CaroleLee

Does anyone have experience with transfers through AMA? We arrive in Munich very early in the morning. I assume there is some waiting for other guests before the AMA transfer leaves. Could we be waiting until the afternoon to depart for Vilshofen?

We arrived very early to CDG(6:30am)- AMA rep was waiting for us as was our driver. Took us directly to the ship(AMALYRA). Incidentally the reception staff knew we would be early & our cabin was waiting for us-immaculately clean, fresh towels etc-and we were invited to enjoy breakfast. This was just the start of really excellent service. Have booked our 3rd cruise for these and other reasons with AMA

Carole

Thx to all. Man in seat 6 info was perfect.

Cruise critic is so helpful

Carole

It's very easy to buy tickets beforehand directly from SNCF.

https://en.oui.sncf/en/

 

Gare Montparnasse is large, but easy to navigate. Train tracks are clearly sign-posted about one hour ahead of departure.

Thx

Does anyone have experience with transfers through AMA? We arrive in Munich very early in the morning. I assume there is some waiting for other guests before the AMA transfer leaves. Could we be waiting until the afternoon to depart for Vilshofen?

Do not fret. Last July our flight was early (tailwinds). We cleared CDG @ 6:45am.AMA was waiting for us. The transfer rep stated that she had monitored the flight & knew we would be very early. When we arrived at AMALYRA the experience was repeated. Reception checked us in and then said as they knew we would be early our cabin was ready(VERY NEAT & CLEAN) & waiting for us,oh and please go the the dinning room and have (a full) breakfast. AMA goes an extra way to make you feel special without being smothering or charging you for every little thing. Just booked AMA #3

Enjoy

Carole

Thanks for letting us know about the App. I downloaded it but can't sign up yet. I can't sign in on the AMA site either yet. I booked with a travel agent and suspect AMA won't get my file until my final payment is due in April as AMA doesn't seem to recognize my name yet. Thanks everyone.

Its not you. AMA is phasing in the APP. Currently only AMAVIOLA (1 sailing) is available in the app.

Carole

Hi to all. Have a question re TGV to Bordeaux.- Disregarding the rail strikes. Has anyone done this route? When & where did you buy your tickets? We will be in Paris for a few days & I don't want to spend time doing things that could have been done prior to arrival. How easy is it to navigate the Gare de Montparnasse? DH doesn't speak any French. I will be in Bordeaux before him-I speak French

Thx

Carole

Hi to all. Have a question re TGV to Bordeaux.- Disregarding the rail strikes. Has anyone done this route? When & where did you buy your tickets? We will be in Paris for a few days & I don't want to spend time doing things that could have been done prior to arrival. How easy is it to navigate the Gare de Montparnasse? DH doesn't speak any French. I will be in Bordeaux before him-I speak French

Thx

Carole

We are new to cruising and planning a 2019 Danube River cruise. We need to put down a deposit to hold our stateroom - then final payment is not due until early 2019. However, we have been advised that we should purchase trip insurance for the whole cruise price now in order to assure that we have pre-existing conditions coverage. I am having trouble understanding the logic. Why wouldnt we buy this coverage when we make the big final payment? Seems at this point our only exposure is the deposit. So if something happens in 2018 that causes us to cancel, we are only out the deposit. But if we prepay full cruise cost insurance and something happens this year - we are out the cost of insurance (which is more than the deposit). Maybe I am missing something?

I understand your logic but if something /health concern happens you might not be able to purchase insurance or else be charged a premium price

Buy insurance ASAP-try insuremytrip.com or similar. Price will depend upon TOTAL cost of the trip (air, hotels cruise etc) and you age. Go through your insurance agent as something might be covered under your homeowners policy

Have a great trip

Carole

Did AMA Seine-Normandy last July. For Canadian & UK & Aussie clients there was a choice of their landing sites & cemeteries.

AMA's service was superior. Lectures were informative. Best part $400.00 p/p deposit balance due a few months prior to sailing

Carole

We were all ready to book another Viking River cruise, when the friends we will be travelling with threw us a curved ball. Check out AMA Waterways, they said. (Their travel agent had recommended AMA)

 

Have any of you cruised with both these lines, and how do they compare? It will be a European 7 night cruise, probably the Danube or France.

 

thanks in anticipation

Just booked our 3rd AMA. You will not be disappointed. Service is outstanding & friendly and never cloying. Food is wonderful-book the Chef's Table (inc with cruise price) for a great tasting menu.

Enjoy

CArole

is anyone using this??? I can get a sign on in it and then it wont let me go an further!!! Advice???

Same here. Contacted AMA. The app only functions for 14 days prior to your cruise. So 14 days prior to your cruise you can input ship etc. Darn I was looking forward to planning my adventure.

Carole

Hi All:

 

We will be taking our first river cruise in March and traveling with four other family members.

We will be with AMA Waterways. My question is this:

 

Will our group be permitted to make reservations for six, or is seating done on a first come, first served basis?

Also, I understand that we will be having dinner at a special table (Captain's) one evening. Can we go as a group of 6 to this event?

Hi,

Just booked our 3rd AMA cruise. Dinner is one seating & usually last 2+/- hrs- service is NOT slow just multiple courses and excellent food & they want you to enjoy your meal

Make reservations for the Chef's Table ASAP

Have a great trip

Carole

We are doing a 14 day cruise out of AMS in June!!! Any tips from former Ama sailers? This is our first river boat cruise!!!

