When it comes to choosing an operator to take a river cruise with, different people will regard different things as important. Some will opt for a company they know well and have had great experiences with in the past, whilst some may choose based recommendations from others or range of itineraries available. But the majority of river cruisers will want the best.
But who is the best? Well, if we are talking in terms of ratings from Berlitz (usually considered the leading authority on cruise vessels) then it is easy to find the answer; AmaWaterways.
Eleven Of The Best
In the recently released 2014 Berlitz Cruising Guide, Ama ships were named in the top eleven positions when ranking river cruise vessels in order of their overall superiority. This means that not only was there no space for any of cruise line inside the top ten, but Ama’s fleet of ships was officially named number one operating in Europe.
AmaBella, AmaCello, AmaCerto, AmaDagio, AmaDante, AmaDolce, AmaLegro, AmaLyra, AmaVerde, and AmaVida all found themselves ahead of the other two hundred and sixty odd ships that were reviewed, but it was the stunning AmaPrima which claimed the number one spot.
Premier Prima
With an overall ranking of 422 out of 500 (judged in five different categories), it is easy to see why this beautiful ship was voted top of the pile. All 79 staterooms offer stunning views of the passing scenery and the majority of them come equipped with glorious twin balconies to help you enjoy the views that little bit more. There is also plenty of space inside and outside of the rooms, with an elegant design which sweeps across the whole ship and gives off a feeling of ultimate luxury.
Guest can also enjoy a heated pool, free Wi-Fi access through the entire vessel, bicycles to explore the various ports they find themselves in and a retractable roof for those days when the sun just doesn’t want to come out and play. One of the main things cited in the Berlitz guide, though, and this goes for the entire AmaWaterways fleet, was the quality of the food and drink on offer. In fact, Douglas Ward, author of the guide, was quoted in saying that it was clear Ama had invested more money in the standard of their food and drinks, as well as the training of their waiting staff, than any other river cruise company.
Amazing Ama
The cruise line itself was created in 2002 when three travel industry experts came together to form an enviable team of passionate entrepreneurs; boasting knowledge, experience and an intricate understanding of the industry. Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy all have their own specific areas of expertise and have varying travel backgrounds, but together they have created a company which has extremely high standards and a family-operated feel to it.
Ama has nineteen ships in total, with the 11 that top the European rankings being joined by AmaReina and AmaSonata, which will be rated for the first time next year, and AmaSerena which is due to make its maiden voyage in 2015.
As well as these queens of the European rivers, Ama also has 5 other ships operating in other parts of the world. There’s the Zambezi Queen which takes people on exciting river safaris through Africa via the Chobe River, AmaKatarina which offers cruisers the chance to take in some of the splendours of Russia, AmaLotus and the newly built AmaDara (set to debut in 2015) allowing travellers to get up close and personal with the riches of the Mekong, and the beautiful AmaPura which will take its first passengers on Myanmar river cruises later this year.
With itineraries all over the world and the reputation of a luxury line that has been named best in Europe, AmaWaterways are a great choice for anyone looking to book a European river cruise. If you would like to take a trip on any of their highly rated ships, the team at Fred. will be more than happy to help you organise your trip. Just give us a call today or fill in an online enquiry.
