Ross' River Cruise on the Danube

Join Ross as he embarks on an unforgettable journey along the majestic River Danube with AmaWaterways. Discover the charm of Europe’s enchanting cities and picturesque landscapes, from Vienna’s historic grandeur to Budapest’s vibrant culture, all in the comfort of a luxurious river cruise.

Experience the elegance of AmaWaterways' exquisite service and amenities as Ross sails through the heart of Europe, promising an unparalleled adventure filled with culture, elegance, and stunning vistas.

Journey there

Who did you fly with?
British Airways

Did you get any connecting transport from the airport?
Yes, the AmaWaterways airport transfer took us from Munich to Vilshofen, which took 2 hours the AmaWaterways representative was very informative en route with info about both the cruise and the Danube.

How was the journey?
Good, everything was on time.

Did anything memorable happen?
Before the transfer, we spent the day in Munich beer hall Hofbräu Wirtshaus where Mozart would fortify himself to write his music. Also, the return transfer took us from the ship to the airport check-in desk and helped with our luggage which was unexpected as usually we get dropped at the main door and left to ourselves.

Hotels

Where did you stay?
The Hilton in Munich Airport was fantastic, we stayed there the night before the cruise. 

We stayed the week on the AmaMagna, a ship twice the width of traditional European river ships which offers the luxury of space, four dining venues and more leisure opportunities. Our suite was spacious and all had full balconies.

Were there any special features?
There was a gym on board as well as massage rooms for those who wanted to work off the delicious food we had. 

Did you receive any special service/treatment?
One lunch we only had an hour before the excursions started but the main dining restaurant was fairly full- there were 6 of us so the majority of the larger tables had been filled so they opened up the chef's table restaurant for us in order for us to be served with plenty time to go on our excursion.

Any recommendations?
Highly recommend the Mountain Hub Social Dining at the Hilton hotel - we arrived around 10 pm and they were running a world buffet with chefs cooking fresh to order, including massive prawns and beautiful steaks - we also had a live pianist playing whilst we ate. Their foyer and bar area is open plan, with floor-to-ceiling windows 5 floors up with trees just as high breaking up the space and a really vibrant atmosphere where we enjoyed a few drinks before turning in.

Onboard, there was a cocktail hour- drinks were included during meal times, but each day they were also included for an hour before dinner in the main bar where they gave you updates on what was happening with nighttime entertainment and how long we were docked for. We spent many nights after dinner in the cities we visited to experience the nightlife of the different countries. Each night in the main bar they had local entertainment performing from the city/town we were docked at and experienced some great traditional music & dancing.

Activities

What did you see/do?
All excursions were included, most ports offered a choice of 3, and always a cycling tour too:

Vilshofen: Evening of traditional Bavarian beer, food and music, a mini Oktoberfest, then late-night exploration of this delightful town. Made friends with a local bar owner who kept his bar open for us as he gave us the history of the town

Passau: City of three rivers walking tour learning the history of this city, they are no stranger to flooding but every once in a while there is a catastrophic flood that can reach second-floor windows which they mark on the buildings. What used to be ‘Hell’s Alley’ (for the red light district, the destitute, the ‘drunkards’, etc.) is now ‘Artist’s Alley’ (painted cobbles) because this is the area that gets hit most with flooding so it’s inexpensive. There is no flood insurance but the community (including from neighbouring countries, Austria, village students, and all surrounding emergency personnel) come together and work hard to restore what was lost. We finished at St. Peter’s Cathedral which houses the world's largest pipe organ and were treated to viewing the end of a service with the organ playing as it was Holy Week.

Linz: We opted for a cycle through the vineyards, yes we also received some samples to taste!

Grein- We visited the castle inhabited by Queen Victoria’s great-grandson, especially impressive was the diamond room built with acoustics in mind for musical entertainment

Melk: Walk through the beautiful serene forest and go up to the very impressive Melk Abbey. It was a warm day so we took a dip in the pool when we returned to the ship.

Spitz: One of the most beautiful stretches of the Danube, Wachau Valley- wine country- we were amazed that they had little fridges all over town with honour system bottles of wine where you can help yourself and post your money in the collection box. The wine was delicious!

Vienna: stunning architecture! I spent the afternoon exploring, had to try some delicious schnitzel and apple strudel, took a traditional horse and cart ride, saw some street music, visited Mozart and Schubert’s homes and finished off with a choir concert in a cathedral. In the evening we decided to watch Sound of Music in the Cinema they have onboard, I mean we were in Vienna

Bratislava (Slovakia): This was never on my radar but I have to say it was one of our favourite stops and we’ve already earmarked it for another visit later in the year. The friendly, open vibe, the space, the architecture, and the street musicians, could easily have spent the whole week here. We went beer tasting with a local guide who was so passionate about the city and the country that it really made the excursion!

Budapest: We toured the Buda (hilly) side of the city overlooking the Pest (flat) side and listened to their harsh history of invasions. One of the biggest things to do is visit the natural baths dotted around the city.

What was the weather like?
The cruise started as low as 10 degrees in Vilshofen and by the end of the cruise, it was a lovely 30 degrees.

Food/Drinks

Did you go to any restaurants/cafes?
The Al Fresco restaurant is situated at the rear of the ship and offers unobstructed views of the river and cities we visited. It is small, with only 24 seats so would recommend booking at the start of your trip for dinner, although if you are sharp enough at lunch you can also walk in. This was also our favourite place for breakfast and a mimosa.

We loved the chef’s table, a 7-course set tasting menu where the dishes were finished in front of you by the head chef with the maitre d’ explaining what she was doing and why the dish was selected. Every guest is guaranteed to experience this at least once on the trip but again would suggest booking to get the night you want.

Jimmy Murphy’s restaurant is family-style dining where they bring you a selection of dishes for the middle of the table and you help yourself, good selection and a great atmosphere The main restaurant only serves a la carte so everything is cooked fresh to order and changed from port to port with local delicacies highlighted on the menu. Service in all restaurants was fantastic, you very much are well looked after no matter where you choose to dine

Conclusion

Would you recommend this holiday and who to?
I would recommend this cruise to couples or groups. There was a good age range from around 30 – 70 year olds.

If you would like to plan your next AmaWaterways River Cruise please get in contact with our friendly travel experts:
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