Hungarian Parliament<\/p><\/div>\n
What’s so luxurious about river cruises is that instead of having THOUSANDS of cabins on board, there are under 100. The one we traveled on, the AmaViola, only had 79 for the 158 possible passengers. On board, you can enjoy four passenger decks, four lounges, three restaurants, and a (rarely found on river cruises) top-deck swimming pool! This ship allows for personal attention, easy access to anything on the boat, and (even better) easy access to cities and small towns you might not have gotten the chance to visit otherwise.<\/span><\/p>\nMain Lounge on the AmaViola<\/p><\/div>\n
A part of a suite on the AmaViola<\/p><\/div>\n
Main Lounge on the AmaViola<\/p><\/div>\n
Top deck swimming pool on the AmaViola<\/p><\/div>\n
Main Lounge on the AmaViola<\/p><\/div>\n
AmaWaterways has dozens of route options all throughout the year. You can enjoy more in-depth cruises that focus on one or two countries — such as Tulip Time in the Netherlands and Belgium or explore wine country in France, Spain, or Portugal. Or you can take a much grander excursion and book a river cruise that lets you experience up to eight countries! Ours was a special wine cruise, called the Romantic Danube, that took us to wine destinations all over Central and Eastern Europe — talk about an absolute dream!<\/span><\/p>\nThe Romantic Danube (Wine Cruise) itinerary includes the following destinations: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Czech Republic<\/b>: Prague (with the addition of the three-day pre-cruise land program) and Cesky Krumlov (optional excursion).<\/span><\/li>\n
- Germany<\/b>: Regensburg, Vilshofen, and Passau.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Austria<\/b>: Linz, Weissenkirchen, D\u201a\u00e0\u00f6\u00ac\u222brnstein, Krems, Vienna, and optional excursions to Salzburg and the Austrian Lake District.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Hungary<\/b>: Budapest.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Old Town Prague<\/p><\/div>\n
The cruise is a total of eight days — the first for arrival with embarkation in the late afternoon, and the last for disembarkation around 11am. During those eight days, you cruise in and out of canals and explore some of the oldest cities in the world. You slowly cruise by medieval castles, cascading vineyards, and rolling hillsides. You take in city lights and country darkness while eating some of the most delicious and innovative meals on board with only your adult contemporaries. Unlike other cruise ships where its focus is family vacations, this one is adults-only.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
To make the most of your time, we highly recommend adding on one of their pre- or post-cruise land programs. For the Romantic Danube cruise, the options were Prague for three days pre-cruise and Budapest for 3 days post-cruise. We did them both. In both destinations, you stay at luxury hotels and are taken on grand city walking tours by knowledgeable tour guides. You are in great hands and always learn so much more than you would on your own.<\/span><\/p>\nDuring the bus transfer from Prague to Vilshofen, you get to explore one of Germany’s oldest medieval cities and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Regensburg. Here is your first introduction to the Bavaria and it’s quite a charming town.<\/span><\/p>\nUpon arrival, you are greeted with an Oktoberfest of your very own where you can enjoy pretzels and beer while listening to Bavarian folk music on the dock of Vilshofen — a 1200 year-old Bavarian town.<\/span><\/p>\nVilshofen, Germany<\/p><\/div>\n
On your first day aboard, you get to enjoy a wine tasting brought to you by a featured winemaker (ours was from Arizona) and enjoy an afternoon in Passau – a 2000 year-old city with Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture.<\/span><\/p>\nThe next four days are spent in Austria to soak up the beauty in the Wachau Valley. You get the opportunity to explore the one of the smallest towns in Austria, D\u201a\u00e0\u00f6\u00ac\u222brnstein, as well as the largest city, Vienna. You get to enjoy wine tasting in the Wachau Valley, explore the church where “The Sound of Music” was filmed, and see Mozart’s birthplace and churches where he had residence. Pending your choice of excursions, you can also enjoy the grand city of Linz, the majestic Austrian Lake Districts, and Melk’s Benedictine Abbey. Whatever your preference –quiet town or cosmopolitan city — they have an excursion that feels hand-picked for you. If you’d also like to skip a walking tour and explore the area on your own, you are also welcome to enjoy some local shopping, different sights, and get some land time to yourself.<\/span><\/p>\nBaroque Stiftskirche in D\u201a\u00e0\u00f6\u00ac\u222brnstein, Austria<\/p><\/div>\n
Makartsteg Bridge in Salzburg, Austria<\/p><\/div>\n
Ankeruhr, clock in Downtown Vienna<\/p><\/div>\n
The final day is spent on route to Budapest where you are met with an extraordinary view on the Danube — view of Buda on the right, Pest on the left. Without leaving your ship, you can view the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Hungarian Parliament, the Citadella, the <\/span>Szachenyi Chain Bridge,
\nand so much more. Budapest is such a grand, old city that you can’t help but marvel at the architecture all around you.<\/span><\/p>\nCentral Market Hall in Budapest<\/p><\/div>\n
Doheny Street Synagogue in Budapest<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
To really immerse you in the culture of the area, every night’s on-board menu utilizes local ingredients and native recipes to create luxurious four-course meals. While the menu is preset, you are always welcome to choose other options to meet your dietary needs. We had no problem getting vegetarian and vegan options on board.<\/span><\/p>\nA vegan appetizer on the AmaViola<\/p><\/div>\n
Vegan German Lentil Soup on the AmaViola<\/p><\/div>\n
Ice Cream Dessert on the AmaViola<\/p><\/div>\n
Hungarian dessert on the AmaViola<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Traveling around Europe by train or plane can also be exhilarating, but instead of stressing about making your next flight or train departure, just book one reservation for a river cruise, a.k.a. your floating hotel! There’s no need for transfers and you will always have staff members who will speak your language. No doubt, it is one of the most comfortable and efficient ways to travel around Europe. Twelve destinations in two weeks? It can be done and without all of the struggle! Ditch the stress of planning, transfers, and trains, and book a dream river cruise to get the European vacation you’ve always wanted. It’s time to make that bucket list of yours a little shorter.<\/span><\/p>\nTo book your own dream vacation with AmaWaterways, get your quote for the Romantic Danube (Wine Cruise)
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