Question for AMA Cruisers

[taxjam]

How would you rate the excursions? Are the groups large? How big? Are the buses filled to capacity or is there some free space? How are the guides< etc.?

[MVPinBoynton]

If you read our review at www.thepreismans.com, you will find that we were very pleased with the excursions. There were quite a few groups, so size was very reasonable for the guide. Plus by using the VOX devices, it was very easy to hear what the guide was saying wherever you were standing. I would walk around and take photos while the guide was explaining what we were seeing. I thought it was a great way to handle a tour.

[The worldtravel]

The excursions were great and you were able to pick the group you wanted to be with and even change if you felt a need to do so. This was a very organized process: you picked up your vox box to hear your guide in the color that you wanted before you left the ship, met that group, boarded the correct bus, or just began to walk from the boat. On most excursions they had a gentle walker group, average groups, and a faster paced group. The gentle walkers were given trams, a little train, etc when possible and they avoided walking up steep hills and doing steps. We went with the faster paced group whenever possible but on one excusion in Austria the gentle walker group was also on our bus and she was so much fun we switched and went with her, our bonus a little train ride though the vineyard and and an amazing guide. The guides were all really good and really knew their area. Our cruise manager was also almost always around checking to make sure everything was going great.

[franski]

We have found - on both of our cruises - that the guides are amazing... They are able to offer to an insight into the local history and/or geography that you would not (in most situations) be able to get from books.

 

Of course, as with most careers, there are good and not-so-good, so you may get a guide that may leave you a bit disappointed - but we found those were in the minority.