Just booked our 3rd AMA( prior Provence, Normandy)to Bordeaux. Would not have booked if service, food, personnel etc were not outstanding. An example of their attention to details/customer service- Last July we landed @ CGD at 6:30am -they were waiting for us-transfer to AMA Lyra. Arrived at ship some 45 minutes later. Anticipated that we would have to wait for our cabin to be ready-however as soon as we checked in reception announced that as they knew we would be early cabin was ready. They also told us to enjoy breakfast.

Note all meals were excellent.Wine poured at meal time was very nice.Excursions were well organized- NOTE: If you want to DIY at any stop just tell the guide and be sure you know were the ship will be. Your headphones will fit the quite vox system.

Be sure to book Chef's Table.

Enjoy

Carole

We are going on our first river cruise and looking for recommendations for transfers. Do you recommend taxi? Private or shared shuttle? Was hoping to find a cheaper option as it is quite expensive through the cruise line.

 

Will be needing the following as we are doing two cruises back to back:

• CDG Airport in Paris to the river cruise port
  
• Paris river cruise port to the train station
  
• Frankfurt river cruise port to the airport
  

Hi & have a great time

For Paris Uber (in town). We used Blacklane limo- a little $ but very good, on time, helped with luggage etc.

Haven't done Frankfurt-would google car service Franfurt.

Enjoy

Carole

May seem to be a silly question -

Just off our first AMA river cruise and looking at a sailing for later on this year on the Rhine.

In terms of sailing with the current or against the current - when we were sailing the Danube our cruise director mentioned that when doing scenic portions on a sailing depending on the direction of the river you many have a "longer sailing" since you are sailing against the current - which makes complete sense (was surprised at how fast the river was moving in certain spots). We also noticed that when the ship was sailing at quite a clip (we were at the Chefs table) there was a noticeable vibration (we were on the last leg sailing to Budapest) so was wondering if people have experienced a more noticeable vibration sailing against the current? This was the only time we experienced any vibration (note for the future - book the Chefs Table on an overnight port night!) but was wondering if sailing against the current would increase possible vibration.

Can't speak to Danube but on 2 prior AMA (Provence ,Normandy) had no vibration in cabins.,minor in DR. Chef's table on all ships is located aft- over engine & equipment so there will be some vibration.

Have a great trip

CArole

Travel Agents can sell a policy from Allianz that includes pre-existing coverage even if purchased at final payment. IME it usually runs about 8.5% of the covered costs. We prefer this policy over any cruise-line policy because it pays 100% and in cash -- we had to cancel a trip this year for health reasons and the process was smooth and quick. Thankfully the health issue is resolved, and we are 100% whole on the money issue!

Allianz has multiple policies do you recall the name/title of this policy?

Thx

Carole

You can also fly Delta (JFK-MAD 7:35pm-9:15am on 767-400, 90 min layover, MAD-BIO 10:45am-11:45am on Air Europa Embraer 190). That would be my choice.

Thx to all for the answers. I have status with AA and want to use my points for my and DH's airfare

In planning stage for Bordeaux river cruise on AMA. The land portion begins in Bilbao Spain. We are flying from JFK business class. There are no non-stop flights but rather flights with stops In Madrid. Airlines are BA or Iberia both code share with AA. Question has anyone flown this route? Opinion of service on either carrier. Realistically how much time should we allow for connecting flights?

Thx

Carole

Thank you, Carole Lee. I'll checked out AMA.

 

Thursday night I attended a Uniworld cruise night sponsored by my TA's agency. I asked when the 2019 itineraries would be out, and the Uniworld rep said she didn't know. They're still finalizing the 2018 schedule.

 

Roz

Hi Roz,

Right now I’m looking @ the Bordeaux 2019 itineraries

It’s a very intensive trip but having done 2 prior AMA cruises I know that everything will be well organized and 1st rate .I may add on some extra days in Paris at the end to relax etc.DH & I are active 60’s and while the nighttime

Entertainment is not ocean cruise type the performers-on prior cruises-were quite good.In additon sometimes you just want to stroll around the port.

Carole

When can I expect Uniworld and AMA to release their 2019 itineraries and dates?

 

Roz

The AMA 2019 itineraries are out.Check their website, There have been some changes to the itineraries- ie the Bordeaux pre/post have eliminated (pre) Paris and the (pre) is now Bilboa, San Sebastian-Spain then drive to Bordeaux for boarding.

Carole

New article on Cruise Critic:

AmaWaterways to Expand Wellness Programs on River Cruises

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8167

Was on the AMALYRA this past Summer. The Lyra was a tester for this activity. Very nice & non pushy instructor. Top deck morning program was a welcome way to start the day.

Carole

Speak with your TA-they have a portal that should give them the info. Also check on this board for anyone else who has done this itinerary

Carole

Can anyone suggest a lens/lens kit for an I=Phone 6S?

Thx

carole

We did a wine cruise with AMA last summer, and it was fantastic! Everything is included, no extra charges! Plus, some great wine tastings on the ship by the sponsored winemakers!

We loved AMA, have another trip booked in Dec!:D

Looking@ this itinerary for 2018. Question in the Wine Cruise brochure AMA includes an "Illumination Cruise" in Bordeaux but I do not see this item in the regular cruise itinerary. So for anyone out there do BOTH include this?

Thx

Carole

How does the rest of the embarkation day go. Also, do they give you a times guide like they do with ocean cruise companies?

We did the Seine-Normandy cruise this past Summer. We arrived very early (6:45am) @ Paris CDG. The AMA rep was waiting for us as was our AMA driver.Arrived dock side approx 40 min later. checked in-baggage etc. Reception announced that as they knew we would be early our cabin was ready for us & please enjoy breakfast. GREAT service aboard AMA. Looking forward to planning our 3rd trip with them

Enjoy

Carole