We are going on an AMA Waterways Rive cruise along the Rhine, starting in Amsterdam and ending in Basel, Switzerland. This is the time of the year that Christmas Markets are set up in many of the German cities. We may be cold but it should pretty and a fun time to visit.
We boarded the Amalegro riverboat in Amsterdam, a short distance from the centre of the city. As soon as the crew saw our taxi pull up to the curb, they ran out to assist us with our bags. We checked in quickly and were immediately taken to our cabin by another crew member. We were instantly impressed with the friendliness and efficiency of the crew.
Our comfortable cabin is 170 sq. ft. with a sliding glass door leading to a “French balcony”. It is not really a balcony but a railing that you can lean over, preventing you from falling into the water. A small desk houses the in-room Infotainment system, offering TV, complimentary movies and Internet access. There is just enough room on the desk for my laptop and a telephone. Telephone calls are only 1 euro per minute to anywhere in the world.—quite reasonable if you have to make a call home. The bathroom has a multi-head shower system—just large enough for you to comfortably shower.
Each day we come back to our room and find an animal made from towels waiting for us on our bed. This one is even wearing my sunglasses!
The ship has 2 lounge areas: a large one in the front of the ship and a small one at the back. There is a full bar offering alcoholic drinks throughout the day, a complimentary coffee machine and snacks. You will not go hungry on an AMA Waterways cruise.
The meals are very good with several choices for each of the courses. Breakfast and lunch is buffet or al a carte and dinner is sit-down. Dress is casual during the day and smart casual at night. There are no formal nights nor formality on the ship.
This will be a fun way to see Germany and the Christmas markets.
