I recently returned from Europe after enjoying a 7-night cruise with AmaWaterways. My journey started in Basel, Switzerland and wound its way north on the Rhine River with our final stop in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Read on for my AmaWaterways review.
Pre-cruise & Day 1: Basel
I flew into Basel two nights early to explore the area pre-cruise. While it is Switzerland's third largest city, the old part of town was compact and easily walkable. I happened to be in town during their Autumn Fair, a 550-year-old event (the oldest in Switzerland) that brought carnival rides and booths full of yummy treats and drink across several market squares across the city. I also enjoyed a walking tour of the city and explored some of Basel's landmark sites - Market Square with the 500-year-old medieval Rathaus (town hall), the Basel Minster, and the Jean Tinguely fountain. Basel is known for their art museums of all types, but I simply didn't have enough time to explore them.
One of my favorite things, though, was the Rheinfähre - a traditional ferry that crosses the Rhine River using nothing but the current of the river. This environmentally conscious way to cross the river is used by both tourists and locals, with 4 different crossing locations. Each can be found halfway between the bridges that connect both sides of the town. A main cable goes across the river, and the wooden boat is then connected by a cable to the main line. The boatman (or boatwoman) has a rudder that they switch between two positions. The river current is then the propelling force that moves the boat. My one-way crossing took about 5 minutes and only cost 1.60 Francs.
Day 2: Lucerne
Today's adventure was a bus ride out to Lucerne, Switzerland. It began with a walking tour of the old town, and then we were given about an hour and a half to explore on our own. One of Europe’s oldest wooden covered bridges, the Old Chapel Bridge, serves as its centerpiece. We were in town during the Swiss Marathon, so there were people everywhere. We even got serenaded by alphorns! The long tubular instruments are famous for being used by shepherds to call the cows from the pastures and into the barn at milking time. I also used my free time to duck into a shop and buy some of that famous Swiss chocolate - yummy! At the end of the tour, we found ourselves at the iconic Lion Monument, which depicts the figure of a dying lion carved into a hillside. It was designed in memorial of Swiss soldiers who lost their lives during the French Revolution. Writer Mark Twain described it as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."
Day 3: Strasbourg
Today the cruise took us to France, and the famous town of Strasbourg. As it sits near the German border, it's culture and architecture are a blend of German and French influences. The old town is on an island, and is centered by its Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame. The day was overcast and threatening rain, so I chose not to climb the spire. On good days, though, the view from the top provides a stunning view of the surrounding area. Instead, I wandered the town ducking into shops and enjoying a local favorite, tarte flambée. It's sort of like a pizza, with a thin cracker-like crust topped with crème fraîche, thin-sliced onions, and bacon. The famous "Petite-France' is a small area of medieval half-timbered houses and Baroque sandstone buildings, and is located where the river splits into a number of cascading canals.
Day 4: Heidelberg
Our port today was Ludwigshafen, Germany, but our excursion was a short motorcoach ride away - Heidelberg. One of Germany's oldest university towns, Heidelberg's main tourist attraction sits 300 feet above it. Heidelberg Castle provides a great aerial view of the town below, and is home to the Great Vat - a wine cask from the 18th century that can hold 49,000 gallons of wine! Unfortunately, I forgot my raincoat on the ship so of course the sky opened up and poured while we were walking down from the castle to the center of town. I just used it as an excuse to pop into a bakery and enjoyed a sweet treat and drink while I waited for the rain to subside. Lesson learned, though, I took that raincoat with me on every excursion after!
Day 5: Rudesheim and the Rhine Gorge
The day started out at Rudesheim, with morning excursions to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum and wine tasting at the local vineyard. We then boarded the ship and enjoyed the highlight of the entire cruise - scenic cruising through the Rhine Gorge. We spent several hours cruising and admiring the many castles and fortress ruins along the river. By late afternoon we docked and took an early evening excursion to Lahneck Castle. This 13th-century medieval fortress is perched atop a steep rock hill above the Lahn and Rhine Rivers. I quite enjoyed the tour, as the castle was lit solely by candlelight - allowing us to get a true feel for what it would have been like living in the castle prior to electricity.
Day 6: Cologne
Ah, Cologne. One of my favorite stops on river cruises. With a 2,000-year history of continuous habitation, Cologne is known for its charming Old Town and its fabled 13th-century Gothic Cathedral. Since I had previously visited and participated in a guided walking tour, I chose to go it alone and wander through the town by myself. I strolled across the bridge for some great views of Cologne, and returned in the evening to take pictures when the sun went down and the lights came on. If you happen to enjoy beer, then Cologne is a great stop to pop into a bar and enjoy a pint - or two!
Day 7: Amsterdam
Once again we had the pleasure of day cruising during the morning hours. As the sun rose, we found ourselves no longer on the Rhine and instead on a canal as we weaved our way into Amsterdam. After lunch we arrived and once docked, boarded a smaller canal boat for an hour and a half cruise through a few of the canals that snake through the city. It's a great way to view the architecture, and helps you understand why Amsterdam is referred to as the "Venice of the North." We had the rest of the day to explore on our own, so I took advantage and walked through the neighborhoods, the main shopping streets, and the Red-Light District. I even stopped by a street vendor and enjoyed some herring, Netherland-style, with a pint of beer.
Final Thoughts
This was my first time sailing with AmaWaterways - and I quite enjoyed the ship, food, and excursions. The onboard staff were friendly and attentive, the rooms comfortable, and the food was top-notch. I would definitely recommend AmaWaterways, and can't wait to find a time to sail with them again. For those who are light sleepers, though, I would caution you on choosing a cabin location away from the back of the ship. I was in the last cabin and heard the engines when we did night sailings (twice on my itinerary). Also, anyone who has issues with stairs should avoid the lower floor. The elevator does not go down to that level, and the spiral stairs going up were actually pretty steep. While the lowest priced cabins are on that level, it would be worth it to pay a little more for one of the other floors.
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