Our Scores of AmaKristina:
- Boarding and Disembarkation: 10/10
- Design and Look: 10/10
- Stateroom: 9/10
- Meals: 9/10
- Excursions: 10/10
- Service: 9/10
- Leisure: 9/10
Total Score: 9.5/10
After 4 magical days in Paris, it was time to get to the Gare de Lyon station and board the prepare to Arles (pronounced “aarlz”), the town within the south of France the place we might start our eight-day cruise on the Rhone River aboard the AmaKristina.
Whereas we had a clean journey on the high-speed, TGV trains that crisscross Europe, we did need to make two modifications, with solely a brief window to make our connection — no small job if you end up wrestling two giant suitcases and 4 carry-ons. So once we did arrive at Arles, we fortunately paid for a taxi to take us the quick distance from the station to the ship.
Because the ship’s personnel greeted us, they took cost of our baggage and welcomed us aboard with a glass of champagne within the Lounge. Eventually, we might exhale and chill out.
That is our first cruise on AmaWaterways, which is celebrating their twenty first anniversary this yr. Co-founder Rudi Schreiner is broadly considered “the godfather of river cruising,” and the AmaKristina, launched in 2017, is called for his spouse, co-founder and Government Vice-President Kristin Karst, additionally the ship’s godmother. (By the way in which, in case you had been questioning: “Ama” in AmaWaterways is derived from the Latin phrase for love — “amor.”)
For the subsequent eight days, we’ll discover “The Colours of Provence,” visiting charming French cities, wealthy with historical past and tradition. However the primary focus is one thing France is world-famous for: Wine. Not solely we’ll go to vineyards and have tastings, but in addition study wine and winemaking from an knowledgeable, Jean-Pierre Wolff, alongside along with his spouse, Elke, who personal and function Wolff Vineyards in San Luis Obispo, CA. The Wolffs, together with some 40 individuals from their wine membership, are among the many 107 passengers taking this cruise.
Attending to Know the Ship
The very first thing to know in regards to the AmaKristina is that she is fantastically appointed and designed, gleaming with a sparkle that appears like she simply left the shipyard. Like trendy river ships, she is lengthy (443 toes) and slender (38 toes). Visitor capability is 156, with 51 crew. There are 78 staterooms on three decks, grouped in eight classes, plus suites.
Our stateroom, 202, was situated simply off the elevator foyer on the Cello Deck, and size-wise, is the second largest obtainable at 235 sq. toes, with each a window balcony and French doorways. Having the balcony was an actual plus.
When it comes to decor, fixtures and facilities, it was very like staying on the 4 Seasons. It featured a big, marble lavatory with double sinks and a contemporary bathe outfitted with each a rain tub and wand, that includes Pure Herbs toiletries. As for the all-important query of storage, no issues there. Together with a big closet and cabinets, there’s additionally a big, pull-out drawer beneath the mattress, though it additionally meant discovering one other place for our baggage, which might usually go there.
It has each European and U.S. energy shops, and two USB ports, however we all the time pack our personal adapter and energy strip for our units — you’ll be able to by no means have sufficient, proper? Together with the flat-screen TV, there’s an Apple pc with choices for utilizing the Web, music channels, motion pictures and extra. The Wi-Fi, which is included, labored properly all through our cruise.
AmaWaterways locations an emphasis on wellness and well-being. When you’re a health buff, there’s an train room and day by day courses taught by their resident coach from Romania, Erni. You’ll be able to join yoga, wellness walks, core strengthening and extra. The ship additionally has bicycles you should use both personally or on designated excursions, in addition to a Hair Salon and Therapeutic massage Room.
The highest Solar Deck features a swimming pool, the Wheelhouse and many seating choices for sharing a drink with buddies or silently watching the world go by. Availability right here may be restricted relying on what number of low bridges the ship has to navigate.
To summarize, you’ll simply be taught your approach round in brief order.
The Meals and Service
The very first thing to know is there are designated eating instances: Breakfast is 7:30-9 am; lunch is Midday-1:30 pm and dinner is 7-8:30 pm. Late evening snacks are additionally obtainable at 10:30 each evening within the Lounge. Gown is resort informal, though some company dressed up for particular dinner occasions. Both approach, you’ll really feel at dwelling.
There are three eating choices: The Fundamental Eating Room, the Lounge and the Chef’s Desk. All are included within the fare, and the one one you need to reserve is the Chef’s Desk, which includes a tasting menu with wine pairings. You’ll positively need to plan a particular evening to expertise the latter. Additionally notice there are two rooms off Fundamental Eating the place you’ll be able to collect your mates for a extra intimate dinner, no reservations required.
When you’ve cruised since COVID, you already know one of many modifications cruise ships have made is the elimination of buffets. At each meal, you’ll order from a menu, though breakfast does function a station for parfaits, pastries and bakery gadgets.
Our meals all through the week ranged from superb to wonderful. Breakfast all the time featured a day by day particular, and lunch and dinner included a gap spherical of appetizers. Whereas we don’t eat beef, we had choices for fish and rooster, and there was a menu for vegetarians as properly. One suggestion: Add a rooster sandwich and veggie burger to the lunch menu, together with the hamburger.
Wine, beer and sodas are included with each meal, however notice there’s a cost when you order these outdoors the mealtimes. Espresso and tea lovers will discover connoisseur coffees all the time obtainable within the Lounge.
