Melodies of the Danube - Father Daughter Trip

I was looking forward to my second river cruise in Europe. This time my father accompanied me and we began our 8-day journey on the Upper Danube river in mid-August. We boarded the Amasonata in Budapest, Hungary and were quickly settled into our Category C French Balcony Stateroom. 

I chose AmaWaterways for this father daughter trip for the following reasons:

Range of Daily Tours and Activities. I knew that my energy levels and interests would be different from my fathers, so having a cruise where we could both make the most out of each day was very important. The onboard wellness coach offered morning, mid-day, afternoon and sometimes evening exercise classes, sun deck walks, and yoga classes, which meantI had no excuse not to keep up with my workouts. While my dad enjoyed his daily walking tours but wasn't shy about an afternoon nap while on vacation.

Aside from being active onboard, they did a great job accommodating all ability levels during guided tours. AmaWaterways exceeded my expectations when it came to guided tours, from the gentle walking tours, to the hiking tours, even the bike tours and full day bus tours, our cruise director made it so easy for each guest to do what interested them most. On multiple occasions my father joined the gentle walking tour in the morning and I went off with a handful of others interested in hiking to a castle or overlook. The organization of getting on and off the ship, joining the right tour guide and setting off into the town was always seamless.

On a few occasions we joined together for a tour and both found it informative and enjoyable. We found all of the guides to be knowledgeable, engaging and easy to understand. One of my favorites was the bike tour of Vienna, a morning ride through the city turned into a private tour when we were the only guests who signed up! 

Delicious Dining Experience. While neither my father or I are foodies, we both enjoy delicious meals and the chance to taste new flavors, which is another reason I was excited to cruise with AmaWaterways. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner were always tasty and beautifully prepared. We felt particularly regal enjoying a multi course Chef's Table meal in an intimate setting one evening. We also found it fun to sample locally inspired dishes from each country we visited along the way. I found that the restaurant staff offered a very personal level of service getting to know each guest and their preferences. By day three our waiter would have a glass of cranberry juice ready for my father whenever he came to dinner.  

From the cakes made for birthday and anniversary that were celebrated onboard to the Chef’s Table 8 course meal, the entire cruise offered a dining experience to remember!

By nailing these two very important aspects of a river cruise it reassured me that AmaWaterways was the right fit for our father daughter trip. We both ended the week with new friends, full bellies, lots of stories and fun memories to take home.