Exactly one month ago today, I embarked AmaWaterways’ stunning AmaLyra in the historic German port of Nuremberg.  Now that the Holiday season has passed and I’ve had more time to reflect, I find myself thinking more and more about my river cruise experience and the things that impressed me most about it.

There’s a lot.

Don’t worry – I won’t keep you glued to your computer for hours as I rattle off all the spectacular things about river cruising and AmaWaterways in particular.  Instead, I present to you Five Things that Impressed Me about my AmaWaterways Voyage:

1. Little Surprises

Little surprises, like these fresh berries, awaited guests every evening in their staterooms and suites. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

2. Onboard Scenic Cruising Commentary

During scenic cruising down the Danube, relevant commentary was broadcast in the ship's public areas. They even mentioned we'd be passing the AmaLegro, which allowed me to get this shot! Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

3. Culinary Variety

There was truly something for every taste aboard the AmaLyra. At breakfast, there were so many types of Marmelade alone that I couldn't fit them all in a single frame! Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

4. Elegant Design

The elegant yet relaxed design aboard the AmaLyra creates an atmosphere that is as soothing as it is European. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

5. On-the-fly Touring

Tours and excursions ashore were all able to be modified on the fly for the benefit of guests; here, we ducked into Stadt Nurnberg to escape a sudden downpour of rain, and ended up learning even more about the history of this famous German city. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

More information about AmaWaterways can be found by reading our Line and Fleet profiles here on River Cruise Advisor.  Did you miss live coverage of our voyage down the Danube from Nuremberg to Budapest?  Not to worry – read all eight days of coverage by clicking here!

We spent seven fantastic days aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaLyra sailing from Nuremberg, Germany to Budapest, Hungary recently.

The 2009-built AmaLyra, docked in Melk, Austria. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

Along the way, we stopped in some of Europe’s most beautiful cities and towns, exploring the historic Christmas Markets and partaking in the traditions of times gone by. The spicy aroma of hot mulled Gluhwein mingled with the fresh pine of trees and the scent of sizzling Bratwurst drifted across the historic town squares along the way.

Come step aboard AmaWaterways' AmaLyra with our complete, deck-by-deck Photo Tour! Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

But the real star of the trip was arguably the 2009-built AmaLyra. Featuring every conceivable comfort and staffed by a crew of 41 highly dedicated individuals, the AmaLyra proved herself to be one of the most comfortable ways to explore the historic waterways of Europe.

Now, you can tour her yourself – virtually – with our complete, deck-by-deck AmaLyra Photo Tour!

Also, be sure to check out our updated profiles of AmaLyra and her sister-ship, the elegant AmaDolce – now with brand-new photos! More information on AmaWaterways, their fleet and stellar itineraries can be found on our complete AmaWaterways Company Overview!

Live From the AmaLyra: Recapping our Christmas Time Cruise

Sailing into Budapest aboard the AmaLyra: a definite hilight of the trip. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”

- St. Augustine

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and such is the case today aboard AmaWaterways’ beautiful AmaLyra as we disembarked in the wonderful Hungarian city of Budapest and begin our long journey back to Canada.

Leaving any trip is a bittersweet moment, but particularly moreso after a cruise aboard the AmaLyra.  I felt the same way when I disembarked from my Windstar and Silversea voyages, but with this, that feeling seems magnified.  After being surrounded by smiling faces, friendly people, amazing destinations, and wonderful local guides, my seat on my flight home seems, well, lonely.

I always feel that it’s the little things that sometimes speak the loudest, and while many aspects of travel suffer from cost-cutting and reduction of amenities, it’s nice to see AmaWaterways was so willing to go the extra mile for their guests on so many levels.

It's cold outside, but the atmosphere in the AmaLyra Lounge is warm indeed. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

Some of my favorite little touches aboard the AmaLyra:

• Personalised Service: the crew here took my nut allergy very seriously, as all cruise lines have.  But here they went so far as to prepare special night-time treats for me, from chocolate-covered strawberries to white chocolates filled with fruit and raisins.  All without asking.  All without prompting.  Truly exceptional.
• Unexpected Amenities: from the toothpaste and shaving kits included in the stateroom bathrooms to the use of umbrellas, bicycles, onboard WiFi internet and complimentary bottled water, there’s a lot to like here – and not a lot to worry about when the final bill comes.
• Regional Specialties: Not everyone will agree with me, but when I travel, I love to sample the local food, and AmaWaterways has a great thing going with their onboard wines and local specialties on the menu each evening, interspersed with more accessible North American fare for those who are more comfortable with that. The complimentary wines are regional and are as good as those found onboard any deep-ocean luxury line.

Local specialties mix with traditional fare to create a highly accessible menu. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

But a ship without a crew is just that – a ship. Without a crew, it simply ceases to function. In order to take on the form of this elegant, sleek vessel sailing the waterways of Europe, it needs to have a heart, and the spectacular crew aboard the AmaLyra is most definitely the heartbeat of the ship.

River cruising offers some amazing sights, like this full moon and low-lying fog on the Danube. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

They are always helpful to a fault, and have gone out of their way for the passengers so consistently that it just amazes me. Even today on disembarkation day (a typically service-less day on mainstream ocean cruises), the crew were chatting and visiting with us while welcoming their first new guests onboard. Captain Pols made time for every passenger who approached him, and even invited a taxi driver there to pick up passengers to join him and some other crew in the lounge for tea while he waited.

If you haven’t river cruised before, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. Personally, I don’t think I want to travel in Europe any other way. Forget those boring land vacations where you’re stuck on a bus for eighteen hours and forced to wake at 6am every day, checking into and out of hotels.  Sail the waterways of Europe.  Unpack once. Meet new friends. Experience amazing things together. And enjoy this amazing experience for every second that it lasts.

Getting Ready to Sing: a great crew needs a great leader, and the crew of the AmaLyra have that in Hotel Manager Rebeka. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

I realized today that it is exactly one week until Christmas. But for me, my Christmas lasted for seven wonderful days that I will remember forever.  And for that, I have the spectacular, dedicated team aboard the AmaLyra to thank.

Thank you.

Our Live Trip Report from aboard AmaWaterways AmaLyra has sadly come to a close, but look for a complete ship tour and some fascinating video from the trip in the coming weeks!