Great Wine and Dining Experiences on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

We always find one of the most fascinating aspects of Europe is how well most seem to eat and drink responsibly—it is amazing!

This same tradition is carried on to river cruise ships, and to us, the best river cruise line for food and wine is AmaWaterways.

So, let’s explore together and learn about wine and dining experiences on AmaWaterways—you won’t be disappointed!

Different Regional Wines are Served on all AmaWaterways European Cruises Each Night

On our first cruise on AmaWaterways, along with the good food, I was really surprised to have my glass constantly refilled during the dinner meal. It was always a different red and white selection that changed each night and often during lunch. In the 17 cruises we have taken on with this great line, the free-flowing wine service remains and the quality keeps improving.

Hank on his first river cruise in 2009, selecting one of the two wine options at diner in the main dining room.

Wine Cruises on AmaWaterways

There are over 60 wine cruises each year on AmaWaterways. You will sail along some of the most famous wine regions of Europe, depending on the route you choose. Here are some vineyards you could sail past on your cruise:

The vineyards of Spitz in the Wachau Valley on an Upper Danube cruise

The vineyards just outside Rudesheim, Germany.

These wine cruises cost nothing extra of regular cruises and have 3 great benefits.

First, you will have a special wine host to tell you about and let you taste the wines they have created.

Mark Thomas preparing for an on board wine tasting hosted by Ledson Winery

Hank during the wine tasting using corks to make a trivet

Second, you will get to visit some of the premier vineyards and have cellar tours and tastings.

Champagne tasting on a special tour in Lyon

Wine server and Dejan, our cruise manager (right)

Hank and Anne at the wine tasting in Tournon

Third, you will learn about pairing wines with food.

Here is a link to a blog I wrote about Wine Cruises on AmaWaterways

Wine Cruises on AmaWaterways

Wine Pairings—Learn about the Art of Wine Paring

I really like wine, especially when it is properly paired with food!

Wine is a complex subject but it doesn’t have to be—it really is about what you like and how you can best enjoy it. I am sure part of the fascination for me is how it enhances food as well as how it is enhanced by food but also the complex process involved in making quality wine. Wine producers wear many hats—entrepreneur, farmer, chemist, blender, and business person.

Certain foods go well with certain types of wine. In particular, cheese is one of the simplest to pair wine with, but most foods are enhanced with a good wine, in my opinion!

During an AmaWaterways cruise, you can expect to learn more about this art. There will be at least 3 pairing chances—two in the main dining room and one at the Chef’s table. In the main dining room, the wine host will have a special pairing dinner featuring their wines. The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs dinner is a feature on each AmaWaterways cruise and they match special wines that pair very well with the menu.

Dining Options on Your Cruise

You will be pleasantly surprised at the quality and different dining options and food available on so compact a ship. The fare is regionally-inspired cuisine, always fresh and locally sourced.

Most dining is in the main dining room. They often have special themed nights and lunches. For example, the German festival is served on the top deck when the weather cooperates, but is equally good in the main dining room.

Germany meal. Lazlo with Anne wearing his Bavarian apron — Germany meal

In the Lounge area, there is a continental breakfast, a light lunch option (usually one entree, a soup, salad and desert) a snack hour with homemade deserts and tapas. The Specialty Dining Room, at the rear (aft) of the ship is a unique feature and included in the fare.

It is often an option to get a cooking class on-board or as a shore excursion—they are included at no extra cost. There are also food tours of famous food markets, like this one in Lyon.

The Main Dining Room

The main dining room serves most of the meals you will eat on board this river ship. Breakfast and lunch used to be buffet style with options to order off the menu, but now all items are served to guests.

The one of the two wine rooms on the AmaKristina 2019

Most days I select the Eggs Benedict along with complimentary unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juices to start my day. All breads are freshly baked every day and they even make homemade ice cream for dessert at lunch.

Here is a sample lunch menu (quite an impressive selection, in my opinion):

Every evening on the dinner menu (a 4 course affair of an appetizer, a soup course, a main course and dessert), there are 3 Entrée’s choices—usually a meat dish, a fish dish and a vegetarian option.—all are excellent! To help you, at both lunch and dinner there is a Chef’s Recommendation for that meal, what he considers the best offering for that meal for all the courses. Many use this to try new food experiences.

Don’t be surprised if special celebrations happen during your meal—maybe a surprise desert or a special cake to celebrate a milestone event.

There is an Always Available Menu that features a steak, a grilled chicken breast, and a vegetarian or pasta option.

The lunch and dinner meals feature a white and red wine from the region you are sailing through and they change daily (not every river cruise lines changes wines every day or offers included wine and beer). There is also beer and other beverages.

One item of note—portions are slightly smaller in recent sailings and for the baby boomers of our generation, this is a smart move. You can always have more food, but even for big eaters like me, the portions were properly sized.

I do have to point out that on the Always Available Menu, I usually get the steak once during the cruise. It always is large, and very tasty. Here is a photo—looks very good, doesn’t it!

On every cruise, there is a special captain’s dinner. All guests have a great meal and the captain dines with some select guests. Here are some photos of the Captain’s Table.

The Chef’s Table. In Europe, each AmaWaterways ship has the chef’s table specialty restaurant. This small dining venue (usually no more than 28 guests but up to 38 on the AmaMagna) features a kitchen where your meal is prepared right in front of you.

This unique menu is paired with carefully selected fine wines.

It is truly a great experience. At least each year the menu changes, so we will look forward to our next sailing to see what great new features will be added to this fun dining experience.

AMA spends more than most other river cruise lines on the food and wines and it shows, especially in this unique dining venue. We always go during our cruises and always arrange for the groups we led to dine together—it’s always a superb experience!

Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Meal

AmaWaterways has another unique culinary achievement—they are the only river cruise line inducted into the La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, a prestigious international gastronomic society dedicated to fine cuisine. There is a special Chaîne des Rôtisseurs dinner meal on each cruise.

The entire European fleet and President Rudi Schreiner were honored. According to the AmaWaterways website, the society was:

“Founded in Paris in 1950 to honor the royal Guild of Goose Roasters (whose origins date back to the 13th century), it is the oldest and largest food and wine society in the world. Membership to La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is by invitation only and is extended to those possessing world-class culinary acumen.”

AmaWaterways Awarded Best Onboard Dining (River Cruise) by TravelAge West Magazine for 2020

After sailing on AmaWaterways 17 times, we agree wholeheartedly with this award. There is no extra charge for all these options, so this makes it even a better deal.

If you want good food and wine on a river cruise, go on AmaWaterways—it seems a lot of other travel advisors share our opinion! Pretty easy to see why the won the Best Onboard Dining Wave Award for River Cruising in 2020.

Maybe you will get to share a meal with good friends, or comrades like we do when escorting our clients.

My Final Thoughts

What a great adventure—great wine and superb food—just another reason we love the Old World of Europe so much and river cruising on AmaWaterways! We hope you enjoyed these pictures as much as we enjoyed eating, drinking and seeing the many venues that emphasize food and wine in Europe. We have loved them during our travels and hope to share them with you in the future.

We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise specialists, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 50 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

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