There’s additionally the day by day “Sip and Sail,” a contented hour that runs from 6-7 pm the place designated cocktails and spirits, together with a drink particular, are free. It’s a good way to satisfy your fellow company and unwind after the day’s actions, and consists of leisure from the ship’s resident musician, Roberto, though it could be higher for conversations in the event that they opted for gentle background music in lieu of singing.
One other meals occasion is Afternoon Tea, scheduled most days on our crusing. It options an assortment of finger sandwiches and desserts, alongside along with your selection of tea. It’s very casual, so don’t anticipate white-gloved waiters and string quartets.
AmaWaterways takes particular satisfaction of their service, and it exhibits. Lots of the crew we met have been long-term staff of the road, and the sensation they’re extra like household than staff is real. I’ve to offer particular props to Philip from the eating employees, who cheerfully refilled my tea extra instances than I can depend — he even had it prepared and ready after the primary day. Spectacular!
The Excursions
At this yr’s Seatrade convention in Miami, Ms. Karst made the purpose: “Ocean cruise traces take you to international locations; we take you via international locations.” That couldn’t be extra true or evident than on our AmaWaterways wine cruise within the South of France. Ranging from Arles, we visited Avignon, Viviers, Tournon, Vienne and Lyon.
Each vacation spot featured a number of tour choices, all included in your fare. It’s a serious purpose river cruising is such an important worth and suits completely with as we speak’s traveler’s need for genuine experiences. On some days, there have been each morning and afternoon excursions, tailor-made for everybody’s private exercise degree.
Every day provided a brand new alternative to study this area that the Romans claimed as their first province past the Alps, dubbing it “Provincia Romana,” which turned the current identify of Provence. In Arles, we walked the identical paths as Vincent Van Gogh, who painted a few of his biggest works there; that afternoon, a visit to an olive farm to find out how olive oil is made; in Viviers, we visited a truffle farm and watched as a canine dug up the valuable delicacy; we had been handled to a night wine and chocolate pairing at a villa in Tournon, whereas in Vienne we rode an historic prepare via a scenic gorge, adopted by a Beaujolais wine tasting within the countryside outdoors Lyon. And nearly each metropolis we visited featured Roman temples, amphitheaters and aqueducts that had been amazingly well-preserved.
On the excursions, every of us had a wi-fi audio gadget to take heed to our information’s commentary, and kudos to our tour guides, who had been uniformly wonderful. Once we wanted buses, they had been trendy and cozy.
After all, you all the time need to put together by selecting snug strolling footwear and the correct garments for the climate, which in our case was sizzling, even for Provence. Most days, temperatures had been within the 90s, heading towards 100 later within the week. The water they provided as we left the boat was a lot appreciated, and my hat is off to these intrepid bicyclists.
Different Highlights
— This was certainly a dream cruise for wine lovers. Most days it appeared we had tastings from morning to nighttime. Belgian-born Jean-Pierre, whose grandfather served within the French International Legion, introduced wines to pattern from his winery, and offered fascinating insights about how completely different soils, barrels and climate have an effect on wine manufacturing. He informed us Hitler wouldn’t permit his planes to bomb Burgundy to spare the Pinot Noir he cherished a lot.
— Don’t be shocked when you see river ships double and even triple-parked on the metropolis facilities. With increasingly ships launching, it isn’t uncommon to stroll via a neighboring ship to get to shore.
— The leisure was fairly good, starting from spirited guitarists to boogie-woogie keyboardists. Roberto, the resident entertainer, has a powerful voice that will be at dwelling in any opera home. However he may also get down and get together with a bevy of disco favorites. Pam and I joined our new buddies, Trish and Judy from Australia, to get our late-night groove on greater than as soon as. Roberto additionally wore nice ties that Pam needed to memorialize in photographs.
— We went via 12 locks on our cruise. The method of taking a ship from one water degree to a different is fascinating when you haven’t seen it.
— AmaWaterways additionally provided optionally available land packages for this cruise that included days in Barcelona pre-cruise and a keep in Paris post-cruise. Whether or not you are taking this selection or not, they do a powerful job of serving to you with all of your journey preparations. On our day of departure, Kriss, the cruise supervisor, ordered our taxi that will take us to the prepare station in Lyon for our journey again to Paris and our flight on French Bee again to Miami.
Wrap-up
You received’t discover anybody who’s extra enthusiastic or a much bigger cheerleader for river cruising than AmaWaterways’ Kristin Karst, and after cruising on her namesake ship, it’s straightforward to see why. Having grown to a fleet of 29 ships, navigating waters from Africa to Vietnam — and subsequent yr, the primary river cruise line in Colombia, South American — they bring about all their expertise to bear to make sure their company have unforgettable recollections to take dwelling.
When you haven’t taken a river cruise, it’s best to give it severe consideration. The smaller visitor capability, the straightforward on-and-off within the coronary heart of historic cities, the prospect to immerse your self within the tradition of the locations you go to — all good causes that the river cruise sector is booming.
On our final evening aboard, we opened a bottle of wine Pam bought in Beaujolais and had been joined on the Solar Deck by Trish and Judy, in addition to Stephanie from England, to toast new friendships towards the twinkling lights of Lyon. It was the right ending to our eight days on the Rhone.
Ms Karst as soon as described cruising this manner: “You open a storybook and every single day you fill a clean web page along with your adventures.”
After this cruise, one factor is for certain: We’re going to wish a much bigger storybook.
Pictures by Gerry Barker
See AmaWaterways Cruises (cruisecompete.com)