AmaSerena Cruise Reviews - Reviews

This trip gave us an excellent overview of four popular European countries while keeping our luggage and sleeping in the same place every night.

We did the add on of Prague prior to the cruise and we would HIGHLY recommend to other travelers. This was a beautiful city with lots to do. We stayed at the Cosmopolitan which AMA recommended and it was perfect!

i found the hair dryer outdated, very slow.... almost blew up captain night... it was mentioned that only a few were selected to sit with the captain which is understandable.... however, i don't believe that needed to be announced.... invite whomever you wish, no need to make the rest of the guest not as special. staff /crew were excellent..... friendly and always eager to help..... tips should have gone directly to them...... to the ones that served you....

Good to very good overall...would have preferred more actual sailing...some days sailed in AM and too much land tour/tours squeezed in, that stretched into late PM.  Result was rushed dinner to participate in PM tour.  Should try to expand scope of land tours--I have seen enough churches and castles to last 3 lifetimes! Times posted for meals were strictly adhered to.  Food was usually cleared by closing time--no latitude. However quality of food was good to very good.  All personnel always had a smile on their face and were quick w/ a cheerful greeting throughout the cruise...

This was our first time on a river cruise.  Our two teenage daughters were not too interested in it, but my husband and I enjoyed the experience.  Most of the shore excursions were nice, and well planned.  I really loved not having to figure out every detail myself.  I also enjoyed being with the same groups of people, as they were a pleasant a cooperative bunch.  Meals were good, although I wish they would seat us, instead of finding our own seats.  It would be less awkward.  We loved the whisper headsets that we used on the excursions.  They work well, and you no longer feel like you have to stand inches away from the guide to hear them.  Also we loved the Illuminations Cruise in Budapest.  It was beautiful and fun!

We are slow walkers and the cruise director went over and above to make sure that we always had a special guide in every port even if there was only the two of us.  Lisi is absolutely great.

The cruise was very well organized, covered the area well in the time allowed and definitely exceeded my expectations. And the food..... Wish I could eat like that all the time!

We travel a lot, this one is rank one of our favorites, if not THE favorite trip.  We cruise often as well, there is less in the way of activities of a large cruise ship, but you can't beat the intimacy and the fact that you can actually find a quiet place on the boat to sit and relax.  I would recommend AmaWaterways anytime!

Great planning by Mike.  Great execution by Cesario.

Food presentation was outstanding, but not great tasting.  We are "meat and three" people who like it simple.

This is a lovely cruise. The ship was beautiful and the food was excellent.

The beauty of the Danube was truly experienced on the Ama Serena cruise this fall. My husband and I are experienced travelers and opted to join the sail in Vilshofen and tour Switzerland and Prague independently. We started our journey in Switzerland visiting Geneva,  and Zurich. The United Nations tour was the highlight of Geneva. The train ride to Zermatt was easy and Zermatt is charming. We boarded The Glacier Express and spent a beautiful journey to St. Moritz viewing the ice cape mountains. From St. Moritz, we boarded the train to Zurich which an easy ride.  In Zurich, we biked the city enjoying the beauty of the international city.

A quick flight to Prague from Zurich delivered us at our hotel, The Palais ArtHotel. A spectacular boutique hotel which catered to our every whim. Prague captured our imaginations. Beautiful city. We dined and shopped throughout the city. Even attended a Mozart opera dinner.  The hotel arranged for a driver to take us from Prague to the boat in Vilshofen. We stopped along the way at the enchanting castle, Cesky Krumlov. Our accommodations in Passau (Vilshofen) was a quiet, small hotel overlooking the Danube.

We boarded the Ama Serena mid-day. A warm welcome from the crew and immediate access to a room began our journey. The room was spacious with an oversized queen bed, modern up to date bathroom, desk, two chairs, and ample closet space. The Serena is a new boat and had all the amenities to ensure a perfect sail.  The boat's meeting and social salon was designed for maximum viewing of the Danube. At night, the salon offered entertainment, lively bar, and snack station.

As the newest ship in the fleet, our crew was handpicked and delightful. We are experienced cruisers but have never experienced a Captain more "hands-on" with crew and guests. He even joined the passengers for disco night, dancing up a storm. The cruise director, Katja was our social coordinator, arranging multiple excursion options. As a Budapest resident, Katja knew the ins and out of each stop along the way.

Our fellow travelers were younger than the traditional luxury cruisers. I believe it was due to the offering of complimentary bikes and walking poles at each stop. The crew encouraged and created a warm, easy system for blending and meeting our fellow travelers. We met fantastic couples who we will share more travel experiences with over the years.

The walking tours in Vienna really allowed you to understand the city, visiting the Cathederal, museum, and palace. The weather was sporadic with showers on several days but it did not deter the pleasure of the journey. We enjoyed the wonderful wine tasting dinner at a small winery and viewed an explanatory movie of how the wine is harvested and crushed.

The highlight of the journey was the city of Budapest. An evening arrival introduced us to a magical and romantic city drawing dramatic visions when lit at night. Our city tour provided us with a detailed history of the city, the economics of today and during the communist regime. The finale was the evening cruise up and down the Danube with the historical palaces, majestic churches, and parliament lighted for maximum effect.

The majority of the cruisers opted to stay at the Sofitel and experience an additional day of touring in the impressive city. My husband and I stayed at the newly opened Hotel Aria. This was the perfect end to a perfect vacation. The hotel is one of the finest in the city offering an unique experience with each room dedicated to a famous singer. The rooftop bar and sundeck is one of the few in the city.

We had a thoroughly perfect vacation even with the uneven weather. Thank you Luxury Only for opening up a new experience for us.