2 Awesome 14 Day Cruises on AmaWaterways

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

www.dreamdestinations.com

As we all wait anxiously for the return of river cruise travel to Europe in 2021, one of the biggest trends at AmaWaterways is how easy it is to combine back-to-back cruises with their usual 7 day routes.

We have been doing this with clients since 2015, but it has evolved into a much better process with a lot more options than we used to have 6 years ago.

Just to show you how vast the options are, we actually have a client doing an AmaWaterways Nile cruise (new for 2021) and then off to Christmas Markets cruise on the AmaMagna on the Danube—talk about temperature extremes!

This blog will focus on the Danube and French cruises. We have sailed on all except the Paris & Normandy route, since as many of our readers know, we have led 2 anniversary tours focusing on D Day beaches in Normandy. Also, we have helped several clients sail on these 14 day routes, so rest assured we will know how to help you get the best trip on these combination routes.

Any combination of two 7 day cruises will result in a 10% discount for you on the second cruise—another sound reason to consider this option.

There is a lot to cover here, so we’ll try and make it easy by providing route maps and Anne’s wonderful pictures. You can also visit our website for more in-depth info on our river cruise pages at www.dreamdestinations.com –it is very comprehensive and we are very proud of the great content.

So, let’s explore together and learn about these 2 routes—there are so many options I can’t cover them all, so I will highlight these two we consider among your best options—you won’t be disappointed, I promise!

The Grand Danube

This is one great look at the heart of Europe. It starts in Germany and winds up on the Romanian/Bulgarian portion of the Danube close to Bucharest.

It is really a combination of 2 routes—the Upper Danube and the Lower Danube. The Danube is 1,170 miles, making it the second longest river in Europe after the Volga River in Russia.

Along with a great route, you will remain in the same stateroom for the voyage—it just doesn’t get easier than this to see 8 countries in Europe in a meaningful way—you will spend your time seeing and doing, not packing and unpacking.

This route is served by 3 AmaWaterways ships—the double wide AmaMagna, the AmaBella and the AmaVerde. The sailing season is scheduled to go from 28 March to 21 November in 2021 but we think sailing will resume sometime this summer due to the pandemic.

The Upper Danube is the most popular river cruise route in Europe --typically from Vishofen to Budapest.

You will get to visit 4 countries, 3 capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest), castles, Abbeys, wine-sloped terraces and even quaint villages-it is a great voyage.

**Schonbuhl Castle—the Watchman of the Danube**

This area has rolling hillsides, lush vineyards, and medieval castles, and the cruise allows you to visit four different countries—Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungry.

The Lower Danube is the gateway to Eastern Europe. You will visit Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.

**Route Map of the Lower Danube. Image from AmaWaterways used with their permission.**

This segment begins in Budapest and ends near the Black Sea. It starts with the rolling hills and vine-clad slopes of the Pecs in Hungary; then moves to the boundary waters that separate Serbia and Croatia; then traverses the narrow gorges of the Iron Gates, a stunning passage that divides the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains; and ends near Bucharest, Romania.

It is perhaps the best overall look at Europe by providing you a fascinating look at key parts of Western Europe and Eastern Europe.

Combining Cruises in France

Combining French river cruises is an easy option but requires a change of ship. The great news is you get to ride the TGV—the fast Europe rail which is our favorite way to travel after river cruising—to the next ship.

If you love France and want to explore it, sailing on 2 of these routes is the solution for a vacation you will never forget.

The easiest combination is to combine the Seine cruise with either a Rhone cruise or a Bordeaux cruise.

However, you could combine a Bordeaux cruise with a Rhone cruise which would have special appeal to wine lovers as this would represent the two most important wine growing regions except for the Champagne region near Reims (sorry Anne to skip her favorite beverage but just add it on at the end of the cruise).

There are three great rivers that AmaWaterways cruises in France. They are the Seine, the Rhone and the Garonne River Basin around Bordeaux.

**Seine Route Map. Imagine from AmaWaterways used by their permission.**

The Seine-route which is best for a combination 14 day cruise is the 7 day round trip cruise into Normandy, starting and ending in Paris. The route name is Paris & Normandy and you will be sailing on the AmaLyra.

The cruise highlights are Monet's village of Honfleur, Rouen, the historic capital of Normandy, as well as a chance to visit the medieval towns along this scenic route and a full day visit the D-Day Normandy beaches.

**Rhone Cruise Route. Image from AmaWaterways and used with their permission.**

The Rhone cruise goes from Lyon to Arles on the Colors of Provence route on the AmaKristina. Starting in Lyon, the gastronomical capital of France, the cruise goes through France's legendary wine growing regions of Beaujolais and Cote du Rhone, and allows you observe medieval villages in the Provence region of France. Then on to the Papal town of Avignon, where it finishes.

The new for 2021 route, Essence of Burgundy & Provence starts in Chalon-sur Saone and finishes in Arles, where Vincent Van Gough spent much of his time. You will get to visit Beaune, Tournus, Macon, Lyon, Vienne (one of our personal favorites), Avignon and Arles.

**A Taste of Bordeaux route. Image from AmaWaterways and used by their permission.**

The final river cruise is in the Bordeaux region of France on the Garonne River on the route named A Taste of Bordeaux. It is a round trip cruise out of Bordeaux and features wine tastings, chateaux’s and abundant vineyards along the Garonne and its tributaries. You will sail on the AmaDolce.

My Final Thoughts

What a great adventure—a chance to see a lot of Europe in luxury on a trip of a lifetime!

You really should consider this option if your vacation plans have time for a 2 week or more vacation and want to visit Europe in affordable style with fascinating tours, awesome food and a crew that will become your friends.

We hope you enjoyed these routes and our pictures as much as we enjoyed sharing them with you.

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 49 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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