Uniworld has family cruises, floating art workshops, heritage cruises, mystery cruises, among others. Ama offer a full itinerary of classes throughout the day, a gym with spinning bikes and the addition of a relaxation area. Your cruise fare on both will include at least one shore excursion in each port; wine, beer and soda at lunch and dinner; all onboard meals; Wi-Fi; and cultural enrichment. However, these lines have tailored their offerings, making them more inclusive for North Americans while keeping pricing a la carte for Europeans. We invite our loyal past guests to join us once again on these special Loyalty Cruises, offering unique experiences in multiple ports, commemorative gifts, and many more surprises and delights. Backroads even provides the high-end bikes for these sailings, set up for each person ahead of time based on factors like height, weight and cycling style. About Us Contact Work With Us Contact An Agent. At every stop, theres almost always a general walking tour (guests can choose their activity level: active, regular, or gentle), as well as specialty options like beer or wine tastings, hikes and bike tours, or unique visits to museums. If you are unsure as to what you would like to do, the company is also available to fully plan your trip, leaving you with a relaxing experience packed with potential. From the beginning of our vacation to the end, everything was perfect. in multiple ports, commemorative gifts, and many more surprises and delights. Experience Christmas Markets, a holiday feast with all the trimmings and special events on board with your esteemed host. Viking River Cruises typically host 190 passengers. Incredible awards and ratings including having the highest rated river cruise ships in Europe. Part of what makes river cruising so attractive and pricy is that more items such as shore excursions, Wi-Fi or wine at meals are already wrapped into the cost . Part of what makes river cruising so attractive -- and pricy -- is that more items such as shore excursions, Wi-Fi or wine at meals are already wrapped into the cost (of course, if you don't drink, you might feel annoyed at having to pay for all your fellow passengers getting their glasses topped off). Both lines also offer premium excursions, which come at an additional cost. Ever-expanding family-owned river cruise brand AmaWaterways prides itself on its fleet of more than two dozen exquisite vessels. For example, they'll include shore excursions and waiter served dinners for Americans and Canadians, while these remain pay-as-you-go for Europeans. The building design is classy and quality. 1.3K views, 16 likes, 15 comments, 4 shares, Facebook Reels from AmaWaterways: Did you know that a select few of our amazing land packages are complimentary if you reserve before March 31st, 2023?. AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner . [1] History[ edit] Definitely coming back. I would highly recommend choosing the carefully selected wine pairings, handpicked by the onboard sommelier. Resort was stunning , food and entertainment was great, and the staff were incredible. Steinman emphasizes that these wine cruises have all the tours that would be available on a regular cruise, yet guests also can enjoy special wine tastings, wine pairings and interaction with a special wine host. However, the heated swimming pools and swim-up bars are quite popular on AmaWaterways. 800-626-0126. www.amawaterways.com. The service is exceptional you will never have to ask for a drink at mealtime. We strongly encourage getting a slice of Sacher Torte or strudel with your cup at one of Viennas coffeehouses on the Danube River, and tasting authentic Rdesheimer coffee made with Asbach brandy in Rdesheim, Germany along the Rhine. AmaWaterways has a larger fleet than Uniworld, with a larger variety of sizes as well. [2], Unusually for river cruises, there are hair salons on AmaWaterways ships,[2] as well as spas, gyms, and libraries. The rooms are nicely decorated and everything worked perfectly with no problems. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. At breakfast, you can enjoy sparkling wine, juices, tea and coffee. Final payment is due 90 days before the cruise. There's also space at the Aquavit Terrace. Light bites are served throughout the day in the lounge; there are pastries for early or late risers who miss breakfast, tapas for lunch, afternoon tea, a Sip & Sail cocktail hour (alcoholic beverages are complimentary), and a late-night snack served at 10:30 p.m. You can also access a complimentary coffee station here 24/7. They even have a specially selected handful of wine cruises, with various tours around Europe, France, and Portugal. For other couples, either cruise line would be great depending on what you are looking for. Ukraine, Russia, and Egypt are also scheduled countries for Viking River Cruises. One particularly excellent singer/performer is Valerie May. Number of Ships: 24. How? Bathrooms have heated floors, a surprising and wonderful detail, especially in the middle of the night. Whether it is at a luxury resort or a cozy cabin, we are here to make planning your next trip easier. Fresh local dishes and favorite drinks are stocked on board at every location to make you feel like . Both suggest gratuities of around 2 euros for tour guides and one euro for bus drivers. These excursions generally are limited to small groups and take you into smaller venues or provide immersive experiences that expose passengers to a port's culture and tradition on a deeper, often hands-on, level. In the river cruise