After attending the CLIA River Cruise Conference in Budapest I was delighted to get onboard AmaWaterways’ ship “AmaSonata” with its silver name glistening in the sun. The exterior looked elegant and luxurious. Getting onboard was easy and the staff were all very welcoming, making me feel like royalty! As soon as we stepped foot into the main lobby, I was immediately drawn in by the amazing glass lift and the distinctive design that made it feel both contemporary and like a boutique hotel on water.
We then made headed to the main lounge passing, by a shop where you can purchase some goodies like handbags, sunglasses, hats, and other items. We all received a presentation about what the ship has to offer and what AmaWaterways is all about. In the middle of the lounge is a large bar and I had a peak at the drinks menu as we all do, with drinks being reasonably priced with majority cocktails costing €8, while the beer is €4.30! I could have stayed there all day because the seats and sofas were so comfortable and has such lovely pattern designs!
After that we made our way up to the sun deck to see a gorgeous comfortable seating area and met the captain who educated us on how river ships pass each other at night, the water currents and how his steering works as it is not just a typical wheel!
Following this, we continued walking across the top of the ship where I was amazed on how large the pool is for a river ship and observed a yoga session in progress. I had fun in playing a big game of chess, tossing a bean bag with my colleagues and assessing the sunbeds! It is a perfect area to catch the sun whilst getting 360-degree views of the places you are sailing through.
We then went down a deck into “The Chef's Table” restaurant, which has glass windows throughout, allowing you to watch the scenery, and see the chefs as they prepare your food. A slow-roasted beef tenderloin accompanied by grilled Atlantic octopus and other dishes is a sample of what is offered on the menu. On a seven-night cruise, you can dine here for free on a one time basis. Going down a deck into the main restaurant, allows you to fully immerse yourself in the places you visit by being served regionally influenced cuisine. This restaurant's arrangement, which includes booths and secluded tables to create a feeling of privacy, was fantastic.
Although you wouldn't find me here, we did look at the large, clean, and well-lit fitness room. There are two treadmills, window-facing cycling machines, weights, and other equipment for an excellent workout. We had a look at the massage room with a bed in the middle of the room, where you could treat yourself to having a nice relaxing massage.
Next, we explored the variety of cabins such as window, French balcony, French balcony & outside balcony, and a suit cabin. With French and outside balconies, you just need to slide the door sideways to get the fresh feel of being on holiday. The bathrooms are made of marble, making it modern and spacious. You get a welcome pack when you enter your cabin, which will be on the end of your bed. Tea and coffee facilities are only provided in a suite cabin, otherwise there is a 24-hour station in the main lounge. All cabins have a mini fridge supplied with soft drinks such as Coca Cola and Sprite! In the suite cabin the bathroom has both a bath and walk in shower, also a dual basin perfect for having lots of space.
AmaWaterways do not provide an all-inclusive basis, as they want to encourage their passengers to get out and explore. They provide excursions like tasting, bicycle tours, walking tours and hiking tours which will be included and you can explore at your own pace! They have a very international customer based but it is an English-speaking cruise. Enjoy the most amazing evening entertainment really bringing the culture onboard the ship. I loved looking at their Columbian river cruises that they offer to experience something completely different as they are the first big river cruise line to explore the Magdalena River!
Overall, I loved the experience and would highly recommend a river cruise to my customers as you get to see lots of destinations on one holiday and only having to unpack once, sounds ideal to me!
