food is so subjective, that I don't place a lot of stock in food ratings. Not sure if you are aware, but the kitchen on a river boat is quite small - so the kitchen staff is limited in number. My understanding is that the chef often hand picks his kitchen crew. You have no control over who runs the kitchen. If you get kitchen staff that focuses on appetizers or mains - the dessert offerings may be lackluster. Soups may be phenomenal on one cruise, and boring on another --> same line. Many (? most) people who have a positive experience on one line seldom stray --> unless they can't get an itinerary they want on their "preferred" line... There are many happy AMA cruisers here - so, I don't think you could go wrong with choosing AMA.
Re: included drinks... It is only beer & wine that is included at lunch and dinner. Some lines do have bubbly at the breakfast buffet so you can have a mimosa!!
Again, the beer & wine situation differs from line to line. Some only offer the beer on tap as "included"... some will offer what ever they have in the bar. On one cruise, they would make me a Radler if I asked - so I got the beer on tap with fruit juice or lemonade. Not sure if every line offers that - or whether I was just "special"... 😀 Most lines offer red & white wine (some have said it never varies... that has not been my experience in Europe....) --> Avalon also offers rose (which makes me very happy....).
Fran
AMA has beer & wine & soda inc with Lunch & Dinner. Breakfast there is DIY Mimosa bar. Sip & sail cocktail party every day- if you do not want the cocktail of the day just ask for wine, prosecco , bloody MAry,beer etc. It s all included.Food, service and presentation has been outstanding on our 3 prior AMA trips. Their fish choices & preparations are very good. The french fries are deadly to any diet. Looking @ itineraries for our 4th AMA- would not have booked 2nd if not very happy with AMA
Carole
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16 hours ago, Cruisepucks said:
Ahoy, all,
We will be taking our first river cruise. This will be a seven night cruise on Amawaterways from Paris to Normandy.
A few questions for anyone who can provide some information for us:
1. Which of the seven nights is the Chaine des Rotisseurs dinner? (Is it the same on each one week sailing, or does the timing vary?)
2. We have heard that the Farewell Dinner is actually on the next-to-last night as opposed to on the last night of the cruise. Is this true?
3. Does the air conditioning keep the indoor areas of the ship cool? France, especially around Paris, has been having some exceptionally warm weather this summer.
Thanks for your help with these queries.
Have a great evening.
Cheers! 😎 🍷
Dinner varies- consult your front desk
Yes, the farewell dinner is on the next to last day
AC works great
Have a wonderful cruise
Carole
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On 6/28/2019 at 12:05 PM, AF-1 said:
CaroleLee, thank you for your feedback. Do you know if breakfast buffet serves waffles or pancakes? Thanks
It varies- some days there were waffles, some days pancakes and some days french toast. Beside the buffet there is a menu you can order from- husband loved the eggs Benedict, You will not starve.
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On 7/23/2019 at 10:20 AM, AF-1 said:
CaroleLee, On our trip we depart the US on 6 May and arrive Zurich on 7 May. We are met at the airport by Ama cruise director and are taken to our hotel; which is the Marriott Zurich. The day and night are free to roam. On the 8th we have breakfast included and head out with cruise director for tour of Zurich and the sights. We depart on the 9th and take bus tour of countryside and end up in Lucerne. The tour director checks us into hotel and we sightsee. On the 10 we have breakfast included and tour director takes us on tour of Lucerne and surrounding area. After breakfast we depart Lucerne on the 11th and take bus to the ship in Basel. We take our luggage onboard and have rest of the day to sightsee in Basel. The ship departs Basel at night. We do 7night cruise and end up in Amsterdam on the afternoon on the 17th. We have the evening free to sightsee. We spend the night on the ship and depart on 18th early next morning to fly back to the states.
Many thx for your reply. I have been debating with myself re which Rhine cruise or to do Flavors of Spain & Portugal. Have decided on Rhine & Moselle Delights for next year,= Any additional info, suggestion you might have will be gratefully appreciated.
Esp interested in Strasbourg & Riquewihr
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On 7/14/2019 at 8:52 AM, AF-1 said:
Thanks, Will post sometime next year when we return from our trip. we are also doing pre cruise in Zurich and Lucerne.
Looking @ this trip+ extensions for next year. Do you have any info on the Zurich-Basel portions?
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Hi to all,
Just back from AMA Bordeaux and going through cruise withdrawal. Thinking about AMA Rhine/Moselle Delights-has anyone done this either w/wo the land extensions? Would appreciate your thoughts
Thx
Carole
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On 6/17/2019 at 6:26 PM, AF-1 said:
Hello, my wife and I are about to put a deposit on a AMA Waterways river cruise. We have never been on one; but our friends say they are great and close to all the action. They told us they are pretty much inclusive with everything except gratuities; and some booze. My question to all those who have been; what can we expect; we are nervous since we have only been on the Big Cruise Lines; such as Royal Caribbean; NCL, and Princess. We are looking to Book Ama Serena for a 7 night Enchanting Rhine river cruise; with four days in Zurich and Lucerne prior to Sailing. Any feedback and tips would be much appreciated. Thanks All. We plan on going 6-17 May 2020. We are working with a travel agent; but have not put the deposit in yet. We are going to book french balcony with outside balcony cabin. BB on Cielo deck. Our agent is getting us about $400 off the Ama brochure price plus a $300 gift card.
Just back from AMA Bordeaux cruise-our 3rd. AMA is beyond excellent in terms of food & service. Cabins were immaculate. Shore excursion well planned. Other than laundry, tips & shopping you should not have any additional $. NB: There are mimosa stion @ breakfast, wine, beer, soft drink @ lunch & dinner as well as "sip & sail" cocktail hour included every day.
We are looking @ a Rhine/Moselle for our next cruise. Relax & enjoy
Carole
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Hi to everyone,
Just a short time before we leave for Paris and then on wards to Bordeaux on the AMA DOLCE. Our documents were shipped late from CA and are now somewhere between CA and NY on a UPS ground truck. The delay is due to the weather. So DH is getting crazed as he wants the guidebook ( that is part of the doc package) to read on the plane. All the DW out there know that when DH get crazed the DW suffer. I've asked TA to have AMA resend everything via overnight air. Hope this can be done.
OK now my questions for anyone who has done this trip: Do you remember what days/ports the various special dinners were held ( I want to make Chef's Table res as soon as onboard)
Were there any outstanding excursions +/-
Thx
Carole
Ama Excursion Info after booking
in River Cruising
Posted
1st you will enjoy your AMA cruise-they really do go out og their way to make your trip excellent. So go to the My Booking section of the web. You will have to enter your reservation # etc You will then be able to look @ all the excursion and other info for your cruise.
Have a great time
Carole