Outstanding Danube Cruise on AmaSonata

My family of four, including two older teens, took our first river cruise ever with AMA last week. We have traveled extensively, with and without land tour companies, and this is easily one of our top family vacations. There were a few other under 30s on the ship, a few more in our 50s and most were over 60. I was impressed at how effortless AMA crew and staff made it look to provide options for people of every fitness level and ability, but I know this is very hard work and takes much planning. Thank you AMA for the bike rides, fitness classes, and active hikes. Dylan, our fitness coordinator, was excellent too. I don't usuallly like class workouts but he was very welcoming and kind and cordial and was always willing to help guests with where to walk on their own on shore, and my son really appreciated biking and talking with him. A main star of the show for us was Valentin, the maitre d'. Two from our family have severe food allergies and he took such good care of us, checking in with us before each meal, delivering specially prepared meals seamlessly with the others' meals and making us feel more pampered than we ever have. Thank you! The food was healthy and delicious, too, and nearly everything on the menus could be prepared to our needs. There are also delicious vegetarian options. Each evening meal offered something local, and every meal we ate was distinct from the others. Multiple options for each meal, and every meal was beautifully plated. The food aspect of this trip greatly surpassed our high expectations. Daniel, the Cruise Manager, executed his job very well and answered any and every question we had, whether on excursions or on the ship. I don't know how he remembers so many names or details, but it is a gift. Again, he makes it look easy but it takes so much work by the crew to get to that point of seeming effortless. He took great care of us from the moment we landed and there were identifiable AMA people waiting for us at the airport in Budapest, and he made sure our lost (by the airline, not AMA) luggage was delivered to us the next day from the airport. The AMA bus took us to the airport and Daniel very patiently explained to a bunch of jet lagged travelers what we needed to know for the pre-cruise time and getting on the ship. All around very impressive customer service. Dining service was also spectactular, and since we sat in the same area each time, our server almost instantly remembered our preferences for drinks, etc. Clarissa was charming and amiable, and like all the dining staff we encountered (Stanley and John also stand out), were impeccable with knowing proper etiquette. While men must wear pants (not shorts) at dinner, the overall feel of the cruise was work casual or casual, but the service is first class at every turn. We enjoyed the little extras like professional-quality coffee machines (not the plastic pods) available 24/7 in the lounge and a nice selection of teas, and also the detox water (water infused with fresh fruit). Zoltan, our onboard entertainer, is professional quality and we really enjoyed his music. We had a C level (the AMA designation, not my grade for the room) room with a french balcony, which we will probably get next time too. There were times when we just opened the sliding door and sat in the room looking out, as there are two upholstered chairs and a small side table by the window. Sometimes in port, you have to dock beside another ship and pull the curtains for privacy, but then you can just take a nap or go up on another deck for a view. But the ship is thoughtfully designed to have many different public sitting areas outside, and even on a full ship, there are quiet places if you want privacy to read. Our room was small in general, but had plenty of storage and amenities like a mini fridge and safe, and was tastefully decorated. Our 18 year old chose this cruise as his high school graduation present, and to be honest I didn't think it would be as interesting as it was. Budapest was fascinating and very manageable even off of the official excursions with walking and trains. Every stop and excursion we took was excellent, and I highly recommend this trip for families with older children or groups. The cruise concept gives you plenty of space to be together but also to build white space for yourself to reflect or rest, and then share outstanding meals together and catch up on what everyone did that day. One other cool aspect of this trip is going through locks, which was a fascinating experience. Based on this trip, we signed up for another trip with AMA already. Highest recommendation.

Excellent staff and great time

The staff are so wonderful. Everyone remembers your name and is extra kind. The rooms were clean and the bed was comfortable. We did a balcony and I am so glad we did to have some quiet time to look at the sea. Dinner was great and their desserts were especially delicious- the melting chocolate cake and creme brulee were exceptional. The karaoke was especially fun- the crowd on our boat were supportive and every song became a sing along and dance party. The only negatives were that they allow smoking in the casino so the fifth floor smells awful and made me nauseous. I would’ve stayed at the tables longer if it was nonsmoking. Also the comedian we saw was awful- he was punching down on the audience and just insulting people names in a way that felt really racist. There’s a difference in being funny and just being a bad comic who doesn’t get that crowd work isn’t about putting down your audience. We had a couples massage from Sheila and Lonnie and they were amazing. Again, the staff are excellent. Enjoyed the stops in the keys. Lots of fun.

CRUISE is now OUR NEW PRIORITY OPTION FOR TRAVEL

It was my and families first cruise. Very amazing and excellent service, staff, food, cabins and plenty of entertainment for all of us. Has to rank as my top 2 travel experiences ever and I have traveled many years to over 30 destinations including Asia . Also our time on land in Ensenada Mexico allowed us to taste local cuisine, buy souvenirs and visit the blow hole which only exists in 3 places in the world. Everything about the cruise was organized from parking, arrival, check in, resources, way finding, cabin assistance, safety and emergency instructions, and easy to find the locations for numerous entertainment options. Every single staff we encountered were super nice and helpful. I lost my debit card and did not even know it and received a call from guest services to come pick it up. I just can't express the gratitude and appreciation I n my family felt with the cruise experience and memories made from this wonderful vacation trip before the kids return to school. Forever grateful for this decision to book a cruise for us.