I just returned from the July 2nd ABD Danube River Cruise (Budapest to Vilhofsen) and had a great time. This was my first River Cruise, but it won’t be my last. I’m not doing a trip report, but will answer any questions people have. Jillian, George, Joshua and Jana were our ABD guides and AmaWaterways did a great job with everything. Below are some of my observations about our cruise:
- Based on what the guides said, this was one of the few trips where the pre and post hotels were changed to the Kozmo & the Charles. I’m not sure why they were changed, but I much preferred the location of the pre/post hotels I chose (Marriott Budapest & Platzl Hotel).
- So that guests could maximize their time in Budapest on embarkation day, they were allowed to take the provided transfers (11am, 1 pm, 2:30pm) or get to the boat by 4pm.
- Dinner each night was held a lot later than I expected and normally took 1.5 to 2 hours. Other than our night in Vienna when we had an evening activity, dinner normally started sometime between 7 and 8 pm. Any evening entertainment was after that.
- Most of the sites we visited had free bathrooms, but not all. Where the bus parked for the Durenstein tour had pay bathrooms which cost 1 euro. Bathrooms in town also cost. However, I found it interesting that you could also use credit cards at the pay bathrooms at the Durenstein bus parking—this was the only place where I saw this option. I’m not sure if you could in town.
- AmaWaterways did an awesome job with dietary restrictions. I’m lactose intolerant and was able to have everything on the menu—just in a lactose free version when necessary. On the excursions, some places were better able to provide alternatives than others, but I was always able to find enough to eat and never went hungry.
- Two glass bottles of water were provided in the stateroom and replaced as you consumed them. Bottles of water were provided for guests to take on excursions, as well as some fruit. Some people used their ABD water bottles, but most did not. There was a small refrigerator in the room, but not a lot of drawer storage. I used the small nightstand drawers to store some items just so I could unpack more.