world, its the term for amenities that are already part of your fare. As most of your daylight hoursand sometimes evening hourswill be spent off the ship, AmaSiena offers limited onboard activities. Uniworlds fleet consists of 17 ships, most of which are quite similar in size. They offer cruises ranging from 7 to 27 days. Ever-expanding family-owned river cruise brand AmaWaterways prides itself on its fleet of more than two dozen exquisite vessels. "I'm Kristin Karst, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways and I'm passionate about river cruising. AmaWaterways excursions generally have three levels: a gentle-walking group, the general group and the active group. some of the leading championship courses on the continent. Any additional drinks, such as premium alcoholic beverages, can be ordered at any time and added to your onboard account. Now that you have an idea of what Uniworld and AmaWaterways offer, lets take a look at the similarities and differences of Uniworld vs. Ama river cruises. The line has also recently launched its first Mississippi. Thank you Dani for knowing how to make things happen and always willing to go the extra mile to make our vacation special! These 210-square-foot cabins offer guests AmaSienas signature double balconies; one true balcony with two chairs and a small table and a French balcony right beside it. Learn how your comment data is processed. This website uses cookies. Cabins on AmaWaterways & Viking River Cruises Vary Dramatically, Dining on AmaWaterways & Viking River Cruises' Dining Draw Similarities. On European itineraries Viking recommends 18 euros per person per day, which can be prepurchased or automatically added to the shipboard account. A-Rosa does include all alcoholic drinks and gratuities -- measures that appeal to its primarily European passengers. Most if not all of the river cruises along the Danube include an optional Mozart concert in Vienna. [2] It had a fleet of 26 ships as of 2022. It serves an ever-changing menu inspired mainly by local cuisinethink semmelkndel, or bread dumplings, while sailing through Germany might be paired with a local beer or wine. Trying to decide whether you want to sail AmaWaterways vs. Viking River Cruises is tricky. Uniworld has a broad range of staterooms offering a luxurious, high-end designer feel and one-of-a-kind interiors. But also a great time to take advantage of complimentary pre dinner drinks which consist of champagne, wine, beer and specially selected cocktails. Both offer exceptional dining, great entertainment and activities, and a luxurious experience. What are the current requirements for embarking on AmaWaterways' river cruises? Secrets Akumal was the perfect combination of everything we love. When it comes to accommodations onboard, many believe that Uniworld has the upper hand. The only things that appear to be included in AMA's package is 1) $110 transfers boat to hotel; 2) 2 nights hotel; and 3) 1/2 day city tour. You May Like: What Cruise Lines Depart From Norfolk Va. AmaWaterways opened the ODA Free Village English School in the province of Siem Reap, Cambodia in association with ODA the Orphans and Disabled Arts Association. Excursions are operated in small groups of just 10-15 guests. Viking and Ama both include enrichment programs during their sailings, and the offerings are comparable. Celebration of Classical Music: The Danube, Gems of Southeast Europe Christmas Markets, Treasures of the Main & Rhine (Christmas), Majestic Capitals of the Danube (Christmas), Colors of Provence Soulful Epicurean Experience, A Celebration of Classical Music: The Danube, Secrets of Egypt and the Nile Epicurean Experience. Still have questions? This beach is gorgeous. She came to us with the best options and negotiated so many things to accommodate our large group. There is a cancellation fee of $100 payable on sailings cancelled 121 days or more before the sailing date, which increases on a sliding scale closer to the departure. Although dining is more intimate with less venues on a river cruise ship. Five Ama ships -- AmaViola, AmaStella, AmaLea, AmaKristina and AmaMora -- also include several cabins that can accommodate three or four people (with a king-size bed along with a chair that converts into a twin bed). Sail through Europe on our Treasures of the Main & Rhine itinerary from Nuremberg to Amsterdam with Emmy award-winning television host, travel expert and AmaWaterways Godmother Samantha Brown as the festive holiday season begins to transform bustling German cities, medieval villages and Amsterdam, the "Venice of the North." At intervals during the day one of the crew will appear with a nice cooling wine spritzer, cold beer or cocktail of the day. That said, both Uniworld and AmaWaterways have wellness centers, swimming pools, sun decks, and lounges in which you can sit comfortably with a good book or enjoy a drink and a chat with fellow guests. (Beer and wine are included with lunch and dinner, and sparkling wine with breakfastotherwise, alcohol is la carte. Sip and Sail Cocktail Hours takes place for an hour before dinner every evening. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey. As with any cruise type, the cost can vary depending on the itinerary, dates, and ship you're on. AmaWaterways has curated a diverse menu of included shore excursions, from walking tours for gentle, regular and active guests to guided hikes and bike rides. AmaWaterways is a wonderful pick for passengers who want to be active or travel with children as well as those who want more amenities onboard. Viking River Cruises and AmaWaterways include at least one shore excursion in every port you visit. I just got off of an AmaWaterways European River Cruise with my wife after we were both invited to sail with them. The closet and drawers were roomy. Then, there are the ships in Egypt and China, Vietnam, which the line either owns or charters. But also a great time to take advantage of complimentary pre dinner drinks which consist of champagne, wine, beer and specially selected cocktails. The suites are extremely spacious great for passengers who want larger accommodations, adds Steinman, noting that even lower deck cabins are 200 plus square feet. Soda, beer and regional wines are included at meal times, and menus source heavily from local markets and reflect the areas through which the ships sail. Gentle is designed for those guests needing a slower pace and, at times if possible , even a bit less walking. The rivers we sail are calm bodies of water and our ships experience no waves or rocking motions the primary cause for seasickness. They also have heated swimming pools with swimup bars that are surprisingly large for a river line. Overall, the ship has an atmosphere of laid-back luxury. Everything is taken care of with no worries. Both cruise lines use a QuietVox system during excursions, where the tour guide speaks into a headset while passengers listen on receivers. Recommended Reading: Italian River Cruise. Uniworld tends to put more focus on guided tours and daytime entertainment at various destinations. We have created the perfect package to enable you to do just that! Travel agents specializing in river cruises are usually able to offer great discounts and deals that are unavailable to the general public. Viking's Longships feature square bows, which creates space for the line's Aquavit Terrace, an alfresco spot for drinking and dining on the third deck. You are the best. Entertainers will board the ship at various locks along the route, with their driver dropping them off at one lock and picking up the performers further down the river at another lock. Our exclusive Concierge Golf Programme includes 7 nights onboard one of the highest rated ships in Europe, complete with award winning cuisine, a choice of excursions in every port and our unique Twin Balconies, as well as up to 5 rounds of golf at some of the leading championship courses on the continent. After pandemic-induced delays, family-owned river cruise line AmaWaterways had a big year in 2021, debuting three new ships to its international fleet, including the AmaSiena, sister to the AmaLea and AmaKristina, which was christened on Europes Rhine River in August 2021. Passengers can bring onboard their own drinks from port as well. How Do the Enrichment Programs Compare on These Two Popular River Cruise Lines? Note that the Sun Deck is only accessible via stairs, not the elevators. Our land packages include some of the most amazing destinations pre- and/or post-cruise but, what's included? You might go truffle hunting in Bordeaux or cognac blending in Camus, for example. These requirements,as mandated by airlines and individual countries or regions, may change without notice and cancellation fees will apply should guests no longer meet the country entry requirements for their cruise or land program. AmaWaterways has safari cruises in Africa, wine cruises in Europe, and cruises with focuses like golf, ancestry, classical music, and more. Suite guests receive a complimentary stocked mini-bar . Cabin categories for Viking and AmaWaterways are pretty similar and vary from a standard riverview cabin with small windows all the way to suites with French and walk-out balconies. Is this the most epic river cruise ever? This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. She covers various destinations, hotels, and travel products for TripSavvy. We use cookies to analyse our traffic, enhance our websites functionality and performance and provide a better experience for our users. Please see ourTravel Entry Requirementspage for the most current details. Another perk is that the line offers multiple pace levels of walking tours gentle, regular and active. While locks on most European rivers limit the size of river vessels plying those waterways, the Danube can accommodate some larger ships. The Bottom Line: Which River Cruise Line is Right for You. AmaWaterways' river cruise offerings include the Main River, Moselle River, Rhne River, Douro River, Dutch and Belgium Waterways, Saone River, Seine River, Dordogne, and Garonne Rivers, Mekong River, Nile River, and Magdalena River. The local host was a very nice touch, who made you feel welcomed from the very start. AmaViola and AmaStella also feature a number of connecting cabins, designed with families in mind. Within Europe, Viking offers cruises to a number of different countries, including France, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Romania and Portugal. Explore the rich history of classical music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. As a high-end river cruise line, you'll find an awful lot included in your cruise, including: Unlimited fine wines, sparkling wines, premium spirits and beers on-board; Welcome bottle of sparkling wine and two bottles of wine in-suite; 24-hour self service venue offering tea, coffee, wines and non-alcoholic beverages; Find out everything from whats included to how to dress on board our river cruises. AmaWaterways is known as an upscale river cruise line with 21 custom-designed ships. But for me, I have well and truly caught the river cruise bug.